cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Mixing Layers via Vortex Dynamics

The simple concept of effective transport coefficients for turbulent flows is starting to be replaced with the realization that turbulent flows consist of structures which are created and destroyed, and it is their interactions that produce the transport of mass, momentum, and energy. The bursting phenomena in boundary layers is one aspect of that structure, and vorticity (or eddy) pairing is the structure of the turbulent mixing layer. This paper describes numerical experiments using discrete vortices in order to determine to what detail they can simulate the planar turbulent mixing layer. Calculations involving several thousand vortices have duplicated the mixing layer growth, eddy pairing, turbulent shear-stress profile, and root mean square velocity fluctuations of moderate Reynolds number flows. With the exception of the normal rms velocity fluctuation, good agreement is also found at high Reynolds number.
A low phase noise InGaP-GaAs HBT transformer power combining VCO

A transformer-based power combining technique is shown to be an efficient method for reducing oscillator phase noise. Higher signal power can be achieved while avoiding breakdown without penalty in tuning range. An InGaP-GaAs HBT process was used to fabricate the 1GHz VCO. The measured phase noise at 100 KHz, 1 MHz and 3 MHz offset frequency is -116, -136 and -145dBc/Hz respectively. The VCO dissipates 3mW.
An efficient parallel algorithm for min-cost flow on directed series-parallel networks

The authors consider the problem of finding the minimum cost of a feasible flow in directed series-parallel networks with real-valued lower and upper bounds for the flows on edges. While strongly polynomial-time algorithms are known for this problem on arbitrary networks, it is known to be 'hard' for parallelization. The authors develop, for the first time, an NC algorithm to solve the min-cost flow problem on directed series-parallel networks, solving a problem posed by H. Booth (1990). The authors algorithm takes O(log/sup 2/m) time using O(m/log m) processors on an EREW PRAM and it is optimal with respect to Booth's algorithm with running time O(m log m). Their algorithm owes its efficiency to the tree contraction technique and the use of simple data structures as opposed to Booth's finger search trees. >
Intestinal Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Bacteria Mitigate Bovine Leukemia Virus Infection in Experimentally Infected Sheep

Ruminants often carry gastrointestinal Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Stxs belong to a large family of ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPS), found in many plants and some bacteria. Plant RIPS, secreted into extracellular spaces, limit the spread of viruses through plant tissues by penetrating and killing virally infected cells. Previously, we showed Stx activity against bovine leukemia virus (BLV)-infected cells in vitro and hypothesized that STEC bacteria have antiviral activity in ruminant hosts. Here, we investigated the impact of STEC on the initial phases of BLV infection in sheep. Sheep were treated with biweekly oral doses of E. coli O157:H7 (an STEC) or an isogenicstx mutant strain. A different group of sheep were similarly treated with five naturally occurring ovine STEC isolates or stx-negative E. coli. Intestinal STEC bacteria were enumerated and identified by standard fecal culture and DNA hybridization. Oral STEC treatment did not always result in carriage of STEC, although many animals consistently presented with > 10(4) CFU/g feces. BLV viremia was assessed by spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation (SLP) in cultures of blood mononuclear cells and by syncytium formation in cocultures of the same with F-81 indicator cells. SLP was lower (P < 0.05) and syncytia were fewer (P < 0.05) in STEC-treated sheep than in untreated sheep. Both lower SLP and fewer syncytia positively correlated with fecal STEC numbers. Average weight gain post-BLV challenge was higher in STEC-treated sheep than in untreated sheep (P < 0.05). These results support the hypothesis that in ruminants, intestinal STEC bacteria have antiviral activity and mitigate BLV-induced disease.
The Response of Cancers to BRAF Inhibition Underscores the Importance of Cancer Systems Biology

The BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib has become an important treatment option for melanoma patients, the majority of whom have a BRAF(V600E) mutation driving their malignancy. However, this same agent does not generally benefit colon cancer patients who have the BRAF(V600E) mutation. Recent work suggests that BRAF(V600E) inhibition by vemurafenib results in decreased negative feedback to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and that the different clinical responses are due to differences in the amount of EGFR present in these two cancers. The experimental work that identified the feedback signaling was an elegant mix of functional genomic approaches and focused, hypothesis-driven cellular and molecular biology. The results of these studies suggest that combined treatment of BRAF(V600E)-driven colon cancers with both vemurafenib and EGFR inhibitors is worth clinical evaluation.
Disruption of Reproductive Activity of Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Primary Reproductives by Three Chitin Synthesis Inhibitors

Effects of the chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSIs) diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron, and lufenuron on the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, primary reproductives were studied in the laboratory. Incipient colonies were established by collecting and pairing C. formosanus alates and placing them in dishes containing an artificial diet. Three groups of 56 colonies each were fed with a diet containing 10 ppm of one of each of the CSIs and were compared with a control group fed with an untreated diet. All eggs oviposited by treated young queens failed to hatch at the end of 6 mo. Estimated queen fecundity was significantly lower in the lufenuron treatment compared with the control group. Fecundity of hexaflumuron-treated queens did not differ significantly from that of queens from the control group and the other treatments. Adult mortality was significantly higher in the diflubenzuron and lufenuron treatments than in the control group at the end of 6 mo., but not in the hexaflumuron treatment. All the pairs died within 8 mo. in the diflubenzuron and lufenuron treatments, even after treatment was suspended at the end of 6 mo. Mortality in the hexaflumuron treatment was significantly higher than in the control group by the end of 9 mo. The three CSIs tested eliminated reproduction in C. formosanus by preventing egg hatching and induced adult mortality. Possible mechanisms by which CSIs induce termite adult death are discussed.
Marbury and History: What Do We Really Know about What Really Happened?

This article re-examines the traditional, jurocentric view of constitutional decision making and examines legal history to place Justice Marshall’s opinion in Marbury v. Madison in what the author asserts is its proper constitutional perspective.
Bicycle Detection Using HOG, HSC and MLBP

Due to the growing number of bicycles on roads, safety of bicyclists is drawing the increasing attention of transportation departments. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) use automated tools for processing and analysis of traffic video data to plan and implement safety measures. One of important factors that influence the planning and safety countermeasures for bicyclists is the bicycle count. In this paper, we develop a bicycle detection method that can be used in a bicycle counting system. We strive to improve the efficiency of detection by looking for classification features that deliver more versatile information to automatic classifiers. We explore a combination of Histograms of Oriented Gradients (HOG), Histogram of Shearlet Coefficients (HSC) and Multi-scale Local Binary Pattern (MLBP) to improve detection and count of bicycles in video data. It is shown that the combination of the above features secures a higher detection accuracy.
Comparison of e-mail communication skills among first- and fourth-year dental students.

As e-mail and other forms of electronic communication increase in popularity, it is important for dental schools to consider a curriculum that prepares their graduates to understand and apply effective electronic communication strategies to their patients. Reflecting this shift in communication behavior, the American Medical Association has developed specific e-mail communication guidelines. Some behavioral examples in these guidelines include protecting patients’ protected health information (PHI), ensuring proper record keeping, and using professional, courteous, and understandable language. In this study, a sample of first- and fourth-year dental students (n=160) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine participated in an assignment assessing their patient-provider e-mail communication skills. A rubric was used to evaluate and compare the data between dental student classes. The results reveal a generalized lack of compliance with several of these guidelines by both classes (e.g., failure to protect PHI), despite efforts to expose students to these concepts in the curriculum. In an effort to train emerging dentists to function in a rapidly changing technological environment, these findings suggest a need for growth and development of curricula and perhaps guidelines/recommendations for behavioral competencies regarding dental students’ use of electronic communication in the patient care environment.
Immature Stages of Agromyzidae (Diptera) from India. V. taxonomy and biology of ten species of Cerodontha Rondani

AbstractDescriptions of ten species of the genus Cerodontha Rondani, and biological notes of all the species are included.
Effects of Offering Look-Alike Products as Smart Snacks in Schools

Abstract Background: In 2014, USDA established nutrition standards for snack foods sold in schools. Many manufacturers reformulated products to meet these Smart Snacks standards, but continue to advertise unhealthy versions of the same brands. Furthermore, Smart Snack packaging often looks similar to less nutritious versions sold outside of schools (look-alike products). This practice may confuse consumers about the nutritional quality of Smart Snacks and raise concerns about schools selling them. Methods: An online experiment with 659 students (13–17 years) and 859 parents (children ages 10–13) was performed. Participants randomly viewed information about snacks sold at a hypothetical school, including (1) look-alike Smart Snacks; (2) existing store versions of the same brands; (3) repackaged Smart Snacks (highlighting differences versus unhealthy versions); or (4) consistent brands (i.e., Smart Snack versions also sold in stores). They then rated the individual snacks offered and the school selling them...
Diffusion Dynamics of Energy Saving Practices in Large Heterogeneous Online Networks.

Online social networks are today’s fastest growing communications channel and a popular source of information for many, so understanding their contribution to building awareness and shaping public perceptions of climate change is of utmost importance. Today’s online social networks are composed of complex combinations of entities and communication channels and it is not clear which communicators are the most influential, what the patterns of communication flow are, or even whether the widely accepted two-step flow of communication model applies in this new arena. This study examines the diffusion of energy saving practices in a large online social network across organizations, opinion leaders, and the public by tracking 108,771 communications on energy saving practices among 1,084 communicators, then analyzing the flow of information and influence over a 28 day period. Our findings suggest that diffusion networks of messages advocating energy saving practices are predominantly led by the activities of dedicated organizations but their attempts do not result in substantial public awareness, as most of these communications are effectively trapped in organizational loops in which messages are simply shared between organizations. Despite their comparably significant influential values, opinion leaders played a weak role in diffusing energy saving practices to a wider audience. Thus, the two-step flow of communication model does not appear to describe the sharing of energy conservation practices in large online heterogeneous networks. These results shed new light on the underlying mechanisms driving the diffusion of important societal issues such as energy efficiency, particularly in the context of large online social media outlets.
Mouse strain differences in punished ethanol self-administration

Determining the neural factors contributing to compulsive behaviors such as alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) has become a significant focus of current preclinical research. Comparison of phenotypic differences across genetically distinct mouse strains provides one approach to identify molecular and genetic factors contributing to compulsive-like behaviors. Here we examine a rodent assay for punished ethanol self-administration in four widely used inbred strains known to differ on ethanol-related behaviors: C57BL/6J (B6), DBA/2J (D2), 129S1/SvImJ (S1), and BALB/cJ (BALB). Mice were trained in an operant task (FR1) to reliably lever-press for 10% ethanol using a sucrose-fading procedure. Once trained, mice received a punishment session in which lever pressing resulted in alternating ethanol reward and footshock, followed by tests to probe the effects of punishment on ethanol self-administration. Results indicated significant strain differences in training performance and punished attenuation of ethanol self-administration. S1 and BALB showed robust attenuation of ethanol self-administration after punishment, whereas behavior in B6 was attenuated only when the punishment and probe tests were conducted in the same contexts. By contrast, D2 were insensitive to punishment regardless of context, despite receiving more shocks during punishment and exhibiting normal footshock reactivity. Additionally, B6, but not D2, reduced operant self-administration when ethanol was devalued with a bitter tastant. B6 and D2 showed devaluation of sucrose self-administration, and punished suppression of sucrose seeking was context dependent in both the strains. While previous studies have demonstrated avoidance of ethanol in D2, particularly when ethanol is orally available from a bottle, current findings suggest this strain may exhibit heightened compulsive-like self-administration of ethanol, although there are credible alternative explanations for the phenotype of this strain. In sum, these findings offer a foundation for future studies examining the neural and genetic factors underlying AUDs.
A Predictive Tunnel FET Compact Model With Atomistic Simulation Validation

A predictive tunnel FET compact model is proposed. Gaussian quadrature method is used to overcome the challenge of integration. This provides the flexibility to use Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin under spatially varying electric field, to incorporate effective band edge states broadening, and to evaluate the drain current by Landauer equation with consideration of electron reflection at the tunnel junction. The model not only shows good accuracy, speed, and smoothness, but is also some predictive capability so that the effects of changing material parameters on IC characteristics are well captured. The model is validated with atomistic simulation data for several materials.
Carbon Dioxide Laser Upper Lid Blepharoplasty

A technique for CO2 upper lid blepharoplasty is presented. Disadvantages and complications are discussed. Conclusions include the comparative advantages of decreased intraoperative hemorrhage and p...
Integrating heuristics for constraint satisfaction problems: a case study

This paper describes a set of experiments with a system that synthesizes constraint satisfaction programs. The system, MULTI-TAC, is a CSP "expert" that can specialize a library of generic algorithms and methods for a particular application. MULTI-TAC not only proposes domain-specific versions of its generic heuristics, but also searches for the best combination of these heuristics and integrates them into a complete problem-specific program. We demonstrate MULTI-TAC's capabilities on a combinatorial problem, "Minimum Maximal Matching", and show that MULTI-TAC can synthesize programs for this problem that are on par with hand-coded programs. In synthesizing a program, MULTI-TAC bases its choice of heuristics on the instance distribution, and we show that this capability has a significant impact on the results.
Quantitative contrast peritoneography for intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

e13064 Background: Catheter-administered intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy is used for peritoneal surface-spreading malignancies to maximize local drug concentrations. Computed tomography (CT) peritoneography can be used to assess for catheter failure and infusate maldistribution, which may contribute to treatment failure and systemic toxicities like cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. There is no standard system to assess infusate distribution, and no reported outcomes data from patients assessed with CT peritoneography. We hypothesized that volume and surface area of the compartment available to IP chemotherapy is associated with overall survival and post-treatment estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) patients. Methods: Chart review identified 38 MPM patients who underwent CT peritoneograms while receiving IP cisplatin between 2000 and 2011. Volume and surface area of the contrast-filled compartments were calculated by semiautomated computer algorithm supe...
Psoriasis and suicidality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Psoriasis is associated with psychiatric comorbidities; however, the relationship between psoriasis and suicidality is not well understood. Objective To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis that elucidates the relationship between psoriasis and suicidality. Methods Applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we systematically searched the PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases. We searched literature published between 1946 and 2017. Results We identified 18 studies with a total of 1,767,583 participants, of whom 330,207 had psoriasis. On the basis of random effects modeling, the pooled odds ratio (OR) for suicidal ideation among patients with psoriasis was 2.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54-2.74). Patients with psoriasis were more likely to exhibit suicidal behaviors (combined attempted and completed suicides) with a pooled OR of 1.26 (95% CI, 1.13-1.40). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with psoriasis were more likely to attempt suicides (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.14-1.54) and complete suicide (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.39) than those without psoriasis. More severe psoriasis and younger age were associated with greater likelihood of suicidality. Limitations There are few studies examining suicidality in conjunction with psoriasis severity. Conclusions Patients with psoriasis have a significantly higher likelihood of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and completed suicides. Among patients with psoriasis, those who are younger and whose psoriasis is more severe are at particular risk for suicidality.
Radar communications via random sequence encoding

In this paper we propose a novel approach to joint radar-communication waveform design with low probability of intercept characteristics. The data are encoded onto a certain parameter of a particular random distribution; using this distribution, random sequences are generated, which become amplitude weights for the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) sub-carriers. We assume and describe a worst-case scenario, in which an interceptor possesses a certain amount of knowledge about our approach and attempts to reconstruct the data from intercepted radar/communication signals - we then show, via simulations, that with more than 32 OFDM sub-carriers used in signal design, the interceptor cannot improve upon its bit error rate (BER) even with increasing number of intercepts.
Translational fidelity and mistranslation in the cellular response to stress

Faithful translation of mRNA into the corresponding polypeptide is a complex multistep process, requiring accurate amino acid selection, transfer RNA (tRNA) charging and mRNA decoding on the ribosome. Key players in this process are aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), which not only catalyse the attachment of cognate amino acids to their respective tRNAs, but also selectively hydrolyse incorrectly activated non-cognate amino acids and/or misaminoacylated tRNAs. This aaRS proofreading provides quality control checkpoints that exclude non-cognate amino acids during translation, and in so doing helps to prevent the formation of an aberrant proteome. However, despite the intrinsic need for high accuracy during translation, and the widespread evolutionary conservation of aaRS proofreading pathways, requirements for translation quality control vary depending on cellular physiology and changes in growth conditions, and translation errors are not always detrimental. Recent work has demonstrated that mistranslation can also be beneficial to cells, and some organisms have selected for a higher degree of mistranslation than others. The aims of this Review Article are to summarize the known mechanisms of protein translational fidelity and explore the diversity and impact of mistranslation events as a potentially beneficial response to environmental and cellular stress.
Power-delivery network in 3D ICs: Monolithic 3D vs. Skybridge 3D CMOS

Design for power-delivery network (PDN) is one of the major challenges in 3D IC technology. In the typical layer-by-layer stacked monolithic 3D (M3D) approaches, PDN has limited accessibility to the device layer away from power/ground source due to limited routability and routing resources in the vertical direction. This results in an incomplete and low-density PDN design and also severe IR-drop issue. Some improved M3D approaches try to enlarge design area to create additional vertical routing resources for robust and high-density PDN design. However, this leads to degradation of design density and in turn diminishes 3D design benefits. Skybridge 3D CMOS (S3DC) is a recently proposed fine-grained 3D IC fabric relying on vertical nanowires that presents a paradigm shift for scaling, while addressing critical challenges in 3D IC technology. Skybridge's core fabric components provide a greater degree of routing capability in both horizontal and vertical directions compared to other 3D approaches which can fully maintain the 3D design density while enabling a robust PDN design. In this paper, we present the PDN design and evaluate the IR drop in S3DC vs. the state-of-the-art transistor-level monolithic 3D IC (TR-L M3D). The typical TR-L M3D approach that can only use low-density PDN shows a severe IR-drop which is out of the standard IR-drop budget. The improved TR-L M3D version that can use high-density PDN meets the requirement of standard IR-drop budget (<5%∗VDD) but loses up-to 25% power efficiency and 20% density benefits over 2D compared to the typical TR-L M3D. On the other hand, S3DC maintains its significant benefits over 2D (2.7x power efficiency and 9x density) while using a robust PDN design that has negligible IR-drop (<2%∗VDD).
Student Use of the Information Commons: An Exploration through Mixed Methods

Abstract Objective – In this case study, librarians at the William H. Hannon Library at Loyola Marymount University explored user behaviour in the Information Commons, user preferences for furniture style and configuration, and how users engaged with a mix of technology, resources, and activities inside the space. Methods – The researchers used a mixed-methods case study consisting of 2,443 “direct observations,” 646 environmental scans, 248 patron surveys, and 46 whiteboard poll questions. They created visualizations of results in Tableau, with filters for zone and variable. They then carried out a follow-up furniture preferences survey with 190 respondents. Results – Independent study dominated the space usage. Users valued spaciousness, quiet, privacy, and a clean environment. Users frequently multi-tasked with additional devices as they simultaneously used the library computers, including cell phones, headphones, and laptops. The majority of students self-reported using a library computer for email and to access the campus online learning platform. They also reported reading/studying and printing as frequent activities, although these were less frequently observed. Unattended belongings were observed along with broken electrical outlets. Temperature and noise levels were highly variable. Conclusions – This methodology allowed for the exploration of space use and satisfaction and uncovered implications for the redesign of the library space. The library has already taken steps toward making improvements based on this assessment project including: removing some reference stacks in favor of additional seating space, an inventory of all electrical outlets, and the exploration of new furniture and noise control strategies.
Statistical Process Adjustment for Quality Control

(2003). Statistical Process Adjustment for Quality Control. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 331-332.
Two bridges: in memory of Reza Sarhangi

Reza Sarhangi (1952–2016), Tray of Love, 30cm × 30cm, glazed ceramic tiles produced from digital art, 2016. Courtesy of Mehri Arfaei Sarhangi.That summer, at Bridges Enschede,I was the photographer...
Sustainable Supply Chains

The three pillars of sustainability are ecological preservation, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and the global economy. The supply chain provides the means for assessing impacts on the environment, on the society, and on economics. The decisions on resource use pattern, global reputation and brand value, and disruption risk entail the entire supply chain. It is increasingly becoming apparent that the benefits of pursuing sustainable practices can outweigh costs. Enhanced efficiencies in water and energy usage over the years have led to a cost reduction of $2 billion at DuPont, $50 million at Novartis, and $82 million at 3M. In addition, the greenhouse gas emissions went down by 66% at DuPont. Sustainable practices can help improve business reputation, and provide new business opportunities by developing novel sustainable products that match customers’ preferences.
Digital Enhancement of Ultrasonic Images and Its Application to Non-Destructive Testing of Composite Materials

An ultrasonic transmission imaging system is used for imaging composite materials. The system uses two focussed transducers with the data acquisition performed under the control of a Z-80 microprocessor based system. The images are processed by a DEANZA image processor with a PRIME 750 host computer. The computer and image processor are capable of such functions as pseudo-coloring, deconvolution to improve resolution and adaptive filtering techniques in the Fourier domain. This system has been used to study the damage caused by applied stress in composite materials. The graphite epoxy composite materials studied have fibers oriented in various directions and it is found that the damages are highly dependent on the fiber orientation.
Signal processing in multi-threshold neurons

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the signal processing in multithreshold neurons. The signal processing capabilities of biological neurons can be investigated by considering the input/output relationship between the electrical signals received by the dendrites and/or soma of a neuron, and the electrical signals generated by the axon of the neuron. The electrical signals are represented by the voltage difference between the inside and outside of the membrane. The direction of signal flow can generally be considered to be from the point of generation of the postsynaptic membrane potential at the dendrites and/or soma to the generation of the action potential at the axon initial segment. Once the electrical signal arrives at the axon terminal, the signal is converted into a chemical signal by the release of neurotransmitters, where this signal will be converted back into an electrical signal in the postsynaptic neuron in the form of a postsynaptic potential. The conversion of a chemical signal to an electrical signal is done by the ligand gated receptor channels in the postsynaptic membrane.
Local detection of critical nodes in active graphs

The identification of critical nodes in a graph is a fundamental task in network analysis. Centrality measures are commonly used for this purpose. These methods rely on two assumptions that restrict their applicability. First, they only depend on the topology of the network and do not consider the activity over the network. Second, they assume the entire network is available. However, in many applications, it is the underlying activity of the network such as interactions and communications that makes a node critical, and it is hard to collect the entire network topology, when the network is vast and autonomous. We propose a new measure, Active Betweenness Cardinality, where the importance of the nodes are based not on the static structure, but the active utilization of the network. We show how this metric can be computed efficiently by only local information for a given node and how we can locate the critical nodes by using only a few nodes. We also show how this metric can be used to monitor a network and identify node failures. We evaluate our metric and algorithms on real-world networks and show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Learning Leadership through Community Engagement: Exploring a New Undergraduate Major.

AbstractThe University of Colorado Boulder recently created a new undergraduate major in leadership and community engagement. This article describes the design process, key features, and challenges that have been involved with this initiative. The program is designed to offer a unique model of education for leadership through a reciprocal, community-based approach. Its goal is to help undergraduates develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be effective, culturally responsive, and ethical agents of change. However, those involved in the project decenter this agency, positioning undergraduates as partners with rather than leaders of community.
Ozonized water with plant antimicrobials: An effective method to inactivate Salmonella enterica on iceberg lettuce in the produce wash water.

Abstract Post-harvest washing of produce is performed to remove physical debris and to lower microbial load. The use of ozone in combination with plant-based antimicrobials was evaluated as an alternative to conventional sanitizers such as chlorine. Plant based antimicrobials that were evaluated in combination with ozone included oregano oil, carvacrol, Quillaja saponin and olive extract. Ozone was dispersed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), following which individual antimicrobials or their combinations were added. Iceberg lettuce leaves (10 g portions) inoculated with Salmonella enterica serotype Newport (6.5 ± 1 log CFU/g) were added to the wash suspension. The leaves were tested for reduction in S. Newport population after 60, 90 and 120 min of treatment. Exposure to ozonized water for 120 min resulted in a 2.1 log CFU/g (p
Millionaire Model Dairy Farm Performance in Iowa, 2015

A Millionaire Model Dairy Farm (MMDF) project was created by this author in the 1990’s. Its goal was to show beginning and transitioning dairy producers how to become “millionaires” by practicing a hybrid grazing and confinement operation within 25 years of a dairy career. It has been a very successful Extension program. In 2012, organic dairy producers were added and in 2015, conventional dairy producers were added to the data. Note the small number of herds in each data set may or may not be representative of an average of those types of farms.
Humanitarian and Local National Care

Deployments can provide a surgeon with a wide range of experiences. Depending on your location, patient flow may make you feel like you are drinking from a fire hose or it can be totally absent and your time is spent surfing the internet and working out. Some areas may experience occasional surges in patient numbers separated by long periods of inactivity due to the operational tempo (OPTEMP) of the units around you. Local national patient care is one way to improve your operative experience while keeping your team busy and their skills polished. Surgical care for local nationals has the added benefit of helping to “win the hearts and minds” of the local population. There is no better tool for instantly winning the friendship and admiration of the local community than by taking care of their sick or injured loved ones. This can be an effective tool for improving intelligence and creating an environment that is increasingly friendly to USA and Coalition forces (Fig. 35.1)
Attitudes toward advance care planning among persons with dementia and their caregivers.

Objectives:To examine factors that influence decision-making, preferences, and plans related to advance care planning (ACP) and end-of-life care among persons with dementia and their caregivers, and examine how these may differ by race.Design:Cross-sectional survey.Setting:13 geographically dispersed Alzheimer’s Disease Centers across the United States.Participants:431 racially diverse caregivers of persons with dementia.Measurements:Survey on “Care Planning for Individuals with Dementia.”Results:The respondents were knowledgeable about dementia and hospice care, indicated the person with dementia would want comfort care at the end stage of illness, and reported high levels of both legal ACP (e.g., living will; 87%) and informal ACP discussions (79%) for the person with dementia. However, notable racial differences were present. Relative to white persons with dementia, African American persons with dementia were reported to have a lower preference for comfort care (81% vs. 58%) and lower rates of completion of legal ACP (89% vs. 73%). Racial differences in ACP and care preferences were also reflected in geographic differences. Additionally, African American study partners had a lower level of knowledge about dementia and reported a greater influence of religious/spiritual beliefs on the desired types of medical treatments. Notably, all respondents indicated that more information about the stages of dementia and end-of-life health care options would be helpful.Conclusions:Educational programs may be useful in reducing racial differences in attitudes towards ACP. These programs could focus on the clinical course of dementia and issues related to end-of-life care, including the importance of ACP.
A Biomimetic System for Studying Salicylate Dioxygenase.

We report the characterization of [Fe(T1Et4iPrIP)(sal)] (2) (T1Et4iPrIP = tris(1-ethyl-4-isopropyl-imidazolyl)phosphine; sal2- = salicylate dianion), which serves as a model for substrate-bound salicylate dioxygenase (SDO). Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 10.7853(12) A, b = 16.5060(19) A, c = 21.217(2) A, β = 94.489(2)°, and V = 3765.5(7) A3. The structure consists of FeII bonded in distorted square pyramidal geometry (τ = 0.32) with two salicylate oxygens and two T1Et4iPrIP nitrogens serving as the base and the apical position occupied by the other ligand nitrogen. [Fe(T1Et4iPrIP)(OTf)2] (1), the precursor for 2, catalyzes the cleavage of 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoate in the presence of O2. Complex 1 is also capable of cleaving the salicylate aromatic ring in the presence of H2O2. The progression of this reaction toward product formation involves an FeIII-phenoxide species.
Discernment, technology, and digital citizenship in a Christian school system:

Using a qualitative analysis of school artifacts, this article analyzes the documentary record of one Christian school system’s experience with technological change. It focuses on documentary evide...
Oxidative Amidation of Amines in Tandem with Transamidation: A Route to Amides Using Visible-Light Energy

A methodology is reported for preparing amides using amines as an acyl source. The protocol involves the visible-light-promoted oxidative amidation of amines with pyrazole to synthesize N-acyl pyra...
Early Botanical Period (1820–1875)

Mary Graham was a well-educated English traveler who visited Robinson Crusoe Island for two days in 1823, during which time she made plant collections. David Douglas, sponsored by the Horticultural Society of London, visited Robinson Crusoe Island 14–18 December 1824 and made collections, commented on the cultivated plants, and obtained seeds. Carlo Bertero, an Italian who had moved to Chile after independence, visited Robinson Crusoe Island in 1830, preparing 2000 herbarium specimens and publishing on the flora and vegetation. The Frenchman Claudio Gay collected on Robinson Crusoe Island 2–21 February of 1832, and he also published on the vegetation, native flora, and introduced plants. The California gold Rush of 1848–1855 positioned Robinson Crusoe Island as desirable for rest and repairs for boats coming from the eastern coast of the U.S.A. around Cape Horn and then toward California. Herds of cattle roamed the valleys, and goats, horses, and wild dogs were also seen. Rodulfo Philippi, Director of the Museo de Historia Natural in Santiago, Chile, sent Filiberto Germain in October of 1854 to Robinson Crusoe Island for collections. Based on these materials, Philippi published a comprehensive list of 139 plant species.
Deep Sleep and Beeps: Sleep Quality Improvement Project in General Surgery Patients

Background Poor sleep leads to poor health outcomes. Inpatient sleep disturbance has been studied primarily in the ICU. Minimal research exists on sleep in surgical populations. Methods We recruited patients undergoing elective, inpatient general surgery procedures. Participants wore Fitbit trackers while inpatient to measure total sleep time (CDC recommendation is 7 or more hours per night). At discharge, patients completed the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) to measure inpatient sleep quality. The RCSQ combines 5 domains into a cumulative score (0 to 100); a higher score means better sleep quality. Patients also completed the outpatient Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index preoperatively and postoperatively. The primary end point was percentage of patients with total sleep score ≥ 50. Secondary outcomes included mean RCSQ domain scores, Fitbit total sleep time, and percentage with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Score indicating poor sleep. Results We included 64 patients (mean ± SD age 55.0 ± 14.1 years). Mean ± SD RCSQ total sleep score was 49 ± 20.5 and 53.1% with total sleep score Conclusions Elective general surgery patients experience a severe inpatient sleep disturbance, worse than in similarly studied ICU cohorts. This disturbance is driven primarily by nighttime awakenings.
Gingiva-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Potential Application in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - A Comprehensive Review.

A unique subpopulation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been isolated and characterized from human gingival tissues (GMSCs). Similar to MSCs derived from other sources of tissues, e.g. bone marrow, adipose or umbilical cord, GMSCs also possess multipotent differentiation capacities and potent immunomodulatory effects on both innate and adaptive immune cells through the secretion of various types of bioactive factors with immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory functions. Uniquely, GMSCs are highly proliferative and have the propensity to differentiate into neural cell lineages due to the neural crest-origin. These properties have endowed GMSCs with potent regenerative and therapeutic potentials in various preclinical models of human disorders, particularly, some inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, skin diseases, oral and maxillofacial disorders, and peripheral nerve injuries. All types of cells release extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, that play critical roles in cell-cell communication through their cargos containing a variety of bioactive molecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Like EVs released by other sources of MSCs, GMSC-derived EVs have been shown to possess similar biological functions and therapeutic effects on several preclinical diseases models as GMSCs, thus representing a promising cell-free platform for regenerative therapy. Taken together, due to the easily accessibility and less morbidity of harvesting gingival tissues as well as the potent immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory functions, GMSCs represent a unique source of MSCs of a neural crest-origin for potential application in tissue engineering and regenerative therapy.
Homogenous Voltage-Matched Strings Using Three-Terminal Tandem Solar Cells: Fundamentals and End Losses

Strings constructed from three-terminal tandem (3TT) solar cells offer the performance benefits of voltage-matching (which reduces sensitivity to spectral variation), but without the subcell voltage isolation required by four-terminal cells. However, the circuitry for a 3TT string can become complex, making circuit analysis more challenging. Here, we illustrate the essential features of “homogenous” voltage-matched (VM) 3TT strings, for which all 3TT cells in the string are nominally identical (with the same design/doping sequence, such that they can be fabricated on the same manufacturing line). Several representative VM string configurations are explicitly considered, and used to describe the general construction of string I(V) curves. End losses intrinsic to these strings are discussed in detail, along with mitigation strategies to minimize their impact. Our analysis agrees with experimental results for eight-cell strings constructed from GaInP/GaAs 3TT devices.
Binding ties in the supply chain and supplier capital structure

Abstract Prior research documents that suppliers with higher sales concentration have lower leverage ratios, consistent with lenders’ heightened concerns about a large customer switching suppliers. We study whether a supplier's binding ties to its significant customers help mitigate these concerns. We assess the supplier-customer bond using the age of the relationship and the presence of professional network links between directors and officers of the two firms. We find evidence that binding ties boost suppliers’ leverage ratios suggesting that they reassure lenders about the stability of the supplier's operations. We also find that the effect of relationship age is more relevant for suppliers that operate in more competitive industries and have low levels of relationship specific investments, thus exposing them to higher switching risks.
Ethnic differences and heritability of blood pressure circadian rhythm in African and European American youth and young adults.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate whether blood pressure (BP) circadian rhythm in African Americans differed from that in European Americans. We further examined the genetic and/or environmental sources of variances of the BP circadian rhythm parameters and the extent to which they depend on ethnicity or sex. METHOD Quantification of BP circadian rhythm was obtained using Fourier transformation from the ambulatory BP monitoring data of 760 individuals (mean age, 17.2 ± 3.3; 322 twin pairs and 116 singletons; 351 African Americans). RESULTS BP circadian rhythm showed a clear difference by ethnic group with African Americans having a lower amplitude (P = 1.5e-08), a lower percentage rhythm (P = 2.8e-11), a higher MESOR (P = 2.5e-05) and being more likely not to display circadian rhythm (P = 0.002) or not in phase (P = 0.003). Familial aggregation was identified for amplitude, percentage rhythm and acrophase with genetic factors and common environmental factors together accounting for 23 to 33% of the total variance of these BP circadian rhythm parameters. Unique environmental factors were the largest contributor explaining up to 67--77% of the total variance of these parameters. No sex or ethnicity difference in the variance components of BP circadian rhythm was observed. CONCLUSION This study suggests that ethnic differences in BP circadian rhythm already exist in youth with African Americans having a dampened circadian rhythm and better BP circadian rhythm may be achieved by changes in environmental factors.
A unified nomenclature for tectonic structures on the surface of Enceladus

Abstract Enceladus has experienced widespread and diverse tectonic deformation. The diversity and nonuniform distribution of structures visible on the surface attests to a complicated and perhaps long-lived tectonic history. Currently, no fundamental classification scheme based on morphology exists for the tectonic structures on Enceladus, which limits analysis and discussion of tectonic structures and regional and global tectonic histories. Characterization and classification of structures on Enceladus is an important first step in understanding its tectonic history. Here, we propose a global morphologic (i.e., nongenetic) classification scheme for tectonic structures on Enceladus. Five classes of tectonic structures on Enceladus have been identified based on images and limited topographic data: troughs, scarps, chasmata, ridges, and bands. Morphological variation of structures exists within these classes, reinforcing the complicated tectonic history of this small body.
Building Alliance Capabilities through Information Technology: The Effect of IT Resources on the Market Value Effects of Alliance Announcements

Does the investment in firm-specific IT resources lead to better alliance performance? This study proposes to answer this question by empirically examining the effect of a firm’s IT resources on the performance consequences of individual alliances for firms. Drawing upon previous works on organizational learning and dynamic capability, we identify and discuss key mechanisms that convert IT resources into alliance capability. Also, this study explores whether the effect of IT resources significantly varies depending on alliance characteristics, such as the types of activities and governance structures of alliances. Following an event-study approach, this empirical study analyzes the effect of IT expenditure on the stock market response to a new alliance announcement. 179 public firms spanning multiple industries in the United States account for 2,433 data points of alliance announcements from 1998 to 2005. The results are supportive of our hypotheses that a firm’s IT resources enhance its alliance performance.