cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Consuming Tall Fescue Leaves with the Endophytic Fungus, Acremonium coenophialum, on Meadow Voles

Most of the 14 million hectares of pastures of tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ) planted in the United States are infected with the endophytic fungus, Acremonium coenophialum . I examined if grazing infected plants had an adverse impact on meadow voles ( Microtus pennsylvanicus ). Captive voles fed leaves from infected fescue plants (fungus-fed voles) gave birth and weaned as many offspring as voles fed leaves from uninfected plants of the same genotype of tall fescue (control voles). Mass and body temperatures of fungus-fed and control voles did not differ. When maintained at 21°C, mortality rates were similar, but when ambient temperatures were increased to 31°C, fungus-fed voles had significantly higher mortality rates than control voles. Naive voles did not discriminate between infected and uninfected leaves, but after a diet of fescue, voles preferred uninfected leaves.
Open Versus Arthroscopic Ankle Arthrodesis: A Comparison of Subsequent Procedures in a Large Database.

Abstract Arthroscopic and open ankle arthrodesis have been compared in very few studies, and no consensus has been reached regarding the incidence of postoperative revision surgery associated with each technique. The purpose of the present study was to compare these 2 approaches for the incidence of postsurgical operations. Patients who had undergone either arthroscopic or open ankle arthrodesis were identified between January 2005 to December 2011 in the PearlDiver ™ database using a predetermined algorithm and searched for the following postsurgical operations: revision ankle arthrodesis, midfoot arthrodesis, and hindfoot arthrodesis. In the current database, 7322 cases were performed with an open technique and 1152 arthroscopically. The incidence of revision arthrodesis was not significantly different statistically between the 2 techniques. However, the incidence of subsequent adjacent joint arthrodesis was greater for the open cohort (5.6% versus 2.6%; odds ratio 2.17, 95% confidence interval 1.49 to 3.16). In the open cohort, the incidence of hindfoot arthrodesis was greater than the incidence of midfoot arthrodesis (3.9% versus 1.6%, odds ratio 2.43, 95% confidence interval 1.95 to 3.01). The results showed that although open ankle arthrodesis is more commonly performed, it is associated with a greater incidence of subsequent adjacent joint arthrodesis specifically in the hindfoot.
Medical ethics under managed care.

Managed Care is having a profound effect on medical ethics and the patient/physician relationship. Historically, the patient (the first party) contracted with a physician (the second party) to provide medical care. The physician had ethical and legal obligations to the patient. In the new health care, an employer or the government (the fourth party) or infrequently, the patient (the first party) purchases health care from the HMO, PPO, or similar organization (the third party). The third party then contracts with the physician (the second party) to provide that care. The physician has agreed to two, at times competing and possibly immutably conflicting obligations-one to the patient and one to the third party. The ethical and legal problems that arise from conflict between the bottom line and desired (appropriate) health care will be difficult to solve. The incompatible duality of physician roles both as patient advocate and manager of limited resources will be further explored, with attention to the enormous pressure being applied to this conflict by society, the law, and the third party. Potential resolutions will be offered. Other ethical problems created by the health care system's conversion to managed care include : CONFIDENTIALITY-Information management is a fundamental underpinning of managed care. With patients switching health care programs frequently, and their enormous size and complexity, careful attention to confidentiality is necessary. INFORMED CONSENT-In addition to informed cdnsent relative to the health care being offered, the patient has a right to know what alternatives might be offered independent of her insurance and payment plan. The patient also has a right to know the economic pressures and arrangements between the second and third parties that could influence the quantity and quality of her health care. QUALITY OF CARE-Managed care contends to be religiously attentive to quality of care. If this is so, the very definition of quality of care may be changing.
Confounding in community interventions

Evaluations of community intervention projects usually use the community as the unit of analysis and employ a possibly costly cohort approach, which may not achieve sufficient power. The case-control approach, applied extensively in cancer control, may be an inexpensive alternative. Moreover, the case-control approach permits evaluation of potential confounding by factors possibly associated with the intervention. A simulation based on case-control methodology for calculating an intervention program effect (prevented fraction) demonstrates that the threat of confounding, at levels of prevented fractions in the range of 10% to 30%, is modest. Community-based interventions with lower prevented fractions are more susceptible, and their results should be considered with caution. Such boundaries may be of use to investigators in planning and evaluating community-based efforts to reduce risk and control disease.
Synchronized static and dynamic visualization in a web-based programming environment

This paper presents an approach of static and dynamic visualizations synchronized along with source code in a web-based programming environment, JavelinaCode. Using JavelinaCode, student programmers can write Java programs directly in a frontend web browser without any software or plug-in installation. They are provided with a view of the static state of a Java program in UML class diagrams and the dynamic run-time state of the program by stepping forwards and backwards through program execution. A case study has revealed that our approach is useful, in particular, to trace and detect an object flow anomaly caused by method overriding and polymorphism. A preliminary comparison test result also has shown that through our web-based platform-independent environment, student programmers are freed from concern with continuous version changes and evolutions of the Java language, plug-ins, and operating systems.
Some Graphics Packages

This chapter discusses some of the more frequently used commands contained in various graphics packages available with Mathematica. A problem of interest in complex analysis is finding the image of a complex-valued function f(z). The package ComplexMap provides several commands that are useful in solving problems of this type. The command ContourPlot3D is used to graph level curves of functions of three variables and equations in three variables. Loading the graphics package enables the user to take advantage of several commands, which improves the graphing capabilities available. The packages MultipleListPlot and Graphics3D contain several commands for graphing lists and for manipulating graphics objects. Pictures of polyhedra can be produced with the Polyhedra commands. Some pictures are obtained by specifying a desired polyhedra with Show[Polyhedron[shape]].
Passive suppression of thermoacoustic instability in a Rijke tube

Abstract This article investigates passive stabilization of thermoacoustic dynamics in a Rijke tube by using a Helmholtz resonator. Under certain assumptions, the mathematical model of the dynamics is shown to fall into the linear time-invariant multiple time delay systems class of neutral type. To study the thermoacoustic instability phenomenon and its passive suppression, the cluster treatment of characteristic roots (CTCR) paradigm is implemented. This effort reveals the placement of Helmholtz resonator along the Rijke tube for stabilizing the unstable dynamics. The analytically obtained results are compared with experiments conducted on a laboratory scale Rijke tube. In addition, the effect of resonator’s design parameters on its stabilization capability is investigated.
“Suited to Their Needs”: White Innocence as a Vestige of Segregation

Discourses that supported de jure segregated schools often invoked White innocence in the form of altruistic motivations. These same invocations are found in more contemporary school policy discourses. The authors of this article argue, based on the concept of intertextuality of discourse, the existence of contemporary schooling policies as vestiges of segregation.
Simultaneous 99m Tc/ 201 Tl/ 123I triple-isotope cardiac SPECT imaging

Multiple isotope simultaneous acquisition SPECT imaging can provide spatially and temporally registered images with just one image acquisition. We have previously demonstrated that, with model-based crosstalk compensation, simultaneously acquired 99mTc/201TI dual-isotope cardiac imaging can provide images with quality and quantitative accuracy that is comparable with that from separate acquisition. Given the capability of modern SPECT systems to acquire projections in multiple energy windows, it is potentially possible to simultaneously assess rest and stress perfusion status with 201TI and a 99mTc labeled agent, and innervation status with 123I-MIBG. However, because these three isotopes have very close emission energies and energy windows, crosstalk contamination can severely degrade the quality of simultaneously acquired images. In this work we developed a model-based method for estimating and compensating for the crosstalk and downscatter contamination in simultaneously acquired triple-isotope images. The crosstalk model includes the effects of the photon interactions inside the object and collimator-detector system. This crosstalk model was incorporated into the forward projection step of an iterative reconstruction algorithm to provide crosstalk compensation. We evaluated the proposed model-based method using Monte Carlo simulated simultaneous triple-isotope projection data. Results showed that there was very good agreement between the model-based estimates and the MC simulated projection data in each of the isotopes' energy windows. After compensation, the crosstalk in the simultaneously acquired images was effectively removed. In conclusion, we showed that it is possible to simultaneously acquire the cardiac SPECT imaging with 99mTc/201Tl/123I labeled multiple tracers. Using the proposed model-based crosstalk compensation method, the qualities of the simultaneously acquired triple-isotope images were comparable with the single acquisitions.
Potent Graft-Versus-Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Effects in a Murine Minor Histocompatibility Antigen (mHa)-Mismatched Allogeneic Transplant Model.

Donor immune-mediated anti-neoplastic effects make the greatest contribution to the durable disease remissions obtained in hematological malignancies following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (a-HCT). Recent studies have demonstrated that clinically meaningful graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effects can also be induced against select solid tumors following a-HCT. GVT effects have been most extensively documented in RCC, where response rates in the range of 20%–50% have been reported. Unfortunately, death from eventual disease progression and morbidity from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) limit a broader application of a-HCT to manage this tumor. In order to explore mechanisms underlying GVT effects against RCC, and to optimize outcome following transplantation, we sought to establish a murine MHC-compatible, but mHA-disparate a-HCT model in mice with metastatic RCC. Recipient Balb/C (H-2d) mice were conditioned with a myeloablative regimen consisting of 950cGy total body irradiation and transplanted with bone marrow cells and splenocytes from either syngeneic (Balb/C) or allogeneic, mHA mismatched B10.d2 (H-2d) mice. Murine RCC cells (RENCA, 1x10 5 cells/mouse) were injected into the tail veins of both Balb/C recipient groups 3 days after transplantation and were followed for survival and the establishment of metastatic pulmonary lesions. Recipients of allo-HCT had improved survival (mean 54±2 days) compared to those receiving syngeneic transplants (mean 31±0 days: p Figure 1A ). A slight improvement in survival for allo-HCT recipients was also noted when Balb/C mice were injected subcutaneously with RENCA (1x10 5 cells) three days following transplantation (31±0 for syngeneic and 40±7 for allogeneic recipients; p=0.04). Serial measurements of subcutaneous tumor nodules ( Figure 1B ) revealed significantly slower tumor growth in allo-HCT recipients (mean volume = 272mm 3 , day 31) compared to recipients of syngeneic grafts (mean volume = 11mm 3 , day 31). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) characterized by alopecia, weight loss and diarrhea occurred at a median 28±3 days after transplantation and was the primary cause of death in a-HCT recipients. Unlike previously reported murine a-HCT models for solid tumors, pre-transplant priming of donor mice with recipient splenocytes or tumor cells was not required for the generation of GVT effects. These data suggest donor immune responses against minor histocompatibility antigens can mediate potent GVT effects against RCC following allo-HCT. This murine model will serve as a platform for the development of tumor- targeted a-HCT strategies aimed at refining and enhancing GVT effects while mitigating GVHD.
Fluctuating Wind Loads on Buildings

A method for evaluating the fluctuating wind forces and their distribution on buildings has been developed and applied to the understanding and quantification of crosswind loads on a square cross-section building. Wind loads are determined by integrating simultaneously monitored pressure fluctuations on a building model surface in a boundary layer wind tunnel. An example is presented to illustrate that a suitable combination of a limited number of pressure transducers can be used to monitor pressure fluctuations for the estimation of multi-level wind loads on building models. This methodology also provides information on the local spatio-temporal variation of pressure fluctuations which can provide useful input to the cladding design. Power spectral density and chordwise variation of co-spectra between locations at one level on the model surface are presented. The cross power spectral density matrices of the crosswind forcing function are developed for urban and suburban flow conditions. An increase in the incident turbulence has dampening effects on the crosswind forcing function, that is, a slight spectral peak. Methods of random vibration analysis can be used to compute the probabilistic response of a building modeled as a single or a multi-degree-of-freedom system.
Calculating the Number of Order-6 Magic Squares with Modular Lifting

There is no known general formula to calculate the total number of magic squares of a given order. However, using various methods, the number of magic squares has been calculated for orders smaller than 6. In this work we describe an approach to bounding the computational complexity of enumerating order-6 squares and provide a related method to approximate the number of such squares.
Global Trends in Mineral Commodities for Advanced Technologies

The U.S. Geological Survey National Minerals Information Center (NMIC) is the U.S. Government agency tasked with the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on the production, consumption, import, export, and other measures of the flows of non-fuel mineral commodities of importance to the U.S. economy and national security. The NMIC and its agency predecessors have maintained a database of this information, collected and published annually, dating back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Time series analysis of annual information from the NMIC provides the opportunity to identify trends in the supply chains of the minerals and metals which are increasingly in demand for advanced technologies. The identification of trends in data for net import reliance, country concentration of production, global demand, price volatility, and other measures, when combined with world governance indicators, can be used to focus attention on individual mineral commodities where supply chain restrictions may develop. Specific examples for U.S. net import reliance, global tantalum primary mining, and mineral criticality screening are presented to illustrate the utility of time series analysis of trends in mineral commodity supply and demand, the types of data required, and the limitations of currently available information.
Supply Chain Finance: Concept and Modeling

In an era of globalization, it is almost impossible for a company to stay competitive with its supply chain locating in a single country ( A. Sabbaghi & N. Sabbaghi, 2004 , Global supply-chain strategy and global competitiveness. International Business & Economics Research Journal, 3 (7), 63–76). On the other hand, increasing global sourcing and selling brings substantial challenges on the material flow, information flow, and financial flow along lengthened supply chains. Many researches in the past decades have illustrated the benefits of supply chain visibility by streamlining information flow ( Eppen, 1979 , Effects of centralization on expected costs in a multilocation newsboy problem. Management Science, 25 (5), 498–501; Lee & Whang, 2000 , Information sharing in a supply chain. International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 1 (1), 79–93; Vickery, Jayaram, Droge, & Calantone, 2003 , The effects of an integrative supply chain strategy on customer service and financial performance: An analysis of direct versus indirect relationships. Journal of Operations Management, 21 (5), 523–539; Zhang & Zipkin, 1990 , A queueing model to analyze the value of centralized inventory information. Operations Research, 38 (2), 296–307). It is well known that an informational centralized supply chain outperforms its decentralized counterpart through reducing bullwhip effect (Chen, Drezner, Ryan, & Simchi-Levi, 2000, Qualifying the bullwhip effect in a simple supply chain: The impact of forecasting, lead times, and information. Management Science, 46 (3), 436–443; Lee, Padmanabhan, & Whang, 1997 , Information distortion in a supply chain: The bullwhip effect. Management Science, 34 (4), 546–558).
Dreams, Rockets, Rivalries, and Jobs

In this chapter, we will see that dreams, rockets, rivalries, and jobs combined to lead humanity into the space age – to actual spaceflight and space exploration. Some of the main people and processes that led humans finally to leave their cradle, Earth, and to begin to explore their neighborhood, the inner Solar System, and a bit beyond will be introduced. We will also consider why some of us seem to have chosen to crawl back into our cradle, pull up our blankie, and contentedly suck our thumbs.
Updated Guidelines on Infection Prevention in Pediatric Ambulatory Settings.

Abstract The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released updated guidelines on infection control and prevention in pediatric outpatient settings. Key recommendations include mandatory influenza vaccination for all healthcare workers offered free to all staff, expanded guidance on infection control practices for children with cystic fibrosis, guidance on additional prevention procedures during community outbreaks of infectious diseases and recommendations on improving communication between healthcare facilities when referring potentially contagious patients. The new guidelines modify standard precautions by indicating that gloves are not required for diaper changes or some body fluid contact (nasal secretions and tears) in a well child, or when administering vaccines. In addition, efforts should be made to minimize exposure to infections from contaminated toys that cannot be cleaned including plush toys, cleaning toys in waiting rooms each day and encouraging families to bring their own toys or books to visits.
A plane wave model for direct simulation of reflection and transmission by discretely inhomogeneous plane parallel media

Abstract A formulation is developed for numerically solving the frequency domain Maxwell’s equations in plane parallel layers of inhomogeneous media. As was done in a recent work [1], the plane parallel layer is modeled as an infinite square lattice of W × W × H unit cells, with W being a sample width of the layer and H the layer thickness. As opposed to the 3D volume integral/discrete dipole formulation, the derivation begins with a Fourier expansion of the electric field amplitude in the lateral plane, and leads to a coupled system of 1D ordinary differential equations in the depth direction of the layer. A 1D dyadic Green’s function is derived for this system and used to construct a set of coupled 1D integral equations for the field expansion coefficients. The resulting mathematical formulation is considerably simpler and more compact than that derived, for the same system, using the discrete dipole approximation applied to the periodic plane lattice. Furthermore, the fundamental property variable appearing in the formulation is the Fourier transformed complex permittivity distribution in the unit cell, and the method obviates any need to define or calculate a dipole polarizability. Although designed primarily for random media calculations, the method is also capable of predicting the single scattering properties of individual particles; comparisons are presented to demonstrate that the method can accurately reproduce, at scattering angles not too close to 90°, the polarimetric scattering properties of single and multiple spheres. The derivation of the dyadic Green’s function allows for an analytical preconditioning of the equations, and it is shown that this can result in significantly accelerated solution times when applied to densely-packed systems of particles. Calculation results demonstrate that the method, when applied to inhomogeneous media, can predict coherent backscattering and polarization opposition effects.
Strategies for Managing Depression Refractory to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Treatment: A Survey of Clinicians

Objective:To examine treatment practices in cases where selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are ineffective.Methods:We surveyed 801 clinicians (including 630 psychiatrists) attending th...
Cadmium concentrations in blood and seminal plasma: correlations with sperm number and motility in three male populations (infertility patients, artificial insemination donors, and unselected volunteers).

To investigate a possible common environmental exposure that may partially explain the observed decrease in human semen quality, we correlated seminal plasma and blood cadmium levels with sperm concentration and sperm motility. We studied three separate human populations: group 1, infertility patients (Long Island, NY, USA); group 2, artificial insemination donors (AID) (Rochester, NY, USA); and group 3, general population volunteers (Rochester, NY, USA). Information about confounding factors was collected by questionnaire. Seminal plasma cadmium did not correlate with blood cadmium (Spearman correlation, n = 91, r = −0.092, P = 0.386, NS). Both blood and seminal plasma cadmium were significantly higher among infertility patients than the other subjects studied (for example, median seminal plasma cadmium was 0.282 µg/L in infertility patients versus 0.091 µg/L in AID and 0.092 µg/L in general population volunteers; Kruskal-Wallis test, P < 0.001). The percentage of motile sperm and sperm concentration correlated inversely with seminal plasma cadmium among the infertility patients (r = −0.201, P < 0.036 and r = −189, P < 0.05, respectively), but not in the other two groups. Age (among infertility patients) was the only positive confounder correlating with seminal plasma cadmium. To validate our human findings in an animal model, we chronically exposed adolescent male Wistar rats to low-moderate cadmium in drinking water. Though otherwise healthy, the rats exhibited decreases in epididymal sperm count and sperm motility associated with cadmium dose and time of exposure. Our human and rat study results are consistent with the hypothesis that environmental cadmium exposures may contribute significantly to reduced human male sperm concentration and sperm motility.
Chapter 41 Hedonic analysis of housing markets

Abstract This chapter examines the hedonic analysis of housing markets. These techniques have been widely applied in studies of the demand for housing attributes and environmental amenities. The chapter discusses the theoretical foundation of hedonic analysis, the use of hedonic estimates of demand for welfare analysis, the empirical difficulties that arise in such studies, and some of the methods for overcoming these difficulties.
Why Solve the Gettier Problem

The value of work on the Gettier Problem has been called into question. Michael Williams concludes a paper on this dark note: “That anything important turns on coming up with a solution to Gettier’s problem remains to be shown.”1 Mark Kaplan argues for a gloomier view: “My message is that it is time to stop and face the unpleasant reality that we simply have no use for a definition of propositional knowledge.”2
Synchronization in Networks of Identical Linear Systems with Reduced Information

Ahstract- The synchronization problem for identical linear systems is well studied in the literature. However one of the major assumptions in the design of the distributed controller requires the knowledge about the second smallest eigenvalue of the graph Laplacian. The dynamic controller designed by Scardovi and Sepulchre [1] for time-varying graphs does not require this assumption but it requires the agents knowledge of its own output and involves more information exchange among the distributed controllers. This paper is based on a simple observation on specializing the controller of [1] to time-invariant graphs, which removes the agents requirement of the knowledge about its own output and also reduces the amount of information exchange required by the dynamic controller of [1].
The weak voltage dependence of pannexin 1 channels can be tuned by N-terminal modifications

Pannexins are a family of ATP release channels important for physiological and pathological processes like blood pressure regulation, epilepsy, and neuropathic pain. To study these important channels in vitro, voltage stimulation is the most common and convenient tool, particularly for pannexin 1 (Panx1). However, whether Panx1 is a voltage-gated channel remains controversial. Here, we carefully examine the effect of N-terminal modification on voltage-dependent Panx1 channel activity. Using a whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique, we demonstrate that both human and mouse Panx1, with their nativeN termini, give rise to voltage-dependent currents, but only at membrane potentials larger than +100 mV. This weak voltage-dependent channel activity profoundly increases when a glycine-serine (GS) motif is inserted immediately after the first methionine. Single-channel recordings reveal that the addition of GS increases the channel open probability as well as the number of unitary conductance classes. We also find that insertions of other amino acid(s) at the same position mimics the effect of GS. On the other hand, tagging the N terminus with GFP abolishes voltage-dependent channel activity. Our results suggest that Panx1 is a channel with weak voltage dependence whose activity can be tuned by N-terminal modifications.
Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy: multidetector CT image noise correction improves specificity of a Gaussian model-based algorithm used for characterization of incidental adrenal nodules

To investigate whether the histogram analysis method of characterizing adrenal nodules as adenomas is affected by increased noise with modern CT technique, and if an extension that allows for noise correction will improve diagnostic performance. This is a HIPAA-compliant, IRB-approved retrospective study performed on 58 total patients. The first group of 29 patients had 33 adrenal lesions that were pathology-proven non-adenomas. The second group had 29 patients with 33 pathology-proven or presumed adenomas based on established imaging criteria. The nodules were evaluated using the histogram method, mean attenuation method, and a Gaussian model-based algorithm without (uncorrected Gaussian algorithm) and with correction (corrected Gaussian algorithm) for image noise. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for identifying adenoma were derived. There were no significant differences in identifying adenoma from non-adenoma when using the histogram analysis method and the uncorrected Gaussian algorithm, both of which had low specificities of 42.4% and 47.0%, respectively (p = 0.30). Adding noise correction to the Gaussian algorithm resulted in a statistically significant increase in specificity relative to the histogram method (86.4% vs. 42.4%, p < 0.001). The corrected Gaussian algorithm improved sensitivity compared to the mean attenuation method (71.2% vs. 54.5%, p < 0.001), but had lower specificity (86.4% vs. 100%, p < 0.001), and similar overall accuracy (78.8% vs. 77.3%, p = 0.74). With modern low-dose CT technique, the specificity scores of the histogram method for discrimination of adrenal adenomas and non-adenomas are lower than with previous higher dose scans. The specificity and accuracy of a histogram-equivalent method can be increased mathematically through image noise correction, and the corrected Gaussian algorithm has improved sensitivity to the mean attenuation with similar accuracy albeit with lower specificity. Although this suggests limited utility for histogram analysis in adrenal nodule characterization, our study demonstrates the potential mathematical application for other noise-dependent CT characterization methods.
Stability Analysis of a Medium Voltage Cascaded Converter System with Reduced DC-link Capacitance

Recent development of Silicon Carbide (SiC) based Medium Voltage (MV) power semiconductor devices have paved ways to build high power MV power converters with simple two level structures. One of the critical applications of these converters are solid state transformers (SSTs) which interconnects MV grid to a low voltage (LV) grid with high frequency isolation. SSTs are usually built with multi-stage cascaded conversion structures which includes ac-dc, dc-dc, and dc-ac stages, respectively. These converter structures need an intermediate MV DC bus to function. For MV applications, the DC bus structure is designed with low inductance bus bar and MV capacitors. At medium voltage levels, it is difficult to manufacture capacitors with high capacitance values with low footprint. Therefore, MV polypropylene film capacitors with low equivalent series inductance (ESL) are often utilized to build the MV DC Bus to meet the power density requirements. The small values of the effective DC bus capacitance create stability issues for cascaded converter structures for SSTs as it becomes difficult to completely decouple different power conversion stages. This paper delves into the interaction between different power conversion stages of a MV SST while transferring power. The study shows that low capacitance value of the MV DC bus can cause instability which needs to be mitigated.
Long‐lived distonic radical cations

This paper discusses recent advances in the research on stable, long-lived distonic radicaI cations, with a speciaI emphasis on ion-molecule reactions. Reactions used to generate stable distonic ions and to characterize their structures are briefly reviewed. The reactivity of distonic ions toward organic molecuIes is discussed and compared to that of even-electron cations and conventional radical cations
Broad-scale informed consent: A survey of the CTSA landscape.

Introduction Research opportunities associated with the proliferation of the electronic health record (EHR), big data initiatives, and innovative approaches to trial design can present challenges for obtaining and documenting informed consent. Broad-scale informed consent (a term used herein to describe institutional models, rather than the Common Rule's strict regulatory definition for "broad consent") may facilitate the use of existing data and samples and speed the pace of research by minimizing barriers to consent. We explored the use of broad-scale informed consent within the Clinical Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program Network. Methods We surveyed CTSA Hubs concerning policies, practices, experiences, and needs within three domains of broad-scale informed consent: (1) participant recontact; (2) biospecimens; and (3) clinical data sharing. Results Of 61 CTSA Hubs surveyed, 37 (61%) indicated ongoing work related to at least 1 domain of broad-scale informed consent; 18 Hubs (30%) reported work in all 3 domains. The EHR predominated as the implementation system across all three domains. Research and IT leadership and the Institutional Review Board were most commonly endorsed as institutional drivers, while systems/technical issues and impact on clinical workflow were the most commonly reported barriers. Conclusions While survey results indicate considerable variability in the implementation of broad-scale informed consent across the CTSA consortium, it is clear that all CTSA Hubs are actively considering policy and process related to these concepts. Next steps cluster within three areas: training and workforce development, streamlined policies and templates, and implementation strategies that facilitate integration into clinical workflow.
Sex differences in Parkinson's disease presentation and progression.

Abstract Introduction Females have a reduced risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, it is unclear if sex is a prognostic factor. We aimed to examine differences in presentation, physician- and patient-reported PD outcomes, and progression by sex in a large clinical cohort. Methods This study was a secondary analysis of a cohort of PD patients seen at a tertiary care center. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, treatment, care timing, and outcomes were examined by sex. Sex differences in progression of impairment, disability, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were tested with five-year piecewise linear mixed-effects models. A mediation analysis assessed drivers of sex differences. Results The study included 914 males and 549 females. Females had significantly less social support, more psychological distress, and worse self-reported (but not physician-reported) disability and HRQoL at initial PD care visits, compared to males. Addressing anxiety symptoms may attenuate this difference. PD progression sex differences were minimal. Conclusion PD progression does not differ by sex, yet patient-reported measures of disease severity are worse in females than males. To attenuate this sex difference in disease experience, psychological distress screening and management, particularly targeting females, should be implemented as part of PD clinical care.
Endobronchial aspergilloma—a comprehensive literature review with focus on diagnosis and treatment modalities

Endobronchial aspergilloma (EBA) is a rare manifestation of pulmonary infection with Aspergillus spp. Comprised of hyphae, mucus, and cellular debris, the massive fungus overgrowth can lead to obstructive pneumonitis in large airways, manifesting as cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, or weight loss. The aim of this paper is to review the literature on endobronchial aspergilloma to further elucidate this disease entity and to classify it as a non-invasive form of pulmonary aspergillosis. A descriptive analysis was performed on articles on PubMed database that contained the key word "endobronchial aspergilloma." A total of 28 cases were obtained. Four articles were excluded as they were not available in the English format. Although EBA is extremely rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of endobronchial masses in immunocompromised patients. There is a potential for the disease entity to progress to tracheobronchitis and fulminant respiratory failure. As such, early detection with bronchoscopy, biopsy, and culture is required to confirm pulmonary aspergillosis. Current treatment regimens remain to be optimized, though piecemeal resection of the mycetoma with bronchoscopic techniques with the addition of systemic antifungals and their combinations has been reported as efficacious.
DNA Methylation Profiling Reveals Prognostically Significant Groups in Pediatric Adrenocortical Tumors: A Report From the International Pediatric Adrenocortical Tumor Registry.

PURPOSEPediatric adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are aggressive; the overall survival of patients with ACCs is 40%-50%. Appropriate staging and histologic classification are crucial because childr...
Detectability of Bridge-Structural Damage Based on Fiber-Optic Sensing through Deep-Convolutional Neural Networks

AbstractImproving the accuracy and efficiency of damage detection of bridge structures is a major challenge in engineering practice. This paper aims to address this issue by monitoring the continuo...
Where mitigation and migration meet

Climate migration involves complex interactions of environmental, social, political and economic factors. New research suggests that although wealthy global citizens try to prevent climate migration, they are willing to shoulder a greater share of the climate mitigation burden when extreme climate events hit poor countries.
The BH3-only protein Bim plays a critical role in cell death triggered by concomitant inhibition of the PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways in human leukemia cells

2332 Mechanisms underlying apoptosis induced by concomitant interruption of the MEK/ERK1/2 and Akt pathways were investigated in human leukemia cells. Apoptosis induction by perifosine, an alkyl-lysophospholipid (ALP) that inhibits PI3K/Akt and activates ERK1/2, was dramatically potentiated by co-administration of the MEK1/2 inhibitors PD184352 or U0126 in multiple malignant hematopoietic cells. These, events were associated with pronounced JNK1/2 activation, Mcl-1 downregulation, Bim upregulation, and marked Bak/Bax conformational change accompanied by Bax membrane translocation. Enforced expression of constitutively active (myristoylated) Akt sharply reduced perifosine/PD184352-mediated lethality. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of JNK activation by shRNA directed against JNK1/2 or by the JNK inhibitor SP600125 significantly attenuated PD184352/perifosine-induced apoptosis, but not Mcl-1 downregulation. Notably, ectopic Mcl-1 expression potently inhibited perifosine/PD184352 lethality, as did Bak or Bax knockdown.Notably, knockdown of Bim, but not Bad, with shRNA blocked Bak and Bax conformational change, Bax membrane translocation, and apoptosis induced by perifosine/PD184352. Conversely, enforced expression of mutant Bim (ser55,65,100→ala) that is unphosphorylatable by ERK1/2 significantly enhanced apoptosis induced by PI3/Akt kinase inhibitors (i.e. perifosine, LY294002, PI-103). Collectively, these findings suggest that Bim, Mcl-1, and JNK, but not Bad, integrate death signaling triggered by concomitant disruption of the PI3K/Akt and MEK1/2/ERK1/2 pathways in human leukemia cells.
A Cu doped TiO2 catalyst mediated Catalytic Thermo Liquefaction (CTL) of polyolefinic plastic waste into hydrocarbon oil

Abstract Plastic waste has been identified as a potent feedstock for liquefaction to produce hydrocarbon liquid oil (HC-Oil) by employing Catalytic Thermo Liquefaction (CTL). The resulting process for liquefaction of plastic was termed as Poly-Urja process and produced hydrocarbon oil was termed as HC-Oil. The CTL explores copper doped TiO2 (Cu@TiO2) catalyst as a selective, robust, non-toxic, inexpensive and promising material for liquefaction of polyolefinic plastic waste with minimum char and gas formation. The use of simple, non-expensive and non-complex co-precipitation method has provided a series of Cu@TiO2 catalysts with variable composition of the metal. Of the synthesized catalysts, Cu@TiO2 with 5% metal loading gave maximum conversion and yield of HC-Oil in laboratory batch reactor. The physicochemical and surface morphological properties of the catalyst were studied by using ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDX, BET and ICP-MS. Process intensification study was conducted to obtain maximum conversion and yield. The intensified CTL process gave >85% conversion and >80% yield of HC-Oil at less stringent conditions. HC-Oil is a carbon rich substrate comprises of 75–85% carbon, 5–15% hydrogen, 5–10% other elements and have a calorific value of ~42 MJ/kg thus it can be used for multiple applications of energy, fuels and chemicals etc. Physicochemical characterization of HC-Oil showed the presence of long and short; straight and branched chains of hydrocarbons (C8-C28). Moreover, CTL can convert any combination of plastic waste into HC-Oil with minimum carbon loss and >80% yield. Thus, the CTL process for polyolefinic waste provides an efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to convert plastic waste into energy.
Nuclear SUN1 stabilizes endothelial cell junctions to regulate blood vessel formation

ABSTRACT Endothelial cells line all blood vessels and coordinate blood vessel formation and the blood-tissue barrier via endothelial cell-cell junctions. The nucleus also regulates endothelial cell behaviors, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we show that nuclear-localized SUN1, a LINC complex component that connects the nucleus to the cytoskeleton, regulates endothelial cell-cell junction communication and blood vessel formation. Loss of murine endothelial Sun1 impaired blood vessel formation and destabilized junctions. At the cellular level, SUN1 stabilized endothelial cell-cell junctions and promoted barrier function. Abnormal SUN1-depleted junctions resembled those seen with loss of microtubules, and they were accompanied by impaired microtubule dynamics and actomyosin hypercontractility. Angiogenic sprouts formed but retracted in SUN1-depleted endothelial cells, and vessels of zebrafish lacking SUN1 had abnormal extension and were defective in forming connections. Thus, endothelial SUN1 regulates peripheral cell-cell junctions from the nucleus, likely via microtubule-based interactions, and this long-range regulation is important for blood vessel formation and barrier function. SUMMARY The nuclear membrane protein SUN1 promotes blood vessel formation and barrier function by stabilizing endothelial cell-cell junctions. Communication between SUN1 and endothelial cell junctions relies upon microtubules, revealing long-range cellular communication that is important for vascular development and function.
Character Legibility and Digital Facsimile Resolution

Character legibility was measured as a function of facsimile device parameters (pitch and sampling distance, and scan orientation) and of source document parameters (character height and case). The results indicate (I) very slight average difference in legibility (less than 1%) due to scan direction; (2) a more substantial difference (about 9%) between upper and lower case; and (3) legibility directly proportional to pitch and sampling distances, and to character height. For individual characters in standard typescript or similar material, 97.5% legibility apparently requires resolution on the order of 110 × 110 elements to the inch (scanning aperture nine mils square). Two secondary comparisons established the fact that individual character legibility (a) remained virtually unchanged when continuous scanning (one-mil resolution) was substituted for the best (five-mil) sampling distance, and (b) varied less than 2% when extra test documents were generated to check the repeatability of the experiment.
Medical Genetics in Britain: Laying the Foundation (1940s–1960s)

Medical genetics refers to the use of genetic information in the health care setting. This includes research efforts to understand the genetic basis of human illness. It also includes clinical services that use genetic knowledge to provide an assessment of risk for the occurrence of gene-based disorders, determine an individual's actual genetic status, select treatments and put forth strategies for disease prevention. In Britain, medical genetics as an area of specialty arose out of the activities begun in three separate settings during the period from mid-1940s through the 1960s: the Clinical Genetics Research Unit at the Institute of Child Health in London, the Paediatric Research Unit at Guy's Hospital in London and the Nuffield Unit of Medical Genetics at the University of Liverpool Medical School. The research programmes and clinical commitments of these separate units, along with the strong links connecting them, provided the foundation on which present-day medical genetics is built and paved the way for the introduction of “genomic medicine” into twenty-first century health care. Key Concepts Medical genetics, as an area of speciality, emerged late in the twentieth century in Britain largely through the efforts of physicians who, for the most part, had no formal training in genetics but who recognised its importance. Activities undertaken at three separate medical units, each emphasising different aspects of genetics (pedigree analysis, cytogenetics and genetic variation associated with common disorders), formed the foundation on which medical genetics, as an entity, developed. Medical genetics was able to grow and establish itself more widely because of the many different types of close interactions among the members of the three founding groups and the support received from existing medical institutions. Keywords: blood group research; genetic counselling; cytogenetics; Rh disease; medical genetics; genomic medicine
INSTRUMENTAL RATIONALITY, EPISTEMIC RATIONALITY, AND EVIDENCE‐GATHERING

You are a shipowner. One day you are standing on the dock by your vessel, admiring the raging sea, when you notice that a small craft carrying nine people has capsized. Your ship can carry them all to safety, and if you do not rescue them, they will surely die. If you attempt to rescue them and your ship is not seaworthy, you will die along with them, but happily, you are almost certain that it is seaworthy. And even more happily, you have just enough time to perform a small test to verify its seaworthiness before deciding whether to make the rescue attempt. Should you perform this test? This paper is about the rationality of gathering more evidence before making a decision. There are really two questions here. One is a question about instrumental rationality: ought we, as agents concerned with taking the means to our ends, look for more evidence before making a decision? From the point of view of instrumental rationality, should you perform the test? The other is a question about epistemic rationality: ought we, as agents concerned with truth or knowledge, look for all the available evidence? From the point of view of epistemic rationality, should you perform the test? Of course, these questions are related. In a classic paper, I.J. Good argued for an affirmative answer to the epistemic question by arguing for an affirmative answer to the practical question. He showed that as long as making a new observation is cost-free, it always maximizes expected utility to do so before making a decision. We have long had experimental evidence that people do not maximize expected utility. In particular, many people do not maximize expected utility because they take risk into account in a way that diverges systematically from expected utility theory: they are riskaverse in a sense ruled out by the theory. So much the worse for these people, you might say: they are not behaving rationally. I happen to think they are, but even if they are not, there is still a question of how they should act given their attitude towards risk. Regardless of whether their risk aversion is rationally permissible, they face the following question: given that I am risk-averse, when should I look for new evidence before making a decision? I will show that in certain situations, risk-averse decision makers should not, from the point of view of instrumental rationality, look for more evidence before making a decision. I will