cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
2D and 3D imaging resolution trade-offs in quantifying pore throats for prediction of permeability

Abstract Although the impact of subsurface geochemical reactions on porosity is relatively well understood, changes in permeability remain difficult to estimate. In this work, pore-network modeling was used to predict permeability based on pore- and pore-throat size distributions determined from analysis of 2D scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of thin sections and 3D X-ray computed microtomography (CMT) data. The analyzed specimens were a Viking sandstone sample from the Alberta sedimentary basin and an experimental column of reacted Hanford sediments. For the column, a decrease in permeability due to mineral precipitation was estimated, but the permeability estimates were dependent on imaging technique and resolution. X-ray CT imaging has the advantage of reconstructing a 3D pore network while 2D SEM imaging can easily analyze sub-grain and intragranular variations in mineralogy. Pore network models informed by analyses of 2D and 3D images at comparable resolutions produced permeability estimates with relatively good agreement. Large discrepancies in predicted permeabilities resulted from small variations in image resolution. Images with resolutions 0.4 to 4 μm predicted permeabilities differing by orders of magnitude. While lower-resolution scans can analyze larger specimens, small pore throats may be missed due to resolution limitations, which in turn overestimates permeability in a pore-network model in which pore-to-pore conductances are statistically assigned. Conversely, high-resolution scans are capable of capturing small pore throats, but if they are not actually flow-conducting predicted permeabilities will be below expected values. In addition, permeability is underestimated due to misinterpreting surface-roughness features as small pore throats. Comparison of permeability predictions with expected and measured permeability values showed that the largest discrepancies resulted from the highest resolution images and the best predictions of permeability will result from images between 2 and 4 μm resolution. To reduce permeability underestimation from analyses of high-resolution images, a resolution threshold between 3 and 15 μm was found to be effective, but it is not known whether this range is applicable beyond the samples studied here.
A Nonthoracotomy Myocardial Infarction Model in an Ovine Using Autologous Platelets

Objective. There is a paucity of a biological large animal model of myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that, using autologous-aggregated platelets, we could create an ovine model that was reproducible and more closely mimicked the pathophysiology of MI. Methods. Mepacrine stained autologous platelets from male sheep () were used to create a myocardial infarction via catheter injection into the mid-left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Serial daily serum troponin measurements were taken and tissue harvested on post-embolization day three. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to detect the mepacrine-stained platelet-induced thrombus, and histology performed to identify three distinct myocardial (infarct, peri-ischemic &#x201c;border zone,&#x201d; and remote) zones. Results. Serial serum troponin levels (&#x3bc;g/mL) measured at baseline and peaked at on post-embolization day 1, followed by on day 2 and on day 3. Staining confirmed distinct myocardial regions of inflammation and fibrosis as well as mepacrine-stained platelets as the cause of intravascular thrombosis. Conclusion. We report a reproducible, unique model of a biological myocardial infarction in a large animal model. This technique can be used to study acute, regional myocardial changes following a thrombotic injury.
Trends in Services Among Pediatric Hospice Providers During 2002 to 2008

The medical complexities involved in caring for children at end of life have increased during the past few decades. This study sought to understand what hospice services were offered for these children and to examine service trends among pediatric hospice providers over a 7-year (2002-2008) timeframe. The number of core hospice services diminished in 2003 (IRR = 0.873, 95% CI [0.795,0.971]) and 2004 (IRR = 0.889, 95% CI [0.793, 0.995]); however, by 2008 there was an increase in offering core (IRR = 1.130, 95% CI [1.038,1.230]), noncore (IRR = 1.117, 95% CI [1.013,1.231]), and other hospice (IRR = 1.117, 95% CI [1.005,1.583]) services among pediatric providers. These findings highlight the importance of family-clinician communication about needed services prior to admitting children to hospice care.
Capabilities and limitations of adaptive canceling for microwave radiometry

Radio frequency interference (RFI) limits the sensitivity of microwave radiometry by limiting the usable bandwidth and effective integration time of measurements. Adaptive canceling techniques offer a look-through capability that can potentially ease these constraints. Empirical arguments are used to determine the best possible attenuation of RFI for any canceler. Some field results using two different canceling methods are presented and shown to be consistent with this performance bound.
The effectiveness of various treatment techniques on different degrees and durations of sleep-onset insomnia.

Abstract Mild and moderate insomniacs were randomly assigned to one of five group therapy conditions: relaxation without muscle-tension, stimulus control plus relaxation without muscletension, placebo, self-monitoring, and waiting list. Mild insomniacs were differentiated according to the duration of their sleep disturbance. Insomniacs were told that improvement would not be noticeable until after the final therapy session. During this counterdemand period, the two relaxation groups showed significantly greater decreases in sleep onset latency than the control conditions. In addition, it appeared that duration affected treated outcome. The effectiveness of treatment packages and self-monitoring in alleviating insomnia is briefly discussed.
Superfamily Membracoidea (Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha). I. Introduction and revised classification with new family-group taxa

Abstract. A key and descriptions are given for the four families here recognized for the superfamily Membracoidea Rafinesque, 1815: Cicadellidae Latreille, 1825 (sensu Oman et al., 1990), Melizoderidae, fam.n., Aetalionidae Spinola, 1850 redefined here), and Membracidae Rafinesque, 1815 (redefined here). The following placements are corroborated: Cicadelloidea Latreille, 1825, is a junior synonym of Membracoidea Rafinesque, 1815; Biturritiidae Metcalf, 1951, is a junior synonym of Aetalionidae Spinola, 1850; Nicomiidae Haupt, 1929, is a junior synonym of Membracidae Rafinesque, 1815. The new family Melizoderidae includes two genera: Melizoderes Spinola and Llanquihuea Linnavuori & DeLong. Within Aetalionidae, the subfamily Biturritiinae is redefined to include only five genera. Within the family Membracidae, the subfamily Endoiastinae, subfam.n., is described; the subfamilies Centronodinae Deitz, 1975, status n. (with tribe Centronodini Deitz, 1975, including the genus ParacentronodusSakakibara, 1971, new Placement), and Centrodontinae Deitz, 1975, status n. (with tribe Centrodontini Deitz, 1975), are recognized for the first time; and the following groups are redefined: subfamilies Stegaspidinae Haupt, 1929, Nicomiinae Haupt, 1929, and Membracinae Rafinesque, 1815; and tribe Stegaspidini Haupt, 1929 (Stegaspidinae). The new subfamily Endoiastinae includes three genera: Endoiastus Fowler, Scytodepsa Stal, and Stictodepsa Stal. Endoiastus productus Osborn, 1922, is placed as a junior synonym of Stictodepsa neotropicalis Kirkaldy, 1909, syn.n. Lectotypes are designated and illustrated for Tettigonia muscaria Fabricius, 1803 (now Lophyraspis muscaria) and Cicada fuscata Fabricius, 1803 (now Stictodepsa neotropicalis Kirkaldy, 1909).
Melanocortin-2 receptor accessory protein MRAP forms antiparallel homodimers

The melanocortin-2 (MC2) receptor accessory protein (MRAP) is required for trafficking of the G protein-coupled MC2 receptor to the plasma membrane. The mechanism of action and structure of MRAP, which has a single transmembrane domain, are unknown. Here, we show that MRAP displays a previously uncharacterized topology. Epitopes on both the N- and C-terminal ends of MRAP were localized on the external face of CHO cells at comparable levels. Using antibodies raised against N- and C-terminal MRAP peptides, we demonstrated that both ends of endogenous MRAP face the outside in adrenal cells. Nearly half of MRAP was glycosylated at the single endogenous N-terminal glycosylation site, and over half was glycosylated when the natural glycosylation site was replaced by one in the C-terminal domain. A mutant MRAP with potential glycosylation sites on both sides of the membrane was singly but not doubly glycosylated, suggesting that MRAP is not monotopic. Coimmunoprecipitation of differentially tagged MRAPs established that MRAP is a dimer. By selectively immunoprecipitating cell surface MRAP in one or the other orientation, we showed that MRAP homodimers are antiparallel and form a stable complex with MC2 receptor. In the absence of MRAP, MC2 receptor was trapped in the endoplasmic reticulum, but with MRAP, the MC2 receptor was glycosylated and localized on the plasma membrane, where it signaled in response to ACTH. MRAP acted specifically, because it did not increase surface expression of other melanocortin, β2-adrenergic, or TSH-releasing hormone receptors. MRAP is the first eukaryotic membrane protein identified with an antiparallel homodimeric structure.
Transcriptional Activation of the Integrated Chromatin-Associated Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Promoter

The regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression involves a complex interplay between cellular transcription factors, chromatin-associated proviral DNA, and the virus-encoded transactivator protein, Tat. Here we show that Tat transactivates the integrated HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR), even in the absence of detectable basal promoter activity, and this transcriptional activation is accompanied by chromatin remodeling downstream of the transcription initiation site, as monitored by increased accessibility to restriction endonucleases. However, with an integrated promoter lacking both Sp1 and NF-kappaB sites, Tat was unable to either activate transcription or induce changes in chromatin structure even when it was tethered to the HIV-1 core promoter upstream of the TATA box. Tat responsiveness was observed only when Sp1 or NF-kappaB was bound to the promoter, implying that Tat functions subsequent to the formation of a specific transcription initiation complex. Unlike Tat, NF-kappaB failed to stimulate the integrated transcriptionally silent HIV-1 promoter. Histone acetylation renders the inactive HIV-1 LTR responsive to NF-kappaB, indicating that a suppressive chromatin structure must be remodeled prior to transcriptional activation by NF-kappaB. Taken together, these results suggest that Sp1 and NF-kappaB are required for the assembly of transcriptional complexes on the integrated viral promoter exhibiting a continuum of basal activities, all of which are fully responsive to Tat.
The mitotic kinesin CENP-E is a processive transport motor

In vivo studies suggest that centromeric protein E (CENP-E), a kinesin-7 family member, plays a key role in the movement of chromosomes toward the metaphase plate during mitosis. How CENP-E accomplishes this crucial task, however, is not clear. Here we present single-molecule measurements of CENP-E that demonstrate that this motor moves processively toward the plus end of microtubules, with an average run length of 2.6 ± 0.2 μm, in a hand-over-hand fashion, taking 8-nm steps with a stall force of 6 ± 0.1 pN. The ATP dependence of motor velocity obeys Michaelis–Menten kinetics with KM,ATP = 35 ± 5 μM. All of these features are remarkably similar to those for kinesin-1—a highly processive transport motor. We, therefore, propose that CENP-E transports chromosomes in a manner analogous to how kinesin-1 transports cytoplasmic vesicles.
Further Observations on the Nuclear Envelope of the Animal Cell

The term pore complex is proposed for approximately cylindrical formations which are observed with the electron microscope to penetrate the nuclear envelope of cells. Cross-sections of the pore complex are somewhat annular in shape, but differ in appearance depending upon the level of the cross-section with respect to the nuclear surface. An explanation is offered for the apparent discrepancy between the width of pores in sections perpendicular to the nuclear envelope and the width of cross-sections of the pore complex in tangential sections. Channels associated with the pore complex extend deep into the nucleus. Although crescents and spirals of ribonucleoprotein particles were often seen in the immediate vicinity of the outer nuclear membrane, direct association with the pore complex was not observed. Many examples were found of pores that were not covered by a continuous membrane although the possibility of such a covering in some cases is not precluded.
D-chiro-inositol--its functional role in insulin action and its deficit in insulin resistance.

In this review we discuss the biological significance of D-chiro-inositol, originally discovered as a component of a putative mediator of intracellular insulin action, where as a putative mediator, it accelerates the dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase and pyruvate dehydrogenase, rate limiting enzymes of non-oxidative and oxidative glucose disposal.Early studies demonstrated a linear relationship between its decreased urinary excretion and the degree of insulin resistance present. When tissue contents, including muscle, of type 2 diabetic subjects were assayed, they demonstrated a more general body deficiency. Administration of D-chiro-inositol to diabetic rats, Rhesus monkeys and now to humans accelerated glucose disposal and sensitized insulin action.A defect in vivo in the epimerization of myoinositol to chiro-inositol in insulin sensitive tissues of the GK type 2 diabetic rat has been elucidated. Thus, administered D-chiro-inositol may act to bypass a defective normal epimerization of myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol associated with insulin resistance and act to at least partially restore insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal.
Rapid Ultrafiltration Concentration and Biosensor Detection of Enterococci from Large Volumes of Florida Recreational Water

Monitoring recreational waters for fecal contamination by standard methodologies involves culturing indicator bacteria, such as fecal coliforms and enterococci. Delayed reporting of microbial water quality parameters increases the likelihood of public exposure to pathogens of fecal origin, making the development of rapid methods important for public health protection. A rapid assay for enterococci was developed using a combined ultrafiltration-biosensor procedure. Twelve 100-liter water samples were collected from upper Tampa Bay over a 9-month period. The samples were collected on site by dead-end hollow-fiber ultrafiltration. Postfiltration processing of the initial retentates included sonication and micrometer-level sieve passage to remove interfering particles. Centrifugation was utilized for secondary concentration. Grab samples were collected simultaneously with the ultrafiltered samples. Concentrations of enterococci in all grab and ultrafiltration samples were determined by the standard method (EPA method 1600) for calculation of recovery efficiencies and concentration factors. Levels of enterococci increased twofold in initial retentates and by 4 orders of magnitude in final retentates over ambient concentrations. An aliquot of each final retentate was adsorbed onto polystyrene waveguides for immunoassay analysis of enterococci with a microfluidic fiber optic biosensor, the Raptor. Enterococci were detected when concentrations in the ambient water exceeded the regulatory standard for a single sample (≥105 CFU/100 ml). The combined ultrafiltration-biosensor procedure required 2.5 h for detection compared to 24 for the standard method. This study demonstrated that enterococci can be detected rapidly using on-site ultrafiltration, secondary concentration, and biosensor analysis.
Hazards of colchicine.

We agree with Tortorici et al.[1][1] that greater safeguards are needed for the administration of intravenous colchicine.[1][1] The authors’ recommendations would indeed improve safety. We believe, however, that the safest alternative is to remove colchicine from the formulary and use alternatives
Chemical identity of atoms using core electron annihilations

Positron annihilation spectroscopy is a sensitive probe for studying the electronic structure of defects in solids. The high momentum part of the Doppler-broadened annihilation spectra can be used to distinguish different elements. This is achieved by using a new two-detector coincidence system and by imposing appropriate kinematic cuts to exclude background events. The new setup improves the peak to background ratio in the annihilation spectrum to {approximately}10{sup 5}. As a result, the line shape variations arising from different core electrons can be studied. The new approach adds elemental specificity to the Doppler broadening technique, and is useful in studying elemental variations around a defect site. Results from several case studies are reviewed.
Solving the problem of partner infidelity: Individual mate retention, coalitional mate retention, and in-pair copulation frequency

Humans deploy various strategies to solve adaptive problems associated with a long-term partner’s infidelity. We investigated the relationships among three such strategies: individual mate retention, coalitional mate retention (i.e., mate retention with assistance from allies), and in-pair copulation frequency. Participants (n = 387; 176 women) in a committed, heterosexual relationship reported how often they (1) perform individual mate retention, (2) request coalitional mate retention, and (3) had sexual intercourse with their partner. The results indicate that women’s individual mate retention and men’s coalitional mate retention are positively associated with in-pair copulation frequency. The discussion notes limitations of this research and highlights the diversity of strategies humans deploy to address the adaptive problems of partner infidelity.
Geometric techniques for robust stabilization of linear time-varying systems

The foundation of a geometric theory for robust stabilization of infinite-dimensional time-varying linear systems is presented. The uncertainty of a system is described by perturbations of its graph and measured in the gap metric. An explicit expression for the radius of the maximal uncertainty in the plant that a feedback system can tolerate is given. The least amount of combined uncertainty that causes the feedback system to become unstable when uncertainty is present in both the plant and the controller is characterized. The fundamental mathematical object in this study is the parallel projection operator onto the graph of the plant along the inverse graph of the controller. >
Clinical Mastitis in Two California Dairy Herds Participating In Contagious Mastitis Control Programs

The occurrence of clinical mastitis in two large California dairy herds over a 3-yr period is described. Herds had been participating for 15 or 22 yr in mastitis control programs against Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus, had low bulk tank SCC, and had maintained good standards of hygiene and husbandry, but clinical mastitis remained a serious problem. A total of 1654 clinical mastitis cases were detected; the annual incidence in each herd was 49%. Coliform bacteria and environmental streptococci were etiological agents in 60% of the total clinical mastitis cases; coliforms produced 1.6 times more clinical mastitis than environmental streptococci. A higher susceptibility to clinical mastitis, primarily from coliform bacteria and environmental streptococci, was found in the first months of lactation. Clinical mastitis incidence peaked for cows in lactations 4 and 5 and was lowest during the first lactation. Highest incidence of clinical mastitis due to coliform bacteria and environmental streptococci at each dairy occurred during the rainy season (late fall and winter).
Polymeric and biomacromolecular brush nanostructures: progress in synthesis, patterning and characterization

A significant scientific and engineering challenge of recent years has been the fabrication of patterned polymeric and biomacromolecular brush nanostructures on surfaces. These structures provide researchers with a rich platform on which to exploit and observe nanoscale phenomena. In this review we present an overview of the field and highlight, through selected examples, recent advances in the nanostructuring of polymer and biomacromolecular brushes. This includes a brief overview of polymer brush synthesis techniques and how these are integrated with nanolithographic and templating approaches. We discuss the characterization of polymeric nanostructures and its associated difficulties, and we provide some perspective of how we see the future direction of the field evolving.
catena‐Poly[ammonium [bis­(thio­cyanato)aurate(I)](Au—Au)]

In the title compound, {NH4[Au(SCN)2]}n, the AuI atom is in a linear configuration with the coordinating S atoms. The extended structure can be described as a one-dimensional polymeric chain with alternating Au—Au bond distances of 3.1409 (3) and 3.1723 (3) A.
Effects of intraportal exenatide on hepatic glucose metabolism in the conscious dog

Incretins improve glucose metabolism through multiple mechanisms. It remains unclear whether direct hepatic effects are an important part of exenatide's (Ex-4) acute action. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of intraportal delivery of Ex-4 on hepatic glucose production and uptake. Fasted conscious dogs were studied during a hyperglycemic clamp in which glucose was infused into the hepatic portal vein. At the same time, portal saline (control; n = 8) or exenatide was infused at low (0.3 pmol·kg−1·min−1, Ex-4-low; n = 5) or high (0.9 pmol·kg−1·min−1, Ex-4-high; n = 8) rates. Arterial plasma glucose levels were maintained at 160 mg/dl during the experimental period. This required a greater rate of glucose infusion in the Ex-4-high group (1.5 ± 0.4, 2.0 ± 0.7, and 3.7 ± 0.7 mg·kg−1·min−1 between 30 and 240 min in the control, Ex-4-low, and Ex-4-high groups, respectively). Plasma insulin levels were elevated by Ex-4 (arterial: 4,745 ± 428, 5,710 ± 355, and 7,262 ± 1,053 μU/ml; hepatic sinusoidal: 14,679 ± 1,700, 15,341 ± 2,208, and 20,445 ± 4,020 μU/ml, 240 min, area under the curve), whereas the suppression of glucagon was nearly maximal in all groups. Although glucose utilization was greater during Ex-4 infusion (5.92 ± 0.53, 6.41 ± 0.57, and 8.12 ± 0.54 mg·kg−1·min−1), when indices of hepatic, muscle, and whole body glucose uptake were expressed relative to circulating insulin concentrations, there was no indication of insulin-independent effects of Ex-4. Thus, this study does not support the notion that Ex-4 generates acute changes in hepatic glucose metabolism through direct effects on the liver.
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Ophthalmology

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are increasingly employed in ophthalmology to reduce miosis and inflammation, manage scleritis, and prevent and treat cystoid macular edema associated with cataract surgery. In addition, they may decrease postoperative pain and photophobia associated with refractive surgery and may reduce the itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis. In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved new topical NSAIDs, and previously approved NSAIDs have been reformulated. These additions and changes result in different pharmacokinetics and dosing intervals, which may offer therapeutic advantages. For example, therapeutic effects on diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration may now be achievable. We provide an updated review on NSAIDs and a summary of their current uses in ophthalmology with attention to potential future applications.
SiGe BiCMOS Technology: An IC Design Platform for Extreme Environment Electronics Applications

The drivers in the extreme environment electronics community are beginning to perk up their ears to the possibilities of using SiGe technology, especially for space electronics applications. The present NASA-funded project, "SiGe integrated electronics for extreme environments," which is aimed at enabling more effective lunar exploration, represents a 'first' of sorts - a chance to develop the requisite SiGe infrastructure; from technology, to characterization tools, to modeling, to circuit design, to packaging, to reliability, to functional sub-systems, needed to support the development and eventual insertion of SiGe into emerging extreme environment venues. The authors are excited about our progress, and firmly believe that the greater electronics community can and should leverage this effort for a wide variety of their applications. Ensuring adequate reliability for SiGe technologies in these new application venues will require more effort from the reliability community. Initial results look very promising indeed.
Optimum power control for successive interference cancellation with imperfect channel estimation

Successive interference cancellation, in conjunction with orthogonal convolutional codes, has been shown to approach the Shannon capacity for an additive white Gaussian noise channel. However, this requires highly accurate estimates for the amplitude and phase of each user's signal. We derive an optimal power control strategy specifically designed to maximize the overall capacity under the constraint of a high degree of estimation error. This power control strategy presents a general formula of which other power control algorithms are special cases. Even with estimation error as high as 50%, capacity can be approximately doubled relative to not using interference cancellation. In addition, when properly applied to multicell mobile networks, this power control scheme can reduce the handset transmit power, and therefore other-cell interference, by more than an order of magnitude.
Domestic Reform in sub‐Saharan African Governments under International Influence

Books reviewed: Ladipo Adamolekun, ed. Public Administration in Africa: Main Issues and Selected Country Studies Joshua Bernard Forrest, Namibia's Post-Apartheid Regional Institutions: The Founding Year
Selective oxidation of alcohols by molecular oxygen over a Pd/MgO catalyst in the absence of any additives

Selective oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl products using molecular oxygen is achieved over a simple and easily recyclable 1% Pd/MgO impregnated heterogeneous catalyst in the presence of trifluorotoluene. A variety of activated and non-activated alcohols are effectively oxidized without the use of any additives under relatively mild reaction conditions. Other supported Pd catalysts such as Pd/Hydrotalcite (HT), Pd/Al2O3, Pd/SiO2 and Pd/Zeolite-β are also studied for comparison. Pd/HT also shows a comparable oxidation activity to Pd/MgO whereas other supported catalysts were not found to be active for this reaction under the conditions studied. A mechanism of the reaction is also outlined.
Simulating a Fraud Mechanism in Public Service Delivery

This chapter illustrates a use of agent-based modeling to simulate how the dynamics of fraud occur in a public service delivery program. While fraud is a well-known problem in the public sector, the study of fraud is challenging because the behavior is subtle and adaptive. Underlying mechanisms are often not explicitly revealed. Crime data collected from investigations are biased downward because they include only those who are detected. In this chapter, I focus on modeling a fraud mechanism based on theories of crime and compare simulation outputs with results from a previous empirical study. I end this chapter with the discussion of the utility of agent-based modeling for policy inquiry.
Solidarity, Subsidiarity, and the Consumerist Impetus of American Law

Catholic social teaching is, by design, ill-suited to abstract formulation. It can be understood only through exploration in the context of pressing social problems. At the same time, the value of the teaching emanates from its grounding in truths that are not cabined by the contingent nature of modern epistemological understanding. The Church offers lessons to particular participants in a particular scene of the human drama because its foundational principles speak to all participants in the human drama, everywhere and in every age. Nowhere is this attribute reflected more clearly than in discussions of the two pillars of Catholic social teaching - solidarity and subsidiarity. In simple terms, solidarity represents the "commitment to the good of one's neighbor," and subsidiarity represents the conviction that "needs are best understood and satisfied by people who are closest to them." The relevance of the interplay between these principles becomes clear against the background provided by the expanding norms of consumer autonomy in American law. Increasingly, the state has taken upon itself the responsibility to compel providers to honor the individual consumer's decisions, regardless of how morally problematic those decisions might be from the provider's perspective. Examples of this trend abound when it comes to the provision of goods such as health care, education, and law. This chapter - part of a forthcoming volume titled Recovering Self-Evident Truths: Catholic Perspectives on American Law - introduces solidarity and subsidiarity into the conversation.
Creep/Fatigue Behavior of Resin Infused Biaxial Glass Fabric Laminates

This study has explored creep/fatigue effects for infused glass/epoxy biaxial (±45 o ) fabric laminates typical of shell/web areas of wind blades. Loading conditions were cyclic fatigue at R-values 0.1, -1 and 10, as well as tensile and compressive creep. Cyclic stress-strain loops for load and strain control are compared. The results are discussed in terms of the relative creep or cyclic dominance and appropriate fatigue design criteria. Laminates with a low content of 0 o unidirectional plies added to the biaxial plies were also briefly studied in terms of the interaction of creeping, softening effects of the biaxial plies on the performance of the 0 o plies.
Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam Monotherapy on Children with Epilepsy

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) monotherapy on children with epilepsy.Methods Forty-one children (26 cases were male,15 cases were female) with epilepsy aged 7 months to 13 years were treated with LEV as monotherapy.These patients were selected from Department of Neurology ,Wuhan Children′s Hospital, from Aug.2007 to Aug.2009.The starting do-sage of LEV was (13.6±4.7) mg·kg-1·d-1,twice daily,and its objective dosage was (25.7±7.5) mg·kg-1·d-1,twice daily.LEV monotherapy was investigated by a self-controlled and open-label research,and the follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years.Results The effective rate was 68.3% (28 cases),with 39.0% (16 cases) achieving seizure freedom in LEV monotherapy of children with epilepsy.Thirteen patients (31.7%) had poor efficacy in reduction of seizures,7 patients (17.1%) discontinued LEV monotherapy due to either an inadequate seizure control or aggravated seizures.Fifteen patients (36.6%) had the therapy-related adverse events in LEV monotherapy,including gastrointestinal dysfunction (5 cases),irritability (5 cases),dizziness (2 cases) and somnolence (2 cases).The adverse effects appeared in 2-4 weeks of early LEV therapy and were spontaneously disappeared in 1 week to 1 month of continuing therapy.Conclusions The LEV monotherapy is effective and safe for the control of partial and generalized seizures in children with epilepsy.LEV appears to be a broad-spectrum,first-line anti-epileptic drug in treatment of children with epilepsy.
The Possible Space of Prediction

It is proved by modern science that the past cannot be equivalent to the future. The chaos theory has revealed the difficulty to foresee the long - term behavior of nonlinear system. The physical, biological and social systems have different behaviors, which results in the different predictability. The future contains uncertainty, for this reason, prediction is the cognition to seek certainty in uncertainty. The possible space of prediction can be reflected at different levels. The forecasts may affect the future in social system.
Surveillance analysis on report of notifiable infectious diseases of migrant workers in Changzhou during 2005～2010

Objective:To analyze the epidemic characteristics of notifiable infectious of migrant workers during last six years in Changzhou and to provide the scientific basis for disease control strategic study.Methods: Descriptive epidemiological method was used for analyzing the reported messages of the diseases and the median description method was applied to describe mean level between onset diseases time to diagnosied time.Results:From 2005 to 2010,The total incidence of infectious disease and the incident number of infectious disease accounted for total incident number rate in migrant workers were shown decreased,while the incidence of syphilis was shown increased.The mean age of cases was 33 years and male to female ratio was 2.79 to 1.The interval time between onset to diagnosed of the disease was shown decreased.Conclusion: Prevention and treatment of infectious disease for migrant workers has made remarkable achievements in recent years.However,efforts should be strengthened to focus on some area and specific population,meanwhile syphilis should be intensified on prevention and treatment as well as on publicity.
Metabolism of gaunidoacetic acid in tumor-bearing rats.

SummaryTransamidinase activity in the kidney of rats bearing Walker carcinoma 256 was lower than that of the control. However, concentrations of guanidoacetic acid in plasma and kidney and its excretion in urine of tumor-bearing rats were not changed. In the liver, concentration of this compound was increased with tumor growth. These findings seem to indicate that rate of guanidoacetic acid synthesis is not a limiting factor in synthesis of creatine by the tumor-bearing rat.
Identification and Ranking of Stressors in Nuclear Medicine Technology

This study was performed to identify the most significant stressors in the field of nuclear medicine technology. Sixty-three randomly selected nuclear medicine technologists responded to a questionnaire which asked them to assess the relative stressfulness of each of 35 items on a scale of “0 to 1000”. Data from 59 valid responses indicated that equipment malfunctions, add-on exams, uncooperative physicians, lack of staff, and uncooperative patients were the most significant stressors. Pooled variance t-tests indicated 14 significant mean differences between demographic subgroups within the composite instrument. Gender, Job title, and years of experience were areas of greatest difference. The reliability of the stressor ranking questionnaire, as determined by Cronbach’s alpha, was 0.87. Results of this study may be used by hospital administrators, supervisors, and technologists to identify stressors in the nuclear medicine department. Once identified, efforts can then be directed towards the management of these stressors.
Integrating and Disintegrating Dynamics in Human Societies

Integration and disintegration of societies occurs at three fundamental levels of social organization: the micro, meso, and macro. Each level reveals it own operative dynamics and sociocultural formations, but equally important are the connections across levels. In this chapter, I explore the mechanisms of integration and, its converse, disintegration at each level, but emphasize the connections of social structures and their cultures across all three levels. The goal is to develop a more robust conception of the fundamental dynamics by which societies are held together, for a time, as well as the forces causing their disintegration. Implied in this analysis is a general theory that can be formalized. This theory, itself, is integrative because it seeks to bring together elements from many diverse theoretical approaches.
The Impact of Foreign TV on a Domestic Audience: A Meta-Analysis

The impact of cross-border communication has long been of special interest to international communication scholars and policy makers. In this chapter the authors use meta-analytic procedures to investigate the size of the effects of cross-border television. The results of this study reveal that, overall, cross-border TV has very weak effects on viewers. This result contradicts cultural imperialism critics, who contend that foreign television has strong and negative impacts on viewers. The effects of foreign TV are usually assumed to be from TV to the audience members. This chapter, however, raises the possibility that the effects found are not only very weak, but could be due to some other factors that may be influencing the audience to seek and view foreign TV programs.
AGN Jet Kinematics on Parsec-Scales: The MOJAVE Program

Very long baseline interferometry offers the best means of investigating the complex dynamics of relativistic jets powered by active galactic nuclei, via multi-epoch, sub-milliarcsecond, full-polarization imaging at radio wavelengths. Although targeted studies have yielded important information on the structures of individual AGN jets, the strong selection effects associated with relativistically beaming imply that general aspects of the flows can only be determined via large statistical studies. In this review I discuss major results from the Monitoring of Jets in Active Galactic Nuclei With VLBA Experiments (MOJAVE) program, which has gathered multi-epoch Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) data at 15 GHz on over 400 AGN jets over the course of two decades. The sample is large enough to encompass a range of AGN optical class, radio luminosity and synchrotron peak frequency, and has been used to show that within a particular jet, individual bright features have a spread of apparent speed and velocity vector position angle about a characteristic value. We have found that in some cases there is a secular evolution of launch angle direction over time, indicative of evolving narrow energized channels within a wider outflow. The majority of the jet features are superluminal and accelerating, with changes in speed more common than changes in direction. Within approximately 100 pc of the AGN, the flows are generally accelerating, while beyond this distance the flows begin to decelerate or remain nearly constant in speed. We also find evidence for a maximum bulk flow Lorentz factor of 50 in the pc-scale radio regime, and a trend of higher jet speeds in lower-synchrotron peaked and gamma-ray-loud blazars.
The use of the Psychiatric Electroencephalography Evaluation Registry (PEER) to personalize pharmacotherapy.

Purpose This study aims to determine whether Psychiatric Electroencephalography Evaluation Registry (PEER) Interactive (an objective, adjunctive tool based on a comparison of a quantitative electroencephalogram to an existing registry of patient outcomes) is more effective than the current standard of care in treatment of subjects suffering from depression. Patients and methods This is an interim report of an ongoing, 2-year prospective, randomized, double blind, controlled study to evaluate PEER Interactive in guiding medication selection in subjects with a primary diagnosis of depression vs standard treatment. Subjects in treatment at two military hospitals were blinded as to study group assignment and their self-report symptom ratings were also blinded. Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-Report (QIDS-SR16) depression scores were the primary efficacy endpoint. One hundred and fifty subjects received a quantitative electroencephalography exam and were randomized to either treatment as usual or PEER-informed pharmacotherapy. Subjects in the control group were treated according to Veterans Administration/Department of Defense Guidelines, the current standard of care. In the experimental group, the attending physician received a PEER report ranking the subject’s likely clinical response to on-label medications. Results In this post hoc interim analysis subjects were separated into Report Followed and Report Not Followed groups – based on the concordance between their subsequent treatment and PEER medication guidance. We thus evaluated the predictive validity of PEER recommendations. We found significantly greater improvements in depression scores (QIDS-SR16 P<0.03), reduction in suicidal ideation (Concise Health Risk Tracking Scale-SR7 P<0.002), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) score improvement (PTSD Checklist Military/Civilian P<0.04) for subjects treated with PEER-recommended medications compared to those who did not follow PEER recommendations. Conclusion This interim analysis suggests that an objective tool such as PEER Interactive can help improve medication selection. Consistent with results of earlier studies, it supports the hypothesis that PEER-guided treatment offers distinct advantages over the current standard of care.
Internet histories: the view from the design process

ABSTRACTThe electrical engineers and computer scientists who have designed the Internet are among those who have written Internet history. They have done so within the technical document series created to provide a medium for and record of the design process, the Internet Requests for Comments (RFCs) as well as in other venues. Internet designers have explicitly written the network's history in documents explicitly devoted to history as well as indirectly in documents focused on technical matters. The Internet RFCs also provide data for research on Internet history and on large-scale sociotechnical infrastructure written by outsiders to the design process. Incorporating the history of the Internet as understood by those responsible for its design, whether in their own words or by treating the design conversation as data, makes visible some elements of that history not otherwise available, corrects misperceptions of factors underlying some of its features, and provides fascinating details on the people and...
Design of Fiber Reinforced Shafts Subject to Local Stress Constraints Through Inverse Homogenization

A new inverse homogenization procedure is applied to design graded fiber reinforced shafts subject to local stress criteria. The method is based on new multiscale stress criteria given by macrostress modulation functions. The modulation functions quantify the intensity of local stress fluctuations at the scale of the microstructure due to the imposed macroscopic stress. The method is carried out for long cylindrical shafts reinforced with stiff cylindrical elastic fibers with generators parallel to the shaft. Benchmark examples are presented for shaft cross sections that possess reentrant corners typically seen in lap joints and junctions of struts.
A Systematic Review of Exercise Systematic Reviews in the Cancer Literature (2005-2017)

Abstract Background Evidence supports the benefits of exercise for patients with cancer; however, specific guidance for clinical decision making regarding exercise timing, frequency, duration, and intensity is lacking. Efforts are needed to optimize clinical recommendations for exercise in the cancer population. Objectives To aggregate information regarding the benefit of exercise through a systematic review of existing systematic reviews in the cancer exercise literature. Data Sources PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Study Eligibility Criteria Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the impact of movement-based exercise on the adult cancer population. Methods Two author teams reviewed 302 abstracts for inclusion with 93 selected for full-text review. A total of 53 studies were analyzed. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) was used as a quality measure of the reviews. Information was extracted using the PICO format (ie, participants, intervention, comparison, outcomes). Descriptive findings are reported. Results Mean AMSTAR score=7.66/11 (±2.04) suggests moderate quality of the systematic reviews. Exercise is beneficial before, during, and after cancer treatment, across all cancer types, and for a variety of cancer-related impairments. Moderate-to-vigorous exercise is the best level of exercise intensity to improve physical function and mitigate cancer-related impairments. Therapeutic exercises are beneficial to manage treatment side effects, may enhance tolerance to cancer treatments, and improve functional outcomes. Supervised exercise yielded superior benefits versus unsupervised. Serious adverse events were not common. Limitations Movement-based exercise intervention outcomes are reported. No analysis of pooled effects was calculated across reviews due to significant heterogeneity within the systematic reviews. Findings do not consider exercise in advanced cancers or pediatric populations. Conclusions Exercise promotes significant improvements in clinical, functional, and in some populations, survival outcomes and can be recommended regardless of the type of cancer. Although generally safe, patients should be screened and appropriate precautions taken. Efforts to strengthen uniformity in clinical trial reporting, develop clinical practice guidelines, and integrate exercise and rehabilitation services into the cancer delivery system are needed.
Toward The Development and Validation of a Curriculum Coordinator Role-Efficacy Belief Instrument for Sexuality Education

The purpose of this study was to develop and partially validate an instrument to measure the role-efficacy beliefs of curriculum coordinators of sexuality education. The results of this study indic...
Resilience Among Breast Cancer Survivors of Different Sexual Orientations.

Abstract Purpose: Resilience could help protect the psychosocial wellbeing of sexual minority women (SMW) experiencing stressors from both breast cancer and sexual minority status; however, little ...
Creative partnerships for emergency solar charging stations

Creative partnerships that meld solar energy with place making and design thinking are yielding adaptive solutions for resilient cities. How can we train and empower youth to become active participants in a broad network of climate change innovators? Learn how design and engineering students have worked together on collaborative campus solar charging station projects with environmental sensors at the University of California Davis, Stanford University, and the University of Texas at Austin. The presenter will share lessons from her work using renewable energy education in university and community settings over the last ten years. Her collaborative campus solar charging station projects offered students and community members the opportunity to gather in the shade while recharging their laptops, phones and electric bicycles via standard electrical outlets. The stations have 2-4 solar panels (500-1000 watts) and a 1000-watt inverter, they provided a WiFi workstation for four people and solar laboratory for students during the day. Batteries extend the charging capacity on cloudy days and into the night with vibrant LED lighting, and data loggers track station use. Student researchers have assessed the impacts of multiple solar charging stations, including intensity of station and shared vehicle use, travel patterns, and modes and trip types being replaced with two-wheeled electric mobility. This integrative project represents innovations in mobility, charging station design, and solar energy. Learn how you can incorporate solar design curriculum and skills to foster public awareness of renewable energy through hands on learning for a variety of audiences and outcomes. We will examine how the design process enacts a community mindset – a combination of problem solving and creative thinking that engages participants from different disciplines.