cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Distributed Energy Railguns to Suppress Secondary Arc Formation

An investigation into arc splitting at distributed energy feed locations is presented. Distributed energy scheme experiments conducted at Texas Tech University reveal secondary arc formation by arc splitting at distributed current feeds. At these locations, dynamic magnetic pressure regions are believed to perturb the plasma and lead to its division into two separate current carrying bodies. Continuing research into this hypothesis and viable methods of prevention are discussed. A two stage distributed energy railgun is utilized for this analysis. Diagnostics including armature B-dots and a photodiode array facilitate an understanding of the plasma dynamics in the complex multi-stage railgun environment. The length of the free- running plasma arc allegedly is believed to be a contributing parameter into the arc splitting phenomenon. These luminosity data collected from the photodiodes provides an arc length measurement of the light emitting particles within the plasma body. This length is observed to expand and contract in accordance with the corresponding magnetic pressure present within the railgun bore.
On the performance of polarimetric target detection algorithms

The performance of six polarimetric target detection algorithms is analyzed. The detection performance of the optimal polarimetric detector (OPD), the identity-likelihood-ratio-test (ILRT), the polarimetric whitening filter (PWF), the single-polarimetric channel detector, the span detector, and the power maximization synthesis (PMS) detector is compared. Results are presented for both probabilistic and deterministic targets in the presence of complex Gaussian clutter. The results indicate that the PWF and the ILRT typically achieve near optimal performance. The remaining detection algorithms typically yield performance that is degraded compared to the performance of the OPD, the PWF, and the ILRT. >
Effectiveness of the Brief Alcohol and Screening Intervention for College Students (BASICS) Program With a Mandated Population

Abstract Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a large-scale intervention designed to reduce alcohol abuse among adjudicated college students. Participants: Participants were college students mandated to attend a Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) program and a randomly selected comparison group of high-risk drinkers. Methods: Data were collected from January 2006 through December 2008. A total of 1,390 (67%) students in the intervention group and 508 (61%) students in the comparison group completed baseline and 6-month follow-up surveys. Results: Male students in the intervention group significantly decreased their drinking at follow-up, whereas those in the comparison group increased their drinking. Women in both the intervention and comparison groups decreased their drinking at 6 months. Conclusions: When implemented with fidelity, BASICS is a generally effective intervention, especially for male adjudicated college students. The intervention was most ...
Chapter 1 Single-Product, single-Location models

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the mathematical models for controlling the inventory of a single product. Models with constant demand rates, models with deterministic time-varying demand, periodic review stochastic demand models; and continuous review stochastic demand models have been discussed. Various applications of inventory theory in industry have been presented. In models with constant demand rates, a class of models that is based on the simplest demand assumption—that is, demand is deterministic and stationary—has been discussed. The chapter presents an overview of the major developments and results for single product inventory management. The majority of research in inventory has been focused on stochastic demand models. Because of their importance, one will consider separately discrete time and continuous time cases. When the inventory system is monitored on a continuous time basis, the analysis of such system requires the specification of the demand process to the system.
Narrative Style and Witness Testimony

AbstractThis article is concerned with the relationship between a witness' narrative style and judgments of jurors based on that style. It takes as its starting point the Duke University Law and Language Project results that a witness using a narrative style is judged more credible than a witness using a fragmented style. The main argument of this article is that it is not the use of narrative per se, but rather a particular narrative style that is valued in the courtroom. Data from a day of testimony in a murder trial is used to demonstrate two opposing narrative styles in testimony: that of the law enforcement officer and that of some nonexpert witnesses. It is shown first that the style of the law enforcement officers differs from ordinary conversation in its extreme explicitness. It is hypothesized that jurors will associate this style of delivery with credibility. It is further hypothe-sized that witnesses will lose credibility to the extent that they deviate from this style. After demonstrating the differences in the styles, the article draws on experimental work of other researchers to suggest that trial outcomes can be affected by the narrative style of the witness. (Linguistics)
An experimental study of combined longitudinal and torsional plastic waves in a thin-walled tube

In recent years there has been considerable research done on the elastic-plastic behavior of materials at high rates of strain. With few exceptions the experimental investigations have dealt with relatively simple stress states such as occur in uni-axial stress, uni-axial strain, pure bending, or pure torsion. Experimental information from dynamic tests involving more complex stress states is needed in order to develop constitutive equations for describing material behavior under more general dynamic loading conditions.
External Grants and Publication: Sources, Outlets, and Implications

External funding is a common indicator of research productivity in political science. Comparing departments, university administrators often use external funding as an indication of the quality of research. While this can simply reflect administrators' desire for departments to obtain grants that provide overhead for the institution, this metric also rests on an assumption that external funding is a measure of quality research. For example, Indiana University's web site posted a discussion with President Myles Brand on October 23, 2000, in which he stresses “the ability to win competitive grants” as a measure of department and university quality. Also, e.g., while she focuses on an earlier period, see Lewin's (1997) discussion of Stanford, especially its Political Science Department at pp. 213-23. Departments themselves often use external funding as a proxy for research productivity in evaluating faculty performance. Again, the justification is generally that quality research depends on funding and that those who secure competitive funding will publish quality research.
Algorithmic Thinking and Mathematical Thinking

(1985). Algorithmic Thinking and Mathematical Thinking. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 92, No. 3, pp. 170-181.
N -ocular volume holographic imaging

We describe the functioning of volume holograms as depth selective imaging elements under broadband illumination and discuss the tradeoff between depth resolution and lateral field of view. We demonstrate that multiple measurements offset the resolution degradation by use of proper image inversion schemes.
Molecular dynamics simulation of single-walled carbon nanotubes inside liquid crystals

AbstractMolecular dynamic simulations of systems of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in liquid crystalline solvents were performed, in order to investigate the effect of the molecular structure and phase of the liquid crystal (LC) on the interactions between the CNTs. Three different LC molecules (5CB, 8CB and 5CF) were considered in our study. Our results with 5CB and 8CB suggest that increasing the chain length of the hydrophobic part of the LC molecule by three carbon atoms is insufficient to decrease the tendency for the CNTs to aggregate in the LCs. Additionally, varying the phase of the LC is also insufficient to decrease the aggregation tendency of the CNTs. However, simulations with 5CF (which has fluorine atoms in the head group of the LC molecule) suggest that this LC solvent can decrease the tendency of the CNTs to aggregate. This study is relevant to assist experimentalists with the development of high-quality dispersions of large concentrations of CNTs in the LCs.
Eating disorders among athletes. Research and recommendations.

Research indicates that certain athletes, particularly those in sports that emphasize leanness to enhance performance or appearance (e.g., gymnastics, wrestling, figure skating, diving, and ballet), are at risk for eating disorders. Little is known about the risk for eating disorder symptoms in weight and strength training. It is concluded that, even when mild variants of eating disorders are observed in athletes, they should be given immediate attention because they may severely compromise health and performance. Practical recommendations are made for coaches and trainers to identify the physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms of eating disorders. Finally, suggestions are made for addressing eating disorders in athletes.
Severity of Illness Confusion.

To the Editor:I’d like to thank Drs. Tasker and Randolph (1) for a thoughtful and occasionally provocative commentary on the article published in a recent issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Pollack et al (2). Unfortunately, I believe that they have introduced several areas of conceptual conf
Care for hiv/aids patients: norms and biosecurity for oral health in Colombia

Este articulo describe normas universales de bioseguridad en la atencion odontologica, particularmente las referidas a la atencion de personas infectadas con VIH/SIDA, al tiempo que pasa revista a leyes y decretos relativos al tema vigentes en Colombia. Establecer la rutina de evaluar, controlar y prevenir accidentes de trabajo e infecciones asociadas a la practica odontologica garantiza una mejor atencion y calidad de vida, tanto para los pacientes como para el personal de salud.
Efficacy and Safety of Direct Acting Antivirals in Kidney Transplant Recipients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

The prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is significantly higher in patients with end-stage renal disease compared to the general population and poses important clinical challenges in patients who undergo kidney transplantation. Historically, interferon-based treatment options have been limited by low rates of efficacy and significant side effects, including risk of precipitating rejection. Limited data exist on the use of all-oral, interferon-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies in kidney transplant recipients. In this study, we performed a retrospective chart review with prospective clinical follow-up of post-kidney transplant patients treated with DAA therapies at three major hospitals in Boston, MA. A total of 24 kidney recipients with HCV infection received all-oral DAA therapy post-transplant. Patients were predominantly male (79%) with a median age of 60 years (range 34–70 years), median creatinine of 1.2 mg/dL (0.66–1.76), and 42% had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. The majority had HCV genotype 1a infection (58%). All patients received full-dose sofosbuvir; it was paired with simeprevir (9 patients without and 3 patients with ribavirin), ledipasvir (7 patients without and 1 patient with ribavirin) or ribavirin alone (4 patients). The overall sustained virologic response (SVR12) was 91% (21 out of 23 patients). One patient achieved SVR4 but demised prior to SVR12 check point due to treatment unrelated cause. Two treatment failures were successfully retreated with alternative DAA regimens and achieved SVR. Both initials failures occurred in patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, with genotype 1a infection, and prior HCV treatment failure. Adverse events were reported in 11 patients (46%) and were managed clinically without discontinuation of therapy. Calcineurin inhibitor trough levels did not significantly change during therapy. In this multi-center series of patients, all-oral DAA therapy appears to be safe and effective in post-kidney transplant patients with chronic HCV infection.
Hypothesis Transfer Learning for Efficient Data Computing in Smart Cities Environments

It is commonly assumed that in a smart city there will be thousands of mostly mobile/wireless smart devices (e.g. sensors, smart-phones, etc.) that will continuously generate big amounts of data. Data will have to be collected and processed in order to extract knowledge out of it, to feed users' and smart city applications. A typical approach to process such big amounts of data is to i) gather all the collected data on the cloud through wireless pervasive networks, and ii) perform data analysis operations exploiting machine learning techniques. However, according to many studies, this centralised cloud-based approach may not be sustainable from a networking point of view. The joint effect of data-intensive users' multimedia applications and smart cities monitoring and control applications may result in severe network congestions making applications hardly usable. To cope with this problem, in this paper we propose a distributed machine learning approach that does not require to move data in a centralised cloud platform, but processes it directly where it is collected. Specifically, we exploit Hypothesis Transfer Learning (HTL) to build a distributed machine learning framework. In our framework we train a series of partial models, each ''residing'' in a location where a subset of the dataset is generated. We then refine the partial models by exchanging them between locations, thus obtaining a unique complete model. Using an activity classification task on a reference dataset as a concrete example, we show that the classification accuracy of the HTL model is comparable with that of a model built out of the complete dataset, but the cost in term of network overhead is dramatically reduced. We then perform a sensitiveness analysis to characterise how the overhead depends on key parameters. It is also worth noticing that the HTL approach is suitable for applications dealing with privacy sensitive data, as data can stay where they are generated, and do not need to be transferred to third parties, i.e., to a cloud provider, to extract knowledge out of it.
Snapshot high-resolution hyper-spectral imager based on an ultra-thin diffractive filter

By introducing an ultra-thin diffractive filter, a compact snapshot hyper-spectral imager is built and characterized. It is enabled by a fast computational algorithm and offers high-resolution, high-throughput real-time imaging and also 3D imaging.
An Overview of Aids Interventions in High-Risk Groups: Commercial Sex Workers and Their Clients

Although the epidemiological features of the AIDS epidemic vary throughout the world, HIV infection has followed a set pattern (1). Initially, HIV infection is introduced into a relatively small group of people who are at most risk of getting infected because of their behavior. This group spreads the infection to other groups. In time, the epidemic is a risk to everyone in the population.
Introduction: A Revolutionary Moment

The essays in this volume present the years 1880–1920 as a period of revolutionary transformation rather than as a final chapter of Victorian and Edwardian stability waiting to be shattered in 1914. While it may seem hyperbolic to choose an epigraph about the famed French revolutionary woman fighter, Charlotte Corday, and Biblical figure, Jael, for a volume focused on turn-of-the-century English women writers, the several decades from the late 1870s to the advent of World War I had in fact appeared revolutionary to many: especially to those who most hoped for or feared the massive changes transpiring during this turbulent moment. In retrospect, World War I marked a tremendous breaking point in European politics and thought, but this volume argues that it should not eclipse the revolutions imagined, and worried over, from the 1880s to 1914. Revolutionary hopes and fears set these turn-of-the-century years apart from both mid-Victorian and wartime England, and they constitute a coherent historical episode in women’s writing.
Mycoplasma clearance and risk analysis in a model bioprocess.

Mycoplasmas are a type of bacteria that lack cell walls and are occasional cell culture contaminants. In a biotechnology setting, because they can pass through 0.2 μm filters, mycoplasmas could pose a potential patient safety hazard if undetected contaminants from the production culture were not completely removed by downstream biotechnology manufacturing. In this study we investigated the ability of typical commercial monoclonal antibody purification operations to clear and kill mycoplasmas, using Acholeplasma laidlawii as a model organism. Our spike/removal studies have shown that protein A column chromatography clears about 4–5 log10. Column regeneration effectively prevents A. laidlawii column carryover between chromatography runs. Moreover, low-pH hold steps, typically implemented after protein A purification, effectively kill A. laidlawii using either pH 3.8 glycine or acetate solutions (LRV ≥5.30 and ≥4.57, respectively). Solvent/detergent treatment, used in some processes instead of low-pH hold, also completely kills highly concentrated A. laidlawii (LRV ≥5.95). LAY ABSTRACT: Biotechnology medicines need to be free from contaminating microorganisms such as mycoplasmas, a type of bacteria that can cause disease in humans (e.g., walking pneumonia). Here we show that some monoclonal antibody manufacturing steps can effectively clear and/or kill Acholeplasma laidlawii, a model mycoplasma species used in our study. This provides an additional level of safety assurance of biotechnology medicines for patients.
Applications of Modulation Excitation Spectroscopy in Heterogeneous Catalysis

In situ and operando spectroscopic techniques are crucial for our understanding of complex heterogeneously catalyzed reactions. Under actual reaction conditions, however, many phenomena such as adsorption, (by)-product formation, and desorption of various species in different phases occur simultaneously, leading to crowded spectra that are difficult to interpret. About 15 years ago, modulation excitation spectroscopy (MES) was introduced to the heterogeneous catalysis community and has been increasingly applied since then. The periodic perturbation of a given system, in combination with phase-sensitive detection (PSD) analysis, significantly reduces noise, distinguishes between active and spectator species, and enables extraction of kinetic information. In this review article, we discuss the origin and theory of MES, summarize different application examples (with an emphasis on heterogeneous catalysis), and suggest future developments of the technique.
Screening for specific anti-angiogenic agents

1543 Imbalance in angiogenesis is involved in many pathological conditions, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammation. Targeting angiogenesis has recently emerged as a proven therapeutic strategy for treatment of cancer and age-related macular degeneration. To understand the underlying biological signaling pathways of angiogenesis and to develop potential anti-angiogenic therapy, we have developed a system to discover small molecular probes that can selectively inhibit endothelial cell activation, and thereby block excessive angiogenesis. First, a high throughput screening (HTS) assay was developed for screening large libraries of chemical compounds against both primary human endothelia and fibroblasts to identify compounds with differential inhibitory activity against the endothelial cells versus fibroblasts. Second, HTS dose response-based EC50 values were determined to identify lead compounds with selectivity and potency against human endothelial activation. Third, a number of selected lead compounds were studied for their activities in endothelial cell tube-formation and migration, and to elucidate their mechanisms of action. Fourth, the selective compounds are being further studied in vivo by embryo CAM assay and mouse Matrigel plug assay. A number of compounds that exhibited specific inhibitory activities against human endothelial cells were identified from an 86,000 compound library screening. Analysis of structural clusters of the initial hits led to the identification of several chemical scaffolds as interesting leads. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses and synthetic efforts on selected scaffolds for lead optimization are in progress. Our progress toward identification of specific anti-angiogenic agents will be presented.
Sustainable roof selection: Environmental and contextual factors to be considered in choosing a vegetated roof or rooftop solar photovoltaic system

Abstract Vegetated roofs and roof top Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems are both commonly accepted as sustainable roofing systems and compete for space and budget in building projects. However, the two systems are quite different in composition and purpose, making it difficult to compare which system would be the most appropriate solution. While much research has been conducted on the efficiencies of each system separately, limited literature directly compares the two by highlighting the similarities and differences in their environmental benefits and contextual needs. This study reviews the existing literature of both solar PV and vegetated roof performance, and proposes a classification of considerations to facilitate their comparison. Current peer reviewed literature is collated and synthesized for comparison based on the emergence of nine shared categories of cited performance, relating to Aesthetics, Ecology, Energy, and Water. The literature is further analyzed to classify the considerations of each category based on an associated scale of analysis, including site, landscape and regional opportunities and concerns. By framing the performance of these roofing systems in this way, the comparison of the two systems can be fitted to the type and scale of unique project goals and challenges to facilitate analysis and decision-making.
Evaluation and Management of Toxicological Emergencies

After studying this chapter, you should be able to: List the methods available for decreasing toxin absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, with the indications, contraindications, and potential complications of each method. Describe toxin exposures for which enhancing toxin elimination is possible, with the specific means to do so. Describe the limitations of toxicologic drug screening, with indications for its use in specific clinical scenarios. Know those toxin exposures for which specific antidotes exist, with the indications and potential complications of their use. Identify the principles by which an exposure can be determined to be nontoxic and have a working knowledge of the many household items that are nontoxic. Describe mechanisms by which unknown compounds can be identified.
Seasonal Differences in Hypoxia Tolerance in Gulf Killifish, Fundulus Grandis (Fundulidae)

Many estuarine habitats are characterized by episodes of hypoxia, the frequency and severity of which may vary seasonally. Accordingly, resident fish species may show seasonal differences in their capacity to tolerate hypoxia. We have tested this hypothesis in the gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, sampled from the Lake Pontchartrain estuary (Louisiana) at different times of the year. We measured 2 indicators of hypoxia tolerance, the frequency of aquatic surface respiration (ASR) during gradual reduction in dissolved oxygen (D.O.) and survival time during severe hypoxic stress, and found both to be significantly affected by season. Fish collected during the summer did not engage in ASR until the D.O. concentration dropped to values lower than that required to elicit ASR by fish collected during other seasons. Laboratory acclimation of fish to low oxygen did not change the relationship between ASR behavior and D.O., suggesting that the observed seasonal effect on ASR was not simply due to previous exposure of summer fish to environmental hypoxia. Furthermore, fish collected during the summer and winter had significantly longer survival times during exposure to severe hypoxia than fish collected during the fall. Survival analysis indicated that the condition of fish was positively associated with survival time, and seasonal variation in condition accounted for about half of the observed difference between survival times of fish collected during the summer and fall. Seasonal variation in ASR and survival, when taken together, demonstrate that hypoxia tolerance in F. grandis may be subject to acclimatization. An increase in hypoxia tolerance during the summer could increase survivorship of fish when exposed to elevated temperatures and low oxygen concentrations which prevail during the summer months.
2-(Substituted amino)-2-[2′-hydroxy-2′-alkyl(or aryl)]ethyltricyclo-[3.3.1.13,7]decane derivatives: a novel class of anti-hypoxia agents

Abstract The synthesis and biological activity of a series of 2-(substituted amino)-2-[2′-hydroxy-2′-alkyl(or aryl)]-ethyltricyclo[3.3.1.13,7] decane derivatives 17, are described. Compounds 17 represent a novel class of anti-hypoxia agents. In addition, they were found to exert anti-parkinson, anti-convulsant and analgesic activities. The degree of anti-hypoxia activity was shown to be dependent upon the length of the carbon side chain: the two most active compounds were the 2′-hexadecyl 17e and 2′-tetradecyl 17f analogs. The presence of an adamantyl ring and an alkyl side chain in the molecule of aminoalcohols 17 may have facilitated their penetration through the blood-brain barrier.
Ethics education in the professions: an unorthodox approach

Ethics education in the professions has become close to compulsory with continuing education following suit. What is the de facto as opposed to the de jure function of an ethics education program? Have they increased compliance with laws and codes of conduct? Is that the goal? What would an ethics education program look like that was not primarily concerned with compliance with relevant laws or professional codes and not merely an exercise in good public relations? I argue that, ultimately, ethics education is about happiness… not happiness as we generally think of it today, but in the Aristotelian sense of “fulfillment” and the collateral good that is generated for clients (or patients) and the profession. As a result of this point of view I argue that ethics is not a subject in the normal sense of the term but a meta-subject which implies that teaching ethics as a class or stand alone module in a law, policy or practice management course is usually ineffective. Another implication is that the richest source for moral reflection within a profession are case studies generated by students in clinical assignments, despite the inherent risks associated with making these cases prominent.
Case Management in Alcohol and Drug Treatment: Improving Client Outcomes:

Empirical research indicates that posttreatment factors, including employment, residential stability, and social and family support, influence the resiliency of treatment outcomes. The degree to wh...
Role of Brachytherapy and its Complications in Limb-Preserving Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Brachytherapy is a valuable weapon in the armamentarium for limb-preserving treatment of soft tissue sarcomas. The rationale, techniques, indications, and complications of this treatment are discussed. This review of the salient experience describes the success of brachytherapy in a variety of settings. Mechanisms of complications and methods of avoiding them are discussed. Recommendations are made regarding the use of brachytherapy alone as surgical adjunct and in combination with external-beam radiotherapy.
What's in a whisker? Disentangling ecological and physiological isotopic signals

RATIONALE Stable isotope analysis of keratinized tissues is an informative tool for quantifying foraging ecology that can address questions related to niche specialization and temporal variation in behavior. Application of this approach relies on an understanding of tissue growth and how isotope ratios relate to physiological and ecological processes, data that are lacking for many species. METHODS We collected paired whisker length measurements from northern elephant seals to estimate growth and shedding patterns (n = 16). A subset of seals (n = 5) carried a satellite tag and time-depth recorder across the 7+ month foraging trip following the annual pelage molt. Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen were measured in whisker segments grown across the 6+ week fasting on land and the subsequent foraging trip; profiles were combined with growth parameters to timestamp each segment and investigate relationships with foraging behavior. RESULTS Whisker loss and initial regrowth primarily occurred during the annual pelage molt, but newly grown whiskers exhibited active, nonlinear growth across the foraging trip. The δ13 C and δ15 N values were higher in segments grown on land than at sea and exhibited a characteristic decline upon departure from the rookery. There was a relationship between latitude and longitude and δ15 N values, and individual whisker segments grown at sea could be classified to the correct ecoregion with 81% accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Fasting affected both δ13 C and δ15 N values and the ability to exclude these values from ecological investigations is crucial given the temporal overlap with tissue growth. The rapid decline in isotope ratios upon departure can be used to isolate portions of the whisker with a strong physiological signal, even for whiskers with unknown growth histories. The active growth across the foraging trip combined with the ability to identify differences in foraging behavior validates the utility of this approach for addressing ecological questions.
The effect of color and self-view priming in persuasive communications

Abstract We examine how the associative properties of the color red relate to an independent self-view, and their impact on advertising message processing and persuasion. In study 1, using explicit measures, we demonstrate that red is associated with independence-focused words. In study 2, employing an Implicit Association Test, we further examine the congruence of independence and red, and observe an identical pattern of results. In study 3, we test these findings in a social marketing context (diabetes testing). We find that participants' behavioral intentions to comply with an advertisement's advocated position are enhanced when red ad backgrounds are matched with an independent self-construal prime. In study 4, these findings are replicated in a more typical consumer behavior context (restaurant patronage), and indicate that processing fluency and perceived ad believability are mediators of the observed effects on participants' behavioral intentions. We conclude by discussing the practical and theoretical implications of our work.
Surgical Site Infection: The Clinical and Economic Impact

Surgical site infection (SSI) following colorectal surgery is associated with worse postoperative outcomes, longer length of stay, and higher rates of readmission. SSI rates have been established as a surrogate metric for the overall quality of surgical care and are intricately tied to financial incentives and the public reputation of an institution. While risk factors and prevention mechanisms for SSI are well established, the rates of SSI remain high. This article discusses the clinical and economic impact of SSI and strategies for mitigating the risk of SSI through bundled prevention practices.
Outcomes of Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty in Eyes With Pars Plana Versus Anterior Chamber Glaucoma Drainage Devices.

Purpose To compare visual outcomes and complications of Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) in eyes with anterior chamber (AC) versus pars plana (PP) glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs). Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of 85 eyes that underwent DSEK and had previous or concurrent AC (37 eyes) or PP (48 eyes) GDD implantation. Outcome measures examined included visual acuity, donor dislocation rate, intraocular pressure, and secondary graft failure (SGF). Results The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution vision improved from 1.50 (SD = 0.64) to 0.88 (SD = 0.71) in the AC group and from 1.37 (SD = 0.59) to 1.20 (SD = 0.76) in the PP group, with no significant group difference. Intraocular pressure did not differ between the groups preoperatively but was higher in the AC group compared with the PP group postoperatively [mean (SD) 14.5 (6.28) versus 11.5 (5.54) mm Hg, P = 0.03]. Graft dislocation occurred in 35.1% and 29.2% of eyes in the AC and PP groups, respectively. SGF occurred in 18.9% and 41.7% with median time 17.1 (interquartile range [IQR] 4.6-32.1) and 27.9 (IQR 15.1-34.7) months to development in the AC and PP groups, respectively. Multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models found no statistically significant factors (tube location, age, sex, concurrent tube revision, new tube insertion) associated with either donor dislocation or SGF. Conclusions There was no reduction in donor dislocation or SGF in eyes with PP compared with AC GDD, despite the decreased proximity of the shunt from the endothelial graft. Overall, GDD has a significantly adverse effect on long-term graft survival and close follow-up is warranted.
Measurement properties of the Reaching Performance Scale for Stroke

Reaching Performance Scale for Stroke (RPSS) evaluates the upper limb reach-to-grasp movement quality and compensatory movements. The objective of the study was to test the reliability, construct v...
Bilinear optimal control of a Kirchhoff plate via internal controllers

We consider the problem of optimal control of a Kirchhoff plate. Bilinear controls are used as forces acting on internal regions, to make the plate close to a desired profile, taking into the account a quadratic cost of control. We prove the existence of an optimal control and characterize it uniquely through the solution of an optimality system.
The Meselson-Stahl Experiment: “the Most Beautiful Experiment in Biology”

In this chapter we will examine the Meselson-Stahl experiment which decided the issue between two models of DNA replication. The experimental result was held not to require replication. A second experiment of a rather different nature was used to eliminate a third possibility, and whereby contrast that experiment was further refined so as to yield a more accurate result. These experiments set the stage for the creation of new competing accounts of DNA replication all of which—given the framework established by the Meselson-Stahl experiments—were eliminated by experimental tests leaving only the Watson-Crick model in play.
Are Think Tanks Fit for an Uncertain Future

James McGann, Director of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, Lauder Institute for Management and International Studies, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA, explores the Future of Think Tanks and Policy Advice in the United States.
Graphene oxide nanofiltration membranes for desalination under realistic conditions

The demands of clean water production and wastewater recycling continue to drive nanofiltration membrane development. Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have exhibited the potential to revolutionize nanofiltration, but sustaining high solute rejections at realistic concentrations remains a major challenge. Here we show that a series of membranes based on GO bound to polycyclic π-conjugated cations such as toluidine blue O show substantially enhanced rejections for salts and neutral solutes over a wide concentration range. The observed solute rejection behaviours in these π-intercalated GO membranes can be understood by a dual mechanism of interlayer spacing modulation and creation of diffusion barriers in the two-dimensional interlayer galleries. These membranes are easily scalable and possess good chemical and mechanical robustness in desalination of a multicomponent industrial stream at elevated pH, temperature, stream velocity and solids content. The demands of sustainable energy supply and clean water production continue to drive membrane development. Here the authors design graphene oxide membranes intercalated with polyaromatic cations that not only exhibit sustained nanofiltration performance under realistic conditions but also are scalable for industrial applications.
Cognitive Work Analysis and Visualization Design for the Graduate Admission Decision Making Process

Graduate admission has always been a complex decision making process. The link between application materials and student success has remained elusive and, as such, there is no validated method for ...
Just add care and stir? The limits of mainstream liberal theory for taking on dependency care

Asha Bhandary’s Freedom to Care represents an important challenge to the idea that care ethics and liberalism necessarily stand in tension, arguing instead that most of the commitments of care ethi...
Wearable accessory designers’ perceptions using 3D printing technology

The purpose of this study was to examine wearable accessory designers’ perceptions using 3D printing (3DP) technology. Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with 3DP wearable accessory ...
After 1776: Native Nations, Settler Colonialism, and the Meaning of America

On 2 November 2020, just hours before a slim majority of Americans rejected his presidency, Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing a “1776 Commission” designed to counter “one-sided an...
Learning-Based Task Allocation in Decentralized Multirobot Systems

This paper presents an efficient decentralized multirobot system through the use of reinforcement learning coupled with heuristics to accelerate the learning process. Our heuristic functions are not reinforcement signals, but are biases to the learning space that help accelerate the exploration process and have no effect on the robot’s knowledge. Two kinds of heuristics are used: local and global. The local heuristic is derived from the local knowledge of the robot, whereas the global heuristic is derived from the data obtained from other robots. Both heuristics can help accelerating the learning process.
Thurgood Marshall: Legal Strategist For The Civil Rights Movement

This brief article covers the career of attorney and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, covering his early days as an attorney working for the NAACP, up to his career on the nation's highest court. Of particular interest are the hardships of his early days as a lawyer, as one of only 32 African American lawyers in Maryland in 1935. The key cases during his career are touched upon, along with the legal strategies used to further the cause of civil rights.
Effect of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection on anti-hapten IgE antibody response in the mouse: II. Mechanism of potentiation of the IgE antibody response to a heterologous hapten-carrier conjugate

Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection was capable of potentiating the primary and secondary mouse IgE antibody response to a hapten coupled to a nonhelminthic antigen (ovalbumin, Ov). When mice were infected 14 or 5 days before an ip injection of 1 μ g dinitrophenylated Ov (DNP-Ov) mixed with 1 mg Al(OH) 3 , the anti-DNP IgE antibody response was greatly enhanced. The infection did not enhance anti-DNP IgG 1 antibody response. Potentiation of the primary IgE antibody response coincided with the generation of Ov or N. brasiliensis antigen (Nb) specific lymphoid cells of thymic origin (T cells). Moreover, it was found in adoptive transfer experiments that the potentiated response against DNP determinants can be obtained by concomitant administration of Nb with DNP-Ov into recipients that have been given the combination of lymphoid cells from infected and DNP-primed donors. These results suggest that Nb specific T cells could provide a certain signal, probably a soluble factor, upon stimulation with the worm antigen.
Virologic and immunologic events in hilar lymph nodes during simian immunodeficiency virus infection: development of polarized inflammation.

Summary: Lymphoid tissues are sites of soluble and cell-associated antigen sampling of peripheral tissues, and they are key compartments for the generation of cellular and humoral immune responses. Hilar lymph nodes (HiLNs), which drain the lungs, were examined to understand the effects of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection on this compartment of the immune system. Histologic and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiling approaches were used to determine the numbers, types, and distributions of SIV viral RNA + cells and to identify differentially expressed genes in HiLNs during SIVinfection. SIV RNA + cells were found to be primarily CD68 2 and localized to paracortical and medullary regions early in infection, whereas they resided mainly in paracortex during AIDS. As SIV infection progressed, CXCL9, CXCL10, interferon-g, and Toll-like receptor 3 levels all increased. In contrast, CCL19 increased early in infection but decreased during AIDS, whereas CCL21 decreased progressively throughout infection. Finally, local levels of cellular activation were increased throughout infection. Taken together, these findings indicate that SIV infection leads to an inflammatory environment in lung-draining lymph nodes that is characterized by type 1 cytokines and chemokines and likely has an impact on the nature and strength of immune responses to pulmonary pathogens.
Metallointercalators as Probes of DNA Recognition and Reactions

Here we describe studies of metallointercalators bound to DNA. These octahedral transition metal complexes primarily bind noncovalently by stacking within the DNA helix. Given the rich photophysics and photochemistry of the ruthenium and rhodium complexes we employ, we have used a variety of biophysical studies to characterize their interactions with DNA. X-ray crystallography has also provided atomic resolution detail as to their binding to the duplex. Complexes have been designed that target DNA with high specificity. We have, for example, designed metal complexes that bind specifically to mismatched sites in the DNA duplex, and these have found application in the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms and studies of mismatch repair deficiency. The photophysical properties of the metal complexes along with their intercalative stacking have been useful in particular as tools to characterize long-range charge transport in DNA. Using metallointercalators tethered to the duplex, oxidative damage to DNA from a distance has been demonstrated. The metallointercalators may serve as models for DNA-binding proteins, not only in binding DNA sites with high specificity, but also in carrying out electron transfer chemistry mediated by the DNA base-pair stack. Certainly these metallointercalators have proven to be powerful probes of this chemistry.
ATP Antagonism Attenuates the Reflex Cutaneous Vasoconstriction Response in Humans

Norepinephrine is responsible for ~60% of the reflex cutaneous VC response in young individuals, whereas the remainder is due to a coreleased sympathetic adrenergic neurotransmitter(s) that has yet...
Cooperative multiscale aging in a ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayer

Anisotropic magnetoresistance measurements show that the magnetization state in epitaxial ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{80}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{20}/{\mathrm{Fe}}_{50}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{50}$ bilayers exhibits aging over a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. The observed power-law time dependence indicates that aging is characterized by a wide range of activation time scales. Aging characteristics are also inconsistent with a superposition of independent activation barriers expected for Arrhenius-type relaxation. The observed effects indicate a fundamental connection with the critical phenomena in complex condensed matter systems.
A nonlinear stochastic model of fatigue crack dynamics

This paper presents a nonlinear stochastic model for prediction of fatigue crack damage in metallic materials. The model structure allows estimation of the current damage state and prediction of the remaining service life based on the underlying principle of Gauss-Markov processes without solving the extended Kalman filter equation in the Wiener integral setting or the Kolmogorov forward equation in the Ito integral setting. The model results have been verified with experimentally-generated statistical data of time-dependent fatigue cracks for 2024-T3 and 7075-T6 aluminum alloys.
Biosynthesis of NAD in Haemophilus haemoglobinophilus

Abstract Haemophilus haemoglobinophilus, a species of Haemophilus which is not dependent upon NAD for growth, was investigated with regard to the pathway of biosynthesis synthesis of this cofactor. Cell-free extracts synthesized NAD directly from nicotinamide without prior deamidation via the following reactions: Nicotinamide+5-phosphoribosyl 1-prrophosphate+ATP → NMN NMN+ATP → NAD Of the enzymes known to be operative in the pathway of NAD biosynthesis from nicotinic acid (nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase, nicotinate adeninedinucleotide pyrophosphorylase and NAD synthetase) only nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase activity was demonstrable. Cell free extracts of H. haemoglobinophilus did not degrade NAD and nicotinamidase activity was absent. Quinolic acid was not converted to NAD. The results obtained provided evidence that this organism cannot recycle NAD or synthetize it via the de novo pathway. Direct synthesis from nicotinamide via NMN appears to be the sole pathway of NAD formation in this organism.
Eculizumab therapy results in rapid and sustained decreases in markers of thrombin generation and inflammation in patients with PNH independent of its effects on hemolysis and microparticle formation

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a clonal bone marrow disorder which results in the loss of glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI) anchors from cell membranes. As a consequence, membrane inhibitors of complement are lost rendering the cells more susceptible to complement mediated destruction. This results in hemolysis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and thrombophilia. Eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody to complement protein 5, has been approved for the treatment of PNH and is associated with a significant reduction in hemolysis, thromboembolic events and fatigue. We prospectively studied the effect of Eculizumab therapy on plasma markers of thrombin generation (D-Dimers, TAT), inflammation (IL-6), soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), antigenic (TFMP) and functional (fTFMP) tissue factor bearing microparticles and total plasma microparticle ex vivo factor Xa generation (MPFXa) in eleven Eculizumab naive PNH patients. Blood sampling occurred day 1, prior to Eculizumab treatment, then on days 8,15,22,29, 43, 90. Our results demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in D-Dimer, TAT, IL-6, sP-selectin, and TFMP during the induction phase of treatment (day 1-29) which was sustained during the maintenance treatment (day 29-90). Although the serum LDH levels decreased rapidly, there was no correlation between the change in LDH and the markers of thrombin generation and inflammation. Although there was a statistically significant decrease in TFMP, this decrease did not correlate with changes in markers of thrombin generation or inflammation. Ex vivo MPFXa generation did not decrease with Eculizumab treatment suggesting continued microparticle formation despite inhibition of hemolysis. Ex vivo total microparticle FXa generation was found to have an inverse correlation with markers of thrombin generation, suggesting that in PNH patients in vivo thrombin generation occurs by a pathway independent of hemolysis and microparticle generation.