cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemodynamic effects of epidural ketamine in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs

Objective—The purpose of this study was to determine the hemodynamic effects of epidural ketamine administered during isoflurane anesthesia in dogs. Study Design—Prospective, single-dose trial. Animals—Six healthy dogs (five males, one female) weighing 25.3 ± 3.88 kg. Methods—Once anesthesia was induced, dogs were maintained at 1.5 times the predetermined, individual minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane. Dogs were instrumented and allowed to stabilize for 30 minutes before baseline measurements were recorded. Injection of 2 mg/kg of ketamine in 1 mL saline/4.5 kg body weight was then performed at the lumbosacral epidural space. Hemodynamic data were recorded at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes after epidural ketamine injection. Statistical analysis included an analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures over time. All data were compared with baseline values. A P < .05 was considered significant. Results—Baseline values ±standard error of the mean (X ± SEM) for heart rate, mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index, stroke index, systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, and rate-pressure product were 108 ± 6 beats/min, 85 ± 10 mm Hg, 10 ± 2 mm Hg, 3 ± 1 mm Hg, 5 ± 2 mm Hg, 2.3 ± 0.3 L/min/m2, 21.4 ± 1.9 mL/beat/m2, 3386 ± 350 dynes/sec/cm5, 240 ± 37 dynes/sec/cm5, and 12376 ± 1988 beats/min±mm Hg. No significant differences were detected from baseline values at any time after ketamine injection. Conclusions—The epidural injection of 2 mg/kg of ketamine is associated with minimal hemodynamic effects during isoflurane anesthesia. Clinical Relevance—These results suggest that if epidural ketamine is used for analgesia in dogs, it will induce minimal changes in cardiovascular function.
Effect of an emergency contraceptive pill intervention on pregnancy risk behavior

Abstract Objective Previous trials of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) found that in menstrual cycles ending in pregnancy, ECP use was more common among women exposed to interventions that enhanced access to the medication than among women with standard access. We examined data from one such trial to explore whether this finding has implications regarding the effect of the intervention on pregnancy risk behavior. Methods In our recent randomized trial, the intervention group received unlimited free ECPs in advance of need, whereas control participants obtained the medication when needed at usual cost. Participants were followed up for 1 year. In this secondary analysis, we examined ECP and contraceptive use in the cycles ending in pregnancy in that trial. Results Pregnancies in the intervention group appeared to have been more likely than those in the control group to be classified as “probably” or “possibly” ECP failures (12/74 in the intervention group vs. 1/74 in the control group; p=.012) and more likely to have occurred in the context of use of less efficacious contraceptives. Conclusion Unrestricted access to ECPs in this trial may have increased the frequency of coital acts with the potential to lead to pregnancy.
Short-term temporal variation in PM2.5 mass and chemical composition during the Atlanta Supersite Experiment, 1999.

Measurements in urban Atlanta of transient aerosol events in which PM2.5 mass concentrations rapidly rise and fall over a period of 3-6 hr are reported. The data are based on new measurement techniques demonstrated at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Atlanta Supersite Experiment in August 1999. These independent instruments for aerosol chemical speciation of NO3-, SO4(2-), NH4+, and organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), reconstructed the observed hourly dry PM2.5 mass to within 20% or better. Data from the experiment indicated that transient PM2.5 events were ubiquitous in Atlanta and were typically characterized by a sudden increase of EC (soot) and OC in the early morning or SO4(2-) in the late afternoon. The frequent temporal decoupling of these events provides insights into their origins, suggesting mobile sources in metro Atlanta as the main contributor to early morning PM2.5 and more regionally located point SO2 sources for afternoon PM2.5 events. The transient events may also have health implications. New data suggest that short-term PM2.5 exposures may lead to adverse health effects. Standard integrated filter-based techniques used in PM2.5 compliance monitoring networks and in most past PM2.5 epidemiologic studies collect samples over 24-hr periods and thus are unable to capture these transient events. Moreover, health-effects studies that focus on daily PM2.5 mass alone cannot evaluate the health implications of the unique and variable chemical properties of these episodes.
“Let them make SOUP:” The Essential Ingredients of Euro-American Grand Strategy and the Amerindian Conquest

This article assesses the grand strategy of Anglo-American settlers in North America, toward Amerindians and expansion, from first encounter to final conquest and addresses one of the greatest and longest struggles over territory on earth between 1600 and 1900 from a unified, or a strategic, perspective. It argues that any grand strategy at all, let alone the same one, underlay these events. The assessment uses American culture and politics, to explain the roots for a behavior which often occurred below the surface of state: to show what Americans thought about war and Amerindians, and how they acted on these ideas and conquered a continent.
Geographic Variation in Ontogeny of the Fox Sparrow

Ontogeny of two morphologically differentiated populations of Fox Sparrows (PassereNa iliaca) was compared to reveal the developmental bases of adult morphological differences. Growth of tarsus, wing, bill, and tail length relative to body mass was compared between the two populations to determine if geographic variation in adults results from different relative growth rates or different relative timings of onset and offset of growth. Differences in adult morphologies between populations result from both changes in allo- metric growth rates and changes in starting points along the same allometric trajectory. Sexual dimorphism in bill length is mostly the result of differences in growth rate occurring late in ontogeny. Differences between populations greatly exceed those between sexes. Factors underlying growth are complex and probably result from many different genetic and envi- ronmental factors.
Sexing Forster's Terns using morphometric measurements

Abstract Forster’s Terns (Sterna forsteri), like most seabirds, are monomorphic and are difficult to sex without extensive behavioral observations or genetic sexing. We conducted the first morphological study and discriminant function analysis on Forster’s Terns to develop a method to accurately identify their sex in the field. A sample of 84 terns from the San Francisco Bay estuary were captured or collected, measured, and the sex of 40 female and 44 male terns was confirmed by genetic analyses or via necropsy. Male Forster’s Terns were larger than females for 7 of 9 morphological measurements, with head-bill length showing the least amount of overlap between the sexes, followed by culmen length and culmen depth at the gonys. Sexual size dimorphism was greatest with retrix R6 length, followed by culmen width, and culmen depth. A discriminant function including only head-bill length accurately sexed 82% of Forster’s Terns, whereas a second discriminant function incorporating both head-bill length and culm...
Functional concepts, referentially opaque contexts, causal relations, and the definition of theoretical terms

In his recent article, ``Self-Consciousness'’, George Bealer has set outa novel and interesting argument against functionalism in the philosophyof mind. I shall attempt to show, however, that Bealer's argument cannotbe sustained.
Volumetric Arterial Spin-labeled Perfusion Imaging of the Kidneys with a Three-dimensional Fast Spin Echo Acquisition.

Rationale and Objectives Renal perfusion measurements using noninvasive arterial spin-labeled (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging techniques are gaining interest. Currently, focus has been on perfusion in the context of renal transplant. Our objectives were to explore the use of ASL in patients with renal cancer, and to evaluate three-dimensional (3D) fast spin echo (FSE) acquisition, a robust volumetric imaging method for abdominal applications. We evaluate 3D ASL perfusion magnetic resonance imaging in the kidneys compared to two-dimensional (2D) ASL in patients and healthy subjects. Materials and Methods Isotropic resolution (2.6 × 2.6 × 2.8 mm 3 ) 3D ASL using segmented FSE was compared to 2D single-shot FSE. ASL used pseudo-continuous labeling, suppression of background signal, and synchronized breathing. Quantitative perfusion values and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were compared between 3D and 2D ASL in four healthy volunteers and semiquantitative assessments were made by four radiologists in four patients with known renal masses (primary renal cell carcinoma). Results Renal cortex perfusion in healthy subjects was 284 ± 21 mL/100 g/min, with test-retest repeatability of 8.8%. No significant differences were found between the quantitative perfusion value and SNR in volunteers between 3D ASL and 2D ASL, or in 3D ASL with synchronized or free breathing. In patients, semiquantitative assessment by radiologists showed no significant difference in image quality between 2D ASL and 3D ASL. In one case, 2D ASL missed a high perfusion focus in a mass that was seen by 3D ASL. Conclusions 3D ASL renal perfusion imaging provides isotropic-resolution images, with comparable quantitative perfusion values and image SNR in similar imaging time to single-slice 2D ASL.
Theory of the Phonon-Roton Spectrum of Liquid 4He

The theory of the excited states of boson fluids, and particularly liquid 4He, has been the subject of attention for nearly fifty years, beginning with Landau’s observation in 1941 that the unusual properties of liquid 4He at temperatures well below the λ point could be understood in terms of a phonon and roton spectrum of excited states.1 Subsequently Landau asserted without proof that the phonons and rotons were part of a single, continuous spectrum as a function of momentum,2 having essentially the same form as is presently widely accepted.
Prospective cardiotoxicity screening during tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy for renal cell carcinoma: An institutional experience

e16003 Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) can lead to cardiotoxicity either directly by causing left ventricular dysfunction, or indirectly by increasing blood pressure. In light of prior...
Defining Advanced Heart Failure: A Systematic Review of Criteria Used in Clinical Trials

Abstract Background Enrollment criteria used in advanced heart failure (HF) clinical trials might identify a common set of widely accepted quantitative characteristics as the basis of a consensus definition for advanced HF, which is currently lacking. Methods We reviewed all clinical trials investigating interventions in patients with advanced HF as of July 31, 2015. Eligible publications (N = 134) reported original data from clinical trials explicitly defining advanced HF in adults. Results New York Heart Association (NYHA) class was the most common criterion (119 trials, 88.8%; classes ranged from II to IV), followed by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (84 trials, 62.7%; cutoff range, 20% to 45%; mode 35%). Other criteria included inotrope-dependent status (12.7%), peak oxygen consumption (10.4%), ≥1 previous HF admissions (10.4%), cardiac index (10.4%), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (9.0%), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (6.0%), and transplant listing status (5.2%). Cutoff points for quantitative criteria varied considerably. Previous HF admission was more frequently required in recent trials ( P = .007 for temporal trend), whereas use of hemodynamic criteria decreased over time ( P = .050 for temporal trend). Average LVEF among participants increased over time. Conclusions There is considerable variation in the definition of advanced HF for clinical trial purposes. Beyond NYHA and LVEF, a wide array of criteria has been used, with little consistency both in criteria selection and quantitative cutoff points.
Leaving a Trace

(2003). Leaving a Trace. Journal of Museum Education: Vol. 28, Sociocultural Perspectives on Museums: Part 2, pp. 25-31.
Colonial America without the Indians: Counterfactual Reflections

It is taking us painfully long to realize that throughout most of American history the Indians were "one of the principal determinants of historical events."' A growing number of scholars understand that fact, but the great majority of us still regard the native Americans if we regard them at all as exotic or pathetic footnotes to the main course of American history. This is patently clear from American history textbooks. As Virgil Vogel, Alvin Josephy, and most recently Frederick Hoxie have shown in embarrassing detail, "Indians in textbooks either do nothing or they resist." In their colonial and nineteenthcentury manifestations, they are either "obstacles to white settlement" or "victims of oppression." "As victims or obstacles, Indians have no textbook existence apart from their resistance." In short, the texts reflect our "deep-seated tendency to see whites and Indians as possessing two distinct species of historical experience" rather than a mutual history of continuous interaction and influence.2 Attempts to redress the balance have suffered from serious flaws. Some observers have exaggerated and oversimplified the Indian impact. We certainly ought to avoid the fatuity of the argument that "what is distinctive about America is Indian, through and through" or that Americans are simply Europeans with "Indian souls."3 Historians have been more drawn to other, less sweeping, approaches. Robert Berkhofer described four well-meaning but unproductive remedial approaches to "minority" history, especially the history of American Indians. They are the "great man" or "heroes" approach (the "devious side of treaty-making"), the "who-ismore-civilized" approach ("barbarities committed by whites against Indians" contrasted with the "civilized" contributions of Indians), the "crushed personality" and
La Victoria: Claiming Memory, History, and Justice in a Santiago Población

This article utilizes the key themes of the just practice perspective (Finn &Jacobson, 2003ab) to examine a fifty-year history of community practice in La Victoria, a poor urban sector of Santiago, Chile. The author employs five key themes-meaning, power, context, history, and possibility-in exploring the challenges, contradictions and possibilities for community building under dictatorship and democracy. Lessons for critical community practice learned from La Victoria's history are addressed.
The role of PET/CT as a prognosticator and outcome predictor in lung cancer

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is an important imaging tool for management of lung cancer and can be utilized in diagnosis, staging, restaging, treatment planning and evaluating treatment response. In the past decade PET/CT has proven to be beneficial for the prediction of prognosis and outcome. PET findings before and after treatment, the quantitative PET parameters such as standardized uptake value (SUV), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) as well as delayed PET/CT imaging can be used to determine patient prognosis and outcome. Other tracers such as hypoxia and proliferation marker tracers may be used for prognostication. The prognostic factors derived from PET/CT imaging help early development of risk-adapted treatment strategies, which provides cost-effective treatment and leads to improved patient management. Here, we discuss findings of studies related to application of PET/CT in lung cancer as well as some technical updates on quantitative PET/CT in lung cancer.
Kinetic and Thermodynamic Study of Aluminum Recovery from the Aluminum Smelter Baghouse Dust

The recovery and utilization of metals from wastes are important for saving metal resources, as well as for protecting the environment. There are various types of solid wastes that have different origins and forms. Elemental and mineralogical composition of the wastes depends on the industry where they come from; therefore, the recovery processes for these materials are widely different. In general, the recovery of metals from ores and/or concentrates is carried out by extractive metallurgy methods comprising pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and electrometallurgy. In this research, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide leachings with different experimental conditions are tested for the aluminum dissolution. Also, a kinetic and thermodynamic study of sodium hydroxide leaching of the aluminum smelter baghouse dust is conducted. It is determined that when the solids content is 10 g/L, the overall reaction rate is controlled by pore diffusion and the activation energy is calculated to be about 4.8 kcal/mol. At temperatures below 100 °C, the stable form of the recovered compound after leaching is sodium aluminate.
Linking Forest to Faucets in a Distant Municipal Area: Public Support for Forest Restoration and Water Security in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Reducing wildfire risk through forest restoration is vital for the sustainability of watersheds and the human systems that depend upon them. However, identifying public support and securing necessary funding to cover restoration costs is an important implementation challenge. Payment for ecosystem services models may help meet restoration objectives. While examples exist that show how funds can be generated from the public living near forestlands, an unresolved issue is whether households in a relatively distant municipal area would significantly support wildfire risk reduction efforts. This is an important issue as distant households often receive benefits from wildfire risk reductions, such as water source protection for municipal drinking water supply. The objective of this paper is to analyze survey-based contingent valuation data to investigate public support among urban Albuquerque, New Mexico (NM) households for restoration of a watershed that impacts the urban water supply security, but is spatially removed from the urban area. Econometric results show evidence of both significant public support for forest restoration-linking forests to faucets- and the importance of accounting for respondent uncertainty. The latter involves both: (i) uncertainty in the preferences for water security as an important collectively provided good (“preference uncertainty”); and (ii) uncertainty in the possibility that restoration activities across a forested landscape or watershed might actually deliver improved water security (“delivery uncertainty”). Econometric estimation results from a Double Hurdle model indicate a mean annual household willingness to pay (WTP) of US$64.44 (with a 95% of confidence interval of US$61.57–US$67.31), and corresponding median WTP of US$37.76 (US$36.16–US$39.37), for forest restoration that reduces wildfire risk and provides water source protection.
Clamp For Microsurgical Vasovasostomy

AbstractThe clamp described herein offers a good means of approximation for microsurgical vasectomy reversal.
Gas bearing slumping and figure correction of x-ray telescope mirror substrates

Figure correction of thin x-ray telescope mirrors may be critical for future missions that require high angular resolution and large collecting areas. One promising method of providing figure correction is to use stress generated via ion implantation. Since stress-based figure correction strategies cannot correct high spatial frequency errors, it is critical to obtain glass with only low spatial frequency error. One method is thermal gas bearing slumping, where glass is softened while floating on thin films of gas. This method avoids introducing mid- or high- spatial frequency errors by eliminating contact between the glass and mandrel. Together, these two methods form a promising approach to fabricating mirrors for a high angular resolution, large-area x-ray observatory. In this paper we report on progress in understanding gas bearing slumping, and advancing the technology to curved geometry. We also report on continued progress on advancing the ion implantation technology toward correcting flight-sized mirror substrates.
Evaluation of a Novel Difficulty of Smoking Cessation Phenotype Based on Number of Quit Attempts

Background Numerous studies have sought to identify genes that influence the ability to quit smoking, but none found any that are consistently associated with smoking cessation. Methods We developed a novel difficulty of quitting smoking phenotype based on the extremes of the number of quit attempts needed to achieve successful abstinence: Easy quitters were defined as having achieved long-term (>1 year) abstinence after their first quit attempt and difficult quitters as having reported 10 or more quit attempts. We conducted a two-stage study to determine if this phenotype could be useful for identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that influence smoking cessation. In stage 1, 82 SNPs in 26 genes involved in nicotine signaling and metabolism were genotyped in 1357 easy quitters and 1321 difficult quitters from Cancer Prevention Study 3 (CPS-3). In stage 2, the 11 SNPs associated with difficult quitting in stage 1 (p < .1) were genotyped in an independent sample of 1300 easy quitters and 1299 difficult quitters from CPS-3. Results Three of 11 SNPs (HTR1B rs6298, NR4A2 rs834829, and CYP2A65 rs8192729) were significantly associated with the difficult quitting phenotype in stage 2 (p < .05). In addition, a polygenic risk score based on the 11 SNPs identified in stage 1 was significantly associated with the difficult quitting phenotype in stage 2 (odds ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.14 per quintile, p trend = 4.5×10-3). Conclusions Using a novel difficulty of quitting phenotype, three gene variants and a polygenic risk score based on 11 SNPs were found to be significantly associated with smoking cessation. Implications Our results provide evidence that a difficulty of quitting smoking phenotype based on the extremes of number of quit attempts could be a useful tool for identifying genetic variants that influence difficulty of smoking cessation. Knowledge of these genetic variants will indicate biological pathways that could be targeted for the development of novel smoking cessation aids and could be used to determine which smokers are most likely to benefit from such smoking cessation aids.
Disparities in Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation in the United States: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

Purpose Phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a class I recommendation for all patients following an acute cardiac event or cardiac surgery according to the The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Studies have shown that there are differences in cardiac rehabilitation participation rates between sociodemographic groups. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analyses was to synthesize quantitative data on the relationship between outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR) attendance and various sociodemographic factors. Methods We conducted a search of PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Dissertations & Theses AI 95% CI = 0.51-0.69), individuals with a high school degree or less (OR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.50-0.91), and the uninsured or self-payers (OR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.14-0.71). Full- or part-time employees were more likely to participate than those not employed (OR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.08-1.95). Conclusions Our systematic review and meta-analyses showed that there are significant sociodemographic disparities in CR participation. On the basis of this knowledge, clinicians and policy makers should focus on identifying and eliminating barriers to participation.
Methadone "callbacks" within a veterans affairs opioid treatment program: Detecting methadone misuse.

Background and Objectives A “callback” requires patients to bring in take-home methadone doses for inspection. An opioid treatment program (OTP) quality-improvement project examined random versus “for-cause” callbacks. Method Eighty-two random callbacks and 60 for-cause callbacks were conducted among patients enrolled in an OTP (N = 183). Results Among patients with more take home doses, 6% of random callbacks versus 44% of for-cause callbacks were failed. Among patients with fewer take home doses, 36% of for-cause callbacks were failed. Discussion and Conclusions For-cause callbacks are more useful than random ones. Scientific Significance For-cause callbacks based on clinical judgment detect methadone misuse. (Am J Addict 2017;26:50–52)
Resisting the Ruses of Liberalism

Given that Joseph A. Massad’s previous book, Desiring Arabs,1 was both lauded as ‘epoch-making’2 and criticized for containing ‘conspiratorial fulminations’,3 it is no surprise that Islam in Libera...
Privacy? I Can’t Even! Making a Case for User-Tailored Privacy

How can we help users balance the benefits and risks of information disclosure online? A user-tailored privacy approach makes privacy decisions less burdensome by giving users the right kind of information and the right amount of control so as to be useful but not overwhelming or misleading.
On the Differentiability of the Solution to Convex Optimization Problems

In this paper, we provide conditions under which one can take derivatives of the solution to convex optimization problems with respect to problem data. These conditions are (roughly) that Slater's condition holds, the functions involved are twice differentiable, and that a certain Jacobian matrix is non-singular. The derivation involves applying the implicit function theorem to the necessary and sufficient KKT system for optimality.
8 – Systems Biology

This chapter provides an overview of modelling techniques for biological systems, including mechanistic and phenomenological approaches. The basic steps for building an ordinary differential equation (ODE)-based mechanistic model (i.e., structure characterization, model simulation, parameter estimation, and sensitivity analysis) are reviewed paying special attention to the case of oscillating systems. Moreover, novel statistical models for inferring differentially expressed genes, signaling pathways, functional clusters, and genetic networks are presented. Statistical tools, such as COMBINER (Core Module Biomarker Identification with Network Exploration), provide a comprehensive interaction map within and between pathways that can be translated to ODE models. Combining statistical and ODE modelling techniques can greatly enhance predictive capacity. The power of these approaches to identify biomarkers and drug target mechanisms is illustrated with application to the core mammalian feedback circuit and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Separation and characterization of the unknown phospholipid in human lens membranes.

PURPOSE The major component of human lens membranes was thought to be sphingomyelin until 1991, when a study by phosphorus-31 (31P) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of an unknown phospholipid that constituted approximately half the human lens phospholipids. The objective of this work was to isolate this phospholipid and to elucidate its identity. METHODS The separation of sphingomyelin from the unknown was accomplished using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and an amino-bound column. Sphingomyelin standard and the membranes from human lenses were chromatographed. Chromatographic fractions were collected and spectrally characterized by proton (1H) NMR and 31P NMR spectroscopy. RESULTS The chromatographic method did not affect the integrity of the sphingomyelin. Besides the bands corresponding to the unknown components, the chromatogram of the human lens membranes showed three large peaks, the central one with a shoulder, with elution times similar to that for sphingomyelin. The 1H NMR spectra for the fractions collected during the elution of these peaks showed differences. The study by 31P NMR indicated that the first peak contained the unknown phospholipid. The subsequent fractions showed the presence, in different relative levels, of both the unknown and sphingomyelin. By comparison and interpretation of the two-dimensional 1H NMR spectra for sphingomyelin and for the fraction containing the unknown, the unknown phospholipid is proposed to be 4,5 dihydrosphingomyelin, in which the site of unsaturation present in the sphingosine moiety is no longer present. CONCLUSIONS The ability to separate the unknown from sphingomyelin and the power of 1H NMR spectroscopy allowed the proposition of the identity of the major component of human lens membranes as 4,5-dihydrosphingomyelin. Although the synthetic compound is known to be involved in the formation of extended hydrogen-bonding networks, its biologic and physicochemical properties need further study.
Network Neutrality, Broadband Discrimination

This paper examines the the concept of network neutrality in telecommunications policy and its relationship to Darwinian theories of innovation. It also considers the record of broadband discrimination practiced by broadband operators in the early 2000s.
Optimization of Wound Rotor Synchronous Generators Based on Genetic Algorithms

The manufacturers are tempted to reduce the amount of active materials in the devices in order to lower the material bill. However, reducing the weight of the devices directly affects the energy efficiency. In this paper, a solution to this problem is proposed for the case of wound rotor synchronous generators. The trade-off between cost and efficiency is formulated as a constrained optimization problem and solved using a Genetic Algorithm. The cost optimization of three different machines is carried out through various design approaches. The proposed approach always gives better results than the classical approach concerning the global cost of the range.
Modeling hypoglossal motoneurons in the developing rat

Abstract We hypothesize that developmental changes in motoneuron volume or surface area in the hypoglossal motor nucleus (XII) can alter the biophysical properties that contribute to motor output. We used the Golgi-Cox technique to stain developing hypoglossal motoneurons (XII MNs) at three postnatal ages (P3, 10, & 17). We removed Sprague-Dawley rat pup brains, processed, sectioned, stained, imaged, and performed 3D reconstructions to quantify the morphometrics of XII MNs. We then used the simulation environment, NEURON, to model the biophysical properties from digitally reconstructed neurons and compared our results to previously published experiments. The total volume of neurons increased from 4766 μ m3 for P3 to 16,904 μ m3 for P17 while the total surface area increased from 4258 μ m2 to 13,510 μ m2 respectively. The P3 simulations required a 10-fold reduction in the hyperpolarization-activated current and doubling of the membrane capacitance to match experimental results. XII MN morphology showed a direct relationship with passive electrophysiological properties and recapitulates the changes seen experimentally.
The Use of Course Grades as Metrics in L2 Research: A Systematic Review

Much of applied linguistics research has been concerned with classroom‐based second language (L2) development as it offers an ideal setting for examining the institutional ecology of L2 learning and teaching. However, scholars have continued to call for greater attention to the operationalization of constructs, selection of valid assessments, and use of appropriate statistical analyses. One cause for concern is the use of instructor‐constructed evaluations for research purposes, commonly found both as single assessments and, in their composite form, as course grades. The present study examined justifications for and uses of course grades in L2 research by systematically searching, coding, and analyzing course grades as variables in a sample of published L2 research in four prominent L2 journals: Foreign Language Annals, Language Learning, Modern Language Journal, and TESOL Quarterly. To provide a concrete example, this meta‐analysis investigated the relationship between L2 grades and anxiety. A number of suggestions for the use of grades and other assessment tools in educationally oriented L2 research are offered.
The Role of Companion Animals throughout the Family Life Cycle.

ABSTRACT This paper examines the roles that companion animals play in the lives of American families, and discusses how those roles change as families progress through the stages of the family life cycle. It highlights the importance of pets in the lives of children and the benefits they receive from such relationships. It also presents information regarding the role of a child that animals often assume within families that do not have children. This paper also discusses the impact that the death of a pet has on the family, and provides suggestions for social workers who assist families that have strong attachment to companion animals.
Multidisciplinary Imaging Review Conference Improves Neuro-oncology Radiation Treatment Planning and Follow-up.

Purpose To review the impact of a weekly multidisciplinary neuroradiology imaging review on the management of patients undergoing radiotherapy. Methods A prospective study of the management of 118 patients (30=head and neck, 40=skull base, central nervous system=48) was conducted over a 12-month period from January 2018 through January 2019. After review of each patient's history and relevant imaging, a radiation oncologist completed a form detailing the changes that were made in diagnosis and management. Imaging source (external and internal examinations), availability of outside reports, report timeliness, the value of reports, changes in interpretation, changes in clinical management, and changes in prognosis were documented. Changes in interpretation and management were designated as major or minor depending on the significance of the change. The managing radiation oncologist indicated whether the imaging review conference substituted for a peer-to-peer consultation with a neuroradiologist. Results Nearly half (47%) of all patients had a change in interpretation. Of those, 32% of patients had a major change in interpretation, while 14% had a minor change in interpretation. The existence of the multidisciplinary imaging review conference prevented a peer-to-peer consultation (interruption) by the radiation oncologists to the neuroradiologists in 90% of the cases presented. Further analysis was performed. Conclusion The involvement of neuroradiologists in a joint radiation oncology imaging review conference resulted in changes in diagnostic imaging interpretation that led to significant changes in management, expected prognosis, and workflow.
Frontline Science: Targeting the TLR7 signalosome assembly.

TLRs sense a broad range of microbial molecules and initiate antimicrobial immune response. The members of the TLR family use cytoplasmic Toll/interleukin-1R homology (TIR) domain to initiate intracellular signaling. The activated TLRs dimerize their TIRs and recruit adapter proteins to the dimer, through multiple interactions of receptor and adapter TIR domains. Although TLRs play an essential role in innate immunity, the aberrant TLR signaling may cause pathogenic inflammation. This study has screened a library of cell-permeable decoy peptides (CPDPs) derived from the TLR7 TIR for interference with TLR7 signaling and identified new CPDPs that target the TLR7 signalosome assembly. Peptides 7R1, 7R6, 7R9, and 7R11 inhibited the TLR7-induced signaling in murine and human macrophages. The most potent inhibitory peptide of the four, 7R11, significantly reduced the systemic cytokine levels elicited by administration of a TLR7 agonist to mice. TLR7 TIR surface regions that correspond to inhibitory peptides generally corresponded to four TIR sites that mediate signalosome assembly for other TLRs. The cell-based Forster resonance energy transfer/fluorescence lifetime imaging confirmed that 7R9 and 7R11 interact with adapter TIRs. These findings clarify the molecular mechanisms that trigger the adapter recruitment to activated TLR7 and suggest that 7R9 and 7R11 have a significant translational potential as candidate or lead therapeutics for treatment of TLR7-related inflammatory diseases.
Passively Addressable Ultra-Low Volume Sweat Chloride Sensor

This work demonstrates a novel electrochemical biosensor for the detection of chloride ion levels in ultra-low volumes (1-3 microliters) of passively expressed human sweat. We present here a hydration monitor that the pediatric, geriatric, and other immune-compromised or physically inactive/sedentary population cohort can utilize, for whom the current methods of chloride quantification of active stimulation of sweat glands through iontophoresis or treadmill runs are unsuitable. In this work, non-faradaic electroanalysis using gold microelectrodes deposited on a flexible nanoporous substrate, for high nanoscale surface area to volume enhancement, was leveraged to operate in ultra-low sweat volumes of <3 µL eluted at natural rates. The specific chloride ionophore-based affinity of chloride ions resulted in the modulation of charge transfer within the electrical double layer at the electrode-sweat buffer interface, which was transduced using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA). Linear calibration dose responses with R-squared values of 0.9746 and 0.9403 for EIS and CA respectively were obtained for a dynamic range of 10-100 mM. The surface charge and the binding chemistry of the capture probe were studied using zeta potential studies and UV-Vis. The dynamic sweat chloride-tracking capability of the sensor was evaluated for a duration of 180 min. Studies were conducted to probe the efficacy of the developed sensor for passive ultra-low sweat chloride assessment on human subjects (n = 3).
Illicit Financial Flows: Concepts, Measurement, and Evidence

There is a growing consensus that the presence of illegal and harmful cross-border financial flows is one of the factors impeding economic and human development. In recent years, a new conceptual f...
Initiating plant herbivory response increases impact of fungal pathogens on a clonal thistle

Abstract Cirsium arvense, or Canada thistle, is one of the most detrimental weeds for agricultural production. Native to south-eastern Europe, the species is now found in Many parts of Asia, North America and Australasia. In North America and New Zealand the species is considered invasive, displacing native vegetation and reducing the quality of forage in rangelands and pastures. The autoecious fungus, Puccinia punctiformis, or CT-rust, shows potential as a control agent but rarely reaches epidemic proportions in natural populations. Manipulating plant defense hormones could alter host susceptibility and allow CT-rust to have more widespread impact. To determine if applying hormones increases the infection by the fungal pathogen, Canada thistle plants were inoculated and sprayed with jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). Results show that jasmonic acid application interacted with inoculation, increasing infection rates, both incidence and severity, and impact of CT-rust. We found that JA increased infection rates by nearly 20%. Infection consistently reduced root biomass and this reduction was 45% greater with the addition of JA compared to untreated control. Addition of JA at the time of inoculation could make it a more effective control agent for Canada thistle.
Husserl on scientific method and conceptual change: A realist appraisal

Husserl claimed that all theoretical scientific concepts originate in and are valid in reference to 'life-world' experience and that scientific traditions preserve the sense and validity of such concepts through unitary and cumulative change. Each of these claims will, in turn, be sympathetically laid out and assessed in comparison with more standard characterizations of scientific method and conceptual change as well as the history of physics, concerning particularly the challenge they may pose for scientific realism. The Husserlian phenomenological framework is accepted here without defense, and hence the present project is limited to the task of asking what can and cannot be accommodated within that framework on its own terms.
Prophylactic Antireflux Surgery in Lung Transplantation

Lung transplantation has seen immense growth over the past two decades. There are, however, many remaining uncertainties with regards to patient selection and post-operative care. In this chapter we have reviewed the literature in order to answer three important questions. First, does fundoplication following lung transplant improve symptomatology, lung function, and overall survival? Second, is fundoplication safe in this patient population? Third, does the timing of fundoplication matter, early after transplant or in a delayed fashion in those who develop allograft dysfunction? Based on our findings, we have made two recommendations. We furthermore discuss our own view of the data and how it should influence clinical decision making.
Are we ready to call exposure to air pollution a risk factor for dementia

Does exposure to air pollution influence the development of dementia? The possibility that it might rests on 2 overarching theories. The first ties air pollution to dementia through its effects on other conditions, especially cardiovascular disease, stroke, and systematic inflammation. The second, drawn from controlled studies of animals, purports that some pollutants translocate to the brain from the nasal passage through the olfactory tract and wreak havoc upon arrival. All told, air pollution could be pleiotropically neurotoxic, unleashing an array of neuropathologic effects—cerebrovascular, Alzheimer-related, and others—that fuel dementia risk.
The Power of Female Athletes to Level the Computer Science Playing Field

Between 2007 and 2017 the graph of percents of USA female bachelor's degrees in computer and information sciences plateaued below 20%. The seeming inability to crack the 20% ceiling, given the expenditure of billions of USA dollars for projects and research aimed at recruitment and retention of women, calls for new research that is uniquely different from that explored in the literature. The authors investigate the role of female athletes within the computer science environment. The literature currently contains no such exploration. Along with female athletes (FA), the study involves additional groups: female non-athletes (FNA), male athletes (MA), and male non-athletes (MNA). This paper addresses the research questions: Do cumulative GPAs for FA, FNA, MA, and MNA in the current study follow the literature's GPA ordering for the four groups? How do CS1 course grades and cumulative GPAs for the groups relate to each other? Do female and male athletes and non-athletes have different experiences in CS1? If FA thrive in computer science, can future researchers recast some of the elements from the sporting domain for use with FNA in the computing domain, so that many more females will persist in computing?
Psychological distress among postural tachycardia syndrome patients in the Fennell Crisis phase

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic illness that disrupts the autonomic nervous system and decreases quality of life. The Fennell Phase Inventory is a developmental instrument that di...
Mixed phase ytterbium silicate environmental-barrier coating materials for improved calcium–magnesium–alumino-silicate resistance

Calcium–magnesium–alumino-silicate (CMAS) reaction and infiltration behavior were studied in phase pure and mixed phase ytterbium silicate environmental-barrier coating (EBC) materials at 1300 °C. Phase pure Yb2Si2O7 (YbDS) was infiltrated by CMAS via grain boundaries/pores, resulting in loss of its structural integrity. Phase pure Yb2SiO5 (YbMS) reacted with CMAS to form either apatite (Ca2Yb8(SiO4)6O2) or YbDS, depending on the initial glass composition. Both reactions in YbMS slowed infiltration kinetics considerably compared to YbDS. Samples having a YbDS matrix with controlled amounts and dispersions of YbMS were also investigated as a model for air plasma spray coatings. Samples containing ≥20 vol% coarse YbMS showed dramatically improved infiltration behavior compared to phase pure YbDS. YbDS samples containing a fine dispersion of YbMS displayed a new mode of CMAS attack in which glass spread on the sample surfaces. The results of this study suggest that EBC phase compositions and microstructures may be tailored for optimized CMAS resistance.
Fuel-Balanced Formation Flight Control of Underactuated Satellites

We consider a continuous-time optimal control problem for a swarm of single thruster, single reaction wheel spacecraft aiming to reach a target formation. The dynamic model of each spacecraft is obtained by augmenting the Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire equations with the coupled dynamics of the reaction wheel and thruster. For the optimal control problem, we penalize the deviation from the target formation, the overall fuel usage, and the fuel imbalance between agents. The optimal control law is then obtained by using the minimum principle to formulate a split-boundary-value ODE, which is then solved numerically. Numerical simulations for a simple swarm of three satellites show that the proposed approach successfully reduces the fuel consumption of the most fuel-intensive spacecraft, thus extending the overall lifetime of the formation system.
Illuminating the vernacular of inequity: recognition, interaction ritual theory, and microaggressions

While it would seem that the framework of “the politics of recognition” is perfectly primed to enable contributions to the necessary discussion about why and how mundane interactions are politicall...
Neurophysiological and behavioral responses of blacklegged ticks to host odors.

Abstract The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (Ixodida, Ixodidae), is one of the major disease vectors in the United States, and due to multiple human impact factors, such as decreasing forest size for land development and climate change, it has expanded its range and established across the United States. Throughout the life cycle, ticks locate hosts for their blood-meal, and although the ecologies of this tick and their hosts have been studied in depth, the sensory physiology behind host location largely remains unexplored. Here, we report establishing a robust paradigm to isolate and identify odors from the natural milieu for I. scapularis. We performed single sensillum recordings (SSR) from the olfactory sensilla on the tick tarsi, and used the SSR system as a biological detector to isolate natural compounds that elicited biological activity. The SSR setup was further tested in tandem with gas chromatography (GC) wherein the ticks’ olfactory sensillum activity served as a biological detector. The GC-SSR recordings from the wall pore sensilla in the Haller’s organ, and further identification of the biologically active deer gland constituents by GC-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) revealed methyl substituted phenols as strong chemostimuli, as compared to ethyl or propyl substitutions. The strongest electrophysiological activity was elicited by m- cresol followed by p- cresol. Ethyl- and propylphenols with any of the three substitutions (ortho, meta or para), did not induce any neurophysiological activity. Finally, a behavioral analysis in a dual-choice olfactometer of all these phenols at three different doses revealed no significant behavioral response, except for p- cresol at −3 dilution. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of I. scapularis tick’s neurophysiology and provides a robust platform to isolate and identify natural attractants and repellents.