cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Key indexes of the effectiveness of mask surface treatments

A proper surface treatment, such as O2 plasma, helps to improve particle removal efficiency (PRE) because of the formation of hydrogen bonding between particles, water and the mask surface after treatment. The effectiveness of surface treatments cannot be determined only by the static wettability after processes. More key indexes should be considered. In this paper, we report our findings on the relationship between surface treatments on photomasks and the resulting wettability. In addition, added defects after the treatment and the cleaning process were inspected with a 193- nm KLA inspector on 193-nm immersion and EUV photomasks, which consist of SiO 2 , MoSi, Cr, Ta-based absorber and Ru. Based on our work, three indexes can be built for determining the effectiveness of surface treatments. The first is to check whether the surface becomes super-hydrophilic after treatment. The second is to determine the efficiency of surface treatments on enhancing wettability. The last is to quantify the added watermark count after the surface treatment and the cleaning process. With a proper surface treatment, watermarks can be greatly eased. These three indexes can quickly determine possible effective methods for treating the surfaces of different materials.
Complex Times Don't Call for Complex Crimes

This Essay argues that the rise of the administrative state has led to an overabundance of criminally enforceable regulations, so many in fact that the law has become in many ways unknowable. At the same time, a large portion of criminal lawmaking has moved away from the politically accountable legislature and into the "expert" agencies. The combination of inscrutability and lack of accountability has led to a corresponding loss in the efficacy and legitimacy of the criminal law itself. There are many old, adaptable criminal laws that already cover the conduct that agencies criminalize by regulation. Given the costs, the legislature should not only avoid making new delegations of criminal lawmaking power to agencies, it should consider contracting their power by repeal, sunset, and jury empowerment.
Prestige Clothing Shopping by Consumers: A Confirmatory Assessment and Refinement of the Precon Scale with Managerial Implications

Although shopping behavior based on the prestige qualities of products and stores has long been accepted as ubiquitous, no comprehensive measure of the factors underlying this behavior has been available to assist in identifying and quantifying this market. To address this concern, an assessment and refinement of the PRECON Scale, an instrument intended to measure factors underlying consumers’ preferences for clothing and store prestige, was undertaken. Data were collected from 321 randomly sampled consumers. The stringent confirmatory factor analysis procedures employed resulted in a nineteen-item instrument that demonstrates sound psychometric characteristics while providing an explanation of consumers’ prestige shopping preferences.
Populations of Arthropod Predators and Heliothis Spp. After Applications of Aldicarb and Monocrotophos to Cotton

Populations of the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), and the tobacco budworm, H. virescens (F.), and 8 arthropod predators were studied following in-furrow and sidedress applications of aldicarb and foliar applications of monocrotophos to cotton. In 3 field tests, the arthropod predator populations were reduced but there were increases in Heliothis spp. infestations. The reduction in predator populations apparently was not great enough to cause all of the increases in Heliothis spp. that occurred. When tobacco budworm moths were given a choice between cotton in field cages treated with a sidedress application of aldicarb and foliar applications of monocrotophos and untreated cotton, the moths preferred to oviposit on the cotton treated with the insecticides.
Supporting Software Architecture Learning Using Runtime Visualization

Static diagrams are the most prevalent artifact used in visualizing component-and-connector architectures and supporting software architecture learning. The use of such artifacts exhibits a fundamental disconnect from the dynamic nature of software systems, deemphasizes the importance of architectural interactions with a focus on static structure, and does not support a high degree of learner engagement. This paper presents our work in addressing these challenges by developing runtime visualization techniques that better support learning through the use of visual vocabularies that leverage insights from computer graphics and human perception. We also present evaluative data drawn from user studies and associated insights, which provide positive indicators that our work is effective in supporting our target learning outcomes.
Neural basis for motor learning in the vestibuloocular reflex of primates. III. Computational and behavioral analysis of the sites of learning.

1. We have used a combination of eye movement recordings and computer modeling to study long-term adaptive modification (motor learning) in the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR). The eye movement record...
Hepatic enzyme activities early in lactation: a comparison of normal and ketotic cows.

SUMMARY The activities of several enzymes were assayed in the livers from cows early in lactation which were either normal or suffering from ketosis. Pyruvate kinase activity was significantly (P The results are discussed in the light of other hepatic enzyme activities observed elsewhere.
Use of Electrospinning and Dynamic Air Focusing to Create Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Scaffolds in Microfluidic Devices

Organs-on-a-chip has emerged as a powerful tool for pharmacological and physiological studies. A key part in the construction of such a model is the ability to pattern or culture cells in a biomimetic fashion. Most of the reported cells-on-a-chip models integrate cells on a flat surface, which does not accurately represent the extracellular matrix that they experience in vivo. Electrospinning, a technique used to generate sub-micron diameter polymer fibers, has been used as an in vitro cell culture substrate and for tissue engineering applications. Electrospinning of fibers directly into a fully sealed fluidic channel using a conventional setup has not been possible due to issues of confining the fibers into a discrete network. In this work, a dynamic focusing method was developed, with this approach enabling direct deposition of electrospun fibers into a fully sealed fluidic channel, to act as a matrix for cell culture and subsequent studies under continuous flowing conditions. Scanning electron microscopy of electrospun polycaprolactone fibers shows that this method enables the formation of fibrous layers on the inner wall of a 3D-printed fluidic device (mean fiber size = 1.6 ± 0.6 μm and average pore size = 113 ± 19 μm2). Cells were able to be cultured in this 3D scaffold without the addition of adhesion proteins. Media was pumped through the channel at high flow rates (up to 400 μL min−1) during a dynamic cell culture process and both the fibers and the cells were found to be strongly adherent. A PDMS fluidic device was also prepared (from a 3D printed mold) and coated with polycaprolactone fibers. The PDMS device enables optical detection and confocal imaging of cultured cells on the fibers. Finally, macrophages were cultured in the devices to study how the fibrous scaffold can affect cell behavior. It was found that under lipopolysaccharide stimulation, macrophages cultured on PCL fibers inside of a channel secreted significantly more cytokines than those cultured on a thin layer of PCL in a channel or directly on the inner channel wall. Overall, this study represents a new approach for in vitro cell studies, where electrospinning can be used to easily and quickly create 3D scaffolds that can improve the culture conditions in microfluidic devices.
An Application of Style Analysis to Middle East and North African (MENA) Hedge Funds

Abstract In this chapter we use style analysis to investigate if the returns of long-only equity hedge funds listed with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as their primary category classification in the Barclay Hedge Alternative Investment Database are driven by frontier market indexes and MENA indexes. Frontier markets are markets that are thinly traded and have poor liquidity as compared to traditional emerging markets. Our paper finds that our small group of hedge funds have high R -squared values, indicating that style indexes (MENA and frontier indexes) explain the variation in returns generated by these funds.
Relevance of mouse models of cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy in cardiac research

Heart disease causing cardiac cell death due to ischemia–reperfusion injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Coronary heart disease and cardiomyopathies are the major cause for congestive heart failure, and thrombosis of the coronary arteries is the most common cause of myocardial infarction. Cardiac injury is followed by post-injury cardiac remodeling or fibrosis. Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by net accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the cardiac interstitium and results in both systolic and diastolic dysfunctions. It has been suggested by both experimental and clinical evidence that fibrotic changes in the heart are reversible. Hence, it is vital to understand the mechanism involved in the initiation, progression, and resolution of cardiac fibrosis to design anti-fibrotic treatment modalities. Animal models are of great importance for cardiovascular research studies. With the developing research field, the choice of selecting an animal model for the proposed research study is crucial for its outcome and translational purpose. Compared to large animal models for cardiac research, the mouse model is preferred by many investigators because of genetic manipulations and easier handling. This critical review is focused to provide insight to young researchers about the various mouse models, advantages and disadvantages, and their use in research pertaining to cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy.
It’s not Easy Being Green: Why Consumer Behaviors Don’t Match their Attitudes

Environmental concern has been growing in the social consciousness over the past several decades, driving firms to offer more and more green products. But while consumers claim to care about how their daily habits impact the environment, that desire has not translated into sales. This presents a frustrating paradox for managers as a society seemingly bent on making a change has yet to follow through in practice.
A computational approach to modeling cellular-scale blood flow in complex geometry

We present a computational methodology for modeling cellular-scale blood flow in arbitrary and highly complex geometry. Our approach is based on immersed-boundary methods, which allow modeling flows in arbitrary geometry while resolving the large deformation and dynamics of every blood cell with high fidelity. The present methodology seamlessly integrates different modeling components dealing with stationary rigid boundaries of complex shape, moving rigid bodies, and highly deformable interfaces governed by nonlinear elasticity. Thus it enables us to simulate whole blood suspensions flowing through physiologically realistic microvascular networks that are characterized by multiple bifurcating and merging vessels, as well as geometrically complex lab-on-chip devices. The focus of the present work is on the development of a versatile numerical technique that is able to consider deformable cells and rigid bodies flowing in three-dimensional arbitrarily complex geometries over a diverse range of scenarios. After describing the methodology, a series of validation studies are presented against analytical theory, experimental data, and previous numerical results. Then, the capability of the methodology is demonstrated by simulating flows of deformable blood cells and heterogeneous cell suspensions in both physiologically realistic microvascular networks and geometrically intricate microfluidic devices. It is shown that the methodology can predict several complex microhemodynamic phenomena observed in vascular networks and microfluidic devices. The present methodology is robust and versatile, and has the potential to scale up to very large microvascular networks at organ levels.
Yes, you can!: A Critical Questions Approach for Developing and Incorporating Intercultural Sensitivity Efforts into ANY classroom

The educational literature has blossomed with information on becoming interculturally competent (e.g., Bennett, 2004; 2009) discussions on theory and practice for intercultural education (e.g., Bleszynska, 2008), or how to identify and assess intercultural awareness as a learning outcome (e.g., Deardorff, 2006). Much of this work provides information on why an emphasis on intercultural education is important, and guidance on how to incorporate such an emphasis into particular courses. The difficulty, then, is not in locating a myriad of resources on the topic but how to simplify the concept of intercultural education so that it can be incorporated into the flow of any classroom. In other words, what would intercultural awareness or sensitivity “look like” in students as a result of what we DO in the classroom? The present article deconstructs the literature in an attempt to demonstrate how a “hands on” approach to intercultural sensitivity was gleaned from the literature and put into practice in a course on Prejudice, Discrimination and Hate. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
Implementation of a linked Medical Organization Survey in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

Recent changes in the provision and organization of health care initiated by the Affordable Care Act have led to concerns about how these changes interact with the medical provider organizational characteristics to affect access, use, and expenditures for care. To examine the impact on individuals' use of care and costs, linked information is needed on both the characteristics of the medical providers' organizations and the individuals receiving care. There is currently no nationally representative data source that provides this essential information. Consequently, a Medical Organizations Survey (MOS) has been added as a component of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to address this limitation. The MEPS-MOS will obtain essential data on provider organizational characteristics, policies, and treatment protocols for a nationally representative sample of physicians providing care to MEPS participants. This paper describes the survey and sample design of the MEPS-MOS, survey content and precision targets and its analytical focus. This addition will substantially enhance the analytic capacity of the MEPS by facilitating assessments of how provider organizational structures and policies impact on health care utilization and expenditures, health status, patient safety and the health outcomes of individuals.
The Problem Child: Provocations toward Dismantling the Carceral State.

In this essay Erica R. Meiners argues that those committed to dismantling our nation's deep and racialized investments in policing and imprisoning must analyze how the flexible category of “the child,” and its figurative powers, operate in complex ways to punish communities and naturalize and expand criminalization and surveillance. Never static or neutral, childhood and its attendant characteristics, for example, innocence, are not available to all, and many, including young people, are harmed by the very laws and institutions charged with safeguarding minors. In outlining the malleability of developmental categories rooted in racialized and heteropatriarchal foundations—“child,” “juvenile”—and providing examples of how the rhetorical clout of the child is deployed to strengthen laws and policies that often do little to protect young people but instead augment carcerality, Meiners suggests that dismantling the carceral state in our classrooms and communities requires a more rigorous theorization of the a...
VIGOR: Virtual Interaction with Gravitational Waves to Observe Relativity

In 2015, a century after Albert Einstein published his theory of general relativity, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detected gravitational waves from binary black holes fully consistent with this theory. Our goal for VIGOR (Virtual-reality Interaction with Gravitational waves to Observe Relativity) is to communicate this revolutionary discovery to the public by visualizing the gravitational waves emitted by binary black holes. VIGOR has been developed using the Unity game engine and VR headsets (Oculus Rift DK2 and Samsung Gear VR). Wearing a VR headset, VIGOR users control an avatar to “fly” around binary black holes, experiment on the black holes by manipulating their total mass, mass ratio, and orbital separation, and witness how gravitational waves emitted by the black holes stretch and squeeze the avatar. We evaluated our prototype of VIGOR with high school students in 2016 and are further improving VIGOR based on our findings.
Pembrolizumab-Induced Thyroiditis: Comprehensive Clinical Review and Insights Into Underlying Involved Mechanisms.

Context: Thyroid immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients treated with programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blockade are increasingly recognized as one of the most common adverse effects. Our aim was to determine the incidence and examine the potential mechanisms of anti-PD-1–induced thyroid irAEs.
The Absheron Project: Bp's Production Sharing Agreement in Azerbaijan

This case is used in a Darden second-year elective in corporate finance, "Corporate Financial Policies." It asks students to analyze the cash flows estimated for a production sharing agreement (PSA) between BP and the Azerbaijan government targeted for signing by year-end 2014. The primary relationship is a joint venture (JV) between BP and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). The JV is entitled to recover operating costs and capital costs from the proceeds of sales of the early production of the project and share profits earned from production, called the profit petroleum (PP), with Azerbaijan after the cost recoveries. Students are provided a detailed cash flow model for the project and for BP's equity investment and are asked to explain how the value estimates correlate with the risks assumed by the respective parties. This case is appropriate for students who have studied the principles of discounted cash flow and cost of capital. It is best positioned as part of a first-year MBA finance course as the last case in a module related to cash flow analysis. The case can also be taught in an MBA elective containing advanced corporate finance topics. It would be of special interest to students planning for a career related to energy, banking, or consulting, and also relevant for students interested in international business. Excerpt UVA-F-1753 Apr. 12, 2016 The Absheron Project: BP's Production Sharing Agreement in Azerbaijan Samira Bayramli, a recently promoted finance analyst in the Azerbaijan office of the global oil and gas company, BP, had a lot on her plate. It was November 2014 and Bayramli's office window at Port Baku afforded a picturesque view of the Caspian Sea. Earlier that week, Bayramli's supervisor had asked her to review a proposed structure for a new production sharing agreement (PSA), for which BP aimed to complete negotiations with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) by year end. This contractual agreement would define the cost and profit-sharing scheme between BP and Azerbaijan for the exploration, development, and production of the shallow-water offshore hydrocarbon fields surrounding the Absheron Peninsula (Exhibit 1). The contract structure was complex, and Bayramli wanted to understand the project's risks and rewards and how those were to be distributed between BP and the host country. Production Sharing Agreements A PSA was a contract in which an oil-producing state granted an international oil company (IOC) the exclusive right to explore and produce hydrocarbons (oil and natural gas) at a defined location called the “contract area.” PSAs were used to provide a legal framework for investment in developing countries that lacked the financial or technical capabilities to develop their own hydrocarbon reserves. The IOC bore all the financial, geological, and operational risk associated with the project and was obligated to undertake a minimum exploratory work program (geological/seismic studies and wells). If a commercial discovery occurred, then the IOC paid the full costs of the field's development. . . .
Evaluation of near-miss and adverse events in radiation oncology using a comprehensive causal factor taxonomy

Abstract Purpose Incident learning systems (ILSs) are a popular strategy for improving safety in radiation oncology (RO) clinics, but few reports focus on the causes of errors in RO. The goal of this study was to test a causal factor taxonomy developed in 2012 by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and adopted for use in the RO: Incident Learning System (RO-ILS). Methods and materials Three hundred event reports were randomly selected from an institutional ILS database and Safety in Radiation Oncology (SAFRON), an international ILS. The reports were split into 3 groups of 100 events each: low-risk institutional, high-risk institutional, and SAFRON. Three raters retrospectively analyzed each event for contributing factors using the American Association of Physicists in Medicine taxonomy. Results No events were described by a single causal factor (median, 7). The causal factor taxonomy was found to be applicable for all events, but 4 causal factors were not described in the taxonomy: linear accelerator failure (n = 3), hardware/equipment failure (n = 2), failure to follow through with a quality improvement intervention (n = 1), and workflow documentation was misleading (n = 1). The most common causal factor categories contributing to events were similar in all event types. The most common specific causal factor to contribute to events was a "slip causing physical error." Poor human factors engineering was the only causal factor found to contribute more frequently to high-risk institutional versus low-risk institutional events. Conclusions The taxonomy in the study was found to be applicable for all events and may be useful in root cause analyses and future studies. Communication and human behaviors were the most common errors affecting all types of events. Poor human factors engineering was found to specifically contribute to high-risk more than low-risk institutional events, and may represent a strategy for reducing errors in all types of events.
Tort Luck and Liability Insurance

Important features of both the incidence and magnitude of tort liability depend heavily, and therefore arbitrarily, on luck. One of a number of examples is the eggshell-plaintiff rule, which imposes liability for all the physical injury a defendant causes, even if the amount of that injury was unforeseeable. In each instance, tort liability hinges on chance in a way that bears only an attenuated relationship, or no relationship, to the degree of responsibility that can fairly be attributed to the party in question. Despite the arguable injustices that tort luck reflects, it remains in the background, largely uncontroversial. Tort luck would be surprising, intolerable, or both, if it were not enmeshed in a system that relies so heavily on liability insurance to cushion its impact. Liability insurance reconciles, ameliorates, or eliminates many of the anomalies and contradictions in tort doctrines that might long ago have disappeared if it were not for liability insurance. This Article analyzes the ways that liability insurance interacts with tort luck, identifying the pervasive presence of insurance in tort liability, from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. It then examines the tort doctrines and practices that make liability hinge, arguably arbitrarily, on luck, and the ways in which insurance ameliorates this tort luck. Finally, the Article develops a counter-history of tort law, exploring the shape that tort law might have taken if liability insurance had not been available to play a role in ameliorating tort luck.
Comparison of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion With a Stand-Alone Interbody Cage Versus a Conventional Cage-Plate Technique: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis:

Study Design:Systematic review and meta-analysis.Objective:Compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with a stand-alone interbody cage versus ...
Humanization of the Computer Science Curriculum

Computer science programs in many universities are reacting to pedagogical initiatives to improve and broaden the education, particularly in the domain of adding less quantitative and more humanistic studies to a curriculum that is predominately technical. Integrating these concepts into the syllabus of computer science courses can be extremely difficult especially in the light of the lack of preparedness of many faculty. This paper examines some of these initiatives and suggests solutions to take the greatest advantage of these opportunities while at the same time improving the caliber of computer science graduates.
IgE-Dependent and Independent Effector Mechanisms in Human and Murine Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is shock mediated by cells of the innate immune system. Studies in murine models demonstrate at least three pathways: (1) antigen cross-linking of IgE bound to Fce(epsilon)RI leads to mast cell degranulation with release of histamine and PAF; (2) antigen-IgG complexes cross-link Fcγ(gamma)RIII on mast cells and basophils with secretion of PAF; and (3) complement activation leads to production of C3a and C5a, which activate mast cells, basophils, and macrophages. C3a and C5a appear unable to induce shock by themselves in the murine models, but can exacerbate anaphylaxis induced by the other mechanisms. Anaphylaxis can also be exacerbated by IL-4 and IL-13, which increase effector cell responsiveness to vasoactive mediators, and by β(beta)-adrenergic receptor antagonists, which decrease ability to compensate for vascular leak and decreased intravascular volume. IgG-dependent anaphylaxis requires much higher concentrations of antibody and antigen than IgE-mediated anaphylaxis; consequently, IgG antibodies can block the development of anaphylaxis when antigen quantity is low by binding to antigen before it can cross-link mast cell-associated IgE, but can mediate anaphylaxis when antigen quantity is high. Inhibitory receptors, such as Fcγ(gamma)RIIb, can suppress mast cell activation and anaphylaxis, but this effect is less important in our models than IgG neutralization of antigen. Although human IgE anaphylaxis is well established, the existence of IgG-mediated human anaphylaxis is unproven. However, we believe that studies of human anaphylaxis associated with infusion of large quantities of foreign proteins, such as chimeric monoclonal antibodies, make it likely that this type of human anaphylaxis can occur. Elucidation of these mechanisms suggests prophylactic and therapeutic approaches and goals for future anaphylaxis research.
Amended identification of Oxydia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) on Brazilian peppertree

ABSTRACTA colony of moths recently studied and published for control of Schinus terebinthifolia is found not to be Oxydia vesulia (Cramer) but instead a possibly undescribed species. Three species were originally collected. The unknown species is diagnosed by morphology and COI and compared to congeners.
The Associations of Early Sport Specialization and Training Volume with Injury Rates in NCAA Division I Athletes

Objectives:Sixty million United States youth ages 6-18 participate in organized athletics, with large increases in both sport participation and specialization in the past two decades. This study se...
Spiritual formation and workplace engagement: prosocial workplace behaviors

This paper presents a study of prosocial workplace behaviors indicative of spiritual formation. This research aims to provide practical guidance to managers interested in fostering workplace spirit...
Clinical trial design in head and neck cancer-challenges and opportunities

Abstract Over the last few decades, the treatment of head and neck cancer has evolved in a multidisciplinary approach. While small gains in outcomes have been produced, much more work needs to be done to have achieved significant gains in survival and quality of life. This highlights the importance of carrying out well designed clinical trials. Several accrual hurdles have been identified over the years, including relative low incidences of head and neck cancer, clinician and patient-driven factors, and standardization of available resources. From a trial implementation perspective, appropriate site selection, meaningful endpoints, and trial schemas also contribute to the success of a study. This chapter will discuss the current challenges in head and neck trials implementation and the opportunities available to ensure the execution of meaningful research.
Real-time robotic weed knife control system for tomato and lettuce based on geometric appearance of plant labels

Automated weed management tools in vegetable crops are needed to reduce or eliminate hand-weeding because of labour shortages and cost. Distinguishing crop plants from weeds in complex natural scenes of crop-weed mixtures remains a challenge for weed management automation. This paper presents a novel solution to the weed control problem by employing crop signalling technology: a novel systems approach that creates a machine-readable crop plant. A robot-vision-based weed-knife control system with a novel three-dimensional geometric detection algorithm was developed to automate weed control for tomato and lettuce crops. The system successfully detected the crop signal from occluded crop plants while traveling at speeds up to of 3.2 km h−1. The in-field experiments show that the system is able to reduce the number of weed plants by 83% in the seedling area. Crop detection accuracy was measured at 97.8% (precision 0.998 and recall 0.952) with a detection time of 30 ms f−1. This paper also shows that the crop signalling system has the advantage that prior knowledge of visual features of each crop and weed species is not required and poor visual appearance of the crop plants or weeds does not affect system performance.
Prenatal airshed pollutants and preterm birth in an observational birth cohort study in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Abstract Detroit, Michigan, currently has the highest preterm birth (PTB) rate of large cities in the United States. Disproportionate exposure to ambient air pollutants, including particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), PM ≤ 10 μm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) may contribute to PTB. Our objective was to examine the association of airshed pollutants with PTB in Detroit, MI. The Geospatial Determinants of Health Outcomes Consortium (GeoDHOC) study collected air pollution measurements at 68 sites in Detroit in September 2008 and June 2009. GeoDHOC data were coupled with 2008–2010 Michigan Air Sampling Network measurements in Detroit to develop monthly ambient air pollution estimates at a spatial density of 300 m2. Using delivery records from two urban hospitals, we established a retrospective birth cohort of births by Detroit women occurring from June 2008 to May 2010. Estimates of air pollutant exposure throughout pregnancy were assigned to maternal address at delivery. Our analytic sample size included 7961 births; 891 (11.2%) were PTB. After covariate adjustment, PM10 (P = 0.003) and BTEX (P
Treatment with an Angiopoietin‐1 mimetic peptide promotes neurological recovery after stroke in diabetic rats

Aim Vasculotide (VT), an angiopoietin-1 mimetic peptide, exerts neuroprotective effects in type one diabetic (T1DM) rats subjected to ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigated whether delayed VT treatment improves long-term neurological outcome after stroke in T1DM rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were induced with T1DM, subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) model of stroke, and treated with PBS (control), 2 µg/kg VT, 3 µg/kg VT, or 5.5 µg/kg VT. VT treatment was initiated at 24 h after stroke and administered daily (i.p) for 14 days. We evaluated neurological function, lesion volume, vascular and white matter remodeling, and inflammation in the ischemic brain. In vitro, we evaluated the effects of VT on endothelial cell capillary tube formation and inflammatory responses of primary cortical neurons (PCN) and macrophages. Results Treatment of T1DM-stroke with 3 µg/kg VT but not 2 µg/kg or 5.5 µg/kg significantly improves neurological function and decreases infarct volume and cell death compared to control T1DM-stroke rats. Thus, 3 µg/kg VT dose was employed in all subsequent in vivo analysis. VT treatment significantly increases axon and myelin density, decreases demyelination, decreases white matter injury, increases number of oligodendrocytes, and increases vascular density in the ischemic border zone of T1DM stroke rats. VT treatment significantly decreases MMP9 expression and decreases the number of M1 macrophages in the ischemic brain of T1DM-stroke rats. In vitro, VT treatment significantly decreases endothelial cell death and decreases MCP-1, endothelin-1, and VEGF expression under high glucose (HG) and ischemic conditions and significantly increases capillary tube formation under HG conditions when compared to non-treated control group. VT treatment significantly decreases inflammatory factor expression such as MMP9 and MCP-1 in macrophages subjected to LPS activation and significantly decreases IL-1β and MMP9 expression in PCN subjected to ischemia under HG conditions. Conclusion Delayed VT treatment (24 h after stroke) significantly improves neurological function, promotes vascular and white matter remodeling, and decreases inflammation in the ischemic brain after stroke in T1DM rats.
Linear Invariants for Linear Systems.

A central question in verification is characterizing when a system has invariants of a certain form, and then synthesizing them. We say a system has a $k$ linear invariant, $k$-LI in short, if it has a conjunction of $k$ linear (non-strict) inequalities -- equivalently, an intersection of $k$ (closed) half spaces -- as an invariant. We present a sufficient condition -- solely in terms of eigenvalues of the $A$-matrix -- for an $n$-dimensional linear dynamical system to have a $k$-LI. Our proof of sufficiency is constructive, and we get a procedure that computes a $k$-LI if the condition holds. We also present a necessary condition, together with many example linear systems where either the sufficient condition, or the necessary is tight, and which show that the gap between the conditions is not easy to overcome. In practice, the gap implies that using our procedure, we synthesize $k$-LI for a larger value of $k$ than what might be necessary. Our result enables analysis of continuous and hybrid systems with linear dynamics in their modes solely using reasoning in the theory of linear arithmetic (polygons), without needing reasoning over nonlinear arithmetic (ellipsoids).
Loss of KRASG12D feedback regulation involving splicing factor SRSF1 accelerates pancreatic cancer

The gene encoding KRAS GTPase is recurrently mutated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), triggering the formation of precursor lesions, i.e., acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). However, the majority of pancreatic cells from KC (LSL-KrasG12D/+; Pdx-1-Cre) mice expressing the KrasG12D mutation remain morphologically normal for a long time, suggesting the existence of compensatory feedback mechanisms that buffer aberrant KrasG12D signaling, and that additional steps are required for disrupting cell homeostasis and promoting transformation. Here we report a feedback mechanism in which the ubiquitously expressed splicing factor SRSF1—which is associated with cell transformation in multiple cell types—is downregulated in the majority of morphologically normal pancreas cells with the KrasG12D mutation. Conversely, increasing SRSF1 expression disrupts cell homeostasis by activating MAPK signaling, in part by regulating alternative splicing and mRNA stability of interleukin 1 receptor type 1 (Il1r1). This disruption in homeostasis in turn accelerates KrasG12D-mediated PDAC initiation and progression. Our results demonstrate the involvement of SRSF1 in the pancreatic-cell homeostatic response against the KrasG12D mutation, dysregulation of which facilitates PDAC initiation.
Mental Health Challenges Unique to African American Children and Adolescents

This chapter explores the historical context that contributed to the current mental health challenges that are uniquely experienced by African American children and adolescents in the United States. The chapter also discusses the types of psychological trauma that African American adolescents and children face growing up and the various coping mechanisms they sought to deal with their trauma. The chapter discusses how the psychological trauma can manifest in mental health issues in African American children and adolescents. Finally the chapter discusses mental health coping mechanisms of African American youth growing up in the current climate.
Optimization of Grinding Parameters for Twist Drill in Biglide Parallel Machine

In view of the Biglide parallel machine, this paper presented the theoretical and experimental basis for grinding the designated geometrical parameters of twist drill based on optimizing of the grinding parameters. The kinematics structure of the Biglide parallel machine was firstly introduced for grinding of the twist drill, and then the mathematical model of the twist drill flank was derived. And the relations between the geometric parameters of the drill point and grinding parameters of the grinding machine were analyzed, through which the optimal grinding parameters were obtained by using genetic algorithm. It was verified that the optimized grinding parameters improved the grinding precision,depending on the customers’ demands.
Correlation of Spray Cone Angle and Fuel Line Pressure in a Pressure-Swirl Injector Spray

The transient cone angle of a pressure swirl spray from an injector for gasoline direct injection engines was measured from 2D Mie scattering images. Iso-octane was used as the fluid that was delivered at room temperature for two different static pressures, 5MPa and 8.5MPa. The iso-octane was injected into a chamber at room temperature and ambient pressure. After a rapid initial increase, the cone angle oscillates before stabilizing to a steady-state value very close to the nominal cone angle. The period of the oscillation was found to correlate well with oscillations measured in the fuel line pressure.
The Limits to Reform: A Critical Discussion of the Saskatoon Public School Board's Assessment Controversy

This article presents a critical discussion of the controversy surrounding the perceived changes to the Saskatoon Public School Board’s assessment policy in September 2010. Utilizing Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 2005; Gee, 2005) and a critical framework of curriculum reform (Apple, 1996, 2000), an analysis of media representations, government statements, and curriculum documents suggests that the general public outcry, the Saskatoon Public School Board’s reaction to the controversy, and the government’s response exemplify a tacit understanding of the socialization purposes of school in preparing students for the world of labour. This article further examines the influence of "conservative modernization" (Apple, 1996; Lankshear & Gee, 1997; Gee, Hull, & Lankshear, 1996) on Saskatchewan educational policies and the capacity of Saskatchewan schools to innovate. Keywords: critical discourse analysis; critical framework; curriculum reform; socialization; educational policies
Sleep Restriction Therapy and Hypnotic Withdrawal versus Sleep Hygiene Education in Hypnotic Using Patients with Insomnia

Study Objectives:Insomnia is a common problem that affects 9% to 15% of the population chronically. The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate that 8 weekly sessions of sleep restrictio...
Proposed pi /4-CQPSK with increased capacity in digital cellular systems

Truly coherent pi /4-quadrature phase shift keying ( pi /4-CQPSK) is shown to increase the capacity of digital cellular systems over coherently demodulated and differentially encoded pi /4-QPSK ( pi /4-DEQPSK). The authors study the degradation of DEQPSK for different fading rates and operating bit error rates (BERs). Frequency-reuse systems and power-limited systems are studied. It is shown that the degradation of DEQPSK in fading channels is not as high as in linear static channels. However, for any practical fading rate and operating BER, the degradation is as high as 2 dB. It is also shown that the degradation is independent of the fading rate. For the practical operating BER, the degradation is also constant. Thus, an unambiguous phase estimation scheme should be used in fading channels if coherent detection is essential. Unambiguous phase estimation can be achieved by utilizing the preamble sequence or inserting pilot symbols. It is also shown that the power efficiency is also improved by 2 dB when truly coherent demodulation is employed in a power-limited system. >
Biogenetic Aspects of Sesquiterpene Lactone Chemistry

Current notions concerning the biogenesis of this large group of naturally occurring substances are discussed with emphasis on stereochemical aspects.
COMPBRN III — A fire hazard model for risk analysis

COMPBRN III is a deterministic fire hazard computer code designed to be used in a probabilistic analysis of fire growth in a compartment. Its primary application to date has been the assessment of fire risk in the nuclear power industry. COMPBRN III follows a quasi-static approach to simulate the process of fire growth during the pre-flashover period in an enclosure. Physical models which quantify the thermal hazard (including temperature and heat fluxes) during a compartment fire are developed. Simulations of experiments are performed to test the accuracy of the improved hot gas layer model used in this version of COMPBRN in predicting the behavior of large-scale fires.
Sleep disorders in patients with end‑stage renal disease undergoing dialysis: comparison between hemodialysis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and automated peritoneal dialysis

Sleep disorders for patients on dialysis are significant causes of a poorer quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality. No study has evaluated patients undergoing automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) to assess their sleep disorders compared to hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). A total of 166 clinically stable patients who had been on dialysis for at least 3 months were randomly selected for the study and divided into HD, CAPD or APD. Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters and self-administered questionnaires were collected for the investigation of insomnia, restless legs syndrome (RLS), bruxism, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), sleepwalking, sleep hygiene, depression and anxiety. Insomnia was detected in more than 80 % of patients on the three modalities. OSAS was lower for patients on HD (36 %) than on CAPD (65 %) (p < 0.01) or APD (60 %) (p < 0.04). Patients on APD were more likely to have RLS compared to those on HD or CAPD (p < 0.04) (50 vs. 23 vs. 33 %). No differences among the modalities were found in bruxism, EDS, sleepwalking, sleep hygiene, depression or anxiety. ESRD patients undergoing any one of the three dialysis modalities studied had a high prevalence of sleep disorders. Patients on HD had a lower proportion of OSAS than those on CAPD and APD, which is most likely attributed to their lower body mass indices. The possible causes of higher RLS rates in APD patients have not been established.
On the location and motion of rare gas atoms in metals

Abstract Using potentials of about 40 kV, rare gas ions were accelerated into metal films and foils. In spite of the fact that as much as 2 at % argon was loaded into the metal lattice, little or no X-ray effect due to lattice distortion was observed. This result suggests that rare gas atoms coming to rest in a metal lattice capture vacancies. When rare gas loaded metal foils are heated in a vacuum system connected to a mass spectrometer, the evolution of the gas can be measured. The evolution of argon from foils of silver, gold, aluminum, and lead and krypton from uranium has been studied with interesting variations from metal to metal. Exploratory experiments with other rare gases indicate similar results. The combination of the ion bombardment and mass spectrometer techniques appears very promising for the study of the behaviour of rare gases in crystals.
Mercury content and speciation in the plankton and benthos of Lake Superior

As part of a study is to assess the importance of watersheds in controlling sources, transport, fate, and bioavailability of monomethyl mercury (MeHg) in Lake Superior, biotic samples were collected and analyzed to determine total mercury (HgT) and MeHg content, and to examine size, species, trophic and geographic trends. Plankton was collected in two ways: vertical tows of non-metallic, 153 μm mesh net (bulk zooplankton), and by passively filtering near-surface water through stacked Nitex sieves, generating size-fractionated seston ( 112 μm). Benthos was sampled using a Ponar grab to collect sediment, and a non-metallic sieve to separate biota from substrate. Samples were processed to quantify dry weights, HgT and MeHg. Results for bulk zooplankton sampled offshore showed a range of approximately from 35 to 50 ng MeHg/gram dry weight (gdw) and from 80 to 130 ng HgT/gdw during April, and from 15 to 25 ng MeHg/gdw and from 20 to 70 ng HgT/gdw during August. Results from sieved, near-surface water from offshore sites in April showed a dominance by the <35 μm size fraction both in total mass and mass of MeHg compared to other size fractions. On a dry weight basis, however, we found little difference between the size fractions in April (MeHg ranges from 2 to 10 ng/gdw). During the summer cruise, we found similar concentrations in the <35 μm fraction, but higher in the 112-243 μm size fraction (MeHg 14-16 ng/gdw). The MeHg concentration in Mysisrelicta ranged from 33 to 54 ng/gdw throughout the lake. Chironomid larvae were 8 ng MeHg/gdw and amphipods were 32 ng MeHg/gdw.