cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Taxonomic history of the genus Anoura (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) with insights into the challenges of morphological species delimitation

A surge in new species descriptions must be accompanied by an equal amount of healthy skepticism. Herein, we critique the current approach to species delimitation for the genus Anoura and assess the methodology used in these studies. It is not uncommon for studies committed to the delimitation of species to incur in a mismatch between their underlying epistemological perspective and the nature of species as real entities or ontological individuals. This is the reason why these studies must capitalize on the statistical paradigm to ascertain the degree of vagueness upon their particular approximation to real or purportedly real species. It is common for species to have fuzzy boundaries and numerous sources of variation. Furthermore, as multi-organismal entities, species deserve a more cautious action to their delimitation than purely verbal descriptions from the point of view of a single observer. We highlight the need for quantifiable methods that provide clear perspectives on the magnitude of overlap and variability within and among species. We argue that the delimitation of complex entities as evolutionary species must be framed under the paradigm of hypothesis testing and measurable and concrete estimates of character states. Quantitative hypothesis testing should be a requirement for the practice of systematics, taxonomy and species delimitation. Species are not mind constructs but complex ontological individuals awaiting discovery by means of precise statements of uncertainty.
Knudsen Cell Studies of the Vaporization of Samarium Dicarbide

The vapor pressure of SmC2 in equilibrium with graphite was measured by the Mnudsen effusion technique. Rates of weight loss from the cells were measured with an automatic recording balance. The apparent pressures varied with orifice size, and equilibrium pressures were calculated by extrapolation to zero orifice area. This work was combined with other studies to obtain log10 P(atm) = - 13.869 × 103/T + 3.752 (1300°-2050°K) for the Sm vapor pressure above SmC2-C. Estimates of S°298 and cp were made for SmC2, and δH°298 was calculated to be 72.0 ± 2 kcal/mol for the reaction SmC2(s) = Sm(g) + 2C(s). This value combined with δH°v, 298= 48.6 kcal/mol for Sm gives a δ°f298 for SmC2 of 23.4 ± 2 kcal/mol.
Boost-phase acceleration estimation

Characterizing the boost phase of a rocket's flight is challenging when only metric radar data (range and angles) are used. Incorporating range-acceleration measurements results in superior tracking performance and much improved characterization of boost-phase flight. This paper demonstrates how to estimate range acceleration reliably from the amplitude and phase of the target-reflected radar signal. Phase-derived range-acceleration estimates can be used to tune a tracking filter and can be incorporated into the filter for improved trajectory reconstruction. Range-acceleration measurements can also be used in a multitarget environment to identify boosting targets. These techniques have been used successfully on actual rocket-launch data to improve postmission tracking and object identification performance.
Optical System for Tomographic Measurements in Rocket Plumes

*† ‡ Previous tomographic measurements made in the plume of a rocket engine gave insight into the combustion characteristics of the engine. However, the signal-to-noise ratio was inadequate to resolve the absorption spectra near the center of the plume due to beam steering phenomena. We have developed an optical system for planar measurements of gas temperature and H2O mole fraction in rocket plumes. The system has been tested on smallscale plumes (diameter < 25 mm) but should be scalable to larger plumes. The system is based on absorption spectroscopy and axis-symmetric tomographic reconstruction, facilitated by a wavelength-scanning laser in conjunction with a high-speed vibrating mirror. Careful design of the optical system has led to an arrangement that is both simple and relatively insensitive to beamsteering.
2-D Discharge Chamber Model for Ion Thrusters

Abstract – The prediction and optimization of ion thruster performance and life for long-duration missions will be possible if an accurate computational model for all thruster components can be developed. Recent efforts have shown that the physics of ion optics is relatively well understood and can be modeled accurately. These models have proven effective in the optimization of ion thruster grid design; however, to date, the design and optimization of ion thruster discharge chambers has been almost entirely based on empirical investigations and has benefited little from computational modeling. The 2-D model currently under development at JPL predicts the behavior of an axisymmetric ion thruster discharge chamber. The model uses an iterative scheme for predicting the steady-state operating point of the thruster by determining the non-uniform behavior of singlycharged ions, neutral xenon atoms, primary electrons, and secondary electrons. This model is a critical component in the development of the full computational model of an ion thruster for long-life validation and performance optimization; therefore, the model is designed to integrate with recent computational models of the discharge cathode and ion extraction grid performance and wear. It will also be used to investigate and anticipate scaling issues for extremely small and large ion thruster. Preliminary results for a 30cm discharge show that plasma parameters on the order of those measured inside the discharge are predicted, however, additional development is necessary to accurately simulate non-uniform discharge characteristics.
Hurray for militias? Not so fast: Lessons from the Afghan Local Police experience

Drawing on my fieldwork on militias in Afghanistan over the past decade, this article explores their security and political effects, with special focus on the Afghan Local Police. It analyzes chang...
Carbon dioxide requirement and nucleic acid metabolism of HeLa and conjunctival cells.

SummaryOver 90% of C14 fixed by HeLa or conjunctival cells growing in a trisbuffered nutrient medium containing 5 micro-curies of NaHC14O3 per 10 ml was recovered in the acid soluble and nucleic acid fractions. Most of this activity was found associated with the purines and the pyrimidines of such cells. The ribonucleosides were partially effective as a substitute for CO2 in supporting cell multiplication. A combination of ribosides and oxaloacetate provided conditions as good as or better than CO2 for multiplication of CO2-depleted conjunctival cells. It may be concluded that, under the described experimental conditions, the chief functions of CO2 in human cells are to provide specific precursors for syntheses of the purines, the pyrimidines and oxaloacetate.
Changes of B7 Family Costimulatory Molecule and Its Receptor in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective To investigate the changes of B7 family costimulatory molecule and its receptor in the role of immunopathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM).Methods Twenty cases of T1DM children(T1DM group) and 20 cases of healthy children(healthy control group) were selected.The proportions of B7-1,B7-2,B7H1 and B7H expression on CD14+ cells and the proportions of Th1,Th2 in peripheral blood were detected by means of flow cytometric analysis.CD4+ T cells were separated by immunomagnetic beads and real-time PCR was used to evaluate the expression levels of transcriptional factors(T-bet,GATA-3),cytokines(IFN-γ,IL-4),costimulatory mo-lecules receptors CD28,cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen-4(CTLA-4) and programmed death-1(PD-1) and inducible costimulator(ICOS) mRNA from CD4+ T cells.Results 1.The proportions of Th1 cells in peripheral blood from children with T1DM were significantly increased than those in healthy control group(P0.01),while proportions of Th2 were decreased(P0.01).Transcription levels of T-bet and IFN-γ mRNA were significantly up-regulated(Pa0.01),while GATA3 and IL-4 were significantly down-regulated in children with T1DM(Pa0.01).2.The levels of B7-1 expression in children with T1DM were significantly increased than those in healthy control group(P0.01),but proportions of B7H1 and B7H were decreased(Pa0.01).There were no significant differences between diabetic patients and healthy control group regarding the proportions of B7-2(P0.05).3.The expression of CD28,the receptor for B7,was significantly increased(Pa0.01),the expression of CTLA-4 was lower(P0.01).Compared with healthy control group,the expression of PD-1,the receptor for B7H1,was lower(P0.01),and the expression of ICOS,the receptor for B7H,was significantly lower in T1DM group(P0.01).Conclusion Abnormal expression of B7 family costimulatory molecule and receptor may be one of the factors causing cellular immunological dysfunction in T1DM.
Condition of legionella pneumophila contamination in some place of Tianjin water system in 2013

Objective Understand the contamination condition of legionella pneumophila( LP) in water system of Tianjin places,and provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of legionella disease spreading. Methods 135 random samples in various places from Tianjin were selected for detection of legionella,including hotels,supermarkets and shopping malls,office buildings and so on. Results In 2013 a total of 135 water samples were collected,living water detection rate was1. 92%,central air conditioning system of water rate was 14. 45%. Conclusion Legionella contamination happens in some water systems in Tianjin area,which is hidden trouble to health and safety. We should strengthen the supervision and control of public water system,and the supervision to carry out disinfection cleaning.
Assessment of physiological performance and perception of pushing different wheelchairs on indoor modular units simulating a surface roughness often encountered in under-resourced settings

ABSTRACTIn under-resourced settings where motorized wheelchairs are rarely available, manual wheelchair users with limited upper-body strength and functionalities need to rely on assisting pushers for their mobility. Because traveling surfaces in under-resourced settings are often unpaved and rough, wheelchair pushers could experience high physiological loading. In order to evaluate pushers’ physiological loading and to improve wheelchair designs, we built indoor modular units that simulate rough surface conditions, and tested a hypothesis that pushing different wheelchairs would result in different physiological performances and pushers’ perception of difficulty on the simulated rough surface. Eighteen healthy subjects pushed two different types of pediatric wheelchairs (Moti-Go manufactured by Motivation, and KidChair by Hope Haven) fitted with a 50-kg dummy on the rough and smooth surfaces at self-selected speeds. Oxygen uptake, traveling distance for 6 minutes, and the rating of difficulty were obtain...
The ‘beautiful’ in information: thoughts about visual literacy and aesthetics

AbstractMany agencies have promulgated standards for visual literacy. These groups include libraries, museums, computer science and graphic designers. The implementation of these standards tends to be skill-based courses for production. Other, larger questions about visual literacy are eclipsed and the growing number of research areas investigating visual literacy has made a complicated, contradictory literature. The dominant stream of discourse in the humanities emphasizes cultural, historical and social-constructionist perspectives. An alternative perspective, which was dominant until the 1970s, still seems to lead the sciences, a pseudo-objectivist perspective. The theme of this essay is that considering visual literacy from a yet-earlier analysis, that of Immanuel Kant’s Critique of judgment about ‘beauty,’ may lead to a shareable discourse to advance our study about the interpretation of visuals and create a foundation to allow for individual and community-based interpretations, a middle-way between ...
Physical basis and characteristics of light emission from quantized planar Ge structures

The characteristics of luminescence from quantized planar Ge structures are presented, showing stability with time, dependence on laser power excitation and temperature, and the presence of GaAs-Al/sub 0.8/Ga/sub 0.2/As overlayers. A single broad emission at 1.7 eV near 300 K is observed to become four distinct emissions at 2.16 eV, 2.01 eV, 1.696 eV, and 1.56 eV at 77 K. A model describing the basis of luminescence in small Ge structures is also presented. The increased probability for radiative recombination in the quantized structures is a result of states in the conduction band and valence band being closed in k-space than in bulk Ge. Thus, the luminescence at 1.7 eV in the quantized structures probably results from a one or two phonon-assisted process compared to a 4-5 phonon process in bulk Ge for photoluminescence at 0.7 eV. >
The natural history of semen parameters in untreated asymptomatic adolescent varicocele patients: A retrospective cohort study

Summary Introduction Adolescent males with varicoceles present a dilemma for surveillance and treatment. Testicular volumetrics have not been shown to predict SA outcomes. Serial SAs are thus recommended in asymptomatic adolescent males with varicoceles and normal testicular development, but the natural history of semen parameters is unknown. Objective To explore the natural history of semen parameters in adolescent boys with a left varicocele under active surveillance. Study design Adolescents with an asymptomatic unilateral left varicocele, Tanner V development, normal testicular volumes, and an initial SA were retrospectively reviewed in a single-institution prospectively followed cohort. Total motile count (TMC) was calculated. A cutoff of TMC Z 20 million was used to dichotomize SA results into “normal” or “poor.” Those with poor SA were offered repeat SA. Cumulative probabilities of normal TMC over successive rounds of SA were calculated. Bivariate models were used to explore associations of a second consecutive poor TMC with age and varicocele grade. Results A total of 216 patients provided an initial SA between 1992 and 2015. We excluded 17 for a history of cryptorchidism or incomplete SA data for a final cohort of 199 patients with median follow-up of 3.3 years (interquartile range 1.5–5.6 years). The mean age at initial SA was 17.9 years (range 14.8–21.8 years). One hundred and nine out of 199 had an initial normal TMC. Of the 90 out of 199 with an initially poor TMC, 51 had repeat SA and 24 of the 51 patients improved to normal TMC. Of the 27 patients with two consecutive poor TMCs, 15 had a third SA and five out of 15 improved to normal TMC. Thus, cumulatively, 55%, 67%, and 69% of all patients had a normal TMC after an initial, second, and third SA, respectively. However, fewer patients in each round of SA normalized their TMC ( Figure ). Neither age nor varicocele grade was associated with a second consecutive poor TMC. Discussion Two-thirds of Tanner V boys with an uncorrected varicocele and normal testicular volumes achieve a normal TMC regardless of varicocele grade or age. Despite Tanner V development, 47% with an initial “poor” SA will improve to normal status without surgery. However, a small subgroup of patients will have persistently poor TMC and thus should be targeted in future research for timely intervention. Conclusion Semen parameters improve over time. SA should be followed and repeated at least once in symptomatic Tanner V boys with varicoceles. Download : Download high-res image (98KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure . Semen analysis outcomes.
Carbon nanotubes at the blood-gas barrier: Implications for cardiovascular reactivity

There is increasing interest in the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for biomedical applications. However, in vivo studies have demonstrated that CNTs can induce adverse cardiorespiratory events. We hypothesised that the pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic response of the pulmonary endothelium to CNTs would be determined by their physicochemical properties. Primary human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMVEC) were exposed to 10µg/ml CNTs that were either unmodified, or carboxyl or P(M4-VP) functionalised for 4 or 24h. Unmodified CNTs induced a >2-fold increase (P IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin mRNA as early as 4hrs. Furthermore, carboxyl and P(M4-VP) functionalisation significantly increased this response further by 2-5-fold (P Thus, we demonstrate that CNTs, in particular P(M4-VP) CNTs, are able to significantly disrupt pulmonary endothelial homeostasis to create a pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic environment which could have serious adverse health effects.
Progress report on the use of automobile scrap and directly reduced iron ore in production of electric furnace steel

The production of carbon steel by the continuous addition of prereduced iron ore to molten auto scrap in an electric furnace appears to have certain operational advantages over conventional cold-melt, batch-charging techniques. Among these are: (1) Lower tramp metal content in the ingot, (2) shorter heat times and lower electrical energy consumption, (3) improved energy input rate during the continuous addition, and (4) flexibility of charge composition by varying ratios of scrap to prereduced iron.
Optimal free trial strategy of software in the digital environment

The software industry has gone through a radical transformation in the past decade in the way products are distributed to consumers. The new digital distribution environment has made it easier and cost efficient to offer free trials of digital products, which in turn provided an excellent environment to build the user base quickly. This paper considers a software firm's decision to offer a free version with limited functionality in a competitive software market. We provide a duopoly model of software firms in which a dominant firm determines the relative quality of the free version in order to maximise its profit under network externality. When network externality is sufficiently large, it is optimal for the high-quality dominant firm to offer a limited functionality (i.e., lower quality) free version. The freeware's optimal quality level should be high enough to entice lower-end customers to adopt it, but it also needs to be low enough to benefit from the expanded network by the lower-quality competitor in the market. The high-quality firm's optimal profit and freeware's quality increase as the network externality increases. In addition, when usage cost is sufficiently small, it is the high-quality firm's best interest to keep the quality of its free version below that of the low-quality competitor so that the freeware does not drive the low-quality firm out of the market.
Ionic Liquid-Assisted Synthesis of Nanoscale (MoS2)x(SnO2)1-x on Reduced Graphene Oxide for the Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted increased attention due to their enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. More specifically, ternary TMD nanohybrids, such as MoS2(1–x)Se2x or bimetallic sulfides, have arisen as promising electrocatalysts compared to MoS2 and MoSe2 due to their electronic, morphologic, and size tunabilities. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of few-layered MoS2/rGO, SnS2/rGO, and (MoS2)x(SnO2)1–x/rGO nanohybrids anchored on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through a facile hydrothermal reaction in the presence of ionic liquids as stabilizing, delayering agents. Spectroscopic and microscopic techniques (electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, neutron activation analysis, and UV–vis spectrophotometry) are used to validate the hierarchical properties, phase identity, and the smooth compositional tunability of the (MoS2)x(SnO2)1–x/rGO nanohybrids. Linear sweep voltammetry measurements reveal that incorporation of Sn into th...
Variable-Depth Liner Evaluation Using Two NASA Flow Ducts

Four liners are investigated experimentally via tests in the NASA Langley Grazing Flow Impedance Tube. These include an axially-segmented liner and three liners that use reordering of the chambers. Chamber reordering is shown to have a strong effect on the axial sound pressure level profiles, but a limited effect on the overall attenuation. It is also shown that bent chambers can be used to reduce the liner depth with minimal effects on the attenuation. A numerical study is also conducted to explore the effects of a planar and three higher-order mode sources based on the NASA Langley Curved Duct Test Rig geometry. A four-segment liner is designed using the NASA Langley CDL code with a Python-based optimizer. Five additional liner designs, four with rearrangements of the first liner segments and one with a redistribution of the individual chambers, are evaluated for each of the four sources. The liner configuration affects the sound pressure level profile much more than the attenuation spectra for the planar and first two higher-order mode sources, but has a much larger effect on the SPL profiles and attenuation spectra for the last higher-order mode source. Overall, axially variable-depth liners offer the potential to provide improved fan noise reduction, regardless of whether the axially variable depths are achieved via a distributed array of chambers (depths vary from chamber to chamber) or a group of zones (groups of chambers for which the depth is constant).
Asian Americans and Internalized Racial Oppression: Identified, Reproduced, and Dismantled:

Internalized racial oppression among Asian Americans is currently an understudied topic in the social sciences. In this article, the authors draw from 52 in-depth interviews with 1.5- and 2nd-gener...
Functional Properties of B Lymphocytes

This chapter discusses the functional properties of B lymphocytes. One of the major attractions for studying relatively T-independent antigens is the possibility of delineating the nature of triggering signals required for B cell induction. However, from this approach have arisen several different hypotheses and speculations concerning the capacity of such substances to trigger B lymphocytes in the relative absence of T cells, no one of which has withstood the test of absolute correctness. Considerable attention has been given to the fact that an important feature shared by the majority of relatively T-independent antigens is their physicochemical structure, which consists of identical units arranged in a more or less linear repetitive sequence. It has been presumed that their unique three-dimensional structural characteristics favor a positive immunogenic signal upon direct interaction with specific receptor sites on B cells. The observations of several investigators indicate that, even in the absence of T lymphocytes, or in their relative absence, antigens that are normally classified as T-dependent molecules exert a measurable effect in the generation of subsequent responsiveness of B lymphocytes specific for determinants born on such molecules.
On Monge–Ampère Type Equations and Applications

This chapter contains an overview of recent results on the Monge–Ampere equation and its linearization. We also describe the reflector problem and regularity results for weak solutions.
Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery for the Resection of a Cavernous Hemangioma with a Sellar Extension.

Cavernous hemangiomas with an intrasellar extension are very rare, generally benign lesions that manifest by the compression of nearby structures. The presenting symptoms usually range from visual disturbances to an endocrine imbalance. Occasional extension into the cavernous sinus has been reported, which can cause cranial nerve compression. We present the case of a 69-year-old man presenting with facial pain and decreased libido. On investigation, a lesion was identified and the parasellar region was homogeneously hyper-intense on gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Endoscopic endonasal surgery remains one of the favored approaches for the resection of sellar lesions. Such pathology needs to remain on the neurosurgeon’s differential diagnosis, making an intraoperative frozen section of these lesions a useful tool in the surgeon's armamentarium, to guide further surgical resection.
Abstract TP78: Combination of Neuroprotective Drug and Neural Stem Cells Benefits Aged Stroke Mice with Delayed Tissue Plasminogen Activator Treatment

Background: Presently, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the sole FDA-approved antithrombotic treatment available for stroke. However, tPA’s harmful side effects within the central nervous syst...
Transgender Health Medical Education Intervention and its Effects on Beliefs, Attitudes, Comfort, and Knowledge.

Introduction. Transgender health disparities have been well documentedin the literature in recent years, as have the lack of transgenderhealth issues in medical education programs across the country. Methods. A prospective study was conducted with an hour-longdidactic lecture on transgender health being given to faculty, medicalstudents, and residents at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. The didactic lecture included educational informationand presentations by transgender persons. A pre-intervention andtwo post-intervention survey was given to assess attitudes, comfortlevel, knowledge, and beliefs regarding the treatment of transgenderedpersons and associated health concerns. A second post-interventionsurvey was given at 90 days. The question of what attendees plannedto do differently as a result of the intervention was asked. Results. The intervention provided a significant positive increase inattitudes, comfort levels, and knowledge with respect to transgenderhealth issues between the pre- and post-intervention surveys,however, did not provide a significant positive increase in beliefs ontransgender health issues. There was no significant change in attitude,comfort levels, knowledge, or beliefs from the post-survey after 90days. Four categories of what attendees planned to do differently as aresult of the intervention also were identified. Conclusions. A didactic lecture on transgender health issues canpositively change attitudes, comfort levels, and knowledge on transgenderhealth issues significantly with the changes sustaining after 90days. Beliefs tend to be much harder to change.Kans J Med 2018;11(4):106-109.
Characterizing quantum detectors by Wigner functions

We propose a method for characterizing a photodetector by directly reconstructing the Wigner functions of the detector's Positive-Operator-Value-Measure (POVM) elements. This method extends the works of S. Wallentowitz and Vogel [Phys. Rev. A 53, 4528 (1996)] and Banaszek and W\'odkiewicz [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 4344 (1996)] for quantum state tomography via weak-field homodyne technique to characterize quantum detectors. The scheme uses displaced thermal mixtures as probes to the detector and reconstructs the Wigner function of the photodetector POVM elements from its outcome statistics. In order to make the reconstruction robust to the experimental noise, we use techniques from quadratic convex optimization.
Identifying Weights and Architectures of Unknown ReLU Networks

The output of a neural network depends on its parameters in a highly nonlinear way, and it is widely assumed that a network's parameters cannot be identified from its outputs. Here, we show that in many cases it is possible to reconstruct the architecture, weights, and biases of a deep ReLU network given the ability to query the network. ReLU networks are piecewise linear and the boundaries between pieces correspond to inputs for which one of the ReLUs switches between inactive and active states. Thus, first-layer ReLUs can be identified (up to sign and scaling) based on the orientation of their associated hyperplanes. Later-layer ReLU boundaries bend when they cross earlier-layer boundaries and the extent of bending reveals the weights between them. Our algorithm uses this to identify the units in the network and weights connecting them (up to isomorphism). The fact that considerable parts of deep networks can be identified from their outputs has implications for security, neuroscience, and our understanding of neural networks.
Experimental Analysis of Matrix Multiplication Functional Units

The rapid growth of AI has led to the introduction of several new hardware designs to accelerate the matrix multiplication operation at the heart of AI applications. Examples include NVIDIA's Tensor Core*, Google's TPU*, and Intel's Neural Compute Stick*. However, the IEEE 754 standard gives significant implementation-specific flexibility in the definition of the matrix multiplication operation and the precision and compatibility of these new accelerators is not well documented. This paper describes a method exploiting the rounding modes and other features of the IEEE 754 standard in order to gain deeper insight into the design and functionality of matrix multiplication units. We apply this method to the NVIDIA V100 GPU Tensor Core* units and report our findings on the design properties and micro-architecture.
High-dose chemotherapy plus peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for patients with relapsed germ cell tumors and active brain metastases.

Background The optimal management of progressive brain metastases in patients with germ cell tumors (GCTs) remains unsettled. This study reports the management of 25 consecutive patients with relapsed GCTs and progressive brain metastases undergoing high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) at Indiana University from 2006 to 2016. Methods All patients were planned to undergo HDCT, which consisted of carboplatin at 700 mg/m2 on days 1 to 3 plus etoposide at 750 mg/m2 on days 1 to 3, followed by PBSCT on day 5 for 2 cycles. Patients were treated with brain metastectomy, stereotactic radiotherapy or whole-brain radiotherapy, HDCT alone, or a combination thereof. All 25 patients had progressive brain metastases at the time of initiating HDCT. Patient and disease characteristics, management of brain metastases, and outcomes were measured. Platelet transfusions were given to maintain platelet counts > 30,000/µL; the goal was >50,000/µL when there were signs of prior or active hemorrhaging. Results Twenty-two of 25 patients completed both courses of HDCT. The median α-fetoprotein level was 7.5 ng/mL (range, 1.6-1130 ng/mL), and the human chorionic gonadotropin level was 31.3 IU/mL (range, 0.5-25,601 IU/mL). At a median follow-up of 24.5 months (range, 0.4-117 months), 11 patients (44%) were alive with no evidence of disease, 2 patients were alive with relapsed disease, and 12 patients had died of disease progression or complications from HDCT. Fifteen patients developed progressive brain metastases despite radiation and/or craniotomy before HDCT, and 8 of these patients were alive without evidence of disease. There were no intracranial hemorrhagic events leading to death. Conclusions Patients with relapsed GCTs and progressive brain metastases are curable with multimodality therapy that includes HDCT and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
St. Anthony Falls Navigation Project

St. Peter sandstone is a soft loosely bonded rock that disintegrates readily when subjected to flowing water. This type of foundation, encountered in the St. Anthony Falls project, called for careful geological investigating and testing. De-watering excavated areas required special precautions for the control of subsurface seepage. Deep seated steel sheet piling, wellpoint system and chemical grouting were adopted as essential construction safety measures. A type of structure was selected in order to assure that the foundation under and adjacent to the completed locks and dams would not be disturbed. Meticulous regulations of the pool levels within the metropolitan areas requires the use of control gates that will minimize interference with the operation of existing structures and utilities. Radiant heating and low pressure bubbler systems were adopted to keep the gates operable during cold weather periods. Railway bridge alterations made under sustained traffic required the coordination of planning and execution by the contractor, the operating agency, and the designing engineer.
Anchors Away: Glia-Neuron Adhesion Regulates Myelin Targeting and Growth.

Myelination in the CNS requires oligodendrocytes to first select correct axonal targets and then extend their membranes around and along these axons. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Klingseisen et al. (2019) find that the adhesion protein Neurofascin is required in oligodendrocytes for both target selection and myelin growth.
Adoption by Homosexuals in the Wake of Lawrence v. Texas

Historically, many laws in this country have discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation, particularly in the areas of marriage and adoption. One of the grounds for such laws was the longstanding criminalization of sodomy even between consenting adults in private, upheld as constitutionally permissible in the Supreme Court’s opinion in Bowers v. Hardwick. So long as sodomy was against the law, adoption by homosexuals was often denied in order to prevent adopted children from being exposed to a criminal environment.When the Court overturned Bowers in Lawrence v. Texas, and recognized a constitutionally protected right to engage in private sexual activity with a consenting adult partner of either the same or opposite sex, it thus removed one of the bases for laws that forbade homosexuals from adopting. This article examines the impact of Lawrence on adoption laws, and whether it signals the beginning of prohibitions on laws that preclude adoptions by same-sex couples. While Lawrence could be read broadly as to question the constitutionality of such laws, this article argues that the Court actually crafted a narrow opinion that leaves policy­makers free to deny adoptions to parties involved in homosexual relationships. The article predicts that Lawrence will have little legal impact on state provisions denying homosexual adoptions, leaving policy-makers with constitutionally defensible policy grounds other than criminal sodomy statutes as support for bans on gay and lesbian adoptions.
Determining natural arm configuration along reaching trajectory

Because of the flexibility and redundancy of neuromuscular and skeletal systems, human arm can reach to the same target in space with various arm configurations. However, the arm posture during such movement is generally very consistent with little variation across subjects. To investigate the fundamental mechanism for this observation a model is developed. This paper presents a method to determine the arm posture in a 4 degree-of-freedom (DOF) arm model at each via-point along the trajectory of reaching movement. The predicted data matched experimental data for three joint angles but less consistent for adduction/abduction of shoulder. Further, shoulder adduction/abduction was not correlated linearly with measured data in some conditions. We posit that external constraints imposed on arm configurations should be considered in the algorithm. It is also observed that shoulder adduction/abduction's variability is higher than other joint angles in repeated movements, which may be another reason for the worse prediction.
Why Service Recovery Fails? Examining the Roles of Restaurant Type and Failure Severity in Double Deviation With Justice Theory:

Due to the increasingly competitive nature of the industry, the prevalence of service failure in restaurants has made a satisfactory service recovery critical for retaining customers. However, the ...
Ambiguous Credentials: Utilization Strategies of Learners in Massively Open Online Courses

As low-status academic offerings purveyed by high-status institutions, massively open online courses (MOOCs) are ambiguous credentials. While researchers have amply investigated the demography and styles of engagement of those who enroll in MOOCs, they have lent only modest attention to how learners navigate their inherent ambiguity as academic certifications. Analyzing semi-structured interviews with 60 people who devoted substantial time to at least one MOOC between 2014-2017, we find that people use MOOCs to build skills for application at work and home, build relationships, navigate life transitions, and enhance formal presentations of self, at the same time that they disagree on the meaning of MOOC completions as official academic accomplishments. Our findings accrete theory on the multi-dimensional character of credential prestige that can inform educational social scientists and credential providers in an increasingly complicated postsecondary ecosystem.
Toward a More Equal World: The Human Rights Approach to Extending the Benefits of Artificial Intelligence

We are all aware of the huge potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to bring massive benefits to under-served populations, advancing equal access to public services such as health, education, social assistance, or public transportation, for example. We are equally aware that AI can drive inequality, concentrating wealth, resources, and decision-making power in the hands of a few countries, companies, or citizens. Artificial intelligence for equity (AI4Eq) [1] as presented in this magazine, calls upon academics, AI developers, civil society, and government policy-makers to work collaboratively toward a technological transformation that increases the benefits to society, reduces inequality, and aims to leave no one behind. A call for equity rests on the human rights principle of equality and nondiscrimination. AI design, development, and deployment (AI-DDD) can and should be harnessed to reduce inequality and increase the share of the world’s population that is able to live in dignity and fully realize their human potential. This commentary argues, first, that far preferable to an ethics framework, adopting a human rights framework for AI-DDD offers the potential for a robust and enforceable set of guidelines for the pursuit of AI4Eq. Second, the commentary introduces the work of IEEE in proposing practical recommendations for AI4Eq, so that people living in high-income countries (HICs), low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), alike, share AI applications’ widespread benefit to humanity.
Duloxetine usage in depression

Abstract Depression is considered one of the most prevalent and disabling psychiatric disorders. The pharmacotherapy remains the major treatment for depression. Since older-generation antidepressants have poor selectivity and considerable side effects, the new-generation antidepressants were developed. As a new generation antidepressant, duloxetine selectively inhibits both serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) reuptake. The function of dual inhibition enables duloxetine to exert more potent and extensive desired effects. Duloxetine effectively ameliorates symptoms and signs of major depression in young, adult, and older populations, and is relatively safe and well tolerated. Moreover, duloxetine shows therapeutic superiority because it can treat not only depression and its associated symptoms but also diverse comorbidities of depression. Therefore, duloxetine is a widely used versatile first-line antidepressant. This article highlights the effects of duloxetine on depression, treatment-resistant depression, depression linked to gynecology and obstetrics, comorbidities of depression, and outlines its pharmacokinetics and side effects.
Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

Endoscopic mucosal resection is a novel technique that allows the endoscopist to diagnose and initiate appropriate therapy for superficial gastrointestinal cancers. The technique improves diagnosis by reliably removing tissue to the depth of the submucosa, which is not usually achieved by standard endoscopic biopsy. The depth of resection permits the diagnosis of submucosal tumors or dysplasia-associated lesions or mass lesions that have been difficult to diagnose. The technique also removes greater quantities of tissue that allows histologic assessment of the completeness of mucosal resection. Areas of tissue as large as 1 to 4 cm in diameter have been removed using this technique, which allows the endoscopist to completely excise small tumors with an intention to cure the patient. There have been several publications that indicate that this technique may be used to treat early cancers of the esophagus, stomach, and colon with 60% to 85% “cure” rates. The technique can be applied by 3 different methods. The first is a “strip biopsy” technique that combines a forcep and snare placed through a dual-channel therapeutic endoscope. The forcep is used to draw the tissue into the snare for tissue excision. A “suck” technique can also be used by which tissue is suctioned into a cap fitted onto the endoscope. A snare has been fitted around the outside of the cap before application of the suction. The snare can then be closed around the tissue that has been suctioned into the cup. This “suck” technique can be further modified with a variceal ligating device to create an artificial polyp that can subsequently removed with a snare. Finally, the tissue can be cut with an insulated diathermic knife to initially circumscribe the lesion, which is then easy to remove. Any of these techniques can be used for tissue removal safely with equipment that is available to most endoscopists.
δ-opioid receptors protect neurons against neuronal injury induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation

Objective To investigate the effect of cortical δ-opioid receptor (DOR) on oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced (OGD-induced) neuronal injury. Methods Primary cultured cortical neurons incubated with selective DOR agonist (TAN-67) and antagonist (naltrindole) or PKC inhibitor (chelerythrine,CHE) were exposed to OGD. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was detected after 24 h reperfusion. The expression levels of DOR were measured by Western blot. Results Compared with OGD group,TAN-67 significantly decreased OGD-induced LDH release,and increased the expression levels of DOR,while naltrindole aggravated neuronal injury and decreased the DOR protein expression. CHE could abolish the LDH down-regulation induced by TAN-67 plus OGD (P0.05,compared with TAN-67 treated group). Conclusions DOR activation protects neurons against OGD injury. PKC might take part in the neuroprotection pathways of DOR.
Framework for energy storage selection to design the next generation of electrified military vehicles

Abstract In this paper, a methodology is proposed that aims at selecting the most suitable energy storage system (ESS) for a targeted application. Specifically, the focus is on electrified military vehicles for the wide range of load requirements, driving missions and operating conditions call for such a cohesive framework. The method uses the Enhanced-Ragone plot (ERp) as a guiding tool to map the performance of different lithium-ion batteries, as a function of C-rate and temperature, and supercapacitors, on the specific power and specific energy log-log plane. A frequency-based segmentation strategy is employed to assign the requested power to the powertrain actuators. Both full-electric battery-powered and hybrid electric vehicle (including an internal combustion engine, battery and supercapacitors) configurations are considered. Using the ERp, ESSs that are able to match the C-rate corresponding to the power-to-energy ratio calculated from the load are selected. Moreover, weight, volume, number of cells and pack energy of the selected ESSs are also returned from the design framework. The algorithm is tested over three vehicle powertrains which strongly differ in load requirements - Tesla Model S, Tesla Semi truck and high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle.
Phosphorus-based ligand effects on the structure and radical scavenging ability of molecular nanoparticles of CeO2.

Two new CeIV/O2− clusters, (pyH)8[Ce10O4(OH)4(O3PPh)12(NO3)12] (1) and [Ce6O4(OH)4(O2PPh2)4(O2CtBu)8] (2), have been prepared that contain P-based ligands for the first time. They were obtained from the reaction of (NH4)2[Ce(NO3)6], PhPO3H2 or Ph2PO2H, and tBuCO2H in a 2 : 1 : 2 molar ratio in pyridine/MeOH (10 : 1 mL). Both compounds contain a {Ce6O4(OH)4} face-capped octahedral core, with 1 containing an additional four CeIV on the outside to give a supertetrahedral Ce10 topology; the {Ce6O8} unit is the smallest recognizable fragment of the fluorite structure of CeO2. The HO˙ radical scavenging activities of 1 and 2 were measured by UV/vis spectral monitoring of methylene blue oxidation by HO˙ radicals in the presence and absence of the Ce/O clusters, and the results compared with those for larger Ce24 and Ce38 molecular nanoparticles of CeO2 prepared in previous work. 1 and 2 are both very poor HO˙ radical scavengers compared with Ce24 and Ce38, a result that is consistent with reports in the literature that PO43− ions inhibit the radical scavenging ability of traditional CeO2 nanoparticles and putatively assigned to PO43− binding to the surface.
A Numerical Method of Solving Boundary-Layer Equations

OST BOUNDARY-LAYER PROBLEMS lead to differential equa­ tions whose solutions can only be obtained by numerical means. Through the years, a number of methods have been developed; each, no doubt, has its value, and a comprehensive study of their relative merits is a task that remains to be under­ taken by numerical analysts. In the present note, we wish to outline a method which has been used with considerable success in obtaining numerical solutions to equations commonly encoun­ tered in boundary-laye r problems, and which is particularly adaptable to the high-speed computers currently in use. The differential equations resulting from most boundary-layer investigations are ordinary linear equations of the third order with known variable coefficients, the general form of which ma}^ be written as follows: ; //; + agf" + bg'f + eg"! = H
Intramolecular Energy Transfer in the Europium-Ruhemann's Purple Complex: Application to Latent Fingerprint Detection

The reaction product of ninhydrin with amino acids reacts further with europium chloride hexahydrate (EuCl3 · 6H2O) to form an organo-rare earth complex which exhibits Eu3+ luminescence at 615 nm with a lifetime of 0.4 ms. This emission is sensitized by intramolecular ligand to europium resonance energy transfer. Benzo(f)ninhydrin is better suited to this energy transfer process than ninhydrin and yields more intense Eu3+ emission. The emission is effectively excited by argon-ion laser near-ultraviolet (UV) light, which can be modulated such that time-resolved imaging can reveal amino acids on strongly fluorescent surfaces which would otherwise not be tractable. This is applied to the detection of latent fingerprints.
On the Channel Memory-Diversity Tradeoff in Communication Systems

In this chapter we investigate the tradeoff between channel estimation and channel diversity for channels with memory. Block memory channels are analytically tractable yet provide practical models for many communication systems. We show that for finite block length transmission techniques there is a fundamental tradeoff between the channel estimator and the channel diversity. When the channel is operating at rates much below capacity, smaller channel memory is better since channel estimation is not crucial. This is because the code contains more than adequate redundancy to compensate for mismatch due to the potentially poor channel estimate as well as channel errors. However, at rates close to capacity, channel state information is crucial for successful decoding and therefore longer channel memory, which allows better estimates, is better. We draw these conclusions based on analysis of some simple discrete-input, discrete-output channels using the channel reliability function and on simulation results for more realistic channels (soft output) using low-density parity check codes with a joint iterative decoder and channel estimator.