cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polaris: faster page loads using fine-grained dependency tracking

To load a web page, a browser must fetch and evaluate objects like HTML files and JavaScript source code. Evaluating an object can result in additional objects being fetched and evaluated. Thus, loading a web page requires a browser to resolve a dependency graph; this partial ordering constrains the sequence in which a browser can process individual objects. Unfortunately, many edges in a page's dependency graph are unobservable by today's browsers. To avoid violating these hidden dependencies, browsers make conservative assumptions about which objects to process next, leaving the network and CPU underutilized. We provide two contributions. First, using a new measurement platform called Scout that tracks fine-grained data flows across the JavaScript heap and the DOM, we show that prior, coarse-grained dependency analyzers miss crucial edges: across a test corpus of 200 pages, prior approaches miss 30% of edges at the median, and 118% at the 95th percentile. Second, we quantify the benefits of exposing these new edges to web browsers. We introduce Polaris, a dynamic client-side scheduler that is written in JavaScript and runs on unmodified browsers; using a fully automatic compiler, servers can translate normal pages into ones that load themselves with Polaris. Polaris uses fine-grained dependency graphs to dynamically determine which objects to load, and when. Since Polaris' graphs have no missing edges, Polaris can aggressively fetch objects in a way that minimizes network round trips. Experiments in a variety of network conditions show that Polaris decreases page load times by 34% at the median, and 59% at the 95th percentile.
Investigation of Relationship between Sociodemographic Factors and HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) among Young People in Nigeria

The main purpose of this study was to examine the association between sociodemographic factors (gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and socioeconomic status) and HCT uptake among young people in Nigeria. The study is a quantitative research guided by one research question and one hypothesis. The target population comprised young people in Nigeria ages 15 to 24 years because the focus of this study was to identify the factors affecting HCT uptake among young people in this age cohort. The representative sample was obtained from the updated master sample frame of rural and urban zones developed by the National Population Commission in Nigeria. This master sample frame was a national survey that comprises all 36 states in Nigeria. Probability sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 10,091 respondents (ages 15 to 24 years) for the study. The multistage cluster sampling was used to select suitable young people with known probability. Data were collected throughout Nigeria between September and December 2012 from 32,543 households (rural = 22,192; urban = 10,351) using structured and semistructured questionnaires. The individual questionnaires asked about household characteristics, background characteristics of the respondents. Data were analyzed by inputting them into SPSS v21.0 for analysis and then coded them for each participant. The data were summed using descriptive statistics. Frequencies and percentages; measures of central tendencies were used to answer the research question while nonparametric test such as chi-square was used to analyze non-normally distributed data at 0.5 level of significance. Results of data analysis indicated that the sociodemographic variables of gender, place of residence, level of education, geopolitical zone, and SES were significantly associated with HCT uptake. Among others, it was recommended that examining the efficacy of HCT treatments in Nigeria, along with conducting a demographic analysis of the at-risk population, could be beneficial in informing the authorities who are responsible for allocating finite medical resources.
Reduced Order Model for Unsteady Aerodynamics of Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle in Hover

Aerodynamics of a flapping wing Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) in hover is highly unsteady. Wake shed by the airfoil remains close to the airfoil surface. In this case, using low fidelity quasi-steady aerodynamic models does not give good estimate of lift and drag forces. Also, Momentum Disc Theory (MDT) alone cannot be used to model the inflow for such a complicated wake. High fidelity methods such as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are too computationally expensive for doing optimization and sensitivity studies for flapping MAVs. So, medium fidelity tools such as Unsteady Vortex Lattice Method (UVLM) have been used for modeling inflow of flapping wing mainly for forward flight conditions. However, presently there are no reduced order threedimensional (3D) aerodynamic models which can be used for doing preliminary design studies for flapping wing MAVs in hover. In the present work, a reduced order scheme is proposed which uses MDT and UVLM for modeling inflow of a flapping 2D airfoil. Results indicate that retaining only a fraction of the shed vortices is sufficient to get reasonable accuracy. For example, retaining vortices shed in the recent two out of ten oscillations reduced the error in lift by 88% as compared to quasi-steady calculation, i.e. it captures 88% of the unsteadiness. Addition of inflow calculated using MDT along with retaining two oscillations, helps capture 92% of the unsteadiness. Furthermore, the proposed scheme also helps capture about 90% of the unsteadiness in drag calculations. Since the proposed scheme simplifies computation significantly, it can be extended to create a 3D aerodynamic model for flapping wing MAV in hover.
Viacom inc: A case study in transnational media management

The article is a case study analysis of Viacom Inc., a leading transnational media corporation (TNMC) in the production, sale and distribution of electronic media entertainment. The study examines the history and development of Viacom, building on theoretical work that argues that business strategies and corporate culture of a company are often a direct reflection of the person (or persons) responsible for developing the organization and its business mission. Viacom’s longstanding CEO, Sumner Redstone, has shown himself to be an aggressive leader who is deeply involved in all aspects of the company’s operations. The article also examines the business strategy of Viacom, a unique media business entity that has been built through the steady acquisition of existing media companies. A critical challenge facing Viacom is the company’s inability to find a successor to Redstone in preparation for his future retirement. Viacom’s apparent lack of a succession plan is in large measure due to Redstone’s unwi...
Response of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae) to the Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Isolated from Autographa californica (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

We conducted bioassays and histological and restriction endonuclease studies to determine the susceptibility of Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) to the nuclear polyhedrosis virus (Ac M NPV) isolated from Autographa californica (Speyer). C. cactorum was found to be at least moderately susceptible to the virus. The virus, reisolated from C. cactorum , was grown in tissue culture cells, and characterized as AcMNPV via gel electrophoresis of restriction endonuclease fragments.
How to Select 3PL Server Guided by Customer

The paper uses AHP to analyze and evaluate customers and the 3PL servers and establishes a multi-object mixed integer programming model according to the evaluation results.Finally,it proves the reasonalization of the theory.
The Limits of Adverbialism about Intentionality

AbstractKriegel has recently developed (but not fully endorsed) an adverbial account of intentionality, in part to solve the problem of how we can think of non-existents. The view has real virtues: it endorses a non-relational (internalist) conception of intentionality and is ontologically conservative. Alas, the view ultimately cannot replace the act-object model of intentionality that it seeks to, because it depends on the act-object model for its intelligibility at key points. It thus fails as a revisionistic theory. I argue that the virtues of adverbialism can be had from within the act-object framework, provided we understand intentional objects correctly. I use Crane as a guide here, and build on his work on intentional objects. In the end, we can provide a suitable solution to the problem of thinking of non-existents within the act-object framework without adopting implausible ontological or metaphysical views. So, adverbialism is neither a possible stand-alone revisionary option nor a needed modif...
Comprehensive modeling, simulation and experimental validation of Permanent Magnet Synchronous generator wind power system

This paper investigates the modeling, simulation and implementation of a wind power system based on a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG). A comprehensive portfolio of control schemes are discussed and verified by Matlab/Simulink simulations, in the context of grid integration and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) operations. Particularly, to investigate the Fault-Ride-Through (FRT) and robustness capabilities, various wind speed scenarios and a line voltage droop are introduced to the wind power system to investigate its dynamic performance. A reference power curve, i.e., power versus generator speed, is employed in the turbine model to implement the MPPT. In addition, a position/speed sensorless operation approach based on Sliding Mode Observer (SMO) is implemented to reduce system cost and improve control reliability. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the robust control of the power and speed in the PMSG wind power systems.
Gender, race, and the use of prayer to manage anger

ABSTRACTWomen and blacks are more likely than men and whites to use prayer to manage negative emotions such as anger. However, the pathways explaining these associations are not fully understood. Using data from the 1996 General Social Survey’s emotion module, we evaluate four potential mechanisms that might account for these associations: women’s and blacks’ relatively high levels of religious participation, relatively low socioeconomic status, extended duration of their negative emotional experiences, and relatively lower perceived control. Women’s and blacks’ higher likelihood of using prayer to manage anger is partially accounted for by their higher levels of religious participation, lower socioeconomic status, and duration of anger. Lower levels of perceived control contribute only to blacks’ use of prayer to manage anger. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying pathways that explain why particular social groups use particular emotion management strategies.
Impact of Arms Production on Third-World Distribution and Growth

While common sense would seem to indicate that increased defence expenditures are likely to harm an LDC’s development efforts, economic theory does not provide any clear prediction of how the net impact of an increase in the military burden would influence growth, development or welfare.1 Classical theory, for example, would predict on the basis of resource allocation that increases in defence will decrease investment and/or civilian consumption and thus reduce growth or welfare. Increased military burdens would, in this situation, have to be justified on the basis of other social welfare gains such as an increase in collective security. Keynesian theory, on the other hand, implies that in the presence of inadequate effective demand the operation of the income multiplier would imply an increase in national product, resulting from additional defence expenditures; thus, there are purely economic rationales for increased military spending. More specifically, for economies operating with substantial excess capacity, additional demand and output from expanded military expenditure will increase capacity utilization, thereby increasing the rate of profit and possibly accelerating investment. Whether in the short and long run the former or latter effect dominates will determine the final influence exerted by defence on growth.2
Helping create "Wellness Warriors": Primary Care for remote Alaska Native Communities.

It was not clear if the young patient had been taking his diabetes medication, but as his blood sugar deteriorated and he became confused, we were not sure what was going on. With flights dependent on good weather and only scheduled back to the mainland three times a week, the “ordinary” suddenly escalated to high priority; should we or shouldn’t we request a full medivac ?
Temperature Stress and Membrane Lipid Modification

Changes in the lipid composition of organisms in response to temperature alteration were documented very early by Ivanov.1 The universality of temperature alteration of lipid unsaturation is supported by similar reports quite well documented in other plant species, land and marine animals, and micro-organisms. It is generally recognized, for example, that the iodine number of seed lipid varies within species with change in production latitude. In animals, the unsaturation of body triglycerides varies with their location within the body or extremities. For example, lipid unsaturation of body fat of the cow is lower than fat of the leg.
Cervical carcinoma DNA content, S-fraction, and malignancy grading. II. Comparison with clinical staging.

In an attempt to achieve more biologically meaningful subclassification of squamous cell cervical cancers and ultimately more reliable prediction of tumor behavior, we have studied the tumor pretreatment DNA content (i.e., DNA index), cell-cycle S-fraction, and histomorphologic maligancy grading properties for tumors having similar and different clinical staging. The tumor DNA index, %S-phase cells, and average maligancy grades were statistically tested against known clinical predictive variables for 90 primary squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix studied prior to radiotherapy. We observed that the biological and morphological tumor properties of cervical cancers broadly overlapped between different stages of disease and for other clinical criteria including the gross morphology, lymph node status, and intravenous positivity. No significant differences were detected in the DNA indices, %S, or malignancy grades between the stages of disease or the other clinical criteria. It was concluded that: (1) the gross clinical staging criteria inadequately reflected the tumor biological properties; and (2) that the possibility exists for refining prognosis by use of the biological and morphological noncodependent tumor parameters to supplement staging criteria; and (3) the use of cell-cycle cytokinetic and malignancy grading criteria in addition to tumor DNA index is superior to DNA index (or DNA content) alone for identifying biologically different cervical cancers.
OESPG: Computational Framework for Multidimensional Analysis of Occupant Energy Use Data in Commercial Buildings

AbstractCommercial buildings account for much of the energy use both in the United States and globally. The role of occupant behavior within the physical building has been found to be an important ...
ASIC for SDD-based X-ray spectrometers

We present an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for high-resolution x-ray spectrometers (XRS). The ASIC reads out signals from pixelated silicon drift detectors (SDDs). The pixel does not have an integrated field effect transistor (FET); rather, readout is accomplished by wire-bonding the anodes to the inputs of the ASIC. The ASIC dissipates 32 mW, and offers 16 channels of low-noise charge amplification, high-order shaping with baseline stabilization, discrimination, a novel pile-up rejector, and peak detection with an analog memory. The readout is sparse and based on custom low-power tristatable low-voltage differential signaling (LPT-LVDS). A unit of 64 SDD pixels, read out by four ASICs, covers an area of 12.8 cm2 and dissipates with the sensor biased about 15 mW/cml As a tile-based system, the 64-pixel units cover a large detection area. Our preliminary measurements show a FWHM of 145 eV at the 5.9 keV peak of a 55Fe source, and less than 80 eV on a test-pulse line at 200 eV.
Combinatorial and MC/DC Coverage Levels of Random Testing

Software testing criteria differ in their effectiveness, the numbers of test cases required, and the processes of test generation. Specific criteria often are compared to random testing, and in some cases, random testing shows a surprisingly high level of effectiveness. One reason that this is the case is that any random test set has a specific level of coverage according to any coverage criterion. Numerical evaluation of coverage levels of random testing according to various coverage criteria is an interesting research task and is important in understanding the relationship between different testing approaches. In this paper, we performed an experimental evaluation of the coverage levels of random testing for two criteria: MC/DC and combinatorial t-way testing. Our experiments showed that, when the number of random test cases increased, a high level of coverage was reached rapidly, both for MC/DC and t-way. However, many more random tests are required to reach 100% coverage. An unexpected result was that there were significant differences in the measurement of partial MC/DC coverage by various tools. The results may be used to select optimal methods for practical testing and develop new testing methods based on the integration of existing approaches.
Congenital (infantile) hemangiopericytoma of the tongue and sublingual region

Congenital (infantile) hemangiopericytoma is a rare lesion, previously described only in subcutaneous and central nervous system locations. The authors report here an obstructing tumor of the tongue and sublingual oral cavity, discovered at birth, in an otherwise normal female infant of 35 weeks' gestation. The tumor had a histopathologic and ultrastructural appearance similar to previous descriptions of infantile hemangiopericytoma. Clinical features in this case included rapid local recurrence after initial excision; however, after 30 months of follow-up, there has been no evidence of further recurrence or metastasis. Because this patient was treated with chemotherapy, the authors cannot determine to what extent this benign course reflects the natural history of this process or the influence of the treatment administered.
Lymphocyte-Dominant Encephalitis and Meningitis in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Macaques Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy

A retrospective neuropathologic review of 30 SIV-infected pigtailed macaques receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) was conducted. Seventeen animals with lymphocyte-dominant inflammation in the brain and/or meninges that clearly was morphologically distinct from prototypic SIV encephalitis and human immunodeficiency virus encephalitis were identified. Central nervous system (CNS) infiltrates in cART-treated macaques primarily comprised CD20+ B cells and CD3+ T cells with fewer CD68+ macrophages. Inflammation was associated with low levels of SIV RNA in the brain as shown by in situ hybridization, and generally was observed in animals with episodes of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral rebound or sustained plasma and CSF viremia during treatment. Although the lymphocytic CNS inflammation in these macaques shared morphologic characteristics with uncommon immune-mediated neurologic disorders reported in treated HIV patients, including CNS immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome and neurosymptomatic CSF escape, the high prevalence of CNS lesions in macaques suggests that persistent adaptive immune responses in the CNS also may develop in neuroasymptomatic or mildly impaired HIV patients yet remain unrecognized given the lack of access to CNS tissue for histopathologic evaluation. Continued investigation into the mechanisms and outcomes of CNS inflammation in cART-treated, SIV-infected macaques will advance our understanding of the consequences of residual CNS HIV replication in patients on cART, including the possible contribution of adaptive immune responses to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
Development of Radon Enrichment in Soil Gas over Quartz-Mica Schist in Virginia

A major portion of northern Virginia is underlain by a quartz-muscovite soil, on average about 10 meters thick, that has developed on a bedrock of polymetamoirphic schist. The schist formed from an ancient clay-rich sediment eventually recrystallized several times, as the modern Appalachian rocks were heated deep in the Earth and subsequently exposed by erosion. The total gamma radioactivity and the permeability of the schist are higher than average, and combine to generate a radon-rich soil-gas that can be brought into homes by the pressure differential normally present in local homes that commonly are well insulated and have basements. More than half of the homes, based on three-month measurements, exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended maximum for indoor radon of 4 pCi/L. Fortunately, while the area is experiencing a rapid inc rease in new home construction, it is possible to avoid types of home construction susceptible to, and areas of, high soil-gas radon and high permeability.
Sclerotherapy of Leg Veins

Sclerotherapy is the injection of a chemical irritant into small and large venous varicosities to create complete destruction of the vessel wall via irreversible endothelial damage and localized thrombosis. The aim is improved hemodynamics, elimination of symptoms, and achievement of an improved aesthetic result.4 Sclerotherapy is a first-line treatment for small intracutaneous varicosities, and is ideally suited for vessels measuring 0.3mm-0.5 mm.
Genetics of myo-inositol phosphate synthesis and accumulation.

Two cellular functions for the myo-inositol (Ins) polyphosphate esters (Ins bis-, tris-, tetrakis-, pentakis-, and hexakisphosphate or phytic acid) are prominent in the literature. These are as metabolites in phosphate and mineral storage or regulation pathways and as metabolites in signal transduction pathways (see below). A third discrete function involves the modulation of hemoglobin oxygen affinity in the avian erythrocyte (Isaacks and Harkness, 1980). Recently Ins hexa-, hepta-, and octaphosphates containing one or two pyrophosphate moieties have been identified in a number of cell types (Mayr et al., 1992; Menniti et al., 1993). They are probably synthesized from Ins pentakis- and hexakisphosphate as part of a kinase-pyrophosphatase cycle. This cycle may represent an additional discrete role for Ins phosphate metabolism as a component of “high-energy” phosphate bond metabolism.
Chapter 21 – Hypothesis Testing

Laura Lee Johnson,* Craig B. Borkowf y and Pamela A. Shawz Office of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, yDivision of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, zBiostatistics Research Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Coal Preparation and Cleaning

Most coal requires some preparation before use. Preparation may range from simply crushing to provide a size consist suitable for certain types of boilers to extensive size reduction and cleaning to remove sulfur and ash-forming mineral matter. At present, coal cleaning is accomplished through physical separation of particles low in mineral content from particles high in mineral content. In the future it may include chemical and biological treatment for removal of certain impurities from coal. In this chapter, the present state of the art of coal cleaning and promising new technological developments will be reviewed. Attention will also be given to problems requiring further research and development.
Metabolic diversity of bacteria and yeast from commercial probiotic products illustrated by phenotypic profiling

The number of probiotic products in the marketplace is on the rise, gaining momentum along with the upsurge in research on the role of the human gut microbiome in health. Although such products are considered safe for consumption, these probiotic supplements and beverages are not subject to stringent federal regulation for quality. While only certain strains of probiotic microbes have been studied for efficacy in clinical trials, the ingredient labels of commercial probiotics do not always list the strain names. In this study, we investigated the diversity of the bacteria and yeast sold in these products. From a representative selection of commercially available probiotic supplements and beverages, we cultured microbes and identified them with standard methods (16S rRNA gene sequencing, mass spectrometric identification, and Biolog phenotypic profiling), then assessed whether there were strain-specific differences in nutrient metabolism and tolerance to compounds across the isolates from different products. Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii were cultured from 21 commercial probiotic products (fifteen probiotic supplements and six probiotic beverages). Phenotypic profiling revealed metabolic diversity in carbon source usage and tolerance to compounds, within species from different probiotics and from environmental isolates of strains belonging to the same species. Despite this strain level diversity, we observed that up to half of the probiotic supplements for sale in retail and drugstores only list the species, but not the specific strain, on the label. This study highlights that existing labeling conventions for probiotics are insufficient to convey the strain identity and diversity in these products, underscoring the need for clear strain identification and verification of strain-specific probiotic properties, particularly when moving toward therapeutic applications of beneficial microbes.
Programmed cell death protein-1 inhibitor-induced granuloma annulare and hypertrophic lichen planus masquerading as squamous cell carcinoma.

Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and is an effective treatment for advanced non–small cell lung cancer1 and advanced melanoma.2 PD-1 functions as a checkpoint of the effector stage of the immune system and inactivates T cells when they reach tumors.2 Systemic adverse events of checkpoint inhibitors include fatigue, fever, chills, and infusion reactions. Skin rash is the most common immune-related adverse event associated with checkpoint monoclonal antibody therapy, which can manifest as maculopapular rash, urticarial dermatitis, lichenoid dermatitis, bullous pemphigoid, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis.2, 3 We report a case of hypertrophic lichen planus (HLP) mimicking squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) as well as granuloma annulare (GA) associated with pembrolizumab.
Analog Radio-Frequency Interferences (RFI) Detectors for Microwave Radiometers

Microwave radiometers use radio spectrum dedicated to sensing the environment. As wireless communications and other active services proliferate, this allocated spectrum is nearly being crowded out. The potential result is corrupted satellite measurements of the weather, the climate, and the environment. We present an analog RFI detector for microwave radiometers intended to mitigate the above risks. The double detector (DD) for RFI detection includes a square-law diode detector with short integration time for measuring the total power out of the radiometer, followed by a second diode detector which acts as a higher-order statistical fourth-moment detector. See Figure 1 for block diagram of the system. This novel design which uses purely analog components at radio andlor intermediate frequencies allows the system to easily augment conventional radiometer architectures used in both airborne and space borne instruments. An equivalent high-speed digital design would add an impractical level of cost and complexity to radiometer designs using today's technology.
Hydrogen passivation of calcium and magnesium doped [beta]-Ga2O3

Calcium and magnesium doped beta-phase gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) single crystals were Czochralski grown in an iridium crucible and subsequently annealed in hydrogen at ~800° C. IR spectroscopy was used to investigate the roles of Mg and Ca dopants as well as H and Ir impurities. An IR peak at 3492 cm-1 was previously assigned to an O-H bondstretching mode of a MgH complex in hydrogen-annealed Ga2O3:Mg and an IR peak at 3541 cm-1 is tentatively assigned to a similar mode in a CaH complex for H annealed Ga2O3:Ca. An IR peak at 5148 cm-1 is attributed to the presence of Ir4+ when magnesium is present. Excitation with several different wavelengths was used to confirm the position of the Ir level within the band gap. Our results suggest that isolated substitutional Ca dopants are less effective as deep acceptors than Mg. Polarization dependence of the iridium IR spectra is also discussed.
Books Between Libraries: Sharing, Exchange, and Purchasing

This chapter examines the Libraries Section’s International Clearing House for Publications, UNESCO Bulletin for Libraries, and UNESCO Book Coupons. These represent the innovative and successful core of UNESCO’s postwar book and library reconstruction and rehabilitation program. They enabled the Libraries Section to strive to meet “exactly stated needs” for books, periodicals, and other printed materials in war-devastated countries and elsewhere around the world. Empowering libraries, individuals, and others to obtain the materials they wanted rather than having to accept the materials UNESCO or its supporters and donors believed they needed was significant during the early postwar-Cold War context when culture, information, and publications were viewed as potential vehicles of propaganda and misinformation by those on both sides of the escalating conflict.
Novel High-Performance, Dual-Polarized, Crossed-Vertically-Fed Microstrip Antenna Array for Multifunction Phased Array Radar Application

The design and fabrication of a novel dual-polarized crossed-vertically-fed microstrip patch antenna are presented. Differential feeding method has been meticulously evolved to form a unique excitation technique. The proposed method exhibits extremely high isolation of better than 52 dB between horizontal and vertical polarizations in the entire frequency band (2.7 - 2.9 GHz) while scanning up to 45o. The proposed antenna has the advantage of utilizing low-cost printed circuit board fabrication technology while presenting high-performance electromagnetic characteristics. Additionally, this technique mitigates the surface wave issues associated with conventional microstrip antenna arrays.
Changes in Quality of Care after Hospital Mergers and Acquisitions

Abstract Background The hospital industry has consolidated substantially during the past two decades and at an accelerated pace since 2010. Multiple studies have shown that hospital mergers have le...
BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS IN EARLY POST PEDIATRIC HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT

Bacterial infections are common in the early period after heart transplantation. Specifically, infective endocarditis (IE) in heart transplant patients is thought to be related to repetitive cardiac biopsies and is more common in patients with indwelling catheter, cellulitis, and contaminated donors
CASE OF THE PINK CELLS: A RARE CAUSE OF ACUTE SHOCK IN CHRONIC HEART FAILURE

Eosinophilic myocarditis (EM) is a rare, rapidly progressive and often fatal cause of acute heart failure. A 66 year-old male with eosinophilic pneumonia and chronic systolic heart failure presented with elevated troponin and peripheral eosinophilia. Cardiac catheterization revealed non-obstructive
Double the Injustice, Twice the Harm: The Impact of the Board of Immigration Appeal's Summary Affirmance Procedures

In 2002, the Department of Justice issued regulations that dramatically altered appellate procedures before the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The regulations, which have been found to satisfy procedural due process by multiple circuit courts, have lengthened the trail of tears immigrants must travel to achieve fairness and justice. The recent changes in the regulations both increase immigrants' dissatisfaction with the immigration system and dangerously and unjustly narrow their access to due process under the law. This article explores the impact of the regulatory changes and the influence the BIA has on the delivery of due process to immigrants. The Supreme Court reserved some basic due process rights for immigrants that the new summary affirmance regulations compromise. This article provides an overview of the due process rights of immigrants and discusses the realities immigrants face in trying to enforce their due process rights at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and at the immigration courts. The current immigration adjudication process fails to provide adequate due process safeguards. Circuit courts must take a critical and holistic view of the present immigration procedures to reestablish the equilibrium between fairness and plenary power. This article suggests ways to reestablish this balance, such as improving procedural avenues at the lower adjudicative levels and strengthening immigrants' trust in the fairness of the process.
How Can We Study Children’s/Youth’s Out of School Experiences to Inform Classroom Practices?:

The collection of papers represented in the Integrative Research Review responds to the question: How can we study children’s/youth’s out of school experiences to inform classroom practices? Using ...
Options Study for the Neutralization of Elemental Sodium During the Pyroprocessing of Used Nuclear Fuel

An options study was performed for the treatment of residual elemental sodium in driver plenums following the chopping operation during the pyroprocessing of used nuclear fuel. Given the pending availability of a multi-function furnace for distillation and consolidation operations in the Fuel Conditioning Facility, the furnace was considered for the processing of driver plenums. Although two options (oxidation and distillation) could be performed in the multi-function furnace, neither option has been developed sufficiently to date to warrant the use of the furnace for treatment operations. Thus, it was decided to defer the treatment of elemental sodium from driver plenums in the multi-function furnace until more developed technologies and/or furnaces become available. In the interim, storage of the plenums and characterization efforts are recommended.
Evaluating fatigue performance of fine aggregate matrix mixes with reclaimed asphalt pavement and rejuvenating agents

In this study, the fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures with high reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content and rejuvenating agents (RA) has been investigated at the level of fine aggregate matri...
Relationship between blood pressure and kidney diseases in large randomized controlled trials: secondary analyses using SPRINT and ACCORD-BP trials

Hypertension is a risk factor for acute kidney injury. In this study, we aimed to identify the optimal blood pressure (BP) targets for CKD and non-CKD patients. We analyzed the data of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) and the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Blood Pressure trial (ACCORD BP) to determine the nonlinear relationship between BP and renal disease development using the Generalized Additive Model (GAM). Optimal systolic BP/diastolic BP (SBP/DBP) with lowest renal risk were estimated using GAM. Logistic regression was employed to find odds ratios (ORs) of adverse renal outcomes by three BP groups (high/medium/low). Both study trials have demonstrated a "U"-shaped relationship between BP and renal outcomes. For non-CKD patients in SPRINT trial, risk of 30% reduction in eGFR among intensive group patients with DBP ≤ 70 mmHg was significantly higher than the group with DBP between 71 and 85 mmHg (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.51-3.53). For non-CKD patients in ACCORD trial, risk of doubling of serum creatinine (SCr) or >20 mL/min decrease in eGFR among intensive group patients with DBP ≤ 70 mmHg was significantly higher than the group with DBP between 71 and 85 mmHg (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.12-1.99). For CKD patients in SPRINT trial, there are no significant differences in renal outcomes by different SBP/DBP levels. Our analysis of both SPRINT and ACCORD datasets demonstrated that lower-than-optimal DBP may lead to poor renal outcomes in non-CKD patients. Healthcare providers should be cautious of too low DBP level in intensive BP management due to poor renal outcomes for non-CKD patients.
Characterizing Escherichia coli's transcriptional response to different styrene exposure modes reveals novel toxicity and tolerance insights.

The global transcriptional response of Escherichia coli to styrene and the potential influence of the exposure source was determined by performing RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis on both styrene-producing and styrene-exposed cells. Relative to an unexposed control, 1,574 and 755 genes showed significant changes in differential expression when styrene was exogenously added versus endogenously produced. Taken together, in both cases, styrene exposure appears to cause both cell envelope and DNA damage, to which cells respond by down-regulating key genes and pathways involved in DNA replication, protein production, and cell wall biogenesis. Among the most significantly up-regulated genes under both exposure modes were those involved in the phage shock protein response (e.g. pspABCDE/G), general stress regulators (e.g. marA, rpoH), and several membrane-altering genes (notably, bhsA, ompR, ldtC), whereas most efflux transporters were, surprisingly, unaffected. Subsequent studies performed with styrene addition, meanwhile, demonstrate how strains lacking ompR (involved in controlling outer membrane (OM) composition/osmoregulation) or any of tolQ, tolA, or tolR (all involved in OM constriction) each displayed over 40 per cent reduced growth relative to wild-type E. coli; differences pointing to the likely importance of these OM-associated processes in native styrene tolerance. Conversely, despite reducing the basal fitness of unexposed cells, overexpression of plsX (involved in phospholipid biosynthesis) led to 70 per cent greater growth when styrene exposed; further suggesting the importance of OM properties in controlling tolerance. Overall, the collective behaviors suggest that, regardless of its source, prolonged exposure to inhibitory styrene levels causes cells to shift from a 'growth mode' to 'survival mode', redistributing cellular resources to fuel native tolerance mechanisms.
Lunar propagation modeling using 2D Parabolic Wave and 3D Ray Tracing Solvers at 1.8 GHz

The NASA Artemis Program will further our understanding of Earth's moon by enabling human exploration of the lunar South Pole. This mission will require high-data-rate communications to minimize exposure of human and robotic explorers to extreme environmental effects. This requirement pushes the radio frequency higher than UHF, which would typically be used for robust surface-to-surface communications in a rugged terrain environment. To help with the design of such a communications system, the one-way propagation loss at 1.8 GHz is modeled at a candidate lunar South Pole landing site using two models: Tropospheric Electromagnetic Parabolic Equation Routine (TEMPER) and Remcom Inc.'s Wireless Insite (WI). Selenic LiDAR data of the lunar terrain is used in each model. Both models offer significant advantages over simple Line-of-Sight (LOS) coverage solutions. Each method has its advantages over the other. TEMPER captures shadowing and diffraction more accurately than WI, and WI captures scattering effects better than TEMPER. Merging the two results allows for a conservative estimate of performance, needed when designing a reliable and secure communications network on the lunar surface.
More Than Just a Weed: An Exploration of the Antimicrobial Activity of Rumex crispus using a Multivariate Data Analysis Approach.

Plants have a long history of use for their medicinal properties. The complexity of botanical extracts presents unique challenges and necessitates the application of innovative approaches to correctly identify and quantify bioactive compounds. For this study, we used untargeted metabolomics to explore the antimicrobial activity of Rumex crispus (yellow dock), a member of the Polygonaceae family used as an herbal remedy for bacterial infections. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass-spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was used to identify and quantify the known antimicrobial compound emodin. In addition, we used biochemometric approaches to integrate data measuring antimicrobial activity from R. crispus root starting material and fractions against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with UPLC-MS data. Our results support the hypothesis that multiple constituents, including the anthraquinone emodin, contribute to the antimicrobial activity of R. crispus against MRSA.
Using Technology to Support Distributed Teams: A Work System-Based Study of an Interdisciplinary Team Responding to COVID-19:

Effective teams are essential to meet the complex and dynamic requirements during pandemic response. This case study analyses the work system of mobileSHIELD, a distributed team developing a diagno...
Catecholamines in the pituitary: origin and fate.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the research on the subject of catecholamines and the pituitary This research includes: (1) the regulation by the pituitary of catecholamine synthesis, metabolism and turnover in peripheral tissues and (2) regulation by central catecholamines of release of pituitary hormones. The pituitary actively takes up catecholamines from the circulation; this seems to be mediated through a carrier-dependent saturable uptake system. The principal route of adrenaline metabolism in pituitary seems to be clearance of the unchanged catecholamine. On low concentrations of adrenaline, deamination and conjugation appear to be preferred routes of metabolism. The pituitary seems to possess the enzymatic machinery to inactivate catecholamines. The gland probably disposes of catecholamines by the same pathways as the brain—for example, deamination, o-methylation and conjugation. However, in the pituitary, clearance of unchanged catecholamine may be an important facet of metabolism, and the route of metabolism is in part determined by the concentration of catecholamine reaching the pituitary.
CHAPTER 193 – The cAMP-Specific Phosphodiesterases: A Class of Diverse Enzymes That Defines the Properties and Compartmentalization of the cAMP Signal

This chapter summarizes properties and regulations, which indicate that the cAMP-phosphodiesterases (PDEs) play an important role in cAMP signaling as well as acting as integrators of multiple signaling pathways. Although much needs to be done to fully understand their functions, these PDEs should be regarded as homeostatic regulators of signaling. The second messenger cAMP generated by adenylyl cyclases either interacts with and activates intracellular effectors or is degraded and inactivated by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Of the eleven PDE families thus far identified, three families of isoenzymes are specific for cAMP, including family 4,7, and 8. Given their high affinity for cAMP in the submicromolar to micro-molar range, they are the primary enzymes involved in the inactivation of this cyclic nucleotide under resting or stimulated conditions, thus playing a critical role in signaling.
Novel ubiquitin binding sites of S. cerevisiae polymerase η identified by a genetically encoded photoactive probe (927.4)

DNA translesion synthesis is carried out by specialized DNA polymerases such as Polη. Polη contains a ubiquitin-binding zinc finger (UBZ) domain required for its effective recruitment to the stalle...
Complex Litigation: Standing

Commentary and analysis of the implicit requirement for class certification that class members have standing to bring suit, and the various approaches of federal courts in considering the standing problem. Some federal courts view this as a question of jurisdiction or threshold justiciability. Other federal courts view standing as a problem of the adequacy of the class representative. Before the Supreme Court’s decision in Ortiz v. Fibreboard, 527 U.S. 815 (1999), many courts viewed standing as a threshold issue for class certification. However, the Court’s decision in Ortiz generated a great deal of confusion concerning the timing of a challenge to the standing of a class representative or class members. In Ortiz, the Court indicated that class certification issues are logically antecedent to Article III concerns, and which pertain to statutory standing, which may be treated before Article III standing. This suggested that issues about Rule 23 class certification should be treated first. In the wake of Ortiz, however, some federal courts have applied Ortiz to prevent consideration of challenges to standing prior to class certification, while other federal courts have repudiated this approach. This article discusses the Ortiz “logically antecedent” language, the confusion engendered by this language, and the varying court decisions seeking to interpret and apply this language.
Quantitative Muscle Ultrasound: Comparison of Backscatter vs. Grayscale Methods in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients and Healthy Controls (S26.001)

OBJECTIVE: Compare two quantitative ultrasound measures of muscle pathology, quantitative backscatter analysis (QBA) and grayscale luminosity (GSL). BACKGROUND: Ultrasound of dystrophic muscle shows abnormally bright echointensity that increases with age and pathology. Echointensity can be quantified by measuring the acoustic signal received by the transducer, known as backscatter (QBA), or the grayscale luminosity (GSL) of the post-processed image. QBA may yield more precise measures of echointensity because the data are collected before compression for display as grayscale images. DESIGN/METHODS: We performed ultrasound on six upper and lower extremity muscles in 25 healthy boys and 25 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) of similar (p>0.84) age (2-14 (mean 8) years). One rater measured the median GSL and QBA from each muscle image; two raters repeated 36 measurements from a representative sample. Age served as a surrogate for disease severity. RESULTS: Average QBA correlated highly with average GSL (rho =0.89, p 0.87). QBA and GSL from all muscles were higher in DMD subjects than controls (p 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Both QBA and GSL are reliably measured and are increased in dystrophic muscle. In DMD, QBA showed consistently higher correlations than GSL with age and may better quantify degree of pathology. Correlations between age and either QBA or GSL differed between muscles. Additional study using ultrasound will determine how QBA and GSL of individual muscles vary with function and over time. Disclosure: Dr. Shklyar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Geisbush has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mijailovic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pasternak has nothing to disclose. Dr. Visyak has nothing to disclose. Dr. Szelag has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Darras has received personal compensation for activities with UpToDate Inc., Isis Pharmaceuticals, and Athena Diagnostics. Dr. Darras has received research support from PTC Therapeutics Inc. Dr. Rutkove has received personal compensation for activities with Skulpt, Inc. as a consultant. Dr. Rutkove has received royalty payments from UpToDate, and Springer, Inc. Dr. Rutkove has received compensation for serving on the board of directors of Skulpt, Inc. Dr. Rutkove holds stock and/or stock options in Skulpt, Inc. Dr. Zaidman has nothing to disclose.