cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Qualitative Study of Factors Facilitating Clinical Nurse Engagement in Emergency Department Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Prevention.

Objective The aim of this study was to explore the actions of nurse leaders that facilitated clinical nurses' active involvement in emergency department (ED) catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention programs. Background Hospitals face increasing financial pressures to reduce CAUTI. Urinary catheters, often inserted in the ED, expose patients to CAUTI risk. Nurses are the principal champions of ED CAUTI prevention programs. Methods This was a qualitative analysis from a multisite, comparative case study project. A total of 52 interviews and 9 focus groups were analyzed across 6 enrolled EDs. Using a conventional content analysis, members of the research team coded data and developed site summaries to describe themes that had emerged across transcripts. Subsequently, all codes and site summaries were reviewed to identify the actions of nurse leaders that facilitated clinical nurses' engagement in CAUTI prevention efforts. Results Nurse leaders were the principal champions of CAUTI prevention programs and successfully engaged clinical nurses in CAUTI prevention efforts by (1) reframing urinary catheters as a source of potential patient harm; (2) empowering clinical nurses to identify and address CAUTI improvement opportunities; (3) fostering a culture of teamwork, which facilitated interdisciplinary communication around urinary catheter appropriateness and alternatives; and (4) holding clinical nurses accountable for CAUTI process and outcome measures. Conclusions The prevention of CAUTI is an important opportunity for nurse leaders to engage clinical nurses in meaningful improvement efforts. Clinical nurses are best positioned to examine urinary catheter insertion workflow and to suggest improvements in avoiding use and improving placement and maintenance. To engage clinical nurses in CAUTI prevention, nurse leaders should focus on how urinary catheters expose patients to potential harm, involve nurses in designing and implementing practice changes, and provide local data to show the impact of nursing practices on patient outcomes.
A predictive model to forecast customer adoption of rooftop solar

This study was designed to explore the overarching research question “How can we forecast residential solar rooftop adoption?” In order to answer this question, we utilized big data tools to forecast residential solar rooftop adoption likelihood based on both customer demographics and expenditure data. A model was developed utilizing SPSS, Azure, and ArcMap 10.3 software to yield an accurate prediction of household profiles likely to adopt solar rooftops. The study revealed a total of ten variables that significantly impact homeowners' decisions regarding whether or not to install solar rooftops. These ten variables accounted for around 23 or 24 percent of solar adoption variances. Importantly, this predictive analysis can be applied for all Energy Informatics use types; however, we focused on the residential parcel type located within LA County due largely to data availability. Future research is needed to expand on this analysis and to include the whole state of California, as to apply this analysis to other Energy Informatics cases, such as commercial properties and factories.
New Exact Solutions of Einstein and Qmoger Equations as Alternative to Big Bang

New exact analytical solutions of Einstein and Qmoger (quantum modification of general relativity) equations are obtained in the context an alternative to the Big Bang theory.
Ecological dynamics and co-occurrence among marine phytoplankton, bacteria and myoviruses shows microdiversity matters

Ecological dynamics and co-occurrence among marine phytoplankton, bacteria and myoviruses shows microdiversity matters
Isotype Specific Immunoregulation: Role of FcαR + T Cells and IBFα in IgA Responses

T cell subsets which express Fc receptors for immunoglobulin (FcR) are important in isotype-specific regulation of B cell responses (1). These FcR+ T cells secrete isotype-specific immunoglobulin binding factors (IBF) which recognize specific Fc regions of immunoglobulin (Ig) and IBF can up or down regulate B cell antibody synthesis in these Ig classes. In this regard, allo-activated T cells which bear Fc receptors for IgG (FcγR) and the T2D4 T cell line (FcγR+ and FcαR+) release IgG binding factor (IBFγ) and suppress this isotype for in vitro responses (2). In the IgE system, Fc receptors for IgE (FceR) occur on T cells which regulate this isotype response via production of either enhancing or suppressive IgE binding factors (IBFe) (3). Both potentiating and suppressive IBFe are similar in size (Mr ~15,000). They contain a common protein core, and the degree of glycosylation determines whether IBFe enhances or suppresses the IgE responses.
An Experimental Study of Diesel Spray Impingement on a Flat Plate: Effects of Injection Conditions

Advanced injection strategies for internal combustion engines have been extensively studied although there stillexists a significant fundamental knowledge gap on the mechanism for high-pressure spray interaction with the piston surface and chamber wall in the internal combustion engine. The current study focuses on providing qualitative and quantitative information on spray-wall impingement and its characteristics by expanding the range of operating parameters under engine-like conditions. Parameters considered in the experiment are ambient gas and fuel injection conditions. The test included the non-vaporizing spray at the different ambient density (14.8, 22.8 and 30 kg/m3) and injection pressure (1200, 1500 and 1800 bar) with the isothermal condition (ambient, and plate temperatures of 423 K). The test was conducted in the constant-volume vessel with the 60-degree impinging spray angle relative to the plate. The free spray and impinged spray properties were qualitatively analysed based on Mie and schlieren images. The results showed that the lower ambient density and higher injection pressure tended to result in relatively higher impinged spray height. The expanding shape of the impinged spray on the wall showedthe oval shape. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/ILASS2017.2017.4733
“Asia” at Bretton Woods: India, China, and Australasia in Comparative Perspective

Contrary to past scholarship, this chapter argues that the Bretton Woods Conference of 1944 was the site of an important, and surprising, North–South dialogue. India, the only nonindependent delegation, advocated greater quotas in the International Monetary Fund for less-developed countries, while China argued that the IMF’s mandate should include development and industrialization. Australia and New Zealand also supported more voting equality and the development mandate, and added their own proposals for improving commodity producers’ terms-of-trade. Thus, development was discussed at the Bretton Woods Conference; the most powerful newly industrialized economies of today, India and China, were key advocates for it; and Australia and New Zealand played important roles in forcing transatlantic powers to acknowledge it.
Levels of Urine Cotinine from Hookah Smoking and Exposure to Hookah Tobacco Secondhand Smoke in Hookah Lounges and Homes.

Background: Nicotine, an addictive drug, is present in all forms of tobacco products, including hookah tobacco, which is not yet regulated in the United States. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the uptake of nicotine in hookah smokers and non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) at indoor hookah social events in natural settings where hookah tobacco was smoked exclusively. Patients and Methods: We quantified cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, in the urine of 105 hookah smokers and 103 non-smokers. Participants provided spot urine samples the morning of and the morning after attending an indoor hookah-only smoking social event at a hookah lounge or in a private home. Results: Following a social event where exclusively hookah tobacco was smoked, urinary cotinine levels increased significantly 8.5 times (geometric mean (GM): 16.0 ng/mg to 136.1 ng/mg) among hookah smokers, and 2.5 times (GM: 0.4 ng/mg to 1.0 ng/mg) among non-smokers exposed exclusively to hookah tobacco SHS. Among hookah smokers, the highest increase in urinary cotinine levels post a hookah event was found in occasional hookah smokers in which GM levels increased significantly 31.2 times post smoking (from 2.0 ng/mg to 62.3 ng/mg). Reported reasons for preference to smoke hookah at home by hookah smokers who attended a hookah social event in a private home included recreational purposes, socializing with friends and family, ‘Me’ time and relaxing at home, more comfortable to smoke hookah at home, owning a hookah and hookah tobacco, eating and drinking while smoking hookah, and saving money by smoking at home and not going to hookah lounges. Conclusions: Hookah tobacco smoke is a source of substantial nicotine exposure. Our results call for protecting hookah smokers’ and non-smokers’ health by requiring accurate hookah tobacco labels, raising taxes on hookah tobacco, reducing the spread of hookah lounges, and encouraging voluntary bans on smoking hookah tobacco in private homes.
Imaging c-MYC driven cancer metabolism with 18F-(2S,4R)4-fluoroglutamine

394 Objectives An emerging hallmark of cancer is that cell metabolism is reprogrammed in order to meet a cancer cell9s massive needs for cellular energy and substrates. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR oncogenic pathway has been implicated in "glucose addiction," and the transcription factor c-Myc has been linked to "glutamine addiction." “Glucose addiction” has been exploited in the clinic via 18F-FDG/PET imaging. However, heterogeneity exists across different cancer types regarding nutrient addiction, and a significant percentage of cancer patients imaged with 18F-FDG/PET turn up false negative scans. Recently, our lab developed a PET tracer for mapping glutaminolytic tumors, 18F-(2S,4R)4-fluoroglutamine, and demonstrated that it is selectively taken up by tumor cells. Here, we define the connections between cancer cell c-Myc expression, 18F-(2S,4R)4-fluoroglutamine uptake, 18F-FDG/PET uptake, and glutamine transporter expression in tumor cells. Methods The P493-6 Burkitt’s lymphoma cell line, which features high c-Myc expression that is repressible with tetracycline treatment, allowed us to easily modulate the level of c-Myc. We compared 18F-(2S,4R)4-fluoroglutamine/FDG uptake in P493-6 cells cultured with “LOW Myc” and “HIGH Myc” settings. Western blot analyses were performed to determine the protein levels of c-Myc and the known glutamine transporters in both Myc settings. Results It was demonstrated that 18F-(2S,4R)4-fluoroglutamine uptake is increased in the HIGH Myc setting when compared to the LOW Myc setting, and that tracer uptake is higher than that of 18F-FDG/PET in the HIGH Myc setting. Furthermore, we demonstrated that both 18F-(2S,4R)4-fluoroglutamine uptake and c-Myc expression are positively correlated with the protein expression levels of the ASCT2 and LAT1 glutamine transporters in tumor cells. Conclusions These data provide support for the clinical use of 18F-(2S,4R)4-fluoroglutamine as a metabolic imaging tracer for c-Myc driven tumors that cannot be imaged with traditional 18F-FDG/PET.
Construction of Linear Empirical Core Models for Pressurized Water Reactor In-Core Fuel Management

An empirical core model construction procedure for pressurized water reactor (PWR) in-core fuel management problems is presented that (a) incorporates the effect of composition changes in all the control zones in the core of a given fuel assembly, (b) is valid at all times during the cycle for a given range of control variables, (c) allows determining the optimal beginning of cycle (BOC) kappainfinity distribution as a single linear programming problem,and (d) provides flexibility in the choice of the material zones to describe core composition. Although the modeling procedure assumes zero BOC burnup, the predicted optimal kappainfinity profiles are also applicable to reload cores. In model construction, assembly power fractions and burnup increments during the cycle are regarded as the state (i.e., dependent) variables. Zone enrichments are the control (i.e., independent) variables. The model construction procedure is validated and implemented for the initial core of a PWR to determine the optimal BOC kappainfinity profiles for two three-zone scatter loading schemes. The predicted BOC kappainfinity profiles agree with the results of other investigators obtained by different modeling techniques.
Urban Waterfront Revitalization

This paper provides an historical overview of the rise and fall…and rise again… of waterfronts in American cities. After examining the role of waterfronts in early American history, it traces factors contributing to the decline of urban waterfronts beginning in the late nineteenth century and factors contributing to the rediscovery of waterfronts since the Second World War. Finally, it highlights the importance of citizen participation in planning for revitalization of urban waterfronts.
A MYSTERIOUS CASE OF RIGHT VENTRICULAR FAILURE

The optimal strategy for acute mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in isolated right ventricular (RV) failure is unknown. Here we present a case of isolated acute RV failure with cardiogenic shock supported with an Impella RP to complete RV recovery. A thirty-five-year-old male with a past medical
Secondary health conditions and social role satisfaction in adults with long-term physical disability.

Objective Individuals living with physical disability due to early acquired or traumatic conditions often experience a range of psychological and physical health problems that are associated with their condition but are not directly caused by it. Known as "secondary health conditions," these problems can interact with existing functional limitations and other medical comorbidities to limit social participation. The current study assessed the concurrent and longitudinal associations between secondary health conditions, chronic medical comorbidities, and functional limitations, with a PROMIS® measure of social role participation. Methods A longitudinal survey study of community-dwelling adults with one of four chronic physical conditions (multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, postpoliomyelitis syndrome). The baseline survey (T1) was mailed to 2041 individuals, and1862 baseline surveys were completed and returned (91% response rate). The follow-up survey (T2) was mailed roughly three years later; 1594 completed and returned the T2 survey (86% of T1 survey completers). Results Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that secondary health conditions, functional impairments, and chronic medical comorbidities accounted for 52% of the variance in satisfaction with social roles concurrently at T1. The amount of variance of change in satisfaction with social roles over the ∼3-year period accounted for by these variables was 3%. Functional limitations and more psychologically oriented secondary conditions were the strongest predictors of satisfaction with social roles. Conclusions Findings suggest that, for people with disabilities, addressing psychologically oriented secondary health conditions may be as important as functional impairment in predicting long-term social health. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
The Impact Of Military Parents’ Injuries On The Health And Well-Being Of Their Children

Parental injuries and illnesses affect child and family life. We hypothesized that military parental injury would adversely affect children’s preventive care, injuries, maltreatment, mental health ...
The Spine of Early Pleistocene Homo

In this chapter, we summarize vertebral remains from early Pleistocene Homo, including H. erectus, as well as H. naledi and H. floresiensis fossils from the Middle and Late Pleistocene, respectively. Two partial immature H. erectus skeletons where vertebrae are well represented are KNM-WT 15000 (“Turkana boy”) and the D2700 individual from Dmanisi. Vertebrae from H. naledi are also considered here, including those from the LES1 partial skeleton (“Neo”), despite their younger date to the Middle Pleistocene. We review the fossil record of presacral vertebrae in early Homo, and summarize work on the functional morphology, metameric patterning, and postcranial neuroanatomy of early Homo, comparing and contrasting the presacral spine with their putative australopith forbears and extant apes and humans. Based on the current evidence, the vertebral column of H. erectus possessed a modal number of twelve thoracic and five lumbar segments, as is the case in australopiths, as well as modern humans. The spine of H. erectus reveals key changes relative to earlier hominins, with an expanded thoracolumbar spinal canal offering increased neurovascular capacities, and a ventral pillar (formed by the vertebral bodies) better equipped to mitigate compressive loads and provide energy return. These biological developments are germane to understanding the advent of derived human behaviors, including efficient long-range locomotion and the first hominin expansion out of Africa.
An overview of silicon photonics for LIDAR

Automotive self-driving capability is highly developed using camera vision but can benefit from the addition of independent sensor platforms for redundancy and further reduction of MTBF (mean time between failure). Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) is particularly suited to this application by virtue of its capability to directly detect velocity as well as range with high resolution. However, such a system requires the dense integration of multiple optical components including lasers, amplifiers, phase and amplitude control low-noise photodiodes, mode converters, and optical waveguides. These must further be integrated in a compact form factor that can be manufactured in high volume. Silicon photonics using the Intel Hybrid Silicon platform can enable such optical integration on a silicon chip in a scalable high-volume manufacturing process, thus enabling chip-scale solid-state LIDAR.
Mast cell activation syndrome.

ABSTRACT Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a systemic autoinflammatory disease in which mast cells behave erratically. It is unknown whether MCAS recently evolved or if it has been an unrecognized entity for years. Clinically, the patient may present in a constant to near-constant state of allergic reaction. However, the patient may also present with a variety of nonallergic symptoms. There is currently no curative treatment, and providers must prepare to be persistent in seeking symptom-management strategies. This case study describes the vast array of symptoms a typical MCAS patient may exhibit. There is a need for provider education and awareness of this disease that could affect up to 17% of the population on a spectrum from very mild to debilitating symptoms. MCAS is often either misdiagnosed or the diagnosis is greatly delayed due to a lack of provider awareness. Patients may approach primary care providers as their first line of treatment for their aberrant, mysterious symptoms, and therefore it is imperative that nurse practitioners are aware of the disease. Nurse practitioners can play a vital role in the management of MCAS using their attention to detail to recognize patterns, validate patients' experiences, and have a voice in diagnostic criteria consensus.
Wavefront design for improved performance by entangled systems

Wavefronts for single and multiple photons are derived and combined with quantum hyper-entanglement, multiphoton entanglement, and network properties. Each node of the network will transmit at least one signal and one ancilla photon in a hyper-entangled state. Parameters used for hyper-entanglement will include photon polarization, energy-time, orbital angular momentum (OAM), radial quantum number, etc. as well as up to 12 parameters characterizing the wavefront properties. These parameters arise from using Lie algebra techniques to solve the paraxial wave equation. Eigenfunctions of operators associated with each 2D paraxial wave equation will be determined each being a function of up to six parameters. The resulting wavefronts will be shown in some cases to be propagation invariant and have the self-healing property. The free parameters of the derived wavefront will offer a programmable wavefront that will permit better imaging around obstacles and reduced propagation loss. Unlike the results found in the literature the free parameters will permit photonic trajectories to be programmed for better performance. Parabolic trajectories, i.e. ones with quadratic terms will emerge as well as those with cubic or higher degree terms. This will further facilitate imaging around obstacles. The same wavefront or combinations of wavefronts can be applied to multiple signal photons to combine hyper-entanglement with multiphoton entanglement offering additional performance improvements. Wavefront engineering can be applied to a single ancilla or multiple ancilla photons. Enhanced superdense coding will be considered. Measures of effectiveness (MOEs) such as the SNR, measurement time, resolution measures, and Holevo bound will be derived or provided.
The blood and sputum levels of leukotriene in children with respiratory syncytial viral bronchiolitis

Objective To investigate the effects of leukotriene in children with respiratory syncytial (RSV)viral bronchiolitis.Methods The blood and sputum levels of Ieukotriene were detected in 33 cases diagnosed RSV bronchiolitis and 12 cases which were diagnosed pneumonia without RSV infection.Thirty-three cases of bronchiolitis were devided into mild-moderate group(n =22)and severe group(n =11)according to the lowell score.Results The blood and sputum levels of leukotriene in mild-moderate group,severe group,and pneumonia group were(76.96 ± 28.19)pg/ml,(103.53 ± 16.85)pg/ml,(18.14.± 7.49)pg/ml;(31.83 ± 19.14)pg/ml,(67.11 ± 15.11)pg/ml,(6.81 ± 2.90)pg/ml in acute period,and(36.04 ±16.38)pg/ml,(52.27 ± 17.03)pg/m l,(18.14 ± 7.49)pg/ml of serum in recovery period.There were significant differences among three groups(F =48.09,P ＜ 0.001 ; F =15.50,P ＜ 0.001 ; F =44.43,P ＜0.001).After treatment,the blood levels of leukotriene were significantly decreased,but were still higher than that of pneumonia group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The blood and sputum levels of leukotriene increase in children with RSV bronchiolitis,which is related with the severity of bronchiolitis. Key words: Leukotriene; Bronchiolitis; Respiratory syncytial virus; Children
Standardized bacteriophage purification for personalized phage therapy

The world is on the cusp of a post-antibiotic era, but researchers and medical doctors have found a way forward-by looking back at how infections were treated before the advent of antibiotics, namely using phage therapy. Although bacteriophages (phages) continue to lack drug approval in Western medicine, an increasing number of patients are being treated on an expanded-access emergency investigational new drug basis. To streamline the production of high-quality and clinically safe phage preparations, we developed a systematic procedure for medicinal phage isolation, liter-scale cultivation, concentration and purification. The 16- to 21-day procedure described in this protocol uses a combination of modified classic techniques, modern membrane filtration processes and no organic solvents to yield on average 23 mL of 1011 plaque-forming units (PFUs) per milliliter for Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, and Serratia phages tested. Thus, a single production run can produce up to 64,000 treatment doses at 109 PFUs, which would be sufficient for most expanded-access phage therapy cases and potentially for clinical phase I/II applications. The protocol focuses on removing endotoxins early by conducting multiple low-speed centrifugations, microfiltration, and cross-flow ultrafiltration, which reduced endotoxins by up to 106-fold in phage preparations. Implementation of a standardized phage cultivation and purification across research laboratories participating in phage production for expanded-access phage therapy might be pivotal to reintroduce phage therapy to Western medicine.
Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks: Using Cardiac CT for Comprehensive Imaging.

How do descending inputs from the brain control leg motor circuits to change the way an animal walks? Conceptually, descending neurons are thought to function either as command-type neurons, in which a single type of descending neuron exerts a high-level control to elicit a coordinated change in motor output, or through a more distributed population coding mechanism, whereby a group of neurons, each with local effects, act in combination to elicit a global motor response. The Drosophila Moonwalker Descending Neurons (MDNs), which alter leg motor circuit dynamics so that the fly walks backwards, exemplify the command-type mechanism. Here, we identify several dozen MDN target neurons within the leg motor circuits, and show that two of them mediate distinct and highly-specific changes in leg muscle activity during backward walking: LIN156 neurons provide the hindleg power stroke during stance phase; LIN128 neurons lift the legs at the end of stance to initiate swing. Through these two effector neurons, MDN directly controls both the stance and swing phases of the backward stepping cycle. MDN exerts these changes only upon the hindlegs; the fore-and midlegs follow passively through ground contact. These findings suggest that command-type descending neurons can also operate through the distributed control of local motor circuits.
Gut microbiota and metabolic marker alteration following dietary isoflavone-photoperiod interaction

Introduction The interaction between isoflavones and the gut microbiota has been highlighted as a potential regulator of obesity and diabetes. In this study, we examined the interaction between isoflavones and a shortened activity photoperiod on the gut microbiome. Methods Male mice were exposed to a diet containing no isoflavones (NIF) or a regular diet (RD) containing the usual isoflavones level found in a standard vivarium chow. These groups were further divided into regular (12L:12D) or short active (16L:8D) photoperiod, which mimics seasonal changes observed at high latitudes. White adipose tissue and genes involved in lipid metabolism and adipogenesis processes were analysed. Bacterial genomic DNA was isolated from fecal boli, and 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing was performed. Results NIF diet increased body weight and adipocyte size when compared to mice on RD. The lack of isoflavones and photoperiod alteration also caused dysregulation of lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), glucose transporter type 4 (Glut-4) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (Pparg) genes. Using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, we found that mice fed the NIF diet had a greater proportion of Firmicutes than Bacteroidetes when compared to animals on the RD. These alterations were accompanied by changes in the endocrine profile, with lower thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in the NIF group compared to the RD. Interestingly, the NIF group displayed increased locomotion as compared to the RD group. Conclusion Together, these data show an interaction between the gut bacterial communities, photoperiod length and isoflavone compounds, which may be essential for understanding and improving metabolic health.
Role of NDE1 in the Development and Evolution of the Gyrified Cortex

An expanded cortex is a hallmark of human neurodevelopment and endows increased cognitive capabilities. Recent work has shown that the cell cycle-related gene NDE1 is essential for proper cortical development. Patients who have mutations in NDE1 exhibit congenital microcephaly as a primary phenotype. At the cellular level, NDE1 is essential for interkinetic nuclear migration and mitosis of radial glial cells, which translates to an indispensable role in neurodevelopment. The nuclear migration function of NDE1 is well conserved across Opisthokonta. In mammals, multiple isoforms containing alternate terminal exons, which influence the functionality of NDE1, have been reported. It has been noted that the pattern of terminal exon usage mirrors patterns of cortical complexity in mammals. To provide context to these findings, here, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature regarding NDE1, its molecular biology and physiological relevance at the cellular and organismal levels. In particular, we outline the potential roles of NDE1 in progenitor cell behavior and explore the spectrum of NDE1 pathogenic variants. Moreover, we assessed the evolutionary conservation of NDE1 and interrogated whether the usage of alternative terminal exons is characteristic of species with gyrencephalic cortices. We found that gyrencephalic species are more likely to express transcripts that use the human-associated terminal exon, whereas lissencephalic species tend to express transcripts that use the mouse-associated terminal exon. Among gyrencephalic species, the human-associated terminal exon was preferentially expressed by those with a high order of gyrification. These findings underscore phylogenetic relationships between the preferential usage of NDE1 terminal exon and high-order gyrification, which provide insight into cortical evolution underlying high-order brain functions.
Robotic Tree-Fruit Harvesting With Telescoping Arms: A Study of Linear Fruit Reachability Under Geometric Constraints

Modern commercial orchards are increasingly adopting trees of SNAP architectures (Simple, Narrow, Accessible, and Productive) as the fruits on such trees are, in general, more easily reachable by human or robotic harvesters. This article presents a methodology that utilizes three dimensional (3D) digitized computer models of high-density pear and cling-peach trees, and fruit positions to quantify the linear fruit reachability (LFR) of such trees, i.e., their reachability by telescoping robot arms. Robot-canopy non-interference geometric constraints were introduced in the simulator, to determine the closest position of the arms’ base frames with respect to the trees, inside an orchard row. Also, design constraints for such arms, such as maximum reach, size and type of the gripper, and range of approach directions, were introduced to estimate the effect of each of these constraints on the LFR. Simulations results showed that 85.5% of pears were reachable after harvesting consecutively, at three different approach angles (’passes’) with a gripper of size 11 cm and an arm extension of 150 cm. For peaches, after three passes, 83.5% were reachable with a gripper size of 11 cm and an arm extension of 200 cm. LFR increased as the gripper’s size approached the maximum fruit size and decreased thereafter. Also, retractive grippers on linear arms yielded more fruit compared to vacuum-tube type grippers. Overall, the results suggested that telescoping arms can be used to harvest certain types of SNAP-style trees. Also, this methodology can be used to guide the design of robotic harvesters, as well as the canopy management practices of fruit trees.
Maternal Under- and Over-Nutrition during Gestation Causes Islet Hypertrophy and Sex-Specific Changes to Pancreas DNA Methylation in Fetal Sheep

The mechanisms by which fetal programming predisposes offspring to reduced β-cell function later in life are poorly understood. We hypothesized that maternal under- and over-nutrition during gestation would negatively affect offspring pancreas development and alter DNA methylation patterns. Pregnant ewes (n = 78) were fed 100, 60, or 140% of NRC requirements beginning at d 30.2 ± 0.2 of gestation. The fetuses are referred to as CON, RES, and OVER, respectively. Fetal pancreas tissue was collected at d 90 or 135 of gestation or within 24 h of birth. Tissue was preserved for histological (n = 8 to 9 offspring per treatment per time point) and DNA methylation analyses (n = 3 to 4 fetuses per treatment per sex). At d 135, OVER exhibited an increased islet size, reduced islet number, and greater insulin positive area compared with CON (p ≤ 0.03). An increased islet size was also observed at d 135 in RES (p ≤ 0.03) compared with CON. Cellular proliferation was reduced at birth in OVER vs. CON (p = 0.01). In the RES vs. CON females, 62% of the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were hypomethylated (p ≤ 0.001). In the RES vs. CON males, 93% of the DMRs were hypermethylated (p ≤ 0.001). In OVER, 66 and 80% of the DMRs were hypermethylated in the female and male offspring compared with CON (p ≤ 0.001). In conclusion, changes to maternal diet during pregnancy affects the islet hypertrophy and cellular proliferation of the offspring at early post-natal time points. Additionally, changes in DNA methylation patterns appear to be in a diet-specific and sex-dependent manner.
Range of Fire Estimates from Shotgun Pellet Patterns: The Effect of Shell and Barrel Temperature

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of range-of-fire estimates in shotgun pellet patterns at fixed intervals. It was also of interest to investigate the effect of barrel and shell temperature changes on the diameter of pellet patterns. One hundred shots were fired from a .12 gauge shotgun though a series of 5 in-line paper targets positioned at 5-foot intervals between 15 and 35 feet from the muzzle. A series of confidence intervals was calculated to determine the error in range-of-fire estimates. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that shell but not barrel temperature significantly reduced pattern diameter.
Phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of molecular fluids from perturbation theory: II. Binary fluid mixtures

Abstract The thermodynamic perturbation theory developed in Part I of this work is applied to describe phase equilibria and thermodynamic excess properties of binary fluid mixtures. The theory is based on the spherically symmetric reference system represented by the Lennard-Jones pair interactions, whereas the isotropic and anisotropic interactions arising from two-body electrostatic induction dispersion and repulsion forces and from three-body induction and dispersion forces, are treated as perturbations. These calculations differ from the previous perturbation theories based on the equation of state for argon as the reference system in two major respects. First the reference mixture properties are computed more accurately using a reliable form of the perturbation theory of simple fluid mixtures. Second unlike potential parameters are estimated adequately using a recently proposed set of combination rules. Comparisons of theoretical results with experimental data for phase equilibria and thermodynamic excess properties are presented for some selected fluid mixtures, namely argon + krypton xenon + ethylene, carbon dioxide + ethane, and xenon + hydrogen bromide. These comparisons show a very good performance of the perturbation theory, which offers a significant improvement over a similar form of the perturbation theory based on the equation of state for argon as the reference mixture.
Independent Human Rights Institutions for Children

One of the core requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is that States Parties should undertake all necessary and appropriate measures to implement the rights recognized therein. However, the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights is a particular challenge for the discretionary power of the State Party because it has to determine what the available resources are. The Committee encourages “other competent bodies” and NGOs to have an active role in effective implementation of the Convention. This opens the way for independent monitoring bodies such as IHRICs, to provide expert advice on implementation. This paper discusses the need for such bodies, their role, possible mandate and powers, guiding principles, as well as the problems of financing and independence. A fundamental feature of the activities of IHRICs is the participation of civil society and children themselves.
Lead and its Health Effects

Lead (Pb) is ubiquitous in nature, but anthropogenic activities have exacerbated the levels of Pb in the environment. In anthropogenically impacted systems, the primary sources of Pb include industrial activities such as mining operations, vehicle emissions, coal burning, refuse incineration, pesticide applications, and industrial outdoor paints applied to structural surfaces, which can increase the background soil lead levels by orders of magnitude. Between 1986 and 1995, the average Pb concentrations throughout the United States decreased by nearly 78%, with the total Pb emission decreasing about 32% as a result of the use of unleaded gasoline in automobiles, leaving Pb in paint-impacted soils as the principal source of exterior Pb exposure. The air quality standard stipulated by the EPA for Pb is 1.5 µg/m3 measured as an annual maximum quality average concentration. Lead exposure mainly occurs through inhalation of air and ingestion of Pb in food, paint, water, soil, or dust. It accumulates in blood, bones, and soft tissue and affects various organs of the body. High levels of Pb can result in anemia, kidney diseases, reproductive disorders, and neurological impairments with children being affected at levels as low as 10 µg/dL or less. Although chelation therapy for Pb poisoning has been used for more than 40 years to increase urinary excretion of Pb and decease the total body burden, its use is controversial. This has prompted researchers to consider the role of adequate nutrition, especially calcium and iron, in the prevention of the adverse effects of Pb with special reference to the reduction of Pb mobilization due to calcium intake.
Vengeance is Brandon Mayfield's

This article recounts some of the factual background that lead to the District Court decision in BRANDON V. MAYFIELD that the "sneak and peek" provisions of the USAPATRIOT Act violate the Fourth Amendment.
Regulation, Empirical Analysis of

Economic regulation injects the state into firms' pricing, entry, investment, and product decisions. The empirical study of economic regulation has evolved considerably since George Stigler's seminal work in 1962. An extensive literature analyzes the effects of regulation in both natural monopoly and structurally competitive industries. This work suggests that regulation can have significant effects on prices, rent creation and distribution, costs, and technological innovation. Current policy and research activity focuses on restructuring and market design in traditional natural monopoly sectors and on the shift toward market-based or incentive regulation. Myriad worldwide policy experiments provide a rich set of observations for empirical analysis. Early results suggest some unanticipated consequences, and highlight the importance of institutional detail in market design.
Aging and Diversity: An Active Learning Experience

This new edition has been completely rewritten and includes chapters that address key topics in diversity and aging: research methods, psychological aging; health beliefs, behaviors, and services; health disparities; informal and formal care for older persons; work and retirement; religious affiliation and spirituality; and death, dying, and bereavement. Taking a broad view of diversity, Mehrotra and Wagner discuss elements of diversity such as gender, race or ethnicity, religious affiliation, social class, rural-urban community location and sexual orientation. Including these elements allows them to convey some of the rich complexities of our diverse culture - complexities that provide both challenges to meet the needs of diverse population and opportunities to learn how to live in a pluralistic society. Throughout the book, Mehrotra and Wagner present up-to-date knowledge and scholarship in a way that engages readers in active learning. Rather than simply transmitting information, the authors place ongoing emphasis on developing readers’ knowledge and skills; fostering higher order thinking and encouraging exploration of personal values and attitudes. Distinctive features of the book include: Opening vignettes for each chapter that present a sampling of how the issues to be discussed apply to diverse elders. Active learning experiences that invite readers to interview diverse elders, conduct internet searches, and give an analysis of a case study. Quizzes at the end of the chapters help readers ascertain the extent to which they have learned the material; the key for each quiz includes details about correct and incorrect responses so that additional learning can occur. Aging and Diversity Online boxes interspersed throughout the book provide internet resources that readers may use to find new research and publications. Suggested readings and audiovisual resources given at the end of each chapter serve as a guide to additional information on topics covered in the chapter. This approach of presenting the material will help the readers understand and apply key concepts and principles in ways that will not only improve the lives of older people they serve, but will also enhance their own aging experience.
Relationship Between Vitamin A Status and T-Lymphocyte Responsiveness

Abstract The importance of vitamin A on immune system functions can be demonstrated, in part, by in vitro studies of blood or tissue lymphocytes obtained from animals or human beings. Mitogenic responsiveness of splenic T-cells was depressed in vitamin A-defi-cient rats, as compared to pair-fed controls, at different stages of vitamin A restriction. However, the impairment in mitogenic responsiveness of T-cells from peripheral blood did not become apparent until vitamin A deprivation was well established. Smaller degrees of impairment were also seen in the pair-fed control rats, demonstrating the concomitant importance of energy intake. Other important variables were identified by studying the in vitro mitogenic responsiveness of lymphocytes to antigens to which the rats had been previously exposed. Important variables (which could influence the results of dietary deprivation studies) included the sources of the lymphocytes, differences in routes of immunization, and the systemic activation caused by adju...
Encouraging Charity in a Time of Crisis: The Poor Laws and the Statute of Charitable Uses of 1601

September 11th resulted in an unprecedented outpouring of charitable largess supported by the government. A massive philanthropic effort in a time of crisis accompanied by supportive governmental actions is not unprecedented. This paper examines an earlier period of crisis, Tudor England (1485-1603) and the state's response. Then too, philanthropy became a tool of social and political policy, where new charitable beneficiaries were defined and favored and others disadvantaged, and charity was categorized and given legal protection to spur private sector resources to resolve public problems. The article concentrates on two areas: 1) the evolution of the poor law culminating in the Poor Law Act of 1601, a process that developed attitudes toward the poor and concepts of need and relief that remain with us today, and 2) the Statute of Charitable Uses, which was a part of the poor law package of legislation that attempted to solve the poverty problem. The Statute's primary purpose was to provide a mechanism to make trustees accountable for the appropriate administration of charitable assets. Its subsequent prominence is puzzling. The Statute's posthumously far more famous Preamble, which created parameters for the definition of charitable, reflects the law of unintended consequences. A number of questions concerning the Statute are explored: why were some things included and others equally charitable, such as hospitals, not? Why does the wording of the Preamble paraphrase a part of a fourteenth century epic poem, The Vision of Piers Plowman? How did the statute fit within the broader state effort to control the poor? What was the impact of the statute on improving charitable accountability? Did the Statute encourage increased giving? Most importantly for contemporary purposes, the paper inquires whether there is anything we can glean from the Tudor experience of dealing with an economic and social crisis to apply to disaster relief assistance and philanthropic giving today?
P0109 A retrospective analysis ALK-positive non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)

Background Case reports describe a high incidence of brain metastases in patients treated for ALK-positive non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) with crizotinib treatment. Whether the increased rate of brain metastasis is due to the biology of the disease or failure of crizotinib treatment is unclear. Methods We reviewed all patients with ALK-positive NSCLC from January 2007, to June 2014, at State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University. Findings We identified ten patients, five of whom were men and the median age was 51 years. All were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Only 27% were non smokers. Most (72%) had metastatic disease ( n = 8), 25% presented with brain metastases, and 50% with bone metastasis. The two patients with brain metastases had six and seven brain metastases, respectively. In the patients with metastatic disease, crizotinib was used in 25% as first-line treatment, in 50% as second-line treatment, and in 25% with third-line treatment. During crizotinib treatment, disease progression occurred in 75% of patients ( n = 6) with 50% having disease progression in the brain. In these four patients the other sites of metastases showed stable disease or good response to treatment in 75%. Median time to progression was 12 months. On progression, 50% received radiation and only one patient received additional chemotherapy, with the others transitioned to a hospice. Median survival for stage 4 patients was 12 months. Interpretation ALK-positive NSCLC has a propensity for spreading to the brain especially with multiple metastases. During treatment with crizotinib, even with good response at other sites, brain metastases showed progression with deterioration of the patient’s status and ability to receive treatment. Patients treated with crizotinib might need additional combination treatment and surveillance for brain metastases.
Osmotic blood-brain barrier disruption: CT and radionuclide imaging.

PURPOSE To compare CT and radionuclide imaging of osmotic blood-brain barrier disruption. To develop a quantitative method for imaging osmotic blood-brain barrier disruption and to see if iopamidol could be safely given intravenously in conjunction with blood-brain barrier disruption. METHODS Forty-five blood-brain barrier disruption procedures were imaged with CT and radionuclide scans. The scans were evaluated with visual and quantitative scales. Patients were observed for adverse effects after blood-brain barrier disruption. RESULTS There was a 4% rate of seizures in this study. There was good agreement between visual CT and radionuclide grading systems. Quantitative methods to grade disruption did not add useful information to visual interpretations. CONCLUSIONS Nonionic iodine-based contrast medium has a lower incidence of seizures when injected intravenously in conjunction with osmotic blood-brain barrier disruption than ionic contrast material. Contrast-enhanced CT is the preferred method to image disruption because it has better spatial resolution than radionuclide techniques.
Low-Pathogenicity Variant of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus

A noncytopathic virus has been isolated from a line of strain L mouse fibroblasts infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM). This virus has low pathogenicity for mice and renders them immune to intracerebral challenge with virulent LCM virus.