cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Numerical Model of the Onset of Stall Flutter in Cascades

In this paper, we present a computational fluid dynamic model of the unsteady flow associated with the onset of stall flutter in turbomachinery cascades. The unsteady flow is modeled using the laminar Navier-Stokes equations. We assume that the unsteadiness in the flow is a small harmonic disturbance about the mean or steady flow. Therefore, the unsteady flow is governed by a small-disturbance form of the Navier-Stokes equations. These linear variable coefficient equations are discretized on a deforming computational grid and solved efficiently using a multiple-grid Lax-Wendroff scheme. A number of numerical examples are presented which demonstrate the destabilizing influence of viscosity on the aeroelastic stability of airfoils in cascade, especially for torsional modes of blade vibration.Copyright © 1995 by ASME
Medication errors observed in 36 health care facilities.

Background Medication errors are a national concern. Objective To identify the prevalence of medication errors (doses administered differently than ordered). Design A prospective cohort study. Setting Hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, nonaccredited hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities in Georgia and Colorado. Participants A stratified random sample of 36 institutions. Twenty-six declined, with random replacement. Medication doses given (or omitted) during at least 1 medication pass during a 1- to 4-day period by nurses on high medication–volume nursing units. The target sample was 50 day-shift doses per nursing unit or until all doses for that medication pass were administered. Methods Medication errors were witnessed by observation, and verified by a research pharmacist (E.A.F.). Clinical significance was judged by an expert panel of physicians. Main Outcome Measure Medication errors reaching patients. Results In the 36 institutions, 19% of the doses (605/3216) were in error. The most frequent errors by category were wrong time (43%), omission (30%), wrong dose (17%), and unauthorized drug (4%). Seven percent of the errors were judged potential adverse drug events. There was no significant difference between error rates in the 3 settings (P= .82) or by size (P= .39). Error rates were higher in Colorado than in Georgia (P= .04) Conclusions Medication errors were common (nearly 1 of every 5 doses in the typical hospital and skilled nursing facility). The percentage of errors rated potentially harmful was 7%, or more than 40 per day in a typical 300-patient facility. The problem of defective medication administration systems, although varied, is widespread.
Propagation based spectrum sensing: A novel beamforming detection method

This paper proposes a novel propagation based spectrum sensing method that utilizes beamforming for systems equipped with antenna arrays. Since rays are known to arrive in clusters, the arrival angles of the dominant ray clusters can be exploited to improve the spectral sensing performances. Moreover, from site-specific propagation characteristics, the dominant ray angles can be predicted without additional computational efforts in most practical environments. Numerical results based on ray-based channel models show that the proposed beamforming detection method (with or without dominant ray angle prediction) is superior to the conventional energy detection method. Numerical results also show that decreasing the angle spread, enhances the performance of the proposed method. The computational complexity and latency of the proposed method is the same as the conventional energy detection method when using dominant ray angle prediction, but increases slightly without prediction.
N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein levels in human intrauterine growth restricted pregnancies

Background. N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein has a vital role in regulating cell growth and differentiation, uteroplacental vasodilatation, uterine muscle relaxation, and placental transport. These functions are compromised in intrauterine growth restriction. We aimed to investigate N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein concentrations in maternal, fetal, and neonatal plasma of intrauterine-growth-restricted and appropriate for gestational age pregnancies. Methods. Plasma N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein levels were determined in 40 mothers and their 20 intrauterine-growth-restricted and 20 appropriate for gestational age singleton full-term fetuses and neonates on postnatal days 1 and 4. Results. Fetal N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein levels were significantly lower in the intrauterine growth restriction group (b=1.166, 95%CI: 0.430–1.902, p=0.003) and correlated with the customized centiles of the infants (r=0.407, p=0.009). In the appropriate for gestat...
Numerical simulations of aligned neutron star magnetospheres

ABSTRA C T We present detailed numerical simulations of the magnetosphere of an isolated neutron star in which the spin and magnetic dipole axes of the star are aligned. We demonstrate that stable charge distributions are always found, rather than particle outflows. A stable magnetosphere consists of a dome above the polar cap containing plasma of one charge and an equatorial belt containing plasma of the other sign: E · Ba 0 inside both of these. These are separated by a vacuum gap in which E · B ‐ 0Ora 0 instead). We show that the charge distribution used in the ‘standard’ Goldreich‐Julian pulsar model is inherently unstable: it collapses to a stable configuration that is very similar to the others illustrated here. An instructive video of this collapse is available at http://spacsun.rice.edu/,ian/. For typical pulsars, the stable solution has no particles near to the light cylinder, and if there were any there then their loss from the system would not lead to a replacement from the star (in contradiction to the explicit assumption used in the Goldreich‐Julian model). We discuss the generic effects of pair creation, in particular as an additional source of ionization in the vacuum gap. The overall effect is simply to reduce the value of E · B in the vacuum gap so that the pair-production rate drops towards zero. A dome, disc and gap geometry is still the resulting solution. In conclusion, we confirm previous studies that the aligned rotator cannot make an active pulsar.
Environmental impact studies of the disposal of polyacrylate polymers used in consumer products

Abstract A highly absorbent consumer-product, polyacrylate polymer material was tagged with 14 C and used successfully to study the environmental fate of the disposal of up to 300 million pounds of such materials annually in wastewater plants and landfills. The environmental behavior of polymers used in diaper products was studied in an on-site wastewater plant, in flow columns, and in a horizontal flow tank containing sand. The polymer exhibited a highly mobile fraction of about 2–5% which was discharged in effluents during the passage of a few pore volumes. The remainder was highly retarded and retained along the flow path in the wastewater sludges, and near the source in the sand studies. The retention processes appeared irreversible for these media, and it is concluded that more conventional landfill soils would provide even greater retention of the polymer materials studied. Microbial decomposition effects on the migration of these polymers under landfill conditions was not studied. However, a series of such studies has been initiated using large lysimeters to simulate landfills to obtain such information. This evolution of data and perspective suggests that the environmental behavior of complex materials can be successfully studied using tagged materials to understand the public health implications of their disposal as they enter the marketplace rather than later when appropriate adjustments are difficult to make.
Polarization effects on scatter normalization of block detectors in PET

Annihilation photons are produced in mutually orthogonal polarization states, resulting in correlated angular distributions if both photons Compton scatter. This may impact the total scatter distribution, but may also impact detector normalization values for scattered coincidences. Single scatters within the source object are a significant fraction or the total scatter distribution. Further, 53 (62)% of first interactions within BGO (LSO) will be Compton scatter for 511 keV photons. 30 (39)% of unpolarized photons interacting in a 4/spl times/8/spl times/30 mm BGO (LSO) crystal will exit an individual crystal element prior to photoelectric absorption, possibly resulting in lost or mis-coded events. Thus, angular correlations associated with polarization effects may affect the efficiency response of the individual crystal elements of a block structure. Relative crystal efficiencies for axial and transverse polarization conditions were measured using a GE Advance BGO block detector. Results show a systematic difference in polarized crystal efficiencies within the block structure. The data impose an upper limit of 4% on the crystal sensitivity variations, for the BGO block tested, between incident photons with axial and transverse polarization states. The SimSET simulation software has been modified to include polarization. Investigations with measured and simulated data are ongoing.
Stereochemistry of anionic vinyl polymerization

The stereochemistry of anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers: CH2=C(R)C(Y)=X where X and Y are O, N or C and R = H or alkyl is discussed in terms of a: the geometry of the -CH2C-(R)C(Y)=X intermediate existing as E- or Z-isomers; b: the interactions of cation (Li, Na, etc.) with the anion and coordinating groups on the penultimate or antepenultimate asymmetric carbon. The E/Z ratio appears to be determined directly by the s-trans/s-cis approach of the monomer. The nature of the coordination of the counter ion is considerably more complicated and is discussed in detail.
Effect of weight cycling on susceptibility to dietary obesity

Weight cycling, defined as repeated episodes of weight loss followed by weight regain, has been suggested to make rats more energy efficient and produce a state of energy balance favoring accumulation of excess body fat. In addition, weight cycling may favor accumulation of fat in central vs. peripheral adipose depots. In the present study, we gave two groups of female Wistar rats ad libitum access to an obesity-producing high-fat diet (60% of calories from fat). Both groups had previously eaten a low-fat stock diet, but one group had been subjected to three bouts of weight cycling. Rats that were previously weight cycled gained less body weight and body fat when given the high-fat diet than did controls. The lower rate of weight gain was due to a lesser increase in food intake, since daily energy expenditure was significantly lower in previously cycled rats than in controls. In summary, weight cycling does not appear to predispose rats to becoming obese on a high-calorie diet and apparently produces some effect on food intake that reduces, at least in the short run, weight gain on the high-calorie diet.
Separating the Wheat from the Chaff: Extracting Business Value from Feature Requests Posted in User Forums

When making a decision to add features to an existing software product in response to feature requests posted in user forums, it is important to pursue only those changes that deliver value to both the user and the producer. But selecting critical user requirements expressed as features requests is a challenging task. While excluding a high value requirement may mean losing customers to a competing product, including a requirement that is unneeded increases time to market and introduces unnecessary costs and complexity in the product. Keeping these issues in focus, promising methods of feature selection were first identified from a review of requirements engineering, product development and quality literatures. An empirical study was then conducted to investigate the efficacy of methods in separating the vital few user feature requests from the trivial many posted in user forums without adversely impacting user satisfaction. The result of the empirical study demonstrates that the Kano survey method has potential in separating the wheat from the chaff. The reasons for this finding is empirically investigated and discussed.
Possible Mechanism of Diazinon Negative Cross-Resistance in Pyrethroid-Resistant Horn Flies (Diptera: Muscidae)

The underlying mechanism responsible for enhanced toxicity of the organophosphate diazinon in eight pyrethroid-resistant horn fly, Haematohia irritans (L.), field populations was investigated. In vitro enzyme assays and in vivo pyrethroid synergist studies showed increased activity of the mixed function oxidase system (measured as O -demethylase activity) in five of the eight populations with, in most instances, a subsequent increase in diazinon metabolism. We suspect that enhanced toxicity of diazinon (or negative cross-resistance), as observed in pyrethroid-resistant horn fly field populations, may result from in vivo accumulation of the toxic metabolite diazoxon.
Abstract 2206: SOCS1 and SOCS3 attenuate Lck-mediated cellular transformation through distinct mechanisms

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are negative feedback inhibitors of Janus kinase (JAK) – signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling in response to cytokine stimulation. Among eight SOCS family members, SOCS1, SOCS2, SOCS3 and CIS (cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein) are best characterized both structurally and functionally. We showed previously that CIS, SOCS1 and SOCS3 were not expressed in Lck-transformed cells (Cell Signal 18:851; Int J Oncol 36:1201). It suggests that defective negative feedback control may contribute to constitutive JAK-STAT5 activation in Lck-mediated oncogenesis (J Immunol 159:5206; Mol Cancer Res 4:39). These findings also raise the possibility that SOCS proteins may function as tumor suppressors. Indeed, by enforced SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression, we were able to reduce Lck-induced cellular transformation (Int J Oncol 36:1201). In this report, we further examine the molecular mechanisms underlying SOCS tumor-suppressing activity. Through comparative studies of SOCS1, SOCS2, SOCS3 and CIS, we demonstrate here two distinct properties of SOCS1 and SOCS3 toward oncogenic Lck kinase. First, SOCS1 has the highest affinity in binding to oncogenic Lck kinase. We identified the positive regulatory phospho-tyrosine 394 residue (Y394) in the kinase domain as the key interacting determinant in Lck. Additionally, the Lck kinase domain alone is sufficient to bind SOCS1. While the SH2 domain in SOCS1 is important in its association with the oncogenic Lck kinase, other functional domains may also contribute to overall binding affinity. These data suggest that SOCS1 may inhibit Lck kinase activity in a manner similar to JAK kinases. Second, only SOCS3 becomes phosphorylated in the presence of oncogenic Lck kinase. We identified the phosphorylation sites as Y204 and Y221 located in the C-terminal SOCS box of SOCS3. We further analyzed the contribution of SOCS3 tyrosine phosphorylation on its tumor suppressor activity. Preliminary studies suggested that SOCS3 phosphorylation on Y204 and Y221 might play an important role in blocking cell proliferation and cell cycle progression of Lck-transformed cells. SOCS3 tyrosine phosphorylation can lead to altered protein stability and crosstalk with other signal transduction pathways, such as MAPK signaling. Experiments are in progress to further define the molecular details of SOCS3 phosphorylation involved in tumor suppression. All together, these results provide important mechanistic insights into the distinct roles of SOCS proteins as tumor suppressors in cells transformed by oncogenic protein tyrosine kinases. This work is supported in part by NIH grant CA107210. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2206. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2206
Optical and electrical properties of CdGeAs2

Large-grained ingots of CdGeAs2 have been grown from near-stoichiometric melts. Resistivity and Hall coefficient (RH) measurements were made on a large number of samples at 77 and 300 K and in some cases up to 450 K. Good fits to the log RH vs 1/T plots are obtained by using a model that assumes three kinds of electronic levels within the energy gap: donors, shallow acceptors, and acceptors with an ionization energy of 0. 30 eV. The deep acceptors are probably native defects, since their concentration varies by nearly four orders of magnitude from ingot to ingot with little change in impurity concentration. Between the intrinsic absorption edge at about 2. 5 Μm and the two-phonon absorption band at 18 Μm, the optical absorption increases with increasing deep acceptor concentration. By using oriented single-crystal samples ∼ 1 cm on a side, conversion efficiencies as high as 27% have been achieved for second-harmonic generation with single-mode pulses from a CO2 TEA laser.
Analysis on Boiler Fans Failure and its Countermeasures

The paper analyzes the boiler Cans failure existed in 300MW～600MW generating units involving fan's parameters selection, manufacture,installation and operation maintenance,such as blade crack,flow separation gasping vibration.rotor crack,impeller loosening,structure resonance,etc.Combining with engineering practice,the paper gives some countermeasures and suggestions.
Investigation on the Fabrication and Properties of HGB/PLA Composites

The composites of poly(lactic acid)(PLA) filled with hollow glass beads(Hollow Glass Beads,HGB) were prepared by using molten blending and compression molding.The effects of HGB contents on the morphologies,mechanical properties and melt flow rate of HGB/PLA composites were investigated.The results show that well dispersed HGB in matrix and improved interfacial adhesion were observed between the PLA and HGB coated by silane coupling agent.With the increment of HGB,the specific tensile strength and elongation at break of HGB/PLA composites were increased first and then decreased;however,the specific elastic modulus exhibited the trend of continuous increase.The existence of HGB led to negative influences on the specific impact toughness,but brought on a remarkable positive impact on the melt flow rate of HGB/PLA composites.
Alexithymia: treatment utilizing combined individual and group psychotherapy.

Alexithymia is a psychic dysfunction in which symbolic thinking and fantasy are reduced, somatization is common, feelings are poorly communicated, empathy is impaired, and intimate interpersonal re...
The MD Blues: Under-Recognized Depression and Anxiety in Medical Trainees.

Background Mental health disease is under recognized in medical professionals. Objective To screen medical students (MS), residents and fellows for major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) under the new era of work hour reform with age-matched controls from a large representative cross-sectional survey. Methods We conducted an anonymous online survey at a medical university in 2013–2014. We incorporated the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ-2) to screen for MDD and the generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) to screen for GAD, along with additional questions on life stressors and academic performance. We compared these results to age-matched controls from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Results 126 residents/fellows and 336 medical students participated voluntarily. 15.1% and 15.9% of postgraduates as well as 16.4% and 20.3% of MS screened positive for MDD and GAD, respectively. When compared to national estimates, the prevalence of a positive screen for MDD was over five-fold higher in medical trainees compared to age-matched controls (16% vs. 2.8%, p<0.0001). Similarly, the prevalence of a positive screen for GAD was over eight-fold higher in medical trainees (19% vs. 2.3%, p<0.0001).The prevalence was consistently higher within age strata. 33.3% of postgraduates and 32% of MS believe there is a significant impact of depression or anxiety on their academic performance. For stress relief, one fifth of residents/fellows as well as MS reported alcohol use. Conclusions The stresses of medical education and practice may predispose trainees to psychopathological consequences that can affect their academic performance and patient care. The current study showed a significantly higher rate of MDD and GAD positive screens in medical trainees than the prevalence in an age-matched U.S. population, despite significant work hour reform for medical trainees. Increased awareness and support services are required at all levels of medical training. We propose that the ACGME and the Institute of Medicine may consider these findings when implementing future changes to work hour regulations.
Scratching the surface: articular cartilage disorders in the knee.

SUMMARY Powerful tools for evaluating the integrity of articular cartilage are emerging from clinical trials designed to test the efficacy and safety of new therapies for osteoarthritis and epidemiologic studies aimed at unraveling the complex multifactorial nature of this enigmatic disease. In these clinical trials, imaging techniques that were originally developed to answer questions about cruciate ligament and meniscal integrity are being used as new markers to serve therapeutic applications in osteoarthritis that are not yet in clinical use. The performance measurements by which these imaging markers must be evaluated and the standards to which they must be held depend on their particular use in patient selection and treatment monitoring and the context in which they are to be used. These uses and contexts differ somewhat in clinical research and in clinical practice. As new therapies for osteoarthritis become clinically available, there will be an increased need for radiologists with expertise in the proper use of these new techniques who can evaluate the articular cartilage and other structures in the knee and their interdependent roles in maintaining the functional integrity of this joint.
Clinical significance of weight difference between donor and recipient in heart transplantation

A standard and important criterion for donor acceptance is to match the donor’s body weight to within 20 % of the recipient’s body weight However, to meet the increasing demand of patients who need heart transplantation, frequently a heart that is below the standard criteria for donation is accepted. Of the 200 consecutive patients who underwent heart transplantation at the University of Arizona, 27 patients received a heart from a smaller donor with a weight difference of more than 30% (range 30% to 46%). The early mortality and late survival of these 27 patients were not different when compared with those of the patients who received transplants from donors with a weight difference of less than 30%. The probability of freedom from rejection and infection and postoperative ejection fraction were also similar between the two groups. Therefore, we believe that the widely accepted donor-recipient weight-match criterion of 20% can be safely extended.
Multimodal Analgesic Protocol and Postanesthesia Respiratory Depression During Phase I Recovery After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background Multimodal analgesia protocols have shortened hospitalizations after total joint arthroplasty. It is unclear whether individual components of these protocols are associated with respiratory depression during phase I postanesthesia recovery. Objectives To test the hypothesis that sedating analgesics used in a multimodal protocol are associated with an increased rate of phase I postanesthesia respiratory depression. Methods Our Department of Anesthesiology records were searched to identify patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty with a multimodal analgesia protocol, including peripheral nerve blockade, from 2008 through 2012. Patient records were reviewed for episodes of postanesthesia respiratory depression, and potential causative factors were abstracted and analyzed for potential associations. Respiratory depression was defined as apnea, hypopnea, oxyhemoglobin desaturations, or episodes of severe pain despite moderate to profound sedation. Results Of 11,970 patients who underwent joint arthroplasty, 2836 (23.7%; 237 per 1000 cases; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 214–262) had episodes of respiratory depression. A higher rate of respiratory depression was observed among patients who underwent general anesthesia (312 per 1000 cases; 95% CI, 301–323) than neuraxial anesthesia (144 per 1000 cases; 95% CI, 135–153) (P 300 mg) (P 10 mg) (P = 0.01 for general anesthesia; P = 0.008 for neuraxial anesthesia). Conclusions Use of medications with long-acting sedative potential was associated with increased risk of respiratory depression during phase I anesthesia recovery. These effects were more pronounced when used in conjunction with general anesthesia than with neuraxial anesthesia.
RHOG: A Refinement-Operator Library for Directed Labeled Graphs.

This document provides the foundations behind the functionality provided by the $\rho$G library (this https URL), focusing on the basic operations the library provides: subsumption, refinement of directed labeled graphs, and distance/similarity assessment between directed labeled graphs. $\rho$G development was initially supported by the National Science Foundation, by the EAGER grant IIS-1551338.
Non-Canonical Interactions between Voltage Sensors and Pore Domain in Shaker K+-Channel

W434F mutation in the pore domain (PD) of Shaker K+-channels yields non-conductive channels, useful for gating currents studies. Comparisons of Q-Vs recorded with W434F with those recorded with absence of K+ show virtually indistinguishable data. When a mutation in the S3-S4 linker, L361R, is introduced, the Q-V recorded with W434F, and the curve of K+ conductance activation by voltage (G-V) are both strongly shifted to more negative voltages, and they unexpectedly cross each other. This effect is typical when the channel has more than one open state, which does not seem to be the case according to our single channels recordings. As expected, Q-V curve recorded in the conductive Shaker containing L361R mutation does not cross its G-V. This unprecedentedly showed that W434F-containing PD can potentially affect mutant VSDs although it is virtually silent for WT VSDs. To investigate this non-canonical coupling between VSD and PD, other than via S4-S5 linker, we produced dimers of Shaker that would show a mutant VSD (L361R) CLOSE, or FAR from a mutant PD (W434F). According to the Kv1.2 crystal structure, VSDs are near the PD from the neighbor subunit and we consider that would happen similarly in dimers of shaker. VSD mutations shift the slow-inactivation curves to more negative voltages, with the effect being more intense in CLOSE compared to FAR channels. Furthermore, current peaks progressively increase at +60 mV after 100-ms pre-pulses from −180 to −100 mV differently on CLOSE and FAR channels, indicating the VSD mutation interfere with the PD inactivation according to its relative position. Our data show that VSD and PD are in close communication beyond what is predicted by the S3-S4 connection, especially when mutations are present in both domains of the protein. Support: NIH-GM030376.
The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Development, Repair, and Destruction of the Lungs

Normal gas exchange after birth requires functional lung alveolar units that are lined with epithelial cells, parts of which are intricately fused with microvascular capillaries. A significant phase of alveolar lung development occurs in the perinatal period, continues throughout early stages in life, and requires activation of matrix-remodeling enzymes. Failure to achieve an optimum number of alveoli during lung maturation can cause several untoward medical consequences including disabling obstructive and/or restrictive lung diseases that limit physiological endurance and increase mortality. Several members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family are critical in lung remodeling before and after birth; however, their resurgence in response to environmental factors, infection, and injury can also compromise lung function. Therefore, temporal expression, regulation, and function of MMPs play key roles in developing and maintaining adequate oxygenation under steady state, as well as in diseased conditions. Broadly, with the exception of MMP2 and MMP14, most deletional mutations of MMPs fail to perturb lung development; however, their individual absence can alter the pathophysiology of respiratory diseases. Specifically, under stressed conditions such as acute respiratory infection and allergic inflammation, MMP2 and MMP9 can play a protective role through bacterial clearance and production of chemotactic gradient, while loss of MMP12 can protect mice from smoke-induced lung disease. Therefore, better understanding of the expression and function of MMPs under normal lung development and their resurgence in response respiratory diseases could provide new therapeutic options in the future.
The Availability of Program Descriptions among Programs for Seriously Emotionally Disturbed Students.

This article addresses the value of program descriptions for the field of serious emotional disturbance/behavioral disorders and presents data collected on the availability of written programs for ...
Meshed doped silicon photonic crystals for manipulating near-field thermal radiation

Abstract The ability to control and manipulate heat flow is of great interest to thermal management and thermal logic and memory devices. Particularly, near-field thermal radiation presents a unique opportunity to enhance heat transfer while being able to tailor its characteristics (e.g., spectral selectivity). However, achieving nanometric gaps, necessary for near-field, has been and remains a formidable challenge. Here, we demonstrate significant enhancement of the near-field heat transfer through meshed photonic crystals with separation gaps above 0.5 µm. Using a first-principle method, we investigate the meshed photonic structures numerically via finite-difference time-domain technique (FDTD) along with the Langevin approach. Results for doped-silicon meshed structures show significant enhancement in heat transfer; 26 times over the non-meshed corrugated structures. This is especially important for thermal management and thermal rectification applications. The results also support the premise that thermal radiation at micro scale is a bulk (rather than a surface) phenomenon; the increase in heat transfer between two meshed-corrugated surfaces compared to the flat surface (8.2) wasn't proportional to the increase in the surface area due to the corrugations (9). Results were further validated through good agreements between the resonant modes predicted from the dispersion relation (calculated using a finite-element method), and transmission factors (calculated from FDTD).
Echocardiographic Imaging for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: Transesophageal Echocardiography and Intracardiac Echocardiographic Imaging

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a rapidly evolving technology. Multi-modality imaging and understanding of left atrial appendage anatomy are sure to advance. Two-dimensional and 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography with fluoroscopy are the mainstay for LAAO image-guided therapy. Key to successful LAAO is an understanding of the transseptal puncture, LAAO size selection for the device-specific landing zone, and postdeployment evaluation for leak and complications. With advancements in computed tomography, there may be a greater role for intracardiac echocardiographic imaging in specific types of LAAO anatomy and devices.
Optimization of UCl3 and MgCl2 separation from molten LiCl-KCl eutectic salt via galvanic drawdown with sacrificial Gd anode

Abstract Improvements in the galvanic reduction of UCl 3 from LiCl-KCl- UCl 3 molten salts are reported. This process has potential application for drawdown operations for electrorefiner salt. Short circuiting a gadolinium rod to a stainless steel basket causes a galvanic reaction which results in simultaneous reduction of UCl 3 to U(0) and oxidation of Gd(0) to GdCl 3 . Two galvanic cell configurations were tested: one with the gadolinium metal inserted into the stainless steel basket, and one with the gadolinium metal separated from the stainless steel basket. When using a rotating basket and a physically separated gadolinium metal rod, concentration of uranium decreased from 0.168 to 0.00004 mol % within 105 min, representing over 99.97% removal from salt. Electrochemical potential measurements were recorded for the galvanic couple, and it was found that the potential became more negative during reduction process and leveled off when all of the UCl 3 was reduced. In experiments in which MgCl 2 was added to the salt as a surrogate for PuCl 3 , it was observed to co-deposit with the UCl 3 . Other rare earth chlorides ( LaCl 3 , NdCl 3 , and CeCl 3 ) were not removed from the salt during the reduction process.
The effects of early acoustic hearing on speech perception, language, and literacy abilities of pediatric cochlear implant recipients

The primary aim of our current project is to determine the degree to which a period of hearing aid (HA) use facilitates language development in children following the receipt of their first cochlear implant (CI). We tested 117 pediatric CI recipients ranging in age from 5 to 8 years on tests of speech perception and standardized tests of receptive vocabulary and language. Follow up testing (ages 7–10 years) included early literacy assessments. The speech perception test battery includes word recognition in quiet and noise (segmental perception), talker and stress discrimination, and emotion identification (suprasegmental perception). A continuum of residual hearing levels and length of HA use are represented: some children have bimodal devices, while others received their second CI either simultaneously or sequentially at varying time intervals since their first CI (mean age at 1st CI/s = 2.1 years). Comprehensive threshold and device histories were collected on all CI recipients. Based on our analyses, w...
Ongoing resurfacing of KBO Eris by volatile transport in local, collisional, sublimation atmosphere regime

Abstract Kuiper belt object (KBO) Eris is exceptionally bright with a greater visible geometric albedo than any other known KBO. Its infrared reflectance spectrum is dominated by methane, which should form tholins that darken the surface on timescales much shorter than the age of the Solar System. Thus one or more ongoing processes probably maintain its brightness. Eris is predicted to have a primarily nitrogen atmosphere that is in vapor pressure equilibrium with nitrogen-ice and is collisional (not ballistic). Eris’s eccentric orbit is expected to result in two atmospheric regimes: (1) a period near perihelion when the atmosphere is global (analogous to the atmospheres of Mars, Triton, and Pluto) and (2) a period near aphelion when only a local atmosphere exists near the warmest region (analogous to the atmosphere of Io). A numerical model developed to simulate Eris’s thermal and volatile evolution in the local atmosphere regime is presented. The model conserves energy, mass, and momentum while maintaining vapor pressure equilibrium. It is adaptable to other local, collisional, sublimation atmospheres, which in addition to Io and Eris, may occur on several volatile-bearing KBOs. The model was applied for a limiting case where Eris is fixed at aphelion and has an initial nitrogen-ice mass everywhere equal to the precipitable column of nitrogen in Pluto's atmosphere during the New Horizons encounter (the resultant mass if the Pluto atmosphere collapsed uniformly onto the surface). The model results indicate that (1) transport of nitrogen in the local, collisional, sublimation atmosphere regime is significant, (2) changes of Eris’s albedo or color from nitrogen transport may be observable, and (3) uniform collapse of a global, nitrogen atmosphere likely cannot explain Eris’s anomalous albedo in the present epoch. Seasonal volatile transport remains a plausible hypothesis to explain Eris’s anomalous albedo and geologic processes that renew Pluto’s brightest surfaces, such as convection and glaciation, may also be operating on Eris.
Solvent Effects on Enzymes: Implications for Extraterrestrial Life

Water plays many roles during the course of an enzymatic reaction. Its importance in maintaining the structural integrity of proteins has been emphasized repeatedly; water is also directly involved in many reactions as either a reactant or product. Additionally, there are more subtle effects of water influencing the ionization of charged groups, directing tertiary structure through interaction with hydrophobic and hydrophilic side-chains, binding at definite sites, and displacement during the course of reaction (1, 2).
Prognostic Condition Monitoring for Wind Turbine Drivetrains via Generator Current Analysis

Maintenance costs account for a significant portion of the total cost of electricity generated by wind turbines. Currently in the wind power industry, maintenance is mainly performed on regular schedules or when significant damage occurs in a wind turbine making it inoperable, instead of being determined by the actual condition of the wind turbine. Among the total maintenance costs, approximately 25%~35% is related to regularly scheduled preventive maintenance and 65%~75% to unscheduled corrective maintenance. To reduce the failure rate and level and maintenance costs and improve the availability, reliability, safety, and lifespans of wind turbines, it is desirable to perform condition-based predictive maintenance for wind turbines, which will require a high-fidelity online prognostic condition monitoring system(CMS) for fault diagnosis and prognosis and remaining useful life(RUL) prediction of wind turbines. Most of the existing wind turbine CMSs are based on vibration monitoring and have no or limited capability in fault prognosis and RUL prediction. Compared to vibration monitoring, the prognostic condition monitoring techniques based on generator current signal analysis proposed recently have significant advantages in terms of cost, hardware complexity, implementation, and reliability. This paper discusses the principles and challenges of using generator current signals for prognostic condition monitoring of wind turbine drivetrains and presents an overview of recent advancements in this area.
Active control of viscous fingering using electric fields.

Viscous fingering is a widely observed phenomenon, in which finger-like instabilities occur at the interface of two fluids, whenever a less viscous phase displaces a more viscous phase. This instability is notoriously difficult to control, especially for given viscosity ratio and geometry. Here we demonstrate experimentally the active control of viscous fingering of two given liquids, for given geometry and flow rate in a Hele-Shaw cell. The control is realized by taking advantage of electro-osmotic flows along the surfaces confining the fluid, via applying an external electric field. Depending on the direction of electric field, the induced secondary electro-osmotic flows either assist or oppose the hydraulic flow, effectively reducing or increasing the flow resistance, leading to the control of interface stability. The mechanism of apparent “electrokinetic thinning/thickening” is proposed to explain the experimental observations. Theoretical predictions of linear stability are confirmed experimentally for a broad range of immiscible electrolyte displacements. When a viscous fluid is displaced by a less viscous phase between two plates, a finger-like instability occurs. Here the authors demonstrate how applying an external electric field can suppress the fingering instability without the need to alter the fluid flow rate or the gap geometry.
Sex-related differences in subjective, but not neural, cue-elicited craving response in heavy cannabis users.

Abstract Background Studies indicate that female cannabis users progress through the milestones of cannabis use disorder (CUD) more quickly than male users, likely due to greater subjective craving response in women relative to men. While studies have reported sex-related differences in subjective craving, differences in neural response and the relative contributions of neural and behavioral response remain unclear. Methods We examined sex-related differences in neural and behavioral response to cannabis cues and cannabis use measures in 112 heavy cannabis users (54 females). We used principal component analysis to determine the relative contributions of neural and behavioral response and cannabis use measures. Results We found that principal component (PC) 1, which accounts for the most variance in the dataset, was correlated with neural response to cannabis cues with no differences between male and female users (p = 0.21). PC2, which accounts for the second-most variance, was correlated with subjective craving such that female users exhibited greater subjective craving relative to male users (p = 0.003). We also found that CUD symptoms correlated with both PC1 and PC2, corroborating the relationship between craving and CUD severity. Conclusions These results indicate that neural activity primarily underlies response to cannabis cues and that a complex relationship characterizes a convergent neural response and a divergent subjective craving response that differs between the sexes. Accounting for these differences will increase efficacy of treatments through personalized approaches.
Enhancing Medical Students' Interprofessional Teamwork Through Simulated Room of Errors Experience

Abstract Background Fostering medical students' appreciation for team members particularly those from other disciplines with varying levels of experience promotes a promising beginning to a health care career. Methods During surgical clerkship orientation, third-year medical students completed 30-item TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire preintervention and postintervention, spent 7 min identifying errors in a simulated operating room, followed by recorded physician-led 30-min discussions. Results Postintervention (67) compared with preintervention (141) mean TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire domain scores were statistically significantly higher for team structure (4.59, 4.70; P = 0.03) and higher but not significant for leadership (4.74, 4.75; P = 0.86), situation monitoring (4.62, 4.68; P = 0.32), communication (4.40, 4.50; P = 0.14), and decreased for mutual support (4.43, 4.36; P = 0.43). Medical students identified 2%-93% of 33 staged errors and 291 additional errors, which were placed into 14 categories. Soiled gloves in the operative field and urinary bag on the floor were the most frequently identified staged errors. Experienced nurses compared with medical students identified significantly more errors (mean, 17.7 versus 11.7, respectively; P Conclusions This well-received teamwork exercise enabled medical students to appreciate team members' contributions and other disciplines' perspectives, in addition to the synergy that occurs with multidisciplinary teams.
Chapter 14 – Conic Sections

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses conic sections. Conic sections are invariant under a more general type of map: the so-called projective maps. These maps are studied in projective geometry. Polynomial curves, bear a close relationship to affine geometry. Consequently, the de Casteljau algorithm makes use of ratios, which are the fundamental invariant of affine maps. Thus, the class of polynomial curves is invariant under affine transformations: an affine map maps a polynomial curve onto another polynomial curve. The fact that five points are sufficient to determine a conic is a consequence of the most fundamental theorem in the theory of conics. A large number of methods exist to construct conic sections from the given pieces of information, most of which is based on Pascal's theorem. In a projective environment, all conics are equivalent: projective maps map conics to conics. In affine geometry, conics fall into three classes: (1) hyperbolas, (2) parabolas, and (3) ellipses. Thus, ellipses are mapped to ellipses under affine maps, parabolas to parabolas, and hyperbolas to hyperbolas.
Sensitization of the reinforcing value of food: a novel risk factor for overweight in adolescents.

The relative reinforcing value (RRV) of food is associated with increased energy intake and obesity and increases in RRV of food after repeated intake (sensitization) are related cross-sectionally and prospectively to higher BMI in adults. We examined the factors, such as delay discounting (DD), associated with sensitization of RRV to high energy density (HED) and low energy density (LED) food and how sensitization relates to zBMI in adolescents. We hypothesized that sensitization to HED food would be positively associated with zBMI, that sensitization to LED food would be negatively associated with zBMI, that DD would be associated with HED sensitization, and that LED sensitization and DD would moderate the relationships between HED sensitization and zBMI. A population-based sample of 207 adolescents without obesity, aged 12–14 years was studied from June 2016–March 2019. The RRV of LED and HED foods were measured before and after two weeks of daily consumption along with zBMI and other potential factors related to eating and weight, including dietary restraint, hunger, food liking, and delay discounting (DD). Hierarchical regression models were used to determine the associations between these factors and sensitization and zBMI. We also examined LED sensitization and DD as potential moderators of the relationship between sensitization and zBMI. As hypothesized, dietary restraint and sensitization to HED food were associated with greater zBMI. Contrary to our original hypotheses, DD was not associated with sensitization, there was no relationship between sensitization to LED food and zBMI and neither LED sensitization or DD moderated the relationship between HED sensitization and zBMI. Sensitization to repeated intake of HED food was associated with higher zBMI in adolescents without obesity. Sensitization may be a novel behavioral phenotype that may relate to overweight in youth.