cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heat transport in aqueous suspensions of alumina nanoparticles

Equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to investigate heat transport in aqueous suspensions of alumina nanoparticles. The thermal conductivity of the suspension, calculated by the Green-Kubo relations, is studied for a wide range of volume fractions, particle sizes, and temperatures. The particle volume fraction is varied in the range of 1-9% and the particle size range of concern is 1-9 nm. The temperature varies between 300 and 370 K. The radial distribution function and the radial density profiles are utilized to estimate the thickness of the ordered base-fluid nanolayer adsorbed on the particle surface. Emphasis is placed on elucidating the relationship between the thermal conductivity enhancement and the nanolayer thickness. Results show that the effective thermal conductivity increases near-linearly as a function of volume fraction, whereas the slope of this function decreases with an increase in particle size. The nanolayer thickness is independent of the particle volume fraction. The effect of particle size on thermal conductivity is studied for a volume fraction of 5%, temperature of 300 K, and pressure of 1 atm. The nanolayer thickness remains almost constant with an increase in particle size. However, both effective thermal conductivity, and nanolayer thickness normalized with particle diameter decreases sharply with increasing particle size and attains an asymptotic value at particle diameter ~ 150 nm. The effect of temperature on the effective thermal conductivity is studied for a particle size of 3 nm and volume fraction of 5%. The thermal conductivity decreases steadily with increasing temperature, whereas the nanolayer thickness remains nearly constant. For particle sizes less than 10 nm, the enhancement in thermal conductivity is significantly greater than the predictions of existing theoretical models. A strong correlation between nanolayer properties and enhanced thermal conductivity of fully dispersed nanoparticle suspensions can be deduced from the results.
The polychromatophilic erythrocyte.

The studies reported here show that polychromatophilic erythrocytes as seen in the blood film represent young (Group 1) reticulocytes and that their mean diameter is 27% greater than that of adult erythrocytes. Normally, polychromatophilic erythrocytes constitute 5% or less of the circulating reticulocyte population. With moderate hypoxia or anemia they increase to between 10 and 20%; with severe anemia their proportion increases to more than 20%. However, no such increases are observed in patients whose anemia is unaccompanied by elevated erythropoietin (as in the usual patient with renal failure). In diseases of the marrow stroma, the increase in polychromatophilic erythrocytes appears disproportionate to the degree of anemia present. Since such stromal disease is readily distinguishable, it is concluded that polychromatophilic erythocytes in the peripheral blood film provide a simple means of identifying increased erythropoietin stimulation of the erythroid marrow.
Novel frequency comb spectroscopies in the near and mid infrared spectral region

T is an ongoing revolution in the field of spectroscopy based on frequency comb lasers (FCL). This is due to their broadband high spectral resolution, and high detection sensitivity. Several methods have been and are being developed to utilize their regular comb structure of millions of laser modes. Especially in the infrared, a plethora of green house and other gases have molecular fingerprint spectra that can be studied with FCL, based mainly on the Er-,Yb doped fiber lasers with their wavelength ranges extended by optical parametric oscillation processes, super continuum or difference frequency generation. This talk will present our research to quantify the sensitivity and selectivity of greenhouse gas detection in various detection schemes including multipass absorption, dual comb, and Vernier frequency comb spectroscopies. In addition, our initial efforts to use FCL to monitor the methane content of seawater in the aftermath of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the detection of atmospheric methane from natural seeps, and produced during fracking at the large shale gas reservoirs in the US and elsewhere will be described. Hans Schuessler, J Phys Chem Biophys 2013, 3:5 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-0398.S1.002
The effects of the spatial pattern of defoliation on regrowth of a tussock grass : II. Canopy gas exchange.

The effect of different defoliation, patterns within a tussock grass on CO2 and water vapor exchange of entire tussocks was assessed and compared with differences in regrowth behavior. During rapid spring growth, 60% of the green foliage area was removed from Agropyron desertorum tussocks in different spatial patterns. Compensatory growth responses of defoliated tussocks corresponded well with increases in integrated daytime CO2 exchange rate of tussocks per unit foliage area (CERd) immediately following clipping. When leaves were removed from low in the tussock (older leaves), both regrowth and CERd were greater than after removal of foliage located high in the canopy (younger leaves). Water vapor conductance (gw) increased similarly for all clipped plants, regardless of defoliation pattern. Thus, the differential responses of CERd to the defoliation patterns could not be fully attributed to changes in gw. The increases in gw of all clipped plants resulted in large increses in tussock daytime water loss (Ed) and decreases in tussock water-use efficiency (CERd/Ed), even in the case where mostly older, shaded foliage was removed. Despite increases in CERd, whole-tussock CO2 fixation (net CO2 exchange per tussock) declined immediately after clipping because of the removal of considerable foliage. Whole-tussock CO2 uptake recovered more rapidly in tussocks which had lower leaf blades removed than in tussocks which had upper foliage removed because of differences in the rate of new foliage production.
Photochemical processing of diesel fuel emissions as a large secondary source of isocyanic acid (HNCO)

Isocyanic acid (HNCO) is a well-known air pollutant that affects human health. Biomass burning, smoking, and combustion engines are known HNCO sources, but recent studies suggest that secondary production in the atmosphere may also occur. We directly observed photochemical production of HNCO from the oxidative aging of diesel exhaust during the Diesel Exhaust Fuel and Control experiments at Colorado State University using acetate ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Emission ratios of HNCO were enhanced, after 1.5 days of simulated atmospheric aging, from 50 to 230 mg HNCO/kg fuel at idle engine operating conditions. Engines operated at higher loads resulted in less primary and secondary HNCO formation, with emission ratios increasing from 20 to 40 mg HNCO/kg fuel under 50% load engine operating conditions. These results suggest that photochemical sources of HNCO could be more significant than primary sources in urban areas.
A high-performance inner-product processor for real and complex numbers

A novel, high-performance fixed-point inner-product processor based on a redundant binary number system is investigated in this dissertation. This scheme decreases the number of partial products to 50%, while achieving better speed and area performance, as well as providing pipeline extension opportunities. When modified Booth coding is used, partial products are reduced by almost 75%, thereby significantly reducing the multiplier addition depth. The design is applicable for digital signal and image processing applications that require real and/or complex numbers inner-product arithmetic, such as digital filters, correlation and convolution. This design is well suited for VLSI implementation and can also be embedded as an inner-product core inside a general purpose or DSP FPGA-based processor. Dynamic control of the computing structure permits different computations, such as a variety of inner-product real and complex number computations, parallel multiplication for real and complex numbers, and real and complex number division. The same structure can also be controlled to accept redundant binary number inputs for multiplication and inner-product computations. An improved 2's-complement to redundant binary converter is also presented.
Effects of Smoking Status on Device Survival Among Individuals Undergoing Artificial Urinary Sphincter Placement.

Smoking is an established risk factor for wound complications. There is limited data on the impact of smoking on artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) outcomes. Thus, the aim of this study was to asse...
Improving the Transcription of Patient Information From Image Requisitions to the Radiology Information System

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to improve the transcription of patient information from imaging study requisitions to the radiology information database at a single institution. Methods Five hundred radiology reports from adult outpatient radiographic examinations were chosen randomly from the radiology information system (RIS) and categorized according to their degree of concordance with their corresponding clinical order indications. The number and types of grammatical errors and types of order forms were also recorded. Countermeasures centered on the education of the technical staff and referring physician offices and the implementation of a checklist. Another sample of 500 reports was taken after the implementation of the countermeasures and compared with the baseline data using a χ 2 test. Results The number of RIS indications perfectly concordant with their corresponding clinical order indications increased from 232 (46.4%) to 314 (62.8%) after the implementation of the countermeasures ( P P P P Conclusions The education of technical staff members and the implementation of a checklist markedly improved the information provided to radiologists on image requisitions from referring providers.
Stepping into the Journey with Your Companion

Hanser prepares the music therapist for meeting the person who is ill or suffering, and explores the evolving relationships between the music therapist, the music, and the companion. Hanser calls the patient or client a companion on the journey, emphasizing the “inner healer” that a sick person can access in the course of dealing with an illness. In effect, the music therapist and companion are both healers, using the properties of music to accompany an inner journey from illness to wellness. Techniques include activities that guide the music therapist from the initial preparation for a session to its conclusion.
Looking toward the future: health message design strategies.

When looking across these theories several commonalities emerge (Witte Meyer & Martell 2001). Specifically there appear to be at least four categories of health communication variables that work together in a predictable manner. Most health communication theories focus on stimuli that trigger the motivation in an individual to perform an action (outcome variable) that is influenced by the individuals appraisal of the environment and resources. Stimuli are the materials actions or procedures health message designers use to get receivers to attend to their message (Atkin & Freimuth 1989). Motivation is the internal drive derived from a persons cognitions about the message. How a person thinks about the message coupled with the persons emotional arousal determines the strength of the motivation that compels one to respond to the stimuli (Weinstein 1993). The strength of the motivation affects the extent to which the person feels compelled to appraise his or her resources and environment to determine what coping mechanisms and resources are available to promote positive behavior and/or avert the potential threat. Finally outcome variables are the concrete measures health communicators use to determine the effect the stimuli (messages) have had on an audience. Outcome variables include changes in beliefs knowledge attitudes intentions and behaviors as well as negative responses to campaigns such as reactance or denial. The most complete and effective health communication message would address at least one variable in each of these four categories to cause health protective actions. The four categories are listed in Table 21.1; along with examples as defined by the various theories. Although these four categories are conceptually distinct a single variable can be placed into more than one category. Attitudes for example play a role in the appraisal of resources and environment (attitudes or evaluations of people places or objects influence how people view their environment) but they also can be outcomes as can occur in attitude change. These four categories provide the framework for discussing the message content variables in this chapter. (excerpt)
The Agricultural Program of Fascist Italy

Italy is essentially an agricultural country, although not without important industries. Within the relatively small area of the country a wide diversity of soil, elevation, rainfall, and temperature prevails. Social and economic conditions likewise vary greatly from place to place. Because of these widely varied physical, social, and economic conditions, the agriculture of Italy covers a range as wide as that covered by the agriculture of Europe. The kingdom as a whole, including the large islands of Sicily and Sardinia, has an area of 119,000 square miles and a population of more than 41 million inhabitants (one-fifth smaller in area than the state of California, with a population more than seven times as large). In population Italy ranks third of all continental European countries, being surpassed only by Russia and Germany. Although the climate is in general favorable to the production of many agricultural commodities, the land is swampy in many regions of the country. Thus, from the time of the Romans to our present day, Italy has suffered from malaria on account of the swamps of the Po River Valley, the Roman countryside, the province of Venetia, and most of southern Italy. In order to grasp fully the meaning of the present Italian agricultural situation, it is necessary to have in mind one of the main problems of Italy's economic life, i.e. its excess of population. Toward the end of the nineteenth century (1884), at the beginning of the twentieth (1903), and again a decade ago (1919-1922), Italy was shaken by very serious agrarian revolts. The fundamental economic cause of these movements was the excess of population. The great number of its inhabitants which, in the field of foreign policy, makes the pride and strength of Italy, arouses in the social life of the country some serious and difficult problems. A soil of limited area has to support a population which in less than fifty years (1881-1929) has increased from 28 to 41 million people. Moreover, southern Italy, which contributes very largely to this increase of population, is exclusively agricultural. There are no important industries in that part of the country to utilize the unemployed hands. There comes a time
The Association Between Physical Function and Elder Mistreatment Among Community-Dwelling Chinese Older Adults in the Greater Chicago Area.

Background Physical function (PF) impairment and elder mistreatment (EM) are alarming public health issues facing by many older adults. Prior studies have not generated uniform findings on the associations between PF and EM. This study aimed to address the research gap of this association among U.S. Chinese aging population. Methods Three thousand one hundred fifty-eight community-dwelling Chinese older adults in the Greater Chicago Area were surveyed. Independent variables included both self-reported and performance-based PF measurements. Dependent variable was EM, assessed by a 10-item instrument that has been widely used in social studies. Results The mean age of study participants was 76.3 years (SD ± 8.4) and 58.0% were female. After adjusting for potential covariates, higher scores of activities of daily living (odds ratio [OR] = 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.73-0.98), instrumental activities of daily living (OR = 0.87, 0.82-0.92), and Rosow-Breslau reversely coded (OR = 0.85, 0.75-0.96) were associated with lower risk of EM. Also, lower scores of observed PF performance measurements, including tandem stand (OR = 0.78, 0.70-0.88), measured walk (OR = 0.84, 0.77-0.91), and the overall measurement (OR = 0.93, 0.89-0.97) have significant associations with lower risk of EM. Conclusions Findings from this study suggested that greater levels of PF impairment were associated with lower risk of EM among U.S. Chinese older adults in the Greater Chicago Area. Longitudinal studies are needed to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the pathways between PF and EM and its subtypes among Chinese aging populations.
Blockchains and the Future of Distributed Computing

There has been a recent explosion of interest in blockchain-based distributed ledger systems such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many others. Much of this work originated outside the distributed computing community, but the questions raised, such as consensus, replication, fault-tolerance, privacy, and security, and so on, are all issues familiar to our community. This talk surveys the theory and practice of blockchain-based distributed systems from the point of view of classical distributed computing, along with reckless speculation about promising future research directions for our community.
Undergraduate creative inquiry of swarm robotics: Communication methods

This paper describes an undergraduate research project exploring techniques of swarm robotics using Roomba. The objective of this paper is to analyze each individual Roomba and successfully acquire communication between them. The Creative Inquiry undergraduate research group identify the most effective method of communication. The program that gives the best result is initialized in the IDE (Integrated Development Environment) and executed in the microcontroller called, Arduino.
Self-assessment of stroke recovery correlates with neurologic evaluation

99 Recent studies have emphasized the utility of patient self-assessments in measuring stroke recovery. We explored the validity of two such methods by comparing patient self-assessments with standard neurologic evaluations. Patients with an ischemic stroke were asked to rate stroke-affected arm use for 10 motor tasks, from Motor Activity Log (MAL). Next, each was asked to rate difficulty in using the stroke-affected hand for the 5 hand function tasks from the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS). Neurological exam was performed, then scoring on NIH Stroke Scale, arm motor Fugl-Meyer scale, and, for each arm, Purdue Pegboard test. Self-assessments were compared with neurologic evaluations using Spearman rank correlation test. Thirty three patients were studied, with mean age 63 years and mean time post-stroke 80 days. Of these, 13 reported no hand use and 5 reported full return of hand use to pre-stroke levels; correlations were performed with and without these 18 patients. Correlations with these patients were consistently stronger than without. However, self-assessment is of greatest interest in patients with intermediate scores, so correlations are reported only for this group (n=15). MAL correlated significantly (p
Afferent Input: A Critical Factor in the Ontogenesis of Brain Electrical Activity

The existence of critical periods in the ontogenesis of behavior, such as that associated with imprinting (Sluckin 1972), has been well-documented in recent years in morphologic, cytochemical, and electrophysiologic studies of the developing nervous system. Behavioral scientists have suggested that ontogenetic criticality can be understood if growth and behavioral differentiations are based on organizing processes and if organization can be modified only when active processes of organization are in progress (Scott 1962).
Reflections on and Future Directions in Humility and Forgiveness Research

Research on humility and forgiveness has reached an important milestone. Scholars are transitioning from largely studying these character strengths in convenience samples (typically university unde...
Utility of three N-Item scales of the child behavior checklist 6–18 in autism diagnosis

Abstract Background There is a need for well-validated questionnaire measures as an adjuvant to autism diagnosis. Three past research studies have each delineated a subsample of questions (5-, 9-, and 10-items) from the Child Behavior Checklist 6–18 (CBCL-6-18) that differentiate children with autism from those without ( Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001 ; Duarte, Bordin, Oliveira, & Bird, 2003 ; Ooi, Rescorla, Ang, Woo, & Fung, 2011 ; So et al., 2012 ). Despite the potential of these subscales, no research aside from the initial investigations has been published, and the initial studies had methodological limitations. Method This study investigated the criterion validity of the 5-, 9-, and 10-item autism subscales in a well-characterized sample of 483 community-referred children (Xage = 10.11, SDage = 2.99, Autism n = 127; Not-Autism n = 356). Autism diagnosis was made using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 and children were diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria. Results Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses indicated Area Under the Curve in the poor range (0.633–.684 [95%CIs = 0.578–.734], ps Conclusion These n-item subscales are not suitable for identification of autism symptomatology. While the difference between current and past research may be related to sample differences, it is also likely that these differences are the result of methodological improvements. These results underscore the need for use of gold-standard measures, not parent report questionnaires, for autism diagnosis and additional well-designed research into the psychometric properties of autism questionnaires.
Customization of Avatars in a HPV Digital Gaming Intervention for College-Age Males: An Experimental Study:

Background.Digital games are increasingly popular among college age men and present themselves as an ideal platform to deliver HPV interventions. Customizing avatars in role playing games encourage...
Solving Global Cybersecurity Problems by Connecting Trust Using Blockchain

This publication explores global problem areas where properties offered by Blockchain provide workable solutions for the existing widely unsolved problems of Accountability, Traceability, Identification, Visibility vs. Privacy, and Connection of Non-Deterministic to Deterministic timed events. Using BlockChain-based transactions, we demonstrate that operations related to trust are reducible to five directly implementable cryptographic actions, which then create relationships to five categories of trust that we define in this document. The solution outlined will take the approach that the identified global problems will be solved by blockchain as cybersecurity of the future moves in a direction of individualized transactional-based security & privacy. Developers and organizations looking to implement new solutions or integrate blockchain into existing applications would be interested in this publication. Methods described provide workable solutions for implementing trust relationships using blockchain for positive use cases which can be related directly to cyber security industry solutions.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Pediatric Patients Supported With Ventricular Assist Device—A Multi-Institutional Analysis

Objectives:The use of ventricular assist devices for pediatric patients with heart failure is increasing, but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Our objectives were to describe the admission outcomes and resource utilization of pediatric patients supported with ventricular assis
Improving Quality of Chest Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Pediatric Malignancies.

Introduction Atelectasis is a problem in sedated pediatric patients undergoing cross-sectional imaging, impairing the ability to accurately interpret chest computed tomography (CT) imaging for the presence of malignancy, often leading to additional maneuvers and/or repeat imaging with additional radiation exposure. Methods A quality improvement team established a best-practice protocol to improve the quality of thoracic CT imaging in young patients with suspected primary or metastatic pulmonary malignancy. The specific aim was to increase the percentage of chest CT scans obtained for the evaluation of pulmonary nodules with acceptable atelectasis scores (0-1) in patients aged 0-5 years with malignancy, from a baseline of 45% to a goal of 75%. Results A retrospective cohort consisted of 94 patients undergoing chest CT between February 2014 and January 2015 before protocol implementation. The prospective cohort included 195 patients imaged between February 2015 and April 2018. The baseline percentage of CT scans that were scored 0 or 1 on the atelectasis scale was 44.7%, which improved to 75% with protocol implementation. The mean atelectasis score improved from 1.79 (±0.14) to 0.7 (±0.09). Sedation incidence decreased substantially from 73.2% to 26.5% during the study period. Conclusions Using quality improvement methodology including standardization of care, the percentage of children with atelectasis scores of 0-1 undergoing cross-sectional thoracic imaging improved from 45% to 75%. Also, eliminating the need for sedation in these patients has further improved image quality, potentially allowing for optimal detection of smaller nodules, and minimizing morbidity.
Research and Theory Building in Social Work

Grounded theory and deductive qualitative analysis share an intellectual heritage with social work. Common roots include a focus on lived experiences of research participants, who in social work typically are service users and service providers. They also incorporate other qualities associated with social work, such as understanding persons in context, action orientation, and focus on understanding multiple perspectives through immersion in the field. Research findings, therefore, are useful and usable to practitioners.
Arresting/Controlling Saltwater Contamination of Coastal Aquifers

The demand for water in coastal zones increases with expanding urbanization. As populations grow, their needs for potable water, safe water for cooking and personal hygiene grows as does water for food security (e.g., for irrigation agriculture, animal husbandry). Added to this is the desire of many governments to attract manufacturing/industrial development that requires much water but creates employment and sources of taxation. The cheapest source of water is from aquifers because groundwater requires less treatment than would surface waters that may be available. Cities worldwide are growing so that in 2018, 4.1 billion people of the world population of 7.6 billion live in cities and urban agglomerations. One billion live in coastal regions. City populations are projected to increase to 6.9 billion people of the 9.9 billion global population in 2050 [1]. The number of people living in coastal cities is likely to increase as well. There are problems today in meeting the safe water requirements of people, agriculture, and manufacturing/industrial projects that include water from coastal aquifers, so what can be expected in the future?
High-Level Parametric Gait Modeling for Assistive Robotics

Through a myriad of physiological ailments, many people find themselves with gait pathologies which affect their daily lives. Using gait assistance robotics, those affected may regain their balance, strength, and ultimately, their confidence in their own volition. To assist, exoskeleton devices have been in development for some time now. However, an adaptive control algorithm is required to allow for dynamic usage. Direct motor control using bio-signals has been implemented in research and clinical studies with success, however, in bio-signals such as electromyography (EMG), current technologies dissuade implementation of these in direct motor control, primarily due to the high level of variance, nonstationary nature of the signals, and the sensitivity of electrodes to external disturbances such as sweat and friction. For this reason, this study looks to bypass the motor control, and perform high-level gait parameter estimation to allow for an adaptive gait assistance device which would be adaptive to the user and at the same time, robust enough to allow for real life applications, and end-user products.
Continuous-time look-ahead flexible ramp scheduling in real-time operation

Abstract This paper develops a novel continuous-time look-ahead optimization model for co-optimizing balancing energy and flexible ramp products in real-time power systems operation. In addition, a continuous-time day-ahead operation model is developed to commit and schedule an adequate subset of generating units for providing balancing energy and ramping requirements in real-time operation. The up and down flexible ramp products are defined as continuous-time decision trajectories that continuously supply the real-time up and down ramping requirements of the system. The deliverability of flexible ramp products is secured through reserving the respective power requirements in generation capacity constraints of generating units. A function space solution method is proposed to reduce the dimensionality of day-ahead and real-time models through projecting them into finite-dimensional function spaces spanned by Bernstein polynomials, where the real-time operation decisions are modeled with a higher accuracy level than day-ahead decisions. Simulations are conducted on the IEEE-RTS system using CAISO load data, and the numerical results showcase the effectiveness of the proposed model in supplying the energy and flexible ramp requirements and avoiding ramping scarcity in the system, while reducing the operation costs.
THE DIAGNOSTICS AND CORRECTION OF THE MENTAL STATES OF THE SERVICEMAN, WHO ARE EXPERIENCING PHANTOM PAINS

The article investigates the peculiarities of the mental states of military servicemen, participants of hostilities who are experiencing phantom pain. The consequences of being a soldier in combat conditions were described. The problems faced by the soldiers upon their return from the military zone were identified.Two groups of subjects were formed. The first group included patients who were injured during an anti-terrorist operation, but did not have any limb amputations. The second group comprised those patients, who were injured and experienced traumatic limb amputations. It was found out that the mental state of a serviceman who has experienced a traumatic limb amputation coincides with a state of acute grief. The fact of amputation is perceived as a grievous personal tragedy that has enormous destructive influence. Amputation leads to the collapse of all life prospects and plans of the serviceman, that is manifested in the reassessment of one's "I", a significant reduction in the level of harassment, the need to find a social niche and often in the loss of the life meaning.The characteristic features of the condition of the injured in both groups are high rates of reactive anxiety. Typical mechanisms of psychological protection aimed at eliminating anxiety were defined. The main options of psychological protection of the injured servicemen are aggression, rationalization, regression in the infantile phase with the inherent impunitive response.Key areas of psychotherapy, concerning the work with military personnel were outlined, examples of the methods of mirror therapy, used to overcome phantom pain, were given. The effectiveness of mirror therapy for an amputee soldier was proved through the visual feedback.
Crystal structure of 2,3-dimeth-oxy-meso-tetra-kis(penta-fluoro-phen-yl)morpholino-chlorin methyl-ene chloride 0.44-solvate.

The title morpholino­chlorin, C46H16F20N4O3, was crystallized from hexa­ne/methyl­ene chloride as its 0.44 methyl­ene chloride solvate, C46H16F20N4O3·0.44CH2Cl2. The morpholino­chlorin was synthesized by stepwise oxygen insertion into a porphyrin using a `breaking and mending strategy': NaIO4-induced diol cleavage of the corresponding 2,3-di­hydroxy­chlorin with in situ methanol-induced, acid-catalyzed intra­molecular ring closure of the inter­mediate secochlorins bis­aldehyde. Formally, one of the pyrrolic building blocks was thus replaced by a 2,3-di­meth­oxy­morpholine moiety. Like other morpholino­chlorins, the macrocycle of the title compound adopts a ruffled conformation, and the modulation of the porphyrinic π-system chromophore induces a red-shift of its optical spectrum compared to its corresponding chlorin analog. Packing in the crystal is governed by inter­actions involving the fluorine atoms of the penta­fluoro­phenyl substituents, dominated by C—H⋯F inter­actions, and augmented by short fluorine⋯fluorine contacts, C—F⋯π inter­actions, and one severely slipped π-stacking inter­action between two penta­fluoro­phenyl rings. The solvate methyl­ene chloride mol­ecule is disordered over two independent positions around an inversion center with occupancies of two × 0.241 (5) and two × 0.199 (4), for a total site occupancy of 88%.
Shape Changes in the N=28 Island of Inversion: Collective Structures Built on Configuration-Coexisting States in ^{43}S.

The neutron-rich nuclei in the $N=28$ island of inversion have attracted considerable experimental and theoretical attention, providing great insight into the evolution of shell structure and nuclear shape in exotic nuclei. In this work, for the first time, quadrupole collectivity is assessed simultaneously on top of the $3/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ground state and the $7/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ shape-coexisting isomer of $^{43}\mathrm{S}$, putting the unique interpretation of shape and configuration coexistence at $N=27$ and 28 in the sulfur isotopic chain to the test. From an analysis of the electromagnetic transition strengths and quadrupole moments predicted within the shell model, it is shown that the onset of shape coexistence and the emergence of a simple collective structure appear suddenly in $^{43}\mathrm{S}$ with no indication of such patterns in the $N=27$ isotone $^{45}\mathrm{Ar}$.
21.1% Efficient Space Perovskite/Si Four-Terminal Tandem Solar Cells

We report a space tandem solar cell enabling an enhanced power conversion efficiency with radiation tolerance in low radiation environments for space photovoltaic (PV) applications. The presented space perovskite/Si 4-terminal tandem cell features an efficient semitransparent perovskite top cell with the bandgap of 1.61 eV on a thin Si space solar cell specifically designed for high radiation tolerance in space. Under a simulated air mass zero (AM0) spectrum (136.6 mW/cm2), the space tandem solar cell by combining the perovskite solar cell with a thin Si space solar cell results in a power conversion efficiency of 21.1% surpasses a limited efficiency of ~17% in a single junction Si space solar cell. Considering the potential for developing more efficient, low-cost perovskite PV technology, our approach of using the thin Si space solar for the space tandem cells makes it possible to realize cost-effective PV power generation in space.
Deep Reinforcement Learning based Dynamic Edge/Fog Network Slicing

To accommodate increasingly diverse traffic demands in future 6G wireless networks, intelligent and dynamic network slicing schemes are needed to exploit available edge/fog resources (i.e., radio, computing, storage resources). In this paper, we present a new dynamic edge/fog network slicing scheme (EFNS) in which tenants can temporarily lease back to the Infrastructure Provider (InP) unused resources to serve demands exceeding its current resources in stock. To efficiently use the resources, tenants can also lease their subscribers’ terminals when idle to act as fog nodes augmenting the infrastructure and service capability of the InP. Our goal is to find an optimal slice request admission policy, which includes slices with augmented resources, to maximize the long-term revenue of the InP. A semi-Markov decision process is used to model the arrival of slice requests by taking into account the dynamics of users’ demands and availability of resources. To find the optimal policy under uncertain resource demands, a Q-learning (Q-EFNS) algorithm is developed. Additionally, to improve the convergence time and reduce the computational complexity of Q-learning in large-scale scenarios, a Deep reinforcement learning (DQ-EFNS) algorithm and an enhancement based on a Deep Dueling (Dueling DQ-EFNS) algorithm are presented. Finally, simulation results show improvements in the range between 20% to 60% by our algorithms compared to conventional fixed network slicing when only 8% of the subscribers act as fog nodes. Besides, by using Dueling DQ-EFNS, the optimal slice request admission policy is obtained in just a few iterations.
Nilotinib Safety and Clinical Effects on 'ON' Disability in Parkinson's Disease Patients

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) involves motor and non-motor symptoms and loss of brain dopamine neurons. Nilotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that may alter brain dopamine metabolism. Methods: A phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial to evaluate Nilotinib effects on safety, tolerability and clinical outcomes in PD. Seventy-five participants were randomized 1:1:1 into placebo, 150mg or 300mg Nilotinib once daily for 12 months. This study evaluated Nilotinib effects on top of the optimal standard of care in mid-stage PD (H&Y 2.5-3) at 6 and 12 months. Findings: Participants well tolerated Nilotinib and rare hematological, hepatic and other systems disorders were observed. Cardiovascular events were seen in all groups. Prior to randomization all participants were stabilized on either Levodopa and/or dopamine agonists and were tested ON time. As expected, all 3 groups were stable at 6 months, indicating the effects of PD medications. However, the placebo group declined on UPDRS II (2.39 points, p=0.007), total UPDRS I-III (4.78 points, p=0.031) and UPDRS I-IV (4.47 points, p=0.038) at 6-12 months but Nilotinib groups remained stable. Similarly, all groups were stable on PDQ39 SI and the emotional well-being subscale at 6 months but the placebo group declined (8.17 points, p=0.001 and 1.7 points, p=0.003, respectively) at 6-12 months, while Nilotinib groups remained stable. Interpretation: Nilotinib is well tolerated and appears to be safe in PD patients. Nilotinib appears to stop the decline in motor and non-motor functions up to 12 months, while the effects of optimized PD medications significantly wear off six months after treatment. Nilotinib may have a significant impact on the care and management of PD patients, leading to delay or elimination of dose adjustment of PD-medications, thus avoiding their side effects. Trial Registration: The study was conducted under FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) # 123183, and registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02954978). Funding Statement: Lasky and Barajas Family Fund and other philanthropies. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation provided the study drug. Declaration of Interests: Charbel Moussa is an inventor on several US and International Georgetown University patents to use Nilotinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. No other authors declare any conflict of interests with this study. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice guidelines and was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB# 2016-0380) at Georgetown University Medical Center as well as by Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science (GHUCCTS) scientific review board. Informed consent was obtained from all participants and study partners
A systems map of the economic considerations for vaccination: Application to hard-to-reach populations

Abstract Background Understanding the economics of vaccination is essential to developing immunization strategies that can be employed successfully with limited resources, especially when vaccinating populations that are hard-to-reach. Methods Based on the input from interviews with 24 global experts on immunization economics, we developed a systems map of the mechanisms (i.e., necessary steps or components) involved in vaccination, and associated costs and benefits, focused at the service delivery level. We used this to identify the mechanisms that may be different for hard-to-reach populations. Results The systems map shows different mechanisms that determine whether a person may or may not get vaccinated and the potential health and economic impacts of doing so. The map is divided into two parts: 1) the costs of vaccination, representing each of the mechanisms involved in getting vaccinated (n = 23 vaccination mechanisms), their associated direct vaccination costs (n = 18 vaccination costs), and opportunity costs (n = 5 opportunity costs), 2) the impact of vaccination, representing mechanisms after vaccine delivery (n = 13 impact mechanisms), their associated health effects (n = 10 health effects for beneficiary and others), and economic benefits (n = 13 immediate and secondary economic benefits and costs). Mechanisms that, when interrupted or delayed, can result in populations becoming hard-to-reach include getting vaccines and key stakeholders (e.g., beneficiaries/caregivers, vaccinators) to a vaccination site, as well as vaccine administration at the site. Conclusion Decision-makers can use this systems map to understand where steps in the vaccination process may be interrupted or weak and identify where gaps exist in the understanding of the economics of vaccination. With improved understanding of system-wide effects, this map can help decision-makers inform targeted interventions and policies to increase vaccination coverage in hard-to-reach populations.
Maternal Mortality Litigation Review

Obstetrics and gynecology is considered one of the most litigious medical specialties; medical negligence and malpractice lawsuits are frequently filed to seek damages for improper medical care dur...
Beyond community and society: The externalities of social capital building

The concept of social capital is both a very new and a very old one. Even the earliest human societies, in their efforts to manage and control a hostile physical environment, produced assets that gave their strivings a larger, cumulative effect, one of the earmarks of social capital formation. Pre-scientific societies, anthropologists tell us, engaged in a process of ordering and classifying their experience that if not scientific in our modern sense of the term was not entirely mythological either. What Claude L evi-Strauss has called the science of the concrete — ‘the organization and exploitation of the sensible world in sensible terms’ — is a quintessentially human activity, as relevant to our ancient ancestors as it is to us today (Levi-Strauss, 1973: p. 16). Pre-modern forms of social capital tended to be nested in structures, not individuals; they were context dependent, time-bound, and almost exclusively group-based (Redfield, 1953).
Digital Image Creation and Analysis as a Means to Examine Learning and Cognition

This paper presents research on the development of digital collages and investigations into the cognitive efforts of graphic designers. The research venue was an upper level undergraduate course in computer graphics. Work in the course focused on the use of digital imaging software (Adobe Photoshop) and the creation, manipulation, use and understanding of images. Graphic design students manipulated images m address a series of complex topics. This study began with a hypothesis: computers may extend our cognitive abilities, inspired at least in part by the work of McLuhan.
Melting, dehydration, and the dynamics of off‐axis plume‐ridge interaction

[1] We present results from a series of two-dimensional numerical experiments in which a thermally buoyant, off-axis mantle plume interacts with a nearby ridge axis. These experiments incorporate melting and a number of related dynamical feedbacks, including energy loss to latent heating and Fe depletion buoyancy as well as viscosity increases due to dehydration during melting. Results indicate that dehydration, which acts to increase the viscosity of the residual mantle during melting, profoundly impacts the morphology of flow between plume and ridge axis. As upwelling plume material begins to melt, it becomes significantly more viscous and readily accretes to the overlying lithosphere. This creates a viscous plug that grows downward from the base of the lithosphere directly above the plume conduit. Plume material traveling to the ridge axis is then deflected horizontally at subsolidus depths by this plug, allowing pristine, unmelted plume material to reach the ridge axis. Experiments without dehydration show that the loss of thermal energy to latent heating during melting marginally decreases the flow of plume material along the base of the lithosphere to the ridge axis. Alternatively, extraction of Fe from the solid during melting slightly increases plume flow to the ridge. These results also demonstrate that the flow of plume material to the ridge axis is sensitive to the slope of the base of the rheological lithosphere, consistent with previous studies of off-axis plume ridge interaction.
Incorporating PDC Modules Into Computer Science Courses at Jackson State University

The Computer Science Department at Jackson State University (JSU) is updating its curriculum according to the new ABET guidelines. As part of this effort, the computer science faculty members have integrated modules of the NSF/IEEE-TCPP Curriculum Initiative on PDC (Parallel and Distributed Computing) into department-wide core and elective courses offered on fall 2014. These courses are: csc 119 Object Oriented Programming (core), csc 216 Computer Architecture and Organization (core), csc 312 Advanced Computer Architecture (elective), csc 325 Operating Systems (core), csc 350 Organization of Programming Languages (core) and csc 425 Parallel Computing (elective). The inclusion of the PDC modules was gradual and light weighted in the low level courses and more aggressive in the high level courses. Csc 119 Object Oriented Programming provided students with an early introduction to Java Threads: how to create and use. In csc 216 Computer Architecture and Organization students learned about GPUs and were asked to write simple problems using CUDA. Csc 312 Advanced Computer Architecture covered Instruction level and Processor level Parallelism. For csc 325 Operating Systems, mutual exclusion problems and Parallel Computing and Algorithms were introduced. In csc 350 Organization of Programming Languages, students learned about the implementation of threads in Java. Csc 425 Parallel Computing is an advanced study of parallel computing hardware and software issues. Assessment results showed that student perception of PDC concepts was satisfactory with some weakness in writing parallel code. However, students were very excited and motivated to learn about PDC. We were also able to share our experience with the Computer Engineering Department at JSU. New PDC modules will be integrated into some of their courses next fall and spring semesters. Our findings were made available on the Center for Parallel and Distributed Computing Curriculum Development and Educational Resources (CDER) website. In this paper, we will describe our experience of incorporating PDC modules into the aforementioned computer science courses at JSU.