cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability of a soybean seed-derived vaccine antigen following long-term storage, processing and transport in the absence of a cold chain

BACKGROUND: Soybean seeds are rich in natural protein and are favorable environments for targeted protein expression. Soybeans represent an ideal platform for the production of novel vaccines that, in theory, do not require a cold chain. This studyinvestigatedthestabilityofasoybean-derivedantigenfollowinglong-termstorage,formulation,andshipmentoverseas in the absence of refrigeration. RESULTS:Transgenicseedscanbestoredformorethan4 yearsatambienttemperaturewithnodetectablelossofFanCantigen stability. Conventional processing methods utilizing heat, mechanical extraction and solvent extraction resulted in practical formulations that could be lyophilized, stored as dried milk powder and rehydrated in water without loss of FanC antigen stability.Overseasshipmentoftransgenicseedpowderandsoymilkformulationsintheabsenceofacoldchainhadnoadverse effects on formulations or the FanC antigen. CONCLUSION:Thefeasibilityoflong-termstorage,processingandshipmentoftransgenicsoyproductsintheabsenceofacold chain was demonstrated. Soybeans represent a practical platform for development of novel vaccines to potentially address the worldwide need for vaccines that are cost-effective, easy to formulate and can be manufactured, stored and transported without refrigeration. c � 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Enrichment of polyunsaturated fatty acids from rat retinal pigment epithelium to rod outer segments

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), are enriched in phospholipids of vertebrate rod outer segments (ROS). Retinal ROS can incorporate 22 carbon (C-22) PUFA from the plasma pool where C-20 PUFA are predominant. In this study, we analyzed the fatty acid composition of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and ROS from rats fed different fatty acid supplements to determine whether this enrichment is at the photoreceptor-RPE boundary or the RPE-choriocapillaris boundary. Long Evans rats were raised from birth for 13-14 weeks on a diet supplemented with 10% (wt/wt) hydrogenated coconut oil (COC; 0.2% 18:2n-6, no 18:3n-3), safflower oil (SAF; 73.8% 18:2n-6, 0.1% 18:3n-3), or linseed oil (LIN; 16.4% 18:2n-6, 52.2% 18:3n-3). These diets were chosen because they increased plasma levels of 20:3n-9, 20:4n-6, and 20:5n-3, respectively. These three fatty acids served as metabolic markers. Plasma levels of 22:6n-3 were reduced by the COC and SAF diets. The RPE incorporated 20:...
Effects of acetazolamide on myotonia

Myotonia can occur in the periodic paralyses, particularly the hyperkalemic form. The beneficial response to acetazolamide in hypokalemic and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis has led us to study the effect of acetazolamide in 9 patients with disorders having myotonia as the major problem, 7 with myotonia congenita and 2 with paramyotonia congenita. Patients were studied before acetazolamide administration with glucose and potassium loading tests. All patients had an increase in myotonia with potassium, but no weakness occurred with either test. Acetazolamide treatment decreased myotonia in all patients and in 3 proved the most satisfactory therapy. Side-effects during acetazolamide therapy included paresthesias in 5 patients and renal calculus in 1. Flaccid weakness occurred in a patient with paramyotonia congenita. Acetazolamide treatment was associated in all patients with partially compensated metabolic acidosis and lowering of serum potassium within the normal range. Kaliuresis was also noted during introduction of therapy. Acetazolamide appears to be an acceptable treatment for occasional patients with myotonia who are unresponsive to or intolerant of other therapies.
System Simulation and Cybernetics Affirm Potential of Low Cost Solar Power

PECAN (Photovoltaic Energy Conversion ANalysis) is a highly interactive system of integrated APL functions for evaluating the potential of terrestrial solar energy. Specifically, the system is a deterministic simulator, which translates present and future manufacturing technology parameters into economic and financial terms, using the production unit concept.
Association between chronic acetaminophen exposure and allergic rhinitis in a rat model.

BackgroundSeveral population studies demonstrated an increased risk of allergic rhinitis in patients exposed to acetaminophen. However, no histologic studies have been conducted to assess the relat...
Intersectionality, Reflexivity, and Assessment

Failing to engage diversity leads to “enforcing silence,” a kind of “micro-oppression” that denies the existence of diverse identities and structural oppressions (Asher 2007, 67; Perez Huber 2010). This paper strategizes how to assess student learning about multiple forms of diversity, when teaching techniques stress reflexivity. The paper seeks to understand how pedagogy and assessment can move beyond gauging diversity through the single dimensions of gender, race, class, etc.; and instead view diversity as a multidimensional concept, through the lens of intersectionality. The paper presents a rubric and a focus group script designed to assess learning outcomes in the social sciences, at the program or course level.
Determining the Shear Relaxation Modulus and Constitutive Models for Polyurea and Polyurea-Based Composite Materials from Dynamic Mechanical Testing Data

Polyurea and polyurea-based composite materials are widely used due to their excellent mechanical properties. In order to facilitate large-scale computational studies for this group of materials, a robust and standard method is needed to extract their viscoelastic constitutive parameters. In this study, frequency-domain master curves which cover a wide range of frequencies are developed using the data of dynamic mechanical analysis through time-temperature superposition (TTS). The quality of the master curves is assessed both by Kramers-Kronig relations and by comparing with the ultrasonic wave testing data. Then the time-domain relaxation modulus is obtained by the high-resolution Prony series approximated from the relaxation spectrum. To reduce computational cost, 4 to 8-term Prony series are then fitted from the time-domain relaxation modulus for a limited frequency range of interest. Both the high and low-resolution Prony series are converted back to frequency domain to compare with the master curves developed by TTS and show good agreements. This method is not limited to polyurea and polyurea-based composites and it can be applied to other similar polymer systems as well.
Thromboelastography in the Assessment of Bleeding Following Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease

Background: Perioperative bleeding is common in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. Traditional laboratory tests do not adequately characterize coagulation derangements in patients with bleeding. We sought to establish preoperative thromboelastography parameters in children prior to cardiopulmonary bypass, to compare thromboelastography assessment with standard coagulation parameters postoperatively, and to assess thromboelastography in children with significant hemorrhage. Methods: Sixty patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled in a prospective observational study of perioperative thromboelastography. Thromboelastography measures were obtained preoperatively, intraoperatively after protamine administration, upon admit to the intensive care unit, and when patients were treated for bleeding. Thromboelastography measures were not used for clinical care. Postoperative thromboelastography measurements were compared with the standard coagulation parameters. Intraoperative thromboelastography, po...
Mating Behavior of the Southwestern Corn Borer

Male moths of Diatraea grandiosella (Dyar) were attracted to unmated females but females were not attracted to males. Mating occurred between 11 PM and 2 AM 87% of the time, 8% between 2 and 5 AM, and 5% between 8 and 11 PM. Females less than 25 hours old, attracted 58 %, females 25 to 48 hours old 33% females 49 to 72 hours old 8 %, and females 73 to 96 hours old 1% of the males captured. Adult emergence and a precopulatory male flight were observed.
North American Agelenidae of the Genera Agelenopsis, Calilena, Ritalena and Tortolena

In this paper, we present the first part of a revisional study of North American spiders belonging to the group Ageleneae. It deals with the genera Agelenopsis of Giebel and Calilena, Ritalena and Tortolena , newly proposed for groups of western and southern species. In the case of Agelenopsis , both sexes are described for all species excepting texana and aleenae which are at present known from the males only. Our knowledge of the second genus is less complete and various gaps remain to be filled. In the second paper, which it is hoped will follow at an early date, the remaining genera of the Ageleneae as represented in North America will be covered in a similar manner.
Detailed balance analysis and enhancement of open-circuit voltage in single-nanowire solar cells.

We present a detailed balance analysis of current density–voltage modeling of a single-nanowire solar cell. Our analysis takes into account intrinsic material nonidealities in order to determine the theoretical efficiency limit of the single-nanowire solar cell. The analysis only requires the nanowire’s absorption cross-section over all angles, which can be readily calculated analytically. We show that the behavior of both the current and voltage is due to coherent effects that arise from resonances of the nanowire. In addition, we elucidate the physics of open-circuit voltage enhancement over bulk cells in nanowires, by showing that the enhancement is related to the removal of resonances in the immediate spectral vicinity above the bandgap.
Study of dustproof measures on belt conveying equipments

For solving the dustproof problem of belt conveying equipments, the authors do the research of dustproof measures on belt conveying equipments and produce a dustproof equipment that is closed, decompressing without power and automatically wetting, through field investigation, engineering testing and the analysis of the dust source. The equipment can effectively decrease the dust thickness below the state standard and acquire good dustproof effect after field tryout. It is worthy of popularizing because of its less investment and energy conservation.
Ruggedized handheld device input effectiveness by generation: A time and error study

Abstract The objective of this study is to determine whether ruggedized handheld scanning devices used for industrial purposes should contain one of the most prominent features provided on commercial smart devices: data entry via touchscreen as opposed to a physical keypad. Due to harsh environments, physical keys have been the preferred means of input for rugged handhelds. Advancement in touchscreen technology along with technology expectations brought about by the workforce demographic shift are influencing a notable shift to touch-only input for rugged equipment. Hypotheses expect there to be a difference in usability by worker generation and so 20 Gamers (Millennials) and 20 Baby Boomers performed manual data entry on ruggedized handhelds: one with physical keys and one touchscreen only. All participants took 19% less time on touchscreen than physical keys. Gamers were 31% faster than Boomers on physical keyed devices and 28% faster on touchscreen only. There was no significant difference in errors entered for either device by either age group; however, an 83% increase in permanent errors by Gamers on touchscreen was noted. Transitioning to a rugged device with touch-only input is recommended for industry as it could offer an increase in work productivity. This study presents timely insight into a new tool option for industrial workers. Relevance to industry This research describes the paradigm shift in the ruggedized handheld device market from physical keys to touchscreen only input and identifies real time productivity savings and error risks that can be expected by different generations of workers in the industrial workforce.
Do young adults substitute cigarettes for alcohol? Learning from the master settlement agreement

Although real alcohol prices have plummeted over the last two decades, cigarette prices have increased substantially, especially after the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) in 1998. I study the effect of increases in cigarette prices following the MSA on alcohol consumption among 18- to 24-year olds to determine the economic relationship between cigarettes and alcohol among young adults. I perform analyses at both the conditional mean and quantiles and find that increases in cigarette prices reduce drinking participation among young adults at the extensive margin. However, conditional upon one’s decision to drink, higher cigarette prices increase alcohol consumption. Such a pattern of substitution is concentrated between the 40th and 50th conditional quantiles. The results suggest that caution should be exercised when considering cigarettes and alcohol as complements.
Iterative Exponential Growth Synthesis and Assembly of Uniform Diblock Copolymers

Studies on the phase segregation of unimolecular block copolymers (BCPs) are limited by a lack of reliable, versatile methods for the synthesis of such polymers on the preparative scale. Herein, we describe an advancement of Iterative Exponential Growth (IEG) wherein chiral allyl-based IEG oligomers are subjected to thiol–ene reactions and converted into unimolecular BCPs. With this strategy we have synthesized uniform BCPs with molar masses up to 12.1 kDa on ∼1 g scale. BCPs composed of decane-based side chains and either triethyleneglycol- or thioglycerol-based side chains phase-segregate into hexagonal cylinder morphologies. The assembly is not driven by side-chain crystallization, but is instead the result of amorphous BCP assembly.
Simulation of Beam Modifiers for Monte Carlo Treatment Planing

Beam modifiers, such as jaws, wedges, blocks, compensator, multi-leaf collimator (MLC), electron cutout and bolus need to be considered when the Monte Carlo method is applied to dose calculation in radiation therapy treatment planning. The most accurate method is to simulate particle transport in each beam modifier using the Monte Carlo method. The EGS4 [1] user code BEAM [2] was designed to perform treatment head simulations. Once the phase space data is obtained at the distal face of a beam modifier, another dose calculation tool, like DOSXYZ [3], is needed to perform the dose calculation in a phantom or a patient built from CT data. This two-step method works well but is not convenient. It requires additional time to perform the two-step simulation and large storage space for the temporary phase space data produced after the first step simulation. This is not suitable for routine clinical dose calculations. In this work we have implemented beam modifiers in an EGS4 user code called MCDOSE [4,5].
Circulating miRNAs in Murine Experimental Endometriosis: Decreased Abundance of let-7a

Endometriosis is a chronic disease that commonly affects women of reproductive age; however, diagnosis is often delayed due to lack of appreciation of early signs and symptoms. Development of a noninvasive biomarker would significantly reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated as biomarkers for several diseases including endometriosis. Here, we use an miRNA array to investigate differential miRNA abundance in the serum of mice after induction of experimental endometriosis. let-7a-5p was decreased in the serum of mice with endometriosis. let-7b-5p, c-5p, and e-5p also showed a trend toward downregulation. Serum let-7 family miRNA shows similar dysregulation in endometriosis in both humans and mice. Diminished circulating let-7 implies a complex regulation that potentially involves multiple organs. Further investigation is necessary to determine the functional roles of let-7 miRNAs in this disease.
WHO Recommended Tools to Improve Diagnosis of Active and Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

The successful arrest or cure of tuberculosis (TB) depends largely on early case detection and proper treatment. Currently, several promising diagnostic tools with improved sensitivity and speed are available. Old microscopic and culture based technologies have been revisited and new molecular technologies have been developed. In recent years, World Health Organization (WHO) evaluated and endorsed different TB diagnostic tools and published various policy statements. These policy statements address improvements in smear microscopy, use of commercial and non-commercial culture based techniques and rapid molecular assays. This is the first comprehensive review compiling pros and cons of WHO recommended TB diagnostic tools for effective implementation in TB endemic regions.
Does Treatment Alter the Natural History of Chronic HCV

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a prevalent and expensive condition affecting more than 1.3% of the U.S. population at a cost of over $5.5 billion annually. Because a majority of HCV patients in the United States are thought to have acquired their infection as young adults in the late 1960s and 1970s, the number of patients chronically infected for more than 20 years continues to rise. Due to the coupling of prolonged infection with aging of the HCV cohort, the prevalence of cirrhosis and related complications is expected to increase.
Adjunctive therapy for severe hypoxic pneumonia in HIV-infected and HIV-exposed children in low- and middle-income countries

Lower respiratory infections remain the most common cause of global deaths in children. Children in low-income countries premature neonates and those who are HIV-infected or severely malnourished a...
INTEGRATING MYOCARDIAL STRAIN AND EXERCISE PERFORMANCE INTO PROGNOSTICATION OF HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

Background: A hall mark of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the heterogeneity of phenotype. Although HCM is often characterized by asymmetrical left ventricular hypertrophy, contemporary studies have focused on global assessment of left ventricular longitudinal strain (LS). We assessed whether
Prevalence and Predictors of Herbal Medicine Use Among Adults in the United States.

Objective:To describe the prevalence of herbal medicine use among US adults and to assess factors associated with and predictors of herbal use.Design:The data for herbal products use were collected from the 2015 National Consumer Survey on the Medication Experience and Pharmacists’ Roles. Chi-square test was used to analyz factors associated with herbal use, and predictors of herbal use were assessed with logistic regression analysis.Results:Factors associated with herbal supplement use include age older than 70, having a higher than high school education, using prescription medications or over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and using a mail-order pharmacy.” All Disease state associated significantly with herbal use. Approximately thirty-eight percent of those who used herbals used prescription medications and 42% of those who used herbals also used an OTC medication. The most frequent conditions associated with herbal supplement use were a stroke (48.7%), cancer (43.1%), and arthritis (43.0%). Among herb...
Minimally invasive thermal brain treatment

From a reading of recent neurosurgical literature with a search focus on intracranial applications, a list of thermal agents and related minimally invasive techniques was drawn; this list was supplemented by our own research experience. Thermal agents which are either implemented in clinical practice or undergoing active research include: radioffequency current, laser light, microwave electromagnetic radiation, ultrasound and cryogens. Therapies include percutaneous coagulation of small targets which are less than half of one cubic centimeter as for rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia and pallidotomy for kinetic disorders, as well as interstitial hyperthermia and/or coagulation of large tumors which range up to centimeters in diameter. Implementation of a thermal agent for therapy evolves in a dynamic interaction between the specific technology and an understanding cf the tissue properties governing the agent’s therapeutic effect. Minimally invasive techniques require methods to define, visualize and approach targeted tissue, and to monitor (and thereby control) the extent of the thermal ‘lesion.’ Over the twentieth century, concomitant with advances in neurosurgery and radiology, technologies have been developed with which to approach the twenty-first century in pursuit of these minimally invasive thermal interventions which are, as of yet, new and underdeveloped.
Gauss's law, duality, and the Hamiltonian formulation of U(1) lattice gauge theory

Quantum computers have the potential to explore the vast Hilbert space of entangled states that play an important role in the behavior of strongly interacting matter. This opportunity has motivated reconsidering the Hamiltonian formulation of gauge theories, with a suitable truncation scheme to render the Hilbert space finite-dimensional. Conventional formulations lead to a Hilbert space largely spanned by unphysical states; given the current inability to perform large scale quantum computations, we examine here how one might restrict wave function evolution entirely or mostly to the physical subspace. We consider such constructions for the simplest of these theories containing dynamical gauge bosons---U(1) lattice gauge theory without matter in $d=2$, 3 spatial dimensions---and find that electric-magnetic duality naturally plays an important role. We conclude that this approach is likely to significantly reduce computational overhead in $d=2$ by a reduction of variables and by allowing one to regulate magnetic fluctuations instead of electric. The former advantage does not exist in $d=3$, but the latter might be important for asymptotically-free gauge theories.
An Alternative Solvent Cleanup Method Using a Hydrazine Oxalate Wash Reagent

A hydrazine oxalate [(N2H5)2C2O4] solution was used as an alternative wash method for cleaning 30% tributyl phosphate–70% normal paraffin hydrocarbon solvent. Experimental evidence shows the (N2H5)...
Traditional Management, Quality Management, and Constraints Management: Perceptions of ASQ Members

To date, no empirical studies have investigated the philosophical differences between traditional management (TM), quality management (QM), and constraints management (CM) approaches to business decision-making. Several characteristics seem to separate ..
Substantive Perspectivism Concerning Truth

In this concluding chapter, based on the discussions in the previous chapters, I elaborate SPT, i.e., substantive perspectivist theory, and argue for its adequacy in regard to its several theoretical features. However, all the previous discussions, explicitly or implicitly, directly or indirectly, constitute surrounding explanatory remarks on the adequacy of SPT either in regard to its partial contents or in view of its due backgrounds.
Ventricular Fibrillation and Sudden Cardiac Death

This final chapter is devoted to a discussion of the broad topic of sudden cardiac death. There are many causes of sudden death including arrhythmia, trauma, intracranial vascular catastrophes, and acute thrombosis or embolism involving the heart or lungs. The present discussion will be restricted to the arrhythmic causes of sudden cardiac death, primarily ventricular fibrillation (Figure 17-1). Not all episodes of ventricular fibrillation lead to death. Ventricular fibrillation may, as with atrial fibrillation, be non-sustained (self-terminating), or the patient may be rescued by bystanders or medical personnel by receiving a direct current countershock before irreversible cellular or organ damage intervenes. It is clear, however, that unlike monomorphic ventricular tachycardia which, depending upon its rate, may continue for many minutes, hours or even days without the patient developing significant hemodynamic compromise, sustained ventricular fibrillation will inevitably lead to death within minutes unless it is terminated. Although some cases of sudden arrhythmic death have been attributed to asystole or electromechanical dissociation, these often represent merely the natural evolution of untreated ventricular fibrillation.
Can the use of probiotics reduce the incidence of nosocomial Clostridium difficile infection in 60 years or older patients

Background:Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is a common side effect of antibiotic use. The pathogenesis of AAD may be mediated by disruption of the host’s normal flora resulting in overgrowth o...
What Water Are You Drinking? Infrastructure, Perception and the “Raw Water” Trend

Raw water sparked as a trend around January 2018, and media coverage of the product swept through my newsfeed. Raw water is water that has not been filtered, is untreated, and has not undergone ste...
The Effect of Promoting Savings on Informal Risk-Sharing: Experimental Evidence from Vulnerable Women in Kenya

An increase in savings can lead to substitution away from informal risk-sharing arrangements (IRSAs), which can reduce the capacity to manage risk. We conduct a field experiment that promoted mobile bank savings among vulnerable women in Kenya. The savings promotion increased mobile bank savings and reduced risk sharing. However, we show that reduced risk sharing did not reduce the capacity to manage risk. Promoting savings directly improved the ability of women to cope with negative shocks and had no adverse spillover effects on the untreated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Machine-Learning Informed Representations for Grain Boundary Structures

The atomic structure of grain boundaries plays a defining but poorly understood role in the properties they exhibit. Due to the complex nature of these structures, machine learning is a natural tool for extracting meaningful relationships and new physical insight. We apply a new structural representation, called the scattering transform, that uses wavelet-based convolutional neural networks to characterize the complete three-dimensional atomic structure of a grain boundary. The machine learning to predict GB energy, mobility, and shear coupling using the scattering transform representation is compared and contrasted with learning using a smooth overlap of atomic positions (SOAP) based representation. While predictions using the scattering transform are not as good as those of SOAP, other factors suggest that the scattering transform may yet play an important role in GB structure learning. These factors include the ability of the scattering transform to learn well on larger datasets, in a process similar to deep learning, as well as their ability to provide physically interpretable information about what aspects of the GB structure contribute to the learning through an inverse scattering transform.
Acute Soy Supplementation Improves 20-km Time Trial Performance, Power, and Speed.

INTRODUCTION Isoflavones, a chemical class of phytoestrogens found in soybeans and soy products, may have biological functions similar to estradiol. After binding with ERβ or perhaps independently of estrogen receptors, isoflavones may augment vascular endothelial relaxation, contributing to improved limb blood flow. PURPOSE To determine if acute fermented soy extract supplementation influences 20-km time trial cycling performance and cardiac hemodynamics compared with a placebo. METHODS Subjects included 25 cyclists and triathletes (31 ± 8 yr, V˙O2peak: 55.1 ± 8.4 mL·kg·min). Each subject completed a V˙O2peak assessment, familiarization, and two 20-km time trials in randomized order after ingestion of a fermented soy extract supplement or placebo. The fermented soy extract consisted of 30 g powdered supplement in 16 fl. ounces of water. The placebo contained the same quantities of organic cocoa powder and water. Each trial consisted of 60 min of rest, 30 min at 55% Wpeak, and a self-paced 20-km time trial. RESULTS Soy supplementation elicited a faster time to 20-km completion (-0.22 ± 0.51 min; -13 s), lower average HR (-5 ± 7 bpm), and significantly greater power (7 ± 3 W) and speed (0.42 ± 0.16 km·h) during the last 5 km of the time trial compared with placebo. Analysis of the results by relative fitness level (<57 vs ≥ 57 mL⋅kg⋅min) indicated that those with a higher level of fitness reaped the largest performance improvement alongside a reduced HR (-5 ± 7 bpm). CONCLUSIONS Ingestion of a fermented soy extract supplement improved sprint-distance performance through improvements in both power and speed. For those with great aerobic fitness, soy supplementation may help to decrease cardiac demand alongside performance improvement.
What We Eat in America, NHANES 2007–2008: comparing day 1 and day 2 dietary data

Dietary data for What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2008 were analyzed to investigate differences in day 1 and day 2 intakes. USDA’s Automated Multiple-Pa...
A Gendered Approach to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Over the past ten years, the world has been watching the tragedies of Syrian refugees fleeing from the civil war to seek a better future for themselves and their loved ones. A Gendered Approach to ...
Experimental study for critical heat flux in 2x2 rod bundles at high pressure conditions

Abstract Critical heat flux (CHF) phenomena has been a topic of study for over fifty years yet remains a serious concern across industries and especially in water-cooled nuclear reactor design. CHF data in the high-pressure range is limited, and the effects of bundle geometry and non-uniform heat flux profile are challenging to quantify. In this study, CHF experiments were performed in upward flowing water in a 2 × 2 rod bundle with a cosine profile heat flux. Data were collected between 16.5 and 18 MPa at two mass flux conditions with three inlet subcooling conditions. Under these conditions, average CHF was shown to decrease with increasing pressure. However, pressure had less of an effect than decreasing the inlet subcooling or the mass flux, both of which reduce the CHF value considerably. Interestingly, correlations that have been developed for lower pressure continued to predict CHF occurrences with moderate accuracy outside their ranges of validity. Nearly all predicted values were within 20% of experimental values.
Older adults with cancer and their caregivers - current landscape and future directions for clinical care

Despite substantial improvements in the outcomes of patients with cancer over the past two decades, older adults (aged ≥65 years) with cancer are a rapidly increasing population and continue to have worse outcomes than their younger counterparts. Managing cancer in this population can be challenging because of competing health and ageing-related conditions that can influence treatment decision-making and affect outcomes. Geriatric screening tools and comprehensive geriatric assessment can help to identify patients who are most at risk of poor outcomes from cancer treatment and to better allocate treatment for these patients. The use of evidence-based management strategies to optimize geriatric conditions can improve communication and satisfaction between physicians, patients and caregivers as well as clinical outcomes in this population. Clinical trials are currently underway to further determine the effect of geriatric assessment combined with management interventions on cancer outcomes as well as the predictive value of geriatric assessment in the context of treatment with contemporary systemic therapies such as immunotherapies and targeted therapies. In this Review, we summarize the unique challenges of treating older adults with cancer and describe the current guidelines as well as investigational studies underway to improve the outcomes of these patients.
On The Legitimacy of Accounting Standards

While it is widely agreed upon that accounting standards must be legitimate, ‘legitimacy’ is not well-defined. Accordingly, I model three widely accepted hallmarks of legitimacy: (1) an increasing likelihood that independent experts with the same facts will arrive at the same classification (objectivity), (2) an increasing similarity of otherwise identically classified transactions (financial transparency) and (3) promoting management’s stewardship (governance) while providing financial statement users with a better understanding of that stewardship (governance transparency). The results indicate that factors commonly associated with increased enforcement (e.g., career concerns, securities regulation, or courts) unambiguously increase all three aspects of legitimacy, while specifying an accounting standard in more detail may have little or no effect on objectivity, or have ambiguous effects on financial transparency. Surprisingly, the model demonstrates that the level of governance and governance transparency may change in opposite directions as a standard’s specificity changes.
Low-Cost Haptic Force Needle Insertion Simulator With Advanced Personalized Learning System:

Although needle insertion remains a crucial part of medicine practice, there still exists a gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world practice with live patients. To help bridge this gap, th...
Perilous choices: landscapes of fear for adult birds reduces nestling condition across an urban gradient

Predator fear effects influence reproductive outcomes in many species. In non-urban systems, passerines often respond to predator cues by reducing parental investment, resulting in smaller and lighter nestlings. Since trophic interactions in urban areas are highly altered, it is unclear how passerines respond to fear effects in human-altered landscapes. Nestlings of passerines in urban areas also tend to be smaller and lighter than their rural counterparts and are often exposed to high densities of potential predators yet experience lower per capita predation—the predation paradox. We suggest fear effects in urban habitats could be a significant mechanism influencing nestling condition in birds, despite lowered predation rates. We manipulated exposure of nesting birds to adult-consuming predator risk in residential yards across a gradient of urbanization to determine the relative influence of urbanization and fear on nestling condition. We found nestlings had reduced mass in nests exposed to predator playbacks as well as in more urban areas. Despite lower per capita predation rates in urban areas, fear effects from increased predator densities may influence passerine fitness through reduced nestling condition. As urban development expands, biodiversity conservation hinges on a deeper mechanistic understanding of how urbanization affects reproductive outcomes.
Assessment of enteric viruses during a hepatitis outbreak in Detroit MI using wastewater surveillance and metagenomic analysis.

AIMS This study investigates enteric viruses in wastewater during an outbreak of acute hepatitis caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) in a large metropolitan area. Emphasis is given to caliciviruses and HAV. METHODS AND RESULTS Metagenomic analysis was performed to characterize enteric viruses excreted by the population of Detroit MI, during a hepatitis A outbreak that occurred in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, HAV, norovirus GII, and sapovirus were quantified, using qPCR, in 54 untreated wastewater samples collected over the course of 4 months. Correlation analysis was performed to identify associations between the number of disease cases and HAV concentrations in wastewater. HAV obtained the highest relative abundance among other enteric viruses detected in wastewater metagenomes. Metagenomic analysis also detected several other enteric viruses including astrovirus, enterovirus and hepatitis E virus. Average sapovirus concentrations of 1·36 × 106 gc l-1 were significantly greater than norovirus GII concentrations (2·94 × 104 gc l-1 ). Additionally, norovirus GI and GII along with sapovirus GI.1 were detected using metagenomics. HAV loads in wastewater were significantly correlated with the number of disease cases reported 1 week after wastewater sampling. CONCLUSIONS Surveying untreated wastewater is a promising method for detecting early signs of hepatitis A outbreaks and for routine environmental monitoring of enteric viruses circulating in the environment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Authors demonstrate the usefulness of metagenomics for genogrouping and enteric viral surveillance.
Currency Risk and Capital Accumulation

The "Lucas Paradox" states that there are large and persistent differences in capital-output ratios across countries, suggesting capital is not flowing to countries where it is relatively scarce. In the data, capital-output ratios vary a lot cross-sectionally even within developed countries, and they are negatively correlated with currency risk premia and risk-free rates. To rationalize these patterns, I build a quantitative multi-country model of capital accumulation with external habit and heterogeneous exposures to a global productivity shock. I show that currency risk in this model generates cross-country variations in risk-free rates and capital-output ratios that are consistent with the data. I estimate the model using GDP data from countries issuing the G10 currencies and find two main results: (1) The heterogenous loadings that I extract from GDP data alone are highly correlated with capital-output ratios; and (2) when I feed the estimated loadings to the model, model-generated capital-output ratios account for roughly 55% of the cross-country variation in the data. I conclude that variation in currency risk and therefore currency risk premia have significant effects on the real economy.
Learning from the crowd while mapping to LOINC

Objective To describe the perspectives of Regenstrief LOINC Mapping Assistant (RELMA) users before and after the deployment of Community Mapping features, characterize the usage of these new features, and analyze the quality of mappings submitted to the community mapping repository. Methods We evaluated Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) community members’ perceptions about new “wisdom of the crowd” information and how they used the new RELMA features. We conducted a pre-launch survey to capture users’ perceptions of the proposed functionality of these new features; monitored how the new features and data available via those features were accessed; conducted a follow-up survey about the use of RELMA with the Community Mapping features; and analyzed community mappings using automated methods to detect potential errors. Results Despite general satisfaction with RELMA, nearly 80% of 155 respondents to our pre-launch survey indicated that having information on how often other users had mapped to a particular LOINC term would be helpful. During the study period, 200 participants logged into the RELMA Community Mapping features an average of 610 times per month and viewed the mapping detail pages a total of 6686 times. Fifty respondents (25%) completed our post-launch survey, and those who accessed the Community Mapping features unanimously indicated that they were useful. Overall, 95.3% of the submitted mappings passed our automated validation checks. Conclusion When information about other institutions’ mappings was made available, study participants who accessed it agreed that it was useful and informed their mapping choices. Our findings suggest that a crowd-sourced repository of mappings is valuable to users who are mapping local terms to LOINC terms.
Cell division without FtsZ – a variety of redundant mechanisms

Until 1998 it looked like all bacteria and archaea used a universal cytokinetic machine based on FtsZ. A dozen completely sequenced bacterial genomes all had an ftsZ gene, as did the several sequenced archaeal genomes. Then in 1998-99 two species of Chlamydia were sequenced and found to have no ftsZ (Stephens et al., 1998, Kalman et al., 1999). Enthusiasts of FtsZ could hold out some hope for its primacy by thinking that these obligate parasites might use some host machinery for division. But the next year the genome of Aeropyrum pernix, a free living thermophilic archeon, was found to be without ftsZ (Kawarabayasi et al., 1999). Additional sequences suggested that the entire kingdom of Crenarchaea managed life and cell division without FtsZ. Among the bacteria the following are now known to have no ftsZ: the phylum Planctomycetes (Pilhofer et al., 2008), which is related to Chlamydiae but is free-living; Calyptogena okutanii (Kuwahara et al., 2007) and Carsonella ruddi (Nakabachi et al., 2006), both intracellular symbionts; Ureaplasma urealiticum (Glass et al., 2000), and Mycoplasma mobile (Jaffe et al., 2004). Since all of these prokaryotes divide, there must be mechanisms for cell division that are not based on FtsZ.
Survival of Listeria monocytogenes in experimentally infected mice.

Physiological saline was found to be very detrimental to the viability of Listeria monocytogenes. The LD50 value was substantially reduced when peptone was used as the suspending fluid rather than saline. Normal splenic tissue was not inhibitory to the survival of Listeria. In experimentally infected mice, L. monocytogenes survived for 8 days in the peritoneal cavity and for at least 11 days in the spleen.
Clinical and physiologic implications of increased fetal oxygen consumption.

Abstract In an effort to determine if placental diffusion reserves exceed fetal oxygen requirements we artifically increased fetal O 2 consumption by infusing norepinephrine (NE) or triiodothyronine (T 3 ) into 24 chronically catheterized fetal lambs. After 50 minutes of NE infusion, fetal O 2 consumption rose 25%; after 5 days of T 3 infusion, it increased 28%. In both instances there was a redistribution of organ blood flows, but placental diffusing capacity and the fetal venous and arterial blood gas values remained essentially unchanged. We concluded that both NE and T 3 infusion can result in an increased rate of fetal metabolism with increased oxygen consumption and that the placental reserve for O 2 diffusion exceeds normal oxygen requirements.
A very practical algorithm for the two-paths problem in 3-connected planar graphs

A linear-time algorithm that does not need a planar embedding is presented for the problem of computing two vertex-disjoint paths, each with prescribed endpoints, in an undirected 3-connected planar graph.
Sex‐biased marine survival and growth in a population of coho salmon

Examination of historical records for coho salmon in Big Beef Creek, in western Washington, U.S.A., indicated that more adult males than females returned to spawn, and that the mean length of the females exceeded that of males. Sex-biased survival and faster growth among females are unusual among salmonids but precedented in some other coho salmon populations. To help determine the stage of life at which sex-biased mortality might occur, the sex-linked GH-ψH pseudogene was used to determine the sex of smolts emigrating from Big Beef Creek in 1995–1997. In each of the 3 years the sex ratio was indistinguishable from 50:50, indicating similar survival rates in fresh water, and implying that the male and female coho salmon follow different foraging strategies when they are at sea. The female strategy apparently results in greater mortality, but benefits survivors with greater size. The male strategy appears to allow greater survival at the cost of reduced size.
Association of hypogonadism and estradiol levels with bone mineral density in elderly men from the Framingham study.

In elderly men, hypogonadism related to aging has little influence on bone mineral density, but serum estradiol levels have a strong and positive association with this measure.
A Probabilistic Secondary Flow System Design Process for Gas Turbine Engines

Gas turbine engine secondary flow systems are sensitive to variation in part dimensions, clearances, flow coefficients, swirl ratios, head loss factors, tolerances, boundary conditions, etc. This paper reveals a process and software application which embodies the process wherein both offer a measurable contribution to secondary airflow system reliability. The probabilistic methodology is empirically validated by (1) applying it to an engine component that failed in a validation test, and (2) demonstrating that a multiple order sensitivity analysis performed during detailed design was unable to detect a failure mode while a probabilistic analysis revealed a small yet significant risk of catastrophic failure. Therefore, a secondary flow analyst does not have a justifiable reason to be highly confident of a design qualified by a first, second, or higher order sensitivity analysis. The last example empirically demonstrates compatibility of optimization techniques with probabilistic methods (as part of the process) to quantify the likelihood of failure and reveal an optimized design space of key characteristics where risk is eliminated and the effects of variation are controlled. Trade study analysis is more valuable if it includes a quantitative evaluation of the effects of variation on alternate designs and the response to failure modes. A key feature of the software application is a relational database with the capability to configure and effectively manage flow networks in many forms including, a status model, failure modes of the status model, multiple alternative designs as well as failure modes specific to an alternative design.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Newsgroups, activist publics, and corporate apologia: The case of Intel and its Pentium chip

Abstract Historically, the study of an organization’s publics has been primarily a research tool to profile the different stakeholders with whom organizations regularly come into contact. Using the case of the flawed Intel Pentium chip, this study applied Grunig’s theory of publics to the phenomenon of Internet newsgroups arguing that technology facilitates the rapid movement of publics from the theoretical construct stage to the active stage. This creates an environment in which these publics become communities of individuals who behave in ways that have a tangible effect on companies. Consequently, organizations are urged to maintain a presence on the Internet to monitor potentially damaging rumors as well as to provide a vehicle for feedback during crisis management. Keith Michael Hearit is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Western Michigan University.
Tatp-mediated intracellular delivery of pharmaceutical nanocarriers.

CPPs (cell-penetrating peptides), including Tatp (transactivator of transcription peptide), have been successfully used for intracellular delivery of a wide variety of cargoes including various nanoparticulate pharmaceutical carriers such as liposomes, micelles and nanoparticles. Here, we will consider the major results obtained in this area with emphasis on Tatp-mediated delivery of liposomes and various transfection vectors. We will also address the development of ‘smart’ stimuli-sensitive nanocarriers, where the cell-penetrating function can only be activated when the nanocarrier is inside the biological target, thus minimizing the interaction with non-target cells.