cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Research of material properties reliance for numerical analysis

The material properties that we use in the numerical analysis, controls the quality of the analysis result directly. The best choice to use the correct properties is that we measure them by ourselves. However, it is sometimes difficult to get them by ourselves because of the problem such as expense, equipment or time. In this paper, the reliance of the material properties used in the numerical analysis for the reliability assessment of POP (package on package) is studied, especially focusing the encapsulant. The result of the numerical analysis with the material properties, that the material supplier announced, did not support the result of the actual hardware testing. Then through the research process, we had focused the material properties, and then we actually measured the material properties with the piece of the actual hardware parts which are constructing this product. As the result, we found the order difference between the material suppliers announced data and our measured data. It is recognized strongly that the reliance of the material properties is extremely important. With this established numerical model, we had studied the optimized parameter of the encapsulant.
Safety of high-intensity corneal collagen crosslinking

Purpose To evaluate the safety of a new high-intensity corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) treatment protocol for keratoconus. Setting Vardinoyiannion Eye Institute of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Design Prospective interventional case series. Methods Patients with progressive keratoconus had CXL using a new treatment protocol with 9 mW/cm 2 irradiance for duration of 10 minutes. The rate of reepithelialization, endothelial cell density (ECD), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and steep and flat keratometry (K) values were evaluated preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Results Nine patients (10 eyes) were enrolled. No intraoperative or early postoperative complications were observed in any patient. The ECD did not change significantly 3 months postoperatively ( P =.169). The CDVA improved from 0.19 logMAR ± 0.20 (SD) preoperatively to 0.10 ± 0.16 logMAR 3 months postoperatively; however, the improvement did not attain significance ( P =.141). No eye lost lines of CDVA. The mean steep K readings decreased significantly from 48.04 ± 2.57 diopters (D) preoperatively to 46.51 ± 2.81 D 3 months postoperatively ( P =.047); the mean flat K readings did not change significantly postoperatively ( P =.285). Conclusions Corneal collagen crosslinking at 9 mW/cm 2 irradiance for 10 minutes did not cause significant changes in ECD or intraoperative or early postoperative complications. None patient lost a line of CDVA 3 months after the procedure. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Orthotropic thermal conductivity and Joule heating effects on the temperature distribution of printed circuit boards

A printed circuit board (PCB) comprises alternating layers of dielectric material and current carrying traces and vias. As performing system-level simulations of PCB's with detailed trace and via geometries is very costly, the present approach considers the effects of the trace and via geometry in the physical model by importing ECAD data consisting of the trace and via layout of the board and determines locally varying orthotropic conductivity (kx, ky and kz ) on the printed circuit board based on the ECAD data. In addition, the present approach considers the effects of Joule heating in the current carrying traces by utilizing multiple 2-D sources where the powermap is determined by solving the governing electric field equations on the trace. In this paper, the effects of both trace layer orthotropic thermal conductivity and Joule heating are studied on a sample PCB. Comparisons are made with earlier studies and conventional models when possible. It is shown that location of the hot spots and temperature values differ substantially if different methods are used.
Selection of vendors—a mixed-integer programming approach

In this paper, we propose a mixed-integer programming model to select vendors and determine the order quantities. The model considers the stochastic nature of demand, the quality of supplied parts, the cost of purchasing and transportation, the fixed cost for establishing vendors, and the cost of receiving poor quality parts. The model also considers the lead time requirements for the parts.
The Advisor as Servant: The Theoretical and Philosophical Relevance of Servant Leadership to Academic Advising

In 1979, Robert Greenleaf published Teacher as Servant. This novel actively portrays Greenleaf's concept of servant leadership by describing the extracurricular work of a university professor. Cons...
Brazilian pepper—Its impact on people, animals and the environment

Native to Brazil,Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, of the family Anacardiaceae, has been commonly cultivated in Florida for over 50 years as a dooryard ornamental. Use of its sprays of showy red fruits for Christmas decoration gave rise to the popular misnomer “Florida holly.” Too late it was found to become a large, spreading tree; aggressive seedlings began springing up near and far. Jungles ofSchinus have crowded out native vegetation over vast areas of Florida and the Bahamas, as in all the islands of Hawaii. When in bloom, the tree is a major source of respiratory difficulty and dermatitis; the fruits, in quantity, intoxicate birds and cause fatal trauma in four-footed animals. The abundant nectar yields a spicy commercial honey and beekeepers are opposed to eradication programs.
Design and Functional Characterization of a Novel, Arrestin-Biased Designer G Protein-Coupled Receptor

Mutational modification of distinct muscarinic receptor subtypes has yielded novel designer G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are unable to bind acetylcholine (ACh), the endogenous muscarinic receptor ligand, but can be efficiently activated by clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), an otherwise pharmacologically inert compound. These CNO-sensitive designer GPCRs [alternative name: designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drug (DREADDs)] have emerged as powerful new tools to dissect the in vivo roles of distinct G protein signaling pathways in specific cell types or tissues. As is the case with other GPCRs, CNO-activated DREADDs not only couple to heterotrimeric G proteins but can also recruit proteins of the arrestin family (arrestin-2 and -3). Accumulating evidence suggests that arrestins can act as scaffolding proteins to promote signaling through G protein-independent signaling pathways. To explore the physiological relevance of these arrestin-dependent signaling pathways, the availability of an arrestin-biased DREADD would be highly desirable. In this study, we describe the development of an M3 muscarinic receptor-based DREADD [Rq(R165L)] that is no longer able to couple to G proteins but can recruit arrestins and promote extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 phosphorylation in an arrestin- and CNO-dependent fashion. Moreover, CNO treatment of mouse insulinoma (MIN6) cells expressing the Rq(R165L) construct resulted in a robust, arrestin-dependent stimulation of insulin release, directly implicating arrestin signaling in the regulation of insulin secretion. This newly developed arrestin-biased DREADD represents an excellent novel tool to explore the physiological relevance of arrestin signaling pathways in distinct tissues and cell types.
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, working memory and episodic memory processes: insight through transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques

The ability to recall and recognize facts we experienced in the past is based on a complex mechanism in which several cerebral regions are implicated. Neuroimaging and lesion studies agree in identifying the frontal lobe as a crucial structure for memory processes, and in particular for working memory and episodic memory and their relationships. Furthermore, with the introduction of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) a new way was proposed to investigate the relationships between brain correlates, memory functions and behavior. The aim of this review is to present the main findings that have emerged from experiments which used the TMS technique for memory analysis. They mainly focused on the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in memory process. Furthermore, we present state-of-the-art evidence supporting a possible use of TMS in the clinic. Specifically we focus on the treatment of memory deficits in depression and anxiety disorders.
Alcohol Septal Ablation

Alcohol septal ablation [ASA] is a percutaneous, minimally invasive procedure performed by interventional cardiologists in carefully selected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients who meet strict criteria and are severely symptomatic despite maximal medical therapy. Ablation induces localized myocardial infarction and thinning of the basal ventricular septum, thereby leading to reduction in dynamic outflow obstruction.
'Orange' is the Same White: Comments on 'Orange is the New Black'

"Orange is the New Black" is a new series currently in its second season on Netflix that follows the more or less true to life story of Piper, a white middle class college educated bisexual woman. Although the series is to be commended for humanizing insiders, there is a troubling tendency its negotiation of gender and race, such that the narcissistic white gaze is largely left unchallenged.
Adhesive interactions of geckos with wet and dry fluoropolymer substrates.

Fluorinated substrates like Teflon ® (poly(tetrafluoroethylene); PTFE) are well known for their role in creating non-stick surfaces. We showed previously that even geckos, which can stick to most surfaces under a wide variety of conditions, slip on PTFE. Surprisingly, however, geckos can stick reasonably well to PTFE if it is wet. In an effort to explain this effect, we have turned our attention to the role of substrate surface energy and roughness when shear adhesion occurs in media other than air. In this study, we removed the roughness component inherent to commercially available PTFE and tested geckos on relatively smooth wet and dry fluoropolymer substrates. We found that roughness had very little effect on shear adhesion in air or in water and that the level of fluorination was most important for shear adhesion, particularly in air. Surface energy calculations of the two fluorinated substrates and one control substrate using the Tabor–Winterton approximation and the Young–Dupre equation were used to determine the interfacial energy of the substrates. Using these interfacial energies we estimated the ratio of wet and dry normal adhesion for geckos clinging to the three substrates. Consistent with the results for rough PTFE, our predictions show a qualitative trend in shear adhesion based on fluorination, and the quantitative experimental differences highlight the unusually low shear adhesion of geckos on dry smooth fluorinated substrates, which is not captured by surface energy calculations. Our work has implications for bioinspired design of synthetics that can preferentially stick in water but not in air.
Ionic Liquids as Hyper-Stable Solvents for Ionic Polymer Transducers

Nafion™ membranes are known to operate as electromechanical actuators and sensors. The transduction in the material is caused by redistribution of the mobile cations in the material, which is made possible because the material is saturated with a solvent. Typically the solvent used is water, although its use limits the performance of these materials. This is due to the chemical breakdown of the water at relatively low operating voltages and the loss of the water to evaporation when these devices are operated in air, causing a corresponding loss of performance. In the current work, the use of highly stable ionic liquids to replace water is explored. Ionic liquids have the advantage of greater electrochemical stability than water, thus offering the possibility of higher actuation voltages for these materials. Also, ionic liquids are known to be non-volatile and therefore will not leach out of the polymer by evaporation as water will. This paper will present the results of some initial work with ionic liquids and will compare these materials to the same polymers solvated with water.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Rapid Nuclear Staining of Rhizoctonia Solani and Related Fungi with Acridine Orange and with Safranin O

(1982). Rapid Nuclear Staining of Rhizoctonia Solani and Related Fungi with Acridine Orange and with Safranin O. Mycologia: Vol. 74, No. 1, pp. 145-149.
Temperature and mixture-fraction imaging of gaseous flows using acetone PLIF

Progress in developing planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) in acetone-seeded flows is reported. Wavelength and temperature dependencies of acetone absorption and fluorescence are presented which allow optimization of acetone PLIF for quantitative imaging of density, mixture fraction, and temperature. Singleand dual-wavelength excitation strategies are characterized for imaging of temperature. Illustrative results for mixture-fraction imaging using pulsed excimer laser (XeCl at 308 nm) excitation are presented for a subsonic jet in crossflow; images are detected using a 512 x 512 element unintensified CCD camera. Example results for temperature imaging are presented using single-wavelength (248 nm) excitation in a uniformly seeded flow over a heated object and using dual-wavelength (248 nm and 308 nm) excitation of a heated jet mixing with ambient air. In both cases, the sensitivity of the fluorescence signal (or ratio of signals) to temperature is high, indicating good potential for acetone-based PLIF temperature imaging in flows up to 1000 K. (Author)
Expectations and experiences of patients with cancer participating in phase I clinical trials.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe the expectations and experiences of patients entering phase I clinical trials. DESIGN Descriptive, exploratory, prospective. SETTING A large military medical teaching center. SAMPLE Thirty-seven adult patients completed the entry and exit interviews. Subjects had a good performance status, were middle aged, and had common tumor types. METHODS Interviews using structured entry and exit questionnaires. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Expectations and experiences of patients in phase I clinical trials. FINDINGS Patients expected slightly increased support from family members and received more support than expected. Patients' expectations for tumor response and increased communication with their physician were not met. Patients expected symptoms such as fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss to improve during therapy, yet their expectations were not met. CONCLUSIONS One theme that emerged from the data was hope/optimism. An issue that needs further exploration is the extent to which patients accurately understand information in the consent form. Findings also support the importance of communication between the patient and family members and the healthcare team. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Oncology nurses can mediate the flow of information between physicians and patients. Oncology nurses can and should assess the patient's level of understanding of the clinical trial, the consent form, and potential side effects at the time of entry into the trial and intermittently during the course of therapy. Nurses must allow patients with cancer who are undergoing investigational therapy to maintain a level of hope, while realistically counseling them about their progress during phase I trial participation.
Who knows best—your mother or her microbiome?

Indicators of maternal health during pregnancy, including maternal weight gain, are important predictors of the long-term health of both mothers and their offspring. Although some women easily achieve appropriate weight gain targets in pregnancy, for others it is a constant struggle to avoid becoming overweight or progressing to obesity. Metabolic hormones play an important role, but now Gomez-Arango and colleagues in the SPRING (Study of PRobiotics IN prevention of Gestational diabetes) trial group have identified an important interaction between the hormones and the maternal microbiome that shapes the final outcome. Although it is known that the microbiome changes during pregnancy and that specific microbiome alterations may predispose to obesity and diabetes, it was not clear whether these factors could be connected. In their study of 29 overweight and 41 obese women during early pregnancy, the authors identified several alterations in the microbiome of obese women. These differences included a tendency towards decreased microbial diversity in the more obese women. Increasing obesity and insulin resistance were related to increased relative abundance of Actinobacteria and specifically the genus Collinsella, which has been associated with Type 2 diabetes. Additional alterations included increased producers of butyrate, a potential energy substrate ( Coprococcus , Lachnospiraceae , and Ruminococcaceae ). These bacteria, in concert with the Bacteroidaceae / Prevotella ratio, also affected the regulation of leptin and ghrelin, which are the most well known controllers of appetite and food intake. Further studies are needed to determine whether the maternal diet and weight gain alter the microbiome or vice versa, or whether they are coregulated. In addition, inclusion of normal weight pregnant women would further clarify these relationships. Such studies will help determine the role of the microbiome as a biomarker of metabolic dysfunction and as a potential target for intervention, all of which should improve the health of mothers and children. L. F. Gomez-Arango et al. , Connections between the gut microbiome and metabolic hormones in early pregnancy in overweight and obese women. Diabetes 10.2337/db16-0278 (2016). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2016/05/13/db16-0278
Viability of periosteal tissue obtained postmortem.

Periosteal autografts have the potential to regenerate articular cartilage defects, but this potential is limited by the patient's age. Allograft transplantation from a young donor to an older recipient might bypass this limitation. The effect of the time delay, between death and harvesting of a periosteal graft, on the chondrogenic potential of periosteum is important not only for transplantation but also for studies dealing with tissues retrieved postmortem (i.e., including the periosteal explant model). The purpose of this study was to investigate the chondrogenic potential of periosteum obtained postmortem and a possible beneficial effect of hypothermia. Thirty NZ white rabbits (2 months old) were sacrificed and stored at room temperature or 4 degrees C for 0, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 18, or 24 h. Periosteal explants were then obtained and a standard cartilage yield assay performed by culturing them for 6 weeks using the periosteal organ culture model as previous published. TGF-beta1 (10 ng/ml) was added for the first 14 days of culture. Histochemical analysis and quantitative collagen typing were performed. In the explants from the animals kept for 4 h at room temperature growth and chondrogenesis were dramatically reduced. Little or no chondrogenesis was seen in explants from rabbits maintained at room temperature after 4-8 h (or more) postmortem. Cooling the rabbits to 4 degrees C partially prevented this loss of viability and continued to do so for 24 h. Even storage at 4 degrees C did not eliminate the decrease in chondrogenic potential, though it did permit partial preservation of chondrogenic potential. If periosteum is to be used for allograft transplantation, or if it is used for experimental study, its viability must be assured. This is best accomplished by harvesting it immediately postmortem. Preservation techniques, cryopreservation, or hypothermia might be useful in preserving periosteal chondrogenic potential.
Regrowth of Serotonin Axons in the Adult Mouse Brain Following Injury.

It is widely believed that damaged axons in the adult mammalian brain have little capacity to regrow, thereby impeding functional recovery after injury. Studies using fixed tissue have suggested that serotonin neurons might be a notable exception, but remain inconclusive. We have employed in vivo two-photon microscopy to produce time-lapse images of serotonin axons in the neocortex of the adult mouse. Serotonin axons undergo massive retrograde degeneration following amphetamine treatment and subsequent slow recovery of axonal density, which is dominated by new growth with little contribution from local sprouting. A stab injury that transects serotonin axons running in the neocortex is followed by local regression of cut serotonin axons and followed by regrowth from cut ends into and across the stab rift zone. Regrowing serotonin axons do not follow the pathways left by degenerated axons. The regrown axons release serotonin and their regrowth is correlated with recovery in behavioral tests.
Experimental Replication of the Use of Ground Stone Tools

ABSTRACTTwelve experiments have been conducted using ground stone tools. The used surfaces of these experimental tools have been studied to determine whether definable differences occur in the use-wear patterns. At low-power magnification a difference is observed that is related to the type of material worked against the stone. Concepts borrowed from tribology help to explain the damage that is done to the used surface. Taken together these experiments and the explanatory powers of tribology have exciting implications for better analysis of ground stone tools that can then strengthen the interpretation of prehistoric activities.
Introducing Suspendance Analysis

Suspendance analysis is based on determinant expansion and is an effective tool for calculating node admittances. The node admittance is equal to the ratio of the suspendance obtained when the node is open to the suspendance obtained when the node is shorted. Suspendance is expressed in terms of circuit admittances and transadmittances and is calculated by shorting passive circuit components based on minimum expansion algorithm to yield compact and accurate results. Only certain passive components are shorted one at a time and multiplied by the remaining circuit suspendance. Admittances of previously shorted components are set to zero in succeeding calculations. The overall suspendance is calculated by summing contributions of shorted passive components and cross coupled voltage controlled current sources.
Alternative Route to Silicene Synthesis via Surface Reconstruction on h-MoSi2 Crystallites

Silicene is a two-dimensional material with a Dirac-type band structure and it is particularly attractive due to its potential for integration with Si-based technology. The primary focus has been to grow single silicene layers and understand how the electronic structure is affected by the substrate and the phase transition between low- and high-buckling configurations. Typically, silicene is synthesized by depositing monolayer amounts of silicon onto a heated Ag(111) surface; however, other growth substrates such as Ir(111) and ZrB2 have been studied recently. We present a novel route for silicene synthesis via a high-temperature surface reconstruction of hexagonal-MoSi2 nanocrystallites. The h-MoSi2 crystallites are formed by annealing of thin Mo-layers on Si(100)-(2 × 1) and their crystallographic orientation is controlled via an epitaxial relation with the Si-substrate. The (0001) plane of h-MoSi2 is comprised of Si-hexagons with a Mo atom residing in the center. Annealing above approximately 650 °C ca...
W-associahedra have the non-leaving-face property

Abstract We use a projection argument to uniformly prove that W -permutahedra and W -associahedra have the property that if v , v ′ are two vertices on the same face f , then any geodesic between v and v ′ does not leave f . In type A , we show that our geometric projection recovers a slight modification of the combinatorial projection in Sleator et al. (1988).
Individual, household, and community level risk factors of stunting in children younger than 5 years: Findings from a national surveillance system in Nepal.

Despite substantial reductions in recent years in Nepal, stunting prevalence in children younger than 5 years remains high and represents a leading public health concern. To identify factors contributing to the stunting burden, we report multilevel risk factors associated with stunting in 4,853 children aged 6–59 months in a nationally and agroecologically representative random sample from the first year of the Policy and Science for Health, Agriculture, and Nutrition Community Studies, a community-based observational, mixed-panel study. Mixed effects logistic regressions controlling for multilevel clustering in the study design were used to examine the association of individual-, household-, and community-level factors associated with stunting. Stunting prevalence was 38% in our sample. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, maternal factors, including maternal height and education, were generally the strongest individual-level risk factors for stunting, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.52, 95% CI [1.96, 3.25], short (<145 cm) versus not short mothers; AOR = 2.09, 95% CI [1.48, 2.96], uneducated mothers versus secondary school graduates. Among the household- and community-level factors, household expenditure and community infrastructure (presence of paved roads, markets, or hospitals) were strongly, inversely associated with increased stunting risk, AOR = 1.68, 95% CI [1.27, 2.24], lowest versus highest household expenditure quintile; AOR = 2.38, 95% CI [1.36, 4.14], less developed (lacking paved roads, markets, or hospitals) versus more developed communities. Although most factors associated with stunting are not rapidly modifiable, areas for future research and possible interventions emerged.
Ultrasound for Radiologists: What I Learned from Lifetime Practice

The rapid expansion of technology has caused most radiology practices to focus on the so-called “high-tech” diagnostic radiology exams, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET). There is likely a subconscious bias among most radiologists (and perhaps non-radiologists), that these complex and expensive exams with hundreds, and sometimes over a thousand images, displayed from multiple imaging planes with the aid of advanced reconstruction platforms, must always be superior for diagnosis as compared to the low-tech radiology exams. As a subspecialist radiologist in diagnostic and interventional sonography for the last 25 years, I can proclaim with pride that for imaging of the thyroid and cervical nodes, sonography completely outperforms all other exams. The superficial location of the majority of the structures in the neck affords an unhindered view with the ultrasound probe and the spatial resolution of sonography surpasses that of MR and CT, uniquely allowing the detection of subtle and critically important findings such as microcalcifications and infiltrative margins within thyroid nodules and tiny cystic regions in cervical nodes. The real time nature of sonography allows for dynamic assessment which can be useful for diagnosis but more importantly provides the safest and most efficient guidance for biopsies and other interventions in the neck. Sonography is unquestionably the most essential imaging tool for the care of patients with thyroid (and in many cases, parathyroid) disease. I must admit that it is a sort of a moral victory that my dedication to and passion for the practice of sonography is affirmed by the superiority of sonography in this clinical context.
The Modified Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale in Currently Practicing Athletic Trainers

Context: Athletic trainers are encouraged to work collaboratively with other health care professionals to improve patient outcomes. Interprofessional education (IPE) experiences for practicing clin...
Occupancy and Abundance of American Badgers and Piute Ground Squirrels in the Sagebrush-Steppe: Implications of the Fire-Cheatgrass Cycle

Sagebrush-steppe is experiencing vast changes due to biological invasions and changing fire characteristics. Understanding how these changes influence functionally important animals is essential for ecosystem management. American Badgers (Taxidea taxus) are an apex predator and ecosystem engineer within sagebrush ecosystems. Piute Ground Squirrels (Urocitellus mollis) are also an ecosystem engineer as well as an essential prey source for many predators. Our objective was to evaluate the relative importance of large-scale changes, abiotic processes, and biotic processes on badgers and ground squirrels. We samples 163 1-ha plots across a gradient of burn histories within a 1,962 km2 area in Southern Idaho, USA. At each plot, we characterized ground squirrel and badger occupancy, ground squirrel relative abundance, and many environmental variables. We used information-theoretic approaches to evaluate competing hypotheses concerning occupancy of ground squirrels and badgers, and ground squirrel relative abundance. Results suggest that ground squirrel occupancy was positively associated with abiotic characteristics (e.g., higher precipitation and finer textured soil). Badger occupancy was positively associated with ground squirrel occupancy and agriculture. Relative abundance of ground squirrels was positively associated with finer textured soils, but negatively associated with cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), fire frequency, agriculture and shrubs. Managers can focus restoration efforts on areas with high cheatgrass and shrub cover, if ground squirrels are a management objective. These results support previous hypotheses suggesting abiotic processes are important for herbivore occupancy. However, we provide support that a combination of abiotic, biotic and disturbance processes are important for mesocarnivore occupancy and herbivore abundance.
Hydrocortisone and Ascorbic Acid Synergistically Prevent and Repair Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Pulmonary Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction.

Background Sepsis refers to the dysregulated host immune response elicited by microbial infections resulting in life-threatening organ dysfunction. Sepsis represents a medical challenge, since it is associated with a rate of death as high as 60%. Septic shock is strongly associated with vascular dysfunction and elevated pulmonary capillary permeability. We recently reported that the combination of hydrocortisone (HC), ascorbic acid (vitC), and thiamine dramatically improves outcomes and reduces mortality in patients with sepsis. In the present study, we provide experimental evidence in support of the hypothesis that the combination of HC and vitC enhances endothelial barrier function. Methods Human lung microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the absence or presence of HC and vitC. Results LPS alone induced profound hyperpermeability, as reflected in decreased values of transendothelial electrical resistance. vitC alone did not exhibit barrier enhancement properties nor did it affect the LPS-induced hyperpermeability. Similarly, HC alone exhibited only a minor barrier-enhancing and protective effect. Conversely, the combination of HC and vitC, either as before or after treatment, dramatically reversed the LPS-induced barrier dysfunction. The barrier-protective effects of HC and vitC were associated with reversal of LPS-induced p53 and phosphorylated cofilin downregulation and LPS-induced RhoA activation and myosin light chain phosphorylation. Conclusions These data provide a novel mechanism of endothelial barrier protection and suggest one possible pathway that may contribute to the therapeutic effects of HC and vitC in patients with sepsis.
The Surgeon’s Role in Treating Chronic Pancreatitis and Incidentally Discovered Pancreatic Lesions

Chronic pancreatitis and incidentally discovered pancreatic lesions present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for surgeons. While both decompressive and resection procedures have been described for treatment of chronic pancreatitis, optimal management must be tailored to each patient's individual disease characteristics, parenchymal morphology, and ductal anatomy. Surgeons should strive to achieve long-lasting pain relief while preserving native pancreatic function. For patients with incidentally discovered pancreatic lesions, differentiating benign, pre-malignant, and malignant lesions is critical as earlier treatment is thought to result in improved survival. The purpose of this evidence-based manuscript is to review the presentation, workup, surgical management, and associated outcomes for patients with chronic pancreatitis or incidentally discovered solid and cystic lesions of the pancreas.
Phenotypic variation explains food web structural patterns

Food webs (i.e., networks of species and their feeding interactions) share multiple structural features across ecosystems. The factors explaining such similarities are still debated, and the role played by most organismal traits and their intraspecific variation is unknown. Here, we assess how variation in traits controlling predator-prey interactions (e.g., body size) affects food web structure. We show that larger phenotypic variation increases connectivity among predators and their prey as well as total food intake rate. For predators able to eat only a few species (i.e., specialists), low phenotypic variation maximizes intake rates, while the opposite is true for consumers with broader diets (i.e., generalists). We also show that variation sets predator trophic level by determining interaction strengths with prey at different trophic levels. Merging these results, we make two general predictions about the structure of food webs: (i) trophic level should increase with predator connectivity, and (ii) interaction strengths should decrease with prey trophic level. We confirm these predictions empirically using a global dataset of well-resolved food webs. Our results provide understanding of the processes structuring food webs that include functional traits and their naturally occurring variation.
Supply-Side Marketing: Risks and Benefits

(1987). Supply-Side Marketing: Risks and Benefits. Research Management: Vol. 30, No. 5, pp. 26-30.
PRNG sequence combination techniques via Galois extension fields

The generation of pseudorandom number sequences can be achieved in a variety of ways, with the most secure methods generally requiring substantial processing to generate. Other pseudorandom number generation (PRNG) methods accept a compromise between processing power and security by mixing two independent, but less secure, PRNG outputs with each other. This paper presents a generalized mixing method for any number of PRNG streams using Galois Extension Field techniques that achieves maximal entropy when conditioned on any individual input, making the reverse engineering of the combined result exceedingly difficult. In addition to this basic mixing method, enhanced adaptations are presented that further improve the output while using simple bit-level statistical operators.
Rapid 3D bioprinting from medical images: an application to bone scaffolding

Bioprinting of tissue has its applications throughout medicine. Recent advances in medical imaging allows the generation of 3-dimensional models that can then be 3D printed. However, the conventional method of converting medical images to 3D printable G-Code instructions has several limitations, namely significant processing time for large, high resolution images, and the loss of microstructural surface information from surface resolution and subsequent reslicing. We have overcome these issues by creating a JAVA program that skips the intermediate triangularization and reslicing steps and directly converts binary dicom images into G-Code. In this study, we tested the two methods of G-Code generation on the application of synthetic bone graft scaffold generation. We imaged human cadaveric proximal femurs at an isotropic resolution of 0.03mm using a high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) scanner. These images, of the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format, were then processed through two methods. In each method, slices and regions of print were selected, filtered to generate a smoothed image, and thresholded. In the conventional method, these processed images are converted to the STereoLithography (STL) format and then resliced to generate G-Code. In the new, direct method, these processed images are run through our JAVA program and directly converted to G-Code. File size, processing time, and print time were measured for each. We found that this new method produced a significant reduction in G-Code file size as well as processing time (92.23% reduction). This allows for more rapid 3D printing from medical images.
Peregrine Falcon Breeding Performance in North Carolina during the 13-Year Post-delisting Period of 2003–2015

We monitored the breeding performance (territory occupancy, nest success, productivity) of a reintroduced hybrid population of Falco peregrinus anatum (Peregrine Falcon) in western North Carolina during the 13-y post-delisting period of 2003–2015. Peregrine Falcons nested at 18 sites (17 cliffs, 1 building), 6 of which were newly discovered sites. Eight to 13 territories were occupied annually. We documented 139 nesting attempts and production of 171 young. Mean nest success (55%) during the period 2003–2015 fell below the 1999–2002 national average, but was more than double earlier (1987–1992) efforts in western North Carolina. Likewise, mean productivity (1.23 young/year/pair) was more than double earlier efforts in North Carolina, but reflects the disproportionately high contribution of ~5 sites. Throughout the study, subadult birds were members of a pair (13.7% of nesting attempts) and had lower nest success than adult pairs. High variability in nest success and productivity underscore the need for continued monitoring and protection from disturbance and other threats, especially at the most vulnerable and least productive sites.
KMT2D/MLL2 inactivation is associated with recurrence in adult-type granulosa cell tumors of the ovary.

Adult-type granulosa cell tumors of the ovary (aGCTs) are rare gynecologic malignancies that exhibit a high frequency of somatic FOXL2 c.C402G (p.Cys134Trp) mutation. Treatment of relapsed aGCT remains a significant clinical challenge. Here we show, using whole-exome and cancer gene panel sequencing of 79 aGCTs from two independent cohorts, that truncating mutation of the histone lysine methyltransferase gene KMT2D (also known as MLL2) is a recurrent somatic event in aGCT. Mono-allelic KMT2D-truncating mutations are more frequent in recurrent (10/44, 23%) compared with primary (1/35, 3%) aGCTs (p = 0.02, two-sided Fisher’s exact test). IHC detects additional non-KMT2D-mutated aGCTs with loss of nuclear KMT2D expression, suggesting that non-genetic KMT2D inactivation may occur in this tumor type. These findings identify KMT2D inactivation as a novel driver event in aGCTs and suggest that mutation of this gene may increase the risk of disease recurrence.
Static μT-Level Magnetic Fields Modulate Myosin Phosphorylation via Kinetic Effects on Calcium Binding to Calmodulin

Signal transduction as triggered by ligand gated binding of hormones, antigen molecules, growth factors and other cell-surface agonists is a key pathway for the activation, differentiation and proliferation of many cell types1. Calcium ion binding is emerging as essential in the transduction of exogenous electromagnetic field (EMF) signals into physiological responses through modulation of relevant biochemical cascades2,3. Calcium dependent steps in the target pathway may include: (i) initial detection of EMF with resultant electrochemical changes at specific binding sites; (ii) membrane bound proteins signaling to the cell interior; (iii) EMF coupling with the cytoskeleton and other subcellular constituents. Four groups of intracellular enzymes have been reported to respond to membrane signals from EMF: (i) membrane-bound adenylate cyclase involved in activation of protein kinase through conversion of ATP to cAMP in bone cells4,5; (ii) cAMP-independent protein kinase that performs messenger functions6; (iii) ornithine decarboxylase, necessary for cell growth and involved in synthesis of polyamines which are essential for DNA formation; (iv) myosin light chain kinase, involved in muscle contraction 8–11.
Investigating Transport and Dissipation in the Subauroral E Region With Ionospheric Modification Experiments and Very High Frequency Radar Backscatter

Ionospheric modification experiments have been performed at the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility in Gakona, Alaska, using a Very High Frequency (VHF) coherent scatter radar in Homer, Alaska, for experimental diagnostics. The experiments were intended to determine the threshold pump electric field required to initiate thermal parametric instability in the E region. The pump power level was ramped systematically to determine the threshold, and the experiment was repeated at four closely spaced pump frequencies. This provided threshold estimates at four E region altitudes. The theory for thermal parametric instability based on the work of Dysthe et al. (1983, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.863993) has been modified for application in the E region. The theory considers magneto-ionic effects on the pump mode, linear mode conversion theory for upper hybrid wave generation, wave heating, and the effects of transport and dissipation based on fluid theory. The theory amounts to an eigenvalue problem where the eigenvalue is the threshold pump electric field for instability. The theory shows how the threshold depends on ionospheric transport coefficients and on the fractional cooling rate for inelastic electron-neutral collisions. The theoretical predictions for threshold are roughly consistent with experimental values although the latter are probably affected by excess ionospheric absorption.
Trajectory prediction of vehicles turning at intersections using deep neural networks

In this paper, an early prediction of vehicle trajectories and turning movements are investigated using traffic cameras. A vision-based tracking system is developed to monitor intersection videos and collect vehicle trajectories with their labels known as turning movements. Firstly, two intersection videos are monitored for 2 h, and collected trajectories with their labels are used to train deep neural networks and obtain the turning models for the prediction task. Deep neural networks are further investigated on a third intersection with different video settings. The future 2 s evaluation of trajectories shows the success of long short-term memory networks to early predict the turning movements with more than 92% accuracy.
A food web modeling assessment of Asian Carp impacts in the Middle and Upper Mississippi River, USA

Abstract The invasion of non-native fishes has caused a great detriment to many of our native fishes. Since the introduction of invasive carps, such as Silver, Bighead, Common and Grass Carp, managers and researcher have been struggling to remove these species while also hypothesizing the detriment of further invasion. This study developed a food web model of four locations on the Mississippi River and used those models to assess the impacts of two scenarios: carp removal and carp invasion. In the Middle Mississippi River where these invasive carps are already present, the models found that it would take a sustained exploitation of up to 30% of initial biomass over an extended period to remove Grass Carp and up to 90% removal of initial biomass to remove Silver and Bighead Carp. In the locations where Silver, Bighead, and Grass Carp are not yet established (i.e., Pools 4,8, and 13) the invasion of these species could cause declines from 10 to 30% in initial biomass of native fishes as well as already established nonnative invasive species.
An Attitude Towards a Soul: Wittgenstein, Other Minds and the Mind

We tend to take for granted that we know what is involved in belief in other minds, and that the real problem lies in justifying that belief. By contrast, this chapter argues that we misunderstand what belief in other minds involves, and that the problem of other minds has its source in that misunderstanding. My aim is to rethink what belief in other minds involves in terms of what Wittgenstein calls ‘an attitude towards a soul’. Doing so not only undermines the problem of other minds as traditionally formulated, but also has significant consequences for our understanding of the mind itself. One such consequence is that ethical considerations have a much more fundamental role to play in thinking about the mind than is typically believed.
Importation and Quarantine

Abstract Importation and Quarantine Summary/Abstract: The importation of new zebrafish increases the risk of colony animals being exposed to pathogens if imported fish are not managed appropriately. An importation and quarantine program should be designed to minimize this risk to the existing colony, while still allowing for scientific collaboration and sharing of fish lines, and ensuring adherence to regulations that require tracking the number of vertebrate animals used for research. This chapter will review the importation processes and procedures for receiving various life stages of zebrafish. Quarantine goals and strategies to achieve those goals will be also be discussed, including methods for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Finally, the quarantine facility design and workflow will be reviewed.
A phase II study of clofarabine and daunorubicin in patients age 60 or older with newly diagnosed adult acute myeloid leukemia.

6602 Background: The outcome of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (pts) ≥60 years (yrs) old remains poor, with a median overall survival of a few months. Neither the addition of other drugs dur...
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging: State of the Art

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) secondary to coronary vessel plaques represent a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Advancements in imaging technology over the last 3 decades have continuously enabled the study of coronary plaques via invasive imaging methods like intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The introduction of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a modality that could detect the lipid (cholesterol) content of atherosclerotic plaques in the early nineties, opened the potential of studying "vulnerable" or rupture-prone, lipid-rich coronary plaques in ACS patients. Most recently, the ability of NIRS-IVUS to identify patients at risk of future adverse events was shown in a prospective multicenter trial, the Lipid-Rich-plaque Study. Intracoronary NIRS-IVUS imaging offers a unique method of coronary lipid-plaque characterization and could become a valuable clinical diagnostic and treatment monitoring tool.
The socio-spatial installed base: Ride-hailing applications, parking associations, and precarity in tuk tuk driving in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

In this paper I present an infrastructural analysis of the changing tuk tuk driving sector in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I argue that drivers’ informal, long-standing parking associations, located at we...