cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental and numerical study of anisotropic thermal conductivity of magnetically aligned PDMS/Ni particle composites

Abstract In this research, Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/nickel (Ni) composites with embedded Ni spherical particle columns were studied for thermal conductivity enhancement. The volume fraction of Ni particles ranged from 2% to 20% while the strength of the applied magnetic field was fixed at 0.45 Tesla. The distribution and morphology of the column structures were quantitatively analyzed using optical microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and digital image processing. A reusable 3ω measurement technique was applied to measure the effective thermal conductivity of PDMS/Ni composites in the parallel direction to the magnetic field. The measured thermal conductivity was compared with the prediction from a finite element model built on the observed microscopic structures. Under a static magnetic field, Ni particles align parallel to the field forming columns. The results illustrated that the diameter of Ni columns increased with increasing particle volume fraction while the center to center spacing between columns did not change substantially under the fixed magnetic strength. The magnetically aligned particle columns significantly enhanced the thermal conductivity of PDMS compared to the randomly distributed particles by about two fold. However, the point contacts between magnetically aligned spherical fillers are the major limiting factor for the further improvement of thermal conductivity.
Unheard voices: a critical discourse analysis of the Millennium Development Goals’ evolution into the Sustainable Development Goals

AbstractThe United Nations’ 2001 Millennium Development Goals and 2015 Sustainable Development Goals are of major importance for worldwide development. This article explores the construction of poverty and development within and across these documents, specifically focusing on the influence of dominant economic discourses – Keynesianism and neoliberalism – in the development paradigm. It assesses the failures of the Millennium Development Goals, as articulated by oppositional liberal feminists and World Social Forum critics, who embody competing values, representations and problem-solution frames that challenge and resist the dominant economic discourses. Finally, it evaluates responsiveness of the UN in the constitution of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Aesthetic Objection to Terraforming Mars

An obligation to preserve the beauty of Martian landscapes is often cited in opposition to terraforming Mars. Nevertheless, many popular images of these landscapes are artificially embellished with features of Earth’s natural beauty that cannot presently be found on Mars. The popularity of these “terraformed images” suggests that the scenic beauty of Mars is commonly—if not consciously—valued more highly in proportion to its resemblance to the more familiar beauty of Earth. On balance, do aesthetic considerations therefore support terraforming Mars, making it more Earth-like? One argument to the contrary is that Mars may offer distinctively Martian forms of beauty arising from atmospheric and geological (and perhaps biological) patterns and processes unparalleled on Earth. Such unearthly aesthetic qualities may be underappreciated and under-represented in popular imagery at present, but will be brought more fully into public consciousness by the future exploration of Mars. In this chapter, I argue that recognition of this beauty would provide at least a defeasible reason for caution about terraforming.
Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALEN)-Mediated Targeted DNA Insertion in Potato Plants

Targeted DNA integration into known locations in the genome has potential advantages over the random insertional events typically achieved using conventional means of genetic modification. Specifically integrated transgenes are guaranteed to co-segregate, and expression level is more predictable, which makes downstream characterization and line selection more manageable. Because the site of DNA integration is known, the steps to deregulation of transgenic crops may be simplified. Here we describe a method that combines TALEN-mediated induction of double strand breaks (DSBs) and non-autonomous marker selection to insert a transgene into a pre-selected, transcriptionally active region in the potato genome. In our experiment, TALEN was designed to create a DSB in the genome sequence following an endogenous constitutive promoter. A cytokinin vector was utilized for TALENs expression and prevention of stable integration of the nucleases. The donor vector contained a gene of interest cassette and a promoter-less plant-derived herbicide resistant gene positioned near the T-DNA left border which was used to select desired transgenic events. Our results indicated that TALEN induced T-DNA integration occurred with high frequency and resulting events have consistent expression of the gene of interest. Interestingly, it was found that, in most lines integration took place through one sided homology directed repair despite the minimal homologous sequence at the right border. An efficient transient assay for TALEN activity verification is also described.
Composition, structure, and intra-stand spatial patterns along a disturbance severity gradient in a Quercus stand

Abstract Natural forest disturbances, which drive succession and development, differ in extent, severity, and return interval and range from frequent, gap-scale disturbances, to infrequent stand-replacing events. Most studies have focused on natural disturbances near the ends of the disturbance severity gradient and relatively little quantitative information is available on intermediate-severity disturbance. On 20 April 2011, an EF1 tornado tracked 5 km through the Sipsey Wilderness in Alabama and resulted in a patchwork mosaic of disturbed areas. To analyze the effects of the intermediate-severity wind event on composition, structure, and intra-stand spatial patterns, we established a 100 × 200 m (2 ha) rectangular plot perpendicular to the path of the storm within an affected Quercus alba stand. Based on the basal area removed (i.e. basal area of snags, snapped stems, or uprooted stems in decay class 1) by the wind event, we divided the plot into disturbance classes (minimal, light, and moderate) to compare compositional and structural attributes along a disturbance severity gradient. Composition varied little across the disturbance gradient, but diversity was highest in the moderately disturbed neighborhoods. Stems were relatively intermingled by species (i.e. each tree neighbored by trees of different species) in each disturbance severity class. However, some species, such as Fagus grandifolia and Ostrya virginiana exhibited less intermingling than Quercus spp. and stems classed in the “other spp.” taxonomic group. Large stems were disproportionately removed by the storm in the light and moderate disturbance categories. In the light disturbance class, O. virginiana was significantly less likely to experience mortality from the storm, which may in part explain the relatively high density of O. virginiana stems in the plot.
Repeat fertility and contraceptive implant use among Medicaid recipients in Colorado.

The hormonal contraceptive implant was approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration in December 1990 after which Colorados Medicaid program approved the implant as a program method in November 1991. This paper reports findings on repeat delivery rates and implant use in a population of Medicaid-eligible women in Colorado. Two cohorts of women who had their first Medicaid-eligible birth in 1991 and 1992 were studied. The rate of repeat delivery within 24 months of the preceding birth fell from 14.1% among 11554 women who first delivered in 1991 to 10.6% among 13624 women who first delivered in 1992. This 25% decline in the rate of repeat births between the two cohorts was statistically significant. Among Medicaid-eligible mothers who first gave birth as teenagers the rates were 22.3% in the 1991 cohort and 15.9% in the 1992 cohort. Among the 2739 Medicaid-eligible women who delivered in 1992 and chose to use the implant within 6 months of delivery the repeat delivery rate was only 2.5% within 24 months. The repeat delivery rate among implant users in the 1992 cohort who first gave birth as teenagers was 2.3%.
Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography Is a Monitoring Tool for Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (P4.115)

Objective: We sought to determine the diagnostic yield of TCD in Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). Background: RCVS is vascular headache disorder characterized by severe headaches with vasospasm of cerebral arteries. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) has been widely applied and validated in studying vasospasm of intracranial vessels, but the role of TCD in the diagnosis of RCVS is not well established. Methods: Patients admitted to an inpatient neurology service between 2011 and 2014 with a discharge diagnosis of RCVS were retrospectively analyzed for demographics, neuroimaging, and functional outcomes. Results: Fifteen patients (93[percnt] females; mean age 46.7 +/- 12.4 years) had initial TCD evaluation 10.9 +/- 6.6 (range, 1-24) days after headache onset. Eleven patients (73.3[percnt]) had increased flow velocities on initial TCD. RCVS patients with positive TCD had higher initial Vmca than those with negative TCD, 148.33 cm/s (CI 109.37-187.29) versus 76.25 cm/s (CI 54.79-97.7). Flow velocity in the MCA territory (Vmca) reached peak flow velocity of 163 cm/s, three to four weeks after the onset of thunderclap headache. Conclusions: TCD is a non-invasive neuroimaging modality that may be employed in emergency, inpatient, and outpatient longitudinal settings to evaluate patients with suspected RCVS. Disclosure: Dr. Levin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Benavides has nothing to disclose. Dr. Caddick has nothing to disclose. Dr. Laurie has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wilterdink has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yaghi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Silver has received personal compensation for activities with Women9s Health Initiative, SOCRATES trial, Medscape, Medlink, and Ebix. Dr. Khan has nothing to disclose.
Torque ripple minimization under unbalanced phase resistance in a five-phase permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motor

This paper presents an analysis of the torque ripple minimization under unbalanced phase resistance (UPR) in a five-phase permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motor (PMa-SynRM). There are many reasons for arising UPR conditions in a motor. One of the key reasons can be the shortening winding turns of the motor which significantly reduces the winding insulations. Therefore, over the times, the torque ripple increase gradually. Excessive torque ripple leads to early degradation of the drive train components with an increased acoustic noise that reduces the performances of a PMa-SynRM. Especially, under UPR conditions, the torque ripple becomes prominent which require smart and easy mitigation approach to retain the advantages of a PMa-SynRM. This paper investigates three different UPR conditions that commonly arise a five-phase PMa-SynRM. A simple phase voltage compensation technique has been utilized to improve the torque ripple under different UPR conditions. Extensive theoretical analysis has been carried out through finite element analysis (FEA) to verify the proposed idea. The effectiveness of the method has been evaluated by the experimental tests that are conducted by utilizing 3.7 kW dynamo system.
Multiscale Computational Modeling of the Nanostructure of Solid Dispersions of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate Succinate (HPMCAS) and Phenytoin.

We recently developed coarse-grained (CG) force fields for hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) polymers and the model drug molecule phenytoin, and a continuum transport model to study the polymer–drug nanostructures presented during a dissolution test after solvation of solid dispersion particles. We model the polymer–drug interactions that contribute to suppression of drug aggregation, release, and crystal growth during the dissolution process, and we take these as indicators of polymer effectiveness. We find that the size and the intermolecular interaction strength of the functional group and the drug loading concentration are the major factors that impact the effectiveness of the polymeric excipient. The hydroxypropyl acetyl group is the most effective functional group, followed by the acetyl group, while the deprotonated succinyl group is the least effective functional group, except that the deprotonated succinyl group at the 6-position is very effective in slowing down the phenyt...
Using Systems Engineering to Create a Survivable Communications System that will Operate in the Presence of “Black Sky” Hazards

Many studies have shown (and incidents like super-storm Sandy have demonstrated) that existing U.S. electronic communications systems (e.g., land-line phones, cell phones, the Internet, etc.) would not be available in the event of a large-scale, long-term power outage, whether that outage were to be triggered by terrorism, by war, or even by certain types of natural events.
Computer Aided Formulation of Equations of Motion

As part of the process of designing a control system for a mechanical device, one frequently must formulate the equations of motion of the device, which is a task that can be very laborious, especially if the device under consideration has a relatively large number of moving parts. This paper deals with a computer program intended to enable an analyst to formulate equations of motion with minimal labor. The name of the program is AUTOLEV.
AN ALTERNATIVE POST-ANTERIOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION MECHANICAL COMPLICATION

Ventricular Septal defect (VSD) and pseudoaneursym (PsA) post myocardial infarction (MI) require prompt intervention. A 63-year-old hypertensive, hyperlipidemic, female smoker presented with anterior ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and proximal LAD occlusion treated with a drug-eluting stent. Following
Evidence for involvement of the Fas BCAX regulon in capsule synthesis by Streptococcus equi.

The constitutively expressed hyaluronic acid capsule is an important virulence factor of Streptococcus equi, the cause of equine strangles. Study of the genomic sequence of CF22caps-, a non-encapsulated mutant of S. equi CF22 generated by gamma (Co60) irradiation revealed a non-sense mutation in fasC (SEQ_0302), a sensor kinase gene in FasBCAX an operon with an important regulatory role in expression of streptococcal secreted virulence and matrix binding proteins. The mutation was associated with a significant (p < .05) decrease in transcription of hasA, the synthase gene essential for hyaluronic acid synthesis and, conversely, with small increases in transcription of skc, covR and seM. The early growth phase of CF22caps- was also delayed compared to the CF22caps+ parent. In contrast to the human pathogen, S. pyogenes, capsule synthesis in S. equi therefore appears to be controlled by FasBCAX and not by CovRS.
Radial Head Fractures

Radial head fractures are common injuries of the elbow and make up roughly 33% of all elbow fractures. These fractures typically occur when an axial load is applied to the forearm, causing the radial head to impact the capitellum of the humerus. The severity of these injuries ranges from minimally displaced fractures needing minimal treatment to those with major displacement or comminution, requiring surgical fixation, excision, or replacement.
Thromboxane A 2 Receptors: Characterization and Regulation

Competition radioligand binding studies were performed with 125I-BOP, a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) mimetic, in washed platelets and cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC) to determine if subtypes of TXA2 receptors exist in these two cell types. The rank order potency of a series of 13-azapinane TXA2 analogues to compete with 125I-BOP for binding in washed platelets and RASMC was significantly different. The regulation of the TXA2 receptor in cultured RASMC by sex steroids was also investigated. Testosterone but not estradiol 17-β significantly increased the number of TXA2 receptors inRASMC. The results support the notion that subtypes of TXA2 receptors exist in platelets and RASMC and that the expression of the receptors is influenced by testosterone.
Studies on tobacco leaf ribonuclease: II. Mechanism of action☆

Abstract The mode of action of tobacco leaf ribonuclease on ribonucleic acid has been studied. Unlike the pancreatic ribonuclease this enzyme cleaves all the diester bonds and gives rise to purine and pyrimidine cyclic nucleotides. While the pyrimidine cyclic nucleotides are inert to further action of this enzyme, the purine cyclic nucleotides are slowly hydrolysed to nucleoside 3′-phosphates exclusively. Even though the enzyme disrupts all the internucleotide linkages in the ribonucleic acid it appears to have much more preference in the initial stages of digestion for guanosine 3′-phosphate linkages and much less preference for cytidine 3′-phosphate linkages.
A Multiyear Analysis of Global Precipitation Combining CloudSat and GPM Precipitation Retrievals

AbstractSatellite-based instruments are essential to the observation of precipitation at a global scale, especially over remote regions. Each instrument has its own strengths and limitations in acc...
Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Rural Northwest Cameroon.

ObjectiveOral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the precursor for a growing subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) in the developed world. This study was designed to charac...
An Evidence Theory Based Multi Sensor Data Fusion for Multiclass Classification.

Multi-sensor data fusion is widely used in various application domains. Integration of multiple sensors is a complex problem. This is because it is often characterized by uncertainty due to randomness and non-specificity. The Dempster Shafer (DS) theory of evidence has often been used for modelling and reasoning under uncertainty. However, the DS rule of combination is often prone to counter-intuitive results when combining pieces of evidence that are highly conflicting. As a result, several alternative combination rules have emerged. One approach is to assign weight to each basic probability assignment (BPA) prior to the use of the DS rule of combination. Most existing methods of assigning weight only focus on the credibility of each BPA without considering the reliability of the source of the BPA. In this work, we propose a multi-sensor data fusion that takes into consideration both the reliability of each BPA source and the credibility degree. A benchmark dataset was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. To further assess the robustness of the proposed method in handling uncertainty, different noise levels were introduced to the training set.
Cost-effectiveness of Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Models for People Who Inject Drugs in Opioid Agonist Treatment Programs.

BACKGROUND Many people who inject drugs in the United States have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). On-site treatment in opiate agonist treatment (OAT) programs addresses HCV treatment barriers, but few evidence-based models exist. METHODS We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of HCV treatment models for OAT patients using data from a randomized trial conducted in Bronx, New York. We used a decision analytic model to compare self-administered individual treatment (SIT), group treatment (GT), directly observed therapy (DOT), and no intervention for a simulated cohort with the same demographic characteristics of trial participants. We projected long-term outcomes using an established model of HCV disease progression and treatment (hepatitis C cost-effectiveness model: HEP-CE). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) are reported in 2016 US$/quality-adjusted life years (QALY), discounted 3% annually, from the healthcare sector and societal perspectives. RESULTS For those assigned to SIT, we projected 89% would ever achieve a sustained viral response (SVR), with 7.21 QALYs and a $245 500 lifetime cost, compared to 22% achieving SVR, with 5.49 QALYs and a $161 300 lifetime cost, with no intervention. GT was more efficient than SIT, resulting in 0.33 additional QALYs and a $14 100 lower lifetime cost per person, with an ICER of $34 300/QALY, compared to no intervention. DOT was slightly more effective and costly than GT, with an ICER > $100 000/QALY, compared to GT. In probabilistic sensitivity analyses, GT and DOT were preferred in 91% of simulations at a threshold of <$100 000/QALY; conclusions were similar from the societal perspective. CONCLUSIONS All models were associated with high rates of achieving SVR, compared to standard care. GT and DOT treatment models should be considered as cost-effective alternatives to SIT.
Argumentum Ad Hominem in the Science of Race

In the past five decades, scholars have suggested that there are fallacious and proper uses of ad hominem arguments. Douglas Walton's pragmatic theory of argumentation incorporates a significant tr...
Fake news is counterfeit news

Fake news poses a serious threat to knowledge and democracy. In order to address this threat, it is important to understand exactly what fake news is. After surveying the various definitions that h...
The Associations Between Breastfeeding Duration and Body Dissatisfaction, Ethnicity, and Obesity Among Mexican Women, a Cross-Sectional Study, ENSANUT 2012.

Introduction: Body image dissatisfaction (BID) has been inversely associated with breastfeeding initiation particularly among women with obesity. However, less is known on BID and the association w...
Pediatric Bartonella Infection (Cat Scratch Disease) Presenting as Inguinal Lymphadenopathy

Cat scratch disease is an infectious disease resulting from inoculation of Bartonella species through a cat scratch or bite, often presenting as an erythematous papule at the site of inoculation with nearby painful lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis of this disease is complicated by a wide variety of clinical presentations, as the primary lesion may not be initially noticed. Furthermore, cervical and axillary lymph nodes are the most commonly involved regions of tender lymphadenopathy, but there have been reported cases that do not fit the typical clinical picture – such the case discussed in this report of a pediatric Bartonella henselae infection that initially presented as left inguinal lymphadenopathy with underlying necrosis and abscess formation. In this case, a 9-year-old boy presented to the ED with a 4-day history of increasing mass in the left groin, as well as a subjective fever for the previous 2 days. An ultrasound revealed a necrotic abscess in the left inguinal lymph node which necessitated empiric antibiotic therapy and surgical excision; titers revealed a recent infection with Bartonella henselae. Atypical presentations of cat scratch disease, such as inguinal lymphadenopathy, have historically confounded the diagnosis. However, positive serology studies ultimately yielded the correct diagnoses in these children. Given that cat scratch disease can present in an atypical fashion in approximately 5 - 25% of cases, physicians should keep the disease on the differential even when presented with rare presentations such as inguinal lymphadenopathy; serological testing for B. henselae can be utilized once more likely etiologies have been ruled out.
How do You Plead, and Why? How Attorney Experience and Defendant Background Affect Plea Bargaining

Various studies have been conducted to determine how defendants respond to plea offers and how actual innocence colors their decision. This essay describes the results of a first-of-its-kind study designed to analyze how legal counsel’s level of experience affects willingness to accept a plea offer. Furthermore, the variables of participant race, gender, and political affiliation—which are largely ignored in plea bargain research—are analyzed to provide a more robust understanding of defendants’ decision making. Potential explanations for demographic disparities in plea bargain responses, such as level of trust in the legal system, are also evaluated.
Finance Theory Meets Tax Law: How a Risk-Based Rule Can Rationalize the Debt Versus Equity Distinction

The debt-equity distinction in the corporate tax presents one of the most controversial and intractable puzzles in the tax law. The distinction is fundamental to the corporate tax as interest payments on debt are generally deductible by corporations, while dividend payouts on equity are not. But the consensus among tax experts is that the legal distinction between debt and equity lacks a basis in economics or a policy rationale: the distinction requires the IRS and judges to arbitrarily draw a dividing line among financial instruments that exist on a continuous spectrum of economic profiles. The result is that the law on the debt-equity distinction is infamous for its indeterminacy, which carries substantial costs for both taxpayers and the government. The tax reform in 2017 enacted a business interest deduction limitation which could have mitigated the distinction, but critics quickly observed a loophole in the provision that would likely render the limitation ineffective. A first-best solution to the debt-equity conundrum would require a fundamental change in the corporate tax; the best approaches would introduce an entirely new form of business taxation, one that removes the debt-equity distinction. But these reforms are costly and controversial, and unlikely to be adopted soon. Instead, I offer a novel, second-best solution to improve the administrability and certainty of the debt-equity distinction. Drawing on modern finance literature, I propose to use beta, a measure of systematic risk, to craft a general rule that would solve the line-drawing problem for an important subset of corporate financing transactions. Systematic risk is the type of risk that pervades the entire market rather than a particular stock or company, and finance theory posits that systematic risk drives investor behavior in the financial marketplace. Therefore, classifying a transaction as debt or equity based on its systematic risk minimizes inefficient behavioral distortions. Moreover, crafting an objective rule in lieu of a nebulous multi-factor standard reduces administrative costs associated with debt-equity planning and litigation. The innovative approach would estimate betas of a firm’s prototypical debt and equity, and classify a hybrid instrument according to the proximity of the instrument’s beta to the firm’s debt or equity benchmark. This paper demonstrates real world applications of the proposed beta rule using empirical data on two recent kinds of hybrid instruments.
Volumetric Markers of Body Composition May Improve Personalized Prediction of Major Arterial Bleeding After Pelvic Fracture: A Secondary Analysis of the Baltimore CT Prediction Model Cohort.

The Baltimore computed tomography (CT) prediction model for bleeding pelvic fractures is a multivariable decision tool that predicts angiopositivity from pelvic hematoma volume, active arterial ble...
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions beyond 2030: Time to shift U.S. power-sector focus

Abstract Despite the impending withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and the replacement of Obama's Clean Power Plan (CPP) with Trump's Affordable Clean Energy rule, the carbon-dioxide (CO2) emission-reduction targets set as the contribution of the U.S. power sector to meet the Agreement goal appear likely to be met. Using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) reports, we evaluate the impact of projected natural gas prices on these emissions. We find that while lower natural gas prices have historically resulted in lower CO2 emissions, the projections from the 2017 and 2019 AEOs differ dramatically in both the projected gas price and the associated impact on CO2 reduction. This change in the marginal emission-reduction rate relative to the natural gas price coincides with decreasing capital costs for solar and wind generation sources. As such, the contribution of the power sector to the Paris Agreement targets for 2020 and 2025, and the CPP 2030 target may be meet as early as 2020. With fulfillment of the shorter-term reduction targets now at hand without additional U.S. legislative or regulatory action, policy analysis should turn toward the strategies required to meet the longer-term, deeper-reduction targets.
Fear and Poverty

This chapter examines historical, sociological, and philosophical perspectives on poverty; poverty as a determinant of health; the structural nature of poverty; and its intersection with fear and trauma.
Strippable Coatings for Removal of Surface Contaminants

Publisher Summary Strippable coatings have been used for more than 50 years for various applications for protection of surfaces from external contaminants. For these applications, the coatings have to be non-penetrable and resistant to water and other external contaminants A wide variety of solvent- and water-based strippable coatings are available for precision cleaning of surfaces and for protecting surfaces that have been cleaned. This is a low-cost, effective method for precision cleaning of surfaces, in which the coating is applied to the surface by spraying, rolling, or brushing. The coating is allowed to cure and then removed by peeling. The coating formulations are designed to entrain the contaminants by physical or chemical means. When the coating is peeled, the contaminants are carried with the coating. The types of surfaces cleaned include coated and uncoated optical lenses and mirrors, silicon wafers, metals, plastics, and concrete. The contaminants that have been successfully removed include dust, hydrocarbon films, radioactive materials, beryllium, and other hazardous materials.
Cavitation and effective liquid tension of nitrogen in a hydrodynamic cryogenic tunnel.

Cavitation may be described as the local vaporization of a liquid brought about by-reductions in pressure due to changes in flow velocity. For the most part, cavitation is undesirable. It is damaging, often to the point of destruction; it is noisy, usually is accompanied by vibration; and it usually degrades the flow pattern. It is generally assumed that cavitation will occur if the local minimum pressure within a flowing system is reduced to the fluid vapor pressure. Also, the pressure within a cavity, or cavitated region, is usually thought to be at the vapor pressure corresponding to stream liquid temperature. These assumptions are not always valid [1–6] and recent experimental evidence that shows to what extent these assumptions may be invalid (for a particular model) constitutes the subject of the present paper.
Radiofrequency energy delivery to the lower esophageal sphincter (Stretta procedure) in patients with recurrent reflux after antireflux surgery: can surgery be avoided?

Recurrent reflux following antireflux surgery (ARS) can be difficult to manage, especially in patients who also fail medical management. In these patients, redo ARS remains the only treatment option. Endoscopic radiofrequency energy delivery to the lower esophageal sphincter (the Stretta procedure; Stretta, Curon, Sunnyvale, CA) has been shown to significantly decreased symptom scores and improve quality of life in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the Stretta procedure in treating patients with recurrent reflux after fundoplication. Between March 2002 and December 2003, eight patients with recurrent reflux following ARS underwent the Stretta procedure. All patients were asked to complete an institutional symptom survey pre-Stretta and at 1, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. Patients rated 7 reflux-related symptoms (heartburn, dysphagia, regurgitation, cough, voice changes/hoarseness, asthma, chest pain) on a 0 (none) to 3 (severe) scale. Data were analyzed using a Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test where appropriate. Complete data were obtained for seven of the eight patients, with a median follow-up of 253 days (range, 67–378 days). One patient was lost to follow-up and not included in our analysis. Symptom scores decreased significantly, with six patients noting both improved typical and atypical symptoms. Overall, six patients (85%) were satisfied with their results. Based on this small series, the Stretta procedure significantly reduces subjective symptoms of GERD. The Stretta procedure may serve an important role as an additional management strategy to help manage recurrent GERD after ARS.
Abstract W P229: Reduction of Peroxiredoxin 5 Concentration in Patients following Ischemic Stroke

Background: There is a marked inflammatory response within the brain after stroke. Peroxiredoxins (PRXs) are endogenous anti-oxidant proteins, but recent data suggest that PRXs may be responsible for initiating inflammation in the brain following cerebral ischemia. In this study we evaluated the relationship between PRX5 and biomarkers of inflammation following ischemic stroke. Methods: In a prospective study of patients with ischemic stroke, PRX5 concentrations were determined by standard ELISA in plasma samples (N=98) obtained at 3 days after stroke onset. Relationships between stroke severity, biomarkers of inflammation and stroke outcome were explored. Results: At 3 days after stroke, PRX5 concentrations were significantly lower in patients with severe stroke (NIHSS ≥17; 37.6 ng/mL [28.5, 45.3]) as compared to patients with moderate stroke (NIHSS 6-16; 48.0 ng/mL [36.5, 88.6]) or mild stroke (NIHSS ≤5; [40.5, 76.3]); P=0.001. PRX5 was inversely correlated with the number of white blood cells, neutroph...
Tilted CDM versus WDM in the Subgalactic Scuffle

Although the currently favored cold dark matter plus cosmological constant model (LCDM) has proven to be remarkably successful on large scales, on subgalactic scales it faces some potentially fatal difficulties; these include over-producing dwarf satellite galaxies and predicting excessive central densities in dark halos. Among the most natural cosmological solutions to these problems is to replace cold dark matter with a warm species (LWDM). The warm component acts to reduce the small-scale power, resulting in fewer galactic subhalos and lower halo central densities. An alternative model with a mild ``tilt'' in the inflationary power spectrum (TLCDM; n =0.9) similarly reduces the central densities of dark halos, although the substructure abundance remains relatively high. Here I argue that because dwarf galaxy formation should be suppressed in the presence of a strong ionizing background, favored LWDM models will generally under-predict the observed abundance of dwarf galaxies. The satellite count for TLCDM fairs much better, as long as the photoionization effect is taken into account. TLCDM provides a more successful alternative to LWDM on subgalactic scales with the added attraction that it relies on only a minor, natural adjustment to the standard framework of CDM.
Auto-tuning Non-blocking Collective Communication Operations

Collective operations are widely used in large scale scientific applications, and critical to the scalability of these applications for large process counts. It has also been demonstrated that collective operations have to be carefully tuned for a given platform and application scenario to maximize their performance. Non-blocking collective operations extend the concept of collective operations by offering the additional benefit of being able to overlap communication and computation. This paper presents the automatic run-time tuning of non-blocking collective communication operations, which allows the communication library to choose the best performing implementation for a non-blocking collective operation on a case by case basis. The paper demonstrates that libraries using a single algorithm or implementation for a non-blocking collective operation will inevitably lead to suboptimal performance in many scenarios, and thus validate the necessity for run-time tuning of these operations. The benefits of the approach are further demonstrated for an application kernel using a multi-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform. The results obtained for the application scenario indicate a performance improvement of up to 40% compared to the current state of the art.
Let’s talk about improving communication in healthcare

Healthcare providers don’t talk to each other enough. Members of the care team—physicians, nurses, social workers and even caregivers—don't spend enough time communicating with each other about the patient's needs, and no one from the care team spends enough time communicating with the patient. �怀e increasingly complex needs of patients, an explosion of medical knowledge, and seismic shi�耀s in healthcare systems have set the stage for a need for more effective communication. Additionally, today’s new models of care are focused on maintaining health rather than responding to acute illness. Success demands team-based approaches that are centered on close collaboration among all types of providers from across the care continuum. As a result, achieving the Triple Aim of improving quality, lowering costs and enhancing the patient experience can only be done with a signi�耀cantly altered and improved communication strategy.
CAN A HIGH SENSE OF CONTROL AND JOHN HENRYISM BE BAD FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Social stratification profoundly affects mental health. Specifically, substantial empirical evidence finds that higher status promotes mental health via a higher sense of control and a propensity to cope actively with problems. An unresolved issue, though, is whether the effects of sense of control and active coping on mental health are uniformly beneficial across levels of socioeconomic status. Perceived control and John Henryism, an active coping style, may undermine mental health, especially for lower-status persons, who lack resources. Using data from the National Comorbidity Survey for African Americans, Hispanics, and whites, we find that both sense of control and John Henryism tend to be monotonically related to positive mental health regardless of socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity.
NONHUMAN PRIMATE MODELS OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND COCAINE ABUSE

Rationale Although cocaine is often abused in social situations, very few animal studies examine the effects of cocaine in the context of social behavior.
Determination of left ventricular wall stresses during isovolumic contraction using incompressible finite elements

Abstract Left ventricular wall stresses were determined during isovolumic contraction using triangular incompressible finite elements. The geometry of the left ventricle (LV) was approximated as a thick shell of revolution. Both finite deformation and finite strain theories were used in the analysis. The incompressibility condition was applied by equating the third strain invariant as unity. The strain energy density function for the myocardial muscle was assumed to be that of a Mooney material. Physiological loads encountered by the LV during isovolumic contraction were used in the analysis. The stresses generated by the myocardium during isovolumic contraction were assumed to be equal and opposite to that of the stresses induced due to application of a cavity pressure of 10.66 kPa (80 mm Hg). During isovolumic contraction, the stresses at the midsection of the LV were of the order 40 kPa. Near the apex, the stresses changed from compressive at the endocardial surface to tensile at the epicardial surface. In conclusion, an improved mathematical model was developed for the characterization of left ventricular stresses during isovolumic contraction.
Isotropy of Cosmic γ-Ray Flux between 1 and 6 MeV and Implications for Future Investigations

The construction of a hypothetical cosmic γ-ray spectrum shows that the γ-ray flux in the energy range 1 to 6 MeV is unlikely to be of galactic origin. Extra-galactic models suggest that this flux is highly isotropic.
Mediation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Actions by the Insulin Receptor in H-35 Rat Hepatoma Cells*

We have used H-35 rat hepatoma cells to test whether the type II insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor mediates metabolic responses to IGF-Il. On the basis of both affinity cross-linking experiments and competition binding experiments, H-35 cells display insulin and type II IGF receptors, but not type I IGF receptors. IGF-II and multiplication-stimulating activity (MSA; the rat homolog of IGF-II) stimulate tyrosine aminotransferase, amino acid transport, and glycogen synthase activities to the same magnitude as insulin. However, MSA and IGF-II stimulate these metabolic responses only at high concentrations, indicating that these peptides are acting through the insulin receptor. Incubation of H-35 cells with MSA also induces a state of unresponsiveness to the further actions of both MSA and insulin. There is no associated loss of either insulin or IGF-Il binding, indicating that desensitization occurs at a postbinding step in hormone action. The high concentration of MSA necessary to induce desensitiza...
Does elective or emergent operative status influence outcomes in patients undergoing implantation of left ventricular assist devices

Background: Acuity models to predict survival after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation do not include operative status as one of the calculated variables. The effect of elective versus emergent LVAD implantation on outcomes has not been examined.Methods: Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on operative status (elective versus emergent). Variables were compared to determine whether there were differences in outcomes between elective versus emergent LVAD recipientsResults: Of the 130 patients, 59 underwent an elective procedure, whereas 71 had their LVAD implanted as an urgent/emergent operation. Patients in the urgent/emergent cohort had significantly worse preoperative hepatic and renal function and higher central venous pressures. Survival rates at 30 days, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were analogous for both cohorts. Patients in the emergent cohort had a higher incidence of postoperative right ventricular failure, with the requirement for short-term right ventricular support in 9.9% versus 1.7% (P = 0.054). The incidence of other LVAD-related complications, were similar in both groups. Emergency status did not predict postoperative mortality in univariate analysis.Conclusions: Although patients who underwent emergent LVAD implantations had worse preoperative renal and liver function and a higher incidence of postoperative right ventricular failure, they exhibited similar midterm survival and a similar incidence of other postoperative complications.
How to collect and transmit medical data from the site to hospitals during disaster response

This article discusses some of the lessons learned in recent disaster response efforts with regard to medical data transmission in disasters, along with various alternatives to the accomplishment of this task and their associated problem areas. One possible solution devised by the US Army and currently fielded will be discussed in detail – the BMIST‐J (Battlefield Medical Information System Tactical ‐ Joint).
Elevation and vegetation determine Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding by yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Wildlife are increasingly recognized as important biological reservoirs of zoonotic species of Cryptosporidium that might contaminate water and cause human exposure to this protozoal parasite. The habitat range of the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) overlaps extensively with the watershed boundaries of municipal water supplies for California communities along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. We conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological study to estimate the fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts by yellow-bellied marmots and to quantify the environmental loading rate and determine risk factors for Cryptosporidium fecal shedding in this montane wildlife species. The observed proportion of Cryptosporidium positive fecal samples was 14.7% (33/224, positive number relative to total number samples) and the environmental loading rate was estimated to be 10,693 oocysts animal-1 day-1. Fecal shedding was associated with the elevation and vegetation status of their habitat. Based on a portion of the 18s rRNA gene sequence of 2 isolates, the Cryptosporidium found in Marmota flaviventris were 99.88%–100% match to multiple isolates of C. parvum in the GenBank.
Single photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging hyperintensity, and cognitive impairments in patients with vascular dementia.

BACKGROUND The relationship between subcortical hyperintensity (SH) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cortical perfusion on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and cognitive function is not well understood. The authors examined these relationships in individuals with vascular dementia (VaD), paying particular attention to frontal lobe function to determine whether the presence of SH on MRI was associated with frontal hypoperfusion on SPECT, which in turn would be associated with impairments of executive-attention function. METHODS Patients with vascular dementia (n = 26) were assessed on neurocognitive tests and brain MRI and SPECT. SH volume was quantified from the axial T2-weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery MRI. Total counts of activation across voxels for 12 cortical regions of interest were determined from SPECT. Perfusion ratios of both total cortical and frontal activation relative to cerebellum activation were derived, and regression analyses were performed to determine the relationships between cognitive, MRI, and SPECT indices. RESULTS SH volume on MRI was significantly associated with frontal lobe perfusion, but not with global cortical perfusion as measured by SPECT. Frontal lobe perfusion did not consistently correlate with performance on measures of executive-attention function, although both total and frontal perfusion ratios were significantly associated with other cognitive functions. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that a functional "disconnection" between the frontal lobes and subcortical structures does not fully account for the magnitude of global cognitive impairment in VaD. Cortical perfusion as measured by SPECT appears to be associated with cognitive performance, but not specifically executive-attention dysfunction. Additional studies are needed to further examine the relationship between subcortical and cortical function in VaD.