cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy-Efficiency Strategies for Construction of Five Star Plus Homes

A multitude of recent studies has demonstrated that the construction of energy-efficient homes can result in major benefits to the homebuilder, homeowner, and the nation. Federal and state government agencies are spending significant efforts to demonstrate the benefits of energy-efficient homes. In spite of these major efforts, adoption of energy-efficiency technologies in new home construction has been slow. This paper presents a research project aimed at developing cost-effective energy-efficiency strategies for construction of Five Star Plus homes. Various combinations of energy-efficiency measures along with energy savings and cost premiums are developed in this research. Issues that relate to the adoption of these energy-efficiency strategies are identified and discussed in the paper.
Delay bounds for packetizing time-varying fluid policies with speedup and lookahead in single server systems

We consider an online, processor sharing system with a single server in a packet-switched network where the processor multiplexes packets from multiple input ports onto the same output link. Under a fluid model, in which incoming data is treated as infinitely divisible, the multiplexer allocates its output capacity to serve fractions of packets from all input ports simultaneously (which we call a fluid policy). However, due to the packet nature of the network traffic, a multiplexer scheduler must approximate this fluid policy by a schedule in which only whole packets are sent (which we call a packetized policy). We assume that at each time instant, the aggregate service rate demanded by a fluid policy is no greater than the output link capacity. Then, for a single server with N input ports, and a scheduler using speedup s of at least 2 and a lookahead window of L/spl ges/0 time steps, we prove bounds on worst-case maximum additional delay D. In particular, we show that ([Ne/sup -s/]-L-2)/sup +//spl les/D min {([Ne/sup 1-s/]-L)/sup +/, [Ne/sup -s/]}. In the case when no lookahead is used (L=0), a tighter bound can be obtained: ([Ne/sup -s/]-2)/sup +//spl les/D/spl les/[Ne/sup -s/}.
The role of the maximum involvement of biopsy core in predicting outcome for patients treated with dose-escalated radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

To evaluate the influence of the maximum involvement of biopsy core (MIBC) on outcome for prostate cancer patients treated with dose-escalated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The outcomes of 590 men with localized prostate cancer treated with EBRT (≥75 Gy) at a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. The influence of MIBC on freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF), freedom from metastasis (FFM), cause-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) was compared to other surrogates for biopsy tumor volume, including the percentage of positive biopsy cores (PPC) and the total percentage of cancer volume (PCV). MIBC correlated with PSA, T-stage, Gleason score, NCCN risk group, PPC, PCV, and treatment related factors. On univariate analysis, MIBC was prognostic for all endpoints except OS; with greatest impact in those with Gleason scores of 8–10. However, on multivariate analysis, MIBC was only prognostic for FFBF (hazard ratio [HR] 1.9, p = 0.008), but not for FFM (p = 0.19), CSS (p = 0.16), and OS (p = 0.99). In patients undergoing dose-escalated EBRT, MIBC had the greatest influence in those with Gleason scores of 8–10 but provided no additional prognostic data as compared to PPC and PCV, which remain the preferable prognostic variables in this patient population.
The effects of vegetation phenology on endmember selection and species mapping in southern California chaparral

Image classification typically utilizes single-date imagery and does not take into account seasonal variation in the spectral characteristics and separability of image spectra. While global vegetation classifications have relied on seasonal changes in multitemporal data, seasonal vegetation dynamics have seldom been explored at higher spatial and spectral resolutions. In particular, investigations of vegetation phenology in the hyperspectral domain have been limited. This paper uses endmember average root mean square error (EAR), a method for selecting endmembers for multiple endmember spectral mixture analysis (MESMA), to explore temporal changes in the spectral characteristics of the selected endmembers. The images modeled by these endmembers demonstrate temporal changes in the confusion between vegetation species in southern California chaparral. Endmembers were selected from five Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) images of the area surrounding Santa Barbara, CA, USA. The selected endmembers demonstrated spectral changes that were consistent with an increase in nonphotosynthetic vegetation (NPV) as soil water balance decreased. Polygon level modeling accuracies for soil water surplus images ranged between 59% and 90%, while accuracies for soil water deficit images ranged between 52% and 81%. Variation in NPV content in the water deficit images resulted in increased confusion between chaparral species. Increasing the number of endmembers used to model each land cover class significantly increased accuracy in the water deficit images. Seasonal variations in the spectral response of chaparral are important for determining the separability of chaparral species.
“Weary for the Heather and the Deer”: R. L. Stevenson Depicts the Scottish Diasporic Experience

Robert Louis Stevenson is well known as a writer of popular Victorian adventures, yet much of his fiction is steeped in the cultural and historical preoccupations of Scotland. Texts such as Kidnapped (1886), The Master of Ballantrae (1889), and Catriona (1893) hinge upon culturally significant events such as the Jacobite Rising of 1745 and the Appin Murder. These works also allude to the Highland Clearances of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the Battle of Culloden with its ensuing disarming acts—all occurrences which contributed to or comprised significant catalysts for the large-scale expulsion of Scots from their homeland. Certainly, themes of exile pervade Stevenson’s Scottish work and maintain a more liminal presence in his later South Seas fiction, and many of the author’s finest characters can be read as enactments of temporary or permanent expatriates whose real-life counterparts form a fascinating cross-section of the diasporic movement. This paper focuses on several of these characters, whose adventures are encoded into their corresponding texts as fictional re-constructions of a broader experience common to displaced Scots in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Some are driven from Scotland as a direct result of economic hardship or domestic conflict, while others leave (at least temporarily) as a means of avoiding the political corruption and intrigue characteristic of the historical struggle for Scottish independence. Through characters like David Balfour, Alan Breck Stewart, James Durie, and Archie Weir, Stevenson explores the psychological ramifications of politically enforced and self-imposed exile, thus providing fictional extrapolations of the Scottish diasporic experience. These portrayals, infused with a the author’s own experiences abroad, offer fascinating microcosms which gesture towards the collective experience of a wide-scale network of displaced Scots in the Victorian world. An early version of this paper was presented at the NAVSA 2012 “Victorian Networks” conference hosted by the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Impact of initial Norwood shunt type on young hypoplastic left heart syndrome patients listed for heart transplant: A multi-institutional study.

Background Pulmonary blood flow during Stage 1 (Norwood) palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is achieved via modified Blalock–Taussig shunt (MBT) or right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit (RVPA). Controversy exists regarding the differential impact of shunt type on outcome among those who require transplantation early in life. In this study we explored waitlist and post-transplant outcomes within this sub-population stratified by shunt type. Methods Eligible patients were enrolled through the Pediatric Heart Transplant Study (PHTS) database. Patients included those listed for heart transplantation at 1 of 35 participating centers, all of whom were Results Between 2010 and 2013, 190 patients were identified. Compared with the RVPA group ( n = 111), the MBT group ( n = 79) was less likely to have undergone a Glenn palliation (41% vs 73%, p p = 0.05), had lower median weight (7.9 vs 9.4 kg, p = 0.02), and were more likely to be mechanically ventilated at listing (35% vs 22%, p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in median waitlist time (1.7 vs 2.6 months, p = 0.2) or rate of transplantation (61% vs 60%, p = 1.0). Among waitlisted patients, 3-month survival was less for MBT compared with RVPA patients (74% vs 91%, p = 0.02). Patients who had not yet achieved Glenn palliation before listing had lower waitlist 3-month survival (76% vs 90%, p = 0.02). In MBT infants p = 0.08). Early post-transplant mortality rates were similar between the RVPA and MBT groups ( p = 0.4) with overall survival 84% at 1 year. Conclusions Among HLHS patients, the need for transplant before Glenn palliation is associated with poorer waitlist survival. Waitlist survival is poorer in the MBT group, with this difference driven by pre-Glenn MBT infants. Post-transplant outcomes were unaffected by shunt type.
Translating Science into Family Law

Lawyers have often turned to science for answers to difficult legal questions, especially in an area like family law. This article examines scholarship which explores the promise and the limitations of biology in illuminating family law problems. Topics discussed range from the effects of family violence on children to whether biological evidence can be used to discredit same-sex marriage. The article examines why biology is both attractive and problematic as a source for solutions to legal dilemmas. It inquires into the relationship between legal and scientific discourses, using specific examples to demonstrate the translation issues involved.
The Role of Psychology in Pediatric Palliative Care

Pediatric medicine increasingly has recognized the value of integrating behavioral health in medical care, but this trend has not yet extended to pediatric palliative care. Results from a recent survey of pediatric palliative care programs across the United States indicate that team composition almost never included a psychologist. This article presents a model of collaborative care to optimize the integration of psychosocial and medical aspects of treatment in pediatric palliative care, delineating how a psychologist adds to this model. This article argues that psychology brings specialized skills in assessment, intervention, and research that fit with the premise of palliative care as a holistic approach that relieves symptoms. Systematic inclusion of psychologists on pediatric palliative care teams may help to improve effectiveness of services as well as extend the knowledge base of mental health in pediatric palliative care.
Abstract 2834: Discovery of a novel class of prostaglandin e2 synthesis inhibitors with anti-tumor activity in colorectal cancer

Prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), a key mediator of inflammation, is the most common prostanoid with various bioactivities and has been associated with many pathologies. Thus, inhibition of PGE 2 synthesis and its action has been suggested in the treatment of inflammatory-associated diseases, including cancer. Microsomal Prostaglandin E 2 Synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is an enzyme downstream of the cyclooxygenases (COXs) in the PGE 2 biosynthesis pathway. mPGES-1, which is one of the three PTGES isoforms, is constitutively expressed in many cancers, including colon cancer. The potential role for this enzyme in tumorigenesis has been reported. Since inhibition of COXs lead to side effects due to the global reduction of other key prostaglandins, targeting downstream m-PGES-1 might be a better therapeutic strategy for cancers. In order to identify novel small molecule inhibitors of mPGES-1, we have screened several libraries in silico and used published scaffolds exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties to initiate our study. As a result, 10 compounds were identified by molecular docking simulations using the reported crystal structure of mPGES-1. Subsequently a total of 32 analog compounds were synthesized or purchased and tested for their ability to inhibit COX-2 in vitro activity as well as for their ability to inhibit PGE 2 production in an HCA-7 colorectal cancer cell line. We show that 16 of the 32 compounds reduced PGE 2 synthesis by over 80% at 1 µM, with only one of these compounds inhibiting more than 30% of COX-2 activity at 5 µM in vitro. Furthermore, one compound, PGE0056 (EC 50 = 0.37 ± 0.06 µM), exhibited anti-tumor activity after 10 days at 100mg/kg i.p. in HCA-7 colon cancer xenograft mouse model. Following treatment with PGE0056, PGE 2 production was reduced in the blood of scid mice. In summary, our data suggest that these new identified compounds exert anti-tumor activity at least in part through inhibition of the COX2/mPGES-1 enzymes within the PGE 2 synthesis pathway. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2834. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2834
Does High Grade Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia Result in Elevated Serum Prostate Specific Antigen levels

AbstractPrior studies have evaluated high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia on biopsy material when undiagnosed carcinoma or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may have been associated with elevated serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. We studied 65 totally embedded radical prostatectomy specimens with minimal carcinoma (tumor volume 0.5 cc or less) and relatively minimal BPH (gland weight less than 65gm.). Even for these relatively small glands, PSA showed a significant correlation with gland volume (r = 0.64). To account for BPH, PSA density (PSA divided by gland volume) was also calculated. In these specimens with trivial tumor the tumor volume did not correlate with PSA (r = 0.12) or PSA density (r = 0.23). The volume of high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia also showed no correlation with PSA (r = 0.16) or PSA density (r = 0.14). The 11 cases with extensive high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (0.50cc or more) had PSA density values of 0.03 to 0.14, with 10 less th...
Dynamic Reserve Prices for Repeated Auctions: Learning from Bids - Working Paper.

A large fraction of online advertisement is sold via repeated second price auctions. In these auctions, the reserve price is the main tool for the auctioneer to boost revenues. In this work, we investigate the following question: Can changing the reserve prices based on the previous bids improve the revenue of the auction, taking into account the long-term incentives and strategic behavior of the bidders? In order to set the reserve price effectively, the auctioneer requires information about distribution of the valuations of the bidders. A natural idea, which is widely used in practice, is to construct these distributions using the history of the bids. This approach, though intuitive, raises a major concern with regards to long-term (dynamic) incentives of the advertisers. Because the bid of an advertiser may determine the price he or she pays in future auctions, this approach may result in the advertisers shading their bids and ultimately in a loss of revenue for the auctioneer. To understand the effects of changing reserve prices based on the previous bids, we study a setting where the auctioneer sells impressions (advertisements space) via repeated second price auctions. We demonstrate that the long-term incentives of advertisers plays an important role in the performance of these repeated auctions by showing that under standard symmetry and regularity assumptions (i.e., when the valuations of advertisers are independently and identically distributed according to a regular distribution), the optimal mechanism is running a second price auction with a constant reserve and changing the reserve prices over time is not beneficial. However, when there is uncertainty in the distribution of the valuations and competition among the bidders, we show that there can be substantial benefit in learning the reserve prices using the previous bids. To this end, we propose a simple dynamic reserve mechanism called the threshold mechanism that achieves near optimal revenue, while retaining (approximate) incentive compatibility.
TH-C-BRB-03: Open Source Hardware in the Context of Simple and Widely Shared Clinical Applications

By definition, Open Source Hardware (OSH) is “hardware whose design is made publicly available so that anyone can study, modify, distribute, make, and sell the design or hardware based on that design”. The advantages of OSH are multiple and the movement has been growing exponentially over the last couple years, leading to the spread and evolution of 3D printing technologies, the creation of affordable and easy to use micro-controller boards (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.), as well as a plurality of other “hands-on”/DIY projects. As we have seen over the past few years with 3D printing, where the number of projects benefiting clinical practice as grown significantly, the highly educated and technology savvy Medical Physics community is positioned to take advantage of and benefit from paradigm-shifting movements. Sharing of knowledge, know-how, and technology can be a key factor in furthering the impact medical physicists can have. Whether it is to develop phantoms, applicators, detector holders or devices based on the use of motors and sensors, sharing design files significantly enables further development. Because these designs would be massively peer-reviewed through their online publication, improvements would be made, and the creators of the design would be rewarded with an increase number of citation of their work. A curated database of software and hardware projects can be an invaluable to the field, but a critical mass of contributors is likely needed to guarantee the most impact. This symposium will discuss the benefits and hurdles for such an endeavor. Learning Objectives: 1.Learn how an open source hardware architecture functions including intellectual property rights; 2.Learn how open source hardware projects can impact the medical physics field and be introduced to successful applied examples; 3.Learn about projects currently being undertaken by researchers in the field that promise to provide a platform for collaborative sharing of open source hardware in medical physics.
Multireflection Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy

We developed a multireflection data collection method in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and sensitivity of sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, which we refer to as multireflection SFG, or MRSFG for short. To achieve MRSFG, a collinear laser beam propagation geometry was adopted and trapezoidal Dove prisms were used as sample substrates. An in-depth discussion on the signal and SNR in MRSFG was performed. We showed experimentally, with “m” total internal reflections in a Dove prism, MRSFG signal is ∼m times that of conventional SFG; SNR of the SFG signal-to-background is improved by a factor of >m1/2 and <m. MRSFG also improved the SFG sensitivity to resolve weak vibrational signals. Surface molecular structures of adsorbed ethanol molecules, polymer films, and a lipid monolayer were characterized using both MRSFG and conventional SFG. Molecular orientation information on lipid molecules with a 9% composition in a mixed monolayer was measured using MRSFG, which showed a good agre...
Haptic Science Learning System for Students with Visual Impairments: A Preliminary Study

This paper assesses the usability of developed haptic interface features to support future development of haptically enhanced science learning applications for students with visual impairments. Of the features developed and evaluated, three features are described in this study: Haptic Boundary, Menu Selection, and Object Recognition. Two focus groups participated in an interview and usability session. Results from this study give insight to the needs of the visually impaired community in regard to haptic applications.
Reforming NGO Accountability: Supply vs. Demand-Driven Models

Proposed solutions to INGO accountability problems frequently conflict. Dominant scholarship focuses on promoting self-regulation within the INGO community, while an alternative body of literature focuses on generating external incentives for accountability, using state/IO regulations or conditional funding. This article analyzes the causes and implications of this disjuncture. We first show that self-reform requires a high degree of INGO autonomy, whereas external reform requires a high degree of donor control. We next conceptualize INGO autonomy as a price funders pay for INGO services. Using this framework, we show that INGO self-reform implicitly assumes that the demand for INGO services outstrips the supply (scarce supply), forcing funders to pay a high price in terms of INGO autonomy. Proposals for external incentives assume the opposite (abundant supply), such that competition among INGOs effects a downward pressure on autonomy, increasing donor control. These findings reveal that solutions to NGO accountability cannot be an “all of the above” proposition. Moreover, because demand for services may vary between sectors of NGO activity, effective solutions need to be sector-specific, rather than universal.
Utah Cancer Survivors: A Comprehensive Comparison of Health-Related Outcomes Between Survivors and Individuals Without a History of Cancer

Assessments of cancer survivors’ health-related needs are often limited to national estimates. State-specific information is vital to inform state comprehensive cancer control efforts developed to support patients and providers. We investigated demographics, health status/quality of life, health behaviors, and health care characteristics of long-term Utah cancer survivors compared to Utahans without a history of cancer. Utah Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 2009 and 2010 data were used. Individuals diagnosed with cancer within the past 5 years were excluded. Multivariable survey weighted logistic regressions and computed predictive marginals were used to estimate age-adjusted percentages and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). A total of 11,320 eligible individuals (727 cancer survivors, 10,593 controls) were included. Respondents were primarily non-Hispanic White (95.3 % of survivors, 84.1 % of controls). Survivors were older (85 % of survivors ≥40 years of age vs. 47 % of controls). Survivors reported the majority of their cancer survivorship care was managed by primary care physicians or non-cancer specialists (93.5 %, 95 % CI = 87.9–99.1). Furthermore, 71.1 % (95 % CI = 59.2–82.9) of survivors reported that they did not receive a cancer treatment summary. In multivariable estimates, fair/poor general health was more common among survivors compared to controls (17.8 %, 95 % CI = 12.5–23.1 vs. 14.2 %, 95 % CI = 12.4–16.0). Few survivors in Utah receive follow-up care from a cancer specialist. Provider educational efforts are needed to promote knowledge of cancer survivor issues. Efforts should be made to improve continuity in follow-up care that addresses the known issues of long-term survivors that preclude optimal quality of life, resulting in a patient-centered approach to survivorship.
High Density Micro-Lens Array Connector for Optical Multi-chip Module

For efficient light coupling from and into an optical multi-chip module (MCM), the micro-lens array connector (MLAC) is developed. MLAC, composed of a waveguide side lens array and a fiber side connector, integrates 24 collimation micro-lense pairs in its small volume, realizing high bandwidth density, low coupling loss, large alignment tolerance and simple assembling process. In this paper, the mechanical design and optical characteristics of MLAC are introduced. The design criteria and challenges in the assembling processes are also described.
Wave breaking in the surf zone and deep-water in a non-hydrostatic RANS model. Part 2: Turbulence and mean circulation

Abstract Field-scale modeling of wave-breaking-induced turbulence and mean circulation is still challenging. Although Boussinesq-type models have been successfully used to study field-scale wave transformation and wave-breaking-driven circulation, they cannot provide turbulence or the vertical structure of the velocity field. In addition, the applicability of such models is limited to shallow water. In Part 1 (Derakhti et al., 2016b) of this study, we showed that the non-hydrostatic σ-coordinate RANS model NHWAVE, as described by Derakhti et al. (2016a), accurately predicts organized wave motions and total wave-breaking-induced energy dissipation from deep-water up to the swash zone using a few vertical σ-layers. In this paper, our goal is to examine what level of detail of wave-breaking-induced turbulence and mean circulation, both in depth- and steepness-limited breaking waves, can be reproduced by NHWAVE. Further, effects of modeled turbulent eddy viscosity on the predicted time-averaged velocity distribution is discussed. We establish that NHWAVE is capable of predicting the structure of the mean velocity and vorticity fields including large-scale breaking-induced coherent vortices in deep-water breaking events; where the absence of turbulence-induced eddy viscosity results in the overprediction of the velocity and vorticity field in the breaking region. We show that NHWAVE reduces the required CPU time up to two orders of magnitude in comparison with a comparable VOF-based simulation.
Visualizing Local Protein Synthesis and Its Modulation by FMRP and Visual Experience.

Protein synthesis is required to support long-term experience-dependent changes in behavior ([Flexner et al., 1963][1]). Synaptic activity recruits transcriptional and translational machinery that alters gene expression, supporting long-term synaptic plasticity and structural remodeling necessary
Assessing muscle spasticity with Myotonometric and passive stretch measurements: validity of the Myotonometer

Spasticity of the biceps brachii muscle was assessed using the modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Myotonometry and repeated passive stretch techniques, respectively. Fourteen subjects with chronic hemiplegia participated in the study. Spasticity was quantified by muscle displacements and compliance from the Myotonometer measurements and resistive torques from the repeated passive stretch at velocities of 5 °/s and 100 °/s, respectively. Paired t-tests indicated a significant decrease of muscle displacement and compliance in the spastic muscles as compared to the contralateral side (muscle displacement: spastic: 4.84 ± 0.33 mm, contralateral: 6.02 ± 0.49 mm, p = 0.038; compliance: spastic: 1.79 ± 0.12 mm/N, contralateral: 2.21 ± 0.18 mm/kg, p = 0.048). In addition, passive stretch tests indicated a significant increase of total torque at the velocity of 100 °/s compared with that of 5 °/s (Tt5 = 2.82 ± 0.41 Nm, Tt100 = 6.28 ± 1.01 Nm, p < 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed significant negative relationships between the stretch test and the Myotonometer measurements (r < -0.5, p < 0.05). Findings of this study provided validation of the Myotonometry technique and its high sensitivity in examination of spasticity in stroke.
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting for Powering Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS)

Recent advancements in wireless technology and low power electronics such as micro electrome-chanical systems (MEMS), have created a surge of technical innovations in the eld of energy har-vesting. Piezoelectric materials, which operate on vibrations surrounding the system have becomehighly useful in terms of energy harvesting. Piezoelectricity is the ability to transform mechanicalstrain energy, mostly vibrations, to electrical energy, which can be used to power devices. This paperwill focus on energy harvesting by piezoelectricity and how it can be incorporated into various lowpower devices and explain the ability of piezoelectric materials to function as self-charging devicesthat can continuously supply power to a device and will not require any battery for future processes.
Chapter 4 – Music

Evolution of consciousness and cultures requires both differentiation and synthesis, detailed understanding and wholeness. These fundamental mechanisms of the mind and culture require and oppose each other. Language leads toward fast accumulation of knowledge, which creates contradictions, cognitive dissonances leading to discarding knowledge. Evolution of cultures required cognitive mechanisms for overcoming this tendency to discard knowledge. This mechanism was strongly emotional voice evolving toward music. Music is necessary for the entire evolution of culture. While language evolves toward more conceptual and less emotional ability, music evolves toward more emotional and less conceptual ability. While language splits psyche, music restores its unity. We come to understanding why music has such power over us: we live in the ocean of grief created by cognitive dissonances, “in much wisdom is much grief”; and music helps us alleviate this pain.
INTRAOPERATIVE IMAGING OF RETAINED PERFLUOROCARBON LIQUID USING SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

Purpose:To report images of retained perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) on the surface of the retina obtained during an intraoperative use of hand-held spectral domain optical coherence tomography.Methods:A 54-year-old man underwent pars plana vitrectomy with injection of PFCL to repair retinal detachmen
Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Segment Entry: An Empirical Study of the Mobile App Market

There is an ongoing debate in the mergers and acquisitions literature centered on whether mergers and acquisitions (M&As) have positive or negative effects on competition and market entry outcomes....
Suburbs against the Region: Homeowner Environmentalism in 1970s Detroit:

Suburban residents in the Detroit metropolitan area practiced a homeowner environmentalism that sought protection of property values, local sovereignty, and a bucolic aesthetic, while rejecting the...
Dissolution of Complex Metal Oxides from First-Principles and Thermodynamics: Cation Removal from the (001) Surface of Li(Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3)O2.

The rapid increase in use of Li-ion batteries in portable electronics has created a pressing need to understand the environmental impact and long-term fate of electonic waste (e-waste) products such as heavy and/or reactive metals. The type of e-waste that we focus on here are the complex metal oxide nanomaterials that compose Li-ion battery cathodes. While in operation the complex metal oxides are in a hermetically sealed container. However, at the end of life, improper disposal can cause structural transformations such as dissolution and metal leaching, resulting in a significant exposure risk to the surrounding environment. The transformations that occur between operational to environmental settings gives rise to a stark knowledge gap between macroscopic design and molecular-level behavior. In this study we use theory and modeling to describe and explain previously published experimental data for cation release from Li(Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3)O2 (NMC) nanoparticles in an aqueous environment (Chem. Mater. 2016 ...
An Overview of Polymers For Harsh Environments; Aerospace, Geothermal and Undersea

Three applications in which polymers have been subjected to extreme stresses are aerospace, geothermal and undersea exposure. All of these environments require extraordinary behaviour of coatings, seals or adhesives. The aerospace uses have received the most attention, and therefore, research efforts in the past twenty-five years have concentrated on the development of polymer backbones that are resistant to high temperatures and unusual chemical (atomic oxygen) environments. Several successful aromatic and inorganic backbones have been discovered, such as polybenzimidazoles and polyphosphazenes. Geothermal energy production also has extreme temperature requirements, but in an environment quite different from aerospace. Here hydrolytic and reductive stresses are seen rather than oxidative, and therefore, less exotic materials are used including rubber blends and polymer-concrete composites. Finally, for undersea electronic applications time is the greatest enemy of a seal meant to provide a barrier to water intrusion. Achieving a fifteen-year lifetime of a rubber-sealed device is quite difficult using economical materials. Here additives in rubber can be critical as are processing and adhesion technology. The most challenging task is to develop valid accelerating aging techniques to estimate useful life.
Pre-treatment pulmonary function testing as a predictor of cardiopulmonary toxicity in esophageal cancer patients treated with trimodality therapy.

121Background: We evaluated the role of pre-treatment pulmonary function testing (PFT) in predicting the likelihood of cardiac and/or pulmonary toxicity for esophagus cancer patients receiving trim...
Temperature Effects on Singularity Matching and Parity in a Superconducting Single-Electron Transistor

In this paper, we present results demonstrating the effect of temperature on singularity matching (SM) tunneling down to 300 mK in superconducting single-electron transistors (SSETs). The studied SSETs have charging energies significantly larger than the Josephson energy, which makes it possible to study the SM condition without other sub-superconducting gap conduction mechanisms obscuring the SM signatures at low biases. The presence of parity in one such device has also allowed us to explore the effect of temperature on the effect of parity on SM features.
Perceived discrimination is disproportionally associated with sexual minority mental health: Implications for non-monosexual sexual minorities

AbstractWe explored how perceived discrimination and mental illness change as a function of mono vs non-monosexual minority identity. Archival data gathered through the Healthy Minds Network was us...
Protest pedagogy: a meditation on unapologetic blackness in the neo-liberal University

This essay analyzes literary and theoretical approaches to teaching the Black Lives Matter Movement in a college class. By focusing on the prevalence of memoir as a way of capturing responses to ra...
Catch-and-Release Influences on Inland Recreational Fisheries

Catch-and-release (CR) has become a pervasive practice and “social norm” with anglers for some inland recreational fisheries. This practice has been promoted for fish conservation and to meet angle...
The Collective: Embedding Sustainability Into the Curriculum via the Development and Testing of a Sustainable Pop-up Store

This study involves the development of a Pop-Up concept meshing experiential retail within an online marketplace model. “The Collective” Pop-Up involved a discovery and participatory learning experience (launched twice over two semesters) wherein students were encouraged to apply knowledge and skills they learn from the curriculum in a real world business situation.
PATTERNS OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN PATIENTS WITH CRYPTOGENIC STROKE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ANTICOAGULATION

Outpatient rhythm monitoring with implantable loop recorders (ILR) to assess atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly used in cryptogenic stroke (CS). Because risk of stroke is variable based on duration of AF, patterns of AF detected on ILR may have implications for anticoagulation. All patients
Order and Disorder in the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky Equation

The Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation $$ {u_t} + {u_{XXXX}} + {u_{XX}} + _2^1u_X^2 = 0, - \infty 0 $$ (1.1) has attracted for the last decade a considerable attention ([3]–[6], [8], [12], [14]–[17]). It was originally derived by Kuramoto and Tsuzuki [3] in the context of a reaction diffusion system, and by Sivashinsky [14] in the context of flame front propagation. In the latter case u(x,t) represents the perturbation of a flame front which propagates in a fuel — oxygen mixture. Numerical experiments ([4], [6], [8], [17]) have shown that eg. (1.1) when solved on a sufficiently large interval — l < X < l with periodic boundary conditions tends to a turbulent state as t → ∞. The solution u(x,t) has the form $$ u\left( {x.t} \right) = - c_0^2t + (x,t) $$ (1.2) Where \( c_0^2 \approx 1.2 \) is a universal constant independent of the initial condition, while the mean value of v(x,t) is close to zero. For a fixed t the function v(x,t), although irregular, has an appearance of a quasi-periodic wave with a characteristic wave length \( {\ell _0} = 2\pi /{\omega _0},{\omega _0} = \sqrt 2 /2 \) Note that the frequency ω0 is maximally amplified by the linear terms in (1.1). Formula (1.2) suggests that one should look for steady solutions of (1.1), namely solutions of the form $$ u(x,t) = - {c^2}t + v(x) $$ (1.3) Clearly v(x) satisfies the O.D.E. $$ \frac{{{d^4}v}}{{d{x^4}}} + \frac{{{d^2}v}}{{d{x^2}}} = {c^2} - \frac{1}{2}{(\frac{{dc}}{{dx}})^2} $$ (1.4) or a third order equation for the slope \( y = \frac{{dv}}{{dx}} \) $$ \frac{{{d^3}y}}{{d{x^3}}} + \frac{{dy}}{{dx}} = {c^2} - \frac{1}{2}{y^2}, - \infty < x < \infty $$ (1.5) The main objective of this work is to study the set of bounded solutions of (1.5) and its dependence on the parameter c.
A probability description of the Yule-Nielsen effect, I : Tone reproduction and image quality in the graphic arts

The Yule-Nielsen effect, also called optical dot gain, has often been modeled based on convolutions between halftone dot patterns and a point spread function, PSF, characteristic of the paper. The form of the PSF is generally assumed or measured empirically. An alternative approach to modeling the Yule-Nielsen effect employs a probability function P p , which describes the fraction of reflected light emerging between halftone dots and under dots. The probability model is shown to fit experimental data on the Yule-Nielsen effect quite well. Moreover, the model can be implemented with simple algebraic expressions rather than the convolution or Fourier calculations required for PSF models. In addition, the quantitative relationship between P p and PSF is demonstrated.
Understanding and Addressing Social Communication Difficulties in Children with Autism

This chapter summarizes current knowledge on social communication in ASD, including the diagnostic profile, the developmental trajectory, and early intervention strategies used to support social communication. Increasing evidence suggests that social communication development in ASD takes an atypical pathway, long prior to the time ASD can be reliably diagnosed. Early emerging social communication abilities, including joint attention, imitation, and joint engagement appear to play a primary role in the genesis of later occurring social communication indicators of ASD. Likewise, early intervention strategies that appear particularly promising for positively impacting social communication are those that support joint engagement routines, and are implemented in family-centered contexts. These strategies have shown that they not only increase social communication, but can also lead to generalized and developmentally distal outcomes long after the intervention has stopped.
The reliability of geometric Brownian motion forecasts of S&P500 index values

This manuscript extends the literature on the application of geometric Brownian motion. Forecasted drift and diffusion terms estimated separately and recursively are plugged into the framework to forecast S&P500 index values. Expected index values are estimated from 100,000 simulated index values and probabilities. The results of comparing expected index values with actual values indicate that although reliable predictions of S&P500 index values can be obtained at monthly, quarterly, and annual frequencies, the reliability may decrease in that order.
Water Shutoffs During COVID-19 and Black Lives: Case Study Detroit

The present water shutoff crisis in Detroit, which has deepened with the spread of COVID-19, exists within an historical context of decades-old government-sanctioned racial residential segregation ...
Contributions of biofilm-induced flow heterogeneities to solute retention and anomalous transport features in porous media

Abstract Microbial biofilms are ubiquitous within porous media, and the dynamics of their growth influence surface and subsurface flow patterns which impacts the physical properties of porous media and large-scale transport of solutes. A two-dimensional pore-scale numerical model was used to evaluate the impact of biofilm-induced flow heterogeneities on conservative transport. Our study integrates experimental biofilm images of Paenibacillus 300A strain in a microfluidic device packed with cylindrical grains in a hexagonal distribution, with mathematical modeling. Biofilm is represented as a synthetic porous structure with locally varying physical properties that honors the impact of biofilm on the porous medium. We find that biofilm play a major role in shaping the observed conservative transport dynamics by enhancing anomalous characteristics. More specifically, when biofilm is present, the pore structure in our geometry becomes more spatially correlated. We observe intermittent behavior in the Lagrangian velocities that switches between fast transport periods and long trapping events. Our results suggest that intermittency enhances solute spreading in breakthrough curves which exhibit extreme anomalous slope at intermediate times and very marked late solute arrival due to solute retention. The efficiency of solute retention by the biofilm is controlled by a transport regime which can extend the tailing in the concentration breakthrough curves. These results indicate that solute retention by the biofilm exert a strong control on conservative solute transport at pore-scale, a role that to date has not received enough attention.
2D Laramide Geometries and Kinematics of the Rocky Mountains, Western U.S.A.

Kinematic hypotheses for 2D, cross-sectional Laramide deformation in the Rocky Mountains include (1) block-tilting models and (2) basement thrust models with (a) subcrustal shear during low-angle subduction, (b) lithospheric buckling, (c) thickened lower crust under Laramide arches, and (d) crustal buckling during detachment of the upper crust. Vertical tectonic models invoking vertical or normal faults are falsified by major Laramide thrust faults and pervasive minor faults indicating NE-SW to E-W horizontal shortening. Seismic tomography documenting 200-km-thick Rocky Mountain lithosphere contradicts models predicting wholesale removal of North American mantle lithosphere by subcrustal shear during low-angle subduction. Preliminary gravity and deep seismic interpretations indicate a lack of correspondence between the Moho and Laramide arch geometries. This apparent lack of major Laramide faulting and folding of the Moho under the Rockies contradicts block-tilting models invoking reverse faults cutting the Moho and lithospheric buckling models. In addition, the maximum distances between Laramide arch culminations are generally smaller than buckle wavelengths expected for cratonic continental lithosphere. Geophysical evidence for rootless Laramide arches is incompatible with models predicting pure shear thickening of the lower crust under individual arches but is consistent with models invoking distributed lower crustal thickening over the entire Rockies. Rocky Mountain crustal geometries are most consistent with initial crustal buckling followed by upper crustal detachment on subhorizontal thrust faults that root to the west. An originally thick Rocky Mountain crust may have facilitated delamination and detachment folding of the upper crust during both the Laramide and the Ancestral Rocky Mountain orogenies.
R&D Spillovers and Global Growth

We examine the growth promoting roles of R&D, international R&D spillovers, and trade in a world econometric model. A country can raise its total factor productivity by investing in R&D. But countries can also boost their productivity by trading with other countries that have large "stocks of knowledge" from their cumulative R&D activities. We use a special version of MULTIMOD that incorporates R&D spillovers among industrial countries and from industrial countries to developing countries. Our simulations suggest that R&D, R&D spillovers, and trade play important roles in boosting growth in industrial and developing countries.
Leukocyte beta-galactosidase activity in the diagnosis of generalized GM 1 gangliosidosis.

GM1 generalized gangliosidosis is an autosomal recessive inherited disease, characterized by the storage of GM1 ganglioside in brain and visceral tissues secondary to a deficiency of the enzyme β-galactosidase. The enzyme deficiency found in brain, liver, and cultured flbroblasts is also present in the leukocyte. Using leukocytes as the test tissue two GM1 gangliosidosis putients were clearly identified from patients with clinically similar storage diseases. The enzyme activity in obligate heterozygotes showed intermediate levels between their affected children and normal controls, suggesting that heterozygotes may be identified using the leukocyte as the test tissue.
Separation of Conjoined Hormones Yields Appetite Rivals

In their Perspective, [Nogueiras and TschA¶p][1] discuss the study of [ Zhang et al. ][2] that has identified obestatin, a new hormone regulator of energy balance. Obestatin suppresses food intake, body weight gain, and gastrointestinal motility in rodents. The paradox is that obestatin is derived from a precursor peptide that also yields ghrelin, a hormone that increases appetite and body weight. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/310/5750/985 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/310/5750/996
Investigations into the Immunotoxicity and Allergic Potential Induced by Topical Application of N-Butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS) in a Murine Model.

N-Butylbenzene sulfonamide (NBBS) is a commonly used plasticizer found in numerous products. Due to its extensive use, lack of adequate toxicological data, and suspicion of toxicity based on the presence of structural alerts, it was nominated to the National Toxicology Program for comprehensive toxicological testing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential for hypersensitivity and immune suppression following dermal exposure to NBBS using a murine model. NBBS tested negative in a combined irritancy/local lymph node assay (LLNA), classifying it as nonirritating and nonsensitizing. To estimate the immunosuppressive potential of NBBS, assays that assessed immunotoxicity were performed, including the immumnoglobulin (Ig) M response to T-cell-dependent antigen sheep red blood cells (SRBC), using the plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay and immune cell phenotyping. After a 28-d treatment with NBBS, mice exposed to the lowest concentration (25% NBBS) showed a significant increase in IgM-producing B ce...