cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Defects produced in silver by kev silver ion bombardment

The nature and production mechanism of small defect clusters produced in single crystal silver films by room temperature bombardment with 5 to 50 keV silver ions along [001] at low dose levels (1010 to 1012 ions/cm2) was studied using electron microscopy. The defects were found to be of vacancy type over the entire energy range. At low energies (5 and 10 keV) most of the defects displayed the diffraction contrast typical of a radial strain field; at the higher energies a mixture of Frank loops and stacking fault tetrahedra was found. It was concluded that the defects were formed through the in situ collapse of vacancy rich regions produced by displacement cascades. Die physikalische Natur und der Bildungsmechanismus kleiner Defektagglomerate, die in einkristallinen Silberschichten bei Zimmertemperatur durch Beschus mit 5 bis 50 keV Silberionen niederer Dosen (1010 bis 1012 Ionen/cm2) langs [001]-Richtungen erzeugt wurden, werden elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Es wird gefunden, das die Defekte im gesamten Energiebereich vom Leerstellentyp sind. Bei niedrigen Energien (5 und 10 keV) zeigt die Mehrzahl der Defekte den Beugungskontrast, der fur radiale Spannungsfelder typisch ist; bei hoheren Energien wurde eine Mischung von Frankschleifen und Stapelfehlertetraeder gefunden. Es wurde geschlossen, das die Defekte durch in situ-Zusammenbruch von leerstellenreichen Bereichen durch Verlagerungskaskaden erzeugt werden.
Online Multiagent Learning against Memory Bounded Adversaries

The traditional agenda in Multiagent Learning (MAL) has been to develop learners that guarantee convergence to an equilibrium in self-play or that converge to playing the best response against an opponent using one of a fixed setof known targeted strategies. This paper introduces an algorithm called Learn or Exploit for Adversary Induced Markov Decision Process (LoE-AIM) that targets optimality against any learning opponent that can be treated as a memory bounded adversary. LoE-AIMmakes no prior assumptions about the opponent and is tailored to optimally exploit any adversary which induces a Markov decision process in the state space of joint histories. LoE-AIMeither explores and gathers new information about the opponent or converges to the best response to the partially learned opponent strategy in repeated play. We further extend LoE-AIMto account for online repeated interactions against the same adversary with plays against other adversaries interleaved in between. LoE-AIM-repeatedstores learned knowledge about an adversary, identifies the adversary in case of repeated interaction, and reuses the stored knowledge about the behavior of the adversary to enhance learning in the current epoch of play. LoE-AIM and LoE-AIM-repeated are fully implemented, with results demonstrating their superiority over other existing MAL algorithms.
Being the victim of violence during a date predicts next-day cannabis use among female college students

AIM: To determine whether being the victim of violence during a date among female college students on any given day predicted cannabis and alcohol use the following day. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Between August 2010 and January 2013, we conducted a 90-day daily diary study with 174 females who were in current dating relationships from a large university in the Southeastern United States. The mean age of the sample was 18.71 (SD = 1.27); participants were primarily non-Hispanic Caucasian (85.5%). Participants answered questions about contact with their dating partner, being the victim of violence (physical and sexual) during a date, physical perpetration, alcohol use, and cannabis use for up to 90 days. The mean number of diaries completed was 54.90 (SD = 27.66). MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcomes were self-reported daily cannabis and alcohol use. Being the victim of violence during a date was assessed each day using self-report items from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales and Sexual Experiences Survey. FINDINGS: Being the victim of violence during a date predicted cannabis use the following day (OR = 2.25), and this effect held when controlling for contact with a partner, cannabis and alcohol use the previous day, physical perpetration the previous day, alcohol use the same day, and the overall likelihood of being the victim of violence during a date, substance use, and physical perpetration. Being the victim of violence during a date did not predict next day alcohol use. Being the victim of sexual and physical violence during a date did not differentially predict next day substance use. CONCLUSIONS: Among female college students in the USA, being the victim of violence during a date appears to increase the risk for cannabis use the following day. Language: en
Little Displays: The Photographs of Ricardo Gil

Ricardo Gil is a little person who photographs his family and lifestyle. I compare Gil’s images to images of little people drawn from fine art, the freak show, and popular culture. Gil’s photographs express dwarfism as an embodied perspective and subject position.
Neoelmis guarani Shepard & Barr, a sexually dimorphic new species from Paraguay (Insecta: Coleoptera: Elmidae: Elminae).

Neoelmis guarani new species is described and illustrated from specimens collected in streams of the Cordillera de los Altos, southeast of Asuncion and near the towns of Piribebuy and Chololo, Paraguay. Males and females of this species exhibit strong secondary sexual dimorphism not found in other known species of Neoelmis . Males have striking modifications of the pro- and mesothoracic legs and bear a pair of ventrally projecting processes on both the mesoventrite and the second abdominal ventrite. Females have the elytra modified with a pair of dorsal projections.
Thermal Conductivity of Plastic Foams from -423° to 75°F

Plastic foams are being used extensively in certain missile and space-vehicle designs as low-temperature insulation. Information on plastic foams has previously been reported at this conference using both guarded hot plate and cal-orimetric techniques [1–3]. This paper presents a. method for measuring the thermal conductivity of certain plastic foams over the temperature range from room temperature to -423°F. Results are given for polystyrene foam, poly-urethane foam, composite plastic structure, and Teflon sheet. The essential requirements for a measurement of this type are described in ASTM C-177. The hot plate was constructed to meet particular requirements but in general is similar to one used by Gilbo [4], Work previously reported by Gray and Gelder [2] used a similar technique without a guard ring heater. The measurements did not go below liquid-nitrogen temperature. Housing the insulation panels satisfactorily at liquid-hydrogen temperature presents a number of interesting problems which are described in the text. The thickness of all materials was ½ in. and the test panel was an 8-in. square. The details of the liquid-hydrogen cryostat and the facility for handling hydrogen are not discussed. The method was kept as simple as possible using only standard laboratory equipment. Procedures such as automatic regulation of the guard heater were not attempted.
Direct mid-infrared spectroscopic measurements of hole relaxation in InGaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells

Measurements of infrared bleaching1 and anti-Stokes Raman scattering2 in n-type QWs have revealed an electron relaxation time ranging from less than 1 ps to 10 ps when the intersubband transition energy is larger than the LO phonon energy. The relaxation time depends on the excitation intensity and is influenced by intervalley scattering, LO-phonon screening, and hot phonons. In p-type quantum wells, the relaxation time is expected to be shorter because the density of states is larger and the band structure and the scattering mechanisms are different. Here, we report the first direct measurement of the relaxation time of holes in p-type quantum wells by the pumpprobe technique using ~1-ps pulses generated by a mid-infrared free-electron laser.
Gradient computation for full-waveform inversion of microseismic data in VTI media

SUMMARY Source locations are usually estimated from microseismic data using kinematic techniques. Full-waveform inversion (FWI) can potentially provide more accurate source parameters along with an improved velocity model by incorporating information contained in the entire trace including the coda. Here, we address one of the key issues in implementing FWI for microseismic surveys — efficient calculation of the gradient of the objective function with respect to the model parameters. Application of the adjoint-state method helps obtain closed-form expressions for the gradients with respect to the source location and moment tensor. Computation of the forward and adjoint wavefields is performed with a finite-difference algorithm that handles elastic VTI (transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis) models. Numerical examples illustrate the properties of the gradients for the wavefield from a momenttensor source in homogeneous and layered VTI media.
Extended Bright Bodies - Flight and Ground Software Challenges on the Cassini Mission at Saturn

Extended bright bodies in the Saturn environment such as Saturn's rings, the planet itself, and Saturn's satellites near the Cassini spacecraft may interfere with the star tracker's ability to find stars. These interferences can create faulty spacecraft attitude knowledge, which would decrease the pointing accuracy or even trip a fault protection response on board the spacecraft. The effects of the extended bright body interference were observed in December of 2000 when Cassini flew by Jupiter. Based on this flight experience and expected star tracker behavior at Saturn, the Cassini AACS operations team defined flight rules to suspend the star tracker during predicted interference windows. The flight rules are also implemented in the existing ground software called Kinematic Predictor Tool to create star identification suspend commands to be uplinked to the spacecraft for future predicted interferences. This paper discusses the details of how extended bright bodies impact Cassini's acquisition of attitude knowledge, how the observed data helped the ground engineers in developing flight rules, and how automated methods are used in the flight and ground software to ensure the spacecraft is continuously operated within these flight rules. This paper also discusses how these established procedures will continue to be used to overcome new bright body challenges that Cassini will encounter during its dips inside the rings of Saturn for its final orbits of a remarkable 20-year mission at Saturn.
The management of unilateral lateral mass/facet fractures of the subaxial cervical spine: the use of magnetic resonance imaging to predict instability.

Study Design.Retrospective review of the clinical course and cervical spine plain radiographs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging of 24 consecutive patients for a 2-year period with a unilateral lateral mass/facet fracture.Objective.To propose a treatment algorithm for the managemen
Inhibition of multiplication of influenza virus by extracts of tea.

SummaryExtracts of tea have yielded an unidentified fraction, similar to but less toxic than tannic acid USP, which inhibits the multiplication of influenza virus in embryonated eggs.
Strategies and public propositions in games of institutional change: Comparative historical cases

Abstract This paper argues that the game-theoretic approach is incomplete for institutional studies, because comparative institutions as well as institutional changes involve the possibility of multiple equilibria. In order to solve the common knowledge problem, this paper proposes to unify game theoretic thought with an analysis of public representations/propositions to summarize salient features of the recursive/emergent states of play. From this perspective the paper tries to reconcile differences in three accounts of institutions: endogenous outcome, exogenous rules and constitutive rules accounts. Then, the unified approach is applied to comparative and historical cases of Tokugawa Japan and Qing China. Specifically it sheds new light into the coalitional nature of the Tokugawa Baku-Han regime nesting the fundamental Samurai-village pact as well as the tendency toward decentralization of political violence and fiscal competence to the provincial level toward the end of Qing China. From these new historical interpretations, endogenous strategic forces and associated public propositions leading to institutional changes through the Meiji Restoration and the Xinhai Revolution are identified and compared.
Changes in Economic Hardship and Intimate Partner Violence: A Family Stress Framework

While recent studies underscore how financial stress and lack of tangible assets significantly increase the odds of intimate partner violence (IPV) among couples, little is known about these effects over time. Theoretically informed by family stress theory, this study examines the influence of changing subjective reports of economic hardship over time on the risk for IPV. Specifically, we test two hypotheses: (1) change in economic hardship significantly predicts IPV; and, specifically, (2) increased economic hardship or unstable economic conditions increases the risk of IPV. Using longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study, we assess the incidence of IPV for 941 women in committed relationships. Results from our logistic regression analyses suggest that after controlling for numerous demographic factors, women who never experienced economic hardship had lower odds of experiencing IPV than those who did. Further, women who experienced high levels of economic hardship over time had the highest odds of experiencing IPV. However, the effects of changing economic hardship on IPV were attenuated once maternal depression and parenting stress were controlled. Results are discussed in terms of practice and policy implications.
Trapping the acyl-enzyme intermediate in beta-lactamase I catalysis.

Cryoenzymology techniques were used to facilitate trapping an acyl-enzyme intermediate in beta-lactamase I catalysis. The enzyme (from Bacillus cereus) was investigated in aqueous methanol cryosolvents over the 25 to -75 degrees C range, and was stable and functional in 70% (v/v) methanol at and below 0 degree C. The value of kcat. decreased linearly with increasing methanol concentration, suggesting that water is a reactant in the rate-determining step. In view of this, the lack of incorporation of methanol into the product means that the water molecule involved in the deacylation is shielded from bulk solvent in the enzyme-substrate complex. From the lack of adverse effects of methanol on the catalytic and structural properties of the enzyme we conclude that 70% methanol is a satisfactory cryosolvent system for beta-lactamase I. The acyl-enzyme intermediate from the reaction with 6-beta-(furylacryloyl)amidopenicillanic acid was accumulated in steady-state experiments at -40 degrees C and the reaction was quenched by lowering the pH to 2. H.p.l.c. experiments showed covalent attachment of the penicillin to the enzyme. Digestion by pepsin and trypsin yielded a single labelled peptide fragment; analysis of this peptide was consistent with Ser-70 as the site of attachment.
A New Approach and Application of Rock Drillability Evaluation

The common method of measuring drillability was based on interior experiment.It needed lots of cores with high price and long time,lagging time in practice drilling demand.According to the relation between drilling parameters and rock crushing ratio.The paper establishes a new method to calculate drillability.The greatest feature of the approach is the ability to dynamically reflect the drillability in a particular drilling condition.It is feasible to drilling with measurement to make up the traditional evaluation methods.This method provides a theoretical basis for bit selection and drilling design.
Trials of Nation Making: Bolivia: Dangerous Pacts, Insurgent Indians

Almost as soon as Simon Bolivar had bequeathed his illustrious name to the new republic, emancipating it from both Spain and the neighboring Viceroyalties of Peru and Buenos Aires, the British began to eye Bolivia's economic prospects. The British vice-consul in Lima dispatched his secretary, one J.B. Pentland, into Bolivia with instructions to collect economic and demographic data, chart the topography, and collect specimens for the British Museum. In 1826, Pentland took on the assignment with dispatch, wandering the countryside and compiling information on Bolivia's mines, settlements, government, laws, and institutions. But as he came to contemplate the enormity of the problems facing the newly independent Upper Peru, including the economic devastation left by the war of independence, Pentland injected a note of caution into his appraisal of Bolivia's future. To this British traveler, coming up over the mountains from the desert seacoast, Bolivia's towering cordillera must have given him pause. Pentland quickly realized that the new republic had inherited an unenviable geographic location, especially since it had recently lost the Pacific port of Arica to independent Peru. Except for the tiny panhandle port of Cobija (which would be stolen by Chile in the War of the Pacific), Bolivia suddenly had turned into a landlocked nation, and its only access to the sea was across three hundred moonscape miles of the Atacama desert. Moreover, the republic's internal topography offered little relief from this bleak view.
The inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells by verrucarin A, a macrocyclic trichothecene, is associated with the inhibition of Akt/NF-кB/mTOR prosurvival signaling

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) remains one of the most difficult to treat of all malignancies. Multimodality regimens provide only short-term symptomatic improvement with minor impact on survival, underscoring the urgent need for novel therapeutics and treatment strategies for PDA. Trichothecenes are powerful mycotoxins that inhibit protein synthesis and induce ribotoxic stress response in mammalian cells. Verrucarin A (VC-A) is a Type D macrocyclic mycotoxin which inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. However, the antitumor activity of VC-A for PDA cells has not been investigated. Here we show potent antitumor activity and the mechanism of action of VC-A in PDA cell lines. VC-A strongly inhibited the proliferation and arrested cells in the S phase of the cell cycle. The blocking of cell cycle progression by VC-A was associated with the inhibition of cell cycle regulatory proteins cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) cdk2, cdk4 and cdk inhibitor WAF1/21. VC-A induced apoptosis in PDA cells as indicated by the increased Annexin V FITC-binding, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase‑1 (PARP-1) and procaspases-3, -8 and -9. VC-A also induced mitochondrial depolarization and release of cytochrome c and it inhibited Bcl-2 family proteins that regulate apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax and Bad). In addition, VC-A reduced the levels of inhibitors of apoptosis survivin and c-IAP-2. Finally, VC-A downregulated the expression of prosurvival phospho-Akt (p-Akt), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) (p65) and mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) signaling proteins and their downstream mediators. Together, these results demonstrated strong antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity of verrucarin A for PDA cells through cell cycle arrest and inhibition of the prosurvival (antiapoptotic) AKT/NF-κB/mTOR signaling.
Rationalist vs. Intuitionist Views on Morality A Sociological Perspective

Early on, the rationalist perspective characterized the way in which moral judgments should be understood in moral psychology. Now the pendulum has swung in the other direction, and we see the popularity of the intuitionist perspective. In this paper, I argue that neither perspective alone explains morality. Instead, I adopt a dual process approach, and I focus on how we can understand morality as both a conscious and unconscious process. Further, I bring theory to the study of morality and go beyond an analysis of moral judgments by discussing how we need to understand individuals as moral actors who, on the basis of how they see themselves in moral terms, will behave in ways that attempt to verify their self-view along the moral dimension. In general, we should not be focusing on whether the rationalist or intuitionist perspective prevails when making moral evaluations, but on how and why both operate when studying morality within and across situations.
In silico insights into the solvation characteristics of the ionic liquid 1-methyltriethoxy-3-ethylimidazolium acetate for cellulosic biomass.

Lignocellulosic biomass is a domestically grown, sustainable, and potentially carbon-neutral feedstock for the production of liquid fuels and other value added chemicals. This underutilized renewable feedstock has the potential to alleviate some of the current socio-economic dependence on foreign petroleum supplies while stimulating rural economies. Unfortunately, the potential of biomass has largely been underdeveloped due to the recalcitrant nature of lignocellulosic materials. Task-specific ionic liquids (ILs) have shown considerable promise as an alternative non-aqueous solvent for solvation and deconstruction of lignocellulose in the presence of metal chloride catalyst or enzymes. Recently it has been hypothesized that adding oxygen atoms to the tail of an imidazolium cation would alleviate some of the negative characteristics of the ILs by increasing mass transport properties, and decreasing IL deactivation of enzymes, while at the same time retaining favorable solvation characteristics for lignocellulose. Reported here are fully atomistic molecular dynamic simulations of 1-methyltriethoxy-3-ethylimidazolium acetate ([Me-(OEt)3-Et-IM+] [OAc−]) that elucidate promising molecular-level details pertaining to the solvation characteristics of model compounds of cellulose, and IL-induced side-chain and ring puckering conformations. It is found that the anion interactions with the saccharide induce alternate ring puckering conformations from those seen in aqueous environments (i.e.1C4), while the cation interactions are found to influence the conformation of the ω dihedral. These perturbations in saccharide structures are discussed in the context of their contribution to the disruption of hydrogen bonding in cellulosic architecture and their role in solvation.
Interlude-Scatter’d Men: Mutilated Male Bodies and Conflicting Narratives of Militant Nostalgia in Shakespeare’s Henry V

This interlude examines the dismembered soldier’s body in one of Shakespeare’s most war-oriented English history plays. Harlan argues that the play’s imagined broken bodies play an integral role in the two conflicting narratives of militant nostalgia in Act 4: Williams’ horrific vision of a recomposed, soldierly ghost of the Day of Judgment and the king’s St. Crispin’s Day speech, in which he imagines a soldierly host at future feasts that celebrate the victory. Both moments look to the future and to the memorial modes that Agincourt will produce, but they envision this nostalgia in vastly different terms. The soldier’s body in Henry V is the body-as-synecdoche, and it raises questions about whether the battle can indeed produce trophies that will operate as material memories of conquest and victory.
Advocating the History of Science

Everett Mendelsohn has advised candidates for the Ph.D. degree to go out to Harvard Square and explain their dissertation. That it is important to communicate with an audience is one message. That we, in the academy, should take our knowledge to society, is another. That is one use of scholarship, and has been a driving force in Everett’s career. Everett founded the Journal of the History of Biology in 1968 and edited it for 31 years, and he trained several generations of historians of biology. Indeed, he was instrumental in founding the field. It is therefore appropriate to ask: what do we gain by studying the history of biology and the history of science generally? This paper explores answers to that question. History of science helps make science better and helps make us better citizens. In effect, this is an argument for the promotion of history of science in the public interest.
The Design of Arctic Small Tool Tradition Toolkits: An Example from Matcharak Lake, Alaska:

This article presents the results of an analysis of stone tools and debitage from a 3600–4000 cal BP Arctic Small Tool tradition (ASTt) component at Matcharak Lake (AMR-186), located in the Alaskan...
Proposed Method for Estimating Health-Promoting Glucosinolates and Hydrolysis Products in Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) Using Relative Transcript Abundance.

Due to the importance of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products in human nutrition and plant defense, optimizing the content of these compounds is a frequent breeding objective for Brassica crops. Toward this goal, we investigated the feasibility of using models built from relative transcript abundance data for the prediction of glucosinolate and hydrolysis product concentrations in broccoli. We report that predictive models explaining at least 50% of the variation for a number of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products can be built for prediction within the same season, but prediction accuracy decreased when using models built from one season’s data for prediction of an opposing season. This method of phytochemical profile prediction could potentially allow for lower phytochemical phenotyping costs and larger breeding populations. This, in turn, could improve selection efficiency for phase II induction potential, a type of chemopreventive bioactivity, by allowing for the quick and relatively c...
Enhanced Database Security Using Homomorphic Encryption

When sensitive data is stored on publicly available areas, privacy of that data becomes a concern. Organizations may wish to move data to public servers so the data is more accessible by their employees or consumers. It is important that this data be encrypted to ensure it remains confidential and secure. When this data is encrypted, it becomes difficult or impossible to perform calculations on a publicly stored database. A solution to this is homomorphic encryption, which allows an unlimited number of computations on encrypted data. This project analyzes an N-tier rotation scheme which allows an unlimited number of addition and subtractions of encrypted data, along with an unlimited number of scalar multiplications and divisions. This scheme is inspired by a combination lock and features multiple levels of security depth. The result of the proposed algorithm is a fast encryption scheme which allows data to be manipulated post encryption.
Integer partitions, probabilities and quantum modular forms

What is the probability that the smallest part of a random integer partition of N is odd? What is the expected value of the smallest part of a random integer partition of N? It is straightforward to see that the answers to these questions are both 1, to leading order. This paper shows that the precise asymptotic expansion of each answer is dictated by special values of an arithmetic L-function. Alternatively, the asymptotics are dictated by the asymptotic expansions of quantum modular forms. A quantum modular form is a function on the rational numbers which has pseudo-modular properties and nice asymptotic expansions near each root of unity. This paper contains five examples involving some of the most famous quantum modular forms of Don Zagier. Additionally, this paper contains new generating function identities for the partition questions relevant to this work and three general circle method asymptotics which may be of independent interest.
Synthesis and Experimental Validation of Battery Aging Test Profiles Based on Real-World Duty Cycles for 48-V Mild Hybrid Vehicles

Electrified powertrains are gaining a larger market share thanks to stricter emission regulation requirements and customer preferences. Ranging from micro hybrid to all-electric powertrains, however, their success highly depends on satisfactory life-long performance of onboard energy storage systems. In order to guide the battery pack design and management, real-world representative cell aging tests are essential for a successful product development. Focusing on cycle aging, this study proposes a novel methodology based on Welch's power spectral density estimation to characterize real-world cell duty cycles and synthesize representative profiles for cell aging tests. A 48-V mild hybrid vehicle model is developed in MATLAB/Simulink to relate the real-world vehicle-level drive cycles to cell-level duty cycles. Compared to existing test profiles found in literature, the newly designed profiles take the impacts of road conditions and driver styles into consideration to account for real-world resemblance. Experimental aging test results with the proposed aging profiles on nickel manganese cobalt lithium-ion cells not only hint at the real-world aging scenarios, but also lay the foundation for future work such as aging modeling. Repeatability of testing results is also investigated in this study.
A 3–10 GHz contact-less complex dielectric spectroscopy system

In this paper, a contact-less broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) system with a combined frequency domain (FD)/ time domain (TD) technique for 3–10 GHz frequency range is presented. The material-under-test (MUT) is placed in the middle of two radiative near-field-coupled ultra wide band (UWB) Vivaldi antennas which act as the sensing elements. To enhance the detection accuracy, a new baseband signal is generated by combining multiple up converted Gaussian signals. A calibration method, which is based on subtracting the output of system from a reference material (air), is also utilized, in order to solely detect the magnitude and phase variations caused by the MUT, and eliminate the effects of the transmitter, the sensing unit, and the receiver. The proposed system is tested for xylene, ethanol, and methanol, and the measurement results are verified comparing with the direct measurements of vector network analyzer (VNA).
Population analysis of predictors of difficult intubation with direct laryngoscopy in pediatric patients with and without thyroid disease.

There are no data on the prevalence and predictors of difficult intubation (DI) in pediatric patients with thyroid disease. This study (1) assesses the prevalence of DI in patients with thyroid disease undergoing elective operations, (2) identifies other predictors of DI in children, and (3) evaluates the effect of DI on postoperative care and length-of-stay. A single-center retrospective cohort analysis of procedures in patients assigned with an ICD-9 code for thyroid disease between June 2012 and February 2016. A comparative group was created which comprised of patients without thyroid disease receiving orthopedic or urologic surgeries to determine differences in DI prevalence. Univariate analyses compared demographics and intubation details between groups, and logistic regression identified independent variables associated with DI. Patients with and without DI were compared based on procedure duration, PACU-LOS, and escalation-of-care. DI prevalence was greater in the thyroid group (4.9%, 51/1046) compared to the non-thyroid group (2.6%, 33/1289) (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.25–3.05; p = 0.003). DI was associated with younger age, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, and smaller body habitus (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Congenital hypothyroidism (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.44–4.32; p = 0.002)) and acquired hypothyroidism (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.42–3.41; p < 0.001) were seen in a greater proportion of DI patients. After adjustment for demographic confounders, age and ASA class were independently associated with DI (p < 0.05), while hypothyroidism did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.077). Direct laryngoscopy (DL) was most frequently used as the successful subsequent maneuver in securing the airway in DI patients. A longer PACU length-of-stay was seen after procedures with DI (p < 0.001). Elective pediatric surgical patients with thyroid-related diagnoses at our institution had a higher prevalence of DI than those without thyroid disease, but this finding could not be isolated to thyroid pathology. Repeat DL achieves successful intubation in the majority of DI patients. DI patients often require longer recovery times due to prolonged cardiopulmonary monitoring.
A Global Analysis of Mutations Accompanying Microevolution in the Heterozygous Diploid Pathogen Candida albicans

Candida albicans is a heterozygous diploid yeast that is a commensal of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract and a prevalent opportunistic pathogen. Here, whole-genome sequencing was performed on multiple C. albicans isolates passaged in different niches to characterize the complete spectrum of mutations arising during microevolution. We reveal that evolution during short time-scales ( de novo base substitutions and short-tract loss of heterozygosity (LOH) events. In contrast, large-scale chromosomal changes are relatively rare, although chromosome 7 trisomies repeatedly emerged during passaging in one GI colonization model. Both strain background and chromosomal features affected mutational patterns, with mutation rates being greatly elevated in regions adjacent to emergent LOH tracts. Mutation rates were also elevated during host infection where genomes showed strong evidence of purifying selection. These results establish the genetic events driving C. albicans evolution and that this heterozygous diploid is extensively shaped by purifying selection.
A new turning system assisted by chip-pulling

Abstract This paper presents a new turning system where the guided cut chip during turning is pulled using an external pulling device to attain high-performance cutting. An electro-mechanical pulling device with sensor-less chip tension monitoring function is designed to steadily pull the guided chip and robustly assist the turning operation. The effect of chip tension on the process is modeled and experimentally verified. The developed chip pulling system is utilized to achieve direct real-time control of the cutting process and zero thrust force cutting is demonstrated. Developed system effectively reduces cutting energy for improved tool life and regulates cutting forces for high performance turning.
Dermal Absorption of Peptides and Proteins

Historically, the skin was viewed as an impermeable barrier. However, in recent years, it has been increasingly recognized that intact skin can be used as a port for continuous systemic administration of drugs. The first transdermal drug delivery system which has used this new concept is a scopolamine-releasing transdermal therapeutic system (Transderm-Scop® by Ciba) for motion sickness. This was followed by the marketing of several nitroglycerin-releasing systems. Currently, about ten drugs have been either successfully marketed or are under clinical evaluation for transdermal delivery.
A novel, nonopiod‐based treatment approach to men with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome using ultrasound‐guided nerve hydrodissection and pelvic floor musculature trigger point injections

INTRODUCTION Urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS) represents a group of pain symptoms relating to patients with pelvic pain for which treatment is largely unsatisfactory. The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of a novel treatment strategy in males suffering from UCPPS. METHODS This retrospective, institutional review board-approved study analyzed eight male patients aged 24 to 61 with UCPPS. All the patients had a trial of antibiotic therapy, NSAIDs, and pelvic floor physical therapy before the study. The Visual Analog scale (VAS) and Functional Pelvic Pain scale (FPPS) were collected pretreatment. While continuing physical therapy, patients underwent weekly ultrasound-guided pelvic floor trigger point injections to the iliococcygeus, pubococcygeus, and puborectalis with lidocaine 1%. Concomitantly, patients received peripheral nerve hydrodissection performed on the pudendal nerve and the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve. The first two injections combined 1% lidocaine with dexamethasone, while the next four injections consisted of 1% lidocaine with traumeel (a homeopathic, plant-derived anti-inflammatory medication). At the 6-week follow-up, each patient retook the VAS and FPPS. RESULTS The mean age of our patients was 31.8 years and the average duration of symptoms of the UCPPS was 21 months. Pretreatment, the mean VAS was 3.3 (STD 1.7) and the mean VAS posttreatment was 1.8 (STD 1.4); P < .05; 95% CI, 0.73 to 2.27. The mean FPPS pretreatment was 11.0 (STD 8.0) and the mean FPPS posttreatment was 6.3 (STD 5.3); P < .05; 95% CI, 0.03 to 9.22. CONCLUSION Our results show promise for a novel, nonopioid-based treatment for UCPPS.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease upper airway microbiome is associated with select clinical characteristics.

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disorder associated with lung microbiome dysbiosis. Although the upper airway microbiome is the source of the lung microbiome, the relationships between the oral, nasal, and sputum microbiota are incompletely understood. Our objective was to determine features that differentiate the oral, nasal, and sputum microbiome among subjects with stable COPD. Methods We recruited 15 current or former smokers to provide oral and sputum samples on day 1. On day 2, another oral sample and a nasal sample were obtained. Each sample and control underwent DNA extraction, 16S V4 rRNA amplification, 16S V4 sequencing, and qPCR of 16S rRNA. Data were analyzed using dada2 and R. Results Most (14 of 15) subjects were male with a mean age of 65.2. One subject had no pulmonary obstruction, while 5 had mild COPD, 7 had moderate COPD, and 2 had severe COPD. Three subjects (20%) were current tobacco users and 2 subjects (13%) used inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Subjects had a mean of 49.1 pack-years of tobacco exposure. Bacterial biomass was associated with anatomic site, but no differences in biomass were observed with age, FEV1 percent predicted (FEV1pp), ICS use, smoking status, or edentulous state. Shannon index was associated with site (lower nasal diversity than oral and sputum diversity, p<0.001), but not age, ICS use, FEV1pp, tobacco use, or edentulous state. β-diversity was illustrated by principal coordinate analysis using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity and PERMANOVA analyses, showing sample clustering by anatomic site (p = 0.001) with nasal samples forming a cluster separate from the combined oral wash samples and sputum samples. Clustering was also observed with ICS use (p = 0.029) and edentulous state (p = 0.019), while FEV1pp and current tobacco use were not significant. In an amplicon sequencing variant (ASV)-level analysis of oral samples using a linear regression model with Benjamini-Hochberg correction at an FDR<0.10, 10 ASVs were associated with age while no ASVs were associated with FEV1pp or smoking status. Sputum sample analysis demonstrated that 51 ASVs (25 unique genera) were associated with age, 61 ASVs (32 genera) were associated with FEV1pp, and no ASVs were associated with smoking status. In a combined dataset, the frequent exacerbator phenotype, rather than ICS use, was associated with decreased sputum Shannon diversity. Conclusions Among the upper airway microbiota of COPD subjects, anatomic site was associated with bacterial biomass, Shannon diversity, and β-diversity. ICS use and edentulous state were both associated with β-diversity. Age was associated with taxa relative abundance in oral and sputum samples, while FEV1pp was associated with taxa relative abundance in sputum samples only.
A Guide to Qualitative Field Research, 2nd Edition, C.A. Bailey. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA (2007), 214 pp.

This book is in its second edition. It has 12 chapters and they are ordered to reflect the steps in doing field research. The author warns that field research can be unpredictable. This book theref...
A data-driven surrogate model to rapidly predict microstructure morphology during physical vapor deposition

Abstract Here, we present a surrogate model that rapidly predicts the microstructures of a binary-alloy thin film during physical vapor deposition. This surrogate model is constructed and trained from a data set produced by phase-field simulations of physical vapor deposition. It relies on a statistical representation of the microstructure, principal component analysis, polynomial chaos expansion, and a microstructure-reconstruction algorithm to estimate the microstructure as a function of the deposition parameters and properties of the materials being deposited. This protocol, exercised on a simplified physical vapor deposition model, demonstrates the efficacy of the surrogate model to rapidly predict a broad class of microstructures as a function of deposition conditions with good accuracy relative to high-fidelity models. The considerable computational gain from the surrogate model compared to the detailed phase-field approach highlights the importance of pursuing such approaches, especially when used for producing parameter-microstructure maps for rapid and accurate predictions of the microstructure. As such, this surrogate model can be used to guide the choice of deposition conditions and materials being deposited to fabricate functional thin films with targeted microstructures.
Aberrant Cortical Connectivity During Ambiguous Object Recognition Is Associated With Schizophrenia.

Abstract Background Dysfunctional connectivity within the perceptual hierarchy is proposed to be an integral component of psychosis. The fragmented ambiguous object task was implemented to investigate neural connectivity during object recognition in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder and first-degree relatives of patients with SCZ (SREL). Methods We analyzed 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging data collected from 27 patients with SCZ, 23 patients with bipolar disorder, 24 control subjects, and 19 SREL during the administration of the fragmented ambiguous object task. Fragmented ambiguous object task stimuli were line-segmented versions of objects and matched across a number of low-level features. Images were categorized as meaningful or meaningless based on ratings assigned by the participants. Results An a priori region of interest was defined in the primary visual cortex (V1). In addition, the lateral occipital complex/ventral visual areas, intraparietal sulcus (IPS), and middle frontal gyrus (MFG) were identified functionally via the contrast of cortical responses to stimuli judged as meaningful or meaningless. SCZ was associated with altered neural activations at V1, IPS, and MFG. Psychophysiological interaction analyses revealed negative connectivity between V1 and MFG in patient groups and altered modulation of connectivity between conditions from right IPS to left IPS and right IPS to left MFG in patients with SCZ and SREL. Conclusions Results provide evidence that SCZ is associated with inefficient processing of ambiguous visual objects at V1, which is likely attributable to altered feedback from higher-level visual areas. We also observed distinct patterns of aberrant connectivity among low-level, mid-level, and high-level visual areas in patients with SCZ, patients with bipolar disorder, and SREL.
Democracy without Shortcuts: Engaging with Lafont:

This article engages with Cristina Lafont’s excellent book, Democracy without Shortcuts. I argue that she provides us with the tools to comprehend what democracy entails and how to challenge the po...
The significance of anti-phospholipase receptor antibodies in a patient with membranous nephropathy

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the major cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults and may be secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus or malignancy in 25% of patients. Without any etiology, it is called primary MN, which is usually associated with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) receptor antibodies. Secondary MN can appear months before a secondary cause is identified. Here, we report a case of MN, that was found to be secondary to pancreatic adenocarcinoma and positive for PLA2 receptor antibodies.
Logic and lineage impacts on functional transcription factor deployment for T-cell fate commitment.

Abstract Transcription factors are the major agents that read the regulatory sequence information in the genome to initiate changes in expression of specific genes, both in development and in physiological activation responses. Their actions depend on site-specific DNA binding and are largely guided by their individual DNA target sequence specificities. However, their action is far more conditional in a real developmental context than would be expected for simple reading of local genomic DNA sequence, which is common to all cells in the organism. They are constrained by slow-changing chromatin states and by interactions with other transcription factors, which affect their occupancy patterns of potential sites across the genome. These mechanisms lead to emergent discontinuities in function even for transcription factors with minimally changing expression. This is well revealed by diverse lineages of blood cells developing throughout life from hematopoietic stem cells, which use overlapping combinations of transcription factors to drive strongly divergent gene regulation programs. Here, using development of T lymphocytes from hematopoietic multipotent progenitor cells as a focus, recent evidence is reviewed on how binding specificity and dynamics, transcription factor cooperativity, and chromatin state changes impact the effective regulatory functions of key transcription factors including PU.1, Runx1, Notch-RBPJ, and Bcl11b.
War and Ideas: Selected Essays

Preface: Marketing Mousetraps Part 1: War, Ideas, and Peace Introduction 1. The Obsolescence of Major War 2. Policing the Remnants of War 3. War Has Almost Ceased to Exist: An Assessment 4. Why Isn't There More Violence? Part 2: Threat Perception, Ideas, and Foreign Policy Introduction 5. What Was the Cold War About? Evidence from Its Ending 6. Simplicity and Spook: Terrorism and the Dynamics of Threat Exaggeration 7. Faulty Correlation, Foolish Consistency, and Fatal Consequence: Democracy, Peace, and Theory in the Middle East Part 3: Public Opinion, Foreign Policy, and War Introduction 8. American Foreign Policy and Public Opinion in a New Era: Eleven Propositions 9. The Iraq War and the Management of American Public Opinion
Seismic Risk Analysis of Structural Systems

A methodology for reliability assessment of structural systems subjected to seismic risk is developed. Based on modern concepts of structural reliability theory, structural safety against earthquakes is described through a performance function of ground motion variables. A multivariate risk analysis is then performed to compute the failure probability. The method can be applied to any type of structural system for which a performance function can be formulated. A specific application to linear structures using the response spectrum of ground motion is developed where the performance function is shown to be of quadratic form in terms of spectral ordinates. This application is illustrated through a numerical example for a two-degree-of-freedom structure with multiple failure modes. The example is also used to examine the accuracy of a conventional method that uses marginal probabilities to approximate a joint distribution.