cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of Nano-Opto-Mechanical Reconfigurable Photonic Integrated Circuit

We designed a nano-opto-mechanical reconfigurable photonic integrated circuit (PIC) platform on a two-dimensional (2-D) photonic crystal (PC) slab. A 2-D array of mechanical plugs was initially placed above the PC. Each plug was designed to align with each air hole of the PC and assumed to be able to insert into and retrieve from the air hole, serving as an effective refractive index modulator for an individual photonic unit of the PC. By selectively inserting different plugs into their corresponding air holes, it was possible to realize various photonic circuits in the PC. We demonstrated this by forming three basic photonic building blocks in the PC using this approach, including a point-defect resonant cavity, a line-defect straight waveguide, and a 60-degree waveguide bend. Specifically, we designed the plugs and PC for the platform and investigated the influences of their structural parameters on photonic band diagrams and analyzed important optical properties of the three configured photonic building blocks using three-dimensional (3-D) plane-wave (PWM) and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods. Also, we studied the influences of possible fabrication, alignment, and mechanical actuation errors on the optical properties of each photonic circuit. This work can benefit the efforts toward realizing a nano-opto-mechanical reconfigurable photonic integrated circuit (PIC) platform.
Use of contrast studies without local drainage in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

prolapse in women, cystocele, cystourethrocele, or rectocele were excluded. Results: 73 females and 59 males, mean age 53 (47–70), Mean weight was 295.7 87.9 lb, Mean BMI was 52.65 14.49 kg/m. All patients underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Subjects completed the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (SF-36) at 12 months after surgery. 46 patients responded to the questionnaire. Results: Excess weight loss was 67.9% 19.2%. Quality of life has greatly improved in 93% of patients. Incontinence episodes decreased to 1 per week after weight reduction in 4 patients, whereas in 42 resolved completely. Conclusions: The study demonstrated an association between surgically induced weight reduction and improved urinary incontinence. PII: S1550-7289(05)00245-5
9‐Ethyl‐3,6‐Dimethylcarbazole (DMECZ)

9-Ethyl-3,6-dimethylcarbazole (DMECZ) intermediate: 3,6-dibromo-9-ethylcarbazole product: 9-ethyl-3,6-dimethylcarbazole Keywords: alkylation, C-alkylation; alkylation, N-alkylation; coupling
Intensive dietary advice significantly improves HbA(1c) in patients with type II diabetes who remain hyperglycaemic despite optimised drug treatment

Commentary on: KJ Coppell, M Kataoka, SM Williams, et al.. Nutritional intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes who are hyperglycaemic despite optimised drug treatment–Lifestyle Over and Above Drugs in Diabetes (LOADD) study: randomised controlled trial. BMJ2010;341:c3337.
Relative dispersion of a scalar plume in a turbulent boundary layer

The relative dispersion of a scalar plume is examined experimentally. A passive fluorescent tracer is continuously released from a flush-bed mounted source into the turbulent boundary layer of a laboratory-generated open channel flow. A two-dimensional particle image velocimetry–laser-induced florescence (PIV–LIF) technique is applied to measure the instantaneous horizontal velocity and concentration fields. Measured results are used to investigate the relationship between the boundary-layer turbulence and the evolution of the distance-neighbour function, namely the probability density distribution of the separation distance between two marked fluid particles within a cloud of particles. Special attention is paid to the hypothesis that a diffusion equation can describe the evolution of the distance-neighbour function. The diffusion coefficient in such an equation, termed the ‘relative diffusivity’, is directly calculated based on the concentration distribution. The results indicate that the relative diffusivity statistically depends on particle separation lengths instead of the overall size of the plume. Measurements at all stages of the dispersing plume collapse onto a single curve and follow a 4/3 power law in the inertial subrange. The Richardson–Obukhov constant is estimated from the presented dataset. The relationship between the one-dimensional (1D) representation of the distance-neighbour function and its three-dimensional (3D) representation is discussed. An extended model for relative diffusivity beyond the inertial subrange is proposed based on the structure of the turbulent velocity field, and it agrees well with measurements. The experimental evidence implies that, while the diffusion of the distance-neighbour function is completely determined by the underlying turbulence, the overall growth rate of the plume is affected by both the turbulent flow and its actual concentration distribution.
Patterns of Elite Succession in the Process of Development

The following pages attempt to trace the various paths of political change that societies may follow in the process of economic development. Politics is conceived of as involving conflicts of interest, and we shall, therefore, emphasize not only change rather than stability, but also conflict rather than consensus. This requires first of all an analysis of those divisions in society that might give rise to conflicts. The lines of conflict differ greatly from society to society, but since we here generalize about all societies undergoing economic development, we must draw the lines very loosely and roughly. Thus, we are concerned with the politicization of broad socio-economic groupings, like peasants, industrial workers, and urban middle strata of artisans, traders, etc., without distinguishing between groups within them or paying attention to divisions cutting across them, like ethnic or religious ones. Primarily, our focus is on various types of elites, not because we believe that any society as a whole is governed by some one power elite, but because in societies with limited political participation major decisions at the national governmental level, are made by a relatively few people. This does not mean, however, that others may not make decisions within the army or the church, within the village or the tribe., within the factory or the trade union. In underdeveloped countries, we distinguish broadly between two types of elites. One of these is the aristocrats, that is, those who control (but
Pharmacist screening for depression among patients with diabetes in an urban primary care setting

Abstract Objectives To identify possible undiagnosed and under- treated depression in patients with diabetes in an urban primary care setting using screening by a student pharmacist, to develop a better understanding of the influence of comorbid depression on diabetes control, and to identify predictors of increased risk for comorbid depression. Methods Patients from an underserved, low-income, inner- city setting who were receiving primary follow-up diabetes care at five Cincinnati Health Department clinics were evaluated for depression using the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). A student pharmacist questioned patients on their medical history and documented the information. After the appointment, the student pharmacist also gathered information from patient medical charts, including patient characteristics, age, social history, pertinent laboratory results (glycosylated hemoglobin [A1C], fasting blood glucose, lipid panel information), and documented comorbidities. A positive screen for depression was defined as an SDS score of 50 or more, and the result of the screening was documented as a clinical note in the patient's medical chart. Based on SDS scores, severity of depressive symptoms was categorized as mild (50–59), moderate (60–69), or severe (> 70). Results 45 patients (2 with type 1 diabetes and 43 with type 2 diabetes, 41 aged > 40 years, 35 black, 31 women, and 31 uninsured) were enrolled in the study. Based on the data collected and SDS results, 12 patients (27%) had a current diagnosis of depression from their primary care physician. For this group of 12, the SDS acted as a quality-assurance tool, identifying 3 patients (25%) as adequately treated (SDS scores 50 with pharmacologic and/or nonpharmacologic therapy), and 3 (25%) as not treated at all (SDS scores > 50 without pharmacologic or nonpharmacologic therapy). Of the 33 patients (73%) without a current diagnosis of depression, 16 (48%) screened positive for depression and 17 were not depressed (52%). No significant differences were observed between nondepressed and depressed participants in mean A1C or fasting blood glucose. Conclusion Poorly controlled depression in patients with diabetes can be identified by pharmacists in the primary care setting via use of a brief screening tool such as the SDS.
Work in Progress: Assessing Student Confidence of Introductory Statistics Concepts

A goal of concept inventories is to assess students' misconceptions. However, it is often unclear whether students possess an incorrect conceptual framework or are merely guessing. To distinguish between these possibilities, students who completed the Statistics Concept Inventory (SCI) rated confidence in their answers. A positive trend was found between percent correct and mean item confidence across items (r = +0.306, p = 0.031). This study allows comparison with previous research on statistical reasoning skills, with student interviews the next logical step in the process.
Video Captions Benefit Everyone

Video captions, also known as same-language subtitles, benefit everyone who watches videos (children, adolescents, college students, and adults). More than 100 empirical studies document that captioning a video improves comprehension of, attention to, and memory for the video. Captions are particularly beneficial for persons watching videos in their non-native language, for children and adults learning to read, and for persons who are D/deaf or hard of hearing. However, despite U.S. laws, which require captioning in most workplace and educational contexts, many video audiences and video creators are naive about the legal mandate to caption, much less the empirical benefit of captions.
Is biliary scintigraphy a reliable diagnostic tool for biliary dyskinesia in children

Background and aim The role of hepatobiliary scintiscan (HIDA) in children suspected to be having functional biliary tract disease has not been studied. We evaluated HIDA scan results as long-term prognostic indicators for biliary dyskinesia with or without intervention. Methods Children who had HIDA scan for chronic abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting were included. These children had inconclusive gastrointestinal diagnostic workup. HIDA scan was performed according to a standardized protocol. Clinical data were collected by retrospective chart review. A telephonic survey was done 5 years after the initial HIDA scan to document long-term outcome. Results Forty-two of 61 children had abnormal HIDA scan. There was no difference between children with normal and abnormal HIDA results in clinical presentations, short-term (85.7% and 84.2%) and long-term (64.9% and 60%) outcomes. Twenty-seven of the 42 children with abnormal scan results underwent interventions (21 cholecystectomy only, 4 cholecystectomy followed by sphincter of Oddi sphincterotomy, and 2 sphincterotomy only). After intervention, children with abnormal HIDA scan had better short-term prognosis (88.9% and 54.5%), but their long-term prognosis (52.2% and 85.7%) was worse than those without intervention. No clinical prognostic factor could be identified. Conclusions HIDA scan result is not a good prognostic indicator in children with suspected biliary dyskinesia. Caution should be exercised while using HIDA scan for selecting patients for surgical intervention. Focused prospective studies are needed to define biliary dyskinesia in children.
Impulsiveness, and trait displaced aggression among drug using female sex traders.

Abstract Objective This study compared women who sex trade for drugs, money, or both compared to neither (did not sex trade), and introduced the concept of trait displaced aggression to the literature on sex trading. Methods Female participants (n = 1055) were recruited from a low-income area of southern California. Measures included: the Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS), Eysenck Impulsiveness Scale (EIS), and the Displaced Aggression Questionnaire (DAQ). Results Women who traded sex for both drugs and money used crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and alcohol significantly more, scored higher on the BIS, and the EIS, and were significantly older. Those who only sex traded for drugs used more amphetamine, heroin, and injected drugs more days. They were also higher on the DAQ and all of the DAQ subscales. Those who traded for money only used marijuana more and were more likely to use marijuana before sex. Conclusions This study may help address specific issues unique to those who sex trade for different commodities in that the drugs used are different and the underlying personality characteristics are different.
Growth and Characterization of ZnSeTe Epilayers and Superlattices

Little has been published about Te-rich ZnSexTe1−x grown at low temperatures, in spite of some successes in the fabrication of wide band gap light emitting devices from ZnSeTe alloys grown at higher temperatures. We present x-ray diffraction and photoluminescence (PL) spectra for ZnSeTe epilayers and ZnSeTe/ZnTe superlattices grown by molecular beaCm epitaxy (MBE). These we compare with measurements on ZnTe, ZnSe and CdZnTe epilayers and on CdZnTe/ZnTe superlattices grown under similar conditions and also with data published for ZnSeTe alloys grown at high temperatures. Equilibrium phase diagrams for the ZnSeTe alloy system suggest a large miscibility gap at MBE growth temperatures; this may account for some unusual features in the (PL) spectra and for large line widths in the x-ray data. In spite of these possible miscibility problems, we find that ZnSeTe alloys luminesce brightly.
Initiation of Eocene Lacustrine Sedimentation in the Greater Green River Basin: Luman Member of the Green River Formation

The Luman Member is the lowermost unit of the lacustrine Green River Formation, and provides an opportunity to examine in detail the initiation of lacustrine deposition within the Greater Green River Basin during the Early Eocene. Well-drained alluvial and fluvial strata of the Wasatch Formation are overlain by carbonaceous mudstone, channelized sandstone and isolated interbedded pond deposits of the lower Luman Member, which are in turn overlain by laterally extensive calcareous mudstone of the upper Luman Member, and together record a conformable progression alluvial to paludal to lacustrine environments. Here we describe alluvial, paludal and lacustrine lithofacies along a basin-scale transect through the Luman Member depocenter. Based on detailed correlation of Luman Member strata, freshwater lakes formed first in isolated regions of high subsidence to the east and west of the Rock Springs Uplift, then expanded and became more prone to carbonate deposition.
Management of Infected Vascular Prostheses

Management of an infected vascular prosthesis must be aggressive. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures should be obtained immediately and broad spectrum antibiotics started at once and modified as culture and sensitivities direct. A period of intensive local wound care should be carried out for several days if possible, before removal of the infected prosthesis. Prolonged local therapy is usually ill-advised since healing is rarely permanent until the graft is removed and the patient is constantly in danger of suture line disruption. Hemorrhage requires immediate removal of the infected portion of the prosthesis. Revascularization should be considered at the time of graft excision only if limb viability is questionable; otherwise it is best to wait until the infection has cleared and the wound has healed. Immediate or late revascularization will usually require an extra-anatomic bypass through uninfected tissue. The best form of treatment is, of course, prevention, which includes meticulous surgical technique, elimination of sources of contamination prior to surgery, and the use of prophylactic, systemic and local antibiotics.
Increased Calcium Current in Carotid Body Glomus Cells Following In Vivo Acclimatization to Chronic Hypoxia

1. Rat pups were gestated and born in normoxia (inspired O2 pressure 149 mmHg) or chronic hypoxia (insured O2 pressure 80 mmHg) to test whether chronic hypoxia alters carotid body glomus cell calci...
The Party as agent of social transformation

In contrast to the coalitions examined in the two preceding chapters, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as the agent of social transformation, is not predominantly concerned with economic issues. The function of social transformation is to restructure and reform society and social relations. In most revolutionary societies in the twentieth century, and certainly in China, the Communist Party is the special institution of social transformation. The Communist Party, once it seizes power, also provides overall leadership in the political system and mediates the relationships among the other intrastate coalitions. The Communist Party, then, is both above the other coalitions (this is particularly true of the central leadership) and the embodiment of one particular coalition. In its capacity as the organization charged with social transformation, the Communist Party is different from other ruling parties in one-party states. In Benjamin Schwartz's elegant characterization, the mystique of the Communist Party lies not in its organizational structure but in its transcendent status as the incarnation of the will of History and in its universal, messianistic, “proletarian” mission. From this stems its claim of infallibility and utter disinterestedness. It was this that provided the sanction for totalitarian intervention in every corner of life. After completion of the “Socialist Transformation of Capitalist Industry, Handicrafts and Commerce” and the collectivization of agriculture, the CCP had apparently completed its mission. Following the Soviet model, there was nothing left to be transformed – China had arrived at socialism (state ownership).
Urinary human chorionic gonadotropin isoform concentrations in doping control samples

Anti-doping laboratories routinely use immunoassays to measure urinary concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). To minimize immunoassay differences and false positive screen results from inactive isoforms (free β-subunit (hCGβ), β-subunit core fragment (hCGβcf)) laboratories now use intact hCG instead of total hCG immunoassays to measure hCG. To determine the distribution of hCG isoforms in urine, we determined the concentrations of intact hCG, hCGβ, and hCGβcf in male urine samples based on immunoassay total hCG concentrations using a sequential immunoextraction and a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. hCG was isolated using antibody-conjugated magnetic beads and unique tryptic peptides were quantified by LC-MS/MS. Negative samples with detectable but low total hCG concentrations (1.2-3.5 pmol/L) had intact and hCGβ concentrations <1.2 pmol/L, and hCGβcf concentrations <2.3 pmol/L by LC-MS/MS. Urine samples from an athlete receiving hCG had intact hCG concentrations ranging from 18.8 to 57.6 pmol/L, hCGβ concentrations <0.7 pmol/L, and hCGβcf concentrations ranging from 94 to 243% of the intact hCG concentration. In 27 atypical samples with total hCG concentrations ranging from 16.7 to 412.7 pmol/L with intact hCG <2.7 pmol/L by immunoassay, all samples had intact hCG concentrations <3.8 pmol/L and hCGβ concentrations <6.2 pmol/L by LC-MS/MS. hCGβcf concentrations by LC-MS/MS varied widely and ranged from 1.03 to 21.9 pmol/L. In summary, total hCG immunoassays significantly overestimate hCG concentrations and can produce false positive results. Although the intact hCG immunoassay slightly overestimates hCG concentrations compared to LC-MS/MS, it can distinguish between cases of hCG use and atypical cases with elevated total hCG concentrations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Critical Findings: Attempts at Reducing Notification Errors.

Abstract Purpose Ineffective communication of critical findings (CFs) is a patient safety issue. The aim of this study was to assess whether a feedback program for faculty members failing to correctly report CFs would lead to improved compliance. Methods Fifty randomly selected reports were reviewed by the chief of neuroradiology each month for 42 months. Errors included (1) not calling for a CF, (2) not identifying a CF as such, (3) mischaracterizing non-CFs as CFs, and (4) calling for non-CFs. The number of appropriately handled and mishandled reports in each month was recorded. The trend of error reduction after the division chief provided feedback in the subsequent months was evaluated, and the equality of time interval between errors was tested. Results Among 2,100 reports, 49 (2.3%) were handled inappropriately. Among non-CF reports, 98.97% (1,817 of 1,836) were appropriately not called and not flagged, and 88.64% (234 of 264) of CF reports were called and flagged appropriately. The error rate during the 11th through 32nd months of review (1.28%) was significantly lower than the error rate in the first 10 months of review (3.98%) ( P = .001). This benefit lasted for 21 months. Conclusions Review and giving feedback to radiologists increased their compliance with the CF protocol and decreased deviations from standard operating procedures for about 2 years (from month 10 to month 32). Developing new ideas for improving CF policy compliance may be required at 2- to 3-year intervals to provide continuous quality improvement.
Reconstruction of the area-moment-of-inertia of a rotor blade using a shifting point-load and the end-slope

AbstractThe main focus of this study was to develop an inverse model that could be used to determine the changes in sectional area-moment-of-inertia of a helicopter rotor blade from the knowledge of a shifting point-load and the end-slope data. In this investigation, the cross-sectional area-moment-of-inertias of a rotor blade model with n segments are reconstructed using a shifting point-load and the corresponding end-slope data. The end-slope data used in this inverse problem were numerically generated using the finite element method. The end-slope data and the loading were then used in the inverse problem to reconstruct the cross-sectional area-moment-of-inertias for the model. To solve the inverse problem, the solution domain was discretized into finite number of segments, and a shifting point-load was applied to the mid-point of each segment. The beam equation was then integrated to create a set of linear equations in terms of loading and end-slopes. Next, the resulting set of equations was solved si...
Destabilization of Oil-in-Water Emulsions Stabilized by Non-ionic Surfactants: Effect of Particle Hydrophilicity

We investigate the use of particle hydrophilicity as a tool for emulsion destabilization in Triton-X-100-stabilized hexadecane-in-water emulsions. The hydrophilicity of the particles added to the aqueous phase was found to have a pronounced effect on the stability of the emulsion. Specifically, the addition of hydrophilic fumed silica particles to the aqueous phase resulted in coarsening of the emulsion droplets, with droplet flocculation observed at higher particle concentrations. On the other hand, when partially hydrophobic fumed silica particles were added to the aqueous phase, coarsening of the emulsion droplets was observed at low particle concentrations and phase separation of oil and water was observed at higher particle concentrations. Surface tension and interfacial tension measurements showed significant depletion of the surfactant from the aqueous phase in the presence of the partially hydrophobic particles. The observed changes in the stability of the emulsion and the depletion of the surfact...
An Examination of gasoline pollutants from two-cycle Marine Engines within Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Jet skis are a very popular "toy" to have in the United States. They account for almost a third of all boat sales, and their numbers are growing rapidly. Unfortunately jet skis use two-cycle engines that pollute at unacceptable levels. Jet ski motors can emit up to 25% of its fuel right back into the water. This alarmed me and I wanted to take a deeper look into how bad jet skis pollute Las Vegas' primary water source. Lake Mead. I looked into how a two-cycle engine differs from a regular engine and I looked at the actual pollutants a two-cycle emits. After some background, I examined the water quality on Lake Mead to see if there was a contamination problem. From the data uncovered the local agencies feel there is no need for concern, and my thesis that jet skis should be banned from Lake Mead was not supported at all.
Vibrational Excitation and De-Excitation and Charge-Transfer of Molecular Ions in Drift Tubes

The combination of a drift tube and a flowing afterglow constructed by McFarland for his Ph.D. thesis1 opened up a wide range of experiments which can be carried out. The addition of the selected ion feature by Adams and Smith2 has substantially enhanced the versatility of this device, now called the selected ion flow drift tube (SIFDT). Theoretical advances in understanding the velocity (or energy) distributions of ions in drift tubes have greatly enhanced their utility. Lin and Bardsley3 and Viehland and Mason4 have successfully treated the problem of atomic ions in atomic buffer gases so that cross-sections or thermodynamic rate constants can be obtained for atomic ion reactions even though their velocity distributions are not Maxwellian. This allows drift tubes to be used for rate constant (or cross-section) measurements between thermal to a few eV, closing the gap between thermal energy and beam measurements.
Commemorating Chile’s Bicentennial and the Coup’s 40th Anniversary During the Piñera Administration

While celebrating the 200th anniversary of Chile’s independence and celebrating or mourning the 40th anniversary of the coup, President Pinera had to confront the past by pursuing several paradoxical policies: denying pardons, closing luxury prisons, continuing with the promotions of military officers involved in human rights abuses, and apologizing for crimes that he never supported. The major accomplishments of the administration were the streamlining of the procedural process; the reduction of the functions of the military courts; and proposing changes in the financing of the Armed Forces. Meanwhile, the 200th anniversary of the country’s independence and the 40th anniversary of the coup provided the space for belated apologies on the part of members of the courts and some right- and left-wing politicians.
Federal Spending and Quality of Life

The 2016 presidential election’s campaign and result are interesting in part because of the societal cleavages they revealed. In particular, the differences it revealed in conceptions of how liberal democracies ought to function. Although all elections do this to some extent, Senator Sanders’s campaign brought the question to the forefront of national dialogue. His thoughts about government’s role in healthcare and breaking up economic power centralized in large banks while advocating for limiting the power of corporations rallied many to his camp, especially young voters. Sanders’s position reveals a clear picture of government as a power for good. While his stance as a Democratic Socialist likely places him on the outskirts of this view, the heart of his position is not far from the main thrust of government’s role. Social contract theorist Thomas Hobbes believed that without government life would be little but a short and nasty affair. That government is needed to bring out the saint and tame the brute and care for those in need is a common view (Finer, 1997). This theory of government is intertwined with the well-being of individuals. Government is, along with other important factors like consent, justified because it makes people better off.
Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Aspirin Desensitization With Continuous Daily Aspirin Therapy in Aspirin-exacerbated Respiratory Disease

BackgroundAspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), also known as Samter’s triad or aspirin (ASA)-intolerant asthma, affects 7% of asthmatics and has a higher prevalence in those with chronic...
Alterations in dietary sodium intake affect cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity.

High dietary sodium intake has been linked to alterations in neurally mediated cardiovascular function, but the effects of high sodium on cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS) in healthy adults...
Screening for Important Base Identities in the Hairpin Ribozyme by In Vitro Selection for Cleavage

Random mutagenesis followed by an in vitro selection procedure was shown to be capable of identifying important bases of the hairpin ribozyme for cleavage of an RNA target sequence. The selection scheme enriched the RNA population for those molecules capable of efficient site-specific self-cleavage in the absence of ligation. Cleavable mutants were selected for all positions in loop 4 except for position A38, supporting the notion that A38 is an important base in the hairpin ribozyme. This has been confirmed by direct mutagenesis, validating the utility of this procedure. Thus, the method developed and reported here has utility for the selection of efficient hairpin ribozymes capable of highly efficient cleavage of a substrate RNA without a requirement for ribozyme-catalyzed ligation, conditions desired for many applications of catalytic RNA such as gene therapy.
Report of the Multicystic Kidney Registry: Preliminary Findings

AbstractMulticystic kidney was first described in a 7-month-old child. Some physicians advocate nephrectomy in such cases, while others have questioned this procedure. In 1986 the American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Urology established the Multicystic Kidney Registry to identify and follow patients with multicystic kidney disease. To date 441 patients have been registered, of whom 260 were managed nonoperatively. Based on followup of these patients no kidneys were removed for hypertension, infection, pain or tumor development. Long-term findings show that multicystic kidney disease may take as long as 20 years to resolve, and followup testing will be necessary.
Transferring Learned Activities in Smart Environments.

Most commonly-used techniques in smart environments such as ADL recognition are designed and tested for a specific space and a specific person; therefore learning in each environmental situation is treated as a separate context. In this paper, we try to develop a method for recognizing and transferring learned knowledge of activities between different residents. Our method is able to map activities despite intra-subject variability and inter-subject variability, by using a discontinuous mining method and a similarity measurement method. At the end, we will provide the results of our experiments on real data obtained from a smart apartment.
Biochemical and genetic studies of the synthesis and degradation of RuBP carboxylase.

The role of ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase in photosynthesis and photorespiration, its structure, and the genetics of subunit transmission have been well studied (1). Other aspects of the biology of RuBP carboxylase have received less attention; in particular, the timing and the genetic regulation of its synthesis and degradation require further study. Knowledge of the timing and the effects on it of environmental and developmental cues will contribute to an understanding of whether the amount of RuBP carboxylase protein is a limiting factor in photosynthesis. Examination of the large and small subunits separately should clarify whether the small subunit is necessary to induce synthesis of the large one. The orderly progression of plastid development (2) and of leaf senescence (3) indicates that these are well regulated processes. Nonetheless the genetic regulation of RuBP carboxylase synthesis and degradation must be characterized and described before these developmental processes can be fully understood.
The amino acid composition of Rhizobium meliloti flagellin: occurrence of a single tryptophan residue.

Abstract Flagella were isolated from cultures of Rhizobium meliloti strain RM2011 and purified to homogeneity as determined by the presence of a single band of the monomeric flagellin subunit following sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Classical hydrochloric acid hydrolysis showed that the amino acid composition of RM2011 flagellin was generally similar to that of other bacterial flagellins. Hydrolysis with methanesulfonic acid indicated that, unlike other flagellins, RM2011 flagellin contained a single tryptophan residue per molecule. Analysis of the products obtained by the reaction of the flagellin with N-bromosuccinimide under conditions specific for cleavage at tryptophan residues confirmed the presence of a single tryptophan residue.
On Teaching Kim’s Convenience: Asian American Studies, Asian Canadian Studies, and the Politics of Race in Asian Canadian Theatre and Performance Studies

This article offers a critical overview and rationale for why and to what ends Daniher put a comparative Asian North American method into practice in her classroom on Asian American Theatre and Performance Studies at Brown University in Spring 2016. In particular, Daniher focuses on pairing Ins Choi’s play-text Kim’s Convenience (2011) alongside a viewing of the made-for-PBS broadcast of Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 (2001) in order to broach the topic of anti-Black racism in both Canada and the US in the Black Lives Matter moment . Although Daniher describes here a course and learning experience from within a US-American institutional setting, she directs the following emergent queries to the field of Canadian Theatre and Performance Studies in light of its recent inauguration of the new “sub-field” of Asian Canadian Theatre and Performance Studies: How should we frame Asian Canadian theatre and performance in the classroom? For what purpose and under what curricular conditions do we teach racialized “minority” repertoires of theatre and performance in Canada? Drawing on overlapping genealogies of Asian American and Asian Canadian Studies, Daniher contends that a more rigorous engagement with existing theories, methods, and critical analyses of racial power is urgently needed if Asian Canadian Theatre Studies hopes to coincide with the larger political-ethical stakes of “Asian Canadian studies projects” writ-large.
Examining the Capacity of Registered Nurses to Deliver Culturally Competent Health Care to Veterans and Their Families.

Background Although more than 75% of veterans and their families are accessing care in non-Veterans Affairs (VA) settings, there is little information about health care workers, specifically registered nurses (RNs)' ability to provide culturally competent and appropriate care to military veterans and their families. Purpose The purpose was to examine the capacity of RNs working in non-VA hospitals to deliver culturally competent health care to military veterans and their families. Methods A prospective survey design was carried out with nurses from a large academic health system. The RAND Corporation's Ready to Serve web-based survey was adapted with permission for use with RNs employed in civilian urban and community hospitals. In addition to reporting descriptive statistics on demographics and each individual item, a score was calculated to define high cultural competency. Results Twenty-five (4%) RNs demonstrated the capacity to deliver culturally competent health care. Conclusions This study revealed significant gaps in the capacity of nurses to deliver culturally competent care to military veterans and their families.
Exploring Indie Game Development: Team Practices and Social Experiences in A Creativity-Centric Technology Community

The emergence of various interest-based online communities has led to the popularity of new forms of distributed creative teamwork such as citizen science, crowdsourcing, and open source software development. These new phenomena further complicate the context and content of distributed creative teamwork: what are the characteristics of these new forms of creative teams? And how do they shape people’s perceptions and social experiences of distributed creative teams? In this paper, we report our empirical research of the team characteristics and practices in a creativity-centric technology community (i.e., independent [indie] game development) in hopes of exploring these questions. Our findings show that 1) indie game development teams are formed upon shared aspirations and use various strategies to collaborate with friends or online strangers; and their team practices are achieved through a balance between individual creativity and collective vision as well as a collaborative learning for problem solving and self-improvement; and 2) these teams mediate new forms of social interaction and collaborative experiences, featuring a mix of online comradery and weak social ties, and a mix of self-confidence and self-confliction. Using this new dataset and research context, we confirm and extend existing theories of distributed creative teams in CSCW. We also argue that studying these small-scale, self-selected, and interest-based teams can inform the design of collaborative systems to support various creative teams’ social needs.
Copyright & Online Resources: It Doesn't Have To Be Complicated

Copyright is a challenging subject area for instructors to ensure compliance with, and discerning it in the fair use of online instruction materials can be daunting. A clear definition of fair use under the Copyright Act and a helpful mnemonic to determine the four factors of it are discussed as well as open educational practices. These contribute to a thought process for instructors to make informed decisions about the use of copyrighted or open education online instruction materials with practical strategies and additional recommended technology tools to help.
Variable in Vivo and in Vitro Biological Effects of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticle Formulations

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) exhibit redox capacity in vitro with efficacy in in vivo disease models of oxidative stress. Here we compare, in parallel, three CeNP formulations with distinct chemical stabilizers and size. In vitro assays revealed antioxidant activity from all the CeNPs, but when administered to mice with a reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated model of multiple sclerosis, only custom-synthesized Cerion NRx (CNRx) citrate-EDTA stabilized CeNPs provided protection against disease. Detectable levels of ceria and reduced ROS levels in the brains of CNRx CeNP-treated mice imply that these CeNPs’ unique properties influence tissue distribution and subsequent biological activity, suggesting why differing CeNP formulations yield different in vivo effects in various models. Further, the variation in in vivo vs in vitro results with these CeNP formulations highlights the necessity for in vivo studies that confirm whether the inherent catalytic activity of CeNPs is maintained after transport and distribution within intact biological systems.
Survival after checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic acral, mucosal and uveal melanoma.

Background Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are thought to be effective against cutaneous melanoma in part because of the large burden of somatic mutations (neoantigens) generated from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. However, rare melanoma subtypes arising from acral skin, mucosal surfaces, and the uveal tract are largely sun-shielded. Genomic studies show these sun-shielded melanomas have a paucity of neoantigens and unique biology; they are thought to be largely resistant to immunotherapy. It has not been definitively shown that CPI improves survival in metastatic sun-shielded melanoma. Methods We reviewed a single institutional experience using antibodies against CTLA-4, PD-1 and/or PD-L1 to treat patients with metastatic melanoma. Primary tumor histology was categorized as cutaneous, unknown, acral, mucosal, or uveal. We studied demographic data, treatment characteristics, and overall survival (OS) after CPI. Results We treated 428 patients with metastatic melanoma from 2007 to 2019. Primary tumors were cutaneous in 283 (66%), unknown in 55 (13%), acral in 22 (5%), mucosal in 38 (9%), and uveal in 30 (7%). Patients with metastatic disease from cutaneous primary tumors had median OS after CPI of 45 months compared with 17 months for acral (p=0.047), 18 months for mucosal (p=0.003), and 12 months for uveal (p Conclusions Long survival in patients with metastatic melanoma from acral, mucosal, and uveal primary tumors was associated with receipt of both anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies. Complete responses were rare, and local therapy was frequently employed to control disease progression. While sun-shielded melanomas exhibit worse outcomes after CPI than cutaneous melanomas, with an aggressive multidisciplinary approach, 5-year survival is still possible for 25%–32% of these patients.
A finite element Menter Shear Stress turbulence transport model

The Menter Shear Stress (SST) turbulence model has been added to FEARCE, a Los Alamos National Laboratory Finite Element reactive flow code for solution of fluid-structure interaction, and turbulen...
A constrained particle swarm optimization algorithm for hyperelastic and visco-hyperelastic characterization of soft biological tissues

A constrained particle swarm optimization algorithm (C-PSO) is introduced and modified for hyperelastic and visco-hyperelastic characterization of bovine brain tissue at three different strain rate...
Adaptive ankle exoskeleton gait training demonstrates acute neuromuscular and spatiotemporal benefits for individuals with cerebral palsy: A pilot study.

Abstract Background Gait abnormalities from neuromuscular conditions like cerebral palsy (CP) limit mobility and negatively affect quality of life. Increasing walking speed and stride length are essential clinical goals in the treatment of gait disorders from CP. Research question. How does over-ground gait training with an untethered ankle exoskeleton providing adaptive assistance affect mobility-related spatiotemporal outcomes and lower-extremity muscle activity in people with CP? Methods A diverse cohort of individuals with CP (n = 6, age 9–31, Gross Motor Function Classification System Level I – III) completed four over-ground training sessions (98 ± 17 min of assisted walking) and received pre- and post-training assessments. On both assessments, participants walked over-ground with and without the exoskeleton while we recorded spatiotemporal outcomes and muscle activity. We used two-tailed paired t-tests to compare all parameters pre- and post-training, and between assisted and unassisted conditions. Results Following training, walking speed increased 0.24 m/s (p = 0.006) and stride length increased 0.17 m (p = 0.013) during unassisted walking, while walking speed increased 0.28 m/s (p = 0.023) and stride length increased 0.15 m (p = 0.002) during exoskeleton-assisted walking. Exoskeleton training improved stride-to-stride repeatability of soleus and vastus lateralis muscle activation by up to 51 % (p ≤ 0.046), while the amount of integrated stance-phase muscle activity was similar across visits and conditions. Relative to baseline, post-training walking with the exoskeleton resulted in a soleus activity pattern that was 39 % more similar to the typical pattern from unimpaired individuals (p Significance This study demonstrates acute spatiotemporal and neuromuscular benefits from over-ground training with adaptive ankle exoskeleton assistance, and provides rationale for completion of a longer randomized controlled training protocol.
Alexander Bogdanov’s holistic world picture: a materialist mirror image of idealism

Between 1899 and 1906, Alexander Bogdanov developed a scientific philosophy intended to substantiate the basic principle of historical materialism—the idea that existence determines consciousness—in terms of the most advanced science and empiricist epistemology/ontology of his day. At the same time, however, he strove ‘to answer the broad needs of our workers for an overall worldview’, and in the process of doing so he elaborated a complete philosophical system and a holistic worldview. Although his intention was to serve the proletariat and advance socialist revolution, Bogdanov also provided the sort of integral vision of the interconnectedness of the individual, society, and the cosmos that the Russian intelligentsia had traditionally pursued. Bogdanov adopted a number of the principles of nineteenth-century German and Russian idealism, including the concept of the unity of the subject and the object and the ideas that the laws of thought are the same as the laws of being, that there is no qualitative difference between humans and nature, and that humanity is central in the progressive development of the cosmos. Bogdanov, however, provided a materialist mirror image of the idealist worldview. While Russian idealists celebrated spirituality, individual personhood, freedom, and religion, Bogdanov advocated materialism, collectivism, determinism, and naturalism.