cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Mechanical Preloads on the Dynamic Performance of Gas Foil Bearings

Gas foil bearings (GFBs) enable efficient, reliable and maintenance free operation of high-power-density microturbomachinery (< 200 kW). High speed rotors supported on bump-type GFBs, however, are prone to show large-amplitude subsynchronous motions albeit reaching limit cycle performance. Presently, commercial GFBs are simply modified to introduce a mechanical preload that induces a hydrodynamic wedge to generate more load support and direct stiffnesses. Three metal shims inserted under the bump strip layers and in contact with the bearing housing create a multiple lobe clearance profile at a very low cost. Shaft speed coastdown measurements reveal the rotordynamic performance of a rotor supported on original GBFs and (modified) shimmed GFBs. The later GFBs determine a raise in the rotor-bearing system natural frequency, as expected, and also act to delay the onset speed of large-amplitude subsynchronous motions. Predictions of imbalance response implementing linearized bearing force coefficients are in good agreement with measured amplitudes of synchronous response for both GFB configurations, original and modified.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Time-domain behavioral modeling of a multigigahertz digital RF oscillator using VHDL

A time-domain event-driven VHDL simulation technique for modeling a multigigahertz radio-frequency digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) for wireless applications is presented. The model includes various phase noise mechanisms including flicker (1/f noise), thermal wander, jitter and flat electronic quantization noise due to the digital control using time-domain equations. The noise models are implemented as either accumulative or non-accumulative random perturbations of the fundamental oscillator period. Furthermore, the effects of delay and skew in the digital input bits to the DCO as well as substrate coupling of other clock domains within the same chip has been discussed. The proposed technique is well suited to investigate complex interactions in large system-on-chip systems, which cannot be studied using conventional RF and analog simulation tools. The presented simulation technique has been successfully applied and validated in fully-compliant Bluetooth and GSM transceiver integrated circuits fabricated in digital 130-nm and 90-nm processes, respectively
Balloon catheter dilation for treatment of older children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Objectives To describe the outcomes of balloon catheter dilation of the lacrimal duct as the first surgical treatment for older children (≥18 months) with nasolacrimal duct (NLD) obstruction and to examine the effect of the type of obstruction on outcome. Design Retrospective noncomparative case series. Participants Seventy-six children 18 months or older with NLD obstruction who had not undergone previous surgery. Intervention The patients underwent NLD probing, infracturing of the inferior turbinate, and balloon catheter dilation of the distal NLD. The type of obstruction was noted at surgery. Main Outcome Measures Outcomes were considered excellent if the patient had complete resolution of epiphora and dacryocystitis and normal tear drainage on examination, good if the patient had only minimal residual symptoms or a minimally delayed dye disappearance test result, fair if the patient had moderate residual symptoms or delayed tear drainage, and poor if there was no improvement. Results Seventy-six children were treated. Overall, results were excellent in 28 (37%) patients, good in 30 (39%), fair in 13 (17%), and poor in 5 (7%). Forty-eight (63%) of the patients had simple membranous obstruction at the Hasner valve. Results were good or excellent in 35 (73%) of these patients. Twenty-eight (37%) patients had stenosis that extended along the length of the distal NLD. Results were good or excellent in 23 (82%) of these patients. Conclusions Balloon catheter dilation is probably more effective than simple probing for older children with NLD obstruction because of stenosis that extends along the distal NLD. The procedure does not provide a significant advantage over simple NLD probing in patients with typical membranous obstruction at the Hasner valve.
Food security issues--a potential comprehensive plan

The need for a comprehensive plan to protect the food production system has emerged as a critical issue over the last several years. To address this need, a comprehensive food security plan has been developed at Auburn University. The proposed program, entitled the Consolidated American Network for Agriculture Resource Intelligence (CANARI) system is one of several systems being proposed to deal with potential agricultural bioterrorism or agroterrorism events. Unlike other systems, which hastily emerged in many agencies after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, the system has been planned over the last 5 yr with the input of the agricultural industries, is comprehensive in its conception, and is designed to coordinate all components (existing and planned) necessary to prevent, detect, and respond to potential agroterrorism events. The plan uses the principle that the first line of defense must be within the states and agricultural companies for the detection of agroterrorism incidents to be rapid and the response effective, organized, and timely. CANARI is designed to integrate the previously disparate elements by fostering a cooperative network of local, state, and federal agencies as well as commodity entities and interested non-governmental organizations. Using a market-driven approach, the system encourages commodity membership and cooperation through positive incentives rather than regulatory duress. A centralized command structure is envisioned, which would be provided through the creation of a National Agroterrorism Defense Center. The responsibility of this Center would be to coordinate all of the activities presently available in components at the local, state, and federal levels and develop and manage new and emerging activities provided by the stakeholders. CANARI offers a new paradigm by which all of its constituent members act collectively and cooperatively to lessen the risk of an attack and better ensure the continued availability of a safe, abundant, and economical food supply.
InP-based inverted high electron mobility transistors

Summary form only given. The fabrication and characterisation of an inverted high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) in the AlInAs/GaInAs-on-InP material system are reported. Inverted HEMTs, which have the donor layer beneath the channel, have the potential for higher transconductance, current gain cutoff frequency, and power gain cutoff frequency than conventional HEMTs because the gate can be placed closer to the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). >
Approximate particular solutions for the pole tide in a global ocean

*Summary. Approximate particular solutions are presented for Laplace’s tidal equations for the pole tide forcing on an ocean-covered earth. The system of equations only needs to satisfy cyclic continuity and is reduced to separate equations for the meridional velocity and the deviation of the tide from equilibrium. These two equations are characterized by a small parameter multiplying the derivatives and so approximate particular solutions are obtained by equating the undifferentiated terms with the forcing terms. With this approximation, linear friction does not introduce a phase shift in the solutions. There is a near geostrophic balance between the horizontal velocities and the small deviation of the tide from equilibrium in the momentum equations, while to the first approximation the horizontal velocity divergence in the continuity equation yields the equilibrium tide. The horizontal velocities are expressed in terms of a stream function and velocity potential, which are shown to satisfy the vorticity and divergence equations. These results show that for the long-period pole tide forcing (a velocity potential forcing in the divergence equation), both a stream function and velocity potential are necessary to describe the motion.
Does cone positional disorder limit resolution

We measure the center-to-center spacings and disorder in spacings between all pairs of cones in a strip of primate retina extending from the foveal center to approximately 5.75 deg of retinal eccentricity along the temporal horizontal meridian. The strip is partitioned into windows, and the positions of the cone centers in each lattice window are digitized for analysis of lattice structure and quality. We find a nearly monotonic increase in cone spacing with eccentricity. The cone mosaic is a high-quality hexagonal lattice near the foveal center, and cone positional disorder (jitter) relative to averaging spacing increases beyond about 1.5 deg. We estimate human acuity measured through the optics of the eye over a retinal region comparable with our lattice strip by pooling the results of previous investigators. When the monkey lattice is scaled to human foveal resolution, application of the sampling theorem to average cone spacing predicts these pooled visual-acuity data from the foveal center to about 1.5 deg and overestimates visual acuity more eccentrically. Orientation reversal, a new technique developed by Coletta and Williams [ J. Opt. Soc. Am.4, 1503 ( 1987)] for estimating the Nyquist limit, estimates Nyquist frequencies from the foveal edge to beyond 5 deg of retinal eccentricity that agree with the cutoff frequencies predicted on the basis of our average spacing measurements. We conclude that the sampling theorem based on average spacing alone predicts the Nyquist limit from the foveal center to about 5 deg when that limit is measured by using the new aliasing technique. The sampling theorem based on average spacing overestimates the pooled estimate of visual acuity from the foveal edge to about 5 deg, probably because of sampling noise caused. by orientation and spacing disorder combined with demodulation as a result of the optics of the eye.
A data distributed, parallel algorithm for ray-traced volume rendering

This paper presents a divide-and-conquer ray-traced volume rendering algorithm and a parallel image compositing method, along with their implementation and performance on the Connection Machine CM-5, and networked workstations. This algorithm distributes both the data and the computations to individual processing units to achieve fast, high-quality rendering of high-resolution data. The volume data, once distributed, is left intact. The processing nodes perform local raytracing of their subvolume concurrently. No communication between processing units is needed during this locally ray-tracing process. A subimage is generated by each processing unit and the final image is obtained by compositing subimages in the proper order, which can be determined a priori. Test results on the CM-5 and a group of networked workstations demonstrate the practicality of our rendering algorithm and compositing method.
Consolidated CBR Criteria

Reduction of expressions for two basic parameters of single wheel CBR criteria to single plotted curve that separates service behavior data with regard to failures and non-failures; curve also represents basic strength requirements for flexible airfield pavements for single wheel loadings; upper elements of pavements should include extra thickness for durability and for reducing differential settlement.
Acute to chronic pain: Transition in the post-surgical patient

Military conflicts, by their nature, inflict enormous physical, mental, and emotional scars on the combatants. The injuries range from multitrauma combat injuries to noncombat related overuse injuries and accidents. This chapter will review the injury patterns and review the current state of treatment of these conditions.
Bank Valuation in New EU Countries

This paper studies the role of institutional reforms in affecting bank valuation in new European Union (EU) member countries. It takes advantage of the dynamic nature of institutional reforms in transition economies and explores the causal effects of those reforms on banks’ Tobin’s Q over the period of 1997–2008. Using a difference-in-difference approach, the paper shows that Tobin’s Q increases substantially after these countries reform their legal institutions and liberalize banking. However, it decreases after stock market reforms. After further examination of the interactive relationships between different reforms and bank valuation, it is observed that when the banking reform is well implemented, legal reform can have a stronger impact on banks’ Tobin’s Q. On the other hand, banking reform and security market reform has a substitutive relationship. The analysis also suggests that foreign ownership, market power, and asset diversification significantly affect Tobin’s Q. These results are robust even after simultaneously controlling for equity risk. 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author at: Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023, United States. Tel.: +1 646 312 8278; fax: +1 646 312 8290. E-mail addresses: yfang15@stuart.iit.edu (Y. Fang), ihasan@fordham.edu, iftehas@gmail.com (I. Hasan), marton@fordham.edu (K. Marton), waisman@fordham.edu (M. Waisman).
Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide (PBAN)/Pyrokinin Family of Peptides and Fire Ants, Solenopsis Spp.

The fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is an economically important invasive pest ant, causing over 6 billion dollars in control and repair costs each year in the United States. The fire ant is becoming a global problem increasing its importance and the need for the development of biologically-based control methods. The PBAN/pyrokinin gene is ubiquitous to insects and produces 4-5 neuropeptides that play critical roles in insect development and in reproduction. The most well studied function is regulation of moth pheromone biosynthesis through the Pheromone Biosynthesis Activating Neuropeptide, PBAN. The fire ant is one of the most studied social insects and over the last 50 years a great deal has been learned about the behaviors and chemistry of pheromone communication in this ant. However, virtually nothing is known about the regulation of these pheromone systems. We review here our research to date on the PBAN/pyrokinin gene and the fire ant in preparation for determining the function of the product neuropeptides in brood development and in adults. We discuss the following: a) PBAN/Pyrokinin peptides in fire ants; b) PBAN immunocytochemistry and the fire ant central nervous system (CNS); c) Identification of PBAN/pyrokinin neuropeptides from S. invicta and other Solenopsis species; and d) PBAN/Pyrokinin gene expression in the head, thorax and abdomen of S. invicta. These studies help lay the ground-work for the utilization of the PBAN/pyrokinin gene/peptide product system for novel biologically-based fire ant control.
Rearing Tyroglyphid Mites on Neurospora

In the course of preliminary investigations for a population dynamics study, we have successfully reared four species of tyroglyphid mites on Neurospora . Several authors (Solomon 1943, Hughes 1948, and Krantz 1955) have reported that a number of species of mites commonly found in stored grain and stored grain products probably feed on fungi and vegetable debris rather than on the grain itself. Rivard (1958a, 1958b) reported rearing Tyrophagus castellanii (Hirst.) on Aspergillus sp.
An Improved Nitroblue Tetrazolium Test Using Phorbol Myristate Acetate-coated Coverslips

The endotoxin--nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) slide test was modified by precoating coverslips with phorbol myristate acetate instead of endotoxin. The percentage of control polymorphonuclear leukocytes reducing NBT was significantly (P less than .05) greater on phorbol myristate acetate-coated coverslips (99 +/- 0.21%) than on endotoxin-coated coverslips (96+/- 1.8%). Polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease did not reduce NBT on phorbol myristate acetate- or endotoxin-treated coverslips. NBT reduction by polymorphonuclear leukocytes from proven heterozygotic carriers of sex-linked chronic granulomatous disease was intermediate between NBT reductions by those from controls and patients. A statistically significant abnormality of NBT reduction was found in polymorphonuclear leukocytes from one carrier of chronic granulomatous disease with phorbol myristate acetate-treated, but not endotoxin-treated coverslips. The phorbol myristate acetate-NBT coverslip technic is a rapid, simple, reliable way to detect deficiencies in polymorphonuclear leukocytes from patients and carriers of chronic granulomatous disease.
Remediating heavy metals, radionuclides, and organic pollutants from soils

This paper provides an overview of the soil washing technology and briefly describes potential soil decontamination technologies.
The Evolution of Problems of the Calculus of Variations

(1936). The Evolution of Problems of the Calculus of Variations. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 43, No. 10, pp. 598-609.
First-principles study of migration mechanisms and diffusion of carbon in GaN

Carbon related defects are readily incorporated in GaN due to its abundance during growth both with MBE and CVD techniques. Employing first-principles calculations we compute the migration barrier of neutral carbon interstitials in the wurtzite GaN crystal. The Minimum Energy Path (MEP) and the migration barriers of these defects are obtained using the Nudged Elastic Band (NEB) method with the climbing image modification (CI-NEB). In addition, the Dimer method is used to verify the results. The results yield a quantitative description of carbon diffusion in the crystal allowing for the determination of the most probable migration paths.
The Patient’s Guide to Psoriasis Treatment. Part 1: UVB Phototherapy

Background Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease that affects 2–3% of the world population. Ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy is an effective treatment for psoriasis compared to other systemic treatments. Currently there is a lack of easily accessible online patient educational material regarding this form of treatment.
Comparative Effects of Insect Growth Regulators on Longevity and Mortality of Beet Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae

Laboratory bioassays demonstrated the toxic effects of three distinct types of insect growth regulators, diflubenzuron, fenoxycarb, and RH-5992, against 1- and 6-d-old larvae of the beet armyworm, ...
Relaxation Labeling Using Modular Operators

Probabalistic relaxation labeling has been shown to be useful in image processing, pattern recognition, and artificial intelligence. The approaches taken to date have been encumbered with computationally extensive summations which generally prevent real-time operation and/ or easy hardware implementation. This paper presents a new and unique approach to the relaxation labeling problem using modular, VLSI-oriented hierarchical complex operators. One of the fundamental concepts of this work is the representation of the probability distribution of the possible labels for a given object (pixel) as an ellipse, which may be summed with neighboring object's distribution ellipses, resulting in a new, relaxed label space. The mathematical development of the elliptical approach will be presented and compared to more classical approaches, and a hardware block diagram that shows the implementation of the relaxation scheme using VLSI chips will be presented. Final-ly, results will be shown which illustrate applications of the modular scheme, iteratively, to both edges and lines.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Relationships Between Parking Garage Occupancy and Traffic Speeds In Cities: Results From a Data-Driven Study

Theoretical studies have suggested that parking and traffic conditions in cities are related, yet few empirical studies have been conducted to quantify this relationship. This paper develops a data processing procedure to extract and fuse data on time-varying parking garage occupancy and traffic speed at the street or city-block levels, and their relationships are studied. Parking occupancy data from the application program interface (API) in SFPark.org and comprehensive traffic speed data from the HERE Maps traffic API were used as a case study. During the morning and evening commute periods, the relationships between average speed and parking occupancy were found to be distinct, and both relationships could be modeled by a reversed logistic function. Such a macroscopic relationship can be exploited to evaluate the effectiveness of downtown access control or congestion charging.
Innovating Toward High-Value Cardiovascular Care.

The United States leads the world in health care spending, but lags behind its peers in many quality measures [(1,2)][1]. The transition for reimbursement from volume to value is inevitable, and disciplined innovation can drive it forward [(3,4)][2]. Although policy decisions will shape the
Immunodiagnosis Antibodies in Body Fluids

The immune system consists of two major components, cellular immunity and humoral immunity. The latter is expressed through the synthesis of soluble antibodies. Under normal conditions, antibodies are formed by bone- marrow-derived lymphocytes (B cells) in reaction to the stimulation of antigens which enter the body by inhalation, ingestion, and/or penetration of the skin. In the laboratory, antibodies are usually produced by deliberate immunization by injection of antigens intravenously, intradermally, subcutaneously, etc., in the presence of adjuvants.
Bergson’s theory of war: A study of libido dominandi

Bergson scholars such as Leonard Lawlor, Alexander Lefebvre, Philip Soulez, and Frederic Worms have recently argued that Bergson “places the phenomenon of war at the center of his analysis” in Two ...
Pathophysiology of Breathing Control and Breathing Awake and Asleep

The years have made Pope’s comment politically incorrect (womankind, too, must be studied), but no less valid. Though important physiological insights have been obtained from studies of experimental animals, most would agree that the final test of relevance depends on studies of human subjects.
Penicillin-binding Proteins of Rhodospirillum rubrum

Four major pencillin-binding proteins (PBPs) were detected in membranes ofRhodospirillum rubrum labeled with radioiodinated penicillin X. These PBPs were localized primarily in the cytoplasmic membrane of aerobic cells, which had a higher content of PBPs relative to protein than did the outer membrane or a hybrid fraction containing both cytoplasmic and outer membranes. Nonuniform distribution of PBPs in the cytoplasmic membrane suggests that this membrane may be organized into functional domains. The cell envelope of phototrophic cells, which is composed of both cytoplasmic and outer membranes, was enriched in PBPs in comparison with the intracytoplasmic chromatophore membrane. Selective binding of some β-lactams to individual PBPs was demonstrated by competition experiments. The effects of several \-lactams in vivo and the selectivity of binding were compared to evaluate the roles of individual PBPs in the cell.
Edgeless composite laminate specimen for static and fatigue testing

The influence of edge effects on the tensile properties of angle-ply laminate composites can be eliminated by using edgeless (round tubular) specimens. However, uniaxial tests with such specimens, static and fatigue, have been generally unsuccessful because of the differential Poisson effect between the test section and the grips. An edgeless cylindrical specimen, developed to circumvent these difficulties, is examined in the present paper. It is a flattened tube consisting of two flat sides connected by curved sections. It can be handled much like the standard flat coupon. The flat ends of the specimen are provided with crossplied fiberglass gripping tabs, the same as used for flat test coupons. As part of the tabbing, the hollow ends must be plugged with inserts to prevent crushing of the ends. A special insert design was developed to minimize detrimental Poisson effects ordinarily introduced by inserts.
Factors Associated with the Presence of Strong Social Supports in Bhutanese Refugee Women During Pregnancy.

Social support may mitigate stress related to the refugee experience, including during resettlement. For refugee women, social support can play an important role during pregnancy. In-depth interviews were conducted within a sample of 45 Bhutanese refugee women. Perceived social support was measured using the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire. Averaged social support scores are reported to account for personal network size. Participants were identified as “low support” and “high support” based on their reported score. The mean social support score reported was 18.9. Participants experiencing a secondary resettlement within the U.S. were 4.52 (95% CI 1.19–17.15) times as likely to report a “high support” network compared to participants who resettled directly from Nepal. Personal social networks are an important source of support for resettled refugee women during pregnancy in the U.S.. Refugee women who experience secondary resettlement may perceive stronger support from their personal connections.
Introduced plants reduce species interactions

This study compares caterpillar communities (Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera sawflies) in agricultural hedgerows dominated by aggressive non-native plants (novel hedgerows) and hedgerows comprised largely of indigenous plants. It differs from controlled common garden studies because it examines the impact of evolutionarily novel plants that have replaced native plants in unmanaged ecosystems and thus provides a more accurate measure of what is happening to interactions between plants and insects in invaded natural areas. Four hedgerows of each treatment were searched methodically along 100 m transects during June and July 2011 for a seasonal total of 500 min each. Seasonal totals of species richness, caterpillar abundance, and caterpillar biomass were recorded and compared using linear mixed models. We also estimated a Lepidoptera productivity index for each hedgerow based on the plant species composition and biomass as well as literature host records for each species present. Although we found similar richness of plant species, and more plant biomass in novel hedgerows, novel hedgerows had 68% fewer caterpillar species, 91% fewer caterpillars, and 96% less caterpillar biomass than native hedgerows. Moreover, novel hedgerows were predicted to have 5.4 times less Lepidoptera productivity based on their plant composition. Interactions between caterpillars and hedgerow plants were also significantly impacted by introduced plants, with novel hedgerows supporting 84% fewer interactions between plants and caterpillars and 57% less interaction diversity than native hedgerows. This is a considerably larger impact of novel plants on a critical component of terrestrial food webs than has been measured in common garden experiments at the same location and demonstrates that plant–herbivore interactions are compromised when novel species replace resident species, even if plant species richness does not change.
Robust Control of Overlay Errors in Photolithography Processes

Overlay errors depict misalignment between neighboring pattern layers on the wafer and are a critical measure of quality in lithography processes. In addition, stack-up overlay errors, which describe misalignments across non-neighboring layers, have also been shown to be important for product performance. Models relating overlay errors to tool parameters are the foundation of control methods that utilize in-process error measurements to adapt controllable parameters to minimize those errors. Unfortunately, these models are subject to noise and modeling errors whose characteristics cannot be accurately modeled, in that assumptions of Gaussianity or independence of noise terms, or perfect knowledge of model parameters cannot be ascertained. This paper proposes a methodology for robust control of lithography errors that is capable of handling parametric uncertainties in overlay models, as well as shortcomings in describing the noise and modeling errors. A series of simulations was conducted using a model available in the literature, as well as a model and data from a major 300 mm semiconductor fab. The results illustrate advantages of the proposed robust approach, with benefits increasing with higher levels of uncertainties. The results also depict specific improvements of errors in outer regions of the wafer, which are known to suffer from lower yields.
No Evidence of Bias in Sexual Partnership Corroboration by Race and Ethnicity Among a Diverse Cohort of Young Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to experience disproportionately high HIV incidence rates relative to their white peers. Yet, Black MSM do not report higher levels of sexual risk behavior, and contextual factors such as access to care and sexual networks only partially explain these disparities. However, risk misclassification could help explain this paradox, if measurement biases systematically underestimate sexual risk behavior among Black MSM relative to their peers. The current study examined variation in sexual partnership corroboration in the RADAR study, a large and diverse cohort of young MSM and transgender women. Network data were elicited regarding all sexual partners in the prior 6 months, including instances where participants reported other participants as sexual partners. Using these data, anal and condomless anal sex partners were separately examined using a series of exponential random graph models to estimate the rate of corroboration of sexual connections between participants and examine whether this parameter varied by race/ethnicity. For both types of behavior, providing separate estimates for corroboration across race/ethnicity groups reduced model fit and did not significantly vary across groups. Accordingly, we found no evidence of measurement bias by race/ethnicity in the current data. However, overall rates of corroboration (41.2–50.3%) were low, suggesting substantial levels of measurement error. Accordingly, it is vital that researchers continue to improve upon methods to measure risk behavior in order to maximize their validity. We discuss the implications of these findings, including potential alternative causes of risk misclassification (e.g., sampling bias) and future directions to reduce measurement error.
Engineered minichromosomes in plants

Artificial chromosome platforms are described in plants. Because the function of centromeres is largely epigenetic, attempts to produce artificial chromosomes with plant centromere DNA have failed. The removal of the centromeric sequences from the cell strips off the centromeric histone that is the apparent biochemical marker of centromere activity. Thus, engineered minichromosomes have been produced by telomere mediated chromosomal truncation. The introduction of telomere repeats will cleave the chromosome at the site of insertion and attach the accompanying transgenes in the process. Such truncation events have been documented in maize, Arabidopsis, barley, rice, Brassica and wheat. Truncation of the nonvital supernumerary B chromosome of maize is a favorite target but engineered minichromosomes derived from the normal A chromosomes have also been recovered. Transmission through mitosis of small chromosomes is apparently normal but there is loss during meiosis. Potential solutions to address this issue are discussed. With procedures now well established to produce the foundation for artificial chromosomes in plants, current efforts are directed at building them up to specification using gene stacking methods and editing techniques.
Understanding the Surgical Experience for African-Americans and Caucasians With Enhanced Recovery

Abstract Introduction Racial/ethnic disparities in surgical outcomes exist. Enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) have reduced some racial/ethnic disparities, but it remains unclear if disparities in experiences are also reduced. The purpose of this study was to use qualitative methods to better understand the surgical experience for African-American and Caucasian patients in the setting of an ERP. Methods Using purposeful sampling at a minority-serving institution, we recruited African-American and Caucasian patients who had undergone colorectal surgery under an ERP to six focus groups. Participants identified barriers and facilitators to a positive, or negative, surgical experience. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using an indicative thematic approach with NVivo 10 software (QSR International). Results Forty-three patients (15 African-Americans and 28 Caucasians) participated in six focus groups. Six themes were identified by patients to be important in surgery: 1) knowledge about colorectal surgery, 2) obtaining information, 3) quality of information, 4) setting expectations about surgery, 5) following preoperative and postoperative instructions, and 6) confidence in surgery outcomes. For both racial/ethnic groups, patients felt that more information could have been provided, information should be given at their level of understanding, and trust in the physician made them feel confident in a positive outcome. African-American patients described experiences of having incorrect or no expectations on surgical outcomes, being provided inconsistent information, and feeling misled. African-Americans also described following instructions from family members and valued the importance of diet and exercise in recovery. Conclusions African-American and Caucasian surgical patients have varied surgical experiences even under an ERP. All patients, however, valued the ability to obtain, process, and understand health information during the surgical process. These elements define “health literacy” and suggest the importance of providing health literacy–sensitive care in surgery.
Increased oscillatory frequency of sleep spindles in combat-exposed veteran men with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Study objectives Sleep disturbances are core symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but reliable sleep markers of PTSD have yet to be identified. Sleep spindles are important brain waves associated with sleep protection and sleep-dependent memory consolidation. The present study tested whether sleep spindles are altered in individuals with PTSD and whether the findings are reproducible across nights and subsamples of the study. Methods Seventy-eight combat-exposed veteran men with (n = 31) and without (n = 47) PTSD completed two consecutive nights of high-density EEG recordings in a laboratory. We identified slow (10-13 Hz) and fast (13-16 Hz) sleep spindles during N2 and N3 sleep stages and performed topographical analyses of spindle parameters (amplitude, duration, oscillatory frequency, and density) on both nights. To assess reproducibility, we used the first 47 consecutive participants (18 with PTSD) for initial discovery and the remaining 31 participants (13 with PTSD) for replication assessment. Results In the discovery analysis, compared to non-PTSD participants, PTSD participants exhibited 1) higher slow-spindle oscillatory frequency over the antero-frontal regions on both nights and 2) higher fast-spindle oscillatory frequency over the centro-parietal regions on the second night. The first finding was preserved in the replication analysis. We found no significant group differences in the amplitude, duration, or density of slow or fast spindles. Conclusions The elevated spindle oscillatory frequency in PTSD may indicate a deficient sensory-gating mechanism responsible for preserving sleep continuity. Our findings, if independently validated, may assist in the development of sleep-focused PTSD diagnostics and interventions.
Stability and Change in Personality Traits and Major Life Goals From College to Midlife

The association between personality traits and motivational units, such as life goals, has been a long-standing interest of personality scientists. However, little research has investigated the longitudinal associations between traits and life goals beyond young adulthood. In the present study (N = 251), we examined the rank-order stability of, and mean-level changes in, the Big Five and major life goals (Aesthetic, Economic, Family/Relationship, Hedonistic, Political, Religious, Social) from college (age 18) to midlife (age 40), as well as their co-development. Findings showed that personality traits and major life goals were both moderately-to-highly stable over 20 years. On average, there were mean-level increases in the Big Five and mean-level decreases in life goals over time. Patterns of co-development suggest people formulate goals consistent with their personality traits, and conversely, investing in goal-relevant contexts is associated with trait change. We discuss the results in light of Social Investment Theory and the developmental regulation literature.
Dynamic Loading Assessment at the Fifth Metatarsal in Elite Athletes With a History of Jones Fracture.

Objective We hypothesize that athletes who have suffered Jones fractures will apply significantly higher loads at the fifth metatarsal base during athletic activities compared with matched uninjured athletes. Design Sixteen athletes were recruited to participate. Eight athletes had a history of Jones fracture, and 8 age, gender, and position-matched athletes without a history of foot injury were recruited as controls. Setting Institutional study at Stanford University. Participants Sixteen athletes with/without a history of foot injury from Stanford University. Interventions Athletes performed a standardized series of movements while wearing calibrated, wireless pressure mapping insoles, and then again with their custom corrective insoles. Main outcome measures Peak pressure, mean pressure, maximum force, and force-time integral (ie, impulse) were recorded for each activity. Results Athletes with a history of Jones fracture showed a significantly increased peak pressure (183 ± 23 vs 138 ± 7 kPA), mean pressure (124 ± 14 vs 95 ± 4 kPA), and maximum force (15 ± 1.2 vs 12 ± 1.2%BW) at the fifth metatarsal base during walking and running compared with uninjured matched controls (all P Conclusions Athletes with a history of Jones fracture exert significantly increased peak and mean forces at the base of the fifth metatarsal during common athletic activities. Custom orthoses do not seem to offload this region in all cases. Increased loads may contribute to the development of stress injury to the fifth metatarsal during repetitive loading, and ultimately fracture of the bone.
Coronavirus Infections in Companion Animals: Virology, Epidemiology, Clinical and Pathologic Features

Coronaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses capable of causing respiratory, enteric, or systemic diseases in a variety of mammalian hosts that vary in clinical severity from subclinical to fatal. The host range and tissue tropism are largely determined by the coronaviral spike protein, which initiates cellular infection by promoting fusion of the viral and host cell membranes. Companion animal coronaviruses responsible for causing enteric infection include feline enteric coronavirus, ferret enteric coronavirus, canine enteric coronavirus, equine coronavirus, and alpaca enteric coronavirus, while canine respiratory coronavirus and alpaca respiratory coronavirus result in respiratory infection. Ferret systemic coronavirus and feline infectious peritonitis virus, a mutated feline enteric coronavirus, can lead to lethal immuno-inflammatory systemic disease. Recent human viral pandemics, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and most recently, COVID-19, all thought to originate from bat coronaviruses, demonstrate the zoonotic potential of coronaviruses and their potential to have devastating impacts. A better understanding of the coronaviruses of companion animals, their capacity for cross-species transmission, and the sharing of genetic information may facilitate improved prevention and control strategies for future emerging zoonotic coronaviruses. This article reviews the clinical, epidemiologic, virologic, and pathologic characteristics of nine important coronaviruses of companion animals.
Lipidomic profiling of single mammalian cells by infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI)

To better understand cell-to-cell heterogeneity, advanced analytical tools are in a growing demand for elucidating chemical compositions of each cell within a population. However, the progress of single-cell chemical analysis has been restrained by the limitations of small cell volumes and minute cellular concentrations. Here, we present a rapid and sensitive method for investigating the lipid profiles of isolated single cells using infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (IR-MALDESI-MS). In this work, HeLa cells were dispersed onto a glass slide, and the cellular contents were ionized by IR-MALDESI and measured using a Q-Exactive HF-X mass spectrometer. Importantly, this approach does not require extraction and/or enrichment of analytes prior to MS analysis. Using this approach, 45 distinct lipid species, predominantly phospholipids, were detected and putatively annotated from the single HeLa cells. The proof-of-concept study demonstrates the feasibility and efficacy of IR-MALDESI-MS for rapid lipidomic profiling of single cells, which provides an important basis for future work on differentiation between normal and diseased cells at various developmental states, which can offer new insights into cellular metabolic pathways and pathological processes. Although not yet accomplished, we believe this approach can be readily used as an assessment tool to compare the number of identified species during source evolution and method optimization (intra-laboratory), and also disclose the complementary nature of different direct analytical approaches for the coverage of different types of endogenous analytes (inter-laboratory).Graphical abstract.
A new rheological approach to evaluating the aged performance of Crumb Rubber Modified binders

Crumb Rubber Modified (CRM) binder specifications has historically relied on empirical testing with limited relationships to pavement performance. Several fundamental rheological tests have been de...
Access to Controlled Medications: Three Country Case Reports

Three country case reports are presented on patient access to medications controlled under the international substance control treaties. The countries discussed are Egypt, Kyrgyzstan and Guatemala. They are compared between themselves and with a small number of other countries. Actions to overcome the impeded access in these countries are suggested. This manuscript elaborates further on a review published in this journal in 2020.
Inpatient outcomes of pathological fractures in metastatic prostate cancer.

e17007Background: Bone is a frequent site of metastasis in prostate cancer and is involved in 88% of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Metastasis to bone increases the risk of pathological ...
Single Port Donor Nephrectomy Via Modified Pfannenstiel Incision: Initial Preclinical Experience in A Cadaveric Model and Description of Technique.

OBJECTIVE To describe the surgical technique for the single port (SP) transperitoneal donor nephrectomy through a modified Pfannenstiel incision using the da Vinci SP surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) on a cadaver. PATIENTS & METHODS In a male cadaver, the SP surgical system was used to perform transperitoneal donor nephrectomy. A 3 cm modified Pfannenstiel incision was made. Through the incision GelPOINT mini (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA) was inserted. The floating docking technique was used. Through the gel port, the dedicated 25 mm multichannel port and a 12 mm assistant port were introduced. The surgical steps for donor nephrectomy were performed in the following order. 1) Mobilization of the colon, 2) Identification of psoas muscle, ureter, and the gonadal vein, 3) hilum dissection, 4) perirenal dissection, 5) stapling the renal artery and renal vein, 6) removal of the kidney through the enlarged incision. RESULTS Transperitoneal SP donor nephrectomy was completed without any complications or capsulotomy. Additional ports were not needed. The total operative time was 63 minutes and 54 seconds. A good-quality kidney was harvested. Renal artery length was 4 cm. CONCLUSION We demonstrated the feasibility of single-port transperitoneal donor nephrectomy via modified Pfannenstiel incision, using the novel SP robotic platform. Further assessment is necessary in a clinical setting.
Retinoid chemoprevention of aerodigestive carcinogenesis

Epithelial cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, lung and esophagus are a significant public health problem throughout the world. Despite improvement in local treatment and decreasing cigarette consumption in developing countries, the incidence of aerodigestive cancers unfortunately continues to increase worldwide. Clearly, new directions are needed.
Regulation of DNA Replication by the Retinoblastoma Tumor Suppressor Protein

RB is a critical tumor suppressor targeted at high frequency in human cancers. As part of its mode of action RB participates in the regulation of DNA replication. In the absence of functional RB aberrant replication cycles occur and genotoxic stresses are compromised for inhibiting of DNA replication. Varied mechanisms through which RB inhibits S-phase have been described and provide evidence for temporally regulated stalling of replication initiation followed by a stable replicative exit.
Rapid surface hardening and enhanced tribological performance of 4140 steel by friction stir processing

Abstract Tribological performance of steel materials can be substantially enhanced by various thermal surface hardening processes. For relatively low-carbon steel alloys, case carburization is often used to improve surface performance and durability. If the carbon content of steel is high enough (>0.4%), thermal treatments such as induction, flame, laser, etc. can produce adequate surface hardening without the need for surface compositional change. This paper presents an experimental study of the use of friction stir processing (FSP) as a means to hardened surface layer in AISI 4140 steel. The impacts of this surface hardening process on the friction and wear performance were evaluated under both dry and lubricated contact conditions in reciprocating sliding. FSP produced the same level of hardening and superior tribological performance when compared to conventional thermal treatment, using only 10% of the energy and without the need for quenching treatments. With FSP surface hardness of about 7.8 GPa (62 Rc) was achieved while water quenching conventional heat treatment produced about 7.5 GPa (61 Rc) hardness. Microstructural analysis showed that both FSP and conventional heat treatment produced martensite. Although the friction behavior for FSP treated surfaces and the conventional heat treatment were about the same, the wear in FSP processed surfaces was reduced by almost 2× that of conventional heat treated surfaces. The superior performance is attributed to the observed grain refinement accompanying the FSP treatment in addition to the formation of martensite. As it relates to tribological performance, this study shows FSP to be an effective, highly energy efficient, and environmental friendly (green) alternative to conventional heat treatment for steel.