cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiscale effects and capillary interactions in functional biomimetic surfaces for energy conversion and green engineering

Biological surfaces (plant leaves, lizard and insect attachment pads, fish scales, etc.) have remarkable properties due to their hierarchical structure. This structure is a consequence of the hierarchical organization of biological tissues. The hierarchical organization of the surfaces allows plants and creatures to adapt to energy dissipation and transition mechanisms with various characteristic scale lengths. At the same time, an addition of a micro-/nanoscale hierarchical level, for example of surface roughness, can change qualitatively the properties of a system and introduce multiple equilibriums, instability and dissipation. Thus, small roughness has a large effect. In particular, a small change of surface roughness can lead to a large change in the capillary force. The capillary effects are crucial for small-scale applications. Multiscale organization of the biomimetic surfaces and their adaptation to capillary effects make them suitable for applications using new principles of energy transition (e.g. capillary engines) and environment-friendly technologies (e.g. self-cleaning oleophobic surfaces).
Not Quite as Grown-Up as We Like to Think Parallels Between Cognition in Childhood and Adulthood

Greater continuity in cognition between children and adults may exist than is usually appreciated. It was thought that after 3 to 4 years of age, the problem in switching on the dimensional-change card-sort task disappears. We show here, however, that if speed is used as the dependent measure, the effect of the first dimension is evident even in adults. Adults, like preschoolers, show difficulty in switching from a block of sorting by color or shape to a block of sorting by the other dimension. Notably, performance throughout the session was affected by the first dimension by which stimuli were sorted. We hypothesize that perhaps adults never fully outgrow any of the cognitive and perceptual biases of infancy and early childhood. Other examples of such biases that appear to still be present in adults are discussed. Conversely, the assumption that the optimal dependent measure for adults is the most sensitive measure for children is questioned.
SiteCity: a semi-automated site modelling system

This paper presents SiteCity, a semi-automated building extraction system integrating photogrammetry, geometric constraints and image understanding algorithms. Existing automated building extraction systems produce mixed results and it is clear that human intervention is required to correct mistakes from fully automated systems. SiteCity gives human operators the ability to construct and manipulate three dimensional building objects using multiple images. Image understanding algorithms are integrated into SiteCity to assist users. The automated processes in SiteCity use user-delineated roof boundaries as cues, and attempt to locate the floor of a building and match the building object in other images. In addition, photogrammetric cues are used to assist automated processes. These automated processes are described and their performance is evaluated, illustrating that automated processes in SiteCity produce comparable performance to that of human subjects.
Toward technologies that support family reflections on health

Previous research has explored how technology can motivate healthy living in social groups such as friends and coworkers. However, little research has focused on the implications of collecting, sharing, and reflecting upon health information within families. To explore this domain, we conducted a study that consisted of a week-long journaling activity followed by semi-structured interviews and formative design activities with 15 families (66 people). We identified four areas in which these practices are unique in a family context. Based on these findings we propose preliminary considerations for technologies that effectively support family reflections on health data.
Free-Air Treatment for Mental Patients: The Deinstitutionalization Debate of the Nineteenth Century

The development of ideas on deinstitutionalization of mental patients has a much longer history in the United States than is commonly acknowledged in the sociological literature. The present analysis of publications in the American Journal of Insanity from 1844 to 1900 corrects this research gap by examining the nineteenth-century deinstitutionalization discourse within American psychiatry. The role of the oldest community care program originating in Gheel, Belgium, in promoting alternative modes of treatment in the United States is emphasized, and the relevance of these findings for community mental health care and existing sociological work on deinstitutionalization is discussed.
Total lymphoid irradiation as an immunosuppressive agent for transplantation and the treatment of ‘Autoimmune’ disease: A review

Total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) is a powerful immunosuppressive agent. This immunosuppression has the potential for clinical application in certain selected situations. In this review, the immunological changes produced by TLI and its potential applications in organ transplantation and the treatment of certain 'autoimmune' diseases are discussed.
Mnikr: reputation construction through human trading of distributed social identities

Reputation forms an important part of how we come to trust people in face-to-face interactions, and thus situations involving trust online have come to realize that reputation is an important characteristic in the digital age. We propose a new holistic and context-free approach to quantifying reputation on the Internet, based upon a stock exchange where users can trade reputation shares of other users and obtain goodwill dividends, including new algorithms for identifying and creating digital identities not inherently tied to a user's personally identifiable information. We developed such a system, named Mnikr, and deployed our system on the Internet for a month to demonstrate and evaluate this approach. Our results suggest that existing public data sources can indeed be used to create an overarching social network whose utility is greater than its number of users would indicate, and in which reputation measurements are generated that are actually indicative of each user's standing in society.
The Convergence of Transportation, Information Technology, and Visitor Experience at Acadia National Park

In 2002, as part of the Acadia National Park Field Operational Test, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components were deployed to help visitors travel around Mount Desert Island and in Acadia National Park. Real-time travel information was collected and integrated with Island Explorer buses and disseminated to visitors via an automated annunciator that transmitted an audio message and displayed the next bus stop on an electronic sign within the bus. Also, electronic signs displayed real-time departure times of the next Island Explorer bus at bus stops. Visitors could also obtain real-time parking conditions at two popular destinations in the park. Using data from surveys of visitors from July 29, 2002, to September 1, 2002, this article describes visit and visitor characteristics and their experiences using the traveler information. The implications of ITS as a tool for addressing transportation problems and enhancing visitor experience with the park are discussed.
The unrealized promise of infant statistical word–referent learning

Recent theory and experiments offer a new solution regarding how infant learners may break into word learning by using cross-situational statistics to find the underlying word–referent mappings. Computational models demonstrate the in-principle plausibility of this statistical learning solution and experimental evidence shows that infants can aggregate and make statistically appropriate decisions from word–referent co-occurrence data. We review these contributions and then identify the gaps in current knowledge that prevent a confident conclusion about whether cross-situational learning is the mechanism through which infants break into word learning. We propose an agenda to address that gap that focuses on detailing the statistics in the learning environment and the cognitive processes that make use of those statistics.
Adaptive design clinical trials and trial logistics models in CNS drug development

In central nervous system therapeutic areas, there are general concerns with establishing efficacy thought to be sources of high attrition rate in drug development. For instance, efficacy endpoints are often subjective and highly variable. There is a lack of robust or operational biomarkers to substitute for soft endpoints. In addition, animal models are generally poor, unreliable or unpredictive. To increase the probability of success in central nervous system drug development program, adaptive design has been considered as an alternative designs that provides flexibility to the conventional fixed designs and has been viewed to have the potential to improve the efficiency in drug development processes. In addition, successful implementation of an adaptive design trial relies on establishment of a trustworthy logistics model that ensures integrity of the trial conduct. In accordance with the spirit of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration adaptive design draft guidance document recently released, this paper enlists the critical considerations from both methodological aspects and regulatory aspects in reviewing an adaptive design proposal and discusses two general types of adaptations, sample size planning and re-estimation, and two-stage adaptive design. Literature examples of adaptive designs in central nervous system are used to highlight the principles laid out in the U.S. FDA draft guidance. Four logistics models seen in regulatory adaptive design applications are introduced. In general, complex adaptive designs require simulation studies to access the design performance. For an adequate and well-controlled clinical trial, if a Learn-and-Confirm adaptive selection approach is considered, the study-wise type I error rate should be adhered to. However, it is controversial to use the simulated type I error rate to address a strong control of the study-wise type I error rate.
Novel, High-Yield Red Blood Cell Production Methods from CD34-Positive Cells Derived from Human Embryonic Stem, Yolk Sac, Fetal Liver, Cord Blood, and Peripheral Blood

The current supply of red blood cells expressing rare blood groups is not sufficient to cover all the existing transfusion needs for chronically transfused patients, such as sickle cell disease homozygous carriers, because of alloimmunization. In vitro production of cultured red blood cells is slowly emerging as a possible complement to the existing collection-based red blood cell procurement system. The yield of cultured red blood cells can theoretically be maximized by amplifying the stem, progenitor, or precursor compartment. Here, we combined methods designed to expand these three compartments to optimize the yield of cultured red blood cells and found that exposing CD34+ cells to a short pulse of cytokines favorable for erythroid differentiation prior to stem cell expansion followed by progenitor expansion produced the highest yield of erythroid cells. This novel serum-free red blood cell production protocol was efficient on CD34+ cells derived from human embryonic stem cells, 6–8-week yolk sacs, 16–18-week fetal livers, cord blood, and peripheral blood. The yields of cells obtained with these new protocols were larger by an order of magnitude than the yields observed previously. Globin expression analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that these expansion protocols generally yielded red blood cells that expressed a globin profile similar to that expected for the developmental age of the CD34+ cells.
Consumer Response to a Food Safety Shock: The 2006 Food-Borne Illness Outbreak of E. coli O157: H7 Linked to Spinach

O157:H7 Linked to Spinach Carlos Arnade, Linda Calvin, and Fred Kuchler Economic Research Service, USDA carnade@ers.usda.gov lcalvin@ers.usda.gov fkuchler@ers.usda.gov Selected Paper prepared for presentation at the American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, July 27-29, 2008
Control of a pneumatically actuated, fully inflatable, fabric-based, humanoid robot

Although humanoid robots take the form of humans, these robots often approach manipulating the world in a very different way than humans. For example, many humanoid robots require precise position control and geometric models to interact successfully with the world. Humanoid robots also often avoid making contact with the world unless the contact can be well modeled. In this work, we present preliminary results on soft robot platforms that can change the way humanoid robots interact with humans and human environments. We present preliminary control methods and testing on fully inflatable, pneumatically actuated, soft robots. We first show that model predictive control (MPC) and linear quadratic regulation (LQR) are sufficient for position control of a single joint with one degree of freedom. We also demonstrate MPC and LQR as methods of control for an inflatable humanoid robot on one arm using five degrees of freedom. Our initial development for multi-joint control is based on the methods developed for the single degree of freedom platform. Using the MPC controller with joint space commands, a task of picking up a board from a chair and placing it in a box was successful eight out of ten times. Our models and control methods will allow for a new type of humanoid robots that are well suited to interacting more safely and naturally in human environments.
Sequential Extraction of Petroleum Asphaltenes with Magnesium Oxide: A Method To Reduce Complexity and Improve Heteroatom Identity

Sequential extraction of an asphaltene sample with magnesium oxide nanoparticles provides an approach to remove selectively molecules from a complex fraction. This method of extraction relies, in part, on adsorption preferences for differing heteroatoms to leave weakly adsorbing sample constituents in a toluene solution. The extracted sample exhibits reduced complexity enabling more reliable identification of the remaining molecules in solution. Mass spectrometry (MS) data indicate a general bias for preferential removal of higher molecular weight species. This is supported by a shift in the average m/z ratio of the asphaltene distribution to lower m/z, as well as a decrease in the intensity observed for higher m/z ion signals, for higher extraction numbers. UV–vis absorption data corroborate MS data to provide an appreciable visual means to quantify sample uptake after several sequential extraction steps with MgO. Furthermore, both UV and MS data indicate a point of diminishing returns, after which subse...
Successful Application of Closed‐Loop Artificial Pancreas Therapy After Islet Autotransplantation

Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) may relieve the pain of chronic pancreatitis while avoiding postsurgical diabetes. Minimizing hyperglycemia after TPIAT limits beta cell apoptosis during islet engraftment. Closed-loop (CL) therapy combining an insulin pump with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) has not been investigated previously in islet transplant recipients. Our objective was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of CL therapy to maintain glucose profiles close to normoglycemia following TPIAT. Fourteen adult subjects (36% male; aged 35.9 ± 11.4 years) were randomized to subcutaneous insulin via CL pump (n = 7) or multiple daily injections with blinded CGM (n = 7) for 72 h at transition from intravenous to subcutaneous insulin. Mean serum glucose values were significantly lower in the CL pump group than in the control group (111 ± 4 vs. 130 ± 13 mg/dL; p = 0.003) without increased risk of hypoglycemia (percentage of time <70 mg/dL: CL pump 1.9%, control 4.8%; p = 0.46). Results from this pilot study suggest that CL therapy is superior to conventional therapy in maintaining euglycemia without increased hypoglycemia. This technology shows significant promise to safely maintain euglycemic targets during the period of islet engraftment following islet transplantation.
Two-Dimensional Gene Scanning

The large size of many human genes, in combination with the frequent occurrence of many different mutations over the entire gene, severely limits direct diagnosis. Since gene diagnosis by sequencing on a large scale is not yet cost-effective, other methods such as the analysis of single-strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCP), heteroduplex analysis, and analysis by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) are presently being employed (for a review, see Cotton, 1993; see also elsewhere in this volume). While these systems are very useful, they are difficult to adapt for large-scale analyses and most of them are restricted in their detection rates. Moreover, all currently available methods lack uniformity and standardization.
Insights into the substrate specificity of the MutT pyrophosphohydrolase using structural analogues of 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine nucleotide

The bacterial repair enzyme MutT hydrolyzes the damaged nucleotide OdGTP (the 5'-triphosphate derivative of 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine; OdG), which is a known mutagen and has been linked to antibacterial action. Previous work has indicated important roles for the C8-oxygen, N7-hydrogen, and C2-exocyclic amine during OdGTP recognition by MutT. In order to gain a more nuanced understanding of the contribution of these three sites to the overall activity of MutT, we determined the reaction parameters for dGTP, OdGTP, and nine of their analogues using steady state kinetics. Our results indicate that overall high reaction efficiencies can be achieved despite altering any one of these sites. However, altering two or more sites leads to a significant decrease in efficiency. The data also suggest that, similar to another bacterial OdG repair enzyme, MutM, a specific carbonyl in the enzyme can not only promote activity by forming an active site hydrogen bond with the N7-hydrogen of OdGTP, but can also hinder activity through electrostatic repulsion with the N7-lone pair of dGTP.
Growth and Magnetic Properties of La0.65Pb0.35MnO3 Films

We have successfully grown La0.65PbO.35MnO3 thin films by a RF magnetron sputtering method onto (100) LaAlO3 single crystal substrates. X-ray diffraction measurements are consistent with a (100) cubic orientation of the films. The fourfold symmetry showed by LEED(Low Energy Electron Diffraction) patterns indicate that the films have surface order. STM(Scanning Tunneling Microscopy) measurements indicate that the surface of the films were smooth, with approximate 5 nm roughness. XPS (X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy) shows that the surface defect density in the films is comparatively low. The bulk magnetization of the films at 6K in 1 T magnetic field reached 77 emu/g and a Curie temperature near 354 K, close to maximum resistivity. A negative magnetoresistance of 47% was observed at 320K in 5.5 T magnetic field.
Absolute Configuration of Lactams and Oxazolidinones Using Kinetic Resolution Catalysts

A simple method for determining the absolute configuration of oxazolidinones, lactams, and their derivatives using kinetic resolution catalysts is described. The optically pure substrates were acylated using the (S)-HBTM and the (R)-HBTM catalyst, and the faster reaction was determined. An empirical mnemonic was developed for the assignment of the absolute configuration based on the fast-reacting catalyst.
THE EFFECTS OF A SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT MOSAIC ON A SMALL MAMMAL COMMUNITY

Small herbivorous mammals living in successional patchy environments may be affected by both patch size variations and successional changes. If patch size affects densities of residents then larger patches should have higher densities compared to smaller patches because larger patches often have greater habitat diversity and lesser chances of stochastic events destroying the population. If patch size affects length of time animals spend on patches (persistence rates) then smaller patches should have lower persistence rates compared to larger patches because smaller patches contain fewer resources. Larger animals may be constrained by body size, as well as population size, to reside only on the larger patches because smaller patches do not contain enough resources. If successional changes affect resident animals that are host specific on colonizing plant species, then the effects may be noticeable immediately following field abandonment because plant species replacement rates are most rapid then. Four small mammal species were included: Sigmodon hispidus, Reithrodontomys mega- lotis, Microtus ochrogaster, and Peromyscus maniculatus. The field was divided into patches that varied in area by two orders of magnitude with patches of each size treatment placed in each section of the field. Patch size effects on densities and persistence rates of the four mammal species were tested with analyses of variance. Plant species were grouped according to seven life history traits so as to include relative percent cover of most plant species. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify which variables (patch size, field sections, and percent relative cover) significantly explained variations in small mammal densities. Effects of patch size on animal densities and persistence rates varied among animal species. The largest species, Sigmodon hispidus, was never found on the smallest patches, but densities of Reithrodontomys megalotis, Microtus ochrogaster, and Peromyscus manicu- latus were often highest on the smallest patches. Animal density variations were often significantly explained by patch size using multiple regression analyses (P ? .001). However, lack of consistent trends with respect to the other independent variables included in the equations and variable R2 values suggested that other, unmeasured, variables may have influenced the results. Persistence rates of the three species were often highest on the largest patches. Results suggested that animals visited small patches more often than large patches without staying, and used large patches to create territories. Small and medium patches may have been used as archipelagos of preferred habitat interspersed with less desirable habitat. The first stage of old-field succession was completed by the end of the 3rd yr: perennials replaced annuals as the dominant plant species. Neither patch size nor field sections sig- nificantly affected percent cover.
97 NUTRITIONAL RICKETS: THE REEMERGENCE OF A PREVENTABLE PROBLEM.

Purpose In the last few decades, there has been an increase in the reports of nutritional rickets due to deficient intake of vitamin D in the United States and other developed countries, particularly among vulnerable population of children. We call the attention over the reemergence of a nutritional problem that should have been eradicated. Methods and Results We have seen in the last 10 years several patients with nutritional rickets and have selected 4 representative cases from our clinics that presented with tetany, bony deformities such as bowed legs, widening of wrists and ankles, and rachitic rosary, ages 0.3 to 3.3 years, three African American and one Arabic. They all had been breast-fed with no vitamin D supplementation and after weaning from breast milk had negligible intake of vitamin D-fortified milk or dairy products, with very limited exposure to UV solar radiation. All had low serum total calcium between 6.1 and 7.8 mg/dL (8.7-10.3 mg/dL) and ionized calcium between 2.2 and 4.3 mg/dL (4.3-5.9 mg/dL), relatively low normal serum phosphorus between 4.3 and 6.1 mg/dL (4.0-9.5 mg/dL), and elevated alkaline phosphatase between 391 and 1,158 U/L (70-250 U/L). All had low serum 25(OH) vitamin D between 5.0 and 21 ng/mL (20-60 ng/mL) and high PTH between 25 and 454 pg/mL (10-60 pg/mL) and relatively high 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D between 93 and 195 pg/mL (15-90 pg/mL). Renal and liver functions were normal. All had complete or near-complete resolution of their medical problems with appropriate therapeutic doses of calcium, ergocalciferol, or calcitriol. Conclusions Nutritional rickets due to vitamin D deficiency and not associated with other organic or metabolic problem resolves easily with the administration of intravenous calcium followed by oral calcium supplementation and therapeutic doses of ergocalciferol or calcitriol. The risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in these children were not timely anticipated. Recommendations from the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2003 (adequate UV light solar exposure and supplementation of 200 IU vitamin D if taking fortified formula or 400 IU vitamin D if breast-fed exclusively) had not been followed. Health care providers should be aware that nutritional rickets due to vitamin D deficiency is still prevalent and is preventable.
Mosquito borne diseases dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever

This article reviews the etiology,epidemiology,disease mechanism,clinical features,diagnosis,prevention and treatment of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever,and provides reference for control and prevention.
Architecture for Self-healing Control of Urban Power Grid

It is an inevitable result of the electric power system development as well as the newest motive force of its advance to build the smart grid while self-healing is its most important feature.Based on an analysis of the urban power grid characteristics and the operation mode different from the main power grid,the self-healing control of urban power grid is defined.The architecture for self-healing control of urban power grid is conceived and the framework of whole system is designed.The computer system for self-healing control of urban power grid is developed.Fast simulation is performed for the operation of the Jiangning urban power grid,the results showing that the proposed self-healing control system is capable of coping with all kinds of threats to urban power grid so that it is given the internal drive for transferring to a better status.In other words,the urban power grid will have the ability of selfhealing.
Effect of water content on pull-out behavior of interface between geogrid and compacted expansive soil

The mechanical characters of expansive soil structure reinforced with geogrids are directly affected by the water content,whereas the mechanism is rarely studied before.So,the filling with dimension of 600 mm×600 mm×600 mm laminated shear test apparatus is adopted to carry out a series of pull-out tests to investigate the effect of water content on pull-out behavior of the interface between geogrid and compacted expansive soil.The results show that the water content has a notable effect on the pull-out force and geogrid's displacement,the characteristics of the interface stress and strain,and the strength parameters of the interface.When the water content is higher,the rigid motion of geogrid occurs earlier,and the pull-out force per width when rigid motion more approaches the peak value;and relation of friction and relative displacement of the interface tends to be more ideal rigid-plastic.The interface quasi-cohesion increases with decrease of water content,whereas water content has little effect on the quasi-friction angle of the interface.
'Civilizar' Africa: La herencia de Livingstone en A Burnt-Out Case, de Graham Greene y El sueño del celta, de Mario Vargas Llosa

In this article the concept of „semiosphere‟, developed by the Russian-Estonian scholar Juri Lotman, is used to examine the relationship between the African and the European communities in the Congo portrayed by Graham Greene in A Burnt-Out Case and by Mario Vargas Llosa in El sueno del celta. With this analysis I will prove that even though both authors denounce the terrible consequences of the European colonization had for the African people, the native communities in the novels are still depicted from a western paternalistic perspective.
Online Ratings Systems for Physicians and Institutions: Limitations of the Current State of the Art

Consumers are increasingly using online ratings tools that compare surgeons and institutions to identify high-quality providers. However, concerns regarding their limitations-data quality, validity of statistical comparisons, and impact on access to care-should be considered before full-scale implementation.
Reducing Social Stress in Urban Adolescents with Peer Network Counseling

Increased social stress in the context of peer interactions is associated with multiple negative health outcomes, including substance use. Addressing social stress could provide protective effects for adolescents who are particularly vulnerable to peer-based issues such as loneliness and perceived isolation. Toward this end, we examined the efficacy of a 20-min substance use intervention named peer network counseling to reduce social stress with 119 urban adolescents. Adolescents presenting at primary care clinics were randomized into treatment or control conditions and followed for 6 months. Utilizing a repeated measures general linear model, we examined the effects of peer network counseling while controlling for race, gender, age, depression symptoms, and substance use (alcohol, marijuana). At 6 months the peer network counseling condition decreased social stress compared to controls (p < 0.05). A linear mixed-effects moderation model revealed that peer network counseling temporarily moderated the effect of alcohol use, but not for marijuana or heavy alcohol use. Peer network counseling seems to reduce social stress, which suppresses alcohol use among peer network counseling participants in the short term. These promising findings appear to support the efficacy of peer network counseling in reducing social stress, which can moderate alcohol use among urban adolescents.
Multiinfarct dementia and communication.

AbstractTraditionally, speech-language pathologists have treated patients who have suffered from strokes that resulted in aphasia, but have not always worked with patients labelled as having multiinfarct dementia (MID). Patients with MID also have difficulties with communication in which the speech-language pathologist’s input would be beneficial. This article examines the clinical characteristics and neurology of MiD along with the assessment and clinical issues that need to be examined if speech-language pathologists are to evaluate and treat these patients more effectively.
Medical Imaging Equipment Characteristics at the Health Center Level: Overview

Those of us who live in developed countries often do not appreciate the severe limitations in health care experienced by persons in most parts of the world. Under these conditions, the care that is available usually is provided in facilities that are under-equipped, under-staffed, and inundated by requests for services. In many cases, these conditions can be alleviated to some extent by the deployment of technologies such as basic x-ray and ultrasound imaging, provided that such technologies are, appropriate, accessible and affordable (the “Four A’s”). Government agencies, policy makers and healthcare organizations should work together towards such deployment.
Analytic functions in Smirnov classes E^p with real boundary values II

Multiply connected Smirnov domains with non-smooth boundaries may admit non-trivial functions of Smirnov class $$E^p$$ with real boundary values for certain $$p\ge 1$$ . This paper describes the particular geometric boundary characteristics of multiply connected Smirnov domains that make the existence of such functions possible. This extends the similar results in De Castro and Khavinson (2012) obtained for simply connected domains.
A machine learning based application for predicting Global Horizontal Irradiance

The adoption of residential solar energy solutions has become a popular alternative for many families as the need for alternative energy resources begins to increase and this is causing a fluctuation in the estimated electrical energy needs forecasted by energy companies. This is a problem because electric companies base their production amounts on regional estimated energy needs and might easily overproduce or underproduce energy unless they can better estimate the availability of solar energy in each region and create a solution for monitoring its residential adoption across the same region.
6 – PHYSICAL BARRIER METHODS: ACCEPTANCE, USE AND EFFECTIVENESS

This chapter discusses the physical barrier methods used for protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Condoms provide significant protection against the most common STDs. They are an adjunct to and not a substitute for other safer sexual practices. Their consistent and correct use lowers the risk beyond that achieved by limiting the number of one's sexual partners, reducing or eliminating the use of drugs and alcohol associated with sex, and improving communication with partners. The large majority of the male condoms are made from latex—although some of them are made from the sheep intestinal membrane as well. The synthetic condoms made from the polyurethane comprise a small part of the market. Their utility is proven by a low degree of failure and is supported by clinical and epidemiologic studies demonstrating a reduction in disease incidence among users. Evidence assures excellent reduction in risk for the consistent users who are at moderate to low risk or who have adequately lowered their risk in other ways. The use of spermicide, either alone or as an adjunct to condoms, can also provide protection.
Use of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Preclinical Studies to Guide Dosage Escalation Schemes in Phase I Studies of Anticancer Drugs

For the concept of pharmacologically-guided clinical trials with new anticancer drugs, the principal focus has been development of links between preclinical testing and Phase I clinical trials. Recent experiences with very lengthy Phase I trials for at least 8 drugs have provided particular impetus for the project. The specific concept was that dose-limiting toxicity is predicted by drug concentrations in plasma, and that the quantitative relationship between drug exposure (as measured by plasma drug concentration times time, or CxT) and toxicity holds across species. As a consequence, dose escalations in man could safely be based on measurements of drug levels in plasma, rather than on empirical escalation schemes. Although the concept is still relatively new, practical results have already been achieved. Examples will be given of Phase I trials which were completed with a savings of 12–24 months. Overall, there is now a substantial collection of data which demonstrates that coordination with preclinical pharmacology and toxicology studies can save both time and resources in early clinical trials without a loss of safety.
Fin healing and regeneration in sturgeon.

Pectoral fin healing in fin spines and rays were examined in juvenile Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus following three different sampling techniques (n = 8-9 fish per treatment): entire leading fin spine removed, a 1-2 cm portion removed near the point of articulation, or a 1-2 cm portion removed from a secondary fin ray. Also, to determine whether antibiotic treatment influences healing, an additional group of fish (n = 8) was not given an injection of an oxytetracycline (OTC)-based antibiotic following removal of the entire leading fin spine. Following fin sampling, fish from different treatments were mixed equally between three large (4,000 I) recirculating systems and fin-ray healing and mortality were monitored over a 12 month period. To assess healing, blood samples were collected at 4 months to measure immune system responses, radiographs were taken at 4, 8 and 12 months to assess the degree of calcification in regions of damaged fins and fins were analyzed histologically at 12 months. Fish grew from a mean weight of 1.8 to 3.2 kg during the experiment and survival was near 100% in all treatments, with only one fish dying of unknown causes. Leukocyte counts, an indication of health status and survival were similar among treatments and in groups with or without antibiotic injection. Radiographs revealed mineralization took longer in fish with the entire leading fin spine removed and was the slowest near the point of articulation, presumably due to the greater structural support for the pectoral fin at this location. Histological sampling indicated spines and rays had similar healing patterns. Following injury, an orderly matrix of collagen bundles and many evenly spaced scleroblasts were present, transitioning to Sharpey fibres, with concentric layers forming lamellar bone. Healing and mineralization were characterized as periosteal osteogenesis and included embedded osteocytes surrounded by an osteoid seam. Chondroid formation was apparent in a few fractures not associated with treatments. The duration of time for external wound healing and internal mineralization of spines and rays depended on the fin treatment, with the slowest healing observed in fish with the most tissue removed, the entire leading fin spine.
Angiogenesis in the lung

Both systemic (tracheal and bronchial) and pulmonary circulations perfuse the lung. However, documentation of angiogenesis of either is complicated by the presence of the other. Well-documented angiogenesis of the systemic circulations have been identified in asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic thromboembolism and primary carcinomas. Angiogenesis of the vasa vasorum, which are branches of bronchial arteries, is seen in the walls of large pulmonary vessels after a period of chronic hypoxia. Documentation of increased pulmonary capillaries has been shown in models of chronic hypoxia, after pneumonectomy and in some carcinomas. Although endothelial cell proliferation may occur as part of the repair process in several pulmonary diseases, it is separate from the unique establishment of new functional perfusing networks defined as angiogenesis. Identification of the mechanisms driving the expansion of new vascular beds in the adult needs further investigation. Yet the growth factors and molecular mechanisms of lung angiogenesis remain difficult to separate from underlying disease sequelae.
Harder to Treat Than Leukemia - Opioid Use Disorder in Survivors of Cancer.

Harder to Treat Than Leukemia Woven into our language about the opioid epidemic is an implication that oncologists can hand out opioids as if there were no tomorrow. But for many people with cancer...
Effects of π-extension on pyrrole hemithioindigo photoswitches

Abstract The most red-shifted hemithioindigo photoswitches have been identified through systematic introduction of aryl units to a parent pyrrole hemithioindigo photoswitch. Increasing the size of the 5′-aryl substituent is ineffective at producing further redshifted chromophores. A second generation of 3′,5′-diarylated photoswitches which possess increased tunability is reported. Experimental and computational evidence indicates the 4′ position is electronically isolated from the bulk of the conjugated system.
Enzymatic reaction-based nanopore detection of zinc ions

We report a label-free nanopore sensor for the detection of Zn2+ ions. By taking advantage of the cleavage of a substrate peptide by zinc-dependent enzymes, nanomolar concentrations of Zn2+ ions could be detected within minutes. Furthermore, structurally similar transition metals such as Ni2+, Co2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ did not interfere with their detection. The enzymatic reaction-based nanopore sensing strategy developed in this work may find potential applications in environmental monitoring and medical diagnosis.
Socioeconomic well-being in early adulthood among repeat versus one-time teenage mothers.

Teenage mothers are known to be at an elevated risk for poor socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood. However, little is known about the socioeconomic outcomes of mothers who bear multiple children dur...
Parallel Acceleration on Removal of Optical Mapping Baseline Wandering

Optical mapping measurements on hearts stained with fluorescent dyes is imagining method widely accepted and recognized as a tool to study complex spatial-temporal dynamics of cardiac electro-physiology. One shortcoming of the method is baseline wandering in obtained fluorescence signals as signals relevant to transmembrane potential (V m ) change and free intracellular calcium concentration $\left( {\left[ {{\text{Ca}}} \right]_i^{ + 2}} \right)$, the two most used dyes, are calculated as a relative signal change in respect to the fluorescence baseline. These changes are small fractional changes often smaller than 10 %. Baseline fluorescence drifts due to dye photobleaching, heart contraction/movement artifacts, and stability of the excitation light source over time. Depending on experimental instrumentation, recording duration, signal to noise levels and study aims of the optical imagining, many research groups adopted their own techniques tailored to a specific experimental data. Here we present a technique based on finite impulse response (FIR) filters with paralleled acceleration implemented on GPUs and multi-core CPU, in MATLAB.
Perceived Discrimination, Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol-Related Problems in Sexual Minority Women of Color

The goal of the present study was to examine whether intersectional minority stress (in relation to race, gender identity, and sexual orientation) was a unique predictor of psychological distress, ...
MRL/MpJ tendon matrix-derived therapeutic promotes improved healing outcomes in scar-mediated canonical tendon healing.

Tendons are commonly injured connective soft tissues characterized by an ineffective healing response that results in scar formation and loss of functional and structural properties. Naturally occurring extracellular matrix (ECM) constructs have become a promising therapeutic for tendon injuries due to their capacity to harness a complex biological environment. However, in tendon, the ECM properties needed for improved healing remain unknown. Interestingly, we have determined that the improved tendon healing response of the scarless-healing MRL/MpJ is driven by intrinsic properties with therapeutic potential to modulate the proliferative and morphological behavior of cells derived from a canonically healing model in vitro. We hypothesize that a distinct composition of ECM deposited during the early healing response of the MRL/MpJ will harnesses the biological cues to stimulate improved structure and function in vivo of canonically healing B6 mice. Accordingly, MRL/MpJ and B6 patellar tendons were injured via midsubstance punch defects. Healing tendons were isolated after 3 or 7 days and encapsulated in PEG-4MAL hydrogels to develop ECM-derived therapeutic constructs. Constructs were then introduced into B6 mice as a treatment following full thickness midsubstance-punch injuries. Treatment with ECM-derived constructs from MRL/MpJ tendons after 7-days post-injury (M7) resulted in improved matrix alignment, tissue stiffness, decreased collagen III content and improved cell morphology in B6 tendons after 6 weeks post-injury. Furthermore, proteomic analysis showed that M7 contained a unique compositional profile rich in glycoproteins, thereby elucidating a valuable naturally-derived platform for the treatment of tendon injuries. Overall this work highlights promising targets for future therapeutic development and tissue engineering applications.
Strategic lines of collaboration in response to disruption propagation (CRDP) through cyber-physical systems

Abstract Recent developments in modern cyber-physical systems (CPSs) have allowed greater levels of intelligence and flexibility. The high levels of interactions and interdependencies in CPSs, however, also increase their vulnerabilities to external attacks and internal malfunctions. Disruptions in one cluster of a CPS can propagate to another cluster, eventually compromising the entire CPS if protective mechanisms and preparations are insufficient. The economic impacts are immediately local, but will become global should response mechanisms prove insufficient. Ensuring CPS resilience against disruption propagation requires the appropriate strategic preparation of response mechanisms, which is studied in this article. Recent work in CPS disruption response, notably the Collaborative Response to Disruption Propagation (CRPD) framework, has established the foundations for modeling and comprehension of the disruption response problem. Building upon the CRDP framework, this research introduces the Collaborative Response to Disruption Propagation/Strategic Lines of Collaboration (CRDP/SLOC) to investigate the effects of selecting different response agent teams to tackle disruptions. This selection is a strategic decision that cannot be altered once the disruptions begin, and thus needs to be guided by an appropriate collaborative control principle, called the SLOC principle. The SLOC principle analyzes the network structure, incorporates disruption propagation knowledge, and evaluates the strategic compatibility of the response agent teams to guide the selection and preparation process. The CRDP/SLOC model is validated using a set of experiments with different factors. These experiments indicate that the teams selected with the SLOC principle outperform the baseline teams in terms of response performance and resilience.
The Utility of Short-Interval Repeat Computed Tomography Angiogram After Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury in Adults.

Introduction Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) can lead to thromboembolic events. The necessity of short-interval noninvasive vascular imaging after the initial diagnosis is controversial. This retrospective cohort assesses the utility of short-interval computed tomography angiography (CTA) after an initial diagnosis of BCVI. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients with BCVI managed at our institution from 2016 to 2019 who underwent a short-interval (one to three weeks) repeat CTA after initial diagnosis. We excluded patients with age <18 years, penetrating injury, and previous neck irradiation. We collected baseline data and performed logistic regression to identify predictors of BCVI imaging outcomes. Results The study cohort comprised 38 patients with a mean age of 45 years with 68% males. Motor vehicle crash (MVC) was the most common mechanism of 79% injury. Unilateral vertebral artery (VA) was the most common vessel that is 66% injured, and grade I 36% was the most common dissection on initial CTA. Grades III and IV dissection 33% were the most common in the short-interval CTA. Shift analysis showed a significant improvement in Biffl grades I on the short-interval CTA (p = 0.0001). Antiplatelet therapy or anticoagulation (AC) was administered to 82% of patients after the initial diagnosis. The rates of early (<2 weeks) and delayed (two weeks to three months) ischemia were 5% and 0%, respectively, and endovascular stenting was performed in 8%. Conclusion BCVI grades I and II are more frequent than high-grade injuries. Short-interval non-invasive vascular imaging can detect changes of BCVI which can affect the management paradigm. It also can select patients who will benefit from endovascular intervention and avoid stroke. Besides, the short-interval non-invasive vascular imaging will not incur additional cost or increase exposure to radiation.
Manipulation of PEDOT:PSS with Polar and Nonpolar Solvent Post-treatment for Efficient Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Poly(3,4–ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has been widely used as a hole conducting polymer in many optoelectronic devices including perovskite solar cells. However, its ...