cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity: identification of patients at risk and algorithms for prevention.

NEARLY 70 years ago, Osborne et al (1) first reported the imaging of the urinary tract using iodinated contrast material. In the last 30 years, there has been a marked increase in diagnostic and interventional procedures in which iodinated contrast is used. The structure of radiocontrast agents has been modified over the last several decades, yielding compounds with significantly less chemotoxicity. Unfortunately, the administration of even the newest radiocontrast agents may cause nephrotoxicity. Contrast media-induced nephropathy (contrast nephropathy; CN) has been reported to be the third-leading cause of acute renal failure in hospitalized patients (2–5), occurring at a rate of 1%–6% in unselected patient populations (4,5), and up to 40%–50% in high-risk patient populations (6–8). Unfortunately, it is frequently this higher-risk group, particularly those with preexisting renal insufficiency and diabetes mellitus, which is encountered by the cardiovascular and interventional radiologist. Based on multiple laboratory and clinical investigations performed over the last decade, the current discussion will focus on the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of CN, identification of patients at higher risk of developing CN, and interventions that may diminish the risk of CN.
Thermoelectric Power Generation by Harvesting the Waste Heat From a Car Engine

Internal combustion (IC) engines typically have an efficiency of less than 35%. This is largely due to the fact that much of the energy dissipates into waste heat. However, the waste heat may be converted into electricity by using energy conversion modules made from bismuth telluride. In this work, it is demonstrated that electricity can be generated from waste heat due to the difference in temperatures. The thermal to electrical energy conversion is achieved by using a self-assembled thermoelectric generator (TEG). The TEG (thermoelectric generator) uses two different types of metallic compound semiconductors, known as n-typed and p-typed, to create voltage when the junctions are held at different temperatures. The work mechanism is based on the Seebeck effect. In this study, the TEGs are made from bismuth telluride (Bi-Te) with relatively high energy conversion efficiencies. In addition, it is readily available. The installation location of the TEG is studied. For testing purposes and convenience, the top of the radiator of a 1990 Mazda Miata car was chosen. The TEG and an aluminum finned heat sink were placed in order on the top of the radiator. Thermal paste was applied to both surfaces and secured with zip ties. A vent was cut on the hood of the car to promote airflow between the fins. Appropriate electrical wiring allowed the unit to output to a digital multi-meter which was located within the car for operator to take data. It is found from the measured results that 0.948 V is the maximum output and the average voltage is 0.751 V. The highest voltage came from driving mountain paths due to the heat sink and coolant temperature being higher than nominal. We estimate that placing an insulator between the heat sink and TEG would push the maximum voltage over 1.0 V. During the cool down phase, the TEG produced electricity continuously with a maximum voltage of 0.9 V right after engine cutoff. The voltage decreased to about 0.6 V within 40 minutes. It is found that the relationship between the temperature difference and output voltage is linear.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Asymmetric Finance: Issues in Microfinance

Abstract This study surveys microfinance institutions (MFI) which are designed to provide loans and other financial services to the poor, particularly women. Although innovations have reduced loan defaults, most MFIs are losing money. The most profitable MFIs target the upper-end of the poor thereby raising concerns of mission drift. Because profitable MFIs tend to be the largest and most experienced, there is hope that growth over time will lead to self-sufficiency. Increasingly, MFIs are evolving into full-service entities which are raising increasing amounts of commercial funds.
Flaps and High-Lift Devices

The use of flaps or high-lift devices in general presents problems to the designer and, of course, to the analyst. High-lift devices may alter both stability and trim, and they must be carefully accounted for in stability and control estimates. This chapter discusses ordinary flaps and their effects on stability. The effect on stabilizer effectiveness is to lower the tail efficiency when the tail is immersed in the wing wake. With flaps down, the wake may be broad and intense. Usually, the designer tries to keep the tail clear of this wake to avoid buffeting, reduction of control, and nonlinearities. If he does, then tail efficiency may stay at about 0.9, and stabilizer effectiveness may be substantially the same as for the flaps-rectracted case. If the gradients are independent of flap position, then the change in control angle for trim is independent of the particular C L or center of gravity (CG) position. The most forward, or stable, CG position for the airplane is sometimes determined by the need to trim the airplane at C Lmax in ground effect. This is the flight condition most demanding of nose-up control deflection.
KĄ GALIME IŠ ANKSTYVOJO HUSSERLIO SUŽINOTI APIE MATEMATINĘ INTUICIJĄ

The main objective of this article is to demonstrate that the utter rejection of Husserl’s early philosophy of mathematics has been unjustified. More specifically, I argue that he anticipates both ones of the contemporary definitions and applications of mathematical intuition. In order to establish this I will first provide an analysis of the role of intuition in early Husserl’s philosophy of mathematics and then show that it bears significant resemblance to the definition and application of intuition in the work of Charles Parsons, who is commonly credited as the flag-bearer of contemporary proponents of mathematical intuition.
An Analysis of Award‐Winning Refereed Articles From the Journals Sponsored by the Academy of Human Resource Development

The purpose of this study was to examine the citation frequency and key themes of award-winning refereed journal articles from the journals sponsored by the AHRD. The research questions guiding the study were: (1) How many awarded articles were cited? and (2) what key themes/trends emerged over time among award-winning articles? Data were collected from 86 award-winning referred articles published from 2002 to 2013 in the four HRD journals, including ADHR , HRDI , HRDR , and HRDQ . The findings included (1) that the article about supervisory coaching behavior by Ellinger, Ellinger, and Keller (2003) in HRDQ was the most frequently cited (174), and (2) that learning is a common theme across the four journals. Action learning, employee engagement, leadership, mentoring, employee/job satisfaction, and training were common themes between two journals. The implications and limitations are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.
Understanding and Intervening Communicational Behavior using Artificial Intelligence

Portable and inexpensive technologies have the potential to capture a huge variety of signals about human being. Systematic analysis of these signals can provide deep understanding on the basic nature of interpersonal communication. I am interested in taking a machine learning approach for analyzing human behaviors---atleast in a formal, well-established setting (e.g. in public speaking, job interview etc.). Understanding human behavior will enable us to design systems capable to make people self-aware. In many cases they might be useful for behavior modification as well.
Graphened IR screens: A new spectroscopic platform for bio-species

Metallo-dielectric screens are periodic structures, which are at resonance with the infrared (IR) wavelength of interest: a standing wave of surface charges is formed at resonance conditions, which enables transmission or, reflection of certain IR bands. Graphene is a monolayer thick crystal of carbon. It is chemically inert and exhibits very large electronic mobility. Recently, we succeeded in fabricating mono and a few-layered suspended graphene on top of these screens. We combined these two unique components in fabricating novel platforms, which enhance IR signals of soft bio-species. Specifically, we used these platforms to examine IR spectra of a model protein, cytochrome c from a bovine heart tissue. Clear Raman signal variation as a function of platform orientation has been demonstrated. Accentuation of the IR absorption spectra was shown as well.
Fluorescence Spectroelectrochemical Sensor for 1-Hydroxypyrene

A spectroelectrochemical sensor was demonstrated for an organic compound whose oxidation proceeds through an electron transfer-chemical reaction-electron transfer (ECE) mechanism to generate new chemical species that are used for detection by fluorescence. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 1-hydroxypyrene (1-PyOH) served as a representative model analyte. The spectroelectrochemical properties of 1-PyOH in solution were explored with an optically transparent thin layer electrode. Electrochemical oxidation of 1-PyOH under acidic conditions proceeds via the ECE mechanism to a diquinonepyrene, which shows reversible electrochemistry and fluoresces at 425 nm in its reduced form, dihydroxypyrene. The sensor consisted of a tin-doped indium optically transparent electrode coated with a Nafion thin-film (20 nm) that rapidly preconcentrated the analyte at the sensor surface. Fluorescence in the film was excited by the evanescent wave from attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. Electrochemical modulation of dihydroxypyrene fluorescence at 425 nm in the 500 to -200 mV (vs Ag/AgCl) potential range was used for indirect detection of 1-PyOH. The spectroelectrochemical sensor calibration curve had a range of 5 × 10(-9) to 1 × 10(-6) M with a calculated detection limit of 1 × 10(-9) M.
Total shoulder arthroplasty using an inlay mini-glenoid component for glenoid deficiency: a 2-year follow-up of 9 shoulders in 7 patients.

Background Glenoid bone loss and severe retroversion can pose difficulties when implanting a glenoid component for total shoulder arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis. Mini-glenoid implants may be useful in the setting of severe glenoid wear in which a standard pegged glenoid component cannot be placed. Materials and methods This study is a retrospective review, performed over a 3-year period, of patients who received a total shoulder arthroplasty using an inset mini-glenoid in the setting of severe glenoid dysplasia and/or medial glenoid bone loss. We identified patients with a minimum of 2 years' follow-up and evaluated preoperative and postoperative range of motion, visual analog scale scores, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores, complications, and patient satisfaction. Results Seven patients (4 female and 3 male patients; 9 shoulders) with a mean age of 66 years were treated with the described procedure and had a mean follow-up of 34 months. There were 6 primary arthroplasties and 3 revision cases. Four shoulders were classified as Walch type A2 glenoids, 2 were classified as Walch type C, and 3 were unable to be classified. There was a statistically significant increase in range of motion (forward elevation, 48°; external rotation, 14°), decrease in pain scores (8 points to 1 point), and improvement in Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores (31.7% to 89.4%). The mean patient satisfaction score was 8.6 points on a 10-point scale. Conclusion At 2-year follow-up, total shoulder arthroplasty with a mini-glenoid component can offer adequate pain relief and functional results in the setting of glenoid bone loss or severe retroversion.
Simultaneous determination of the seismic moment and attenuation of seismic surface waves

A comprehensive spectral analysis of Love and Rayleigh waves was made on the Parkfield earthquake of June 28, 1966. Using tentative Q values obtained by the usual two-station method for continental and oceanic paths, the observed spectra were corrected for dissipation, and used for obtaining a tentative source model. The resultant model, having the fault length 37 km, the strike direction N43°W and the rupture velocity 2.2 km/sec, is consistent with various near field measurements. Based on this tentative source model, a least-squares method is applied to separate source, dissipation and interference effects on the spectra. The logarithm of the ratio of the observed to the theoretical spectra was plotted against the epicentral distance for various frequencies. The slope and zero-crossing value of the fitted straight line were used for revising the attenuation coefficient and the seismic moment respectively. The variability of individual station spectra was attributed to the interference effect. The revised value of the seismic moment of the Parkfield earthquake is e (0.33±0.40) ×10 25 dyne-cm. The revised attenuation coefficients indicate that Love waves have consistently higher dissipation than Rayleigh waves at periods 15 to 40 seconds. Both show marked minimum of dissipation (Q over 800 for Love and over 1000 for Rayleigh waves) at periods between 20 and 25 seconds. We found that our Q data are consistent with a model which has a high-Q zone in the lower crust and uppermost mantle, overlying a low-Q zone which correlates well with the Gutenberg low-velocity zone. There is an indication that the intrinsic Q is dependent on period at depths shallower than 90 kilometers in such a way that it increases with period up to 20 seconds. For periods beyond 20 seconds, the intrinsic Q may be constant for all periods and all depths above 90 kilometers.
Dose-ranging effect of systemic diphenhydramine on postoperative quality of recovery after ambulatory laparoscopic surgery: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, clinical trial.

Abstract Study objective Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine with previously demonstrated analgesic and antiemetic properties. However, it is unknown if the beneficial perioperative properties of diphenhydramine can translate to a better quality of postsurgical recovery. The main objective of the current investigation was to investigate dose-ranging effects of diphenhydramine on quality of recovery after surgery. Setting Tertiary hospital in the United States. Design A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. Intervention Saline, diphenhydramine 25 >mg, or diphenhydramine 50 mg given intravenously before induction. Measurements The primary outcome was global Quality of Recovery–40 at 24hours. Postoperative pain, nausea, opioid consumption, and discharge time were also evaluated. Main results Ninety subjects were randomized, and 75 completed the study. The median (interquartile range) Quality of Recovery–40 scores were not different among study groups: 164 (151-189), 169 (159-181), and 172 (157-185) for the saline, 25-mg diphenhydramine, and 50-mg diphenhydramine groups, respectively ( P =.74). Postoperative nausea was decreased in the 50-mg group, 3 of 24 (12.5%), compared with the saline group, 12 of 27 (44%), P =.01. There was an inverse linear association between postoperative opioid consumption and quality of recovery ( R 2 =0.37, P Conclusions Diphenhydramine does not provide dose-ranging improvements on postoperative quality of recovery after ambulatory laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Our results support a recent concept that not all postoperative nausea and vomiting symptoms are clinically important. Future studies evaluating postoperative nausea and vomiting should include patient-centered outcomes to validate the clinical importance of the examined interventions.
Dynamic observation of pathological changes of liver in biliary obstruction rats

Objective To establish the animal models of SD rat biliary obstruction,and pathological changes of liver and liver function indicators on the animal model of dynamic observation. Methods The pure line of 35 SD rats,were randomly divided into experimental group and control group,the experimental group underwent common bile duct ligation,then close the abdominal. The control group after open abdomen from the common bile duct and abdominal closure. Dynamic observation of bile duct ligation after first days,3 days,7 days,14 days,21 days of liver function,pathological changes of hepatic tissues. Results In rats with obstructive jaundice in 14 days with the prolongation of time,serum bilirubin increased gradually,the small intrahepatic bile duct proliferation increased gradually,with little fibrous connective tissue hyperplasia. After 14 days of serum bilirubin decreased gradually,small bile duct hyperplasia reduce,also has not seen the hyperplasia of fibrous connective tissue. Conclusion Jaundice Rat Liver and liver function obstruction in 14 days changes similar to humans,but in 14 days after the surgery the rats appeared recovery,unlike human obstructive jaundice disease process.
Survey on Pregnant and Lying-in Women's Knowledge and Behavior Related to AIDS,as well as Their Infection of HIV,Syphilis,and Hepatitis C,Dezhou City,2009-2012

Objective To understand the sentinel surveillance of pregnant and lying-in women in Dezhou city,2009-2012,so as to provide scientific basis for making strategy of mother-infant block. Methods A questionnaires survey was conducted among 1,611 pregnant and lying-in women registered or carried out perinatal care during monitoring period at pregnant women sentinel points from April to June every year from 2009to 2012for HIV,syphilis,and anti-HCV test. Results Among 1,611pregnant and lying-in women investigated from 2009 to 2012,their general awareness rate of AIDS knowledge was 69.46%.Their general awareness rate of AIDS-related knowledge was respectively 65.44%,67.58%,68.65%,and 76.25%(P 0.01)in each year;there was statistical significance of the difference in awareness rate of AIDS-related knowledge of pregnant and lying-in women with different ages,cultural backgrounds and pregnancy times(P 0.01).Among 1 611tested,no HIV antibody-positive was found,but 3cases(0.19%)of syphilis antibody-positive and 2HCV cases were found.3of 1 611tested used to be injection drug users and share needling instrument with others,19husband ever took drugs,and 4of them admitted that they ever suffered from venereal diseases. Conclusion Pregnant and lying-in women in Dezhou city have low awareness rate of AIDS,and HIV,syphilis,and hepatitis C present a lowprevalence state.
Metabolic evaluation of pediatric patients with stones.

SUMMARY Metabolic evaluation of children with urinary stones begins with analysis of calculi or gravel if at all possible. If no stone is available, radiographic appearances may predict types. Once stone composition is known or suspected, a targeted testing program is performed. Serum and urinary tests define the causative abnormality. Therapy is then directed toward correcting this problem.
Inhibition of Androgen-Receptor Interaction in Mouse Prostate Gland Cytosol by Divalent Metal Ions

The binding of [3H]dihydrotestosterone to receptor proteins was studied in cytoplasm of mouse anterior prostate gland. K+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, and Ni2+ had little effect upon binding at concentrations up to 10-3 M (0.2 M K+). Pb2+, Fe2+, and Co2+ produced substantial inhibition of binding at 10-3 M. Cu2+, Hg2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ were very effective inhibitors producing 50% inhibition at 2-3 x 10-5 M and nearly 100% inhibition at 10-4 M. The inhibition due to Zn2+ was competitive. These observations are consistent with the possible involvement of Zn2+ in negative feedback control of androgen action in male sex accessory tissues and provide a possible mechanism for weight reduction caused by Cd2+ in those organs in vivo. Competitive inhibition of binding by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate was also observed. Neither this finding nor relative inhibitory effectiveness of the various metals is consistent with involvement of protein sulfhydryl groups at the binding site in the mechanism of inhibition.
Abstract B34: Breast cancer risk factors and screening practices among Hispanics subgroups in the United States

Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the United States (US). In the US, breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Hispanic women. Differences observed in BC risk by Hispanic origin may be due to variations in the exposure to known BC risk factors. However the heterogeneity of the prevalence of BC risk factors among Hispanic subgroups has not been characterized. We sought to assess differences in BC screening and the distribution of BC risk factors among US Hispanic women by subgroups using data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. We compared modifiable BC risk factors (body mass index, physical activity, alcohol use, and smoking) and BC screening (mammogram use) among Hispanic subgroups (Mexican American, South/Central American, Caribbean American, Other Hispanic) using multinomial logistic regression. After adjusting for several confounders, South/Central American women were less likely (OR=0.76; 95% CI: 0.57-1.02) and women from Other Hispanic origin were more likely (OR=1.49; 95% CI: 0.90-2.46) to be obese compared to Mexican Americans. Also, compared to Mexican Americans, women of Other Hispanic origin were more likely to be former and current smokers (OR=1.38; 95% CI: 0.77-3.56; OR=3.52; 95% CI: 2.03-6.11, respectively). Caribbean American women were 49% (OR=0.51; 95% CI: 0.35-0.74) less likely to meet the national guidelines for physical activity as compared to Mexican American women. Among women aged 40 years and older, Caribbean American women were 40% (OR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.07-1.83) more likely to have had a mammogram in the past 12 months as compared to Mexican Americans. These data demonstrate important breast cancer risk factor differences among Hispanic subgroups. The current findings will be useful for developing interventions targeted to reduce the burden of BC among Hispanic women. Citation Format: Mary Vanellys Diaz-Santana, Katherine W. Reeves. Breast cancer risk factors and screening practices among Hispanics subgroups in the United States. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B34.
Toll Receptors and Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

Abstract Abstract 3793 Introduction: Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a clonal proliferative disease of antigen presenting cells. Clinically, it is associated with aberrant secretion of cytokines from both Langerhans cells (LCs) themselves and immune cells associated with the disease. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are membranous and cytoplasmic proteins involved in pattern-based recognition of bacterial and viral products. Activation of TLRs results in production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, modulation of the immune response, and maturation of LCs. TLRs activate signal transduction pathways involving IRFs (interferon regulatory factors), NFkB (Nuclear Factor-k-B) and MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinases). In this study, we have examined LCH samples for their expression of TLRs and downstream effector proteins. Methods: We examined archived samples from 42 LCH patients. Paraffin embedded samples were sectioned and stained for immunohistochemistry (IHC) using antibodies directed against TLR1-9; IRF3, 7 and 8; MEK1/2 and ERK1/2. RNA was isolated from the same samples using laser-capture microdissection, and the expression of TLR receptors, effectors and downstream targets was analyzed using qRT-PCR. These data were compared with gene expression data published in Gene Expression Omnibus using data set GSE16395 . Results: IHC results showed upregulation in pathologic LCs compared to normal LCs of TLR 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9, but not TLR 4 and 6. Moreover, upregulation of downstream pathways involving MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 and IRF8 in was also observed in pathologic LCs. Gene expression analysis showed up-regulation of the effectors of TLRs including CASP8, MAP3K7, and PPARA as well as genes in the NFKB pathway (CCL2, NFKb1, NFKB2, NFKBIL1, NFRKB, and REL), the JNK/p-38 pathway (ELK1, c-FOS, MAP3K1 and MAP3K8), and the interferon regulatory factor pathway (CXCL10, IRF7, IRF8 and TBK1). Comparison with the gene expression data base confirmed the results obtained from qRT-PCR for the gene expression of TLRs, their effectors, and downstream. Conclusion: Upregulation of TLRs and the pathways they control occurs commonly in LCH. Therapies directed toward inhibition of TLRs and their downstream targets may provide a means of modulating the adverse inflammatory aspects of LCH. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Production of Odd-Carbon Dicarboxylic Acids in Escherichia coli Using an Engineered Biotin–Fatty Acid Biosynthetic Pathway

Dicarboxylic acids are commodity chemicals used in the production of plastics, polyesters, nylons, fragrances, and medications. Bio-based routes to dicarboxylic acids are gaining attention due to environmental concerns about petroleum-based production of these compounds. Some industrial applications require dicarboxylic acids with specific carbon chain lengths, including odd-carbon species. Biosynthetic pathways involving cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxidation of fatty acids in yeast and bacteria have been reported, but these systems produce almost exclusively even-carbon species. Here we report a novel pathway to odd-carbon dicarboxylic acids directly from glucose in Escherichia coli by employing an engineered pathway combining enzymes from biotin and fatty acid synthesis. Optimization of the pathway will lead to industrial strains for the production of valuable odd-carbon diacids.
Deterministic Role of CEA and MSI Status in Predicting Outcome of CRC Patients: a Perspective Study Amongst Hospital Attending Eastern Indian Populations.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an important deterministic factor in predicting colorectal carcinoma (CRC) progression. It is also evident that microsatellite instability (MSI) which results in a hypermutable phenotype of genomic DNA is common in CRC. Owing to the scarcity of reports from India, our aim of this study was to understand the clinicopathological correlations of CEA status with surgery and chemotherapy, correlate the same with socio-demographic status of the patients, determine the MSI status amongst them and understand the prognostic implications of CEA and MSI as CRC progression marker amongst patients. The serum CEA level was estimated by chemiluminescence assay (CLIA). Serum liver enzyme assay was carried out following the manufacturer’s instructions using auto-analysers (E. Merck and Sera mol. Health Care, India). MSI analysis was carried out by PCR-SSCP. From our study, most frequently detected colorectal cancer was in 40–49 years age group (25.26%) with 61.05% male and 38.95% females. CEA showed a significant association with higher TNM staging, tumour size, smoking habit and MSI status (p 0.05). After surgery and chemotherapy, CEA and WBCs were decreased significantly (p 0.05). Overall, microsatellite instability was observed in approximately 40% of the populations. From our study, it was also evident that for both, MSI and abnormal CEA level predicted poor prognosis for the patient (by using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis; p = 0.04). Thus, CEA and initial MSI status can be used as prognostic markers of CRC.
Evaluating wild hog preferences to guide control strategies in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Wild hogs (Sus scrofa) are an invasive species that have occupied Great Smoky Mountains National Park since the early 1900s. The population is in direct competition with native species, inflicts unprecedented damage to plant communities, and is a reservoir for disease. The Park implemented a control program in 1959 and has kept detailed geographic records on each removal since 1980, producing over 1500 unique presence locations. To extract the geographic preferences exhibited by the presence locations, we conducted a niche factor analysis by pairing the data with relevant environmental predictors. We then mapped these preferences spatially to create two maps that depict suitable locations to support wild hog presence. Results from this project will inform control efforts and improve our understanding of the population of wild hogs that resides in the Park.
Off-axis holography and micro-optics improve lab-on-a-chip imaging.

A pocket holographic slide enables the high-throughput screening of fluid samples by embedding micro-optics directly on a micro-channel to achieve off-axis interferometric imaging. This holographic slide can be used to turn a conventional microscope into a phase-contrast imager or as a stand-alone compact imaging device by incorporating polymer lenses that are printed directly on-chip.
Collective demands and secret codes: The multiple uses of “community” in “community mobilization”

Abstract The romance of “community mobilization” continues to pervade development and public health programs. Critics argue that “community” has become a buzzword devoid of content or a mechanism of neoliberal governmentality. This article revisits these approaches to community mobilization, using ethnographic data from a context in which “community mobilization” has met with wide acclaim: HIV prevention programs in India. Focusing on how the concept of community is used in everyday practice reveals its multivalence and flexibility. I show that, for many planners and administrators of HIV prevention programs, “community mobilization” is a strategy for placing responsibility for HIV prevention onto groups at risk, but, for those groups, it also has two alternative usages: as the basis for making collective demands, and as a code word for membership in a subversive sexual category. These latter two uses undergird the formation of “communities” that make new demands on the state. While scholars tend to characterize community mobilization programs in terms of their intent, as either mostly empowering or mostly a mechanism of domination, this article shifts the focus to how the concept of community is used, demonstrating its multiple usages within the same program. I show that groups bring to bear on the concept of “community” not only abstracted NGO concepts, but also a history of using “community” in India as a political category of membership. Rather than rejecting or celebrating the concept of “community”, this article uses ethnography to show how community is put to use and given meaning through everyday struggles for control and survival.
Improved Analysis of Phage ImmunoPrecipitation Sequencing (PhIP-Seq) Data Using a Z-score Algorithm

Abstract Phage ImmunoPrecipitation Sequencing (PhIP-Seq) is a massively multiplexed, phage-display based methodology for analyzing antibody binding specificities, with several advantages over existing techniques, including the uniformity and completeness of proteomic libraries, as well as high sample throughput and low cost. Data generated by the PhIP-Seq assay are unique in many ways. The only published analytical approach for these data suffers from important limitations. Here, we propose a new statistical framework with several improvements. Using a set of replicate mock immunoprecipitations (negative controls lacking antibody input) to generate background binding distributions, we establish a statistical model to quantify antibody-dependent changes in phage clone abundance. Our approach incorporates robust regression of experimental samples against the mock IPs as a means to calculate the expected phage clone abundance, and provides a generalized model for calculating each clone’s expected abundance-associated standard deviation. In terms of bias removal and detection sensitivity, we demonstrate that this z-score algorithm outperforms the previous approach. Further, in a large cohort of autoantibody-defined Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS) patient sera, PhIP-Seq robustly identified Ro52, Ro60, and SSB/La as known autoantigens associated with SS. In an effort to identify novel SS-specific binding specificities, SS z-scores were compared with z-scores obtained by screening Ropositive sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This analysis did not yield any commonly targeted SS-specific autoantigens, suggesting that if they exist at all, their epitopes are likely to be discontinuous or post-translationally modified. In summary, we have developed an improved algorithm for PhIP-Seq data analysis, which was validated using a large set of sera with clinically characterized autoantibodies. This z-score approach will substantially improve the ability of PhIP-Seq to detect and interpret antibody binding specificities. The associated Python code is freely available for download here: https://github.com/LarmanLab/PhIP-Seq-Analyzer.
Metropolitan planning organizations and climate change action

Abstract Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) sit at a unique nexus of government arrangements and missions that could be effective for addressing issues of climate change. Using survey and secondary data this study investigates the potential of metropolitan planning organizations to play a formative role in climate change action and policy. We examine factors that promote MPOs involvement in climate change issues by bridging two types of literatures in a quantitative modeling framework: the institutional responses to environmental change, driven by conceptualization of urban systems as social-ecological systems, and the public policy, regional planning and local politics literature. We find robust MPOs, capacity and the organization members' mental models play significant predictors for MPOs engagement in activities directly or indirectly related to climate change.
An adaptive energy-efficient and low-latency MAC for tree-based data gathering in sensor networks: Research Articles

A specific characteristic of sensor network applications is that the major traffic consists of data collection from various sensor source nodes to a sink via a unidirectional tree. In this paper, we propose DMAC, an energy efficient and low latency MAC that is designed and optimized for such data gathering trees in wireless sensor networks. We first show that previously proposed MAC protocols for sensor networks that utilize activation/sleep duty cycles suffer from a data forwarding interruption problem, whereby not all nodes on a multihop path to the sink can be notified of data delivery in progress, resulting in significant sleep delay. DMAC is designed to solve the interruption problem, by giving the active/sleep schedule of a node an offset that depends upon its depth on the tree. This scheme allows continuous packet forwarding because all nodes on the multihop path can be notified of the data delivery in progress. DMAC also adjusts node duty cycles adaptively according to the traffic load in the network by varying the number of active slots in an schedule interval. We further propose a data prediction mechanism and the use of more to send (MTS) packets in order to alleviate problems pertaining to channel contention and collisions. Our simulation results as well as experimental results with the Mote platform show that by exploiting the application-specific structure of data gathering trees in sensor networks, DMAC provides significant energy savings and latency reduction while ensuring high data reliability. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oral etoposide for patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

Purpose: Oral etoposide has been shown to be effective against some solid tumor types. This phase II study examined the efficacy of oral etoposide in patients with untreated advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
Modeling and Checking the Security of DIFC System Configurations

Decentralized information flow control (DIFC) systems provide strong protection for data secrecy and integrity. However, the complicated configuration of information flow between system objects increases the chance of misconfiguration, making the system vulnerable to attackers. In this paper we first present a systematic analysis of misconfigurations and their security threats for DIFC systems. Then we define the security analysis problem for DIFC configurations based on a formal state-transition model, which allows model checkers to prove a configuration is secure or detect misconfigurations that violate the desired security goal. The experiment shows that bounded model checking techniques plus a novel preprocessing algorithm are effective in solving this problem.
Cohesive Zone Smoothing of Bending Stiffness Heterogeneities in Tape Peeling Experiments

This work studies the interaction between the cohesive zone and elastic stiffness heterogeneity in the peeling of an adhesive tape from a rigid substrate. It is understood that elastic stiffness heterogeneities can greatly enhance the adhesion of a tape without changing the properties of the interface. However, in experiments performed on adhesive tapes with both an elastic stiffness heterogeneity and a substantial cohesive zone, muted adhesion enhancement was observed. It is proposed that the cohesive zone acts to smooth out the effect of the discontinuity at the edge of the elastic stiffness heterogeneities, suppressing their effect on adhesion. This work presents peel tests performed with heterogeneously layered 3 M 810 tape that demonstrate the muted enhancement. Additionally, numerical simulations further investigating the interaction between elastic heterogeneity and cohesive zone are presented.
High-Iron Intake Impairs Growth and Causes Copper-Deficiency Anemia in Mice

A commonly used method to cause iron loading in rodents is feeding of a 1–2% carbonyl iron diet. This high amount of dietary iron presumably bypasses normal protective mechanisms and leads to incre...
Structural dynamics of bacteriophage P22 infection initiation revealed by cryo-electron tomography.

For successful infection, bacteriophages must overcome multiple barriers to transport their genome and proteins across the bacterial cell envelope. We use cryo-electron tomography to study the infection initiation of phage P22 in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, revealing how a channel forms to allow genome translocation into the cytoplasm. Our results show free phages that initially attach obliquely to the cell through interactions between the O antigen and two of the six tailspikes; the tail needle also abuts the cell surface. The virion then orients perpendicularly and the needle penetrates the outer membrane. The needle is released and the internal head protein gp7* is ejected and assembles into an extracellular channel that extends from the gp10 baseplate to the cell surface. A second protein, gp20, is ejected and assembles into a structure that extends the extracellular channel across the outer membrane into the periplasm. Insertion of the third ejected protein, gp16, into the cytoplasmic membrane probably completes the overall trans-envelope channel into the cytoplasm. Construction of a trans-envelope channel is an essential step during infection of Gram-negative bacteria by all short-tailed phages, because such virions cannot directly deliver their genome into the cell cytoplasm. Cryo-electron tomography was used to study the initial steps of infection of Salmonella enterica serovar Salmonella Typhimurium with phage P22 and reveals how the phage forms a channel through the host outer and inner membranes to translocate its genome into the bacterial cytoplasm.
Endocrine and Visual Outcomes Following Gross Total Resection and Subtotal Resection of Adult Craniopharyngioma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective The optimal surgical strategy for management of adult patients with craniopharyngioma remains controversial. To analyze the functional outcomes ofadult patients with gross total resection (GTR) and subtotal resection (STR) of craniopharyngioma. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to July 19, 2018, for articles comparing postoperative endocrine function, vision, complications, and recurrence rates for adult patients with GTR and STR of craniopharyngioma. The articles were analyzed by meta-analysis of proportions using a random-effects model to calculate summary odds ratios (ORs). Results The initial search resulted in 2468 studies and 540 studies selected for full text review. Seventeen studies were included in the final analyses with 748 patients in the GTR cohort and 559 patients in the STR cohort. GTR resulted in a significantly lower likelihood of recurrence when compared with STR (OR, 0.106; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.067–0.168; P Conclusions This is the first systematic review of functional outcomes of adult patients with craniopharyngioma. GTR results in decreased likelihood of recurrence, but increased likelihood of postoperative panhypopituitarsm and permanent diabetes insipidus. Surgeons should be aware of these associations when determining the optimal operative strategy for adult patients with craniopharyngioma.
Divining a Definition: ‘Substantial Burden’ in the Penal Context Under a Post-Holt RLUIPA

This Note attempts to resolve a significant impediment to the religious free exercise of prisoners. The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) forbids the government from placing a “substantial burden” on a prisoner’s religious exercise. Congress did not define substantial burden in the statute, instead indicating that courts should rely on the Supreme Court’s free exercise jurisprudence for a definition. Despite congressional advisement, differing methods of statutory interpretation led to a circuit split over the term’s definition. One “plain-meaning” group of circuits defined substantial burden textually, while a second “jurisprudential” group defined it as intended through existing free exercise precedent. In 2015, the Supreme Court exacerbated the split in Holt v. Hobbs. In dicta, the Court wrote that a substantial burden requires an inmate “to engage in conduct that seriously violates [their] religious beliefs.” The plain-meaning circuits adopted this language as a standalone definition, but the jurisprudential circuits held fast to their previous definition. The difference between the two definitions is significant for religious inmates. Under the Holt definition, plain-meaning courts employ a “conduct-focused” analysis for their substantial burden inquiry: Inmates must show that they were forced to “engage in conduct” that seriously violates their beliefs. By contrast, jurisprudential courts maintain a “pressure-focused” analysis, which considers government pressure applied onto the inmate as the harm, rather than the inmate’s resulting conduct. This Note argues that the conduct-focused approach is inappropriate in the penal context. It calls on the Supreme Court to resolve the circuit divide and to further reconcile inherent differences between RLUIPA’s penal and economic contexts. As a remedy, this Note suggests a penal-specific definition of substantial burden that applies a pressure-focused style of analysis, similar to the Supreme Court’s early Sherbert–Thomas framework.
A comparative study of microporous polyolefin silica-based paper and cellulose paper substrates utilizing paper spray-mass spectrometry in drug analysis

This comparative study proposes an efficient technique by employing a synthetic substrate, which is commercially available, for direct, sensitive, efficient and fast analysis in Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry (PS-MS). The Teslin® substrate is a well-known synthetic paper used in the printing industry, and it is made with a single-layered, microporous polyolefin–silica matrix. Currently, filter paper is one of the most commonly used natural cellulose fiber-based substrates in PS-MS. In this study, the analytical performance of Teslin® vs. filter paper was determined by measuring different physical characteristics such as porosity, solvent elution efficiency and sensitivity of both substrates. The key result of electrostatic-spray ionization in the hydrophobic Teslin® substrate was more efficient detection and direct analysis of a smaller amount of drug samples (1 μL) with an improved signal sensitivity of 26.94-fold in comparison to filter paper. It has been demonstrated that the efficiency of reproducibility of the analyte, signal-noise ratio, and constant longer active signal (>2 min) were notably improved with the hydrophobicity of Teslin® paper by eliminating chromatographic effects. The limit of detection for drug analysis was reported to be in the lower μg mL−1 range.
Fused Aromatics to Restore Molecular Packing of Aged Bituminous Materials

This study incorporates computational and laboratory experiments to determine specific interaction mechanisms between conjugated structures (interrupted and continuous conjugates) and selected poly...
Minou Arjomand. Staged: Show Trials, Political Theater, and the Aesthetics of Judgment.

In Staged, Minou Arjomand studies post-World War II trials and trial plays “to uncover how the practice of aesthetic judgment and the institutions in which such judgment takes place might create pu...
Integrated Cold Start of a Boost Converter at 57 mV Using Cross-Coupled Complementary Charge Pumps and Ultra-Low-Voltage Ring Oscillator

This paper demonstrates an on-chip electrical cold-start technique to achieve low-voltage and fast start-up of a boost converter for autonomous thermal energy harvesting from human body heat. An improved charge transfer through high gate-boosted switches by means of cross-coupled complementary charge pumps enables voltage multiplication of the low input voltage during cold start. The start-up voltage multiplier operates with an on-chip clock generated by an ultra-low-voltage ring oscillator. The proposed cold-start scheme implemented in a general-purpose 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS process assists an inductive boost converter to start operation with a minimum input voltage of 57 mV in 135 ms while consuming only 90 nJ of energy from the harvesting source, without using additional sources of energy or additional off-chip components.
General Zuo's counter-insurgency doctrine

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the career of one of the most notable of Chinese state officials in the mid-nineteenth century, General Zuo Zongtang (1812–1885) at a time when the Qing Empire was beset...
A Data Fusion Algorithm for Multiple Applications in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are core components of the Internet of Things paradigm. Traditionally, WSNs are designed for a specific application. However, in the Internet of Things era, the sensing and network infrastructure should be shared by a set of applications from multiple owners. In such a scenario, the massive amount of data produced by the widely spread sensors is processed and analyzed to produce value-added information for the end user. By sharing the same infrastructure with multiple users, the application requirements (for instance, data intervals or the potential events of interest) may not be known a priori. In this chapter, we present a solution to properly integrate data from multiple applications without the knowledge about specific application requirements and uncover useful information from such data. We present Hephaestus, an entropic information fusion algorithm, which uses mean, kurtosis and skewness to apply a heuristic that divides the dataset into multiple features, for multiple applications. In our results, Hephaestus achieved high accuracy while incurring in low overhead for the resource-constrained devices of WSNs.