cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Limiting iterations vs. post smoothing for noise control in PET

We have performed physical phantom and simulation study with PET to compare the effects of limiting iterations and post-smoothing. The phantom was designed to mimic small hot lesions typical in FDG PET. The phantom was a body-sized 25 L phantom. Eight 1 cm hot spheres were filled with activity 8x the background. The phantom was scanned in 2D for 15 minutes on a GE Discovery STE. Data were framed into 1, 3, 5, and 15 min frames. Images were reconstructed with a variety of subset sizes and up to 60 iterations, with corrections for attenuation, scatter, randoms, and dead-time. All image sets were post-smoothed with 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 mm FWHM Gaussian. ROI's were placed on all hot spheres, and 40 additional background ROI's were placed. Noise was measured as the variation in background ROI's. Additionally, noise was measured on a pixel-by-pixel basis as the variation over the ensemble of realizations of each frame time. Noise vs. contrast (sphere-background) were plotted for each image. The background noise method showed better results for limited iterations (~20% lower noise at a given contrast level) while the ensemble-based noise method favored post-smoothing of high iterations (with a similar ~20% difference). Similar results were obtained for simulations.
Virtue, Virility, and History in Fifteenth-Century Castile

A great deal of recent work has focused on the ways in which early-modern Spaniards viewed putative invaders—both past and present—of their peninsula. David Lupher, Barbara Fuchs, and Stuart Schwartz, for instance, have carefully examined the complex and often contradictory attitudes that sixteenth-century authors expressed toward the role played by Romans, Visigoths, and Muslims in Iberian society and history. Although all of these scholars have recognized the medieval origins of such discourses, the nature of their topics precluded in-depth discussions of those antecedents. Yet the Golden Age debates at the heart of these books were conditioned by late-medieval efforts to relate past Romans to contemporary Muslims in response to specific political and social concerns. Fifteenth-century chroniclers used Romans as exemplars of virtuous behavior even while defining them as effete and tyrannical foreigners whose presence in Iberia had tarnished an uncompromisingly masculine native temperament. This dichotom...
Real-time baseline correction technique for MWIR and LWIR time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy (Presentation Recording)

The time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurement provides rich information about carrier dynamics and recombination mechanisms. However, TRPL measurements are quite challenging in mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) regimes due to noise in photodetectors and data acquisition systems. Our analysis and experimental results show that the noise in a conventional TRPL system using a traditional averaging method is dominated by 1/f noise from 10 Hz to 3 kHz. The signal is also mixed with sub-Hertz noise associated with the boxcar baseline oscillation, commonly known as the “baseline drift” issue which results from numerous fluctuations in the system. A real-time baseline correction method is proposed and demonstrated to suppress these low frequency noise sources. The real-time baseline correction method is realized by modulating the signal. The modulation can be achieved by either electrical, mechanical, or optical approaches. Analysis indicates that the noise of this method is proportional to the noise spectral density at the modulation frequency, this argument is confirmed by the simulation results. The simulated noise achieved by the real-time baseline correction method is much lower than the traditional method. Experimental results show that the low frequency baseline oscillations associated with the traditional TRPL experiments are absent using the real-time baseline correction technique, and the noise of the measurement is significantly reduced. This work establishes a more efficient experimental method for TRPL measurements on weak MWIR and LWIR PL signals, such as the InAs/InAsSb type-II superlattice samples which are used here to demonstrate the proposed method.
Baker’s Yeast: The Advantages of Compartmentation

A breakthrough occurred in the history of cells about 1.5 billion years ago. Simple, bacteria-like organisms had been around at least 2 billion years when a radically new design of the cell body appeared. These new cells were filled with small, separate compartments, each fully surrounded by a watertight lipid bilayer. The advantage of internal compartmentation is profound: the different functions of the cell can be performed in specialized locations. All of the molecular machinery of transcription or of oxidative phosphorylation can be concentrated in one place, allowing more efficient performance and finer control.
Narratives of Gender and 'Difference' in Exile: What Can We Learn from Sudanese and South Sudanese Women's Organizations and Activism in Egypt and Kenya in the 1990s and Up to the Present?

Scholars of women and gender studies in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond continue to ask questions about the relationship between womens organizations and activisms on one hand, and political movements, processes, and projects on the other, and on transnational coalition building between womens organizations to advocate for gender equality and womens human rights. With its histories of conflict, political oppression, social exclusion on the basis of gender, race, culture, and regional location; and resistance, Sudan, and Sudans exile politics and organizing offer important insights into our understanding of these questions. This paper examines Sudanese and South Sudanese womens organizing in Egypt and Kenya in the 1990s and up to 2005 around questions of womens participation, conflict and human rights. Based on ethnographic research in Egypt and Kenya in 1998-9 and on research and an examination of current activisms in the Sudan, South Sudan in 201'212 and in the Diaspora, the paper examines the ways in which narratives of gender and race relate to (and continue to shape) the major political questions in Sudan and South Sudan and womens rights activism in the two countries, especially Sudan. I argue that understanding the dynamics of such relationship in the context of forced migration and exile can inform effective transnational coalition-building around current challenges in and between the two countries.
Fluctuating Asymmetry of Morphometric Characters in House Mice: The Effects of Age, Sex, and Phenotypical Extremeness in a Randombred Population

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) was calculated for nine paired morphometric characters in a randombred population of house mice in order to assess the effects of age, sex, and phenotypical extremeness. FA did not significantly vary between sexes for any of the characters, and age proved to be significant only for innominate length. Additionally, FA values in high extreme individuals and low extreme individuals were compared to those for intermediate individuals to discover whether extreme individuals showed increased fluctuating asymmetry (decreased developmental stability) due to increased levels of homozygosity. Differences in fluctuating asymmetry magnitudes were found between the groups, although the extreme individuals did not consistently show increased fluctuating asymmetry and FA differences also showed no significant association with the level of heritability of each character. Potential reasons for these findings are discussed.
AB5 Preassembly Is Not Required for Shiga Toxin Activity

ABSTRACT Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a major cause of foodborne illness, including the life-threatening complication hemolytic-uremic syndrome. The German outbreak in 2011 resulted in nearly 4,000 cases of infection, with 54 deaths. Two forms of Stx, Stx1 and Stx2, differ in potency, and subtype Stx2a is most commonly associated with fatal human disease. Stx is considered to be an AB5 toxin. The single A (enzymatically active) subunit inhibits protein synthesis by cleaving a catalytic adenine from the eukaryotic rRNA. The B (binding) subunit forms a homopentamer and mediates cellular association and toxin internalization by binding to the glycolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). Both subunits are essential for toxicity. Here we report that unlike other AB5 toxin family members, Stx is produced by STEC as unassembled A and B subunits. A preformed AB5 complex is not required for cellular toxicity or in vivo toxicity to mice, and toxin assembly likely occurs at the cell membrane. We demonstrate that disruption of A- and B-subunit association by use of A-subunit peptides that lack enzymatic activity can protect mice from lethal doses of toxin. Currently, no treatments have been proven to be effective for hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Our studies demonstrate that agents that interfere with A- and B-subunit assembly may have therapeutic potential. Shiga toxin (Stx) produced by pathogenic Escherichia coli is considered to be an AB5 heterohexamer; however, no known mechanisms ensure AB5 assembly. Stx released by E. coli is not in the AB5 conformation and assembles at the receptor interface. Thus, unassembled Stx can impart toxicity. This finding shows that preventing AB5 assembly is a potential treatment for Stx-associated illnesses. IMPORTANCE Complications due to Shiga toxin are frequently fatal, and at present, supportive care is the only treatment option. Furthermore, antibiotic treatment is contraindicated due to the ability of antibiotics to amplify bacterial expression of Shiga toxin. We report, contrary to prevailing assumptions, that Shiga toxin produced by STEC circulates as unassembled A and B subunits at concentrations that are lethal to mice. Similar to the case for anthrax toxin, assembly occurs on receptors expressed on the surfaces of mammalian target cells. Disruption of Shiga toxin assembly by use of A-subunit peptides that lack enzymatic activity protects mice from lethal challenge with Shiga toxin, suggesting a new approach for development of therapeutics.
The Genus, Regional Number, and Betti Number of a Graph

Let the genus of an orientable 2-manifold M be denoted by γ(M). The genus, γ(G), of a graph G is then the smallest of the numbers γ(N) for orientable 2-manifolds N in which G can be embedded. An embedding of G in M is called minimal if γ(G) = γ(M). When each component of the complement of G in M is an open 2-cell, the embedding of G in M is called a 2-cell embedding. In (3), J. W. T. Youngs has shown that each minimal embedding is a 2-cell embedding. It follows from the results of (3) that for each graph G, there is a number d(G), called the regional number, such that for any 2-cell embedding of G in an orientable 2-manifold, the number of (2-cell) complementary domains of G is ⩽d(G), with equality holding if and only if the embedding is minimal.
The rise and decline of managed care. What comes next

N THE EARLY 1980s, the traditional role of the health insurance industry was to provide a standard array of insurance options, and to administer those programs through claims review and payment. Employers who purchased coverage for their workers typically did not expect anything more of their carriers. However, during this time there was mounting evidence, both nationally and in North Carolina, that the use of hospitals varied significantly from one geographic area to another. 1-3 Patients in high use areas were not just spending more days in the hospital; they were spending more money for their healthcare. And, increasingly, analysis was showing that most of the variation was due to physician practice patterns, rather than differences in population demographics, health status, or underlying risk factors. Employers who had employees in multiple NC locations began questioning their greater financial outlays to cover employees in the high utilization locations, and wondered what additional benefits they and their employees gained for the extra expense. This led to the obvious question: How much could be saved if it were possible to reduce utilization in the high use communities?
A Partisan Model of Electoral Reform: Voter Identification Laws and Confidence in State Elections

We propose a model of public response to politicized election reform. In this model, rival partisan elites send signals on the need and consequences of a proposed reform, with partisans in public adopting those positions. We apply this to test how state use of voter identification laws corresponded with public evaluations of the conduct of a state’s elections. We find that the relationship between photo identification laws and confidence in state elections was polarized and conditioned by party identification in 2014. Democrats in states with strict photo identification laws were less confident in their state’s elections. Republicans in states with strict identification laws were more confident than others. Results suggest strict photo identification laws are failing to instill broad-based confidence in elections, and that the reform could correspond with diminished confidence among some.
Serine 785 phosphorylation of the β1 cytoplasmic domain modulates β1A-integrin-dependent functions

The integrin beta1 cytoplasmic domain plays a key role in a variety of integrin-mediated events including adhesion, migration and signaling. A number of studies suggest that phosphorylation may modify the functional state of the cytoplasmic domain, but these studies frequently only examine the effect of substituting amino acid mimics that cannot be phosphorylated. We now demonstrate, using site directed mutagenesis, that substituting either an unphosphorylated (S to M) or a phosphorylated (S to D) mimic in place of serine can modify integrin function. Specifically, we show that expressing a residue that mimics a dephosphorylated form of the protein promotes cell spreading and directed cell migration, whereas a residue mimicking a phosphorylated form of the protein promotes attachment but inhibits cell spreading or migration. The significance of these observations is strengthened by the fact that the beta1 mutations display the same properties in both a fibroblast cell line (GD25) and a teratocarcinoma cell line (F9). The results indicate that changes in the phosphorylation state of S785 modulates beta1 integrin function.
Imposed Optical Defocus Induces Isoform-Specific Up-Regulation of TGFβ Gene Expression in Chick Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Choroid but Not Neural Retina.

Purpose This study investigated the gene expression of TGFβ isoforms and their receptors in chick retina, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and choroid and the effects of short-term imposed optical defocus.
Engaging Chinese Children with Autism to Interact with Portable Hand- and Finger-Gesture Based Applications: Experiment and Reflections

Recent work by researchers in China has demonstrated the potential for collaborative play as an educational tool for children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this paper, researchers in the United States and China investigate the potential for accessible interface design and learning by students with ASD. Through the use of known tools and interventions, an educational protocol has been designed to evaluate two applications. The pilot studies, including experimental design and outcomes, are presented here, and provide a solid foundation for comparative assessment of mid-air finger-gesture interaction as well as hand-gesture interaction. Early results in China are promising, based on experiences in the United States.
An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship between Retail Sales Force Performance Appraisals, Performance and Turnover

The perfonnance of a retailer’s sales force has obvious implications for the finn’s profitability. Less obvious, but still significant, is the impact of sales force turnover on the retailer’s level of success. The fact that both sales force perfonnance and turnover can have significant implications has resulted in numerous studies attempting to identify causal relationships between perfonnance, turnover, and various salesperson characteristics and behavior. This study examines the relationship between perfonnance appraisals, a common managerial practice, and retail salesperson perfonnance and turnover. An evaluation of the relationship between perfonnance appraisals and salesperson productivity and turnover seems logical, since perfonnance appraisals are a regular portion of the management control process in many fInns. The responses provided by 185 retail salespeople and their managers leads to the conclusion that “properly” conducted perfonnance appraisals can have positive impacts on both sales force p...
Severity of household food insecurity and lifetime racial discrimination among African-American households in South Carolina

Objectives: In 2014, 30% of African-American households with children had low or very low food security, a rate double that of white households with children. A household has low food security if i...
Surveillance Imaging Patterns and Outcomes Following Radiation Therapy and Radical Resection for Localized Extremity and Trunk Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Background Optimal surveillance imaging (SI) regimens following radiation therapy (RT) and radical resection for localized soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are unknown and practice patterns vary.
Structural and morphological evolution of free-standing Co3O4 nanowires via water vapor-assisted thermal oxidation of Co foil

Abstract Nanostructured cobalt oxide (Co 3 O 4 ) has been regarded to be of great interest for catalysis, gas sensors, and energy conversion/storage. In this paper, we reported a water vapor-assisted thermal oxidation approach for the scalable synthesis of free-standing Co 3 O 4 nanowires with controlled size, crystallization, and spatial density. Thermodynamic calculation was carried out to understand the fundamental mechanism of the water vapor-assisted nanowire formation process. For the first time, we found the incorporation of water vapor in the growth system modified the nanowires formation pathway. Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH) 2 ) was recognized to take a critical intermediate role during the growth. The proposed mechanism was further verified by understanding the influence of various growth parameters on the thermal oxidation process and product morphology. It was observed that the feeding rate of water vapor and type of oxygen source have a critical influence on the spatial density of Co 3 O 4 nanowires while the temperature shows a dominant effect on the product morphology. Finally, the representative Co 3 O 4 products were characterized for their composition, optical and magnetic properties. This study accumulates deeper understanding on the fundamentals of water vapor-assisted thermal growth of metal oxide nanostructures and successfully provides a facile approach for the scale production of Co 3 O 4 nanowires for future applications.
Schools as Organizational Connectors and Reproducers of the Hierarchy of Learning Success

This chapter describes a 30-year history of utilizing the curriculum management audit in the United States to improve pupil learning. The audit is based on notions of machine bureaucracy and is the epitome of organizational rationality and control. The audit standards and indicators are outlined along with the paradoxes of application, that is, improved means of internal control required to improve pupil learning as evidenced on mass administered tests more tightly circumscribes teacher autonomy and is the source of teacher resistance to pupil learning as measured by those tests. The second paradox is that teacher flexibility in adapting the curriculum is a requirement to maximize student learning, and while the curriculum content must be “tight,” its pacing, sequencing, and classroom reinforcement must remain highly localized, or “loose.” This is the “paradox of administration,” a concept as old as the audit itself in organizational theory. The work of Basil Bernstein in the UK is referenced as a different way of auditing an educational program with a different set of questions. However, such questions would bring into focus the power of the political elites who now exercise control of schooling and are not likely to be viewed favorably by them since it would expose their stake in preserving current socio-political-economic inequalities.
Diffuse fluorescence fiber probe for in vivo detection of circulating cells

There has been significant recent interest in the development of technologies for enumeration of rare circulating cells directly in the bloodstream in many areas of research, for example, in small animal models of circulating tumor cell dissemination during cancer metastasis. We describe a fiber-based optical probe that allows fluorescence detection of labeled circulating cells in vivo in a diffuse reflectance configuration. We validated this probe in a tissue-mimicking flow phantom model in vitro and in nude mice injected with fluorescently labeled multiple myeloma cells in vivo. Compared to our previous work, this design yields an improvement in detection signal-to-noise ratio of 10 dB, virtually eliminates problematic motion artifacts due to mouse breathing, and potentially allows operation in larger animals and limbs.
Ethnographic account of a pedagogical project: sisterhood institution in the Hizmet Movement

AbstractThis article focuses on the pedagogical project of the Hizmet Movement, with a special focus on its gender politics as they were activated and performed at one of the movement’s schools in a peripheral rural city in western Turkey. Through an ethnographic, conversation-based account of female teachers as active and committed adherents of the Movement, this article traces a two-tier approach to the community’s pedagogical project: the first is the examination of micro-institutional mobilization units of the Movement, while the second tier is an analysis of key themes in the discourses surrounding gender, characterizing the role and the extent of women’s participation in the movement. Drawing on the central gender discourses of the movement, this article reveals the emerging pedagogical model developed by the Movement as the constitution of a new hegemonic form, which I call the ‘conservative sisterhood.’
Nitrogen Fixation in the Sea: Why Only Trichodesmium?

The relative importance of different nutrients in limiting primary production in the sea continues to be the subject of debate, but it is clear that several nutrients are often in short supply in many regions of the oceans. Nitrogen fixation capabilities should provide an ecological advantage to microorganisms in the oceanic environment, regardless of the primary nutrient limiting productivity. Trichodesmium is a filamentous nonheterocystous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium which is a conspicuous component of tropical and subtropical oceans, and appears to play a major role in carbon and nitrogen-fixation in regions where it is found. It is not intuitively obvious which characteristics of Trichodesmium confer an ecological advantage such that it is the predominant organism to exploit nitrogen fixation as a mechanism to obtain nitrogen in nitrogen-deficient oligotrophic oceans. Furthermore, there still remains the question of whether Trichodesmium is truly one of only a few species to fix nitrogen, or whether other nitrogen fixing organisms exist in the open ocean, but have yet to be cultivated. Molecular approaches have provided a way to examine both of these issues: what is the distribution of nitrogen fixing microorganisms in the marine environment, and what are the molecular and biochemical features that determine the ecological success of Trichodesmium in the open ocean environment?
Numerical methods via transformations

This article begins with the setting of equi-spaced approximation, and then connects these methods with various other numerical methods via simple transformations. In particular, one thus traverses the classes of methods to which Gautschi made many contributions. We also comment on the multistep formulas derived by Gautschi, based on exactness for trigonometric polynomials which deserves further study, owing to its potential power.
The reaction of arenetricarbonylchromium complexes with alkyllithium compounds

ion of a proton by this anionic species would then yield butylbenzene. But again, such a mechanism would convert d 6-benzenetricarbonylchromiiun to di»-butylbenzene. This was not observed.
Therapeutic Targeting of the Carotid Body for Treating Sleep Apnea in a Pre-clinical Mouse Model

Sleep apnea with periodic cessation of breathing during sleep is a highly prevalent respiratory disorder affecting an estimated 10% of adults. Patients with sleep apnea exhibit several co-morbidities including hypertension, stroke, disrupted sleep, and neurocognitive and metabolic complications. Emerging evidence suggests that a hyperactive carotid body (CB) chemo reflex is an important driver of apneas in sleep apnea patients. Gasotransmitters carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) play important roles in oxygen sensing by the CB. We tested the hypothesis that an augmented CB chemo reflex stemming from disrupted CO-H2S signaling may lead to sleep apnea. This possibility was tested in mice deficient in hemeoxygenase-2 (HO-2), an enzyme involved in CO synthesis, which were shown to exhibit hyperactive CB activity due to high H2S levels. We found that HO-2−/− mice exhibit a high incidence of apneas during sleep compared to wild type mice. Blocking the CB hyperactivity with L-propargylglycine, an inhibitor of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), which catalyzes H2S synthesis, prevented apneas in HO-2−/− mice. These findings suggest that targeting CB with inhibitors of CSE might be a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing sleep apnea.
Potential local environmental impacts of salinity gradient energy: A review

Abstract Marine renewable energy development aims to harness the vast resources of the coastal environment to meet growing energy demands. Among the variety of coastal energy sources, salinity gradient energy (SGE) technology captures the energy released from the controlled mixing of waters of different salinities found naturally in estuarine systems or in other combinations of anthropogenic sources of brine and fresh waters. Although SGE technology is in the pilot stage of development, there is currently no comprehensive published assessment of its environmental impacts. This assessment uses research from proxy facilities and pilot SGE projects to predict impacts of an SGE facility through construction, operation and decommission phases. Construction and decommission of an SGE facility is expected to disrupt habitat and organisms via noise, land modification, and release of pollutants, similar to other coastal facilities such as desalination plants or water intake cooling structures. During operation, however, impacts unique to SGE result from intake of both high- and low-salinity waters, which in natural sources will involve impingement, entrainment, and chemical treatment to reduce biofouling. In addition, SGE effluent is expected to be of lower salinity and higher volume than effluent from a desalination plant, thereby posing unique risks to discharge sites. This review highlights areas of concern and lack of knowledge, which can guide environmental impact assessment and monitoring priorities of site managers.
Inflammation and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation Initiated in Response to Pressure Overload by Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II δ Signaling in Cardiomyocytes Are Essential for Adverse Cardiac Remodeling.

Background: Inflammation is associated with cardiac remodeling and heart failure, but how it is initiated in response to nonischemic interventions in the absence of cell death is not known. We test...
An Integrated Modeling, Simulation and Analysis Framework for Engineering Complex Systems

The discipline of component-based modeling and simulation offers promising gains in reducing cost, time, and the complexity of model development through the (re)use of modular components. Model-driven development suggests 1) the realization of a complex system using a conceptual model; 2) its automatic transformation into an executable form using transformation rules, and; 3) its automatic verification using a formal analysis technique for an accurate assessment of its correctness. Both approaches have numerous complementary benefits in rapid prototyping of complex systems using model reuse. In this paper, we propose a framework grounded in a combination of component-based and model-driven approaches to promote rapid prototyping of complex systems through the effective reuse of the simulation models. Our proposed process allows developers to 1) build or select existing components and compose them to formulate the conceptual models of complex systems; 2) automatically transform the conceptual models for the rapid implementation and simulation, and; 3) automatically verify them as per the requirement specifications. We propose the use of the extended finite-state machine (EFSM) as conceptual modeling formalism, anylogic simulation platform for the implementation, and probabilistic model checking technique using communicating sequential process (CSP) formalism for the verification. Finally, we present a case study of a real-time adaptive cruise control system to demonstrate the functionality of our framework. Our proposed component-based model-driven approach facilitates rapid prototyping and effective meaningful reuse of complex system models, which further accelerates the modeling, simulation, and analysis process of real-time systems and aids in complex engineering designs and implementations.
Image Quality Metric Derived Refractions Predicted to Improve Visual Acuity Beyond Habitual Refraction for Patients With Down Syndrome.

Purpose To determine which optimized image quality metric (IQM) refractions provide the best predicted visual acuity (VA). Methods Autorefraction (AR), habitual refraction (spectacles, n = 23; unaided, n = 7), and dilated wavefront error (WFE) were obtained from 30 subjects with Down syndrome (DS; mean age, 30 years; range, 18-50). For each eye, the resultant metric value for 16 IQMs was calculated after >25000 sphero-cylindrical combinations of refraction were added to the measured WFE to generate residual WFE. The single refraction corresponding to each of the 16 optimized IQMs per eye was selected and used to generate acuity charts. Charts also were created for AR, habitual refraction, and a theoretical zeroing of all lower-order aberrations, and grouped into 10 sets with a clear chart in each set. Dilated controls (five observers per set) read each chart until five letters were missed on a high contrast monitor through a unit magnification telescope with a 3 mm pupil aperture. Average letters lost for the five observers for each chart was used to rank the IQMs for each DS eye. Results Average acuity for the best performing refraction for all DS eyes was within five letters (0.11 ± 0.05 logMAR) of the clear chart acuity. Optimized IQM refractions had ∼3.5 lines mean improvement from the habitual refraction (0.37 ± 0.22 logMAR, P 98% of the eyes. Conclusions Optimized IQM refraction is predicted to improve VA in DS eyes based on control observers reading simulated charts. Translational relevance Refractions identified through optimization of IQM may bypass some of the challenges of current refraction techniques for patients with DS. The optimized refractions are predicted to provide better VA compared to their habitual correction.
Geometry Effects of Axisymmetric Flow-Focusing Microchannels for Single Cell Encapsulation

Cell microencapsulation is a promising technique to protect living cells in biomedical applications. Microfluidic devices can be utilized to control the production of high-throughput cell-laden droplets. This paper demonstrates the effects of flow-focusing geometry on the droplet size, frequency of droplet generation, and number of cells per droplet. Orifice radius, orifice length, and nozzle-to-orifice distance can significantly influence the flow-field and manipulate droplet formation. This paper analyzes these geometry effects using a numerical front-tracking method for the three fluid phases. It is found that as the orifice radius increases, the drop size and the number of cells in the droplet increase. For a short orifice radius, increasing the orifice length results in the generation of smaller droplets at higher frequency and fewer cells per droplet. On the other hand, for a longer orifice, droplet production is invariant with respect to orifice length. It is also found that shorter distances between the nozzle and the orifice lead to a more controlled and uniform production of droplets. When the nozzle-to-orifice length is increased, the droplet formation becomes non-uniform and unpredictable. Probability charts are plotted with respect to the orifice length and orifice radius, which show that a greater than 50 % probability of single cell encapsulation can be achieved consistently.
Carbon Isotopic Measurements of Nanotubes to Differentiate Carbon Sources.

Stable carbon isotope (δ(13C)) analysis can provide information concerning the starting materials and the production process of a material. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are produced using a variety of s...
Comparison of the single and double count using MCNP6 and ONMS Geant4 software

Abstract The quantification and detection of fissile material are valuable for safeguards, nuclear security, and fuel management. Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) (i.e. using neutron and gamma measurements) provide reliable means to detect and estimate the fissile content (i.e. mass) in a vast range of material in different forms found across various facilities in the nuclear fuel cycle. Neutron measurements are used either for total counting (i.e. pure metal fissile samples) or coincidences/multiplicity counting (i.e. impure fissile samples). These various flavors of neutron measurement are routinely used to quantify fissile material mass and inventory lists. Monte Carlo codes have evolved considerably and are used routinely for modeling and simulation of diverse physics. MCNP6 (Monte Carlo N Particle) and ONMS-Geant4 (Open Neutron Multiplicity Software) are used in this work to generate single and double count (i.e. based on the accidental and real plus accidental histograms) for two fresh fuel sources with the assumption that the neutron emission process is solely due to spontaneous fission. Previous work has shown that for these fresh fuel sources, about 93% of the neutrons emitted is due to spontaneous fission. ONMS was designed to provide an open-source platform that will facilitate researchers in the nuclear community to perform neutron counting simulations. ONMS has been shown to give good results for detectors with high efficiencies, strong (α, n) sources, strong spontaneous fission sources and sources baring plutonium. Detailed model simulations result from ONMS and MCNP6 are compared for a weak californium source and uranium-bearing fresh fuel assembly using a detector set up with relatively low efficiency. The detector response is characterized to compare the single and double counts obtained from both code packages. For the weak californium source, the neutron triplets are also evaluated from both code packages.
Comparison of Search Prognosis Algorithms Demonstrates the Value of HapLogicTM-Based Assessment in Predicting the Likelihood of Identifying 8/8 HLA-Allele Matched Unrelated Donors (URD) & Receiving an 8/8 URD Transplant

Background Using preliminary search National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) HapLogic™ predictions, we have developed a search prognosis algorithm that accurately predicts the likelihood of patients having an 8/8 HLA-matched URD (Davis et al, BBMT 2018). An alternative approach is to categorize search prognosis by patient HLA genotype frequency & ancestry (Wadsworth et al, BMT 2016). We compared these search prognosis assessment methods. Methods We performed a preliminary URD search on 830 potential adult allograft recipients & categorized the patients into 3 prognosis groups (Good, Fair, Poor) using HapLogic™-based & recipient genotype-based definitions. The HapLogic™-based prognosis groups of Very Good/ Good were classified as "Good", the Fair/ Poor as "Fair", & the Very Poor /Futile as "Poor". Search outcomes (8/8 URD(s) identified & of those transplanted the percentage receiving an 8/8 URD) by prognosis category for each method were then compared. Results The 2 methods resulted in different distributions of patients in the Good, Fair & Poor categories (p Of the 445 patients transplanted in the study period with either a 7-8/8 URD or other alternative donor, the distribution of the patients into Good/ Fair/ Poor groups was different with more patients being classified as Fair by the recipient genotype method. Moreover, the percentage receiving an 8/8 URD was different with a lower number of Fair patients by recipient genotype receiving an 8/8 URD (p Conclusions Search prognosis using HapLogic™ predictions obtained from the preliminary search allows better identification of patients who are very unlikely to have an 8/8 URD. Search prognosis should incorporate preliminary search HapLogicTM predictions to improve search accuracy & efficiency. This is especially important for minorities who are less likely to have 8/8 URDs.
Chapter 14 – Renewable Energy

Publisher Summary Renewable energy is regenerated at the same rate as it is used. Renewable energy technologies (RETs) can provide electricity, fuels for transport, heat and light for buildings, and power and process heat for industry. These technologies generally have little or no emissions of greenhouse gases, air pollutants, or other environmental impacts. RETs can also offset imports of foreign oil and offer important direct economic benefits. Renewable energy resources include biomass, geothermal energy, hydro power, ocean energy, solar energy, and wind energy. Renewable energy resources often vary in their availability. Many RETs involve collecting natural flows of energy. The chapter discusses the basic RETs — biomass, geothermal, hydro power, ocean solar, and wind energy. Biomass includes the full range of organic plant materials, such as trees, grasses, and even aquatic plants. It can be burned to produce heat or converted into liquid or gaseous fuels. The heat may be used to produce electricity. Geothermal energy is the accessible thermal energy or heat content of the earth's crust. It can be used to produce electricity, process heat, or to heat/cool buildings. Geothermal resources can be utilized locally. Hydro power is the energy drawn from water falling or flowing downhill. Ocean energy resources include energy conversion processes utilizing the temperature difference between surface and deep waters, recovery of potential energy from the rise and fall of the tides, and the recovery of kinetic energy from wave motion. Solar energy or sunlight is used to generate electricity directly using photo voltaic cells or to produce heat that can then be used directly or converted into electricity in a thermal power plant. Wind energy is used to turn a wind turbine to generate electricity. It is also used directly to power equipment such as water pumps.
Informed Consent of Research Subjects

‘Informed consent’ denotes a person's autonomous agreement to a proposed course of action, usually in a treatment or research context. The principle that research requires the informed consent of participants is accepted around the world. Elements necessary for consent to be informed include disclosure of relevant information, adequate decision-making capacity, and absence of coercion or undue influence. Challenging issues characteristic of social and behavioral research include use of deception; necessity of consent for record-based research; informed consent in observational research and fieldwork, and for Internet-based research; and role of community consent.
Biography as Method: Lesbian Feminism, Disability Activism, and Anti-Psychiatry in the Work of Seamoon House

Seamoon House was an activist and writer whose political commitments spanned the lesbian feminist, anti-psychiatry, and disability rights movements in the early 1980s. Although she is not widely known, scattered bits of her correspondence and manuscripts have been preserved at the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn and the Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture at Duke University. Rather than simply recovering House from obscurity, this article centres the life of a minor movement figure as one strategy for following the transit of people and ideas between radical social movements in the late twentieth century.
A Multimethod Examination of Sensitivity to Reward and Sensitivity to Punishment in Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Dependence: Results from a 2 × 2 Factorial Design.

Introduction Shared neurobehavioral characteristics of bipolar disorder (BD) and alcohol dependence (AD), including heightened sensitivity to reward (SR), may account for high rates of BD and AD co-occurrence (BD + AD). However, empirical research is lacking. The present multimethod investigation examined SR and sensitivity to punishment (SP) among these patient groups using a reliable and well-validated self-report questionnaire of SR and SP along with a laboratory task specifically designed to distinguish SR and SP activation. Methods One-hundred participants formed 4 groups: BD + AD (n = 40), BD (n = 18), AD (n = 25), and healthy controls (n = 17). Clinical interviews were administered, and participants completed the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSR-Q) and the Point Score Reaction Test behavioral task. Pearson correlations, hierarchical linear regression, and 2 × 2 factorial general linear modeling with Bonferroni-corrected pairwise comparisons were performed. Results BD and AD main effects were significant on self-reported SR and SP; however, BD × AD interactions were not. BD + AD individuals were significantly higher on self-reported SR than BD and AD individuals, yet all clinical groups were similar on SP. Behavioral response times did not distinguish groups nor did they associate with self-report data. Discussion/conclusion BD and AD had additive, rather than interactive, effects on self-reported SR and SP. The methods employed, paired with their application to the present sample, may account for a lack of positive findings with behavioral data.
Evolution of the Laser-Induced Spallation Technique in Film Adhesion Measurement

Laser-induced spallation is a process in which a stress wave generated from a rapid, high-energy laser pulse initiates the ejection of surface material opposite the surface of laser impingement. Through knowledge of the stress-wave amplitude that causes film separation, the adhesion and interfacial properties of a film-on-substrate system are determined. Some advantages of the laser spallation technique are the noncontact loading, development of large stresses (on the order of GPa), and high strain rates, up to 108/s. The applicability to both relatively thick films, tens of microns, and thin films, tens of nm, make it a unique technique for a wide range of materials and applications. This review combines the available knowledge and experience in laser spallation, as a state-of-the-art measurement tool, in a comprehensive pedagogical publication for the first time. An historical review of adhesion measurement by the laser-induced spallation technique, from its inception in the 1970s through the present day, is provided. An overview of the technique together with the physics governing the laser-induced spallation process, including functions of the absorbing and confining materials, are also discussed. Special attention is given to applications of laser spallation as an adhesion quantification technique in metals, polymers, composites, ceramics, and biological films. A compendium of available experimental parameters is provided that summarizes key laser spallation experiments across these thin-film materials. This review concludes with a future outlook for the laser spallation technique, which approaches its semicentennial anniversary.
Trust in physicians among patients with head and neck cancer before and after treatment

BACKGROUND Little is known about physician trust in patients with head and neck cancer. This study's aim is to evaluate trust pre- and post-treatment. METHODS A study was conducted of 50 patients with head and neck cancer at a tertiary referral center. Surveys administered before and after treatment included several validated survey tools including the Trust in Oncologist Scale Short Form. RESULTS There was an increase in overall trust scores (p < 0.001). Female patients (p = 0.034) and those who received chemotherapy (p = 0.001) were less trusting post-treatment. Patients with more comorbidities (p = 0.045) and progression of disease (p = 0.029) had higher final trust than those without. Patients with high initial distress scores showed a decrease in trust (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS Patients with head and neck cancer trust their surgeon more after completion of treatment, with specific characteristics having a variable impact on trust scores.
Pharmacology of Bovine Respiratory Disease

Rational selection of antimicrobials involves working through an information overload. Spectrum, laboratory sensitivity data, clinical trial data, tissue tolerance, possibility of synergism or antagonism with another antimicrobial, route and frequency of administration, withdrawal time, cost, and label vs. extra-label use must be considered. This paper includes suggestions for evaluating some of these areas, with an emphasis on comparing and contrasting the aminoglycosides with other selected antimicrobials. Evaluation of using characteristics of antimicrobials to guide drug selection is the main focus of this paper. The evaluation of clinical trials for antimicrobial selection is not addressed, but should be included in the final selection decision.
An Exploration of Professional Value Development in Associate Degree Nursing Students

Knowledge of professional nursing values must be supported in academia and acquired prior to graduation. Without a basic understanding of professionalism and internalization through socialization to the role of the nurse, new graduate performance and care quality deteriorate as values are abandoned. The American Nurses Association’s (ANA) Code of Ethics defines nursing professional values, but varied educational presentation may affect knowledge. The best method to achieve internalization of professional values remains widely debated. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental study was to measure knowledge of professional nursing values of students in an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program using the Nurses Professional Values Scale-3 (NPVS-3) before and after participation in a leadership course in the final semester. Miller’s Wheel of Professionalism, based on the ANA’s Code of Ethics, provided a foundation for this study. Collected data was analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and revealed no statistically significant change in knowledge after completing the leadership course. The literature review and findings of this study suggest that continued research is necessary to understand how knowledge of professional values is obtained in pre-licensure ADN students and the best pedagogical method of delivery. Furthermore, this project may have application for healthcare leaders to support continued value development for practicing nurses.