cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successful Treatment of the Normal Perfusion Pressure Breakthrough Syndrome

Massive, multifocal bleeding after the technically successful removal of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) represents a frightening and usually catastrophic complication. This phenomenon, termed normal perfusion pressure breakthrough by Spetzler et al., is caused by the diversion of blood flow from the AVM into adjacent, maximally dilated, and nonautoregulating small vessels. We recently encountered three cases of cerebral AVM that exhibited breakthrough bleeding immediately after an apparently successful operation. In all cases, the surgeon was unable to control the resultant hemorrhage by standard microsurgical techniques. High dose barbiturate anesthesia, combined with blood pressure reduction to the lower levels of the normal cerebral perfusion curve, was then initiated in each case. Controlled hyperventilation, steroids, and osmotic dehydrating agents were also used to control intracranial pressure elevation. After maintenance of this regimen for several days, the patients were returned to the operating room for hematoma evacuation. At this time, bleeding was controlled easily and breakthrough did not occur. Although this regimen requires intensive anesthetic, pulmonary, and cerebral monitoring, it successfully salvaged all three patients. Two made immediate, remarkable recoveries, and the third patient is slowly improving. This protocol therefore seems promising for the management of the massive, uncontrollable cerebral swelling or bleeding that may occur as a consequence of AVM removal.
Headspace Gas Chromatographic Measurements of Limiting Activity Coefficients of Eleven Alkanes in Organic Solvents at 25 °C. 1

In the present study we report the infinite dilution activity coefficients (γ∞) of 11 alkanes in 67 organic liquids at 25 °C measured by fully automated headspace gas chromatography. This study is part of a more comprehensive one whose main objective is to compare the predictive ability of several semitheoretical models to estimate alkane γ∞ values. To do this it is obviously necessary to collect reliable experimental data spanning a wide range of chemical properties. The solutes include five linear (pentane to nonane), four branched (2-methylpentane, 2,4-dimethylpentane, 2,5-dimethylhexane, 2,3,4-trimethylpentane), and two cyclic (cyclohexane and ethylcyclohexane) alkanes. The solvents include several homologous series: n-alkanes, 1-alkenes, n-alcohols, 2-ketones, nitriles, acetates, and 34 other common volatile and nonvolatile solvents. Several modifications introduced to the previously reported instrumentation and to the quantitation method are discussed. The data presented are the average of at least...
$Z'_8$ Orbifolds Models, Supersymmetry Breaking, and Cosmology

By including the effects of superstring thresholds, we consider minimal string unification together with the requirement of producing a supersymmetry breaking gluino condensate in the hidden sector. Assigning modular weights to the MSSM fields, consistent with anomaly cancellation, we generate solutions in a class of phenomenologically-viable orbifold models. In such models, a hidden photino can be a source of cosmological dark matter.
Research and Perspective on Local Binary Pattern

Abstract In view of the theoretical and practical value of local binary pattern (LBP), the various LBP methods in texture analysis and classification, face analysis and recognition, and other detection applications are reviewed. Firstly, the principle of LBP method is briefly discussed, which mainly analyses the threshold operation, the uniform pattern and rotation invariant pattern in LBP method. Secondly, the texture analysis and classification of the LBP method, face analysis and recognition of the LBP method and other detection applications of the LBP method are particular combed and commented. Finally, the existing important problems of the LBP method are analyzed and the future for the LBP method is pointed out.
Mechanical response of a simple finite element model of the intervertebral disc under complex loading

A simple axisymmetric finite element model of a human spine segment containing two adjacent vertebrae and the intervening intervertebral disc was constructed. The bodies and disc were modeled by three substructures; one to represent each of the vertebral bodies, the annulus fibrosus, and the nucleus pulposus. A semi-analytic technique was used to maintain the computational economies of a two-dimensional analysis when non- axisymmetric loads were imposed on the model. The response of the model to compression, shear, torsion and bending loads applied to the superior vertebral body was examined to determine the effects of disc geometry and material properties on response. Comparisons of model responses with experimentally measured responses were made to estimate material property values for which model behaviors are in agreement with measured behaviors.
Effect of subject effort on pulmonary function measures: a preliminary investigation.

(1984). Effect of Subject Effort on Pulmonary Function Measures: A Preliminary Investigation. Journal of Asthma: Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 295-298.
Journal Mutilation in Academic Libraries

Journal mutilation continues to be a problem in academic libraries despite widespread use of photocopiers, reserve areas, and microforms. Measurement of the amount of mutilation using the number of replacement pages ordered is discussed. Four types of mutilator are described and preventive measures suggested for each type.
The National Consultative Council of Jordan: A Study in Legislative Development

Studies of legislatures in developing countries have to contend with a great deal of cynicism owing, in part, to a political controversy concerning the role of the legislative institution in the Third World. The executive branch, which is generally dominant in developing nations, often uses the legislature to legitimize executive actions. Legislators who agree to serve the executive in this fashion often exaggerate or misrepresent the importance of the legislature in their political system. Conversely, opposition groups, who are frequently excluded from the political process in Third World countries, denigrate the role of legislatures and often exaggerate their ineffectiveness. Scholars have mostly ingnored the role of legislatures in the process of development.
Addressing the Growing Inadequacies of the Ellerth/Faragher Affirmative Defense: Fashioning a Sensible and Feasible Solution

Public policy seeks an equitable balance between the rights and duties of both employers and employees in creating a workplace free of sexual harassment. This goal is particularly difficult to achieve when supervisors create a hostile work environment. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in Ellerth and Faragher created an affirmative defense against vicarious liability for employers, but subsequent applications of these rulings have been inconsistent and problematic. Courts and legislators need to (1) choose the appropriate standard of employer liability for sexual harassment committed by supervisors, and (2) decide what, if any, defenses are available to employers when employees bring claims of sexual harassment. We conclude that holding employers strictly liable while allowing for the limitation of damages based on “avoidable consequences,” as recently adopted by the California Supreme Court in McGinnis, is preferable to other liability standards and defenses.
Design and validation of a scanning Shack Hartmann aberrometer for measurements of the eye over a wide field of view.

Peripheral vision and off-axis aberrations not only play an important role in daily visual tasks but may also influence eye growth and refractive development. Thus it is important to measure off-axis wavefront aberrations of human eyes objectively. To achieve efficient measurement, we incorporated a double-pass scanning system with a Shack Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS) to develop a scanning Shack Hartmann aberrometer (SSHA). The prototype SSHA successfully measured the off-axis wavefront aberrations over +/− 15 degree visual field within 7 seconds. In two validation experiments with a wide angle model eye, it measured change in defocus aberration accurately (<0.02μm, 4mm pupil) and precisely (<0.03μm, 4mm pupil). A preliminary experiment with a human subject suggests its feasibility in clinical applications.
Mixed electoral systems and electoral system effects: controlled comparison and cross-national analysis

Utilizing data from 15 countries that employ mixed electoral systems, we provide a crossnational analysis of the defining elements and potentially constraining effects of such systems. Using district level election results, we examine the effects of the proportional representation (PR) and single-member district (SMD) tiers of mixed systems separately and in combination. We also test the effects on electoral outcomes of different components of mixed systems such as linked tiers, ratio of SMD to PR seats, and majority versus plurality rules in the SMD tier. Our findings suggest that, despite claims of a ‘‘contamination effect’’ between the two tiers, in countries with developed party systems, PR and SMD electoral arrangements tend to approximate their expected effects even when used in combination in mixed systems. We also find that particular institutional characteristics within mixed systems have a substantial constraining effect on the number of significant political parties. However, the nature of the party system itself, in particular the extent to which its parties are institutionalized, also plays a very important role in shaping the degree to which constraining effects are truly felt. # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Nitrogen assimilation in alfalfa: isolation and characterization of an asparagine synthetase gene showing enhanced expression in root nodules and dark-adapted leaves.

Asparagine, the primary assimilation product from N2 fixation in temperate legumes and the predominant nitrogen transport product in many plant species, is synthesized via asparagine synthetase (AS; EC 6.3.5.4). Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a cDNA and a gene encoding the nodule-enhanced form of AS from alfalfa. The AS gene is comprised of 13 exons separated by 12 introns. The 59 flanking region of the AS gene confers nodule-enhanced reporter gene activity in transformed alfalfa. This region also confers enhanced reporter gene activity in dark-treated leaves. These results indicate that the 59 upstream region of the AS gene contains elements that affect expression in root nodules and leaves. Both AS mRNA and enzyme activity increased approximately 10- to 20-fold during the development of effective nodules. Ineffective nodules have strikingly reduced amounts of AS transcript. Alfalfa leaves have quite low levels of AS mRNA and protein; however, exposure to darkness resulted in a considerable increase in both. In situ hybridization with effective nodules and beta-glucuronidase staining of nodules from transgenic plants showed that AS is expressed in both infected and uninfected cells of the nodule symbiotic zone and in the nodule parenchyma. RNA gel blot analysis and in situ hybridization results are consistent with the hypothesis that initial AS expression in nodules is independent of nitrogenase activity.
Density-dependent intraguild predation of an aphid parasitoid

A growing body of research has examined the effect of shared resource density on intraguild predation (IGP) over relatively short time frames. Most of this work has led to the conclusion that when the shared resource density is high, the strength of IGP should be lower, due to prey dilution. However, experiments addressing this topic have been done using micro- or mesocosms that excluded the possibility of intraguild predator aggregation. We examined the effect of shared resource density on IGP of an aphid parasitoid in an open field setting where the effects of prey dilution and predator aggregation could occur simultaneously. We brought potted soybean plants with 2, 20, or 200 soybean aphids (Aphis glycines) and 20 pupae (‘mummies’) of the soybean aphid parasitoid Binodoxys communis into soybean fields in Minnesota, USA. We monitored predator aggregation onto the potted plants, predation of parasitoid mummies, and successful adult emergence of B. communis. We found that predator aggregation was higher at the higher aphid densities on our experimental plants and that this coincided with lower adult emergence of B. communis, indicating that even if a prey dilution effect occurred in our study, it was overcome by short-term predator aggregation. Our results suggest that the effect of shared resource density on IGP may be more nuanced in a field setting than in microcosms due to predator aggregation.
Stochastic Microstructure Reconstruction and Direct Numerical Simulation of the PEFC Catalyst Layer

A direct numerical simulation DNS model of species and charge transport in the cathode catalyst layer of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell has been developed. The 3D porous microstructure of the catalyst layer has been reconstructed based on a stochastic technique using the low-order statistical information porosity, two-point correlation function as obtained from 2D transmission electron microscopy TEM micrographs of a real catalyst layer. In this microscopically complex structure, the DNS model solves point-wise accurate conservation equations, thereby obtaining a pore-scale description of concentration and potential fields. DNS predictions are further compared with the one-dimensional macrohomogeneous results to establish appropriate correlations for effective transport properties as input into macroscopic computational fuel cell models. Finally, the utility of the stochastic reconstruction technique coupled with the DNS model is demonstrated through addressing the influence of microstructural inhomogeneity on the fuel cell performance.
Cladribine in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia: initial and subsequent results.

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a chronic B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder associated with pancytopenia, splenomegaly, and recurrent infections. Although interferon α and pentostatin were initially found to be effective in this disease, cladribine has emerged as the preferred initial therapy. Cladribine given as a single continuous intravenous seven-day infusion is the dosing schedule with the most durable complete remissions and evaluated in the greatest number of patients with HCL. Patients who relapse after purine analogue therapy, whether it be cladribine or pentostatin, can be successfully retreated with cladribine. Patients with HCL may develop complications of recurrent infection and second malignancies. Although both complications are postulated to be related to therapy, they may also be due to the duration and burden of the disease. Minimal residual disease detected on bone marrow biopsy is thought to predict for future relapse. We will review the initial and subsequent results of cladribine in t...
Stable Algebraic Topology and Stable Topological Algebra

Algebraic topology is a young subject, and its foundations are not yet firmly in place. I shall give some history, examples and modern developments in that part of the subject called stable algebraic topology, or stable homotopy theory. This is by far the most calculationally accessible part of algebraic topology, although it is also the least intuitively grounded in visualizable geometric objects. It has a great many applications to other subjects such as algebraic geometry and geometric topology. Time will not allow me to say as much as I would like about that. Rather, I shall emphasize some foundational issues that have been central to this part of algebraic topology since the early 1960s, but that have been satisfactorily resolved only in the last few years.
Participation in Youth Programs as a Catalyst for Negotiation of Family Autonomy with Connection

Current research and theory suggest that the healthy path of autonomy development involves gradual negotiation of adolescents’ independence within a context of continued family connection. This theory-generating study examined the role that adolescents’ participation in youth programs plays in these adolescent-parent negotiations. Qualitative data from high-school-aged youth in 12 programs and from a sub-sample of parents were analyzed employing methods of grounded theory. These analyses suggest that program participation provides a pathway of opportunities for youth to exercise individual choice and develop qualities of self-reliance with parental approval. In turn, parents’ observation of self-reliance in the program and youth's demonstration of these qualities in family interactions can lead to changes in adolescent-parent relationships that provide youth greater family autonomy with connection.
Intensive glycemic control and the risk of heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes.

randomized controlled trials to help determine if intensive blood glucose control has benefit in reducing the risk of congestive heart failure (CHF). The study revealed that there was no significant reduction in risk of CHF among individuals randomized to intensive versus standard blood glucose control groups. The authors rightly point out the presence of important heterogeneity among the trials with regard to the use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs). As expected, among the 4 trials that had a high rate of TZD use (ie, PROactive, ACCORD, VADT, and RECORD), the risk of CHF was elevated in individuals randomized to intensive blood glucose control. On the other hand, among the remaining 3 trials (ie, UKPDS, ADVANCE, and VA-CSDM), the risk ratio was close to null with a wide CI, highlighting the limitedness of the available data (risk ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.81-1.13). We believe that combining these 2 groups of trials that are fundamentally different with respect to CHF outcomes can give the reader a false sense of adequate power because, in actuality, the 4 trials that used TZDs (agents known to cause heart failure) to lower blood glucose levels are confounded by the intervention itself and, hence, are not appropriate to answer the question whether intensive blood glucose control can reduce the risk of CHF. Therefore, although Castagno et al discussed the various aspects of the observed null finding, it would have been useful to point out that the most relevant data on the topic come from only 2 trials (ie, UKPDS and ADVANCE, not counting the pilot trial with a total of 9 events of interest) and are not sufficiently powered to
Adaptive cancelling of physiological tremor for improved precision in microsurgery

Physiological hand tremor impedes microsurgery. We present both a novel adaptive algorithm for tremor estimation and a new technique for active real-time cancelling of physiological tremor. Tremor is modeled online using the weighted-frequency Fourier linear combiner (WFLC). This adaptive algorithm models tremor as a modulating sinusoid, and tracks its frequency, amplitude and phase. Piezoelectric actuators move the surgical instrument tip in opposition to the motion of tremor, effectively subtracting the tremor from the total motion. We demonstrate the technique in 1D using a cantilever apparatus as a benchtop simulation of the surgical instrument. Actual hand motion, prerecorded during simulated surgery, is used as input. In 25 tests, WFLC tremor compensation reduces the RMS tip motion in the 6-16 Hz tremor band by 67%, and reduces the RMS error with respect to an a posteriori estimate of voluntary motion by 30%. The technique can be implemented in a hand-held microsurgical instrument.
Electrophilic aryl C–H amination by dimetal nitrides: correlating electronic structure with reactivity

Using density functional methods we have modelled the intramolecular electrophilic aryl C–H amination for 15 dimetal nitrides, both homo- and heteronuclear, along with 2 mononuclear nitrides, in the pursuit of understanding the reactivity of the dimetal nitrido Ru2(DPhF)4N (DPhF = N,N′-diphenyl formamidinate) molecule, for which this amination reaction was experimentally observed and characterized. It was found that the 3-center bonding manifold (MMN) that arises between the metal–metal bond and axial nitrido moiety has a dominant influence in the electronic structure and consequently the reactivity at each step in the reaction. It was found that transition state energetics correlate strongly with product stabilization and that these quantities depend on the number of electrons available to occupy the MMN manifold. As the reaction proceeds the number of orbitals in the manifold decreases by one and the point at which this happens determines which of two transition states is rate limiting. The dimetallic nitrides are shown to be inherently more reactive than the mononuclear complexes and so the MMN manifold that is only active in the dimetallic complexes comes through as an important factor in facilitating this amination reaction. Overall, a strong correlation between electronic structure and reactivity is established for C–H amination and new synthetic targets are proposed to develop new facets of this reactivity.
Block-Structured Adaptive Grids on the Sphere: Advection Experiments

Abstract A spherical 2D adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) technique is applied to the so-called Lin–Rood advection algorithm, which is built upon a conservative and oscillation-free finite-volume discretization in flux form. The AMR design is based on two modules: a block-structured data layout and a spherical AMR grid library for parallel computer architectures. The latter defines and manages the adaptive blocks in spherical geometry, provides user interfaces for interpolation routines, and supports the communication and load-balancing aspects for parallel applications. The adaptive grid simulations are guided by user-defined adaptation criteria. Both statically and dynamically adaptive setups that start from a regular block-structured latitude–longitude grid are supported. All blocks are logically rectangular, self-similar, and independent data units that are split into four in the event of refinement requests, thereby doubling the horizontal resolution. Grid coarsenings reverse this refinement principle. ...
Robots vs. machines: Identifying user perceptions and classifications

Ways in which people perceive machines as robots can influence their subsequent behavior and interactions. Individuals may make these classification decisions based solely on visual information, and thus the physical form of the entity alone. Participants viewed images of robots from a variety of identified domains and rated each image according to the extent to which they perceive the entity as a machine and the extent to which they viewed it as a robot. Findings suggest that images portraying greater anthropomorphic properties are classified as more robotic. Implications for robot design and trust are discussed.
Attack-potential-based survivability modeling for high-consequence systems

Previous quantitative models of security or survivability have been defined on a range of probable intruder behavior. This measures survivability as a statistic such as mean time to breach. This kind of purely stochastic quantification is not suitable for high-consequence systems. For high-consequence systems the quantified survivability should be based on the most competent intruders the system is likely to face. We show how to accomplish this with a contingency analysis based on variations in intruder attack-potential. The quantitative results are then organized and presented according to intruder attack potential. Examples of the technique are presented using stochastic process algebra. An interesting result for diverse replication is included in the examples.
Factors affecting size and configuration of neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser lesions in the prostate.

Laser surgery for benign prostatic hypertrophy is a clinical reality and a promising alternative to traditional transurethral electroresection of the prostatic adenoma (TURP). Current methods of laser prostatectomy involve coagulation of prostate tissue using a quartz side-firing fiber that redirects a Nd:YAG laser beam at 70–90° most commonly by means of a metal reflector. In this communication we describe a method of tissue evaporation using a side-firing fiber that avoids use of a metal reflector by means of internal reflection. It is relatively resistant to damage when coming in contact with tissue. By placing the fiber tip in direct contact with tissue, much larger lesions are created because of more efficient energy transfer resulting in rapid evaporation of tissue under water. In prostate surgery, this phenomenon of accelerated evaporation can be used to bloodlessly evaporate adenomatous tissue creating a defect that resembles that of a traditional TURP. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Insulin-regulated expression of Egr-1 and Krox20: dependence on ERK1/2 and interaction with p38 and PI3-kinase pathways.

In addition to its ability to rapidly alter metabolism, insulin is also able to regulate the expression of numerous genes via activation of the PI3-kinase (PI3-K), MAPK kinase (MEK)-ERK, or p38 pathways. Using differential screening of H4IIE cells, we have identified two members of the Egr zinc-finger transcription factor family of early response genes, Egr-1 and Krox20, whose transcription is induced by insulin treatment. Egr-1 may be involved in insulin’s regulation of hepatic gene expression. Krox20 regulation and expression have been primarily studied in neural cells and tissues, but little has been previously reported on the presence of Krox20 in cells of hepatic origin or its regulation by insulin. In the present studies, insulin treatment rapidly increased transcription of both Egr-1 and Krox20. In cells pretreated with a PI3-K inhibitor, there was no reduction in the effect of insulin on Egr-1 and Krox20, but an increase in Egr-1 transcription. The rapid induction of ERK1/2 phosphorylation was com...
Estimating changes in free-living energy intake and its confidence interval

Background: Free-living energy intake in humans is notoriously difficult to measure but is required to properly assess outpatient weight-control interventions. Objective: Our objective was to develop a simple methodology that uses longitudinal body weight measurements to estimate changes in energy intake and its 95% CI in individual subjects. Design: We showed how an energy balance equation with 2 parameters can be derived from any mathematical model of human metabolism. We solved the energy balance equation for changes in free-living energy intake as a function of body weight and its rate of change. We tested the predicted changes in energy intake by using weight-loss data from controlled inpatient feeding studies as well as simulated free-living data from a group of “virtual study subjects” that included realistic fluctuations in body water and day-to-day variations in energy intake. Results: Our method accurately predicted individual energy intake changes with the use of weight-loss data from controlled inpatient feeding experiments. By applying the method to our simulated free-living virtual study subjects, we showed that daily weight measurements over periods >28 d were required to obtain accurate estimates of energy intake change with a 95% CI of <300 kcal/d. These estimates were relatively insensitive to initial body composition or physical activity level. Conclusions: Frequent measurements of body weight over extended time periods are required to precisely estimate changes in energy intake in free-living individuals. Such measurements are feasible, relatively inexpensive, and can be used to estimate diet adherence during clinical weight-management programs.
Effect of Oxide Devitrification on Oxidation Kinetics of SiC

The effect of oxide crystallinity on the oxidation rate of silicon carbide was investigated. CVD SiC coupons were oxidized in a clean TGA reactor system at 1,300 C initially in flowing oxygen, immediately annealed in argon, and then reoxidized, all in situ and without cooling (so as to preserve oxide integrity). The parabolic rate constants determined for the preoxidation regime (of mainly amorphous oxide film) and reoxidation regime (of devitrified oxide) were compared. The oxidation rate decreased by a factor of {approximately}30 following full oxide crystallization induced by the anneal.
pKa Calculations in Solution and Proteins with QM/MM Free Energy Perturbation Simulations: A Quantitative Test of QM/MM Protocols

The accuracy of biological simulations depends, in large part, on the treatment of electrostatics. Due to the availability of accurate experimental values, calculation of pKa provides stringent evaluation of computational methods. The generalized solvent boundary potential (GSBP) and Ewald summation electrostatic treatments were recently implemented for combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations by our group. These approaches were tested by calculating pKa shifts due to differences in electronic structure and electrostatic environment; the shifts were determined for a series of small molecules in solution, using various electrostatic treatments, and two residues (His 31, Lys 102) in the M102K T4-lysozyme mutant with large pKa shifts, using the GSBP approach. The calculations utilized a free energy perturbation scheme with the QM/MM potential function involving the self-consistent charge density functional tight binding (SCC-DFTB) and CHARMM as the QM and MM methods, respective...
Oral Cavity and Development of the Branchial Apparatus

The region of the future oral cavity is indicated by the position of the prochordal plate in bilaminar and trilaminar embryos during the second and third weeks of development. (The prochordal plate is a circumscribed area of columnar endodermal cells located in the cephalic part of the yolk sac roof; it is roughly coextensive with the endodermal layer of the oropharyngeal membrane. The prochordal plate is thought to play an important organizing role in initiating development of the forebrain and heart.) Before body fold development (head, tail, lateral) converts the flattened embryonic plate (trilaminar embryo) into the tubular configuration of the definitive organism, the prochordal plate (oropharyngeal membrane) is located in the same plane, and cranial to the notochord. Head fold formation is especially important in bringing the future oral cavity into its definitive anterior position while producing the floor of the foregut and at the same time establishing the definitive relationships of the developing heart, foregut and their associated coelomic structures.
Engineered materials and the cellular microenvironment: a strengthening interface between cell biology and bioengineering

Cells constantly probe and respond to a myriad of cues that are present in their local surroundings. The effects of soluble cues are relatively straightforward to manipulate, yet teasing apart how cells transduce signals from the extracellular matrix and neighboring cells has proven to be challenging due to the spatially and mechanically complex adhesive interactions. Over the years, advances in the engineering of biocompatible materials have enabled innovative ways to study adhesion-mediated cell functions, and numerous insights have elucidated the significance of the cellular microenvironment. Here, we highlight some of the major approaches and discuss the potential for future advancement.
Zhong Jia-Qing (1937–1987)

Zhong Jia-Qing1 was born on December 4, 1937, in Anhui Province, which lies in the east coastal region of China. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack in the early morning of April 12, 1987, in New York while he was a visiting professor at Columbia University. He is survived by his wife, Wu Mei-Juan, who is a professor of physics at Qinghua University in Beijing, a daughter Zhong Wen (born 1967), and a son Zhong Ning (born 1970).
Debond mechanics of brittle materials

In this paper, the author sketches the elements of the pragmatic theory of interface fracture, and the particular problems that have been stimulating. The two sections at the end update several topics of the current research. The development in the last five years has been driven by the increasing recognition of the roles of interfaces in engineered materials. For ceramic-matrix composites, moderately weak matrix-fiber interfaces, allowing debond and pull-out, enhances the overall toughness. On the other hand, strong bonding is a prerequisite to the performance of layered electronic and structural materials. Mechanics issues are: how the debond resistance can be measured, why microstructures control the debond resistance, and if the interface does debond, what will be the consequences.
Assessing the impacts of temperature and storage on Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes decay in dairy manure

Elevated levels of animal waste-borne pathogen in ambient water is a serious human health issue. Mitigating influx of pathogens from animal waste such as dairy manure to soil and water requires improving our existing knowledge of pathogen reductions in dairy manure treatment methods. This study was conducted to enhance the understanding of human pathogen decay in liquid dairy manure in anaerobic (AN) and limited aerobic (LA) storage conditions. The decay of three pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes) was assessed in bench-scale batch reactors fed with liquid slurry. A series of temperatures (30, 35, 42, and 50 °C) conditions were tested to determine the impacts of temperature on Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes decay in AN and LA conditions. Results showed prolonged survival of E. coli compared to Salmonella and L. monocytogenes in both LA and AN environments. Variations in survival among pathogens with temperature and environmental conditions (i.e., LA and AN) indicated the necessity of developing improved dairy manure waste treatment methods for controlling animal waste-borne pathogens. The results of this study will help in improving the current understanding of human pathogen decay in dairy manure for making informed decisions of animal manure treatment by stakeholders.
Dynamic assertion-based verification for systemc

SystemC has emerged as a de facto standard modeling language for hardware and embedded systems. However, the current standard does not provide support for temporal specifications. Specifically, SystemC lacks a mechanism for sampling the state of the model at different types of temporal resolutions, for observing the internal state of modules, and for integrating monitors efficiently into the model's execution. This work presents a novel framework for specifying and efficiently monitoring temporal assertions of SystemC models that removes these restrictions. This work introduces new specification language primitives that (1) expose the inner state of the SystemC kernel in a principled way, (2) allow for very fine control over the temporal resolution, and (3) allow sampling at arbitrary locations in the user code. An efficient modular monitoring framework presented here allows the integration of monitors into the execution of the model, while at the same time incurring low overhead and allowing for easy adoption. Instrumentation of the user code is automated using Aspect-Oriented Programming techniques, thereby allowing the integration of user-code-level sample points into the monitoring framework. While most related approaches optimize the size of the monitors, this work focuses on minimizing the runtime overhead of the monitors. Different encoding configurations are identified and evaluated empirically using monitors synthesized from a large benchmark of random and pattern temporal specifications. The framework and approaches described in this dissertation allow the adoption of assertion-based verification for SystemC models written using various levels of abstraction, from system level to register-transfer level. An advantage of this work is that many existing specification languages call be adopted to use the specification primitives described here, and the framework can easily be integrated into existing implementations of SystemC.
The Physician's Role in Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The private practitioner provides the great bulk of preventive services to the community. When divided into five “levels of prevention” these services have greater meaning. Public health is simply organized community action for solving a more or less complex health problem. The practitioner also has an essential role in most public health work.
Zero-field NMR enhanced by parahydrogen in reversible exchange.

We have recently demonstrated that sensitive and chemically specific NMR spectra can be recorded in the absence of a magnetic field using hydrogenative parahydrogen induced polarization (PHIP)(1-3) and detection with an optical atomic magnetometer. Here, we show that non-hydrogenative parahydrogen-induced polarization(4-6) (NH-PHIP) can also dramatically enhance the sensitivity of zero-field NMR. We demonstrate the detection of pyridine, at concentrations as low as 6 mM in a sample volume of 250 μL, with sufficient sensitivity to resolve all identifying spectral features, as supported by numerical simulations. Because the NH-PHIP mechanism is nonreactive, operates in situ, and eliminates the need for a prepolarizing magnet, its combination with optical atomic magnetometry will greatly broaden the analytical capabilities of zero-field and low-field NMR.
Response of type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis to pulse methylprednisolone and alternate-day prednisone therapy.

Sixteen children with biopsy-confirmed type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) were treated with six alternate-day intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone followed by single-dose alternate-day prednisone for 12–66 months (mean 37 months). The average length of follow-up was 52 months (range 12–127 months). Compared with pretreatment values, the frequency of hematuria (13/16 vs. 8/16,P<0.05) and the levels of serum albumin (2.66 ± 0.69 vs. 3.76 ± 0.39 g/dl,P < 0.001), creatinine clearance (97 ± 37 vs. 129 ± 26 ml/ min/1.73 m2,P<0.001), and proteinuria (5.2 ± 5.1 vs. 1.0 ± 0.8 g/day, P<0.001) were significantly improved after 3 months of therapy. Improvement has persisted through the end of the follow-up period. Repeat kidney biopsies showed a significant reduction in acute changes but an increase in chronic changes. Thirteen patients have been off therapy from 1 to 74 months (mean 20.8 months). Nine have a normal urinalysis, creatinine clearance, and protein excretion. The remainder have normal renal function but proteinuria ranging from 3.2 to 4.3 g/day. The data support the evidence of other investigators that corticosteroid therapy is beneficial in type I MPGN and suggest that initiation with pulse methylprednisolone may promote early stabilization of the disease.
Volatility of primary organic aerosol emitted from light duty gasoline vehicles.

Primary organic aerosol (POA) emitted from light duty gasoline vehicles (LDGVs) exhibits a semivolatile behavior in which heating the aerosol and/or diluting the aerosol leads to partial evaporation of the POA. A single volatility distribution can explain the median evaporation behavior of POA emitted from LDGVs but this approach is unable to capture the full range of measured POA volatility during thermodenuder (TD) experiments conducted at atmospherically relevant concentrations (2–5 μg m–3). Reanalysis of published TD data combined with analysis of new measurements suggest that POA emitted from gasoline vehicles is composed of two types of POA that have distinctly different volatility distributions: one low-volatility distribution and one medium-volatility distribution. These correspond to fuel combustion-derived POA and motor oil POA, respectively. Models that simultaneously incorporate both of these distributions are able to reproduce experimental results much better (R2 = 0.94) than models that use ...
A Highly Stereoselective and Scalable Synthesis of L-allo-Enduracididine.

A highly stereoselective and scalable synthesis of l-allo-enduracididine from hydroxyproline derivative is described. Pyrrolidine oxidation and reductive ring opening are the key steps in the synthesis. Compared to previously reported approaches, the current route affords l-allo-enduracididine in 10 steps from 3 in 31% overall yield with >50:1 diastereoselectivity.
NatureNet: An Interaction Design with a Focus on Crowdsourcing for Community

Citizen science projects adopt a crowdsourcing model for collecting and analyzing scientific data for the purpose of improving science and encouraging non-scientists to participate in science projects. For example, the iNaturalist model relies on crowds of citizen scientists to scale both the detection and identification of species from photo vouchers. EBird, as another example, crowd sources bird observation data. Both of these projects leverage community interactions for effective data collection and validation, where the data is used to support environmental sustainability research [1]. In NatureNet, the interaction design has a focus on creating an online community around informal learning about environmental sustainability issues and on engaging the community to extend and customize the design of the technology to better support their environmental sustainability projects.
Persona family planning

This chapter discusses the persona family planning. Family planning is the first phase in persona process. It is the time when one does some investigation and strategic thinking about their organization and its approach to user-centered design (UCD) and development. One's personas is not introduced to the rest of their organization until the birth and maturation phase, but the ultimate success one has with them depends a lot on the work one has done during the family planning phase. It is critical that one use this time to think up front about what happens after the personas are created. The four major activities during the family planning phase are: building a core team, researching own organization, creating an action plan, and collecting data.
Spatio-Temporal Site Recommendation

Recommendation systems have become extremely common in recent years, and are utilized in a variety of areas to predict the "rating" or "preference" that a user would give to a point of interest (PoI), such as a restaurant, a hotel, or a bar. Such systems typically produce a list of recommendations by considering previous ratings of the user, as well as ratings of other users. Not every person rates every point of interest they visit. In this work, we want to explore the use of spatio-temporal data to improve recommendation systems: We postulate that spatio-temporal user data may indicate the liking or disliking of a point of interest. Clearly, if a user frequently visits the same PoI, stays at the PoI for long times, and is willing to travel a long distance to visit a PoI, that might indicate that user likes that PoI. Thus, we propose to extract user-PoI relation features from spatio-temporal trajectory data only. Using these features, we use out-of-the-box data mining and machine learning solutions, to estimate the popularity of a PoI. Our experimental evaluation shows, that the features extracted from spatio-temporal data able to accurately predict the popularity of a PoI, using ground-truth data from FourSquare as a baseline.
Conditional Depletion of Hippocampal Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Exacerbates Neuropathology in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease:

Damage occurring to noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) contributes to the evolution of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in a variety of conditions and diseases. One cause of LC damage may be loss of neurotrophic support from LC target regions. We tested this hypothesis by conditional unilateral knockout of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in adult mice. To evaluate the consequences of BDNF loss in the context of neurodegeneration, the mice harbored familial mutations for human amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1. In these mice, BDNF depletion reduced tyrosine hydroxylase staining, a marker of noradrenergic neurons, in the rostral LC. BDNF depletion also reduced noradrenergic innervation in the hippocampus, the frontal cortex, and molecular layer of the cerebellum, assessed by staining for dopamine beta hydroxylase. BDNF depletion led to an increase in cortical amyloid plaque numbers and size but was without effect on plaque numbers in the striatum, a site with minimal innervation from the LC. Interestingly, cortical Iba1 staining for microglia was reduced by BDNF depletion and was correlated with reduced dopamine beta hydroxylase staining. These data demonstrate that reduction of BDNF levels in an LC target region can cause retrograde damage to LC neurons, leading to exacerbation of neuropathology in distinct LC target areas. Methods to reduce BDNF loss or supplement BDNF levels may be of value to reduce neurodegenerative processes normally limited by LC noradrenergic activities.
A Second Ode to William Shakespeare

The first poem that was published by our Editor-in-Chief in the SpringerNature journal SILICON was entitled On Editing (From A Hospital Bed). It was published in 2014 and it was written in a year that President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron ruled-the-roost in the USA and in the UK, respectively. Since that year we have celebrated the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare (2016). Herein is presented a second poem written for SILICON by our Editor-in-Chief. It is entitled A Second Ode To WS. This poem is intended to be an acknowledgement of the positive influence of the writings of William Shakespeare on the life of author. Indeed the study of the “Sweet Swan of Avon” dates back to Professor Clarson’s days as a pupil at a Yorkshire Grammar School back home in merry England.
Drifter Technology and Impacts for Sea Surface Temperature, Sea-Level Pressure, and Ocean Circulation Studies

The purpose of this chapter is twofold. First, we illustrate the technology used by the Lagrangian drifters deployed by Global Drifter Program (GDP), which is the principal component of the Global Drifter Array; second, we review and summarize the most recent studies on the impact of drifter data for calibration and validation of sea surface temperature (SST) satellite products, Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and climate studies, tropical cyclones (TCs)-ocean interaction and ocean circulation studies. Several types of drifters are described, starting from the simplest configuration that measures SST and sea-level atmospheric pressure (SLP), continuing with special drifters designed to measure sea surface salinity (SSS) and sea-level wind (SLW), and ending with air-deployable drifting thermistor chains that measure the temperature of the upper 150 m of the ocean, which are used to study the interaction of the ocean’s mixed layer with TCs. We also discuss the implications of the satellite telecommunication technology on the accuracy of drifter’s geolocation and on the timeliness of the near real-time data stream.
Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction in Challenging Patients

Implant-based reconstructions continue to remain on the forefront of breast reconstruction as the prepectoral approach gains popularity. This article reviews the challenging patients that surgeons face when evaluating their candidacy for prepectoral reconstruction. The prepectoral approach for thin, high body mass index and previously radiated patients will be reviewed.
In-Line Electrical Test

All of the electrical, mechanical, and visual tests used to evaluate and characterize the various process steps in a semiconductor fabrication facility (FAB) are an integral part of integrated circuit (IC) process development and manufacture. In-line electrical test (or, more simply, in-line test) is the process step or steps where evaluations of device parametrics, process quality, and reliability can be performed during process build, while in the line. Here, the cumulative effect of processes can be determined prior to final or functional test at the end of the process line. In-line test determines how the product is doing, while building takes place.