cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Macula densa stimulation of renin is reversed by selective inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase

The neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) exists in the renal cortex predominantly in the macula densa, suggesting that nitric oxide (NO) derived from the macula densa plays a role in fe...
Expected stress relief in a bi-material inhomogeneously bonded assembly with a low-modulus-and/or-low-fabrication-temperature bonding material at the ends

It is shown, based on the developed analytical predictive model, that a significant thermal stress relief can be achieved in an optimized design of an inhomogeneously bonded bi-material assembly, if its bonding system is designed in such a way that the interfacial shearing stress at the ends of the high-modulus-and-high-bonding-temperature mid-portion of the assembly at its boundary with the low-modulus-and-low-bonding-temperature peripheral portion is made equal to the stress at the assembly ends. The numerical example carried out for such an optimized ball-grid-array (BGA) or a column-grid-array (CGA) electronic assembly indicates that the above measure enables one to design an assembly, in which the induced interfacial stresses are about half of the stresses in a regular, non-optimized, but still inhomogeneously bonded assembly with a low-modulus-and/or-low-bonding-temperature material at its ends. The predicted maximum stress in an optimized assembly is only about 41 % of the maximum stress in a homogeneously bonded BGA assembly and about 46 % of the maximum stress in a homogeneously bonded CGA assembly. The numerical data indicated also that the application of the CGA technology in a non-optimized inhomogeneously bonded assembly enables one to achieve a 19 % stress relief in the case of an application of the epoxy adhesive at the peripheral portions of the assembly, and that a 34 % stress relief could be expected in the case of the use of a low modulus solder at the assembly ends. When a BGA technology is considered, the application of an epoxy or a low modulus solder at the peripheral portions of the assembly leads to approximately the same stress relief effect: about 14 % in the case of an epoxy adhesive and about 13 % in the case of a low modulus solder. When a CGA technology is considered, the application of an epoxy at the peripheral portions of the non-optimized assembly leads to about 9.0 % stress relief, while the application of a low modulus solder results in about 24 % stress relief. If, e.g., the yield stress in shear is 1.85 kg/mm2 for the solder in the assembly’s mid-portion and 1.35 kg/mm2 for the peripheral solder material, the application of the CGA technology in combination with an inhomogeneous bond with an epoxy adhesive or a low modulus solder at the assembly ends might enable one to avoid inelastic strains in the solder, weather in the mid-portion or in the peripheral portion, thereby increasing dramatically the fatigue lifetime of the bond. It is even easier to achieve this goal with the use of the suggested optimized design of an inhomogeneous bond.
Monetary Incentives versus Promised Contribution to Charity: New Evidence on Mail Survey Response:

The relative efficacy of two types of incentives for producing responses to a mail survey was investigated. Personal cash payments of varying amounts enclosed with the questionnaire were compared w...
Neutrophil-Epithelial Interactions: A Double-Edged Sword

In recent years, it has become clear that innate immune cells termed neutrophils act as double-edged swords by playing essential roles in clearing infection but also causing tissue damage, yet being critical for wound healing. Neutrophil recruitment to sites of injured tissue or infection has been well studied, and many of the molecular events that regulate passage of leukocytes out of the microcirculation are now understood. However, after exiting the circulation, the molecular details that regulate neutrophil passage to end targets, such mucosal surfaces, are just beginning to be appreciated. Given that migration of neutrophils across mucosal epithelia is associated with disease symptoms and disruption of critical barrier function in disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, there has been long-standing interest in understanding the molecular basis and functional consequences of neutrophil-epithelial interactions. It is a great honor that my work was recognized by the Rous-Whipple Award this past year, giving me the opportunity to summarize what we have learned during the past few decades about leukocyte interactions with epithelial cells.
Construction and expression of the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid containing the dense granule protein 4 gene of Toxoplasma gondii

To construct the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid containing the dense granule protein 4(GRA4) gene of Toxoplasma gondii and to express this gene in HEK-293 cells and in mouse cells, the specific fragment of GRA4 gene from the genome DNA of T.gondii RH strain was amplified by PCR, and the amplified fragment was subcloned into pVAC expression vector. The eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAC-GRA4 was then transfected into HEK-293 cells by liposome method and into cells of BALB/c mice by gene gun injection. The mRNA expression of pVAC-GRA4 in HEK-293 cells was detected by RT-PCR and its expressed product was analyzed by Western blotting. Splenocytes were isolated from the experimental mice, in which the numbers of CD~+_4 and CD~+_8 T cells were determined by direct immuno-fluorescent assay and the production of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4 was detected by means of sandwich ELISA. After challenging by tachyzoites of T.gondii through intra-peritoneal route, the living status of mice was observed to evaluate its immune protection. The experimental results showed that the GRA4 gene fragment was amplified out of the genomic DNA of T.gondii RH strain and the eukaryotic recombinant plasmid pVAC-GRA4 was obtained. A band of object fragment with 987 bp in length was visible in pVAC-GRA4/HEK-293 cells as demonstrated by RT-PCR and its expressed product of 41 kDa could be recognized by specific antiserum in the Western blot analysis. In vaccinated mice, the number of CD~+_4 T cells appeared to have no obvious increase in comparison with that of the control group, but that of CD~+_8 T cells was obviously increased with a decrease in CD~+_4/CD~+_8 ratio.The level of IFN-γ was higher in the vaccinated group of mice than that of the control group, but level of IL-4 was not significantly different among these groups. After challenging with the virulent isolates of T.gondii RH strain, the survivalrates and the living times of mice in the vaccinated group were also prolonged in comparison with the un-treated group. It is concluded that the constructed eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAC-GRA4 can be expressed in HEK-293 cells and in cells ofBALB/c mice. These results may provide a foundation for the further studies on the vaccine development for T.gondii infections.
Tropical Neuroinfectious Diseases.

Purpose of Review:This article discusses the assessment of the patient presenting with neurologic symptoms who has lived in or traveled through tropical or subtropical regions and reviews selected nervous system infections prevalent in the tropics and subtropics, with discussion of the epidemiology,
Maternal exposure to radiographic exams and major structural birth defects.

Background An increasing number of radiologic exams are performed in the United States, but very few studies have examined the effects of maternal exposure to radiologic exams during the periconceptional period and birth defects. Objectives To assess the association between maternal exposure to radiologic exams during the periconceptional period and 19 categories of birth defects using a large population-based study of birth defects. Methods We studied 27,809 case mothers and 10,200 control mothers who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study and delivered between 1997 and 2009. Maternal exposure to radiologic exams that delivered ionizing radiation to the urinary tract, lumbar spine, abdomen, or pelvis were identified based on the mother's report of type of radiologic exams, organ or body part scanned and the month during which the exam occurred Results Overall, 0.9% of mothers reported exposure to one of these types of radiographic exams during the periconceptional period. We observed significant associations between maternal exposure during the first trimester and isolated Dandy-Walker malformation (odds ratio = 7.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.8–33) and isolated d-transposition of the great arteries (odds ratio = 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–10.3). However, the result for isolated Dandy-Walker malformation was based on only two exposed cases. Conclusion These results should be interpreted cautiously because multiple statistical tests were conducted and measurements of exposure were based on maternal report. However, our results may be useful for generating hypotheses for future studies. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 106:563–572, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Tocopherols in canned entrées and vended sandwiches.

Determination was made of alpha-, beta-plus-gamma-, and delta-tocopherol contents of brand-name canned entrees from a supermarket and from vending machines on a college campus, of several home-prepared entrees, and of sandwiches from vending machines in Spokane, Washington. Amounts of total tocopherols in canned entrees were small, ranging from none detected to 0.66 mg. per 100 gm. food. Similar home-prepared entrees, however, contained 0.41 mg. to 1.55 mg. Tocopherols in vended sandwiches ranged from 0.05 mg. to 1.86 mg. per 100 gm. sandwich. Results are also expressed as total tocopherols per serving (I.U.). These convenience foods contribute only a small amount to the day's intake of vitamin E.
Flavin-sensitized electrode system for oxygen evolution using photo-electrocatalysis

Fabrication of bio-electrode systems decorated with redox active biomolecules, flavins, is demonstrated. Exploiting the photochemistry and electrochemistry of flavins, we explored the photo-electrochemical activity of flavin-functionalized electrode systems to assess their potential utility for sustainable energy production. As model systems, lumiflavin and flavin adenine dinucleotide were immobilized on carbon electrodes by dropcasting and covalent grafting techniques. Activity of these bio-electrodes towards generation of O2 from H2O in 0.5 M potassium phosphate buffer at pH 7.1 was demonstrated. Irradiation of the electrode system with visible light led to increased activity of the electrodes with a 3-fold enhancement of oxidation of H2O.
Probability in classical and Quantum theory

Ever since Max Born in 1926 proposed his statistical interpretation of SchrSdinger’s wave function, the outstanding innovation of quantum mechanics has been seen in the admission of probability replacing classical determinacy. Heisenberg’s uncertainty relation only stressed and clarified this view in a particularly significant example. The contrast between classical determinism and quantum uncertainty has since been stressed time and again by physicists and natural philosophers, and even moralists have drawn comfort from the quantum view that chance rather than strict causality is the supreme law of nature. In the following we wish to re-affirm that determinism fails not only in accounting for the results of any honest “classical “game of chance, but that there is no possibility of carrying out a program of reducing classical thermodynamics to deterministic mechanics, notwithstanding the many efforts of deriving the Second Law on a deterministic mechanical basis. In opposition to those who would like to see strict causality restored even to quantum theory we try to show that it is futile in principle to search for hidden causes behind any distribution which satisfies the rules of probabihty, whether the distribution occurs in a classical or quantum-theoretical investigation. To prove our point let us examine a simple macroscopic game of chance.
Becoming “Black”: Exploring the Racialized Experiences of African Immigrants in the United States

ABSTRACTThis qualitative study critically examines how African students experience racialization and the process of negotiating their Black racial identity in the United States. The authors conducted focus group interviews to analyze the collective racialized experiences among African international students and African students who live in the United States as permanent residents or naturalized U.S. citizens at a Midwestern University. They discovered two themes that constituted how the participants made sense of their shifting Black subjectivity. This study reveals that Black migrants use multiple and sometimes contradictory strategies to negotiate their shifting Black subjectivity, which ultimately has implications for intercultural relations and Black identity politics.
AMIS and antigen modulation: of mice and men

In this issue of Blood, Liu et al investigated the mechanism of action in antibody-mediated immune suppression (AMIS) and the fate of antigen in a KEL mouse model system. 1
HIV/HCV Co-infection, Liver Disease Progression, and Age-Related IGF-1 Decline.

Background: We have previously reported that persons co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) had liver disease stages similar to HIV-uninfected individuals who were approximately 10 years older. Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) levels have long been known to decline with advancing age in humans and non-humans alike. We examined whether HIV infection affects the expected decline in IGF-1 in persons with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and if that alteration in IGF-1 decline contributes to the link between HIV, aging, and liver disease progression. Methods: A total of 553 individuals with HCV infection were studied from the AIDS Linked to the Intravenous Experience (ALIVE) cohort for whom more than 10 years of follow-up was available. Serum IGF-1 levels were determined by ELISA and evaluated according to baseline characteristics and over time by HIV status and liver disease progression. Linear regression with generalized estimating equations was used to determine whether IGF-1 decline over time was independently associated with liver disease progression. Results: Baseline IGF-1 levels were strongly associated with age ( P < 0.0001) but not with gender or HIV infection. Levels of IGF-1 declined at a rate of -1.75 ng/mL each year in HCV mono-infected individuals and at a rate of -1.23 ng/mL each year in HIV/HCV co-infected individuals ( P < 0.05). In a multivariable linear regression model, progression of liver fibrosis was associated with HIV infection and age, as well as with a slower rate of IGF-1 decline ( P = 0.001); however, the rate of IGF-1 decline did not alter the strength of the associations between HIV, liver disease, and age. Conclusions: The normal decline in IGF-1 levels with age was attenuated in HIV/HCV co-infected individuals compared to those with HCV mono-infection, and slower IGF-1 decline was independently associated with liver disease progression. Keywords: IGF-1, HIV-1, Hepatitis C, Fibrosis, Liver
Voxelbuild: a minecraft-inspired domain for experiments in evolutionary creativity

The fields of artificial life and evolutionary robotics have seen growing interest in evolution as a source of creativity, as opposed to a tool for optimization. New intentionally divergent algorithms such as novelty search with local competition (NSLC) and MAP-Elites accordingly attempt to harness evolution's aptitude for divergence in a new search paradigm called quality diversity (QD), which aims to find a wide variety of possible solutions spread across a behavior space. To date, QD has mainly been studied in domains where potential diversity is limited. In anticipation of future, more open-ended applications of QD algorithms, this paper introduces a new domain inspired by the popular Minecraft video game featuring a larger behavior space that is substantially more difficult to exhaust. Preliminary results are presented, showcasing sample block structures built by evolved neural network controllers.
Composition and funding. Consultation-liaison psychiatry services.

All of the programs in the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine directory of U.S. consultation-liaison (C-L) fellowship training (N = 49) responded to a questionnaire to document composition and funding of their staff. The mean annual budget was $324,664 (range $40,000-$550,000), with a mean of 2.4 full-time equivalents and 1.6 fellowship training positions. A significant patient cohort and C-L staff and fellows exist in these programs to launch important hypothesis-generation studies.
Colorblind Racism: Identities, Ideologies, and Shifting Subjectivities:

Sociologists have recently begun to recognize the need to more deeply examine the mechanisms of contemporary colorblind racism, to move beyond frame identification and glean new insights. This is i...
Field epidemiology training in Europe faces a bright future

It is fitting that the group of articles describing various field epidemiology training programmes published here should appear in 2001, the 50th anniversary of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Were he still alive today, Alex Langmuir (founder of EIS) would be delighted to see how well established and successful such training programmes have become in Europe. Similar ‘on-the-job’ training programmes intended to provide health professionals with the practical skills needed to conduct relevant and timely applied epidemiological investigations in the ‘real world’ of public health are also burgeoning in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Some of these training programmes are being developed and offered jointly with local academic institutions, others involve formal partnerships with CDC itself, and some are stand alone efforts of local public health agencies.
Refuge alternatives relief valve testing and design with updated test stand

Underground refuge alternatives require an air source to supply breathable air to the occupants. This requires pressure relief valves to prevent unsafe pressures from building up within the refuge alternative. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) mandates that pressure relief valves prevent pressure from exceeding 1.25 kPa (0.18 psi), or as specified by the manufacturer, above mine atmospheric pressure when a fan or compressor is used for the air supply. The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) tested a variety of pressure relief valves using an instrumented test fixture consisting of data acquisition equipment, a centrifugal blower, ductwork and various sensors to determine if the subject pressure relief valves meet the MSHA requirement. Relief pressures and flow characteristics, including opening pressure and flow rate, were measured for five different pressure relief valves under a variety of conditions. The subject pressure relief valves included two off-the-shelf modified check valves, two check valves used in MSHA-approved built-in-place refuge alternatives, and a commercially available valve that was designed for a steel refuge alternative and is currently being used in some built-in-place refuge alternatives. The test results showed relief pressures ranging from 0.20 to 1.53 kPa (0.03 to 0.22 psi) and flow rates up to 19.3 m3/min (683 scfm). As tested, some of the pressure relief valves did not meet the 1.25 kPa (0.18 psi) relief specification.
Normalization of Blood Pressure With Spinal Cord Epidural Stimulation After Severe Spinal Cord Injury.

Chronic low blood pressure and orthostatic hypotension remain challenging clinical issues after severe spinal cord injury (SCI), affecting health, rehabilitation and quality of life. We previously reported that targeted lumbosacral spinal cord epidural stimulation (scES) could promote stand and step functions and restore voluntary movement in patients with chronic motor complete SCI. This study addresses the effects of targeted scES for cardiovascular function (CV-scES) in individuals with severe SCI who suffer from chronic hypotension. We tested the hypothesis that CV-scES can increase resting blood pressure and attenuate chronic hypotension in individuals with chronic cervical SCI. Three male research participants with chronic cervical SCI received an implant of a 16-electrode array on the dura (L1-S1 cord segments, T11-L1 vertebrae). Individual specific CV-scES configurations (anode and cathode electrode selection, voltage, frequency and pulse width) were identified to maintain systolic blood pressure within the range of 110-120 mmHg without skeletal muscle activity of the lower extremities as assessed by electromyography. These individuals completed five two hour sessions using CV-scES in an upright, seated position during measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. Noninvasive continuous blood pressure was measured from a finger cuff by plethysmographic technique. For each research participant there were statistically significant increases in mean arterial pressure in response to CV-scES that was maintained within normative ranges. This result was reproducible over the 5 sessions with concomitant decreases or no changes in heart rate using individual specific CV-scES that was modulated with modest amplitude changes throughout the session. Our study shows that stimulating dorsal lumbosacral spinal cord can effectively and safely activate mechanisms to elevate blood pressures to normal from a chronic hypotensive state in humans with severe SCI with individual specific CV-scES.
Integrated Behavioral Health and Social Work: a Global Perspective

Mental health and substance use disorders, in combination referred to as behavioral health, significantly impact lives across the world and represent a considerable proportion of the global disease burden. The intent of integration of physical and behavioral health is to increase access to services while promoting treatment of the whole person. Because many countries are undergoing transformation of their healthcare systems, this paper offers a comparative analysis of integrated models of behavioral healthcare between the USA, the UK, and China. Integrated care occurs on a spectrum, and therefore, this paper outlines micro-, mezzo-, and macro-level systems that illustrate both opportunities and challenges in integrated healthcare systems in the context of the three countries. Further, the authors provide evidence of the ways in which social work professionals are deployed in certain settings as part of the trained workforce that provides integrated behavioral health services. The discussion examines ways of leveraging the strengths of the social work workforce to improve holistic well-being worldwide.
EFFICIENT INPUT SIGNAL DESIGN FOR THIRD-ORDER VOLTERRA MODEL IDENTIFICATION

Abstract The present work addresses the identification of third-order Volterra models from input-output process data. Building on previous studies regarding input sequence design for third-order Volterra models (Soni and Parker, 2004), a new reduced-length sequence is designed to identify third-order sub-diagonal kernels. This input sequence leads to a 30% reduction in the data required to accurately estimate the sub-diagonal kernel. Identification of second-and third-order off-diagonal kernels is carried out using a random binary sequence (RBS). These input sequences exploit the third-order Volterra model structure and use the prediction error variance expression as a measure of model fidelity. The utility of the proposed approach is demonstrated on an isothermal polymerization reactor case study. The reduced length sequence shows excellent performance and results in an 47% improvement in the sum-squared error (SSE) value of the third-order sub-diagonal kernel.
Long-Lived Luminescent Re(I) Complexes Containing cis-Carbonyl and Bidentate Phosphine Ligands

Highly emissive Re(I) complexes, hydrophobic cis-Re(CO)2(c-dppene)(dpphen) and water-soluble cis-Re(CO)2(c-dppene)(SO3-dpphen) with a negative charge, were synthesized [where c-dppene is cis-(bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene, dpphen is 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, and SO3-dpphen is its disulfonate derivative]. These Re(I) complexes have significantly higher molar absorption in the 350- to 490-nm region compared to their tricarbonyl Re(I) counterparts and their emission spectra are similar to those of Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes. The luminescence lifetimes of these Re(I) complexes approach 10 μs in the absence of oxygen in both aqueous and less polar solvents. The complexes have limiting anisotropy values exceeding 0.3. As both ligands, the diimine and the bidentate phosphine, can be modified by adding different substituents, it should be possible to make cis-Re(CO)2(diimine)(P-P) derivatives which are capable of labeling biomacromolecules for biochemical and biophysical studies.
Gallbladder Disease in Patients on Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition

Recent anecdotal reports suggest that total parenteral nutrition may be associated with an increased incidence of both acalculous cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. The validity of this association, however, has not been tested in a large population of patients on long-term total parenteral nutrition. Therefore, we assessed the incidence of gallbladder disease among our patients 15 yr and older who had received a minimum of 3 mo of total parenteral nutrition. Of the patients meeting these criteria, 128 were on total parenteral nutrition a mean of 13.5 mo. Nineteen had gallbladder disease before receiving total parenteral nutrition, leaving 109 patients at risk. Of these patients, 25 (23%) developed gallbladder disease after the initiation of total parenteral nutrition. Because of their known propensity for cholelithiasis, 94 of our patients with ileal disorders (Crohn's disease or ileal resection, or both) were considered separately. The 40% incidence of gallbladder disease in these 94 patients was significantly higher than expected from a series of similarly defined patients with ileal disorders not receiving total parenteral nutrition (p
Visualizing data through curvilinear representations of matrices

Abstract Most high dimensional data visualization techniques embed or project the data onto a low dimensional space which is then used for viewing. Results are thus limited by how much of the information in the data can be conveyed in two or three dimensions. Methods 1 are described for a lossless functional representation of any real matrix that can capture key features of the data, such as distances and correlations. This approach can be used to visualize both subjects and variables as curves, allowing one to see patterns of subjects, patterns of variables, and how the subject and variable patterns relate to one another. A theoretical justification is provided for this approach, and various facets of the method’s usefulness are illustrated on both synthetic and real data sets.
The Compatibility of Cryptocurrencies and Islamic Finance

In this article, I shall examine the compatibility of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies within the context of Islamic law. I shall begin by an introduction of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. I will then discuss the history of money in Islamic history, with an emphasis on the importance ethical financial dealings. I will then argue that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are highly compatible within Islamic finance, and in many cases, actually provide solutions to problems of government institution controlled currencies, arguing that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies better address several problems that early Islamic finance scholars were concerned with. Unlike traditional fiat, the supply of Bitcoin and many other digital currencies are fixed, thereby eliminating potential for gharar (deception), and also inflation. In addition, unlike fiat and precious metal coins, digital currencies cannot be altered, forged, or manipulated. Moreover, cryptocurrencies’ peer-to-peer transactions remove the need for any banking institution, thereby eliminating any risk with a third party controlling one’s money. I shall then conclude with a summary of the main points of the article, and examine future possibilities with regards to the role of digital and cryptocurrencies.
Effects of pregabalin on neurobehavior in an adult male rat model of PTSD.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be a very debilitating condition. Effective approaches to prevent and treat PTSD are important areas of basic science research. Pregabalin (PGB), a gabapentinoid derivative of γ-aminobutyric acid, possesses the potential to positively affect neurobehavioral changes associated with PTSD. Using a rodent model of PTSD, the aims of this study were to determine the effects of PGB as a possible prevention for the development of PTSD-like symptoms and its use as a possible treatment. A prospective, experimental, between groups design was used in conjunction with a three-day restraint/shock PTSD stress model. Sixty rats were randomly assigned between two groups, non-stressed and stressed (PTSD). Each of the main two groups was then randomly assigned into six experimental groups: control vehicle, control PGB, control naive, PTSD vehicle, PTSD Pre-PGB (prophylactic), PTSD Post-PGB (non-prophylactic). The neurobehavioral components of PTSD were evaluated using the elevated plus maze (EPM), Morris water maze (MWM), and forced swim test (FST). Pregabalin administered 24 hours before the initial PTSD event or for 10 days following the last PTSD stress event did not statistically improve mean open arm exploration on the EPM, spatial memory, and learning in the MWM or behavioral despair measured by the FST (p > 0.05).
Taking center stage: Early modern women’s tragedies on the contemporary stage

From wife murder to cloak-and-dagger plays, female bodies, minds, and financial status are, for the most part, disempowered and abused by male protagonists with societal compliance. Since the 2000s, coinciding with the approval of the Ley Integral contra la Violencia de Genero (2004), a wave of stage adaptations emerged in Spain that questioned the marginalization of women characters in the comedia. I claim that this trend in performance has become a sociocultural phenomenon that uses the symbolic capital of the comedia to raise awareness of women’s misrepresentation and gender violence and inequality.
Toward achieving the unthinkable: transforming conversations about criminalized others through service-learning in correctional facilities

ABSTRACTBuilding supportive communities and improving programming for incarcerated persons can be difficult due to stereotypes derived from culture, media, and personal upbringing. Such stereotypes, like the narratives from which they are derived, are socially constructed. To develop an understanding of how those narratives construct “others” and to transform stereotypes of incarcerated “others,” we adopted a communication perspective on the problem of overcoming stigma, designed a course to promote transformative learning, and employed service-learning as a way to bring students into contact with incarcerated men in a regional prison facility. Students’ reflections over two semesters in the service-learning course revealed that interaction with people who were incarcerated transformed their beliefs and values about those with whom they worked, resulting in an attitude of “just mercy” toward people who were incarcerated and making possible a more humane understanding of themselves and those members of our...
Prevalence and risk factors for hypertensive crisis in a predominantly African American inner-city community.

AbstractPurpose: A 3-year case control study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hypertensive crisis and its subtypes, hypertensive emergency and hypertensive urgency. The secondary objectives were to identify risk factors for hypertensive emergencies and to determine the odds of developing acute target organ damage among predominantly African American patients with a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension.Materials and methods: Using emergency department medical records, patients with a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension were identified. From the pool of hypertensive patients, cases and controls were selected and matched 1:1 for age, gender and race. Cases were hypertensive patients with hypertensive crisis, defined as BP ≥ 200/120 mmHg. Controls had a diagnosis of hypertension and BP < 200/120 mmHg. Cases and controls, as well as cases with hypertensive emergencies and hypertensive urgencies were compared based on important demographic and clinical variables.Results: Almost 90% of study populatio...
2D material printer: a deterministic cross-contamination-free rapid-transfer method for photonic integration (Conference Presentation)

Heterogeneous integration of ultra-thin atomic layer is expected to dominate future photonic and electronic devices due to their rich unique physical properties. Hence, an understanding of the role played by excitons of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is a prerequisite for achieving compact, cost-effective, efficient, fast and broadband optical modulator for advancement of optical communication. Here, we demonstrate a novel method of transferring 2D materials resembling the functionality known from printing; utilizing a combination of a sharp micro-stamper and viscoelastic polymer, we show precise placement of individual 2D materials resulting in vanishing cross-contamination to the substrate. Our 2D printer-method results in an aerial cross-contamination improvement of two to three orders of magnitude relative to state-of-the-art transfer methods from a source of average area for single flake (~50 μm2). Testing this 2D material printer on taped-out integrated Silicon photonic chips, we further demonstrate passive tunable coupling i.e. from overcoupled to undercoupled regime via critical coupling condition by integrating few layers of MoTe2 on a micro-ring resonator (MRR) for the first time which is important for active device functionality such as energy efficient modulator. Using this TMD–ring heterostructure, we further demonstrate a semi-empirical method to determine the index of the unknown TMD material near for telecommunication-relevant wavelengths. This novel approach bears further development potential to determine the index of the monolayers with high accuracy as compared to conventional methods. Such accurate and substrate-benign transfer method for 2D materials could be industrialized for rapid device prototyping due to its high time-reduction, accuracy, and contamination-free process.
Evaluating the relationship between pain presentation and health-related quality of life in outpatients with metastatic or recurrent neoplastic disease.

Because cancer pain can in many cases be intermittent, the presence or absence of pain in ambulatory care patients on any given clinic visit may not be an accurate characterization of the impact of pain on functioning or health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between temporal aspects of pain presentation and HRQOL among 187 stage III/IV cancer patients using the Brief Pain Inventory and the EORTC QLQ-C30. A total of 43% of patients reported pain the previous week, with 22% reporting no pain at the time of assessment. Differences between three pain groups (No Pain, Past Pain, and Current Pain) were significant for global HRQOL and five dimensions of HRQOL. Severity of pain was also associated with each dimension of HRQOL. This study highlights the complex relationship between pain presentation and HRQOL. The findings support the continuing need for detailed pain assessments among cancer patients treated in ambulatory care settings. Specifically, standardized, self-report measures of cancer pain that include ‘frequency’ as well as severity may be the most accurate approach to capture the impact of pain on HRQOL.
Test Fixture Skew Removal for VNA Measurement

For successful high-speed system design, accurate component characterization is essential. The component is often mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) for the characterization. The removal of the fixture parasitic effects is critical. The fixture skew is one of the parasitic effects which can create false results in the component testing, but it is often ignored. This paper introduces a new fixture skew removal method. To demonstrate its validity, this paper used actual connector test data and the 2x-Thru de-embedding method when the 2x-Thru had excessively large intra-pair skew due to the PCB weave effect.
Land Subsidence Problems

A review of the land subsidence problem in the Texas Gulf Coast area is presented, together with a discussion of the causes of the subsidence and how the amount may be estimated by soil mechanics m...
Into the Blue: Swimming as a Metaphor for Revelation

There are few entities in the cosmos that convey an analogous sense of God’s mystery and awesomeness. Water is one of them. In this essay, I discuss the spirituality of water and water-related practices. Specifically, I look to what swimmers do when they get a feel for the water as a model for approaching and understanding revelation. I begin my essay with a discussion of the gravity of water, and then move to an analysis of water-related religious rituals, elaborating mostly on the water traditions in Judaism and Christianity, including Mikveh baths and baptism. Next, I explain the practice of swimming as an exercise that can open us to a deeper respect for the environment, enhance our embrace of divine revelation, and connect us in richer ways to others. Swimmers are trained to get a “feel for the other.” They develop this feel through learning how to navigate hydrodynamic drag, which is the resistance to the physical movement of their swimming stroke caused by the surrounding fluid. As I build this analogy between water/creator and swimmer/creature, I explain how getting a feel for God and others, like when a swimmer works through drag, involves being open to improvisation in which we are called to relinquish damaging patterns of relating to others, mourn those ways, and create spaces for a more flourishing life. Finally, I discuss how opening ourselves to improvisation and mourning allows us to relate to all others with empathy and grace. Emmanuel Levinas, Hans Urs von Balthasar, as well as Leslie Jamison, an American novelist and essayist, are important interlocutors here.
Acromioclavicular and Sternoclavicular Joint Injuries

Sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular injuries are challenging injuries directly affecting the long-term function of the upper extremities. They are uncommon, accounting for less than 3% of all shoulder girdle injuries. Dislocations of the sternoclavicular joint can be classified into anterior or posterior by the position of the medical clavicle with respect to the manubrium. Anterior dislocations are generally treated non-operatively while posterior dislocations should undergo urgent reduction in the operating room. Open treatment of these injuries is uncommon and generally associated with late sequelae of the injuries. Acromioclavicular injuries are more common and more varied in their presentation. Type I and II separations are generally treated non-operatively; type III repair is controversial (based on age, activity level, and patient preference); types IV–VI are treated operatively. There are a host of methods for operative repair with the over-riding principle being to restore the normal anatomy of the clavicular strut, place the coraco-clavicular ligaments in apposition, and restore acromioclavicular joint stability.
Overbaked: assessing and predicting acute adverse reactions to Cannabis.

Trends toward legalizing cannabis may increase experimentation with the drug among less experienced users with limited knowledge of possible adverse reactions. This study explores the prevalence, frequency, and levels of distress produced by various acute adverse reactions to cannabis, as well as predictors of these reactions. The Adverse Reactions Scale (ARS) was created and administered to a large sample of undergraduate college students (n = 999) who were predominantly white (> 70%), female (> 70%), recreational (> 90%) cannabis users. The ARS was administered in an anonymous online survey measuring demographics, cannabis use patterns, cannabis use motives, personality, and negative affect. The most prevalent adverse reactions to cannabis were coughing fits, anxiety, and paranoia, which > 50% of the sample reported experiencing. The most frequently occurring reactions were coughing fits, chest/lung discomfort, and body humming, which occurred on approximately 30–40% of cannabis use sessions. Panic attacks, fainting, and vomiting were rated as the most distressing, with mean ratings falling between “moderately” and “quite” distressing. Multiple regression analyses revealed that lower frequency of cannabis use predicted increased frequency of adverse reactions. Symptoms of cannabis use disorder, conformity motives, and anxiety sensitivity were significant predictors of both the prevalence of, and distress caused by, adverse reactions. Relative to past research, this study provides a more comprehensive account of possible adverse reactions to cannabis, and individual difference variables that predict these reactions. This study has implications for inexperienced cannabis users, as well as medical professionals and budtenders who provide information about cannabis use.
SWOT-AHP-TOWS Analysis for Sustainable Ecotourism Development in the Best Area in Lorestan Province, Iran

Sustainable ecotourism development (SED) in areas with a low potential for development through other sectors, can be a sustainable income-generating activity for locals and a place for tourists to spend their free time. In this regard, planners and policymakers must focus on SED in areas with a meanwhile, if we want to develop ecotourism, we need to evaluate the existing ecotourism areas in each region. Indeed, a study is required that can follow this goal using sustainability indicators. This study was conducted to develop a model to recognize the indicators of evaluating the Ecotourism Sustainability (EES) and to fill the gap of research for SED in the west of Iran. Accordingly, we identified 30 indicators in three dimensions (economic, social, and environmental) of sustainability for EES in six eco-touristic areas in the west of Iran. The best area (Gahar Lake) was selected using the Composite Index (CI). Then, we formulated and ranked the strategies in the SWOT-AHP-TOWS analysis. The results of the CI section showed that the weight of economic indicators in EES was greater than that of other dimensions. AHP analysis revealed that the most important criteria for the SED in Gahar Lake were the opportunities in this area. Also, according to the ranking of strategies extracted in the matrix of TOWS, the most important strategy was “Advertising and introducing the beautiful nature of the lake nationally and internationally”. Our main suggestion is for Iran’s Tourism Organization to pursue more serious negotiations with international organizations for the global registration of the lake as an ecotourism zone.
L1 Phonetic permeability and phonetic path towards a potential merger: The case of Galician mid vowels in bilingual production

Abstract This study investigates the phonetic implementation of Galician /ɛ-e/ and /ɔ-o/ as produced by Galician-Spanish early bilinguals. It examines whether there is variation that can be explained by differences in participants’ linguistic histories (as captured by their language dominance scores). Based on production data from one point in participants’ lives, the study uses regression to predict phonetic variation from participants’ language dominance at that point in life. Results reveal that, although participants produce a robust /e/ vs /e/ contrast, the L1 specific category, /e/ presented a more fronted position, more like /e/, as a function of lower dominance in Galician. However, this effect was not replicated for the back vowels. Given our results, we argue that differences in language dominance may trigger phonetic variation in bilingual speech production in some variables, but not others. This result is consistent with the current cognitive approach in bilingualism research claiming the plasticity of native phonetic domains throughout an individual’s lifespan. Results also align with recent claims that language dominance does not equally affect multiple phonological processes for the same individual.
Reply to Tournier, "Pandemic Legion History More Complex than Previously Thought".

We thank Dr. Tournier for his comments, which highlight the importance of using modern tools and modern knowledge to look backwards in time to try to understand new disease emergences. We want to emphasize for readers that we neither believe nor meant to imply that phylogenetic dating of viruses and bacteria strictly reflects what is referred to as “emergence.” It is accepted, for example, that the first human infections with HIV probably occurred at some time between the late 1800s and early 1900s, and yet we date the emergence of HIV/AIDS …
Germ Cell Tumors

Germ cell tumors (GCTS) arise from progenitor germ cells and comprise a very heterogenous group of neoplasms that differ substantially in histology. They occur in both in both sexes and in both gonadal and extra-gonadal sites due to arrested or abnormal migration of progenitor germ cells. GCTs predominate in those <20 years and are the most common solid tumor in those 15–19 years. Prognosis and treatment varies based on risk groups. Low risk groups typically require only surgery. Intermediate and high risk groups require surgical resection and chemotherapy. Age of presentation and symptoms vary substantially. Testicular tumors typically present as painless masses in those <4 years or after puberty. Ovarian GCTs present with vague abdominal pain and distension. Occurance increases with age until 20 years. Sacrococcygeal tumors present in utero as large external masses or early in life with bowel or bladder dysfunction and a presacral mass. Chemotherapy regimens are similar for the various GCTs and are platinum-based. Outcomes are favorable for low and intermediate risk groups but ongoing trials are working to improve outcomes for poor risk groups.
Smart manufacturing in additive manufacturing

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) is a smart manufacturing technique that fabricates components directly from 3-D models by selectively joining materials. This technology is revolutionizing the way products are created by reducing turnaround times, increasing viable component complexity, and enabling economic low-volume and mass-customized production. As this technology gains traction as a means of producing end-use components, focus has been placed on improving quality and consistency to ensure components can perform and their traditionally manufactured counterparts. This chapter will focus on selective laser sintering (SLS), an industrial AM technique for producing polymer components. Design guidelines will be presented that, when followed, improve the probability of creating high-quality components that match the design intent. SLS failure modes and process control will also be discussed to provide an understanding of how to properly build components. Incorporating the design guidelines and understanding machine control methodologies allow users to create high-quality components consistently.