cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Within-field spatial distribution of Cephus cinctus (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) larvae in Montana wheat fields

214 Abstract—The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton, is a major insect pest in dryland wheat (Triticum L. spp.; Poaceae) fields in the northern Great Plains of the United States and in southern regions of the prairie provinces of Canada. Field infestations by this pest commonly show a distinct "edge effect", with infestation levels highest at the field edge and declining in- wards. In this study, we characterized the edge effect of C. cinctus infested wheat fields in Montana at four locations in two separate years. "Infestation level" refers to the average propor- tion of wheat stems infested with C. cinctus in samples collected in a given wheat field. The gradual decrease in C. cinctus infestation towards the centre of wheat fields is referred to as the "infestation slope", and it was presented as a proportion of infestation level at field edges. We showed that (i) for most of the fields bordering grassland or fallow wheat, a simple exponential decline curve provided a significant fit to the infestation slope; (ii) the infestation slopes in dif- ferent fields and in different directions within fields were similar and appeared to be independent of the overall infestation level; and (iii) the relationship between infestation level and the propor- tion of samples infested followed an asymptotic curve, which indicates a high level of dispersal of ovipositing C. cinctus females. The general perception has been that the edge effect of C. cinctus infestation is a result of ovipositing C. cinctus females being both weak flyers and short-lived, but our results do not fully corroborate this perception. Currently, the only reliable way to detect C. cinctus infestations is to dissect individual stems and look for developing in- stars. However, this type of sampling is extremely time consuming and labor intensive and there- fore impractical for wheat growers. Increasing the understanding of the spatial patterns in C. cinctus infestations is a first step towards development of an optimal sampling plan for this important field pest. Thus, the results presented are relevant for researchers involved in sampling designs and integrated pest management procedures for field pests. We discuss behavioral and evolutionary factors that may contribute to the edge effect of C. cinctus infestations.
Applied computational genomics: polymorphism prediction, data mining and genomic analysis

With the "completion" of the first genome, the daily analysis of genomic variation and the transcriptome, and new technologies amassing proteome data, the need for computational tools, inspired by biomedical insight and need are being developed by many groups to help everybody reduce this data to knowledge. To attain understanding from this data, several things are now required for progress; applied computational tools, access to phenotype presenting patients/biological material (and their genotype), and experts to assimilate this information. In this talk, I will describe efforts within our laboratory to develop and then validate some applied computational tools that are then used by our expert collaborators and us. These include: 1) Computer algorithms and codes that inspect the genome (coding and intronic) for highly probable simple sequence repeat and single nucleotide polymorphisms; 2) Techniques and applications to better identify information in text databases; 3) Software to integrate data from some of the many valuable public databases with experimental data (expression and polymorphism), and 4) Software to do integrated analysis and interactive visualization of genomic sequence dat.Each of our software applications is applied to biomedical problems to validate their utility and verify their accuracy, which can only be done by returning to the wet laboratory. The biomedical areas under investigation include cancer, cardiac disease, development, inflammation and infection. This approach has led to gene discoveries, phenotype causing polymorphisms and has inspired research directions for which the final answer is not yet in.Bioinformatics tools often can generate many more "leads" than are possible to pursue with existing technology. This has required us to develop some new technologies and laboratory techniques. For example, we have developed a method and apparatus that is in daily use for the synthesis of custom, software-directed high-density oligonucleotide arrays used for re-sequencing, methlyation analysis and comparative genomic hybridization. This device, called DOC (Digital Optical Chemistry), enables us to manufacture "Affymetrix-style" arrays with up to 192,000 features. Other apparatus, such as high-throughput oligo synthesizers, hyperspectral imaging scanners/microscopes and array spotting robots were also created as needed.This presentation will focus on our applied computational tools and the biomedical observations made with them and touch on how some of the hardware technologies have accelerated that process.Much of the software and databases we develop are available for public use via our www site at http://innovation.swmed.edu/. This work is supported by the NIH, the State of Texas and the P.O'B. Montgomery Distinguished Chair.
Empirical measurements of overheads in conservative asynchronous simulations

In order to make formal and analytic models more realistic, overheads which were previously ignored or vastly simplified must be included. We consider the feasibility of characterizing the overheads in conservative asynchronous simulations for such models, and we focus on a single communication structure (i.e., meshes) and use both multicomputer programs and a queueing network as example applications. We find that the two most important issues for modeling are to understand how to estimate the time spent in sending null messages and how to account for the resulting overhead due to the input waiting rule. For null messages, we estimate both the number of messages sent as well as the cost per null message. The number of messages sent can often be estimated by the application, although irregularities in communication structure and edge effects in communication can affect these estimates. A constant is valid as a first-order approximation for the time per null message, but there are secondary factors that one may wish to model, such as load balancing and communication irregularities. The overhead attributable to the input waiting rule depends on several factors: communication structure, communication frequency, and processor load balancing. Irregularity in any of these dimensions can adversely affect the performance of the conservative strategy. It appears feasible to use the factors contributing to the overheads (i.e. context switch costs; null-message costs; percentage of looping due to the conservative synchronization) in a formal model to estimate the cost of the conservative overheads.
The Downside of a Drug-Crazed World

In a world where patients are exposed to countless prescription drugs, it is amazing that more humans do not develop autoimmune drug reactions that lead to tissue injury. Of course, the chance of drug-related inflammation rises in proportion to use, but it still seems most of us are comfortably protected from such events by the high activation threshold of our immune systems. Genetic polymorphisms that modulate the initiation of antigen-specific immune responses, particularly in the MHC, are a determining influence, but the whole story is more complicated. Drugs in body fluids or their metabolites often form adducts (hapten protein carrier) that modify their physical structures, occasionally making them immunogenic and prone to drug reactions (1). These adducts can be taken up by macrophages or dendritic cells and presented on the cell surface to attract the surveillance arm of the immune system. Sometimes a drug without a carrier also can interact directly with T cell receptors within the nao ¨ve repertoire or be processed by antigen-presenting cells for potential simulation of new T cells. Some of these drug reactions are influenced by changes in metabolism induced by other drugs taken simultaneously; some are modified by the variability in local cytokine expression or the polymorphisms of enzymes that affect levels of metabolites, particularly cytochrome P-450; and in some cases, the inflammatory state depresses normal drug metabolism (2).
Decision Participation and School Climate as Predictors of Job Satisfaction and Teachers' Sense of Efficacy

Abstract Teachers' decision participation, school climate, sense of efficacy, and job satisfaction have increased in importance in recent years. Using a national data set, the authors of the present study explored the dimensionality of these variables and their interrelationships. Regression analyses were performed to predict teachers' sense of efficacy and job satisfaction from decision participation and school climate. Aspects of school climate emerged as stronger predictors of job satisfaction than did the elements of decision participation. Strongest among these school climate dimensions were the lack of obstacles to teaching and principal leadership. Similarly, the best predictors of teachers' sense of efficacy were the dimensions of school climate referred to as faculty communication and the lack of obstacles to teaching. Contrary to predictions, dimensions of decision participation did not emerge as best predictors of either teachers' sense of efficacy or job satisfaction.
How important are entropic contributions to enzyme catalysis

The idea that enzymes accelerate their reactions by entropic effects has played a major role in many prominent proposals about the origin of enzyme catalysis. This idea implies that the binding to an enzyme active site freezes the motion of the reacting fragments and eliminates their entropic contributions, (ΔScat‡)′, to the activation energy. It is also implied that the binding entropy is equal to the activation entropy, (ΔSw‡)′, of the corresponding solution reaction. It is, however, difficult to examine this idea by experimental approaches. The present paper defines the entropic proposal in a rigorous way and develops a computer simulation approach that determines (ΔS‡)′. This approach allows us to evaluate the differences between (ΔS‡)′ of an enzymatic reaction and of the corresponding reference reaction in solution. Our approach is used in a study of the entropic contribution to the catalytic reaction of subtilisin. It is found that this contribution is much smaller than previously thought. This result is due to the following: (i) Many of the motions that are free in the reactants state of the reference solution reaction are also free at the transition state. (ii) The binding to the enzyme does not completely freeze the motion of the reacting fragments so that (ΔS‡)′ in the enzymes is not zero. (iii) The binding entropy is not necessarily equal to (ΔSw‡)′.
Collaboration in multicloud computing environments: Framework and security issues

A proposed proxy-based multicloud computing framework allows dynamic, on-the-fly collaborations and resource sharing among cloud-based services, addressing trust, policy, and privacy issues without preestablished collaboration agreements or standardized interfaces.
Stimulation of Gastric Motility by Acid

Summary Motility of separated (Heidenhain) pouches of the oxyntic gland area of 3 dogs' stomachs was measured when the pouches were filled with 250 mm glycine solution ( p H, 6 to 7), 100 mm HCl, 100 mm acetic acid, 20 mm acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in 100 mm HCl, or 20 mm acetylsalicylic acid in 1 mm HCl. In all dogs, acetic acid invariably stimulated vigorous contractions. In 1 dog, 20 mm acetylsalicylic acid in 100 mm HCl also stimulated motility. Failure of this solution to stimulate motility in the other dogs was attributed to the depressing effect of acetylsalicylic acid itself. That HCl could stimulate in these dogs was demonstrated by raising its luminal concentration to 250 mm. Depression of gastric motility and excitability was demonstrated in experiments in which excitability was elevated by bethanechol injection and motility was mechanically stimulated. It is concluded that acid, when it can diffuse rapidly into the mucosa, stimulates motility.
Mobile Game Effectiveness for Game Enthusiasts Who Have Little Spare Time to Play Games

The development of technology continues to increase. As well as the development of game that pamper the player. But on the other hand,with the increasing development of technology, gamer’s demand will also be higher as well. As example, technological devices to play games should be more practical, light, and easy to carry anywhere. This paper will discuss about the effectiveness of mobile game for game enthusiasts.
Lateral Buckling of Constrained Beams

The lateral buckling strength of many flexural members designed to resist wind loading is greatly increased by the lateral constraint of the tension flanges provided by the attached structure. Graphs are presented which enable designers to quickly evaluate the effect of this constraint and further to evaluate the additional effect of torsionally fixing the member compression flanges. Within the practical range of parameters these combined effects can raise the buckling strength by a factor of at least 2.7 and possibly as great as 10. The method of solution of the buckling equations used is sufficiently general and straightforward so that solution of rigid frame buckling for a variety of constraints and load distributions can be carried out with a desk calculator.
Recent Work on Hegel’s Philosophy of Religion

L'A. presente trois ouvrages consacres a la philosophie de la religion de Hegel: le premier etudie les changements qui interviennent dans la pensee de Hegel au cours de ses «Lectures sur la philosophie de la religion» (1821-1831), le second aborde la philosophie de la religion de Hegel sous l'angle de la christologie, le dernier examine la notion d'instantiation des categories logiques chez Hegel
The Vitamin B Content of Mosquitoes

Microbiological and chemical methods were used to determine the B vitamin content of whole mosquito tissues. The five species studied (Culex fatigans, C. pipiens, C. molestus, Aedes aegypti, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus) exhibited significant differences in their content of pantothenic acid, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, and biotin. C. fatigans and C. molestus females contained considerably more pantothenic acid than the other species. The niacin and riboflavin content of these two Culex species was approximately the same; and this was true also, though at a significantly lower level, for A. quadrimaculatus and A. aegypti. Tissues of C. pipiens contained the largest amounts of biotin. The assay values for thiamine were essentially the same for all species. The females contained much more biotin and pantothenic acid than the males.
On the System Construction of Urban-rural Unification in Environment Protection in China:Idea,Principle and Path

In recent years,the urban environment has shown a turn-around and improved situation and the rural environment has become continually worsen.The bipolar trend in the environmental condition sets the objective request for urban-rural unification in environmental protection.This urban-centered legislation and the serious lack of substantive freedom for farmers has become the root cause for duality in environmental trend between cities and countryside.Some places have adopted some measures which only limited in environmental protection region for urbanrural unification,but it cannot completely change the duality in environmental trend between cities and countryside.The practice of urban-rural unification in environment protection in local places must be based on the omni-bearing system construction.The system construction for urban-rural unification in environment protection must be based on perseverance of fundamental concepts of rationality,humanity and freedom as well as the basic principles of integral promotion,scientific construction and multi-elemental participation.The basic path for this legal reform firstly is to eliminate all the institutional discriminations against farmers and to realize equality in rights for rural versus urban residents,then on the basis of promoting local democracy and legal construction,driving judicial system reform and establishing judicial censorship,to strengthen and complete a safeguarding mechanism for realizing farmers' right,ensuring that each right promised to farmers can be actually practiced,and finally to establish environmental legislations that are specifically suitable for rural environmental protection.
Determination of eight halogenated hydrocarbons in air of workplace by capillary GC

Objective:To establish a method of determination of 8 halogenated hydrocarbons in air of workplace by capillary GC.Methods: The halogenated hydrocarbons were collected by activated carbon adsorption tube,desorbed with CS2,isolated by FFAP capillary column and detected with FID.Results: This method can simultaneously determine 8 halogenated hydrocarbons in air of workplace.The correlation coefficients of regression equation were up to 0.99,the range of detection limit was 0.12 μg/ml～46 μg/ml,the recoveries were in the range of 86%～104%.Conclusion: The method is rapid,simple and accurate,which can determine eight halogenated hydrocarbons in air of workplace simultaneously.
TC-11: A Programmable Multi-Touch Synthesizer for the iPad.

This paper describes the design and realization of TC-11, a software instrument based on programmable multi-point controllers. TC-11 is a modular synthesizer for the iPad that uses multi-touch and device motion sensors for control. It has a robust patch programming interface that centers around multi-point controllers, providing powerful flexibility. This paper details the origin, design principles, programming implementation, and performance result of TC11.
How hybrid perovskites get their groove

Polycrystalline thin films of hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites (HOIPs) show remarkable performance in semiconductor devices from light-emitting diodes to solar cells ( 1 , 2 ). Despite modest charge carrier mobilities ( 3 ) and a known presence of defect sites ( 4 ), polycrystalline HOIP films prepared under comparatively crude conditions exhibit minority carrier lifetimes and diffusion lengths comparable with those of high-purity single-crystal GaAs ( 3 ). What makes HOIPs so special? On page 1409 of this issue, Zhu et al. ( 5 ) argue that the answer may lie in the rotational motion of the dipolar organic cations in the perovskite lattice. These motions seem to screen charge carriers from defects and other scattering potentials, much like ions screen electric fields in solution.
Use of Calcium and Parathyroid Hormone Nomogram to Distinguish Between Atypical Primary Hyperparathyroidism and Normal Patients

The diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (1°HP) has become more complex, as fewer patients present with classic phenotype of concomitant elevation of calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH). In addition, the distinction between normal versus abnormal patients is challenging, with an increasing number of patients with 1°HP, who have calcium and/or PTH values within the “reference” range. Patients with “inappropriately” elevated PTH values relative to their serum calcium are considered to have 1°HP. The study population consisted of 1753 patients with pathologically proven 1°HP and 74 healthy control patients. Nomograms were created by plotting PTH versus calcium of the two groups. The 95 % confidence zone of calcium and PTH for normal individuals was plotted and compared to patients with 1°HP. The comparison of control and disease groups showed a clear demarcation zone on the plots of calcium versus PTH. In the group of 1°HP, 70 % had classic 1°HP presentation with the concomitant elevation of both calcium (≥10.5 mg/dL) and PTH (≥65 pg/dL). 21 % had “normocalcemic” HP with calcium ≤10.5 mg/dL and PTH ≥65 pg/dL. 6 % had “normohormonal” HP with calcium ≥10.5 mg/dL and PTH ≤65 pg/dL. 3 % had both calcium and PTH within the reference range. 68.5 % of patients had single adenoma, 16 % double adenoma, and 15.5 % hyperplasia. This nomogram serves as a diagnostic tool to distinguish normal patients from those with 1°HP, particularly those with atypical presentations. This recognition would permit previously observed patients to benefit from curative surgery.
Role of Enterococci in Cheddar Cheese: Organoleptic Considerations

Eight lots of Cheddar cheese were manufactured with two strains each of Streptococcus faecalis and Streptococcus durans and subjected to combinations of two early cooling treatments (air vs. brine cooling) and two curing temperatures (7.2 and 12.8 C). The enterococcus cultures were used as supplemental starters in combination with a commercial lactic culture. These cheeses were analyzed for microbiological growth and survival, proteolysis, lactic acid development, free fatty acid appearance, and citric acid utilization—each being compared with a control cheese made without enterococci. Results were presented in three previous articles. This series is concluded with the results of organoleptic ana1ysis of the cheeses. Cheeses made with S. faecalis were either comparable to or less desirable than their respective control cheeses. Those made with S. durans, however, were in all instances more desirable than their controls. Cheeses cured at 7.2 C were always given the better scores, but there was no statistic...
Constructing Long-Only Multi-Factor Strategies: Portfolio Blending versus Signal Blending

We propose a framework for comparing and contrasting the portfolio blending and signal blending approaches for constructing long-only multi-factor strategies, based on exposure-matched portfolios. According to this framework, we expect the two approaches to perform similarly at low-to-moderate levels of factor exposures, due to a high degree of overlap between the two approaches. At high levels of factor exposures, due to better diversification, we expect signal blending to outperform portfolio blending. In empirical tests, which consider value, momentum, quality, and volatility factors across global equity markets, the expectation is validated for high levels of factor exposures. For low-to-moderate levels of factor exposures, however, we find that portfolio blending generates generally higher information ratios. This finding is largely driven by the interaction effects between the considered factors. Such interaction effects are overwhelmed by the high concentration and stock-specific risk in the portfolio blend at high levels of factor exposures. Furthermore, in the context of smart beta investing, portfolio blending may be better suited to achieve additional portfolio objectives, such as transparency in performance attribution, ability to time factors, ability to better control turnover and unrewarded risks at the individual factor level, and catering to certain asset owner governance considerations. However, the analysis and results reported in this article notwithstanding, it is also our view that an assessment of the relative merits of the two approaches needs to be conducted in the context of a manager’s specific investment process and key portfolio objectives pursued by an asset owner.
Estimation of Safe Sensor Measurements of Autonomous System Under Attack

The introduction of automation in cyber-physical systems (CPS) has raised major safety and security concerns. One attack vector is the sensing unit whose measurements can be manipulated by an adversary through attacks such as denial of service and delay injection. To secure an autonomous CPS from such attacks, we use a challenge response authentication (CRA) technique for detection of attack in active sensors data and estimate safe measurements using the recursive least square algorithm. For demonstrating effectiveness of our proposed approach, a car-follower model is considered where the follower vehicle's radar sensor measurements are manipulated in an attempt to cause a collision.
Love Me Not Meter: A Sensor Device for Detecting Petal Detachment Forces in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abscission is the developmentally controlled loss of plant organs, providing diverse functions such as shedding senescent or diseased leaves, dispersing seeds, or dropping ripened fruit. This process is defined by the hydrolytic breakdown of the middle lamella in the abscission zone, allowing for organ detachment. While the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana does not undergo leaf abscission, it does have a predictable progression of floral organ abscission. To study abscission zone physical integrity in Arabidopsis, a breakstrength meter for Arabidopsis was developed to reliably measure the petal detachment forces.
The partial pressure of carbon monoxide in human tissues calculated using a parallel capillary-tissue cylinder model.

Tissue PCO levels resulting from carboxyhemoglobin concentrations achieved during CO therapy or during CO poisoning have not been previously estimated. Results published here show that at carboxyhe...
Survey Research Ethics

Concerns over ethical considerations in survey research can be traced to reported abuses of human subjects during the Second World War. In response to these and other mistreatments of study participants, the research community developed a set of basic ethical principles related to investigations involving human subjects, the core of which are respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. In addition to the treatment of human subjects, ethical concerns in survey research involve designing studies in a way that best addresses the substantive issue being considered. Survey researchers face a number of choices in conducting any study, from the mode of data collection to sample selection, questionnaire construction, and the amount of resources devoted to collecting information from selected respondents. Ethical survey practice requires that these procedures be conducted in a way that the results accurately address the substantive concern of the research. In reporting survey results, researchers should be transparent and fully disclose their methods and conclusions so that they can be evaluated and replicated by other researchers.
Toward an AR multiperspective active imaging environment for application development

The development of a platform to mix active imaging sensors into an Augmented Reality Environment. The system makes use of a 2D LiDAR modified into a 3D LiDAR on a mesh network. The 2D LiDAR, alongside a custom designed mount gives the ability to provide a slow rotation rate 3D LiDAR scan of the environment in conjunction with 3D active imaging and sensors. The data can then interpreted by the Unity game engine to be used in applications with multiperspective features in Augmented Reality. The goal of this work is to explore this collected data and apply it to immersive technology applications developed as means towards ongoing open source development.
Robots for cognitive rehabilitation and symptom management

Abstract Cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) is a regimen of interventions designed to enhance cognitive performance. Ideally, CRT engages the participant in a learning activity to enhance neurocognitive skills relevant to overall recovery goals. CRT programs vary in the extent to which they reflect these narrow or broader perspectives, and there is ongoing research to identify the active ingredients that result in a positive response to treatment, including the use of rehabilitative robots, socially interactive robots (SIR), and socially assistive robots (SAR), both virtual and embodied, to enhance, restore, or prevent early deterioration of cognitive abilities related to neurodegenerative disease or injury. Although there is a great deal of success in cognitive rehabilitative robotics applied to patient recovery and retention of cognitive skills, most of the research to date has dealt with providing physical assistance. Both virtual assistive robotic therapies and embodied robots have been found to be effective in addressing cognitive rehabilitation and provide important topics for discussion.
Ectopic Pregnancy After In Vitro Fertilization

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy achieved through in vitro fertilization (IVF) is estimated to be 0.7 %. Due to the increased risk of multiple pregnancies with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), serial human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) alone may be difficult to interpret. Furthermore, the rate of heterotopic pregnancy is higher after IVF than after spontaneous conception. Ultrasound plays an important role in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, especially in pregnancy after IVF treatment.
Mechanical Changes in Stereocilia Following Overstimulation: Observations and Possible Mechanisms

Many experimental observations over the past decade have indicated that the role of stereocilia structure and function in cochlear hair-cell transduction is more complicated than previously thought. Among these recent observations are those that elucidated the cytoskeletal organization of the stereocilia and cuticular plate [21,81], and the extracellular structures that bind individual stereocilia together [6,50,51]. In addition, the kinetics of hair-cell physiology have been well described [7,9, 55] and the directional sensitivity of stereocilia movement on individual hair cells is now known [22,28,75]. Descriptions of static and dynamic stereocilia movement in the mammalian cochlea have recently been presented [23,38,75]; these data are critically important to our understanding of hair-cell function and dysfunction.
Reflective redo within a three-dimensional simulation and its influence on student metacognition, reflection, and learning

Reflective Redo Within a Three-Dimensional Simulation and its Influence on Student Metacognition, Reflection, and Learning
The Human Mirror Neuron System, Social Control, and Language

The human putative mirror neuron system (MNS) is a key network hypothesized to play a role in many social cognitive and language-related abilities. This chapter begins by discussing basic findings on the mirror system, which encompasses motor-related brain regions that fire when an individual both performs and observes others perform actions. We then discuss how these shared action/observation regions are thought to underlie one’s ability to understand others via simulation of their actions onto one’s own motor representations. Finally, we conclude by noting how the frontal mirror region coincides with Broca’s area, a language region in the brain, leading some to propose that the MNS may also play a role in language and gesture abilities.
Ruth Benedict: An Anthropologist’s Historical Writings

Ruth Benedict was one of the most influential anthropological theorists of her generation, best known for her comparative, “socio-psychological” approach to the study of distinctive cultural configurations. The historicized culture concept Benedict elaborated, institutionalized, and popularized, was one she learned from Franz Boas, then America’s foremost anthropologist. In comparative works aimed at a popular audience, Benedict combined science and humanist historical perspectives to undermine dangerous ideas about race and racism. She saw historical knowledge as a tool to combat the idea that racism and conflict were inevitable. She argued, instead, that history and the study of other cultures provided a fuller understanding of human variety and capacity for change. For Benedict, history and culture offered hope for the possibility of creating a different world.
Measurement of the surface hydrophobicity of engineered nanoparticles using an atomic force microscope

Determination of the surface hydrophobicity or wettability of nanomaterials and nanoparticles (NPs) is often challenged by the heterogeneous properties of NPs that vary with particle size, shape, surface charge, aggregation states, and surface sorption or coating. This study first summarized inherent limitations of the water contact angle, octanol–water partition coefficient (Kow) and surface adsorption of probe molecules in probing nanomaterial hydrophobicity. Then, we demonstrated the principle of a scanning probe method based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the local surface hydrophobicity measurement. Specifically, we measured the adhesion forces between functionalized AFM tips and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to establish a linear relationship between the adhesion forces and water contact angles based on the continuum thermodynamic approach (CTA). This relationship was used to determine the local surface hydrophobicity of seven different NPs (i.e., TiO2, ZnO, SiO2, CuO, CeO2, α-Fe2O3, and Ag), which agreed well with bulk contact angles of these NPs. Some discrepancies were observed for Fe2O3, CeO2 and SiO2 NPs, probably because of surface hydration and roughness effects. Moreover, the solution pH and ionic strength had negligible effects on the adhesion forces between the AFM tip and MWCNTs or C60, indicating that the hydrophobicity of carbonaceous nanomaterials is not influenced by pH or ionic strength (IS). By contrast, natural organic matter (NOM) appreciably decreased the hydrophobicity of MWCNTs and C60 due to surface coating of hydrophilic NOM. This scanning probe method has been proved to be reliable and robust toward the accurate measurement of the nanoscale hydrophobicity of individual NPs or nanomaterials in liquid environments.
Safety and effectiveness of albuterol solutions with and without benzalkonium chloride when administered by continuous nebulization.

Purpose The results of a study to determine if rates of poor response differ in patients receiving continuous nebulized albuterol (CNA) therapy with or without the preservative benzalkonium chloride are presented. Methods A retrospective analysis of the records of all patients who received CNA therapy at a large academic medical center from July 2015 to January 2016 was conducted. Data from patient evaluations performed before and after a change to benzalkonium chloride–containing albuterol were collected. The primary outcome was the rate of poor patient response, defined as a composite endpoint. Secondary outcomes included duration of therapy, dosing requirements, and duration of supplemental oxygen therapy. Results There was no significant difference in rates of poor response between patients exposed ( n = 80) and patients not exposed ( n = 48) to benzalkonium chloride (16% and 17%, respectively; p = 0.95). The cohort not exposed to benzalkonium chloride had a median CNA duration of 7.0 hours, as compared with 10.5 hours for the cohort exposed to benzalkonium chloride, but this difference was not significant ( p = 0.19). There were no significant differences between the benzalkonium chloride–exposed and nonexposed cohorts in the maximum dosing requirement (12.6 mg/hr versus 12.8 mg/hr, p = 0.89) or median duration of supplemental oxygen use (27.5 hours versus 16.5 hours, p = 0.77). Conclusion A study of hospitalized patients receiving CNA detected no significant difference in the frequency of poor response to therapy between groups receiving benzalkonium chloride–free versus benzalkonium chloride–containing albuterol products.
Oxalosis Associated With High-Dose Vitamin C Ingestion in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient.

We report a case of systemic oxalosis involving the eyes and joints due to long-term use of high-dose vitamin C in a patient receiving maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD). This 76-year-old woman with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease underwent living unrelated kidney transplantation 10 years earlier. The transplant failed 6 months before presentation, and she initiated hemodialysis therapy before transitioning to PD therapy 4 months later. During the month before presentation, the patient noted worsening arthralgias and decreased vision. Ophthalmologic examination revealed proliferative retinopathy and calcium oxalate crystals. Plasma oxalate level was markedly elevated at 187 (reference range,
Bayesian hidden Markov models for UAV-enabled target localization on road networks with soft-hard data

This work addresses the problem of localizing a mobile intruder on a road network with a small UAV through fusion of event-based `hard data' collected from a network of unattended ground sensors (UGS) and `soft data' provided by human dismount operators (HDOs) whose statistical characteristics may be unknown. Current approaches to road network intruder detection/tracking have two key limitations: predictions become computationally expensive with highly uncertain target motions and sparse data, and they cannot easily accommodate fusion with uncertain sensor models. This work shows that these issues can be addressed in a practical and theoretically sound way using hidden Markov models (HMMs) within a comprehensive Bayesian framework. A formal procedure is derived for automatically generating sparse Markov chain approximations for target state dynamics based on standard motion assumptions. This leads to efficient online implementation via fast sparse matrix operations for non-Gaussian localization aboard small UAV platforms, and also leads to useful statistical insights about stochastic target dynamics that could be exploited by autonomous UAV guidance and control laws. The computational efficiency of the HMM can be leveraged in Rao-Blackwellized sampling schemes to address the problem of simultaneously fusing and characterizing uncertain HDO soft sensor data via hierarchical Bayesian estimation. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the proposed approach.
A rheological approach to study the early-age hydration of oil well cement: Effect of temperature, pressure and nanoclay

Abstract The pumpability of cement slurries during cementing and their ability to resist penetration of formation gas once placed are critical for the success of oil and shale gas well cementing. Pumpability and ability to resist gas migration, which can be quantified through rheological parameters, develop over time due to hydration, which is highly dependent on the well conditions, namely temperature and pressure levels, as well as mix composition, including the use of rheological modifiers. In this study, we utilized a rotational rheometer with a high-pressure cell to investigate the effect of temperature, pressure and nanoclay on the viscosity and static yield stress of oil well cement slurries. The results emphasize the importance of considering shear rate in evaluating viscosity evolution and time to reach the limit of pumpability. The growth of yield stress was described by a non-linear structural build-up model, which connects the static yield stress with hydration, and its ability to predict the effect of temperature, pressure and nanoclay on yield stress evolution was assessed.
Training Students in Adaptive Computer Technology

Adaptive computer training is a basic component of literacy for visually impaired people—not just a requirement for job placement. This article discusses models for training in adaptive computer te...
Construction of the interface potential from a series of canonical ensemble simulations.

We introduce a method to construct the interface potential from a series of molecular dynamics simulations conducted within the canonical ensemble. The interface potential provides the surface excess free energy associated with the growth of a fluid film from a surface. We collect the force that the fluid exerts on the surface (disjoining pressure) at a series of film thicknesses. These force data are then integrated to obtain the interface potential. “Spreading” and “drying” versions of the general approach are considered. The spreading approach focuses on the growth of a thin liquid film from a solid substrate in a mother vapor. The drying approach focuses on the growth of a thin vapor film on a solid substrate in a mother liquid. The methods provide a means to compute the contact angle of a fluid droplet in contact with the surface. The general method is applied to two model systems: (1) a monatomic Lennard-Jones fluid in contact with atomistically detailed face centered cubic (FCC) substrate and (2) TIP4P/2005 water in contact with a rigid silica surface. For the Lennard-Jones model system, we generate results with both the drying and spreading methods at various temperatures and substrate strengths. These results are compared to those from previous simulation studies. For the water system, the drying method is used to obtain wetting properties over a range of temperatures. The water system also highlights challenges associated with application of the spreading method within the framework pursued here.We introduce a method to construct the interface potential from a series of molecular dynamics simulations conducted within the canonical ensemble. The interface potential provides the surface excess free energy associated with the growth of a fluid film from a surface. We collect the force that the fluid exerts on the surface (disjoining pressure) at a series of film thicknesses. These force data are then integrated to obtain the interface potential. “Spreading” and “drying” versions of the general approach are considered. The spreading approach focuses on the growth of a thin liquid film from a solid substrate in a mother vapor. The drying approach focuses on the growth of a thin vapor film on a solid substrate in a mother liquid. The methods provide a means to compute the contact angle of a fluid droplet in contact with the surface. The general method is applied to two model systems: (1) a monatomic Lennard-Jones fluid in contact with atomistically detailed face centered cubic (FCC) substrate and (2) T...
A comparative analysis of surface hopping acceptance and decoherence algorithms within the neglect of back-reaction approximation

We have implemented a Python-based software package within the Libra software for performing nonadiabatic molecular dynamics (NA-MD) within the neglect of back reaction approximation (NBRA). Available in the software are a wide variety of proposed hop acceptance (PHA) and decoherence methodologies. Using Libra, a comparative analysis of PHA schemes and decoherence methods is performed to examine thermal equilibrium in NA-MD simulations within the NBRA. The analysis is performed using 3 model systems, each of which highlights the effects of the different decoherence methods and PHA schemes on NA transitions. We find that the interplay between decoherence and PHA schemes is important for achieving detailed balance in the NBRA and discuss the conditions by which the detailed balance is achieved for each model. We discuss the qualitative features of NA dynamics computed using various combinations of decoherence and PHA schemes for a wide range of model and condition parameters such as temperature, energy gap magnitude, and dephasing times. Furthermore, we extend the analysis to include the Boltzmann corrected Ehrenfest methodology of Bastida and co-workers and compare the dynamics produced with it with that obtained using the surface hopping-based approach.
Causative role of PDLIM2 epigenetic repression in lung cancer and therapeutic resistance

Most cancers are resistant to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and chemotherapy. Herein we identify PDLIM2 as a tumor suppressor particularly important for lung cancer therapeutic responses. While PDLIM2 is epigenetically repressed in human lung cancer, associating with therapeutic resistance and poor prognosis, its global or lung epithelial-specific deletion in mice causes increased lung cancer development, chemoresistance, and complete resistance to anti-PD-1 and epigenetic drugs. PDLIM2 epigenetic restoration or ectopic expression shows antitumor activity, and synergizes with anti-PD-1, notably, with chemotherapy for complete remission of most lung cancers. Mechanistically, through repressing NF-κB/RelA and STAT3, PDLIM2 increases expression of genes involved in antigen presentation and T-cell activation while repressing multidrug resistance genes and cancer-related genes, thereby rendering cancer cells vulnerable to immune attacks and therapies. We identify PDLIM2-independent PD-L1 induction by chemotherapeutic and epigenetic drugs as another mechanism for their synergy with anti-PD-1. These findings establish a rationale to use combination therapies for cancer treatment.
An fMRI Study of the Effects of Vibroacoustic Stimulation on Functional Connectivity in Patients with Insomnia.

Background. It is well known that vibratory and auditory stimuli from vehicles such as cars and trains can help induce sleep. More recent literature suggests that specific types of vibratory and acoustic stimulation might help promote sleep, but this has not been tested with neuroimaging. Thus, the purpose of this study was to observe the effects of vibroacoustic stimulation (providing both vibratory and auditory stimuli) on functional connectivity changes in the brain using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), and compare these changes to improvements in sleep in patients with insomnia. Methods. For this study, 30 patients with insomnia were randomly assigned to receive one month of a vibroacoustic stimulation or be placed in a waitlist control. Patients were evaluated pre- and postprogram with qualitative sleep questionnaires and measurement of sleep duration with an actigraphy watch. In addition, patients underwent rs-fMRI to assess functional connectivity. Results. The results demonstrated that those patients receiving the vibroacoustic stimulation had significant improvements in measured sleep minutes as well as in scores on the Insomnia Severity Index questionnaire. In addition, significant changes were noted in functional connectivity in association with the vermis, cerebellar hemispheres, thalamus, sensorimotor area, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex. Conclusions. The results of this study show that vibroacoustic stimulation alters the brain’s functional connectivity as well as improves sleep in patients with insomnia.
USE OF AN IMPLANTABLE PULMONARY ARTERY SENSOR TO ASSESS FOR EXERCISE INDUCED DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION: A PROOF OF CONCEPT STUDY

In patients with heart failure (HF), the use of a implantable pulmonary artery (PA) sensors is associated with reduced HF hospitalization. PA pressure sensor readings correlate with right heart catheterization (RHC) at rest. We report a pilot case of an exercise RHC with simultaneous readings from a
Correlates of co-occurring eating disorders and substance use disorders: a case for dialectical behavior therapy

Given the high rates of comorbidity between eating disorders (EDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs), it is important to develop effective treatment approaches for individuals with both an ED and SUD (ED-SUD). To date, there is limited information guiding the concurrent treatment of these disorders. To build on existing research, the present study compared adult patients with ED-SUD (n = 36) to patients with ED-only (n = 62) in terms of demographics, psychiatric comorbidity, and self-reported eating disorder and related psychopathology. Results indicated that ED-SUD patients had a higher number of psychiatric comorbidities, were more likely to be prescribed mood stabilizers, and were more sensitive to reward. They also reported greater difficulty with emotion regulation, including more difficulty engaging in goal-directed activity, higher impulsivity, and more limited access to emotion regulation strategies. These differences highlight the importance of targeting emotion dysregulation for ED-SUD, and provide evidence for the importance of integrated, transdiagnostic treatment to simultaneously address the SUD, ED, and other psychiatric comorbidities. Implications for tailoring treatment are discussed with a focus on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).