cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Present Situation of Development on the Removal Technology and Utilization of CO_2 in Coal-fired Power Plant

The emission of greenhouse gas CO2 is a global environmental problem.As the CO2 emitters,the thermal power plants are facing tremendous pressure to reduce emissions.In this paper,the various recovery technology at home and abroad for CO2 is analysed and discussed,and the overview of CO2 in the food,chemical and other applications are also described.
Ramsey ultrafilters and Countable-to-one Uniformization

Abstract We show that Countable-to-one Uniformization is preserved by forcing with P ( ω ) / Fin over a model of ZF in which every set of reals is completely Ramsey. We also give an exposition of Todorcevic's theorem that Ramsey ultrafilters are generic for P ( ω ) / Fin over suitable inner models.
BACTERIOLOGICAL TESTING OF MILK FOR REGULATORY PURPOSES–USEFULNESS OF CURRENT PROCEDURES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE

A plate count has a glorious past, though not deserving of worship. We are operating in a technological and socioeconomic environment far removed from conditions which justified many standards, which arose from reliance on a plate count. There is little, if any, relation between microbial tests and the level of sanitation in modern fluid milk processing plants. Some redirection of sampling programs would be helpful and especially if standards were established to include a consideration of time after pasteurization. It is suggested that the results on plate counts should be expressed as CFU/μl or CFU/mg (colony forming units per microliter or milligram as appropriate). This terminology would include all microorganisms and present a more practical expression of the results. In the future, improved methods for quality evaluation should be available through application of sophisticated instrumentation. These systems may involve recognition and quantification of specific microbial activities or residues. The s...
Searching for gluon saturation in d+Au collisions at PHENIX

Measurements using the PHENIX forward detectors in high energy deuteron-gold collisions make it possible to study cold nuclear matter effects in nucleon structure at low x. The gold nuclei are Lorentz contracted leading to further enhancement in the nuclear parton densities. The high gluon densities make it possible to probe for saturation effects and to search for experimental evidence in support of a new effective field theory, the Color Glass Condensate, describing the limit of high parton densities in QCD. Past RHIC experiments have shown a suppression in nuclear modification factors (RdA, Rcp) for √ sNN = 200 GeV d+Au collisions in the forward (deuteron) direction. Multiple theories exist that can explain the observed suppression (including saturation), but a conclusive measurement discriminating between the different mechanisms has yet to be carried out. Two new forward electromagnetic calorimeters (Muon Piston Calorimeters or MPCs, −3.7 < η < −3.1, 3.1 < η < 3.9) may provide the PHENIX experiment with the capability to determine if gluon saturation is the reason for the observed suppression. With the calorimeters, one can measure forward di-hadron correlations, which have been predicted to show dramatic effects due to gluon saturation. In particular, azimuthal correlations of di-hadron pairs at different pseudorapidities will be shown; the forward pseudorapidity correlations are especially interesting because it is expected that they provide a test of gluon saturation down to x ≈ 10−3 in the Au nucleus. The analysis presented is based on the high integrated luminosity data sample of d+Au collisions at √ sNN = 200 GeV taken at RHIC in 2008.
Microbial Keratitis at an Urban Public Hospital: A 10-Year Update

Purpose: To review the epidemiology, risk factors, microbiologic spectrum, and treatment of microbial keratitis during a five-year period at an urban public hospital with comparison to similar findings a decade earlier at the same hospital. Methods: Retrospective chart review in the 5-year interval 2009 through 2014 compared to previously reported cases 2000 through 2004 [Eye & Contact Lens 33(1): 45-49, 2007]. Comparative primary outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), risk factors, culture and sensitivities, treatment, and complication rates. Results: 318 eyes with microbial keratitis were identified. Contact lens wear, ocular trauma, and ocular surface diseases were the most common risk factors. The culture and recovery rates were 73% and 66% respectively. Gram-positive organisms represented 46%, gram-negative organisms 39%, fungal organisms 15%, and Acanthamoeba <1% of corneal isolates. No common corneal pathogens were resistant to aminoglycosides or vancomycin. 48% of cases were initially treated with fortified antibiotics, 43% with fluoroquinolone monotherapy, and 6% with antifungals. 40% of cases received inpatient treatment. At resolution, average BCVA was 20/82 [logMAR 0.61] with 8% of cases resulting in light perception or worse vision. The perforation rate was 8%. 6% of cases underwent urgent penetrating keratoplasty and 4% of cases underwent urgent enucleation or evisceration. Compared to the prior study, significant differences were: (1) lower culture but higher recovery rates, (2) lower admission rate, (3) more contact lens-related cases of Pseudomonas ulcers, (4) lower resistance of coagulasenegative Staphylococcus to aminoglycoside antibiotics, (5) improved BCVA at resolution, and (6) lower associated complication rates. Conclusion: Microbial keratitis remains a clinical challenge in the urban public hospital setting. In the past ten years, epidemiology has shifted towards greater contact lens wear with more Pseudomonal infections. Visual outcomes have not worsened despite a shift away from routine culture and inpatient care to fluoroquinolone monotherapy and outpatient management.
The Importance of Fathers: Contextualizing Sexual Risk-Taking in “Low-Risk” African American Adolescent Girls

The purpose of this study was to explore the relation between self-esteem, sociodemographic factors, father-daughter relationships, and sexual risk-taking in an economically diverse group of late-adolescent African American girls. Participants were 100 African American adolescent girls from the Southeast region of the U.S. Regression analyses revealed that fathers' education was the most powerful predictor of sexual risk, with self-esteem emerging as a significant, yet less powerful predictor. A subset of the initial sample participated in a secondary, qualitative study explicitly examining father-daughter communication about sexuality. Thematic analysis revealed three distinct categories of father-daughter sexual communication. Participants associated directive and insightful communication styles with positive father-daughter relationships and less risky sexual behavior. Absent/avoidant communication was linked to rejection, regret, and more risky sexual behavior. Results suggest that impact of ...
BYOD: A Security Policy Evaluation Model

The rapid increase of personal mobile devices (mainly smartphones and tablets) accessing corporate data has created a phenomenon commonly known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Companies that allow the use of BYODs need to be aware of the risks of exposing their business to inadvertent data leakage or malicious intent posed by inside or outside threats. The adoption of BYOD policies mitigates these types of risks. However, many companies have weak policies, and the problem of exposure of corporate data persists. This paper addresses this problem by proposing a BYOD policy evaluation method to help companies to strengthen their BYOD policies.
Chapter 16 – Molecular Basis of Lymphoid and Myeloid Diseases

All types of mature blood cells are produced by differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells found in the bone marrow. This process is controlled by transcription factors, which in turn are regulated by other transcription factors, microRNAs, epigenetic modifications, and extracellular signals transmitted by cell surface receptors. Mutation of genes encoding these hematopoietic transcription factors, microRNAs, epigenetic modifiers, or receptors (or deregulated expression) can initiate transformation of normal cells into leukemic cells, or cause cell death and anemia. Diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, and anemia are usually genetically complex, a large number of different mutations contribute to disease development, and most patients acquire more than one mutation. This genetic complexity has resulted in proposed new treatments based on individual patient leukemia genomes and/or immunotherapy.
Pedestrian inertial navigation with building floor plans for indoor environments via non-recursive Bayesian filtering

In this paper, we present a pedestrian navigation method for indoor environments that uses a novel non-recursive Bayesian filter. Developed method takes building floor plans into account to compensate for error-prone heading measurements provided by a foot mounted micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) inertial measurement unit (IMU). Zero velocity updates (ZUPT) are implemented intuitively to estimate sensor bias/drifts and subsequently dead reckoning (DR) equations calculate the pedestrian location from corrected velocity. Despite high accuracy in estimating traveled distance, navigation solution is unacceptable due to incorrect heading estimates. Methods to fix the heading estimation problem typically exploit particle filter (PF) framework. Limited computational power of IMU board, however, cannot afford a PF implementation therefore a novel approach alternative to recursive Bayesian filtering (RBF) is developed. Proposed filter uses the static floor plan density distribution and an extended motion model to eliminate heading errors in pedestrian location estimation.
Review of Viscosity Modifier Lubricant Additives

This article reviews viscosity modifiers, additives that increase the viscosity of lubricating oils. Viscosity modifiers are high molecular weight polymers whose functionality is derived from their thickening efficiency, viscosity–temperature relationship, and shear stability. There are now many different additive chemistries and architectures available, all of which have advantages and disadvantages, and affect solution viscosity through different mechanisms. Understanding these mechanisms and how they impart additive function is critical to the development of new viscosity modifiers that enable lubricants to function more efficiently over a wide range of temperatures.
Preoperative Cyanoacrylate Embolization of Venous Malformations

Percutaneous sclerotherapy and standalone surgical excision have historically been the mainstay of treatment for pediatric venous malformations (VMs). However, both approaches have significant limitations. Sclerotherapy often requires multiple treatment sessions, with each round adding additional procedural and anesthetic risks as well as radiation exposure. Standalone surgical excision of VMs can be complicated by high-volume blood loss, and indistinct lesion margins can lead to incomplete resection, resulting in recurrence. An alternative to these approaches is percutaneous cyanoacrylate glue embolization followed by immediate surgical excision, a single-stage procedure that allows for better surgical margin definition and reduced intraoperative blood loss, potentially leading to more definitive treatment. The authors describe the interventional radiology aspects of this combined procedure, emphasizing materials preparation and embolization technique.
Evaluation and Treatment of Anxiety in the General Pediatric Population: A Clinician’s Guide

The assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders in children should be based on the current state of knowledge in their etiology and pathogenesis including the contributions of temperament, family history and functioning, culture, development, and comorbidity. Guidelines in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders in children are presented.
Tip-or rollover protection mechanisms for planetary rovers enabling exploration of high-risk sites

Historically and currently planetary surface exploration missions conducted with rovers are confined to regions that are safe to traverse in order to fulfill the primary mission goals. This mentality/approach has paid off as far as mission longevity is concerned. However, this approach may have also prevented the discovery of exciting science in hard to get to or risky terrain. This paper describes and studies protection mechanisms based on tip-or rollover safeguards with cross-stabilizing beams/struts for ground-based vehicles (i.e., planetary rovers) that either prevent tip-or rollover situations from happening, or in case they do occur, lead to a benign outcome, i.e., the ground-based vehicle “lands” right-side up for continuing operation. This is especially useful/necessary for autonomously operating and/or tele-commanded vehicles, e.g., on planetary surfaces or in remote areas.
Genetic Dissection of Tryptophan Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana

A long term goal for this laboratory is to obtain a detailed understanding of the biochemical and genetic mechanisms that plants use to regulate the synthesis of the amino acid tryptophan (Last et al., 1992; Last, 1993). In addition to its role in the production of tryptophan for protein synthesis, this pathway gives rise to many indolic secondary metabolites, including the auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (Wright et al., 1991) and the Arabidopsis phytoallexin called camalexin (Tsuji et al., 1992). Thus, we anticipate that plants regulate the enzymes of tryptophan biosynthesis in response to requirements for both protein and secondary product biosynthesis.
3D-Assisted Feature Synthesis for Novel Views of an Object

Comparing two images from different views has been a long-standing challenging problem in computer vision, as visual features are not stable under large view point changes. In this paper, given a single input image of an object, we synthesize its features for other views, leveraging an existing modestly-sized 3D model collection of related but not identical objects. To accomplish this, we study the relationship of image patches between different views of the same object, seeking what we call surrogate patches -- patches in one view whose feature content predicts well the features of a patch in another view. Based upon these surrogate relationships, we can create feature sets for all views of the latent object on a per patch basis, providing us an augmented multi-view representation of the object. We provide theoretical and empirical analysis of the feature synthesis process, and evaluate the augmented features in fine-grained image retrieval/recognition and instance retrieval tasks. Experimental results show that our synthesized features do enable view-independent comparison between images and perform significantly better than other traditional approaches in this respect.
GER in asthma and COPD

Over 24 million Americans carry a diagnosis of asthma. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been associated with asthma, given the high prevalence estimates reported from multiple major studies. The pathophysiology of GER in asthma is likely related to the shared embryonic roots of both the gastroesophageal and the tracheobronchial tracts along with their shared nervous system innervations. Multiple animal studies have shown that tracheal instillation of acid causes bronchial hyperreactivity, while denervation of the vagus nerve lessens this effect, and human studies have duplicated these findings. These observations led to multiple intervention trials where treatment of GER has often been associated with improvement in patient-related outcomes, but positive outcomes have not been consistent across trials. More importantly, there is no evidence to show that treating asymptomatic GER improves asthma control. In contrast to asthma, the pathophysiology of GER in COPD is less clear, as there are few studies that have examined the prevalence of GER in patients with COPD. Nonetheless, such studies suggest that GER is prevalent and may play a role in exacerbations encountered by patients with advanced COPD. Furthermore, a recent, nonrandomized small study demonstrated a decrease in exacerbations with empiric therapy using a proton pump inhibitor. We conclude that GER may play a significant role in the pathophysiology and disease morbidity of patients with asthma and COPD, and therapies that target abnormal GER may provide benefit to patients. However, larger studies are needed to elucidate the link between airway disease and GER, especially in patients with COPD.
Quantification of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Activity.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase (EC 3.4.15.1) whose physiologic action is the conversion of AI to AII, and as such, it plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid balance. ACE has been localized to endothelial cells throughout the body and epithelial cells in gut and kidney. It exists both as a membrane-bound enzyme and in a freely soluble form in plasma. The importance of the membrane-bound form is underscored by the recently described local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in various organs, including heart, blood vessels, and kidney (1). In the heart and vascular smooth muscle, the local RAS is believed to play an important role in hypertrophy and remodeling. Accordingly, accurate and reliable methods for measurement of tissue (i.e., membrane bound) ACE activity are important, as well as soluble ACE activity.
The prognostic impact of proinflammatory markers (NLR, PLR) in biliary cancer.

e15621Background: Laboratory based inflammatory markers such as neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been shown to be associated with worse prognosis in some s...
Integrating patient-reported outcomes data into the electronic health record.

186Background: As a national network of hospitals that specialize in the treatment of patients fighting complex or advanced-stage cancer, the network was an early adopter of using patient reported outcome (PRO) data as part of its routine patient assessment and treatment. Since 2012 an externally validated tool has been used to capture patients’ perceived symptom burden for real-time clinical intervention, from the point of first visit throughout the course of treatment, at intervals of 21 days or greater. Research has demonstrated the use of PRO data as a valuable component of a patient’s treatment plan, promoting improved quality and length of life. Methods: The use of this data across the network was expanded such that results once only accessible on paper and via electronically stored images, has now been fully integrated into the electronic health record (EHR). A multidisciplinary project team formulated the specifications for a successful integration of PRO data into the EHR. Results: The project ac...
Anesthesia for the Morbidly Obese Pregnant Patient

There is an ongoing obesity epidemic in the United States, with more than 1/3 of Americans being classified as overweight or obese. Approximately 20% of pregnant women are diagnosed as obese by antenatal body mass index. The physiologic changes associated with both pregnancy and obesity can have negative impacts on the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and hematologic systems. Morbid obesity in pregnancy is associated with worsened morbidity and mortality for both mother and fetus, including higher rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, thromboembolic disease, and need for operative delivery. Obesity also complicates the anesthetic management for both vaginal and cesarean delivery, including increased risks of difficult neuraxial placement, neuraxial catheter failure, and difficult airway.
Timing of household food insecurity exposures and asthma in a cohort of US school-aged children

Objective Food insecurity is positively associated with asthma, the most common chronic childhood disease, yet directionality is unclear. The objective was to determine the association between exposure to food insecurity in early childhood and the odds of asthma later in childhood. Design Data from four waves of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten (ECLS-K) cohort, a prospective, dual-frame, multistage probability cluster sampling study of school-aged US children were entered in multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for covariates. Exposures to food insecurity were based on parental responses to the validated USDA 18-item module at each wave. Setting Public and private primary and secondary schools between 1998 and 2007. Participants At its inception (1999), the ECLS-K had 20 578 kindergarteners; by the spring of eighth grade (2007), the cohort dropped to 9725 due to attrition. Children missing an exposure, outcome or confounding variable were excluded, final n=6731. Primary outcome measure Child’s diagnosis of asthma by a healthcare professional as reported by the parent. Results Household food insecurity (vs food security) in the year before kindergarten and in second grade had a higher odds of asthma by 18% (95% CI 1.17 to 1.20) and 55% (95% CI 1.51 to 1.55). After removing asthmatics before third grade from the model, food insecurity in second grade was associated with higher odds of asthma at fifth or eighth grades (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.53 to 1.58), whereas food insecurity in the year before kindergarten had a lower odds at fifth or eighth grades. Conclusions Food insecurity in the year before kindergarten and in second grade were associated with a higher odds of asthma in third grade. Food insecurity in second grade retained the signal for increased odds of asthma after third and through eighth grades. Additional research is needed to explore childhood windows of vulnerability to asthma.
A Simple Upper Bound on the Number of Antichains in [ t ] n

In this paper for t > 2 and n > 2, we give a simple upper bound on a ([t]n), the number of antichains in chain product poset [t]n. When t = 2, the problem reduces to classical Dedekind’s problem posed in 1897 and studied extensively afterwards. However few upper bounds have been proposed for t > 2 and n > 2. The new bound is derived with straightforward extension of bracketing decomposition used by Hansel for bound $3^{n\choose \lfloor n/2\rfloor }$ for classical Dedekind’s problem. To our best knowledge, our new bound is the best when ${\Theta }\left (\left (\log _{2}t\right )^{2}\right )=\frac {6t^{4}\left (\log _{2}\left (t + 1\right )\right )^{2}}{\pi \left (t^{2}-1\right )\left (2t-\frac {1}{2}\log _{2}\left (\pi t\right )\right )^{2}}<n$ and $t=\omega \left (\frac {n^{1/8}}{\left (\log _{2}n\right )^{3/4}}\right )$.
Porphyria cutanea tarda: Recent update.

Abstract Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common human porphyria, due to hepatic deficiency of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD), which is acquired in the presence of iron overload and various susceptibility factors, such as alcohol abuse, smoking, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, HIV infection, iron overload with HFE gene mutations, use of estrogens, and UROD mutation. Patients with familial or type II PCT due to autosomal dominant UROD mutation also require other susceptibility factors, as the disease phenotype requires hepatic UROD deficiency to below 20% of normal. PCT clinically manifests with increased skin fragility and blistering skin lesions on sun exposed areas. The common age of presentation is 5th to 6th decade and occurs slightly more commonly in males. Although mild liver biochemical profile are common, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can occasionally develop. Screening for HCC using ultrasound examination is recommended in PCT patients, especially with cirrhosis and advanced fibrosis. PCT is effectively and readily treatable with the use of either repeated phlebotomy or use of 100 mg hydroxychloroquine orally twice a week, and both the treatments are equally effective and safe. With the advent of new or direct antiviral agents for HCV infection, treatment of concomitant HCV has become safer and effective. Data are emerging on the benefit of these drugs as monotherapy for both PCT and HCV. After the achievement of remission of PCT, there remains a potential for relapse, especially when the susceptibility factors are not adequately controlled. Scanty data from retrospective and observational studies shows the relapse rate to be somewhat higher after remission with low-dose hydroxychloroquine as compared to phlebotomy induced remission. Future studies are needed on exploring mechanism of action of 4-aminoquinolines, understanding interaction of HCV and PCT, and relapse of PCT on long-term follow-up.
Return of the WIMP: Missing energy signals and the Galactic Center excess

In a recent work, we emphasized that an excess in trilepton events plus missing energy observed by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC could be interpreted as a signal of low-energy supersymmetry. In such a scenario the lightest neutralino mass is approximately ${m}_{\ensuremath{\chi}}\ensuremath{\simeq}60\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$ and the direct dark matter detection cross section is naturally below the current bound. In this work we present simple extensions of this scenario that lead to an explanation of the gamma-ray excess at the center of the Galaxy observed by Fermi-LAT, as well as the antiproton excess observed by AMS-02. These extensions include the addition of a small $CP$-violating phase in the neutralino sector or the addition of a light $CP$-odd Higgs scalar. Our study is of special relevance in view of a recent analysis that casts doubt on the previously accepted preference for millisecond pulsars as the origin of the Galactic Center excess.
Fluorous synthesis of biaryl-substituted proline analogs by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and Suzuki coupling reactions

A solution-phase synthesis of bicyclic prolines containing four points of diversity has been developed by a two-step synthesis involving 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of perfluoroalkylsulfonyl-protected hydroxybenzaldehydes followed by Pd-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction of fluorous sulfonates with boronic acids. Both reactions are conducted under microwave irradiation and reaction mixtures are purified by solid-phase extractions without performing chromatography.
MRI/CCT Fusion into Fluoroscopic Imaging

The combination of an EAM system and a CCT/cMRI is able to provide real-time information with regard to catheter position; however, this approach requires registration of two different models with different appearance. Furthermore, EAM systems are dedicated, expensive, and require operator familiarity with its function and display modalities. Registration of CCT/cMRI with fluoroscopy-based systems has several benefits. Advantages related to fluoroscopy-based systems are its widespread use and the familiarity of its images to most electrophysiologists. Some of the disadvantages are related to the low soft-tissue resolution, images that are 2D projections, and high exposure to ionizing radiation from X-rays. CCT and cMRI have the capability to provide very high quality and resolution imaging which can be processed to generate 3D renderings or models of the cardiac chamber selected in great detail. Disadvantages are related to the use of contrast to delineate the endocardial surface of the cardiac chambers, the inability to reliably image patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators (cMRI), and exposure to ionizing radiation (CCT), among others. Potential pitfalls related to this newer methodology are related to difficulty performing an accurate registration and potentially double exposure to ionizing radiation (if CCT is used).
Retail store churn and performance – The moderating role of sales amplitude and unpredictability

Abstract One of the key decision making processes for retailer performance is optimizing store locations which involves both the opening and closing of stores, or store churn. With the recent challenges in the retail industry illustrated by failing retailers and massive store closures, the discussion of the value or detriment of store churn is at the forefront, yet limited studies shed light on this important aspect of retail performance. Drawing on Dynamic Decision Making framework, using a longitudinal sample we investigate whether store churn generates negative or positive returns and if two environmental factors relevant to the retail industry—amplitude and unpredictability of seasonally adjusted industry quarterly sales—influence the relationship between store churn and performance. In a sample of 115 publicly traded retail chains in the US between the first quarter of 1986 to the first quarter of 2017, we found that store churn has a positive but small overall effect on performance and that under conditions of lower levels of amplitude or low unpredictability of industry sales, the small direct effect of store churn becomes a much greater positive effect. The findings show that, amongst a mature population of retailers, store churn in the face of lower amplitude and unpredictability may lead to higher returns.
In vivo applications of chemogenetics in redox (patho)biology

Abstract The recently coined term “chemogenetics” is used to describe experimental systems in which the activity of a recombinant protein can be dynamically regulated inside a cell by providing or withholding the protein’s specific biochemical stimulus (e.g., a receptor’s ligand or an enzyme’s substrate). The combination of chemogenetic approaches with novel biosensor methodologies has opened up powerful new lines of investigation in model systems that are permitting the analysis of intracellular dynamics of oxidants that modulate cell signaling and patholophysiology. This chapter presents both theoretical and practical aspects of exploiting chemogenetic approaches and genetically encoded biosensors in vivo to generate oxidative stress and to dissect oxidant-modulated signaling pathways in animal models.
Detecting spatial susceptibility to cardiac toxicity of radiation therapy for lung cancer

Radiation therapy (RT) is a commonly used approach for treating lung cancer. Because the lungs are close to the heart, radiation dose may inevitably spill to the heart, causing heart damage and dim...
Exploring the behavior of supercontinuum laser sources in atmospheric turbulence

Atmospheric propagation experiments have been conducted over the 1km TISTEF laser range to examine the effects of turbulence, absorption and scattering on a supercontinuum laser beam. This supercontinuum laser beam has been band limited to transmit only visible wavelengths (400-850 nm). In this work, the effects of atmospheric turbulence on the supercontinuum laser will be examined.
Wound Dressings – A Practical Review

There are currently thousands of wound dressing products and materials available on the market. Despite the wide selection, there is no universally superior dressing, which prompts healthcare providers to choose materials that are most suitable to each particular case. This review provides an overview of various types of wound dressings, suggested uses, and recent advancements. Modern dressings have evolved to encompass an expansive array of semipermeable films and foams, hydrofibers, hydrogels, hydrocolloids, and alginates. Recent studies have investigated new technologies such as electrospun biopolymer nanofibers to create sprayable dressings while also exploring new roles for traditional materials such as honey and other non-synthetic derivatives. Wound presentations are diverse and require unique materials to best accommodate their respective healing processes. Future research is aimed at improving versatility and effectiveness of existing wound dressings while also investigating innovative therapeutic approaches to better manage challenging, non-healing wounds.
Homogenization of the Mooney-Rivlin coefficients of graphene-based soft sandwich nanocomposites

This paper presents an investigation into the homogenization of the nonlinear behavior of graphene-based soft sandwich nanocomposites via the rule of mixtures (ROM). These composites consist of soft polymers embedded with large contiguous graphene films with unit atomic thickness. They have a representative volume element with a sandwich construction exhibiting in-plane isotropy. Their unique characteristic is that they consist of a matrix and reinforcement which both behave nonlinearly. In this work, the in-plane mechanical behavior of both constituents as well as the composite is modeled via the compressible Mooney-Rivlin (MR) constitutive model. Two approaches to homogenize this nonlinear behavior are considered. The first approach, referred to as the linear ROM, applies the ROM to the initial tangent moduli of the constituents, and derives the composite’s MR coefficients from the homogenized initial tangent modulus. The second approach, referred to as the nonlinear ROM, builds on Ogden’s bounds on the strain energy density, and applies the ROM directly to the MR coefficients of the constituents to derive the composite’s MR coefficients. The predictions from both approaches are compared to the embedded element (EE) technique in Abaqus which enforces a kinematic constraint between the explicitly modeled constituents resulting in a parallel model. It is demonstrated that the nonlinear ROM approach properly homogenizes the entire nonlinear stress-stretch curve (both normal and shear), including the nonlinear Poisson effects, and embodies the correct strain energy density (SED). The linear ROM predicts reasonably the normal stress-stretch curve and the SED, but it does not capture Poisson’s ratio and the shear response well and therefore is not recommended. The nonlinear ROM is found to work for a wide range of stretch values, various reinforcement volume fractions, and loading conditions, especially for high stiffness ratios. For lower stiffness ratios (i.e., for a stiffer matrix), the nonlinear stress-stretch curves (normal and shear) and the SED are captured well by the nonlinear ROM, but not the out of plane Poisson effects, due to the assumed isotropy in the Mooney-Rivlin model. Finally, an analogous approach to determine the variational Hashin-Shtrikman bounds on the homogenized Mooney-Rivlin constants is proposed. These variational bounds are found to be tighter compared to the Voigt and Reuss bounds as expected.
Group Shear Wave Speed Viscoelastic Analysis using 3D Rotational Volumetric Shear Wave Imaging in Relaxed and Contracted in vivo Muscle

To characterize muscle tissue as a viscoelastic transversely isotropic material, we use rotational volumetric shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) and group speed viscoelastic analysis. We performed these measurements in vivo in the vastus lateralis of two healthy volunteers, both at rest and in varying degrees of contraction. We found a high degree of repeatability in our at rest elasticity measurements, determining that the stiffness along the fibers is higher than across the fibers. The viscosity at rest is approximately equal and low in both directions. In our contraction analysis, we found that stiffness increases substantially along the fibers and increases slightly across the fibers with increasing contraction. No clear trends were observed between viscosity and contraction level. Future work will improve the method of model-based viscoelastic characterization within the context of transversely isotropic materials and expand this analysis to more subjects.
The Lung Macroautophagy Substrate Proteome: A SYSTEMS BIOLOGY Analysis

Rationale: Macroautophagy is a lysosome-based catabolic process that is implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. Although macroautophagy is ubiquitous, its physiologic role may be speci...
CHAPTER 10 – Peritoneal Lesions Related to Ovarian Neoplasms

This chapter emphasizes on peritoneal lesions associated with ovarian neoplasms. The chapter particularly focuses on benign and malignant lesions. Benign lesion is defined as the presence of endometrial epithelium, stroma, and blood vessels in an ectopic location, outside the uterine body. Ovarian endometriosis is the most common ectopic site. Endometriosis is found in women of reproductive age and is often presented with infertility or delayed pregnancy. Another type of benign lesion is the endosalpingiosis lesion which is characterized by the presence of benign tubular structures resembling mullerian epithelium, throughout the pelvic and abdominal cavity. Endosalpingiosis generally represents a multifocal metaplastic process arising from the peritoneal mesothelium. Furthermore, malignant mesothelioma originates in peritoneal mesothelium and is rather an uncommon neoplasm, affecting mostly male patients, with a proven etiopathogenic association with asbestos exposure, and involving the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Second look operations for ovarian cancer are performed with the purpose of identifying minimal or microscopic disease after chemotherapy in order to re-treat those patients.
On Precedent and Progeny: A Response to Professor Gabriel J. Chin's 'Unexplainable on Grounds of Race' - Doubts About Yick Wo

Although Yick Wo v. Hopkins is celebrated as a classic equal protection case, establishing the rule against discriminatory prosecutions, Professor Gabriel Chin lamented that it was the first and last case that invalidated a racially-motivated criminal prosecution and did so not based on race, but because the property interest at state was constitutionally protected. In an invited Response to Professor Chin’s criticism, this Article disagrees with his criticism of Yick Wo. Focusing so heavily on Yick Wo and its lack of progeny ignore the true brokers of constitutional protections or minimizing them as an afterthought: the Court (which, strangely, ignored its own precedent, allowing it to remain dormant and waft into desuetude, despite repeated citation of it by lower courts) and, to a lesser extent, criminal prosecutors (whose unchecked discretion allows the freedom not to bring charges). Given the Court’s incubation in an immature country with a well-documented history of eschewing of racial equality, it is little wonder that despite Yick Wo’s availability as a tool that could be deployed in a rejection of segregation on the merits, it was not. Nevertheless, that Yick Wo was decided and continues to be hailed as a seminal decision in equal protection law and lore, it remains difficult to argue convincingly that the cause of justice would have been advanced, had Yick Wo never been decided.
Groundwater Vulnerability to Pesticides: An Overview of Approaches and Methods of Evaluation

The word pesticide is a general term used to refer to the chemicals that are employed to control pests. In many areas of the world, successful agriculture depends on both pesticides and irrigation. The combination of repeated pesticide applications and irrigation over large nonpoint source areas often leads to leaching through the vadose zone and, subsequently, to groundwater contamination. For effective regulation and/or remediation, it is important to assess the vulnerability of valuable groundwater resources to contamination from widespread pesticide applications. The use of mathematical models for assessing groundwater vulnerability fills information gaps, identifies critical areas and pesticides for future monitoring, and provides the “what if” capability needed for both regulation and remediation. The uncertainty in chemical, climatic, and soil databases must be considered in assessing the vulnerability of groundwater to contamination from pesticides. Results from the Fresno case study, for the DBCP groundwater contamination problem in California's San Joaquin Valley, are discussed. The objective of the Fresno case study was to determine, from a simulation perspective, if label recommended nonpoint source applications were likely to be the principal source of the DBCP groundwater contamination in Fresno County. The relatively unique characteristic of the Fresno case study is that both the unsaturated near surface and the saturated subsurface were considered. Keywords: pesticides; groundwater vulnerability; modeling; uncertainty; Fresno case study
Simian virus 40 small-t antigen binds two zinc ions.

Abstract Six cysteine residues of the simian virus 40 small-t antigen (small-t) are important for stability of the protein. Stability has been shown to be related to the ability of small-t to bind zinc ions in vitro. Purified small-t expressed either in bacteria or from baculovirus vectors binds two molecules of zinc per molecule of protein. Thus, small-t may resemble GAL4, which contains a Zn(II)2Cys6 binuclear cluster.
A Private Ordering Solution to Blockholder Disclosure

The recent debate over reforming the Securities Exchange Act section 13(d) ten-day filing window demonstrates the importance of balancing the costs and benefits of delayed blockholder disclosure. While hedge fund activism may create shareholder value, short-termism is a very real problem for firms today. Rather than a rigid mandatory rule, the duration of the blockholder disclosure window should be set through a shareholder amendment to the corporate bylaws that empowers shareholders to set an optimal maximum length for each firm. To internalize the social cost of trading on asymmetric information, the SEC should impose a filing fee on blockholders utilizing the delayed disclosure window and use the proceeds to compensate investors who sold shares while a blockholder engaged in a stealth accumulation.
Transport of Vitamin B12 in Escherichia coli: Genetic Studies

The chromosomal location of two genetic loci involved in the transport of cyanocobalamin (B12) in Escherichia coli K-12 was determined. One gene, btuA, is believed to code for the transport protein in the cytoplasmic membrane, because a mutant with an alteration in this gene has lost the ability to accumulate B12 within the cell although normal levels of the surface receptors for B12 are present. The other locus, btuB, apparently codes for the surface receptor on the outer membrane. These mutants have lost the ability to bind B12 and have greatly reduced transport activity, although growth experiments have shown that they can utilize B12 for growth, but with decreased efficiency. This surface receptor for B12 also appears to function as the receptor for the E colicins, because btuB mutants are resistant to the E colicins, and mutants selected for resistance to colicin E1 are defective in B12 binding and transport. The gene order was determined by transduction analysis to be cyc-argH-btuA-btuB-rif-purD. In addition, mutations in metH, the gene for the B12-dependent homocysteine methylating enzyme, were obtained in this study. This gene was localized between metA and malB.
Inheritance of Chlorophyll Characters in Sorghum.

So many recessive chlorophyll characters among plants have been reported pon in recent years that the recorded instances of such defects are almost innumerable. These characters may be lethal in their effect upon the homozygote or affect only a reduction of the chlorophyll with consequent retarded development of the plant. Chlorophyll deficiencies have been found most frequently in maize, the most notable accounts being the eminent work of EMERSONL,I NDSTROMDE, MERECa,n d others in reporting upon the inheritance and linkage relations of this large group of characters. A few similar recessives have also been found in such crops as wheat, barley, rice, and cotton. They have not thus far been reported in sorghum, however, except in a preliminary report of the occurrence of white seedlings (CONNERan d KARPER1 924), the inheritance of which is given here more fully
Broadening the Approach to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and the Consequences of Trauma.

Military personnel are at particularly high risk of PTSD because deployments to combat zones increase the risk of exposure to trauma. The effects of PTSD on military and civilian patients, their families, and society in general can be profound. Posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with increased risks of sui
Na-K-Cl Cotransporter Contributes to Glutamate-Mediated Excitotoxicity

We hypothesized that cation-dependent Cl- transport protein Na-K-Cl cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) plays a role in the disruption of ion homeostasis in cerebral ischemia. In the current study, a role for NKCC1 in neuronal death was elucidated in neurotoxicity induced by glutamate and oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Incubation of cortical neurons cultured for 14-15 d in vitro (DIV) with 100 microm glutamate for 24 hr resulted in 50% cell death. Three hours of OGD followed by 21 hr of reoxygenation led to 70% cell death. Inhibition of NMDA receptors with dizocilpine hydrogen maleate (1 microm) prevented both OGD- and glutamate-mediated cell death. Moreover, blocking of NKCC1 activity with bumetanide (5-10 microm) abolished glutamate- or OGD-induced neurotoxicity. Bumetanide was ineffective if added after 10-120 min of glutamate incubation or 3-6 hr of OGD treatment. Accumulation of intracellular Na+ and 36Cl content after NMDA receptor activation was inhibited by bumetanide. Blockage of NKCC1 significantly attenuated cell swelling after OGD or NMDA receptor activation. This neuroprotection was age dependent. Inhibition of NKCC1 did not protect DIV 7-8 neurons against OGD-mediated cell death. In contrast, cell death in DIV 7-8 neurons was prevented by the protein-synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. Taken together, the results suggest that NKCC1 activity is involved in the acute excitotoxicity as a result of excessive Na+ and Cl- entry and disruption of ion homeostasis.
Moral Injury, Meaning Making, and Mental Health in Returning Veterans

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether exposure to morally injurious experiences (MIEs) contribute to mental health problems among returning Veterans via meaning made of possible traumas. METHOD: A total of 131 Iraq and/or Afghanistan Veterans completed assessments of exposure to possible warzone traumas, meaning made of a salient stressor from their lives, and mental health symptomatology (e.g., posttraumatic stress, depression, suicidality). RESULTS: Structural equation modeling findings revealed that MIEs were indirectly linked with mental health outcomes via the extent to which Veterans were able to make meaning of their identified stressors. However, we also found that the direct path from MIEs to mental health problems was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: These findings provide preliminary evidence that difficulties with meaning making could serve as a mediating pathway for how MIEs increase the risk for adjustment problems after warzone service, but that other factors associated with moral injury also have a bearing on psychological functioning among Veterans. Language: en
Enazine chemistry II. The mechanism of formation of 1-(cis-3-phenylpropenyl)-5-phenylpyrazole from the pyrolysis of cinnamaldehyde azine†

The mechanism of pyrazole formation from the thermolysis of α,β-unsaturated azines has been examined by both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. The reaction exhibits a large negative entropy of activation, a large primary isotope effect and a positive slope in a Hammett study on cinnamaldehyde derivatives. The reaction was shown to be cleanly intramolecular and was also unaffected by radical traps. A mechanism involving intramolecular 1-5 abstraction of a proton is presented, which accounts for all of the experimental data.