cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expert Modelbase Systems: Research Directions

A change has been occurring in the field of model management similar to one that has been occurring in data management. This is a change from an emphasis on representational issues to an emphasis on processing issues. In the past, the focus has been on the representation of modeling knowledge by means of network and relational structures similar to those of data management. More recently the focus has shifted to the processing of models and their integration with data bases and knowledge bases. This shift in focus has been associated with the term “expert modelbase systems,” by analogy with expert database systems, and we will use this term in describing the established and emerging views of model management, along with directions for future research.
Man/Computer versus Automatic Scheduling

Automatic scheduling was compared with man/computer interactive scheduling for a simulated job shop in experimental sessions. Factors of the job stream were controlled and those factors which contributed to improved man/computer scheduling versus automatic scheduling were identified. Results show that man/computer scheduling generally was superior to automatic scheduling; very significantly in several job stream situations but in one situation the automatic method was best.
Fringe instability in constrained soft elastic layers

Soft elastic layers with top and bottom surfaces adhered to rigid bodies are abundant in biological organisms and engineering applications. As the rigid bodies are pulled apart, the stressed layer can exhibit various modes of mechanical instabilities. In cases where the layer's thickness is much smaller than its length and width, the dominant modes that have been studied are the cavitation, interfacial and fingering instabilities. Here we report a new mode of instability which emerges if the thickness of the constrained elastic layer is comparable to or smaller than its width. In this case, the middle portion along the layer's thickness elongates nearly uniformly while the constrained fringe portions of the layer deform nonuniformly. When the applied stretch reaches a critical value, the exposed free surfaces of the fringe portions begin to undulate periodically without debonding from the rigid bodies, giving the fringe instability. We use experiments, theory and numerical simulations to quantitatively explain the fringe instability and derive scaling laws for its critical stress, critical strain and wavelength. We show that in a force controlled setting the elastic fingering instability is associated with a snap-through buckling that does not exist for the fringe instability. The discovery of the fringe instability will not only advance the understanding of mechanical instabilities in soft materials but also have implications for biological and engineered adhesives and joints.
Experimental and simulation study of carbon dioxide, brine, and muscovite surface interactions

Capture and subsequent geologic storage of CO2 in deep brine reservoirs plays a significant role in plans to reduce atmospheric carbon emission and resulting global climate change. Subsurface injection of CO2 is also used industrially in enhanced oil and natural gas recovery operations to increase the amount of hydrocarbon that can be economically recovered from a geologic reservoir. The interaction of CO2 and brine species with mineral surfaces controls the ultimate fate of injected CO2 at the nanoscale via surface chemistry, at the pore-scale via capillary trapping, and at the field-scale via relative permeability. High resolution micro X-ray CT scanning, optical contact angle measurements, and large scale molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the behavior of supercritical CO2 and aqueous fluids on basal surfaces of muscovite, a common phyllosilicate mineral. Experimental results demonstrate partial wetting by the aqueous phase and a dependence of contact angle upon aqueous phase brine composition. This contrasts with simulation results, which predict that supercritical CO2 forms a non-wetting droplet, separated from direct interaction with the muscovite surface by distinct layers of water and charged species. Simulations with trace amounts of acetate or acetic acid added to the CO2/water/mineral system were used to investigate the potential effect of contamination with small organic molecules. While the observed contact angle was not significantly altered, these simulations demonstrate the influence of pH on species partitioning, with acetic acid molecules partitioning to the CO2/water interface and acetate ions adsorbing to the mineral surface. Similar simulations using hexanoate displayed a greater surfactant effect and significantly increased wetting by the CO2 phase, suggesting that small concentrations of secondary species or contaminants can significantly influence macroscopic wetting behavior.
On a new scheme of reference signal generating method for interference suppression in DS-spread spectrum system

A reference signal generating loop scheme that improves interference suppression performance in direct-sequence (DS) spread-spectrum systems is proposed. The method makes use of a scaler Wiener filtering technique in the Walsh-Hadamard transform domain. Since it is not based on time-averaging methods, as are methods using a low-pass or chip decision filter, the burst of errors due to the time-delayed reference signal is nearly nonexistent, and the chip error probability is significantly reduced. Simulation results verify that the proposed reference signal is not time-delayed and that an intermittent scattering of errors occurs instead of a burst of errors, even in a high noise environment. >
Simplified model for partially-composite precast concrete insulated wall panels subjected to lateral loading

Abstract A simplified model to predict the partially composite response of precast concrete insulated wall panels to lateral loading is proposed. A conventional insulated wall panel design consists of two concrete wythes which sandwich a foam insulation layer. Shear ties are used to connect the two concrete wythes through the insulation layer – these ties can be designed to resist flexural demands via composite, partially composite or non-composite action of the section. Numerous types and configurations of shear ties (many of them proprietary) are available with a large range of constitutive properties, and thus the response of a wall panel can vary based on the type of tie used in its construction. Standard design practices do not consider the constitutive properties of the tie, compatibility of the wythes, or locations of the ties within the panel. A simplified model is proposed which incorporates the relative shear tie deformation as well as the tie’s constitutive properties. The approach superimposes the sum of the force couple developed in each shear tie and the capacity of each concrete wythe via an iterative process by which the strength, deformation and level of composite action is calculated at each load increment. This model provides an accurate estimate of the load-deformation responses of these panels when subjected to lateral loads (perpendicular to the panel). The method is used to illustrate the sensitivity of flexural response in a precast insulated wall panel to tie properties and placement. The proposed model is demonstrated to be an effective tool for efficient flexural performance-based design and selective detailing of precast concrete insulated wall panels.
Rethinking the regulation of l-carnitine transport in skeletal muscle cells. Focus on “Multiple AMPK activators inhibit l-carnitine uptake in C2C12 skeletal muscle myotubes”

carnitine is a critical cofactor in the metabolism of lipids and therefore in the production of cellular energy. l-Carnitine, the active form, plays an important role in oxidizing fatty acids, transporting long chain fatty acids across mitochondrial membrane, and modulating intracellular coenzyme A
The Effects of Work-Family Conflict and Enrichment on Self-Regulation and Social Networks

I employ theories of self-regulation to explain how work-family conflict depletes and family-to-work enrichment builds self-regulation resources necessary for networking behaviors which affect the size, diversity, density, status and strength of professional social networks ("the pattern of ties linking a defined set of persons or social actors;" Siebert, Kramer, & Liden, 2001). I hypothesize that work-family conflict primes a self-regulatory prevention focus, while family-to-work enrichment primes a self-regulatory promotion focus, further affecting networking behaviors. A ten-day experience sampling study reveals that employees are less likely to engage in network investing behaviors on days when family-to-work conflict is high. On days when family-to-work enrichment is high, employees experience lower levels self-regulatory resource depletion, higher levels of self-regulatory promotion focus, and engage in more network investing behaviors. Interestingly, family-to-work enrichment also positively relate...
Assessment of Postmortem Aging Effects on Texas-style Barbecue Beef Briskets

Palatability traits (tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and overall liking) of beef briskets (n = 48) were evaluated for 3 different postmortem aging period comparisons: 7 d vs. 21 d (Set 1), 21 d vs. 35 d (Set 2), and 7 d vs. 35 d (Set 3). Briskets were prepared as Texas-style barbecue by seasoning with salt and pepper and smoking with oak wood over a long period (approx. 11 h) using a commercial oven designed for such purposes until deemed tender (approx. 85°C internal temperature). Within each treatment set, Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force measurements did not differ (P > 0.05) between aging days; however, WBS force measurements for point (Mm. pectorales superficiales composed of the M. pectoralis transversus and M. pectoralis descendens) were lower (P 0.05) detect differences between aging days within each set for overall liking, flavor liking, tenderness liking, and juiciness liking. Conversely, differences were found between brisket point and flat portions; Set 1 differed for flavor liking (flat > point; P = 0.0348) and juiciness liking (point > flat; P = 0.0004), Set 2 differed for overall liking (flat > point; P = 0.0499) and juiciness liking (point > flat; P point; P = 0.0296) and juiciness liking (point > flat; P = 0.0112). Our findings indicate postmortem aging did not improve beef brisket palatability, but we did note differences between point and flat portions. Preparing beef briskets as Texas-style barbecue resulted in products with low WBS values and high consumer palatability ratings, which helps demonstrate why barbecued briskets are so popular.
Joint fMRI analysis and subject clustering using sparse dictionary learning

Multi-subject fMRI data analysis methods based on sparse dictionary learning are proposed. In addition to identifying the component spatial maps by exploiting the sparsity of the maps, clusters of the subjects are learned by postulating that the fMRI volumes admit a subspace clustering structure. Furthermore, in order to tune the associated hyper-parameters systematically, a cross-validation strategy is developed based on entry-wise sampling of the fMRI dataset. Efficient algorithms for solving the proposed constrained dictionary learning formulations are developed. Numerical tests performed on synthetic fMRI data show promising results and provides insights into the proposed technique.
Using a Regent Aortic Valve in a Small Annulus Mitral Position Is a Viable Option

Background Outcome of mitral valve replacement in extreme scenarios of small mitral annulus with the use of the Regent mechanical aortic valve is not well documented. Methods Records were examined in 31 consecutive patients who underwent mitral valve replacement with the use of the aortic Regent valve because of a small mitral annulus. Results Mean age was 60 ± 14 years. Mitral stenosis or mitral annulus calcification was present in 30 of 31 patients (97%). Concurrent procedures were performed in 17 of 31 patients (55%). Median valve size was 23 mm. Mean mitral gradient coming out of the operating room was 4.2 ± 1.5 mm Hg and at follow-up echocardiogram performed at a median of 32 months after the procedure was 5.8 ± 2.4 mm Hg. Conclusions A Regent aortic mechanical valve can be a viable option with a larger orifice area than the regular mechanical mitral valve in a problematic situation of a small mitral valve annulus. Moreover, the pressure gradients over the valve are acceptable intraoperatively and over time.
Combination of Chemotherapy with Radiation for Head and Neck Cancer

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes the rationale and data of different modes of chemotherapy in combination with radiation treatment for the management of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The chapter begins with a description of the terminology, definition, and rationale of radiation dose-fractionation schedules. The goals of induction chemotherapy are to reduce the primary tumor, thereby increasing the chance of cure with subsequent local therapy and to eradicate systemic microscopic metastases. In contrast to induction chemotherapy, an increasing body of evidence indicates that concurrent chemoradiation yields a better outcome than radiotherapy alone in patients with advanced HNSCC. In addition, data reveal that the survival benefit of concurrent chemoradiation results from an improvement in locoregional disease control rather than from a decrease in systemic relapse. The primary focus of concurrent chemotherapy is mainly to enhance the cytotoxicity of radiation therapy against macroscopic disease. Adjuvant chemotherapy is used to eradicate microscopic loci presumed to remain after local therapy and to destroy microscopic metastatic deposits. This chapter also reviews the results of representative phase III trials and the outcome of comprehensive metaanalyses.
Studies on Cytochrome c Peroxidase XII. CRYSTALLINE SYNTHETIC ENZYMES CONTAINING UNNATURAL HEME PROSTHETIC GROUPS

Abstract Synthetic cytochrome c peroxidases were reconstituted from the apoenzyme and unnatural hemins such as hemato-, meso-, and deuterohemins and 90% 57Fe-enriched protohemin. These synthetic enzymes were crystallized by dialysis against distilled water. On the addition of a stoichiometric amount of hydroperoxide, these synthetic enzymes were converted to stable peroxide intermediates (Complex ES), which retained 2 oxidizing eq derived from hydroperoxide and exhibited an intense electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal of a "free radical" type at g = 2.004. The synthetic enzymes reacted with various heme ligands such as fluoride, azide, cyanide, and CO to form well defined complexes. The light absorption maxima of these synthetic enzymes and their derivatives were shifted to shorter wave lengths in comparison with the corresponding derivatives of the natural enzyme. However, the over-all patterns of absorption spectra of these derivatives of the synthetic enzymes were very similar to those of the natural enzyme. The EPR spectra of these synthetic enzymes indicated that these enzymes were a mixture of high and low spin compounds at -196°. Cytochrome c peroxidase containing 57Fe-enriched protohemin exhibited slightly broader EPR signals of high and low spin ferric types. However, no hyperfine splitting was observed under the present conditions. The enzymic activities of these synthetic enzymes in the peroxidatic oxidation of ferrocytochrome c, ferrocyanide, and ascorbate were found to be quite similar, indicating that the side chains of porphyrin IX at positions 2 and 4 were not essential for the catalytic activity of cytochrome c peroxidase.
Application of In Situ PCR to Studies of the Mammary Gland

The ability to detect low numbers of target nucleic acid sequence provides a powerful tool to investigate the molecular events that underlie development and disease in organs such as the mammary gland. Recent development of the polymerase chain reaction in situ (IS-PCR) now enables the intracellular amplification of DNA by PCR and its subsequent localization in preparations of fixed cells and tissue. This chapter outlines the procedure and materials required for the localization of integrated mouse mammary tumor virus proviral DNA in mouse mammary tissue by an indirect IS-PCR method. Also discussed are several aspects critical to the success of this emerging technique, particularly regarding tissue pretreatment and the importance of appropriate controls. In addition, various potential applications of this technique to studies of the mammary gland are considered.
Optical Diffraction by Electrodes: Use of Fourier Transforms in Spectroelectrochemistry

The information content of an electrochemical experiment can be greatly enhanced by the addition of an optical probe to provide spectral information about material generated at the electrode surface. Methods combining UV-visible spectroscopy with electrochemistry were developed in the 1960’s, mainly by Kuwana1,2 and Murray3 and have proved very valuable for the characterization and monitoring of electrogenerated species. The technique described in this chapter also involves UV-visible spectroscopy of electrochemical processes, but makes use of the diffraction of light by an electrode. The diffraction pattern is a spatial Fourier transform of the illuminated electrode, and contains information about chromophores generated by an electrode process. Advantages of the diffraction approach to spectroelectrochemistry include high sensitivity, fast time response, and the possibility of describing the spatial distribution of chromophore in solution. After a discussion of the objectives of the diffractive approach, its theory and experimental verification will be described.
Quantifying early stage irradiation damage from nanoindentation pop-in tests

Abstract Early stage irradiation effects on incipient plasticity are quantitatively investigated in single-crystalline molybdenum using nanoindentation pop-in tests. Defects produced under low-dose ion irradiations, even when they are hardly detected by ion-channeling technique, can significantly reduce the critical stress for the elastic-plastic transition, through acting as heterogeneous dislocation nucleation sources. The density and strength of defects are derived using a unified model convoluting homogeneous and heterogeneous mechanisms. In addition to the increased defect density, defect strength is found to decrease with increasing irradiation dose, suggesting a growth in defect size, which is further evidenced by combined analyses between pop-in and hardness tests.
Low-NEP pyroelectric detectors for calibration of UV and IR sources and detectors

Pyroelectric radiometers with spectrally constant response have been developed at NIST with the cooperation of a few detector manufacturers. The new devices have noise-equivalent-power (NEP) values less than 1 nW/Hz1/2 sufficiently low for use at the output of regular monochromators. Their response flatness is an order of magnitude better than that of filtered Si detectors and can be used to realize simple and low-uncertainty responsivity scales for the UV and IR wavelength ranges. For the first time, the UV irradiance responsivity of a pyroelectric detector has been determined. Based on spectral reflectance measurements of the black coating of the pyroelectric detector, the relative spectral response was determined between 0.25 μm and 30 μm. The relative response was then converted into spectral power and irradiance responsivities using absolute tie points from a silicon-trap-detector in the VIS range. In addition to the UV irradiance responsivity scale realization, the flat response between 1.6 μm and 2.6 μm was utilized and a constant irradiance responsivity was realized and applied as a reference scale for the Spectral Irradiance and Radiance Responsivity Calibrations with Uniform Sources (SIRCUS) facility of NIST. The spectral power responsivity of the low-NEP pyroelectric detector is the internal standard of the NIST VIS-IR detector calibration facility for the 0.6 μm to 24 μm wavelength range. The pyroelectric standard is used to calibrate other types of detectors for spectral responsivity using detector substitution. The flat-response interval of the pyroelectric standard, calibrated for irradiance responsivity, was also used to measure the integrated irradiance from UV LED sources without using any source standard. The broadband radiometric measurements can be applied to IR LEDs emitting low fluxes between 750 nm and 4300 nm. All pyroelectric detector based calibrations were performed with expanded uncertainties of about 2 % (k=2).
Retrosigmoid Approach for Resection of Medium-Sized Vestibular Schwannoma

Objectives This video was aimed to describe the relevant anatomy and key surgical steps of retrosigmoid approach for gross total resection of a medium-sized vestibular schwannoma (VS). Design The procedure is described in a surgical instructional video. Setting The surgery took place at a tertiary skull base referral center. Participant Patient is a 63-year-old woman who reported with nonserviceable hearing (Pure Tone Average 60 dB Hearing level, Word Recognition Score 45%), occasional tinnitus, and a VS in the left cerebellopontine angle (CPA), extending into internal auditory canal (IAC), measuring 1.7 cm parallel to the petrous temporal bone. Main Outcome Measures The VS was resected by retrosigmoid approach. Results The surgery results gross total resection of the VS with postoperative House–Brackmann grade 1 facial nerve function and no postoperative complications. Conclusion The retrosigmoid approach is a good strategy to remove VS involving the CPA and the IAC. The link to the video can be found at: https://youtu.be/B6K_UkrKitg .
Predictors of Increased Length of Hospital Stay in Patients with Severe Cardiomyopathy Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Objective Predictors of operative outcome in patients with severely depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remain poorly defined. This study aims to identify preoperative variables that are associated with increased postoperative length of hospital stay or operative mortality in this patient population. Design Retrospective study. Setting Single tertiary care university hospital. Participants Patients undergoing isolated CABG between January 2012 and March 2017 with an LVEF ≤ 25%. Interventions Isolated CABG. Measurements and Main Results Primary endpoint was a composite of prolonged length of stay, defined as postoperative length of stay >7 days or operative mortality. Of the 201 patients, 99 (49.3%) met the primary endpoint. Patient comorbidities, clinical presentation, presence of Q-waves on electrocardiogram, and echocardiographic parameters including ventricular dimensions and right heart dysfunction were not associated with the primary endpoint. On multivariable analysis, patients who were not on preoperative beta-blockers, patients with preoperative albumin of Conclusions More than half of patients with severely depressed LVEF undergoing isolated CABG are able to be discharged within 7 days postoperatively. The absence of preoperative beta-blockers, low preoperative albumin levels, and higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality score are associated with more complicated or slower postoperative recovery after CABG in this patient population.
Radicalizing female empowerment: gender, agency, and affective appeals in Islamic State propaganda

Women, from across the West, have increasingly joined Islamic extremist groups in a variety of roles. Why are women participating in movements which have a misogynistic and violent outlook? The dom...
I Am Afrocentric and Pan-African: A Response to Tawanda Sydesky Nyawasha on Scholarship in South Africa:

African intellectuals are debating the future of knowledge construction in the wake of the collapse of colonization, European settlerism, and apartheid. Tawanda Sydesky Nyawasha has posited the deb...
Topological Braiding of Non-Abelian Midgap Defects in Classical Metamaterials.

Nontrivial braid-group representations appear as non-Abelian quantum statistics of emergent Majorana zero modes in one- and two-dimensional topological superconductors. Here, we generate such representations with topologically protected domain-wall modes in a classical analog of the Kitaev superconducting chain, with a particle-holelike symmetry and a ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ topological invariant. The midgap modes are found to exhibit distinct fusion channels and rich non-Abelian braiding properties, which are investigated using a $T$-junction setup. We employ the adiabatic theorem to explicitly calculate the braiding matrices for one and two pairs of these midgap topological defects.
Delayed adjunctive treatment of organophosphate-induced status epilepticus in rats with phenobarbital, memantine or dexmedetomidine.

Organophosphate (OP) exposure induces status epilepticus (SE), a medical emergency with high morbidity and mortality. Current standard medical countermeasures lose efficacy with time so that treatment delays, in the range of tens of minutes, result in increasingly poor outcomes. As part of the CounterACT Neurotherapeutics Screening (CNS) Program, we previously developed a realistic model of delayed treatment of OP-induced SE using the OP diisopropyl-phosphate (DFP) to screen compounds for efficacy in the termination of SE and elimination of neuronal death. Male rats were implanted for EEG recordings 7-days prior to experimentation. Rats were then exposed to DFP, and SE was induced for 60 min, then treated with midazolam (MDZ) plus one of three antiseizure drugs (ASDs): phenobarbital (PHB), memantine (MEM) or dexmedetomidine (DMT), in conjunction with antidotes. EEG was recorded for 24 h and brains were stained with Fluoro-Jade B for quantification of degenerating neurons. We found that PHB + MDZ induced a prolonged suppression of SE and reduced neuronal death. MEM + MDZ treatment exacerbated SE and increased mortality; however, surviving rats had fewer degenerating neurons. DMT + MDZ significantly suppressed SE with only a minimal reduction in neuronal death. These data demonstrate that delayed treatment of OP-induced SE with other ASDs, when added to MDZ, can achieve greater seizure suppression with additional reduction in degenerating neurons throughout the brain, compared to MDZ alone. The effect of a drug on the severity of seizure activity did not necessarily determine the drug9s effect on neuronal death under these conditions. Significance Statement This study assesses the relative effectiveness of three different delayed-treatment regimens for the control of organophosphate induced status epilepticus and reduction of subsequent neuronal death. The data demonstrate the potential for highly effective therapies despite significant treatment delay, and a potential disconnect between seizure severity and neuronal death.
The scale of the whale: using video-tag data to evaluate sea-surface ice concentration from the perspective of individual Antarctic minke whales

Advances in biologging technology allow researchers access to previously unobservable behavioral states and movement patterns of marine animals. To relate behaviors with environmental variables, features must be evaluated at scales relevant to the animal or behavior. Remotely sensed environmental data, collected via satellites, often suffers from the effects of cloud cover and lacks the spatial or temporal resolution to adequately link with individual animal behaviors or behavioral bouts. This study establishes a new method for remotely and continuously quantifying surface ice concentration (SIC) at a scale relevant to individual whales using on-animal tag video data. Motion-sensing and video-recording suction cup tags were deployed on 7 Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) around the Antarctic Peninsula in February and March of 2018. To compare the scale of camera-tag observations with satellite imagery, the area of view was simulated using camera-tag parameters. For expected conditions, we found the visible area maximum to be ~ 100m2 which indicates that observations occur at an equivalent or finer scale than a single pixel of high-resolution visible spectrum satellite imagery. SIC was classified into one of six bins (0%, 1–20%, 21–40%, 41–60%, 61–80%, 81–100%) by two independent observers for the initial and final surfacing between dives. In the event of a disagreement, a third independent observer was introduced, and the median of the three observer’s values was used. Initial results (n = 6) show that Antarctic minke whales in the coastal bays of the Antarctic Peninsula spend 52% of their time in open water, and only 15% of their time in water with SIC greater than 20%. Over time, we find significant variation in observed SIC, indicating that Antarctic minke occupy an extremely dynamic environment. Sentinel-2 satellite-based approaches of sea ice assessment were not possible because of persistent cloud cover during the study period. Tag-video offers a means to evaluate ice concentration at spatial and temporal scales relevant to the individual. Combined with information on underwater behavior, our ability to quantify SIC continuously at the scale of the animal will improve upon current remote sensing methods to understand the link between animal behavior and these dynamic environmental variables.
Comparing the rate of fiberoptic bronchoscopy use with a video double lumen tube versus a conventional double lumen tube—a randomized controlled trial

Background Double lumen endotracheal tubes (DLT) are commonly used to provide single lung ventilation during thoracic surgery. A fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) is typically used to confirm accurate DLT placement. Accounting for initial purchase, maintenance, repair and cleaning, the use of an FOB can cost as much as $312 per procedure. The VivaSight DLT (VS-DLT) incorporates a built-in camera, which is aimed at reducing FOB use and its associated costs. In this study, we compared the rate of FOB use when intubating using either a VS-DLT or a conventional DLT (c-DLT). Methods This is a randomized controlled comparative study performed at a public county teaching hospital. A total of 50 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to either a c-DLT (n=25) or a VS-DLT (n=25). The primary outcome was the rate of FOB use. Secondary outcomes included time to correct tube placement and incidence of malposition during surgery. Results Use of the VS-DLT required significantly less FOB use (28%) compared to use of the c-DLT (100%). While there was no difference in the ease of intubation, the time to correct tube placement was significantly faster using a VS-DLT (54 vs. 156 s, P<0.001). Additionally, the incidence of tube malposition was significantly reduced in the VS-DLT group. Conclusions This study demonstrated a significantly lower rate of FOB use when using a VS-DLT compared to a c-DLT. Placement of the VS-DLT was significantly quicker and malposition during surgery occurred significantly less than with the c-DLT. While intubating with a VS-DLT provides clinical benefits, it may not result in significant cost reductions when compared to a c-DLT.
System Validation on the Europa Clipper mission in Early Implementation Phase

NASA's next flagship mission - Europa Clipper, will embark on a journey to Jupiter's icy moon Europa in 2024 to assess its environment and habitability with a highly capable spacecraft. Post Jupiter-Orbit- Insertion, the spacecraft will be commanded to perform intricate, yet meticulously planned Europa flybys to perform science investigations using a suite of instruments, while withstanding Jupiter's harsh radiation environment. The success of this mission is dependent on a well-coordinated project and its elements such as the flight hardware and software, the ground support and mission operations teams, procedures and other cross-cutting elements. The Europa Clipper project needs to ensure that these elements are realized at a reasonable confidence level prior to launch and other mission critical events. System Validation test and analysis activities exercise and confirm the integrity of the system of all project elements in the expected flight environment with reasonable stressing conditions. These activities go beyond system design requirements verification and are driven by validation objectives that describe the end-to-end functional and operational capabilities required during nominal and off-nominal flight-like scenarios and critical events. The challenges associated with validating that the Europa Clipper project as a whole can function and perform correctly to meet the intended mission objectives with the as-delivered capabilities of all of its elements are daunting. This paper discusses the systematic methodology established in the early implementation phase of the Europa Clipper project for developing System Validation activities and their validation objectives, and addressing any validation-related challenges on the project. Approaches include decomposition of mission objectives using activity timelines in the Mission Design plan for developing nominal scenarios, use of fault trees for exploring off-nominal cases and system boundaries, and use of Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools for planning and prioritizing these activities.
To know in the subjunctive: New abolitionist imagetexts and the specter of modern slavery

Today’s antitrafficking movement situates the crimes against which it struggles as invisible and possibly unknowable, even as anti-antitrafficking skeptics question the reliability of widely cited ...
The Excretion of Nitrogen in Insects

Publisher Summary The role of urea in nitrogenous excretion has never been fully understood; it is present in the excreta of many insects, however usually forms a rather minor component. On this basis the insect was assessed as being predominantly uricotelic in a general classification of excretory metabolism. Uricotelism was seen as an adaptation to a terrestrial mode of life; the excretion of toxic end products, like ammonia, or of soluble end products, like urea, was seen as being militated against by the shortage of water. Accumulated data suggests that nitrogenous end products other than uric acid may figure largely in the excreta of a variety of insects; the exceptions are becoming more numerous, and the validity of the earlier generalization appears to be threatened. This chapter discusses the available information, and, in this way, provides some basis for a reassessment of the situation. A number of uricolytic enzymes have been investigated in tissue homogenates, their distribution among different tissues has been established and some of their properties have been described. A great deal has been discovered about xanthine oxidase, or xanthine dehydrogenase as it should more properly be called, and here studies have advanced to the stage of enzyme purification.
Characterization of Y1, Y2 and Y5 subtypes of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor in rabbit kidney: Sensitivity of ligand binding to guanine nucleotides and phospholipase C inhibitors

The binding of two peptide YY/neuropeptide Y analogues selective for major subtypes of neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors was compared in particulates from rabbit kidney cortex employing modulators of activity of G-proteins, phospholipase enzymes, and ion channels. The binding of (Leu31,Pro34)human peptide YY resembled the patterns observed previously for the brain tissue Y1 receptor, exhibiting a high sensitivity to monovalent cations, disulfide disruptors, guanosine polyphosphates and phospholipase C inhibitors. However, this binding was bimodal in response to human pancreatic polypeptide and to peptides selective for the Y2 subtype of the NPY receptor, displaying a large component pharmacologically similar to the brain Y5 receptor. This kidney Y5-like binding largely shared the sensitivity to monovalent cations, guanine nucleotides and phospholipase C inhibitors found for either the kidney or the brain Y1 receptor, and also was activated by Ca2+ ion. Both Y1- and Y5-like binding in the kidney displayed a uniformly low reactivity to a nonpeptidic Y1 antagonist, BIBP-3226, and to a receptor peptide mimetic, mastoparan analogue MAS-7. The kidney Y2 binding shared the low sensitivity to ionic environment observed for the brain Y2 subtype, and was only partially sensitive to guanine nucleotides or to MAS-7. The Y2 liganding had a sensitivity to phospholipase C inhibitors similar to the Y1/Y5 binding. This reactivity was retained in the fraction of the Y2 receptor persisting detergent solubilization in a high-affinity form, which, however, was activated rather than inhibited by G-protein agonists.
Hematopoietic thymocyte precursors: III. A population of thymocytes with the capacity to return (“home”) to the thymus

Abstract A subpopulation of thymocytes with the capacity to return (“home”) to and repopulate the thymus of an irradiated mouse has been identified. These cells differ from the majority of cortical thymocytes in that they are of a lower buoyant density and have higher cortisone and X-ray resistance. They also bear an antigen common to mouse brain but not found on the majority of cortical thymocytes. This subpopulation is derived from a hematopoietic thymocyte progenitor and provides an intrathymic reserve of thymocyte precursors. It appears to be a non self-sustaining “transit” population in the pathway of T-cell development.
Data Mining for Web Site Evaluation: An Exploration of Site Usage by Graduate Social Work Students.

Abstract This paper evaluates the actual use of a course Website by graduate social work students. The study utilized data mining techniques to discover meaningful trends by using the data from server logs. The course Website was accessed 24,730 times by all 49 graduate students during a semester. The students utilized the course Website 23 hours a day, 7 days a week, day and night, evening hours, and weekends. The most popular area was the course documents area and the least popular was the student area. Study findings have implications for distance learning in higher education.
Live Imaging of Nicotine Induced Calcium Signaling and Neurotransmitter Release Along Ventral Hippocampal Axons.

Sustained enhancement of axonal signaling and increased neurotransmitter release by the activation of pre-synaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) is an important mechanism for neuromodulation by acetylcholine (ACh). The difficulty with access to probing the signaling mechanisms within intact axons and at nerve terminals both in vitro and in vivo has limited progress in the study of the pre-synaptic components of synaptic plasticity. Here we introduce a gene-chimeric preparation of ventral hippocampal (vHipp)–accumbens (nAcc) circuit in vitro that allows direct live imaging to analyze both the pre- and post-synaptic components of transmission while selectively varying the genetic profile of the pre- vs post-synaptic neurons. We demonstrate that projections from vHipp microslices, as pre-synaptic axonal input, form multiple, reliable glutamatergic synapses with post-synaptic targets, the dispersed neurons from nAcc. The pre-synaptic localization of various subtypes of nAChRs are detected and the pre-synaptic nicotinic signaling mediated synaptic transmission are monitored by concurrent electrophysiological recording and live cell imaging. This preparation also provides an informative approach to study the pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms of glutamatergic synaptic plasticity in vitro.
Bringing advanced technology to rural America

Abstract This study examines the factors that are working for and against the development of an advanced telecommunications infrastructure to serve rural areas of the USA. There is a notable difference between the costs of local network upgrades for existing rural telephone subscribers and of bringing service to new and physically remote subscribers. The latter group should be treated separately for policy purposes. The infrastructure serving the existing subscriber base could be upgraded to a digital network without necessitating large rate increases, provided there is sharing of network facilities between the energy, transportation and telecommunication sectors. The preferred medium is likely to be digital fibre.
Strengthening Mutual Fund Corporate Governance: A Security Design Approach

This work analyzes the relation between the design of mutual fund shares and incentive problems in the mutual fund industry. It then describes an alternative split design that alleviates the problems. The current design of the mutual fund claim leads to diffuse ownership and a customer focus on net return. Both effects remove incentives for fund investors to monitor and discipline the fund board, particularly with respect to fees. Competition based on net return does not provide incentives for managers to lower fees when the class of competing funds exhibits a high cross-sectional variation in total return. Splitting mutual fund shares into pairs of linked return and fee shares mitigates agency problems. A return share has all the characteristics of current mutual fund shares except it has guaranteed fees and no voting rights. A fee share receives the guaranteed fees and pays the actual fees of the specific return share to which it is linked. The fee share has voting rights. Proceeds from the sale of a fee share accrue to the linked return shareholder. Board discipline arises naturally from the fee shareholders. Monitoring is economically viable for large investors in fee shares. Fee shareholders, who are owners, pressure boards via their votes to govern effectively. Fee shareholders want low fees. Less obviously, they also want satisfied return shareholders, since a fee share expires when its linked return share is redeemed.
The Folklore Muse: Poetry, Fiction, and Other Reflections by Folklorists

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2008 Pages: 296 Publisher: Utah State University Press ISBN: 978-0-87421-726-1 (hard cover). Prices: $29.95 USD(hard cover).
Auditing and internal controls for offshored accounting processes: a research agenda

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop a research agenda on internal controls for offshored accounting processes. It further develops a linkage between internal controls of offshored accounting processes and auditing of the organization. Offshoring of accounting processes has become a common business practice, pursued by firms to reduce costs and focus on core competencies. However, our understanding about internal controls of these offshored processes is limited. Design/methodology/approach – Grounded in theory that is supported by prior literature and interviews with practitioners, this paper attempts to develop a research agenda on internal controls for offshored accounting processes. Findings – The main findings of our study suggest that while offshoring saves costs and allows the clients to focus on their core competencies, it also poses risks to the clients’ organizations. To mitigate these risks and comply with the regulatory requirements of the countries where the clients are located, c...
Water assisted formation of a pseudorotaxane and its dimer based on a supramolecular cryptand

Water acts as a “molecular clip” to form a supramolecular cryptand structure that improves complexation of a diammonium salt by pseudorotaxane formation, and leads to a novel dimer in the solid state.
Design-point finalization for the ARIES-ST power plant

Plasma physics and technology features of the low-aspect-ratio spherical tokamak (ST) combine to determine the characteristic performance of a projected DT-fueled, 1000-MWe-class, commercial fusion power plant, designated ARIES-ST. Key attributes of the final design point are summarized.
Studies in optimization—X Questing control with an economic criterion

Abstract The Li—Box—Chanmugam scheme of adaptive optimization is here applied to a single stirred tank reactor, with the objective of maximizing its profit. This is defined as the difference between the value of the product and the operating costs and is a function of the feed temperature and rate. It is found that, by imposing questing variations on the flow rate to the reactor and its temperature control jacket, the controller will seek out the optimum conditions, even in the presence of considerable measurement noise.
Embryogenesis of Xyleborus ferrugineus (Fabr.) (Coleoptera, Scolytidae). I. External morphogenesis of male and female embryos.

A description of the external morphogenesis of male and female embryos of X. ferrugineus, derived from in vivo observation, is presented here. The embryogenesis of this beetle is typical of the Coleoptera, and is also similar in most respects to the generalized insect plan. Observed unusual aspects of X ferrugineus embryogenesis include the precocious formation of primordial g/rm cells and their temporary exclusion from the somatic blastoderm, the precocious in situ delineation of gnathal metameres, the closing of the gastral groove beginning at both ends and proceeding toward its middle, the formation of several paired lateral amnio-serosal folds, the formation of cellular processes between the amnion and serosa, and the absorption of the thoracic limbs to produce an apodous larva. The embryonic developmental picture provided here, and the previously established means of rearing X ferrugineus in controlled laboratory culture jointly provide a promising basis for the further use of this insect in developmental studies.
Characterization of the biochemical mechanism of action of α-(N)-heterocyclic carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones

Abstract α-(N)-Heterocyclic carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones have been shown to be potent inhibitors of the biosynthesis of DNA in mammalian cells. Studies with transplanted murine neoplasms have demonstrated that the enzymatic site responsible for the blockade of DNA replication is at the level of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase, an enzyme of critical importance for the generation of the deoxynucleoside triphosphate precursors of these macromolecules. Kinetic studies were carried out with a partially purified enzyme from a rat tumor in an effort to define the molecular mechanism by which agents of this class inhibit the activity of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase. The concentration of the nucleoside diphosphate substrate, the allosteric activator ATP, or magnesium ion did not influence the inhibition by a representative derivative of this type of agent IQ-1. Dithiothreitol, a model dithiol used in place of the natural substrate thioredoxin, was partially competitive with the inhibitor. The results appear to be most compatible with a model in which the preformed metal chelate of IQ-1 interacts with the enzyme at or near the site occupied by the dithiol substrate. To ascertain some of the structural features required for inhibition of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase activity, the inhibitory potency of a series of methyl and benzo derivatives of PT was measured. The results suggested that position 6 of PT and position 3 of IQ-1 are equivalent with respect to orientation of the inhibitor at the enzymatic binding site and that little or no tolerance exists for structural modification at this position. In a similar manner, substitution of the terminal amino group of the thiosemicarbazone side chain decreased enzyme inhibition, supporting the presence of a low bulk tolerance zone in this position. Further studies with these substituted derivatives were interpreted to be suggestive of the existence of a hydrophobic bonding zone adjacent to the inhibitor-binding site of the enzyme. These results were employed to design MAIQ-1, a derivative of this class with strong inhibitory potency for ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase, as well as the other necessary requisite properties for clinical trial as an antineoplastic agent.