cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor enhances cholinergic contraction of longitudinal muscle of rabbit intestine via activation of phospholipase C

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) belongs to the neurotrophin family of proteins best known for its role in neuronal survival, differentiation, migration, and synaptic plasticity in central and peripheral neurons. BDNF is also widely expressed in nonneuronal tissues including the gastrointestinal tract. The role of BDNF in intestinal smooth muscle contractility is not well defined. The aim of this study was to identify the role of BDNF in carbachol (CCh)- and substance P (SP)-induced contraction of intestinal longitudinal smooth muscle. BDNF, selective tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor agonists, and pharmacological inhibitors of signaling pathways were examined for their effects on contraction of rabbit intestinal longitudinal muscle strips induced by CCh and SP. BDNF activation of intracellular signaling pathways was examined by Western blot in homogenates of muscle strips and isolated muscle cells. One-hour preincubation with BDNF enhanced intestinal muscle contraction induced by CCh but not by SP. The selective synthetic TrkB agonists LM 22A4 and 7,8-dihydroxyflavone produced similar effects to BDNF. The Trk antagonist K-252a, a TrkB antibody but not p75NTR antibody, blocked the effect of BDNF. The enhancement of CCh-induced contraction by BDNF was blocked by the phospholipase C (PLC) antagonist U73122, but not by ERK1/2 or Akt antagonists. Direct measurement in muscle strips and isolated muscle cells showed that BDNF caused phosphorylation of TrkB receptors and PLC-γ, but not ERK1/2 or Akt. We conclude that exogenous BDNF augments the CCh-induced contraction of longitudinal muscle from rabbit intestine by activating TrkB receptors and subsequent PLC activation.
A study on water resources affected by shallow coal mining

Take the example of shendong mining area; the paper elaborated the transforming relationship among the precipitation, surface water and groundwater, the change process and the results of such conditions as the original groundwater flow field, aquifer structure, groundwater's recharge, runoff and discharge. This reduced the region evaporation and spring excretion, increased the capture of water resources from external basin, and resulted in a certain increase in total water resources of the region. As the gob accumulates water, the storage of groundwater affected by the mining is changed and the amount of directly available groundwater is reduced. The key to protection of water resources in shallow coal mining are controlling the development height of water conducted fractured zone and avoiding or reducing the damage of aquifer structure. As a resource, mine water has great potential of development and utilization in terms of quality and quantity.
Mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker (MARCM) for Drosophila neural development

We have modified an FLP/FRT-based genetic mosaic system to label either neurons derived from a common progenitor or isolated single neurons, in the Drosophila CNS. These uniquely labeled neurons can also be made homozygous for a mutation of interest within an otherwise phenotypically wild-type brain. Using this new mosaic system, not only can normal brain development be described with unprecedented single cell resolution, but also the underlying molecular mechanisms can be investigated by identifying genes that are required for these developmental processes.
On the stability of receding horizon control of bilinear parabolic PDE systems

We propose a framework to solve an optimal control problem for a bilinear parabolic partial differential equation (PDE). We formulate the problem as an abstract bilinear-quadratic regulator (BQR) problem. A receding horizon control (RHC) algorithm to solve the problem based on the infinite-dimensional system is proposed and stability of the algorithm for the solution of the BQR problem is studied. A successive approximation approach is used to numerically solve the quadratic optimal control problem subject to the bilinear PDE model associated with the RHC scheme. Finally, the proposed approach is applied to the current profile control problem in tokamak plasmas and its effectiveness is demonstrated in simulations.
Time-averaged behaviour of single and dual flying capacitor converters

The Single Flying Capacitor Converter (SFCC) and Dual Flying Capacitor Converter (DFCC) are two-quadrant power supplies for energy storage and transfer systems. They have applications in nuclear research and pulsed power systems in which superconductive coils are used. In this paper analytical expressions for the time-averaged behaviours of SFCC and DFCC are derived by using averaging technique. Because large superconductive magnet coils are used, time constants of the switched circuits are large enough compared to the switching period. Therefore, an averaged PWM switch equivalent circuit is substituted into the original converter circuits to find the averaged system equations. With this new insight in the averaged dynamics, their design and control can be optimized. Although DFCC has less coil current ripple compared to SFCC, the analysis will show that the averaged behaviours of both converters are the same.
White Matter Integrity Analysis along Cingulum Paths in Mild Cognitive Impairment - A Geodesic Distance Approach

We present a new analysis scheme to measure regional micro structural white matter (WM) changes along the major cingulum fiber bundles which may not be effectively performed by existing methods due to its curved geospatial feature. The primary advantages of the technique lie in the diffusion tensor imaging tractography and geodesic distance mapping. The volumetric major cingulum is represented by a reconstructed fiber bundle. Quantitative analysis of regional micro structural WM alterations is based on the geodesic distance mapping, which allows cross-subject evaluation of diffusion properties by establishing correspondences through reparameterizing the space of reconstructed fiber bundle as a function of geodesic distance. Evaluation of the technique explores regional fractional anisotropy degradations along the left cingulum path in amnestic mild cognitive impairment subjects. Our experimental results indicate that this approach is effective and may provide a more sensitive alternative to examining the WM integrity of brain neuronal connectivity.
Body politics and spaces of drug addiction in Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream

Through a critical analysis of Darren Aronofsky’s filmic adaptation of Hubert Selby’s Jr.’s Requiem for a Dream (2000), this article explores different relational understandings of drug using bodies and spaces of addiction. In an attempt to move away from modernist readings of addiction I look to different relational and ethical understandings of bodies and assemblages offered in the work of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. By approaching the subject of drug addiction through the film and Deleuzian–Guattarian philosophy, this article presents different insights and alternative political and ethical imaginaries of what drug bodies and spaces are and do.
Antecedent Stimulus Control: Using Orienting Cues to Facilitate First-Word Acquisition for Nonresponders with Autism

Although considerable progress has been made in improving the acquisition of expressive verbal communication in children with autism, research has documented that a subpopulation of children still fail to acquire speech even with intensive intervention. One variable that might be important in facilitating responding for this nonverbal subgroup of children is the use of antecedent orienting cues. Using a multiple baseline design, this study examined whether individualized orienting cues could be identified, and whether their presentation would result in the production of verbal expressive words. The results showed that this antecedent stimulus control procedure produced improvements in responding to verbal models in all of the children, and subsequent gains in speech for some of the children. Theoretical and applied implications of orienting cues as they relate to antecedent stimulus control for children with autism are discussed.
De novo testosterone production in luteinizing hormone receptor knockout mice after transplantation of leydig stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells or Leydig cell progenitors are rare and difficult to isolate from adult testes. The property of differential efflux of Hoechst 33342 dye by the multi-drug-like transporter enriches murine hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow. Our work on testicular cell transplantation suggests that the “Hoechst dim” side population (SP) also contains Leydig stem cells or progenitors that proliferate and differentiate into mature functional Leydig cells. We harvested testicular cells from cryptorchid ROSA26 mice, stained them with Hoechst dye, and isolated the cell population that excludes the dye using flow cytometry. Mice with targeted deletion of the LH receptor (LHR) gene were used as the recipients of the transplanted cells. These mice are hypogonadal and infertile. Both testicular SP and non-SP cells were transplanted into the interstitium of the LHR knockout recipients’ testes. Serial serum testosterone assays revealed a significant increase in the circulating testosterone levels and res...
A new approach to output feedback eigenstructure assignment by way of a bilinear transformation

The output feedback eigenstructure assignment problem is examined, and a new approach to computing the output feedback gain matrix is presented. A key advantage to this new approach is that the number of unknowns, which must be found such that a solution is obtained, is significantly reduced. Another advantage is that, since there is no subjective component introduced in the formulation of the design method which may inhibit or bias the results in some way, several, and in some cases all, solutions can be generated. These solutions may then be examined and candidate designs may be selected. It is proposed that, if coupled to an application specific expert system, the presented methodology can greatly reduce design time while providing superior designs. An example is given to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed method. >
Gonadotroph and other clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas

Gonadotroph adenomas are the most common pituitary macroadenomas but are the hardest to recognize because they secrete inefficiently and their secretory products usually do not cause a recognizable clinical syndrome. Consequently, they are the pituitary adenomas most likely to be clinically nonfunctioning, although occasionally other pituitary adenomas may also be clinically nonfunctioning.
Diffusion-weighted MR imaging offers no advantage over routine noncontrast MR imaging in the detection of vertebral metastases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the spine has been used to differentiate benign from pathologic vertebral body compression fractures. We sought to determine the utility of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the detection of vertebral metastases and to compare it with conventional noncontrast T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging. METHODS: Fifteen patients with metastases to the spine were studied using conventional MR imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging. Blinded review of all images was undertaken, and patients were categorized according to whether they had focal or multiple lesions. The signal intensity of the lesions was compared on T1-, T2- (fast spin-echo), and diffusion-weighted images. RESULTS: In five patients with focal disease, metastases were hypointense on T1-weighted images; hypointense (n = 2), isointense (n = 1), or hyperintense (n = 2) on T2-weighted images; and hypointense (n = 3) or hyperintense (n = 2) on diffusion-weighted images with respect to presumed normal bone marrow. In 10 patients with disease in multiple sites, all lesions were hypointense on T1-weighted images; hypointense (n = 2), isointense (n = 4), hyperintense (n = 2), or mixed (n = 2) on T2-weighted images; and hypointense (n = 5), hyperintense (n = 3), or mixed (n = 2) on diffusion-weighted images with respect to presumed normal bone marrow. CONCLUSION: As used in this study, diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the spine showed no advantage in the detection and characterization of vertebral metastases as compared with noncontrast T1-weighted imaging, but was considered superior to T2-weighted imaging.
On the Glassey-Schaeffer Estimates for Linear Landau Damping

I revisit Glassey and Schaeffer’s (1994) analysis of the decay rate for linear Landau damping. I show that their argument can be simplified and extended to a larger class of initial conditions by calculating explicitly the k → 0 limit of the propagator that determines the time-evolution of the solutions in Fourier space. I also show that the decay estimates for the propagator can be refined by considering a new small-k domain where the dispersion function is bounded away from zero. As a result, I obtain improved algebraic decay rates when the background Vlasov equilibrium decays as a power law as |v| → ∞.
High Definition Fiber Tracking Exposes Circuit Diagram for Brain Showing Triarchic Representation, Domain General Control, and Metacognitive Subsystems

Dramatic advances in the last six months in High Definition Fiber Tracking (HDFT) make it possible to image brain fiber connectivity from source to destination, mapping hundreds of thousands of fiber tracts with sufficient resolution to identify the cable-level circuit diagram of the human brain. Brain activity imaging studies using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) identify differential activation patterns as a function of task and level of practice. These data show subnetworks which suggest communication of high bandwidth vector associations, scalar priority and control signals, and interactions with control and meta-cognition. The connectivity and activity data support a triarchic cognitive architecture. In this model, processing is the synergistic interaction of three interlinked cognitive computational systems with differential computation roles and evolutionary histories. This model provides a guide to interpretation of the interaction of the major systems levels of the human brain.
Anaerobic Downflow Stationary Fixed Film Reactors: Performance Under Steady-State and Non-Steady State Conditions

Performance of downflow stationary fixed film reactors depended on factors such as type of film support, film surface-to-volume ratio, height, temperature and fluid flow pattern. The downflow operation ensured the dilution of the waste as soon as it entered the reactor. Loading rates and organic removal efficiencies depended on the total amount of active biomass retained as well as on type of waste. For a wide variety of industrial wastes, including some of the forest industry, loading rates of 5 to 15 kg Chemical Oxygen Demand per m3 per day were readily obtained with removals of Chemical Oxygen Demand of 70-95%, depending on loading rate and type of waste. Severe hydraulic and organic overloadings were tolerated with operation back to normal, usually in 24 hours following cessation of adverse treatment. Reactors were operated with dilute and concentrated wastes (4000-130000 mg COD/1) and changed readily over from one waste to another. Intermittent loadings at high loading rates were also possible. Loading rates decreased linearly with temperatures between 35 and 10°C; at 10°C they were about 20% of those at 35°C. At thermophilic temperatures, loading rates and performance were similar to those at mesophilic temperatures. Results of a detailed study of mixing characteristics showed that mixing patterns, which depended on number of channels, their configuration and recirculation, affected performance noticeably.
Dysfunction, Diversion and the Debate over Preferences: (How) Do Preferential Trade Policies Work?

Should the trade regime provide differential treatment to developing states? Or are uniform, nondiscriminatory rules more appropriate? Twenty years ago, in Developing Countries in the GATT System, Robert Hudec used political economy arguments to claim that preferential trade policies harmed developing states. This essay, part of a volume marking publication of a new edition of Developing Countries, argues that Hudec's claims are necessarily limited by the methodological approaches he used, the theory of trade politics he adopted, and the ontology of the international system that he drew upon. The paper examines Hudec's arguments in light of subsequent scholarship on preferences that uses other methodologies, particularly econometrics. Thus, the paper seeks to examine what we know about preferences, and how we know it. Moreover, in juxtaposing different methodological approaches, the paper suggests a progressive research agenda designed to enhance our understanding of how preferences work and, in particular, their effects on developing states.
CHANGES IN PULMONARY ARTERY PRESSURE OVER TIME PREDICT RISK OF HEART FAILURE HOSPITALIZATION

In the CHAMPION trial, mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) measured at implant was a strong predictor of risk of heart failure (HF) hospitalizations (HFH). We evaluated the impact of change in PA pressure over time on the risk of HFH. CHAMPION randomized 550 previously-hospitalized patients with
The Social Neighborhood: An Unspecified Factor in Homeowner Maintenance?

This article analyzes both theoretically and empirically the relationship between owner-occupants' housing maintenance behavior and their social relationships within their neighborhoods. This "soci...
Equation of State for Multi-functional Energetic Structural Materials

Current investigations of multi-functional energetic structural materials (MESM) involve shock-induced and shock-assisted chemical reactions, in which complex physical processes are only elucidated by computational models of gas-gun experiments at the present time. The equation of state (EOS) is the one of the most important parts of the constitutive models incorporated into models that describe the processes in shock-induced and shockassisted chemical reactions. Implementation of current methods typically require many simplifying assumptions in the mixture rules. In this paper, two new EOS algorithms are proposed that i) can be used to physically interpret both homobaric and uniform strain assumptions, ii) do not require mixture averaged EOS parameters, and iii) do not have any restrictions on the form of constituent EOS or pore collapse model. Advantages of the proposed algorithms are discussed and comparisons are made with other mixture averaging methods. To demonstrate their use, a gas-gun experiment is simulated for a material with 2Al+Fe2O3 + 20 wt.% Epon828 + voids. The conservation equations and momentum balance are integrated in Eulerian coordinates using a second order finite volume scheme.
Assessment of Structural Integrity of Titanium Weldments for U.S. Navy Applications

The U.S. Navy has several uses for structural welded titanium, taking advantage of its good strength to weight ratio and corrosion resistance. Examples, both current and emerging, include M777 howitzer support components and aircraft elevator doors for aircraft carriers. As welding procedures are defined for these applications, weld strength and fatigue performance are structural properties crucial to the service capability. Acceptance criteria for weld imperfections can also be crucial to productivity and serviceability. Data from these development programs will be shown and the larger context of knowledge on structural titanium weldments discussed, including effects of alloy content and welding process effects. Some of this context has been embodied in the first welding design code for titanium alloy welded structures D1.9:2007 from the American Welding Society, through its consensus standards process and the work of many volunteers. Defining the provisions of this new code required collecting and summarizing both strength and fatigue data for titanium structural welds, including data from the howitzer welding development program. The design provisions were based on these data, but only in context of the other provisions of the code in areas of welding procedure qualification, fabrication, ballistic testing and inspection. For instance, the allowable imperfection sizes found on inspection had to be correlated with the expected fatigue performance of imperfect welds. Some of the tension between individual application development and code provisions will be discussed, as well as their means of resolution. The accommodation for engineering computation and experience in this process will be described.
Advanced Vertical Lift Aircraft Demonstrator: Design for Certification of a Hover Lift-Drive System

The advanced vertical lift aircraft demonstrator has been designed and analyzed to meet the requirements of the 2013-2014 American Helicopter Society International Design Competition request for proposal for a vertical take-off and landing experimental aircraft. Although the subject aircraft is a demonstrator aircraft, it is important to consider the effects of reliability in design due to the implications it has on possible future production versions of the aircraft. While there is little need for large life-times at this stage, a low maintenance footprint will eventually be desirable, and hover lift and drive systems would not have to be re-designed. Design recommendations for a reliable system are proposed. A preliminary systems safety assessment was used to set safety goals, which contributed to the analyses of three design options for the hover lift and drive systems. Operational and functional architectures are presented along with the function descriptions of the demonstrator. To classify functional importance, potential failure modes, and the criticality of their impact on the system, a functional hazard assessment was created. The analysis was performed based on reliability models including a Weibull distribution, mean time to failure, and failure time modeling, which were determined for each component of the system. A fault tree analysis and reliability block diagrams were created for the proposed transmission lift systems, and their results were compared. In addition, a stochastic petri analysis was performed to model one year of projected operations of a production version of the demonstrator aircraft, where the dynamic changes allowed understanding of how the redundancy inherent in the aircraft would affect mission failure rates. These analyses were followed by an operational availability assessment and calculations for maintenance free operation periods of the proposed lift and drive systems.
Conflict-Affected Contexts and Emergence of Global Education Policy

This chapter addresses education reform in conflict-affected settings and discusses the ways in which such reform can be influenced—and then elsewhere leveraged — by international organizations. In so doing, I will argue not only that conflict-affected settings are particularly susceptible to international influence, but, more broadly, that conflict affected settings can serve—indeed, have served—as an important “blind spot” where certain kinds of reforms are inscribed and then promoted by international organizations that must “sell” policies to sustain their raison d’etre (Santos, 2007).
In vivo photoacoustic neuronal imaging of odor-evoked calcium signals in the drosophila brain (Conference Presentation)

Neural scientists can benefit greatly from imaging tools that can penetrate thick brain tissue. Compared with traditional optical microscopy methods, photoacoustic imaging can beat the optical diffusion limit and achieve such deep tissue imaging with high spatial resolution. In this study, we used an optical-resolution photoacoustic microscope to image the odor-evoked neuronal activities in a drosophila model. Drosophila brain neurons stably express GCaMP5G, a calcium-sensitive fluorescent protein whose optical absorption coefficient changes with calcium influx during action potentials. We recorded an ~20% odor-evoked fractional photoacoustic signal increase at all depths of the drosophila brain in vivo, with and without removal of the brain cuticle, at a recording rate of 1 kHz. Our results were confirmed by concurrent fluorescent recordings. Furthermore, by performing fast 2D scanning, we imaged the antenna lobe region, which is of particular interest in neuroscience, at a volumetric rate of ~1 Hz with a sub-neuron resolution of 3 m. Unlike optical imaging, which requires surgical removal of the scattering brain cuticle, our photoacoustic system can image through the cuticle and measure neuronal signals of the whole drosophila brain without invasive surgery, enabling minimal disturbance to the animal’s behaviors. In conclusion, we have demonstrated photoacoustic imaging of calcium signals in drosophila brains for the first time. Utilizing the deep imaging capability of photoacoustic tomography, our methods could potentially be extended to in vivo imaging of neuronal activities from deep brains in other animal models.
The Longevity Visualizer: An Analytic Tool for Exploring the Cohort Mortality Data Produced by the Office of the Chief Actuary

This note introduces the Longevity Visualizer (LV), a visual-analysis tool that enables users to explore various applications of cohort life-table data compiled and calculated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Chief Actuary. The LV presents the life-table data in two series — survival functions and age-at-death probability distributions — each of which is generated for each potential age and each sex across a long range of historical and projected birth cohorts. The LV is designed to make complex longevity projections accessible to analysts and researchers, as well as to individuals making financial and retirement plans.
Perioperative Outcomes following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radical Cystectomy—Is There Room for Improvement?

AbstractIntroduction: We identify the impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before open radical cystectomy on perioperative outcomes and identify actionable areas for improvement.Methods: The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on perioperative outcomes after radical cystectomy for muscle invasive bladder cancer from 2003 to 2014 was assessed using an institutional database. Individual outcomes (venous thromboembolism, surgical site infection, cardiac event) and a composite score using the Clavien-Dindo classification were identified. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of perioperative complication and 30-day readmission rates.Results: A total of 241 patients were included in the study, of whom 175 underwent radical cystectomy alone (72.6%) and 66 were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radical cystectomy (27.4%). The 30-day readmission rate for the neoadjuvant chemotherapy cohort was 30.5% compared to 17.2% for radical cystectomy alone. Multivari...
Teacher & Policy Alignment: A Phenomenological Study Highlighting Title I High School Teachers’ Professional Development Experiences

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explicate how teachers at one Title I high school in a large urban school district in the Southwest perceive and describe their professional development (PD) experiences. Findings indicate that teachers’ experiences of PD do not align with high quality PD requirements stipulated by federal law and state policies. Teachers’ articulated hopes for what PD “should” be, however, do align with federal law and state policies. Findings have implications for further evaluation of educational policy implementation gaps in Title I schools, along with changes to Title I requirements in states granted Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility waivers from the 2014 targets set by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001.
»Miss Sara Sampson« und die Folgen

Statt des standesbewusten Burgers, den Lillos bgl. Tr. auf die Buhne brachte, erscheint im deutschen bgl. Tr. der ersten Phase der Privatmensch. Er wird vorgefuhrt in seinen mitmenschlichen, hauslich-nachbarlichen Beziehungen, verantwortungsvoll gebunden an seine Gemeinschaft; er ist der um Tugend bemuhte, gefuhlvolle, ja gefuhlsfreudige Mensch. Seine Gesinnung, die als grundsatzlich allen Standen zuganglich dargestellt wird, ist das Ethos der »Empfindsamkeit«.
Radiotherapy for Low-Grade Astrocytomas

The effect of radiotherapy on the survival of 143 children with low-grade (grade 1 or 2) astrocytomas was evaluated at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute, Manchester, UK.
Neutron and Gamma-Ray Spectra from 232Th, 235U, 238U, and 239Pu After Bombardment with 14-MeV Neutrons

AbstractThe neutron and gamma-ray leakage spectra from pulsed spheres having a radius equal to 1.0 mean-free-path (mfp) for 14-MeV neutrons in 232Th, 235U (with radii of 0.7 and 1.5 mfp), 228U (with radii of 0.8 and 2.8 mfp), and 239Pu (with radii of 0.7 and 1.25 mfp) were measured by using time-of-flight techniques. The neutron spectra were measured between 0.9 and 15 MeV using stilbene and NE-213 scintillators. For the gamma rays, the electron recoil spectra were measured between 0.35 and 8 MeV with the NE-213 detector only. Pulse-shape discrimination and flight paths of ∼10 m were used in these measurements. The measured spectra are compared with calculations carried out with TARTNP, a coupled neutron-photon Monte Carlo transport code. The Lawrence Livermore Laboratory ENDL (neutron and photon cross sections) and ENDF/B-IV libraries were used in these calculations.In the region between 10 and 15 MeV, the calculated neutron spectra are in good agreement with the measurements (±5%). The maximum discrepan...
Inspiration and Innovation: Religion in the American West

Review of: "Inspiration and Innovation: Religion in the American West," by Todd M. Ker-stetter.
Pathophysiology and implications of intradialytic hypertension.

Purpose of reviewIntradialytic hypertension occurs regularly in 10--15% of hemodialysis patients. A large observational study recently showed that intradialytic hypertension of any magnitude increased mortality risk comparable to the most severe degrees of intradialytic hypotension. The present revi
High performance, low cost carbon nanotube yarn based 3D printed electrodes compatible with a conventional screen printed electrode system

3D printing technology has been widely used as a rapid prototyping fabrication tool in several fields, including electrochemistry. In this work, we incorporate 3D printing technology with carbon nanotube yarns for electrochemical sensing of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid and uric acid. The novel 3D printed electrode provides a circular concavity detection zone with grooves to insert three electrodes. The electrode connections are fully compatible with conventional screen printed electrode workstation setups. The CNT yarn 3D printed electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for the redox reaction of dopamine (DA) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). Three well-defined sharp and fully resolved anodic peaks were found with the peak potentials using cyclic voltammetry (CV) at 50 mV, 305 mV, and 545 mV for AA, DA, and UA respectively and using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at 91 mV, 389 mV, and 569 mV, respectively. DA detection limit was 0.87 ± 0.09 µM. The CNT yarn 3D printed electrode displayed high reproducibility and stability. The electrode design enables the study of electrode reactions at the sidewall of CNTs, which cannot be performed using electrodes made by conventional fabrication methods. The new fabrication method provides a new platform to prototype new electrode materials for electrochemistry, providing a low-cost, customizable design compatible existing screen printed electrodes technology.
Photovoltaics moving into the terawatt age

Photovoltaic (PV) technology has experienced an amazing development during the last decade, driven by the rapidly decreasing cost at even more rapidly increasing production volumes. This development is discussed from both perspectives, the global PV market and the technology developments accompanying this process. An outlook is given for the possible size of the global PV installations in 2030 and 2050.
Factors controlling the photochemical degradation of methylmercury in coastal and oceanic waters

Abstract Many studies have recognized abiotic photochemical degradation as an important sink of methylmercury (CH 3 Hg) in sunlit surface waters, but the rate-controlling factors remain poorly understood. The overall objective of this study was to improve our understanding of the relative importance of photochemical reactions in the degradation of CH 3 Hg in surface waters across a variety of marine ecosystems by extending the range of water types studied. Experiments were conducted using surface water collected from coastal sites in Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maine, as well as offshore sites on the New England continental shelf break, the equatorial Pacific, and the Arctic Ocean. Filtered water amended with additional CH 3 Hg at environmentally relevant concentrations was allowed to equilibrate with natural ligands before being exposed to natural sunlight. Water quality parameters – salinity, dissolved organic carbon, and nitrate – were measured, and specific UV absorbance was calculated as a proxy for dissolved aromatic carbon content. Degradation rate constants (0.87–1.67 day − 1 ) varied by a factor of two across all water types tested despite varying characteristics, and did not correlate with initial CH 3 Hg concentrations or other environmental parameters. The rate constants in terms of cumulative photon flux values were comparable to, but at the high end of, the range of values reported in other studies. Further experiments investigating the controlling parameters of the reaction observed little effect of nitrate and chloride, and potential for bromide involvement. The HydroLight radiative transfer model was used to compute solar irradiance with depth in three representative water bodies – coastal wetland, estuary, and open ocean – allowing for the determination of water column integrated rates. Methylmercury loss per year due to photodegradation was also modeled across a range of latitudes from the Arctic to the Equator in the three model water types, resulting in an estimated global demethylation rate of 25.3 Mmol yr − 1 . The loss of CH 3 Hg was greatest in the open ocean due to increased penetration of all wavelengths, especially the UV portion of the spectrum which has a greater ability to degrade CH 3 Hg. Overall, this study provides additional insights and information to better constrain the importance of photochemical degradation in the cycling of CH 3 Hg in marine surface waters and its transport from coastal waters to the open ocean.
A compact 8-bit adder design using in-memory memristive computing: Towards solving the Feynman Grand Prize challenge

We introduce a new compact in-memory computing design for implementing 8-bit addition using eight vertically-stacked nanoscale crossbars of one-diode one-memristor 1D1M switches. Each crossbar in our design only has 5 rows and 4 columns. Hence, the design may be used to fabricate a compact 8-bit adder that meets the size constraint of 50nm χ 50nm χ 50nm imposed by the electrical component of the Feynman Grand Prize. The potential availability of sub-5nm nanoscale memristors and single-molecule diode devices coupled with the ability to fabricate high-density nanoscale memristor crossbars suggests that our design may eventually be fabricated to meet the size constraints of the Feynman Grand Prize.
Are We Rarely Free? A Response to Restrictivism

Arguments for Restrictivism – the position that we are rarely free– have been proposed by incompatibilists Peter van Inwagen and David Vander Laan among others. This article is concerned much more with these arguments than with quantifying the frequency of free actions. There are two general ways to argue for restrictivism. First, one may take a Negative Strategy, arguing that the situations in which one is not free are common and predominant. Second, one may focus on situations in which one is apparently free, and argue directly that these situations are rare – the Inventory Strategy. I conclude that both types of arguments for restrictivism are unconvincing.
BONY FISHES | Life in Hot Water: The Desert Pupfish

Dr. Carl L. Hubbs pioneered the study of desert fishes in the early twentieth century and coined the term ‘pupfish’ because their lively activity reminded him of puppies at play. Because of the small number of fish in many of the populations and the thermal environment they live in, desert pupfish species have been studied extensively as models for physiological adaptation and evolutionary change. They are also the object of conservation efforts because of water demands by human populations, and are vulnerable to extended drought and increased temperatures predicted by models for global climate change.
Dynamic spectral partitioning

Recursive Spectral Bisection (RSB) has been proposed as an efficient heuristic algorithm for partitioning problem for unstructured problems about six years ago, and has since become a widely used tool when implementing finite element applications on parallel processors. However, many applications have a dynamically changing communication pattern, e.g. unstructured grid problems with adaptive refinement. In this talk we will outline a method which combines the advantages of RSB with the capability of quickly updating a partitioning, if the underlyng grid is dynamically changing. We call this method dynamic spectral partitioning (DSP). We will discuss the derivation of DSP, and motivate it with applications from structural analysis and computational chemistry. Then, using an adaptive grid refinement 3d Navier-Stokes code on the IBM SP-2, we will demonstrate how DSP can be applied to the solution of practical problems.
Photoviscoelasticity on a microsecond time scale

A previous paper12 has described the optical calibration of photoviscoelastic materials on a microsecond time scale. In this paper, attention is given to the experimental determination of the two-dimensional plane-stress field in a body subjected to arbitrary loads. Symmetry of load and geometry is not assumed. Since the stress state depends on the history of fringe order and isoclinic angle, these basic data must be recorded. Due to nonlinearity in the material studied, the photoviscoelastic data were limited to fractional fringe orders. This introduced problems of initial birefringence and polariscope imperfections. Techniques are described which correct for these imperfections and allow for acquiring and analyzing the basic photoviscoelastic data.
What Are the Odds? A Structured Approach for Unstructured Problems

Decision makers are often faced with ill-defined problems such as determining the odds of unlikely occurrences. However, class settings often explicitly provide such values within problem sets or case studies. In this paper, we discuss an incident of a waitress at a bar being shown her own stolen identification. Using this problem, we motivate the use of mathematical modeling to decompose a problem to determine the odds of a rare event. Similar problem decomposition methods can be used in a variety of business and engineering problems.
Toward Reviving an Occupation with Occupations

The notion of occupation has long played a vital role in understanding the psychology of individual behavior, choice, perceptions, and attitudes in work contexts. However, the centrality of occupat...
What Is the Utility of Clinical Scoring Systems for the Diagnosis/Prognosis of Mesenteric Ischemia?

There are currently no scoring systems for the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI); rather diagnosis is made through assessment of history, exam, laboratory adjuncts, and diagnostic imaging. There are also no validated scoring systems for the prognosis of AMI – though multiple factors have been proposed as impacting mortality in patients with AMI, notably elevated lactate, delay in diagnosis >24 h from onset of symptoms, and indicators of systemic illness (sepsis, SOFA, shock index). Pre-existing comorbidities such as atrial fibrillation also may portend increased mortality. Further research is required to build a prognostic model for patients with AMI.
Influence of "Not Relevant" Responses on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) for Patients With Psoriasis in the United States.

This cross-sectional study examines the overall subjective and objective evaluation of disease severity between patients with psoriasis who responded “not relevant” vs those who responded “not at all” on the Dermatology Life Quality Index.
Subbanded Processing for Ultrawideband Fmcw Radar for Snow Measurements

An ultrawideband 2-18 GHz FMCW radar was developed in [1], for measurement and mapping of snow thickness. For use in domestic areas, certain frequency bands might need to be notched out to avoid interference. Loss of bandwidth degrades the radar’s performance and range resolution, and hence its ability to measure thin snow (< 10 cm). This paper presents a method to estimate data in the notched frequencies by performing a time-domain interpolation between available subbands. An all-pole model is fitted to known data, parameters are optimized, and estimates generated using the fitted model. The algorithm is tested on field data collected in 2016 with 5 frequency bands notched out for a total loss of 2 GHz. The results are visualized using echograms and compared to full bandwidth data.
Identification of a major dominant gene for race-nonspecific tan spot resistance in wild emmer wheat.

A single dominant gene found in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat controls broad-spectrum race-nonspecific resistance to the foliar disease tan spot caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. Tan spot is an important foliar disease of durum and common wheat caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis. Genetic studies in common wheat have shown that pathogen-produced necrotrophic effectors interact with host genes in an inverse gene-for-gene manner to cause disease, but quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with broad race-nonspecific resistance also exist. Less work has been done to understand the genetics of tan spot interactions in durum wheat. Here, we evaluated a set of Langdon durum—wild emmer (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) disomic chromosome substitution lines for reaction to four P. tritici-repentis isolates representing races 1, 2, 3, and 5 to identify wild emmer chromosomes potentially containing tan spot resistance genes. Chromosome 3B from the wild emmer accession IsraelA rendered the tan spot-susceptible durum cultivar Langdon resistant to all four fungal isolates. Genetic analysis indicated that a single dominant gene, designated Tsr7, governed resistance. Detailed mapping experiments showed that the Tsr7 locus is likely the same as the race-nonspecific QTL previously identified in the hexaploid wheat cultivars BR34 and Penawawa. Four user-friendly SNP-based semi-thermal asymmetric reverse PCR (STARP) markers cosegregated with Tsr7 and should be useful for marker-assisted selection of resistance. In addition to 3B, other wild emmer chromosomes contributed moderate levels of tan spot resistance, and, as has been shown previously for tetraploid wheat, the Tsn1-Ptr ToxA interaction was not associated with susceptibility. This is the first report of a major dominant gene governing resistance to tan spot in tetraploid wheat.
Efficient energy transfer from Er3 + to Ho3 + and Dy3 + in ZBLAN glass

Spectroscopic properties of erbium (Er3+)-, holmium (Ho3+)-, dysprosium (Dy3+)-doped and Er3+/Ho3+, Er3+/Dy3+ co-doped ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF) glasses were studied. The experimental results show that efficient energy transfer from Er3+ to Ho3+ and Dy3+ occurs in the Er3+/Ho3+ and Er3+/Dy3+ co-doped ZBLAN glasses, respectively. This valuable discovery enables us to design and develop high power Ho3+-doped and Dy3+-doped ZBLAN fiber lasers in the 3 µm wavelength region that can be pumped with readily available high-efficiency, high-power diode laser pumps at 980 nm.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients readmitted after open cardiac surgical procedures: A case series

Abstract Objectives Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated complication that occurs in a small percentage of patients exposed to heparin. Concerns of HIT are particularly high in patients undergoing cardiac procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, as they are exposed to high doses of heparin intraoperatively. Our aim was to identify and assess the hospital courses of patients who were diagnosed with HIT during readmission following cardiac surgery. Methods A retrospective review of patients who underwent open cardiac surgical procedures from June 2017 through October 2019 was performed. Of these, we identified patients who were newly diagnosed with HIT upon readmission. HIT positivity was defined as a positive anti-PF4 antibody screening test, plus a positive serotonin release assay. Results Of the 2496 patients identified, 13 patients were HIT positive on index admission and were excluded. Of the remaining 2483 patients, 351 were readmitted within 30 days. Six were newly diagnosed with HIT during readmission, 5 of whom presented with thrombotic complications. One patient was readmitted with thrombocytopenia and was started on argatroban; the remaining 5 did not have a significantly lower platelet count on readmission. Of the 12 patients readmitted for venous thromboembolism, 4 tested positive for HIT. Conclusions HIT can have a delayed appearance following open heart surgery. Venous thromboembolism appears to be a significant indicator for HIT during readmission, even in the absence of thrombocytopenia. This may support the use of non-heparin anticoagulation for cardiac surgery patients readmitted with thromboembolism until HIT status is determined.
Tailored Triarylborane Polymers as Supported Catalysts and Luminescent Materials

Two novel luminescent triarylborane polymeric Lewis acids and the corresponding molecular model compounds were prepared, studies on their photophysical properties performed, and applications as sup...
21st Century neo-androgyny: A measure of de-gendered androgyny.

The last 45 years of gender research into the benefits of psychological androgyny have resulted in a melange of results and the benefits of androgyny did not clearly emerge, if at all. The paucity of research on the androgyny hypothesis since the 1980’s would seem to confirm it became outdated. This raises the question did ambiguity surrounding gender and behavior bring the debate to an end? One is now required to ask whether or not the construct of androgyny as some mystical combination of masculine and feminine characteristics is any longer theoretically defensible, and could the study of sex and gender be challenged to offer a new theoretical framework from which a valid and robust concept of androgyny may be derived, and from which the androgyny hypothesis may be re-examined.
Stationary solutions for dyadic mixed model of the Euler equation. A complete spectrum.

Dyadic models of the Euler equations were introduced as toy models to study the behaviour of an inviscid fluid in turbulence theory. In 1974 Novikov proposed a generalized mixed dyadic model that extends both Katz-Pavlovic and Obukhov models giving birth to a more complex structure: no results were found in literature until 2015 where blow up in finite time for smooth solutions and existence of self-similar solution for particular values of the model parameters were shown by Jeong I.J. We extend such partial results by giving a complete spectrum of existence and uniqueness results for two cardinal classes of finite energy stationary solutions, namely constant and self-similar solutions.