cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Robust Bayesian Analysis of the Stock Market's Response to Macroeconomic News

This paper explores the quality of the information that macroeconomic news convey to the stock market as forward looking signals of future business conditions. We introduce a novel robust Bayesian semi-parametric analysis of investors’ correspondence functions (i.e., signal-to-price mappings) in the stock market and a feasible ex ante measure of the level of ambiguity in Survey responses anticipating macroeconomic announcements. Using both survey and vector autoregressive (VAR)-based data we show that macroeconomic announcements are relatively ambiguous signals of future economic fundamentals in the stock market, potentially explaining some of previous controversial results in the literature.
Ultraviolet blood irradiation: Is it time to remember "the cure that time forgot"?

Ultraviolet blood irradiation (UBI) was extensively used in the 1940s and 1950s to treat many diseases including septicemia, pneumonia, tuberculosis, arthritis, asthma, and even poliomyelitis. The early studies were carried out by several physicians in USA and published in the American Journal of Surgery. However, with the development of antibiotics, the use of UBI declined and it has now been called “the cure that time forgot.” Later studies were mostly performed by Russian workers, and in other Eastern countries, and the modern view in Western countries is that UBI remains highly controversial. This review discusses the potential of UBI as an alternative approach to current methods used to treat infections, as an immune-modulating therapy and as a method for normalizing blood parameters. Low and mild doses of UV kill microorganisms by damaging the DNA, while any DNA damage in host cells can be rapidly repaired by DNA repair enzymes. However, the use of UBI to treat septicemia cannot be solely due to UV-mediated killing of bacteria in the bloodstream, as only 5–7% of blood volume needs to be treated with UV to produce the optimum benefit, and higher doses can be damaging. There may be some similarities to extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) using psoralens and UVA irradiation. However, there are differences between UBI and ECP in that UBI tends to stimulate the immune system, while ECP tends to be immunosuppressive. With the recent emergence of bacteria that are resistant to all known antibiotics, UBI should be more investigated as an alternative approach to infections, and as an immune-modulating therapy.
Cardiac optogenetics

For therapies based on human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CM) to be effective, arrhythmias must be avoided. Towards achieving this goal, light-activated channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a cation channel activated with 480 nm light, and a first generation halorhodopsin (NpHR1.0), an anion pump activated by 580 nm light, have been introduced into hiPSC. By using in vitro approaches, hiPSC-CM are able to be optogenetically activated and inhibited. ChR2 and NpHR1.0 are stably transduced into undifferentiated hiPSC via a lentiviral vector. Via directed differentiation, both wildtype hiPSC-CM (hiPSCWT-CM) and hiPSCChR2/NpHR-CM are produced and subjected to both electrical and optical stimulation. Both hiPSCWT-CM and hiPSCChR2/NpHR-CM respond to traditional electrical stimulation and produce similar contractility features but only hiPSCChR2/NpHR-CM can be synchronized and inhibited by optical stimulation. Here it is shown that light sensitive proteins can enable in vitro optical control of hiPSC-CM. For future therapy, in vivo optical stimulation could allow precise and specific synchronization of implanted hiPSC-CM with patient cardiac rates and rhythms.
Simulating the impact of blind-spots on the frequency of side-sweep accidents

This research describes a highway traffic simulator focused on the safety of lane changes. The simulator models in detail the situational awareness and behavior of the driver, including the visibility, windows, mirrors, and blind spots of the vehicle as well as the times of checking the mirrors and initiating a lane change. Using this simulator, a study was performed to estimate the time it takes to change a lane and the frequency of side-sweep accidents in various conditions such as traffic density and relative velocity of vehicles. Some of the experimental results show a comparable match with the real-world observations of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Maximum values of osmotic concentration in plant tissue fluids

The observations of a number of botanists have shown that extremely high concentrations may characterize plant tissue fluids, especially when the plants1 occur in a highly saline substratum. To Fitting2 belongs the credit of first demonstrating that extremely high osmotic concentrations are found in some desert plants,3 although Drabble and Lake4 and Drabble and Drabble5 had preceded him in showing the fundamental relationship between environmental conditions and the osmotic concentration of plant tissue fluids.As early as 1902 Cavara reported cryoscopic determinations on saps of high concentration6 and in 1905 gave results in full7 for a large series of determinations made at Cagliari. His maximum values were found in the sap of halophytes growing in localities where the concentration of the soil solution progressed with the advance of the season. He reports freezing point depressions of 7.25° in Obione portulacoides, 7.48° in Salicornia fruticosa, and 7.25° to 8.50° in Halocnemum strobilaceum. His deter...
Comparative Macro- and Micro-Anatomy of Stomachs of Macroglossine Bats (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae)

Stomachs of a single species from each of four genera of macroglossine bats were examined grossly and histologically. Newly reported features in bats include follicular-esophageal glands in Melonycteris , and deep invaginations of the gastric wall into the stomach lumina of all species studied. Many features of gross gastric morphology and mucosal histology are strikingly similar to those of the ecologically analogous New World glossophagines (Microchiroptera: Phyllostomidae), suggesting convergent evolution in conjunction with diet in these nectar- and pollen-feeding taxa.
Color Measurement of Egg Yolks–An Instrumental Method

Abstract A rapid, instrumental method of measuring egg yolk color for routine quality control is described. The method utilizes the Hunter D25 Color and Color Difference Meter, and is comparable in speed and accuracy to that of visual method. Egg yolks ranging in color from light yellow to red were obtained by incorporating crystalline lutein, β-apo 8′-carotenal and canthaxanthin at different levels in the layer feed. The instrumental redness (a values) and hue (tan–1b/a) gave correlation coefficients of 0.93 and .93, respectively, with visual scores obtained with Roche Color Fan.
Eph receptors are involved in the pro-inflammatory response following spinal cord injury (54.21)

Following spinal cord injury (SCI), residential microglia and astrocytes in the spinal cord are known to activate an innate immune response. Here, we examined a role for EphB3 and EphA4 receptors in the early immune response following SCI. Our results demonstrate that EphB3 and EphA4 are present on both microglia and astrocytes in the adult spinal cord, and that they are phosphorylated within 15 min after the initiation of injury. Receptor activation by the ligand ephrinB3 is thought to enhance multiple cytokine mRNA transcripts involved in the immune response, as well as mediate the release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro . These responses are significantly attenuated in cells derived from mice deficient for EphB3 and EphA4. Interestingly, analysis of the whole spinal cord, using ELISA Assay, showed a significant attenuation in interleukin-6 (IL-6) in astrocytes but not microglia derived from EphB3/EphA4 double knockout (EphB3/A4 -/- ) mice. To examine cytokine levels following SCI, we collected spinal cord tissues from sham or SCI wild type (WT) and EphB3/A4 -/- mice at 4 and 24 hours and analyzed cytokine levels using cytometric bead array. We observed a significant increase in IL-6 and chemokine ligand 2 (CCL-2) at 4 and 24 hours post-SCI in WT but not EphB3/A4 -/- mice. These data suggest a novel role for EphB3 and EphA4 in the early activation of the acute immune response, and possibly the progression of damage to the injured spinal cord.
Specificity and modulation of the action of lactoferrin, a negative feedback regulator of myelopoiesis.

The functional capacity of lactoferrin (LF) to act as a negative feedback regulator of myelopoiesis has been investigated and shown to depend on the structure of the molecule itself and on the presence and absence of agents that can modulate its activity. LF has a specific requirement for iron (Fe) in terms of its functional capacity and is most effective in inhibiting the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating activity (GM-CSA) from monocytes and macrophages when it is fully saturated with Fe. LF saturated with copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) is functionally ineffective; moreover, Cu and Zn actually interfere with the inhibitory properties of Fe-saturated LF. A radioimmunoassay for LF did not distinguish between these functionally active and inactive samples of metal-unsaturated and metal-saturated LF. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lithium, testosterone, and estradiol abrogate LF inhibition of GM-CSA production, but the mechanism of LPS and lithium abrogation may be different since lithium, but not LPS, could equally reverse LF inhibition of C3H/HeJ (poor LPS responder) and C3HeB/FeJ (normal LPS responder) macrophages. While the corticosteroids, hydrocortisone and dexamethasone, do not influence GM-CSA production or LF activity, they do block the LPS abrogation of LF action. The specificity of LF for inhibition of monocyte-macrophage GM-CSA production was further substantiated as LF has no effect on B-lymphocyte CSA production by mouse macrophages, “pre-CFU-GM” stimulatory activity production by adherent mononuclear bone marrow cells, the release of lysozyme from human monocytes and mouse macrophages, the release of β-glucuronidase from J774 cells, and the production of plasminogen activator by mouse macrophages. The specificity of LF for the mononuclear phagocytic series was also defined, as LF did not bind to or inhibit GM-CSA production by human lymphocytes. These results indicate the complex interactions that may modify the in vivo action of LF.
Stigma and mental disorder: phenomena and terminology

My aim in this paper is to examine the application of the concept stigma to mental disorder and to the mentally ill. I believe that the loose use of this term serves to obscure the real issues that must be confronted in attempting to change public response to mental disorder. I shall examine recent, and in my opinion ill-advised, use of the concept stigma and then present some data that bear upon social responses to mentally ill patients and former patients in contemporary America. My data are derived from a long-term study of mental patients and their families, and I shall document that their feelings of stigmatization are not so much a consequence of the response of others to their having been hospitalized for mental illness or labeled mentally ill as of self-doubts or chronic manifestations of mental illness.
Calling and Inspiration

This chapter develops Levinas’s idea of the ethical as the structural call to responsibility for the other’s good. I first develop an idea of transcendence, especially as relates to what I term ‘time immemorial’ and ‘time unforeseen.’ I concretize this by elaborating two types of indirect experiences, one that I name call and the other that I refer to as inspiration. My goal is to interpret education’s commonplaces in light of these two experiences. I argue that these form the structural conditions of those commonplaces, namely, being called to normative responsibility and being inspired with a hope that motivates to action. Te idea of a regulative function uncovers the ethical orientation that gives rise to education.
The impacts of column water vapour variability on Atlantic basin tropical cyclone activity

Column water vapour (CWV) in the Tropics is well known to affect tropical deep convection. It has been established that the tropical deep convection required for tropical cyclone formation markedly increases after reaching a critical CWV threshold. Therefore, CWV values below this threshold represent an atmosphere that is too dry for tropical cyclone formation. The interannual variability of the occurrence of this dry air and its impacts on tropical cyclone activity over the Atlantic are examined. CWV empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis reveals a dominant mode of interannual variability of dry air events over the tropical North Atlantic, with strong variations over the central and eastern Atlantic between 15°N and 30°N. In the positive (negative) phase of the EOF modes, tropical cyclone activity is reduced (increased) over the Atlantic basin, particularly over the main development region. On the origin of dry air, the Saharan Air Layer does not explain the CWV EOF pattern, but the pattern is shown to be related to large-scale subsidence in association with enhanced anticyclonic vorticity. The leading mode shows significant correlations to several large-scale climate oscillations, including the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Atlantic Meridional Mode, Pacific North American Pattern, and others. The EOF mode also indicates a relationship to the large-scale circulation via the Hadley cell. An evaluation of the steering flow for tropical cyclones from the modulation of the subtropical high and the values of deep layer vertical wind shear is consistent with the distribution of tropical cyclone activity in only certain limited areas, suggesting that the impacts of the dry air patterns are required to provide a more complete explanation of the activity.
Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting Quality in Selected Nigerian Company

This paper evaluated the level of performance of some selected companies ranging from commodities, brewery, banking, oil and gas and beverages in terms of corporate governance measure indictors on the firm quality of financial reporting in Nigeria. The data were collected from 2006 to 2015. Econometric analysis were conducted and the result suggests that the correlation among corporate governance indicators of board structure (size-BRDSZ and independence-BRDID), audit quality (audit committee size (ADCMZ), the quality of external audit (EADTQ) as measured by the presence of an auditor among the big-4), board experience (i.e. experience-BRDEX) and financial reporting quality is 93.47%. The independent variables can explain the variation in the FRQDA by 54.29%. There is overall significance among the parameters measuring financial reporting quality as discretionary accruals of firm (FRQDA). Board structure (size-BRDSZ), board experience (experience-BRDEX) and the quality of external audit (EADTQ) have positive impact on the financial reporting quality measured by the discretionary accruals of firm (FRQDA) by 16.01, 0.05 and 2.75. However, independent directors on the board of firm (independence-BRDID) and audit quality (audit committee size (ADCMZ) negatively affect financial reporting quality measured by the discretionary accruals of firm (FRQDA) as much as 0.99 and 20.01. Guarantee Trust Bank Plc. among the five selected companies of study in Nigeria has better performance of financial reporting based on board structure (size-BRDSZ) and audit committee size (ADCMZ). This revealed that there is short run relationship among Audit quality (audit committee size (ADCMZ), and the quality of external audit (EADTQ) as measured by the presence of an auditor among the big-4) and board experience (i.e. experience-BRDEX) have not granger cause FRQDA. It further recommended that greater focus on corporate governance indicators so as to bring about global standard financial reporting in the Nigerian emerging market for investment opportunity.
Mediterranean Approach to Improving High-Density Lipoprotein Function.

Article, see p 633 The complex interrelationships among diet, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and cardiovascular risk have been a topic of great interest for decades.1 HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are strongly inversely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diets high in saturated fat are strongly positively associated with CVD. Yet, diets high in saturated fat increase HDL-C levels, and low-fat diets reduce HDL-C levels,1 a paradox that has never been fully reconciled. However, the past several years have provided insights into the relationship between HDL-C and CVD that may help to reconcile these disparate findings. Specifically, the “HDL hypothesis” that HDL-C is causally related to CVD and that intervention to increase HDL-C will reduce CVD risk has been largely disproven.2 Genetic studies in humans have shown that certain genetic variants that increase HDL-C are not associated with protection from CVD.3,4 Furthermore, pharmacological interventions that raise HDL-C levels such as niacin and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors have failed to reduce CVD events in large randomized clinical trials.2,5 In this context, the fact that low-fat diets reduce HDL-C levels but do not increase risk of CVD can be reasonably interpreted: The reduction of HDL-C does not causally increase the risk of CVD. However, studies in the last several years have given rise to an alternative hypothesis, namely the “HDL flux” or “HDL function” hypothesis.5 This concept is based on the idea that HDL has a number of putative antiatherogenic functions that may causally affect CVD risk but that are not directly related to simple measures of HDL mass such as HDL-C levels. The best established of the measures of HDL function is HDL cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), an ex vivo measure of the ability of an individual’s HDL to promote cholesterol efflux …
Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) during pregnancy: case report and review of the literature

Background: Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a hereditary disease characterized by early adult-onset of neurologic manifestations such as migraine, dementia, and stroke. The prevalence of CADASIL is 4.15 per 100 000 adults. Pregnancy and puerperium are associated with worsening of symptoms. Case: We present a 31-year-old G3P0020 patient with a pre-pregnancy diagnosis of CADASIL followed during pregnancy and postpartum period. The patient had a strong family history of CADASIL as well as neurologic symptoms of headaches and vision changes. The patient was started on aspirin and her pregnancy was managed by a multidisciplinary team. She was admitted at 34 weeks for an evaluation of severe headaches and lower limb weakness. She had an uncomplicated cesarean delivery at 39 weeks and an uncomplicated postpartum period.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis Practices in Pediatric Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Procedures: A Survey of the Pediatric And Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES)

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections are associated with significant morbidity in the pediatric device population, with a tenfold higher risk of infection in children compared to adults. The 2010 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines recommend a single dose of systemic antibiotic (ABX) prophylaxis prior to CIED implantation and no post-operative (OP) ABX. However, there is limited data regarding adherence to this recommendation among the pediatric community. To assess current clinical practices for CIED ABX prophylaxis in pediatrics; whether the AHA guidelines are being followed; and if not, the reasons for non-adherence. An anonymous web-based survey was sent to physician members of the Pediatric And Congenital Electrophysiology Society regarding ABX prophylaxis for new CIED implants and reoperations. 75 (25%) members responded. Only 7% of respondents follow the 2010 AHA guidelines. While all respondents give pre-OP IV ABX, 64% routinely treat patients with 24-h post-OP IV ABX with additional oral or IV therapy. 69% of respondents are cognizant of the guidelines but 88% of those cognizant do not follow the guidelines for a variety of reasons including lack of data and different substrate (pediatric patients). 79% stated that pediatric-specific data would be required for them to change their practice and follow the published guidelines. The majority of pediatric EP physicians who responded to this survey do not follow the current AHA guidelines on ABX prophylaxis and administer post-OP ABX. Most pediatric EP physicians believe that the increased risk of infection in children merits additional ABX.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Four Contextual Features in Classifying Annotated Clinical Conditions in Emergency Department Reports

Objective Determine how four contextual features (Validity, Certainty, Directionality, and Temporality) contribute to classification of respiratory syndrome-related clinical conditions as acute, chronic, or absent from manual annotations in Emergency Department Reports. Based on the results, we will direct our research towards automatic identification of the contextual features found to be discriminating.
MUTATIONS IN MOUSE MYELOMA CELLS

Cultured mouse myeloma cells of the MPC-11 tumor, which synthesizes an IgG2b molecule, have been cloned in vitro. An antiserum directed against the Fc portion of the molecule was used to detect variants which 1) no longer synthesized H chains; 2) no longer secreted H chains; 3) synthesized an altered H chain. All variants spontaneously arising in the parent population had lost the ability to synthesize H chains. Mutagenesis with the acridine mustard, ICR-191, and with the phenyalanine mustard, Melphalan, increased the incidence of variants 10–20 fold till they comprised 3-6% of the population. Two-thirds of the variants arising after mutagenesis were like spontaneously arising variants, but the remainder synthesized an altered H chain. Some variant H chains were smaller then the parent; other variant H chains were of the same size or larger, but now had the Y 2a serotype. Peptide maps confirmed structural differences. Variants of one type gave rise to variants of another type after exposure to culture and cloning. Preliminary chemical characterization has confirmed that one short H chain variant does not contain a normal Fc.
The Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Hematopoiesis

Hematopoiesis is a complex and dynamic process where mature blood cells of the myeloid and lymphoid lineages are produced from a common hematopoietic progenitor cell. In adult mammals, this process occurs within the bone marrow where hematopoietic progenitors integrate signals and cues from the microenvironment to activate gene expression programs that control lineage specification and maturation. In this chapter, we will review the cellular intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to the regulation of hematopoiesis in the adult bone marrow.
Receptor-Targeted Glial Brain Tumor Therapies

Among primary brain tumors, malignant gliomas are notably difficult to manage. The higher-grade tumors represent an unmet need in medicine. There have been extensive efforts to implement receptor-targeted therapeutic approaches directed against gliomas. These approaches include immunotherapies, such as vaccines, adoptive immunotherapy, and passive immunotherapy. Targeted cytotoxic radio energy and pro-drug activation have been designed specifically for brain tumors. The field of targeting through receptors progressed significantly with the discovery of an interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 (IL-13RA2) as a tumor-associated receptor over-expressed in most patients with glioblastoma (GBM) but not in normal brain. IL-13RA2 has been exploited in novel experimental therapies with very encouraging clinical responses. Other receptors are specifically over-expressed in many patients with GBM, such as EphA2 and EphA3 receptors, among others. These findings are important in view of the heterogeneity of GBM tumors and multiple tumor compartments responsible for tumor progression and resistance to therapies. The combined targeting of multiple receptors in different tumor compartments should be a preferred way to design novel receptor-targeted therapeutic approaches in gliomas.
Reoperation for Proximal Adjacent Segment Pathology in Posterior Cervical Fusion Constructs that Fuse to C2 vs C3

Background Few studies have described rates of proximal clinical adjacent segment pathology (CASP) after posterior cervical decompression and fusion (PCDF). Objective To investigate rates of proximal CASP at C2 vs C3 in PCDFs for degenerative spine disease. Methods A retrospective review of 380 cases of PCDF for degenerative disease with proximal constructs ending at C2 vs C3 was performed. Minimum follow-up was 12 mo. The primary outcome was proximal CASP requiring reoperation. Variable analysis included demographic, operative, and complication data. Results There were 119 patients in the C2 group and 261 in the C3 group with no significant differences in age, gender, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, or complications. Vertebral artery injury rates were 0.8% in the C2 group and 0.0% in the C3 group (P = .12). No patients in the C2 group had reoperation for proximal CASP, while 5.0% of patients in the C3 group did (P = .01). Patients with arthrodesis up to C3 had an increased risk of proximal failure when the fusion construct crossed the cervicothoracic junction (P = .03). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed no factors that were independently associated with re-instrumentation for proximal CASP. Conclusion Instrumenting to the C2 level reduces the risk for proximal CASP compared to fusion only up to C3. The type of instrumentation used at these 2 levels, form of ASP disease at C1-C2, and natural motion of the relevant proximal adjacent joint may contribute to this difference. Furthermore, within the C3 cohort, fusion across the cervicothoracic junction increased the risk for proximal CASP.
The changing landscape of vestibular schwannoma diagnosis and management: A cross-sectional study.

Author(s): Goshtasbi, Khodayar; Abouzari, Mehdi; Moshtaghi, Omid; Sahyouni, Ronald; Sajjadi, Autefeh; Lin, Harrison W; Djalilian, Hamid R | Abstract: ObjectivesTo assess the current state of the diagnosis and management of vestibular schwannoma (VS) as well as treatment trends, and to evaluate the role of treatment setting and various specialists in treatment plan.MethodsPatients diagnosed with VS completed a voluntary and anonymous survey. The questionnaires were distributed through Acoustic Neuroma Association website, Facebook page, and e-mail newsletters from January to March 2017.ResultsIn total, 789 VS patients completed the survey. Of those, 414 (52%) underwent surgery; 224 (28%) underwent radiotherapy; and 121 (15%) were observed. General otolaryngologists diagnosed 62% of responders, followed by primary care (11%) and neurotologists (10%). Patients who underwent surgery were significantly younger and had larger tumors compared to those treated with radiation or observation. The ratio of patients having nonsurgical versus surgical resection changed from 1:2 to 1:1 for the periods of 1979 through 2006 versus 2007 through 2017, respectively. Neurosurgeons (40%) and neurotologists (38%) were the most influential in treatment discussion. Neurotologists (P l 0.001) and general otolaryngologists (P = 0.04) were more influential than neurosurgeons for the decision process in patients with smaller tumors. Patients treated at academic versus nonacademic private institutions reported similar tumor sizes (P = 0.27), treatment decisions (P = 0.09), and decision satisfaction (P = 0.78).ConclusionThere is a continuing trend toward nonsurgical management, with approximately half of the patients opting for nonsurgical management. In this cohort, the patients commonly presented with otologic symptoms and otolaryngologists made the most diagnoses. Neurotologists and neurosurgeons were the most influential in treatment discussion.Level of evidenceNA Laryngoscope, 130:482-486, 2020.
Sulfonated silica-based IPMC as actuators in soft robotics application (Conference Presentation)

Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites (IPMC) have various applications in the fields of soft robotics as actuators [1], energy conversion as ion exchange membrane in Fuel cells [2], Biomedical engineering for drug delivery [3] etc. Nafion ionomer plated with a noble metal (such as platinum) is being used successfully as actuators for soft robotic applications [1,4] and recently Aquivion [5] has been explored and proven to be a good candidate to replace Nafion. As ion exchange membrane in Fuel cells, a stable sulfonated silica-based ionomer has been proposed as a replacement for Nafion, which has a dual function as this material has shown to have a higher active surface area of platinum and have increased the performance of fuel cells. These membranes have shown stable performance with improved water management capabilities at low relative humidity, while Nafion based membranes have performed poorly. [6] With this inspiration and the aforementioned advantages we propose to study and investigate the application of sulfonated silica-based membrane to prepare IPMC actuators for soft robots. Based on the positive results these IPMC’s have provided for fuel cell performance, we expect encouraging results for actuation such as higher actuation forces, durability, higher water retainment etc. which would benefit and promote soft robotics. [1,6] References: 1. James D. Carrico, Tom Tyler & Kam K. Leang (2017) A comprehensive review of select smart polymeric and gel actuators for soft mechatronics and robotics applications: fundamentals, freeform fabrication, and motion control, International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials, 8:4, 144-213, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19475411.2018.1438534. 2. Tao Luo, Said Abdu & Matthias Wessling (2018) Selectivity of ion exchange membranes: A review, Journal of Membrane Science 555, 429–454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2018.03.051 3. Saneei Mousavi, M., Karami, A., Ghasemnejad, M., Kolahdouz, M., Manteghi, F., & Ataei, F. (2018). Design of a remote-control drug delivery implantable chip for cancer local on demand therapy using ionic polymer metal composite actuator. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials., 86, 250-256. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2018.06.034. 4. Mohsen Shahinpoor and Kwang J Kim (2001) Ionic polymer-metal composites: I. Fundamentals, Smart Materials and Structures, volume 10, number 4, 819-833. http://stacks.iop.org/0964-1726/10/i=4/a=327. 5. Sarah Trabia and Zakai Olsen and Kwang J Kim (2017) Searching for a new ionomer for 3D printable ionic polymer–metal composites: Aquivion as a candidate, Smart Materials and Structures, volume 26, number 11, 115029, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/aa919f. 6. Reza Alipour Moghadam Esfahani, Holly M. Fruehwald, Foroughazam Afsahi, E. Bradley Easton (2018) Enhancing fuel cell catalyst layer stability using a dual-function sulfonated silica-based ionomer, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Volume 232, 314-321, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.03.080.
Electrodeposition of Silver Micro- and Nanoscale Wires in the Capillaries of PDMS Stamps Modified with Hydrophilic Polymers.

A new experiment for use in introductory nanotechnology courses is described. This experiment allows students to fabricate metallic wires with microscale lateral dimensions and nanoscale vertical dimensions. Fabrication occurs in the capillaries of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps modified with hydrophilic polymers. This experiment provides students with an opportunity to conduct template-assisted electrodeposition of micro- and nanomaterials, utilizing a reusable template instead of the commonly used porous, anodic alumina oxide (AAO) membranes that require dissolution to examine the wires. Fabrication of the metal wires is accomplished via the reduction of metal cations in the channels of modified PDMS stamps. In addition, this experiment introduces students to characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and atomic-force microscopy (AFM). The microscale dimensions of the silver wires accommodate imaging with optical microscopy for institutions possessing limited characterization capabilities.
Neurologist Strategies for Optimizing the Parkinson's Disease Clinical Encounter.

Objective:For patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), effective communication during neurology encounters is critical to ensuring the treatment plan maximizes quality of life. However, few research...
Radiology-Pathology Correlation

Rad-Path correlation is the final step in diagnostic process. It encompasses the critical review of all relevant imaging studies including imaging-guided biopsy and sample radiographs. Radiologist wants to confirm that the correct lesion was targeted at biopsy, sampling was accurate, and samples were representative. Pathological diagnosis is then correlated with lesion’s imaging appearance and its assessed pre-biopsy likelihood of malignancy. Patient’s clinical data including personal and family history and clinical presentation are taken into account. Recommendation for further management is made based on interplay of imaging findings, pathological diagnosis, and clinical picture. In difficult and discordant cases, multidisciplinary approach and clinical thinking should drive the management decisions.
Criteria and Expectations for Return to Play

Clinically determining when an overhead athlete is ready to return to play (RTP) following musculoskeletal injury can be challenging. Variations in reported RTP rates following injury and surgery as well as a lack of standardized or accepted testing measures have not provided clinicians stable foundations to make consistent RTP decisions. This chapter will review the literature surrounding upper extremity physical performance testing, critically discussing what is known and what is not known for specific maneuvers. Recommendations will be provided as to how RTP could be assessed clinically and efficiently based on the best available existing evidence and author clinical experience.
Open versus Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Abstract Background Elective endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm results in lower perioperative mortality than traditional open repair, but after 4 years this survival advantage is ...
Optical reconfiguration of surface relief gratings on supramolecular polymer films using grating translation and superposition

We demonstrate the optical erasure and amplification of surface relief gratings written on supramolecular azobenzene-polymer films. The reversible photomechanical response of azobenzene-polymer films enables surface reconfiguration through grating superposition, which is implemented through mechanical film translation and exposure in a laser interference pattern. Sinusoidal surface relief gratings could be photoerased and regenerated using laser exposures with interference patterns shifted by half a period. Gratings could also be amplified and their surface coverage extended through multiple translations and exposures at integer-period steps. We report the fabrication of a 2.0 × 2.0 mm 2 surface grating of amplitude 697 nm from an initial grating of 78 nm amplitude through raster scanning and reexposing using a step translation equal to 10 fringes.
Development and Characterization of a Dry Powder Formulation for Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Spectinamide 1599

Human tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem that causes nearly 2 million deaths per year. Anti-TB therapy exists, but it needs to be administered as a cocktail of antibiotics for six months. This lengthy therapy results in low patient compliance and is the main reason attributable to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. One alternative approach is to combine anti-TB multidrug therapy with inhalational TB therapy. The aim of this work was to develop and characterize dry powder formulations of spectinamide 1599 and ensure in vitro and in vivo delivered dose reproducibility using custom dosators. Amorphous dry powders of spectinamide 1599 were successfully spray dried with mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) = 2.32 ± 0.05 μm. The addition of L-leucine resulted in minor changes to the MMAD (1.69 ± 0.35 μm) but significantly improved the inhalable portion of spectinamide 1599 while maintaining amorphous qualities. Additionally, we were able to demonstrate reproducibility of dry powder administration in vitro and in vivo in mice. The corresponding systemic drug exposure data indicates dose-dependent exposure in vivo in mice after dry powder intrapulmonary aerosol delivery in the dose range 15.4 - 32.8 mg/kg.
Masking Release for Speech-in-Speech Recognition Due to a Target/Masker Sex Mismatch in Children With Hearing Loss.

Objectives The goal of the present study was to compare the extent to which children with hearing loss and children with normal hearing benefit from mismatches in target/masker sex in the context of speech-in-speech recognition. It was hypothesized that children with hearing loss experience a smaller target/masker sex mismatch benefit relative to children with normal hearing due to impairments in peripheral encoding, variable access to high-quality auditory input, or both. Design Eighteen school-age children with sensorineural hearing loss (7 to 15 years) and 18 age-matched children with normal hearing participated in this study. Children with hearing loss were bilateral hearing aid users. Severity of hearing loss ranged from mild to severe across participants, but most had mild to moderate hearing loss. Speech recognition thresholds for disyllabic words presented in a two-talker speech masker were estimated in the sound field using an adaptive, forced-choice procedure with a picture-pointing response. Participants were tested in each of four conditions: (1) male target speech/two-male-talker masker; (2) male target speech/two-female-talker masker; (3) female target speech/two-female-talker masker; and (4) female target speech/two-male-talker masker. Children with hearing loss were tested wearing their personal hearing aids at user settings. Results Both groups of children showed a sex-mismatch benefit, requiring a more advantageous signal to noise ratio when the target and masker were matched in sex than when they were mismatched. However, the magnitude of sex-mismatch benefit was significantly reduced for children with hearing loss relative to age-matched children with normal hearing. There was no effect of child age on the magnitude of sex-mismatch benefit. The sex-mismatch benefit was larger for male target speech than for female target speech. For children with hearing loss, the magnitude of sex-mismatch benefit was not associated with degree of hearing loss or aided audibility. Conclusions The findings from the present study indicate that children with sensorineural hearing loss are able to capitalize on acoustic differences between speech produced by male and female talkers when asked to recognize target words in a competing speech masker. However, children with hearing loss experienced a smaller benefit relative to their peers with normal hearing. No association between the sex-mismatch benefit and measures of unaided thresholds or aided audibility were observed for children with hearing loss, suggesting that reduced peripheral encoding is not the only factor responsible for the smaller sex-mismatch benefit relative to children with normal hearing.
In Vino ‘No’ Veritas: impacts of fraud on wine imports in China

China is one of the largest wine importing countries in the world and is poised for continued import growth in the future. Increased wine purchases throughout China have given rise to persistent fraud where fake wines are packaged and sold with counterfeit contents and labels. For exporting countries like France, counterfeit wines displace market share, damage foreign brand reputation, and cause distrust in consumers who are aware of counterfeiting problems throughout the country. We examine the impact of fraudulent wine events (as measured by negative media reports) on Chinese wine demand differentiated by supplying country. We employ the Rotterdam demand system and a switching regression procedure to estimate import demand and compare results across different media variable specifications. Results consistently show that negative reports disproportionately affect French wine regardless of how the media variable is specified. This is not surprising because most fraudulent events involve French wine counterfeits.
Surgical Management of the Infected Diabetic Foot

Different types of infection occur in the diabetic foot. Mild skin and soft tissue infections can typically be treated with outpatient management. Moderate to severe infections, infected ulcers, and osteomyelitis typically require effective work-up and surgical intervention, with and end goal of an uninfected and functional foot. Emergencies, including gas gangrene and necrotizing fasciitis, require urgent and emergent surgical intervention where the limb is not always salvageable. Patient selection based on co-morbidities and patient preference should always be taken into account for surgical planning; however, in instances where infection is too great for appropriate medical and surgical reconstructive management, primary amputation should be considered.
Mining Plastic: Harvesting Stored Energy in a Re-use Revolution

To spur action, the perception of discarded plastics must change from burdensome waste to a physical store of non-renewable resources. Major investment in developing catalysts, processes, and infrastructure for energetically efficient chemical recycling is critical. It is time for governments to commit to "mining" plastics.
How women on probation and parole incorporate trauma into their identities

The many court-involved women who have experienced trauma in their lifetimes are particularly vulnerable to the negative outcomes of trauma. The purpose of this qualitative inquiry is to understand how women who have repeatedly broken the law incorporate traumatic experiences into their identities in such a way that they increase their agency, communion, or spirituality. The research also documents the types of traumatic experiences the women included in their life stories. Informed by narrative identity theory and the related theory of posttraumatic growth, the life stories of 118 women on probation and parole were examined for themes indicative of identity transformation through redemption or indicative of contamination and stagnation. The narrative accounts considered in this study involved sexual, physical, and psychological abuse; neglect; sudden or unexpected loss; violence exposure; and severe illness or injury. Nearly all women reported having at least one traumatic experience in their lifetime, and the majority incorporated the experiences into their identities. Posttraumatic growth most often included gains in communion (i.e., helping others and caring for others) and gains in individual agency (i.e., empowerment). Thirty women also described having generative concerns or taking generative actions to improve the well-being of others as an outcome of their traumatic experience(s). For women with children, becoming better mothers and protecting their children from victimization were the overarching themes of their redemption, communion, and generative narratives. The findings highlight the importance of community responses to traumatized girls and of counseling and therapy for justice-involved women. Several specific suggestions for supporting the development of trauma and survivor narratives as a therapeutic tool are provided as a means for clients to develop interpersonal connections and empowerment.
Processes in Procurement 4.0

Procurement 4.0 can be seen as a fundamentally digital transformation. It has various components: processes, platforms, persons, and partnerships. In fact, process transformation is one of its key performance indicators. Processes are at the very base of procurement 4.0 and are strongly impacted by any changes it entails; so, re-engineering is a critical success factor here. This chapter considers some of the more critical processes involved, such as risk management. The chapter analyzes in detail procurement process intelligence, which combines business intelligence and action on processes. The chapter also considers risk management processes and shows how resilience is the real way to manage risks inherent in various processes. The final part of the chapter is dedicated to finance processes and their relevance for overcoming many challenges, which can be especially severe for small and medium-sized organizations.
The clinical efficacy of standardized house dust mite allergen immunotherapy for rhinitis and asthma in children

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of standardized house dust mite allergen specific immunotherapy (SIT) for rhinitis and asthma in children. Methods Forty-two children with allergic rhinitis and asthma who received a standardized house dust mite allergen SIT in our hospital were enrolled in our study. The result of allergen skin prick test, serum specific IgE levels (sIgE) of house dust mite and dust mite,pulmonary function and symptom scores were analysed before and at one year after treatment in all children. Results Skin indexes of house dust mite and dust mite, symptom score were significantly decreased at one year after treatment,but the levels of house dust mite and dust mite sIgE,lung function test (FVC,FEVt,MEF25-75) showed no significant differences. Conclusion Children with allergic rhinitis and asthma have significant improvements in their skin sensitivity and clinical symptoms by given SIT for one year,but the impact of SIT on airway inflammation needs further observation. Key words: Specific immunotherapy; Allergic rhinifis; Asthma; Children
Post-election violence in Kenya: leadership legacies, demography and motivations

To understand the political geography of Kenya’s 2007–08 post-election violence (PEV), locational (territorial) and relational (ethnic community) theories of how context affects politics are combin...
To escape or embrace reactors? the politics of nuclear phase-out in Germany and South Korea

After the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, the Angela Merkel government in Germany officially announced its decision to permanently shut down all of its seventeen nuclear reactors. In closer proximity t...
The Characteristics and Lived Experiences of Modern Stay-at-Home Fathers

This chapter focuses on men’s experiences as stay-at-home parents and primary caregivers, otherwise known as stay-at-home fathers. We present demographic data that illustrates shifts in work and family responsibilities for American men, specifically, the increasing number of fathers who are the primary caregivers of young children. We then review qualitative and quantitative research highlighting the unique lived experiences of stay-at-home fathers. We conclude with policy and research implications addressing how to support stay-at-home fathers and men in their caregiving roles.