cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perspectives of Comparative Effectiveness Research from the World of Decision Making

Interest in comparative effectiveness research (CER) and reliance on CER for treatment selection and resource allocation decisions continues to grow. However, the goals of CER (i.e., to inform decision making by providing evidence on the effectiveness and consequences of treatment options) are often difficult to attain, and the pace of change in conducting and disseminating the results of CER has been frustratingly slow. This introduction to Decision Making in a World of Comparative Effectiveness Research surveys the wide range of viewpoints that reflect on various challenges facing both researchers conducting CER and healthcare decision makers. As a whole, the vision for CER expressed in this book is one that remains optimistic in achieving its goals, where real-world studies and big data analyses are applied to meet pragmatic needs of clinicians, patients, and policymakers.
A biomechanical comparison of the two- and four-hole side-plate dynamic hip screw in an osteoporotic composite femur model.

Objectives:The objectives of this study were (1) to compare the axial and torsional stiffness of a dynamic hip screw with a two- and four-hole side-plate in a synthetic model of a healed and stable...
Utilizing Hybrid Techniques to Maximize Clinical Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease

The past couple of decades have brought tremendous advances to the field of pediatric and adult congenital cardiology. Recent collaborations between interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons have sparked novel innovative hybrid procedures that provide potentially safer, faster, and less invasive alternatives to the management of many diseases. This paper will review the most recent advances in hybrid interventions in the field of pediatric and adult congenital cardiology. The earliest experiences with hybrid interventions included intraoperative stenting of pulmonary arteries and perventricular device closure of ventricular septal defects. Newer hybrid interventions have focused on a hybrid approach to stage 1 palliation for infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and hybrid approaches to transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in patients of all ages. Hybrid approaches to complex congenital heart disease are important in the management of congenital heart disease offering a less invasive approach, and novel hybrid procedures will likely be a focus of future research in this field.
Evaluating the heat‐aggression hypothesis: The role of temporal and social factors in predicting baseball related aggression

We examined the role that season progression and social threats play in the heat-aggression hypothesis within Major League Baseball put forward by Reifman, Larrick, and Fein (1991). Box score data from 38,870 Major League Baseball games between the years of 2000 and 2015 was used to test the heat-aggression relationship, while accounting for temporal and social factors that may be simultaneously exerting influence on player behavior. Controlling for a number of other variables, we observed that the effect of temperature on aggressive behavior is partially contingent on the point of the season in which the game took place. Aggressive behavior was also more likely to occur when teams played divisional (compared to league and inter-league) rivals, however this relationship was contingent on season progression. We provide potential boundary conditions relating to the heat-aggression relationship, indicating this may not be a ubiquitous phenomenon.
The Benefits of Early Oral Nutrition in Mild Acute Pancreatitis.

Objective To determine whether early patient-directed oral nutrition in children with mild acute pancreatitis decreases the length of hospitalization without increasing complications. Study design Hospitalized patients aged 2-21 years of age who met the criteria for acute pancreatitis based on the Revised Atlanta Classification were enrolled prospectively and allowed to eat by mouth at their discretion (patient-directed nutrition [PDN]). These patients were compared with a retrospective cohort of children who were allowed to eat based on traditional practices (treatment team-directed nutrition [TTDN]). Outcomes included length of hospitalization, time nil per os (NPO), and complications within 30 days of discharge. Results The study included 30 patients in the PDN group and 92 patients in the TTDN group. Patients in the PDN group had a median length of stay of 48.5 hours (IQR 37-70 hours) compared with 93 hours (IQR 52-145 hours) in the TTDN group ( P P Conclusion Early patient-directed oral nutrition in mild acute pancreatitis was well tolerated and resulted in decreased length of NPO status and hospitalization with no obvious complications. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT01423786.
A low profile broadband UHF canted turnstile antenna phasing network

A broadband UHF antenna-phasing network providing equal amplitude and quadrature phase shifts to four radiating elements of a canted turnstile antenna was designed and prototyped. The antenna was designed for use on a pair of CubeSats on the ORS Tech 1 and 2 mission, which launched in November 2013. The design consists of a transmission line transformer and a pair of broadside-coupled quadrature hybrids operating over 240 MHz to 390 MHz with a worst case amplitude imbalance within ±0.8 dB and a phase imbalance within ±2.5°. The RF power handling capability is 25 W, continuous wave (CW), and is achieved in a form factor of less than 5 cm × 5 cm × 0.4 cm, ideally suited for low profile applications. The radiating elements, made of flexible tape, are mounted directly on the phasing network circuit board, eliminating the need for coaxial feeds and allowing stow and deploy capability. The prototype was installed in a mockup of the CubeSat, including deployed solar panels and tested at an antenna range facility.
Prediction of trivalent actinide amino(poly)carboxylate complex stability constants using linear free energy relationships with the lanthanide series

ABSTRACTThere is a gap in the literature regarding the complexation of amino(poly)carboxylate (APC) ligands with trivalent actinides. The chemistry of the trivalent actinides is considered to be nearly identical to that of the trivalent lanthanides, but the trivalent actinides express a slight enhancement when binding APC ligands. Presented in this report is a method of predicting the stability constants of the Pu(III), Am(III), Cm(III), Bk(III) and Cf(III) using linear free energy relationships of the actinides and the lanthanide series for 91 APCs. This method produced actinide stability constants within uncertainties to those in available literature values for most ligands.
Survivorship care planning in neuro-oncology

Cancer patient survivorship has become a significant topic within oncology care for both adult and pediatric patients. Starting in 2005, the Institute of Medicine recommended the use of survivorship care plans to assist patients transitioning from active treatment to the posttreatment phase of their cancer care, a critical time for many patients. Since 2014 there has been a mandate within the United States for adult cancer patients treated with curative intent to receive survivorship care plans comprised of a treatment summary and a follow-up plan to facilitate a better understanding among patients of what to expect after treatment. In addition to a general oncology survivorship care plan, specific care plans have been created for breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancers, as well as lymphoma. A survivorship care plan specific to adult neuro-oncology has been developed by a multidisciplinary and interprofessional committee, with approval from the Society for Neuro-Oncology Guidelines Committee. It has been published in compendium with this review of survivorship care planning and available as a fillable PDF on the Society of Neuro-Oncology Guidelines Endorsement web page (https://www.soc-neuro-onc.org/SNO/Resources/Survivorship_Care_Plan.aspx). Implementation of this survivorship care plan provides a unique opportunity to begin addressing the range of survivorship issues our neuro-oncology patients navigate from diagnosis to end of life.
The Roles of Different Spatial Frequency Channels in Real-World Visual Motion Perception

Speed perception is an important task performed by our visual system in various daily life tasks. In various psychophysical tests, relationship between spatial frequency, temporal frequency, and speed has been examined in human subjects. The role of vision impairment in speed perception has also been previously examined. In this work, we examine the inter-relationship between speed, spatial frequency, low vision conditions, and the type of input motion stimuli in motion perception accuracy. For this purpose, we propose a computational model for speed perception and evaluate it in custom generated natural and stochastic sequences by simulating low-vision conditions (low pass filtering at different cutoff frequencies) as well as complementary vision conditions (high pass versions at the same cutoff frequencies). Our results show that low frequency components are critical for accurate speed perception, whereas high frequencies do not play any important role in speed estimation. Since perception of low frequencies may not be impaired in visual acuity loss, speed perception was not found to be impaired in low vision conditions compared to normal vision condition. We also report significant differences between natural and stochastic stimuli, notably an increase in speed estimation error when using stochastic stimuli compared to natural sequences, emphasizing the use of natural stimuli when performing future psychophysical studies for speed perception.
Bayesian Unigram-Based Inference for Expanding Abbreviations in Source Code

Programmers often utilize abbreviations for naming identifiers when writing code. However, the difficulty to retrieve the original words of abbreviations during the maintenance phase makes the source code more problematic to comprehend. In this paper, we describe a Bayesian unigram-based inference to automatically expand abbreviations to their original words to enhance source code comprehension. Our approach automatically extracts a list of candidate words from the source code for a given abbreviation and employs the abbreviation's unigram statistical properties as evidence to find the best candidate word. We evaluated our approach on a set of 531 abbreviations randomly picked from eight open source projects and found that our approach correctly expands 83.62% of the set. Our approach provides an improvement of 48.3% in abbreviation expansion accuracy over the current state-of-the-art approaches.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Arrests for Drug Possession After California Proposition 47, 2011-2016.

Objectives. To evaluate the effects of California Proposition 47, which reclassified felony drug offenses to misdemeanors in 2014, on racial/ethnic disparities in drug arrests.Methods. Using data on all drug arrests made in California from 2011 to 2016, we compared racial/ethnic disparities in drug arrests between Whites, Blacks, and Latinos, immediately and 1 year after policy changes, controlling for secular and seasonal trends.Results. In the month following passage, absolute Black–White disparities in monthly felony drug arrests decreased from 81 to 44 per 100 000 and continued to decrease over time. There was an immediate increase of 27% in the relative disparity, however, because a higher proportion of felony offense types among Whites was reclassified. Total drug arrest rates also declined, suggesting drug law enforcement was deprioritized. During the first year after enactment, felony drug arrests fell by an estimated 51 985 among Whites, 15 028 among Blacks, and 50 113 among Latinos.Conclusions. ...
Potyvirus serology, sequences and biology.

Amino acid sequences of the cytoplasmic cylindrical inclusion protein (CIP), large nuclear inclusion protein (NIb), and coat protein (CP) of potyviruses were re-examined in light of reported serological relationships, and correlated with known and deduced biological functions. No obvious correlations were observed between either amino acid sequences or epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies and the natural host ranges of the potyviruses examined. Whereas the identified sequence motifs of the RNA helicase (CIP) and replicase (NIb) are predicted to be antigenic, most of the conserved sequences and epitopes in the CIP, NIb and CP were presumed to be maintained for structural rather than functional reasons. Three possible potyvirus clusters are proposed on the basis of the length and composition of the virion surface-exposed amino terminal extension of the CP; these clusters do not correlate with overall CP sequence homology, host range, or vectors, but are of potential evolutionary significance and hence of possible taxonomie value.
Short Term Effects of Cis-Platinum on Male Reproduction, Fertility and Pregnancy Outcome

In order to find out the short term effects of cis-platinum treatment on reproductive function of the treated male rats and their progeny, sexually mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were given a single intra-peritoneal injection of either saline or cis-platinum (2, 4, 8 mg./kg.body wt.). One week following the treatment, the animals were mated with proestrus females of proven fertility. The females were scored positive or negative depending upon whether or not spermatozoa were seen in the vaginal smear after mating. However, all the females were watched until day 18, and on day 19, the females that became pregnant were subjected to laparotomy, and the number of corpora lutea, implantation sites and fetuses were counted. The fetuses were weighted and observed for the presence of any morphological abnormalities. Significant pre-implantation loss was seen in the treated groups. The weights of the fetuses were also significantly lower than those from the control group. Analysis of the effects of cis-platinum on the reproductive system of treated males revealed that cis-platinum reduced the reproductive organ weights, sperm counts, sperm motility, fertility and the levels of testosterone, LH and FSH. These results suggest that cis-platinum has a profound deleterious effect on the reproductive system and on the fertility potential of the treated male rats.
T Cell Regulation of IgE Synthesis in Atopic Patients

ABSTRACT In vitro IgE synthesis by blood mononuelear cells obtained from atopic patients and non-atopic subjects was investigated using a sensitive double antibody radioimmunoassay. De novo total IgE synthesis was detected in the culture supernatants of 6/6 eczema patients and 22/33 atopic patients without eczema but not in non-atopic subjects. Further, IgE synthesis in nonatopic subjects could not be induced, nor could it be augmented in atopic patients by a variety of polyclonal stimulants. Modulation of de novo IgE synthesis by T cells was studied in atopic patients under autologous or allogeneic culture conditions. Unstimulated T cells from five atopic eczema patients suppressed de novo IgE synthesis by autologous non T cells by an average of 22.4%± 9.3. Stimulation of eczema T cells by concanavalin A increased suppression of IgE synthesis by non-T cells by an average of 47.0%± 10.3. Under allogeneic culture conditions, unstimulated T cells from non-atopic subjects and atopic patients without eczema suppressed de novo IgE synthesis of eczema mononuelear cells equally well (46%± 16.1 vs. 52.5%± 6.8, respectively) and stimulation of the T cells by concanavalin A did not increase the amount of suppression further. Depletion of the T cell suppressor subset by monoclonal antibody (Leu-2A) resulted in an augmentation of IgE synthesis in eczema patients employing autologous T cells (24-104%) or allogeneic T cells from non-atopic subjects (41-176%). In contrast, depletion of the T helper subset by Leu-3A monoclonal antibody resulted in greater suppression of de novo IgE synthesis by autologous atopic (23-40%) or non-atopic (13-33%) T cells. These studies suggest that de novo IgE synthesis is modulated by cells contained within the T cell suppressor subset. Further, unstimulated T cells from atopic patients cause minor amounts of suppression of de novo IgE synthesis but when activated by concanavalin A or an allogeneic atimulus increase their suppressive activity.
Persistent pulmonary hypertension alters the epigenetic characteristics of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in pulmonary artery endothelial cells in a fetal lamb model.

Decreased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), a key mediator of perinatal transition, characterizes persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) in neonates and a fet...
Statistical physics models for aftershocks and induced seismicity.

A standard approach to quantifying the seismic hazard is the relative intensity (RI) method. It is assumed that the rate of seismicity is constant in time and the rate of occurrence of small earthq...
Genetic Variability in the Propagation of Eucalyptus sideroxylon by Stem Cuttings

Stem cuttings from mature trees and coppice regrowth of three red ironbark eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sideroxylon A. Cunn. ex Woolls) genotypes were used to study the rooting response over time. Mature...
Gender differences and patterns of arrest across two generations of Cuban immigrants in the United States

The present study is based on a secondary-data analysis of a subsample of Cuban immigrants residing in the United States. While there are no significant differences in arrest rates between U.S. nat...
Patterns and Frequency of Current e-Cigarette Use in United States Adults

Background: In the United States (US), electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use prevalence has increased since 2010. Few studies, however, have addressed frequency of use at the population-level. Thi...
God’s Participatory Vision of a Global Symphony: Catholic Business Leaders Integrating Talents through Dispute and Shared Decision System Design

As integrators of talents, Catholic family business leaders are strategically positioned to leverage the unique differences of their workforce. Business literature currently emphasizes participatory leadership as best practice. Participatory leadership is insufficient, however, because increasing the number of voices in the decision-making process may lead to higher levels of conflict or disengagement if the voices are disregarded. This paper proposes that the Catholic Social Teaching concepts of subsidiarity and solidarity provide the guiding principles to integrate participation because together they can account for all stakeholders while advancing business goals. To operationalize these principles, this paper suggests that the dispute resolution field has developed analytical frameworks to assess and reimagine current policies, procedures, and culture for dispute resolution (Dispute Systems Design) and shared decision making (Shared Decision System Design). Ultimately, businesses are the training ground to prepare citizens to participate in the public square and contribute to the common good.
Is Artificial Intelligence Able to Help With Pain Assessment

Most people are able to communicate in an expressive manner when they are in pain. But what about people who are not able to report their pain experience or whose expression of pain is hard to interpret? Examples include individuals suffering from dementia, patients developing delirium, and newborns. Techniques that provide a reliable assessment of pain experience are a prerequisite for effective pain therapy. Due to recent advances in the automated detection and analysis of behavioral cues, the question arises of whether these techniques may help assess pain-related states in a reliable manner. Physical pain is closely related to emotional states that may modulate the experience of pain and vice versa. Furthermore, principles and techniques from affective computing provide a solid basis for the automated analysis of pain-related states. Thus, it comes as no surprise that research on pain has increasingly attracted the interest of the affective computing community.
Repurposing Pimavanserin, an Anti-Parkinson Drug for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy.

Despite major advances in cancer treatment, pancreatic cancer is still incurable and the treatment outcomes are limited. The aggressive and therapy-resistant nature of pancreatic cancer warrants the need for novel treatment options for pancreatic cancer management. Drug repurposing is emerging as an effectual strategy in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the anticancer effects of pimavanserin tartrate (PVT), an antipsychotic drug used for the treatment of Parkinson disease psychosis. PVT significantly suppressed the proliferation and induced apoptosis in various pancreatic cancer cells and gemcitabine-resistant cells with minimal effects on normal pancreatic epithelial cells and lung fibroblasts. Growth-suppressive and apoptotic effects of PVT were mediated by the inhibition of the Akt/Gli1 signaling axis. The oral administration of PVT suppressed subcutaneous and orthotopic pancreatic tumor xenografts by 51%–77%. The chronic administration of PVT did not demonstrate any general signs of toxicity or change in behavioral activity of mice. Our results indicate that pancreatic tumor growth suppression by PVT was orchestrated by the inhibition of Akt/Gli1 signaling. Since PVT is already available in the clinic with an established safety profile, our results will accelerate its clinical development for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.
A hybrid prediction model based on pattern sequence-based matching method and extreme gradient boosting for holiday load forecasting

Abstract In short-term load forecast (STLF), forecasting holiday load is one of the most challenging problems. Aimed at this problem, a hybrid prediction model based on pattern sequence-based matching method and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) is presented. It divides holiday STLF problem into the predictions for proportional curve and daily extremum of electricity demand, which are relatively independent and relate to different factors. It is benefit for holiday STLF by task decomposing. Based on the shape similarity measured by Euclidean distance, the proportional curve is predicted by pattern sequence-based matching method. Daily extremum of electricity demand is predicted by XGBoost considering holiday classification. Finally, the predicted holiday load profile is synthesized from the above two prediction results with segment correction. The proposed methodology can analyze holiday load characteristics more effectively and get a higher prediction accuracy independent of sufficient data and expert experience. We evaluate our methodology with many algorithms on a real data set of one provincial capital city in eastern China. The results of case studies show that the proposed methodology gives much better forecasting accuracy with an average error 2.98% in holidays.
The unfolded protein response triggers the ancestral immune deficiency pathway

ABSTRACT The insect immune deficiency (IMD) pathway is a defense mechanism that senses and responds to Gram negative bacteria. Ticks lack genes encoding upstream components that initiate the IMD pathway. Despite this deficiency, core signaling molecules are present and functionally restrict tick-borne pathogens. The molecular events preceding activation are unclear. Here, we show that the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) initiates the IMD network in Ixodes scapularis ticks. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress receptor, IRE1α, is phosphorylated in response to tick-borne bacteria, but does not splice the mRNA encoding XBP1. Instead, through protein modeling and reciprocal pulldowns, we show that Ixodes IRE1α complexes with TRAF2. Disrupting IRE1α-TRAF2 signaling blocks IMD pathway activation and diminishes the production of antimicrobial effectors. Through in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo techniques we demonstrate that the UPR-IMD pathway circuitry limits the Lyme disease-causing spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and the rickettsial agents Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. marginale (anaplasmosis). Altogether, our study uncovers the upstream signaling requirements of the IMD pathway in ticks. We propose that this mode of IMD network activation is evolutionarily ancient, predating the classically defined pathway in insects.
Human and mouse hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenases important in the biotransformation of cyclophosphamide and the retinoids.

The rate at which aldehyde dehydrogenase-catalyzed biotransformation occurs in various tissues can be of major importance with regard to the ultimate therapeutic efficacy of drugs and other xenobiotics that are aldehydes or that give rise to aldehydes (Sladek, et al., 1989). Examples of such agents are cyclophosphamide and the retinoids, retinol and beta-carotene.
An analysis of the failures in radium treatment of cervical cancer

Abstract 1. 1. Radium treatment of uterine cancer should be kept in the hands of the gynecologist rather than the roentgenologist, but such a gynecologist should seek preliminary training in the use of radium and must have continued opportunity for observation and treatment of cancer cases in order to reduce mistakes to a minimum. 2. 2. Good permanent results can be obtained in a certain proportion of cervical cancers with amounts of radium not exceeding 100–150 mgrs. of the element, though the use of large amounts in the form of emanation will doubtless decrease complications and increase the number of cures to some degree. 3. 3. If possible, all necessary treatment should be given within the first six to eight week period before sclerosis has set in and rendered the cancer less accessible and the normal tissues more susceptible to injury. 4. 4. Tumor filtration or light metal filtration together with intracervical application does most good and least damage; 2,500–3,500 mgrhs. are usually enough to give results in the favorable cases. 5. 5. In the absence of the Bailey bomb and large amounts of emanation, well directed and prolonged x-ray from 6–8 portals will usually affect the parametrial and glandular involvements. 6. 6. Prolonged necrosis and fistulas are due to repeated treatments, to vaginal applications and to heavy gamma radiation or to a combination of the three. 7. 7. Rectovaginal fistulas are more frequent and vesicovaginal fistulas less frequent after radium treatment. 8. 8. Operation is to be preferred in all operable cases under 35 years and in the early operable cases beyond this age. Radium is to be recommended wherever obesity, lung, heart, or kidney lesion, makes operation difficult or dangerous, and in advanced operable, borderline and inoperable, but not in the advanced inoperable group with cachexia. These are, of course, not conclusions, but merely estimates based upon an analysis of the results thus far obtained. Under improved methods of treatment and wider experience they will doubtless be materially changed.
Chapter 8 Energy policy applications of operations research

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the many applications of operations research (OR) techniques to energy sector public policy issues. Several basic concepts are discussed in the chapter: (1) resource supply and depletion modeling, (2) price and non-price determinants of energy demand, (3) interfuel competition, (4) end-use modeling, (5) integrating energy supply and demand, (6) aggregate energy economy interactions, and (7) multi-sectoral energy economy interactions. The market models are designed to project the supply, demand and pricing of energy fuels over time. Such models are used to forecast future market conditions for the fuels, to study the impacts of current and proposed regulations on those conditions, to evaluate the impact of new energy producing and consuming technologies on the market balances, and to guide international negotiations on energy policy. The chapter also describes the decision-oriented models. The chapter discusses the emerging issues in energy policy and frontiers in energy policy modeling.
Development of the chick embryo mesoblast. Formation of the embryonic axis and establishment of the metameric pattern.

Abstract The mesoblast of the primary organizer region of the developing chick embryo at the early head process stage was examined with the scanning electron microscope. It was found that the mesoblast layer is patterned from its inception at the primitive streak. Viewed dorsally, the mesoblast region most recently traversed by Hensen's node is metameric. Each segment consists of two 175-μm-diameter circular buttons of paraxial mesoblast (somitomeres) and an enclosed axial region. These tripartite segments are stacked tandemly and mark precisely, in the ectoderm above, the limit of neural plate formation. Viewed ventrally, the metameric pattern of the mesoblast is most closely mimicked by underlying endoblast, which shows corresponding radially arranged wedge-shaped cells in somitomere-sized circular patches. At this stage of development, each paraxial somitomere is a slightly hollowed, squat cylinder, composed of tapering mesenchymal cells whose long axes are directed toward the core center. Closely timed with neurulation, somitomeres undergo morphogenesis, being first converted to triangular wedges and, finally, condensed into cubes. Anteriorly, somitomeres participate in branchiomeric development, while posteriorly, they develop into somites. Examination of segmental plates shows that they consist of about 11 tandem somitomeres not visible by light microscopy. The most mature somitomeres, closest to the emerging somites, are delineated from one another by cellular orientations and the progressive buildup of fibrous extracellular matrix. The least mature somitomeres are not as well defined, but appear initially just posterior to Hensen's node and merge medially with the notochordal process. The observations suggest that the emergence of somitomeres from the paraxial mesoblast of the primitive streak is the result of its association with nodal cells. Further, this combined association of the mesoblast heralds primary induction and establishes the metameric pattern of the basic body plan.
Code design for optical MIMO systems over fading channels

Applying multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processing to optical free space systems can be powerful at reducing the loss due to atmospheric fading if the codes are properly chosen. Necessary conditions for identifying good codes are derived. Bounds for the error probability of the system illustrate how the performance depends on the design of the code.
Role of the Third Body in Life Enhancement of MoS2

A lubrication replenishment process that accounts for the long life of MoS2 coatings worn heavily early in sliding is described and quantified. Reciprocating sliding of a steel ball against MoS2 coated flats was performed using a new test methodology called 'stripe testing' to monitor wear evolution. Worn surfaces were characterized with optical (Nomarski) and Michelson (interference) microscopy, as well as energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Two important 'third-bodies,' the ball transfer films and compacted debris patches at track turnaround points, were identified. Material transfer between the track and ball surfaces acts as a reservoir of solid lubricant and plays an important role in sustaining lubricated sliding of MoS2. Dynamics of the process were inferred from measurements of third-body material loss and buildup on track and ball surfaces.
In vitro characterization of the erythrocyte distribution of methazolamide: a model of erythrocyte transport and binding kinetics.

The rate and extent of binding of methazolamide to human erythrocytes was studied in vitro. All experiments were carried out at physiological temperature (37C) and pH (7.4). Methazolamide (MTZ) buffer concentrations were analyzed by HPLC. Distributional equilibrium between buffer and washed red blood cells was achieved after 1 hr. Results of equilibrium studies were consistent with two classes of binding sites for MTZ within the erythrocyte: a low affinity, high capacity site (CA-I) and a high affinity, low capacity site (CA-II). A two-binding site model was fitted to experimental data generating estimates for binding parameters Ka1(0.0017 ± 0.00022 μM−1) nM1(636 ± 5.23 μM), Ka2(0.46 ± 0.0083 μM−1), and nM2(80.9 ± 0.389 μM). Based upon these findings, kinetic studies were performed in order to characterize the rate of drug distribution. The rate of erythrocyte uptake of MTZ was mathematically modeled using a series of differential equations describing drug diffusion across the red blood cell membrane and subsequent complexation with intracellular binding sites. The model assumed that penetration of MTZ into the red blood cells was passive but drug binding to the carbonic anhydrase isozymes was not instantaneous. Using a novel curve fitting technique, parameter estimates of RBC membrane permeability (0.0102 ± 0.000618 cm/min), and binding rate constants k−1(0.254 ± 0.0213 min−1), k1(0.0022 ± 0.00020 ml/μg-min), k−2(1.59 ± 0.0358 min−1), and k2(3.1 ± 0.035 ml/μg-min) were obtained. The model characterized the observed biphasic decline of MTZ buffer concentrations over time and may help explain the prolonged residence of MTZ in vivo.
PHOTONEUTRON PRODUCTION USING BREMSSTRAHLUNG FROM THE 14-TW PULSED-POWER HERMES III ELECTRON ACCELERATOR

An intense reusable source of pulsed photoneutrons has been developed that produces about 0.5 or 1.0 {times} 10{sup 14} neutrons in a {approximately}15 ns pulse from natural lead or depleted uranium, respectively, on the HERMES Ill electron accelerator. Corresponding to this source, a numerical model has been developed that is applicable to other pulsed-power systems. If V{sub p} represents the peak voltage of HERMES III measured in MV, then model predictions show that over the range 12 MV < V{sub p} < 20 MV, the number of neutrons produced per incident electron is 7.2 {times} 10{sup {minus}6}(V{sub p} - 11){sup 2.0} and 1.2 {times} 10{sup {minus}6}(V{sub p} - 7.4){sup 2.8} in lead and uranium, respectively. Measurements using a set of nuclear activation foils confirm these predictions as well as predictions of the spatial and spectral distribution of the neutrons at V{sub p} = 19 MV.
Hydrologic controls on the transport and cycling of carbon and nitrogen in a boreal catchment underlain by continuous permafrost

[1] Boreal ecosystems represent a large carbon (C) reservoir and a substantial source of greenhouse gases. Hydrologic conditions dictate whether C leached from boreal soils is processed in catchments or flushed to less productive environments via the stream. This study quantified hydrologic and biogeochemical C loss from a boreal catchment underlain by frozen silt, where flowpaths may deepen as the active layer thaws over the summer. We hypothesized a decrease in the magnitude of C mineralization over the summer associated with changing flowpaths and decreasing hydrologic connectivity, organic matter lability, and nitrogen (N) availability. Conservative tracers were used to partition C and N loss between catchment export and biogeochemical processing. Coupling tracers with tributary and porewater chemistry indicated C and N cycling in soil flowpaths, with an exponential decrease over the summer. Nitrate was primarily reduced in hillslope flowpaths and the lack of N reaching the stream appeared to limit C mineralization. Stream export accounted for the greatest loss of C, removing 247 and 113 mol hr−1 in the early and late summer, respectively. Reactivity was related to hydrologic connectivity between the soils and stream, which was greatest early in the summer and following a large flood. While a warming climate may increase storage potential in thawed soils, the early-season flush of labile material and late-season runoff through mineral flowpaths may maintain high C export rates. Therefore, we highlight physical export as a dominant cause of aqueous C loss from silty catchments as the Arctic continues to thaw.
Making systems engineering real: lessons learned in using current events as case studies in instructing systems engineering fundamentals

The challenges associated with teaching the “doing” of Systems Engineering are well-documented. At the undergraduate level, this challenge is further complicated by the fact that most students have little to no engineering understanding, nor any domain specific knowledge or exposure. In addressing this challenge, this paper discusses how current events can be leveraged through case studies to “make real” the often esoteric notions of the Systems Engineering approach. The 2014 rollout of Healthcare.gov and the Lockheed Martin F-35 development were used as case studies in the design and delivery of an introductory Systems Engineering fundamentals class to demonstrate both the value and challenges of a Systems Engineering approach. For example, in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Development Case Study, students were able to gain a more concrete understanding of the system life cycle processes, as detailed in ISO/IEC 15288:2008(E), through information from articles and video accounts of the F-35 effort. This case study allowed for a more “tangible” application of the complex concepts presented in ISO/IEC 15288:2008(E), while allowing for students to be more independently involved in what they were learning. Throughout the semester, challenges experienced by students included having too narrow of a focus on system realization, and not looking outside of that system of interest for influences. The need for a more holistic framing of the explorations of both the problem and solution spaces was crystallized in the Healthcare.gov Case Study; that made concrete important contextual factors, such as partisan politics, that influenced both the design and implementation of Healthcare.gov. These and other lessons learned are presented and suggestions for the use of current events as an instructional strategy are offered.
Supernovae and the formation of galaxies

During this conference on supernovae there has been a progression of subject matter treated with the focus gradually shifting from the deep interior of a collapsing star (~ 106 cm) to the matter seen during observed outbursts (~ 1013 cm) to the effect of an explosive blastwave propagating through the interstellar medium (~ 1020 cm). I would like to follow the progression further, considering the cumulative effect of many supernovae in a galaxy, particularly a young galaxy, and the effect of the blastwave, formed by the combination of all individual supernova, on the intergalactic medium (IGM). I will contend that the IGM can be shock heated by this process and that in late stages of an individual expanding galaxy shock a dense shell can form with mass many times greater than the mass of the seed galaxy. This shell may fragment due to gravitational instability and give rise to a new generation of galaxies. Supernovae explosions thus may provide a hydrodynamic amplifier important in the process of galaxy formation.
The treatment of gastroparesis, constipation and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects the nerves of the entire gastrointestinal (GI) tract and may result in profound gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction leading to poor patient outcomes. Common GI disturbances in patients with PD include gastroparesis (GP), constipation and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBO). In particular, GP is difficult to treat due to the limited options available and precautions, contraindications and adverse effects associated with the approved treatments. Moreover, some commonly used medications can worsen pre-existing PD.Areas covered: Our review will focus on treatment options for GP and SIBO with motilin agonists, dopamine receptor antagonists, Ghrelin agonists muscarinic agonists, 5-HT4 receptor agonists, antibiotics, probiotics and herbal formulation such as iberogast. Constipation occurs in the majority of patients with PD and fortunately many treatments are now available. Our review is based on original papers or reviews selected from PUBMED search...
Big benefits from tiny technologies: micro-nanotechnology applications in future space systems

An overview of the micro-nanotechnology field is presented with application toward future space systems. Specific discussions are presented on the insertion of MEMS, MOEMS and quantum effect nanoelectronic devices into both current and future space systems. Silicon satellites, based on batch-fabricated microengineered systems are also discussed.
Analysis of latch-up in GaAs complementary logic structures

GaAs complementary FET logic structures have n/sup +/ and p/sup +/ doped areas separated by areas of semi-insulating (SI) GaAs. Such doped patterns form stray p-i-n double injection diodes which may cause latch-up. Using a SPICE equivalent circuit for the latch-up diodes, the effect of latch-up on the performance of the logic gates has been simulated. This study shows that latch-up can severely affect the performance of the logic gates, and that the distance between the injecting contacts, background concentration of the SI material, and temperature are critical parameters in latch-up susceptibility. >
Site-specific fab fragment biotinylation at the conserved nucleotide binding site for enhanced Ebola detection

The nucleotide binding site (NBS) is a highly conserved region between the variable light and heavy chains at the Fab domains of all antibodies, and a small molecule that we identified, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), binds specifically to this site. Fab fragment, with its small size and simple production methods compared to intact antibody, is good candidate for use in miniaturized diagnostic devices and targeted therapeutic applications. However, commonly used modification techniques are not well suited for Fab fragments as they are often more delicate than intact antibodies. Fab fragments are of particular interest for sensor surface functionalization but immobilization results in damage to the antigen binding site and greatly reduced activity due to their truncated size that allows only a small area that can bind to surfaces without impeding antigen binding. In this study, we describe an NBS-UV photocrosslinking functionalization method (UV-NBS(Biotin) in which a Fab fragment is site-specifically biotinylated with an IBA-EG11-Biotin linker via UV energy exposure (1 J/cm(2)) without affecting its antigen binding activity. This study demonstrates successful immobilization of biotinylated Ebola detecting Fab fragment (KZ52 Fab fragment) via the UV-NBS(Biotin) method yielding 1031-fold and 2-fold better antigen detection sensitivity compared to commonly used immobilization methods: direct physical adsorption and NHS-Biotin functionalization, respectively. Utilization of the UV-NBS(Biotin) method for site-specific conjugation to Fab fragment represents a proof of concept use of Fab fragment for various diagnostic and therapeutic applications with numerous fluorescent probes, affinity molecules and peptides.
Witchcraft, Female Aggression, and Power in the Early Modern Community

While a strong consensus has emerged in the last generation about many sociocultural aspects of witchcraft, the role of gender--why witchcraft was particularly but not exclusively associated with women--has remained problematic. This article asserts that women in early modern Europe were thought more likely to be witches because, the evidence suggests, they were in fact more likely to act like witches. Hostility and violence figured prominently in early modern village and small town life, and women resorted to witch-like behaviors ranging from premeditated poisoning and surreptitious assault through ritual malefic magic to spontaneous displays of intense anger because these were effective means of engaging in conflicts that played to their learned and innate strengths while avoiding forms of struggle they were less well equipped for. The article concludes by suggesting that the intervention of the state in the form of widespread and protracted witch prosecutions played a role in inhibiting witch-like practices and behaviors, and since these were utilized far more often by women than men, helped change the perceived "nature" of women from the Medieval notion that they were particularly violent and lustful to the modern image of women as gentle and asexual.
Retardation (or Casimir) Potential for the Rydberg Hydrogen Molecule.

The retardation (or Casimir) potential for Rydberg ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$---a hydrogen molecule with one electron in a highly excited, hydrogen-atom-like electronic state and an ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ core---is determined using time-dependent quantum electrodynamics in the Coulomb gauge. The potential obtained is valid over a range of r, the Rydberg electron-core separation, from several ${\mathit{a}}_{0}$ to infinity, and accurate numerical results for the magnitude of the corresponding energy shift are calculated using a discrete representation of the electric dipole oscillator-strength spectrum. The prospects for measurement are analyzed.
SAR resolution degradation estimation operating in sparse random media at millimeter-wave frequencies

Resolution degradation in both the cross-range direction and range direction of SAR systems operating in sparse random media at millimeter-wave frequency is studied using a novel coherent propagation model that accounts for multiple scattering in the medium. For the purpose of demonstration, a 2D random medium composed of electrically large scatterers with high dielectric contrast and low surface fraction value is considered. The study is motivated by assessing the performance of future sub-millimeter-wave (sub-MMW) SAR systems with unprecedented imaging resolution working in a rainy environment. Monte Carlo techniques combined with a novel simulation algorithm called Statistical S-matrix Approach for Wave Propagation in Spectral Domain (SSWaP-SD) are used to efficiently characterize the resolution degradation of the SAR system. It is shown that the cross-range resolution degradation is severe for long distance wave propagation inside the random medium, while the range resolution degradation is much less.
Exploiting sparsity in time-of-flight range acquisition using a single time-resolved sensor

Range acquisition systems such as light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and time-of-flight (TOF) cameras operate by measuring the time difference of arrival between a transmitted pulse and the scene reflection. We introduce the design of a range acquisition system for acquiring depth maps of piecewise-planar scenes with high spatial resolution using a single, omnidirectional, time-resolved photodetector and no scanning components. In our experiment, we reconstructed 64 × 64-pixel depth maps of scenes comprising two to four planar shapes using only 205 spatially-patterned, femtosecond illuminations of the scene. The reconstruction uses parametric signal modeling to recover a set of depths present in the scene. Then, a convex optimization that exploits sparsity of the Laplacian of the depth map of a typical scene determines correspondences between spatial positions and depths. In contrast with 2D laser scanning used in LIDAR systems and low-resolution 2D sensor arrays used in TOF cameras, our experiment demonstrates that it is possible to build a non-scanning range acquisition system with high spatial resolution using only a standard, low-cost photodetector and a spatial light modulator.
Perception of Age by the Elderly: A Bibliography of Research:

115 references concern identification of age by elderly persons. They have been arranged in alphabetical order.