cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“The Big WHY”: Philip Morris’s Failed Search for Corporate Social Value

Objectives. We examined Philip Morris USA’s exploration of corporate social responsibility practices and principles and its outcome.Methods. We analyzed archival internal tobacco industry documents, generated in 2000 to 2002, related to discussions of corporate social responsibility among a Corporate Responsibility Taskforce and senior management at Philip Morris.Results. In exploring corporate social responsibility, Philip Morris executives sought to identify the company’s social value—its positive contribution to society. Struggling to find an answer, they considered dramatically changing the way the company marketed its products, apologizing for past actions, and committing the company to providing benefits for future generations. These ideas were eventually abandoned. Despite an initial call to distinguish between social and economic value, Philip Morris ultimately equated social value with providing shareholder returns.Conclusions. When even tobacco executives struggle to define their company’s socia...
The Relationship Between Fixation Disparity And Heterophoria

Twenty-five asymptomatic subjects with normal binocular vision underwent determination of the magnitude and direction of their heterophoria and their fixation disparity. Fixation disparity was measured at a 2-m fixation distance with the phase-difference haploscope under conditions simulating those of casual seeing. When combined with careful attention to symmetrical control of accommodation, this method eliminates several known technical artifacts. Examples of the normal fluctuation of the magnitude and direction of fixation disparity for individual subjects were demonstrated. Whereas only a slight preponderance of subjects were esophoric, many subjects had convergent fixation disparity (esodisparity). Linear regression analysis of the data revealed a coefficient of correlation between fixation disparity and heterophoria at 6 m of 0.61, and at 33 cm of 0.50. The results suggest that normal, small magnitude heterophoria does not necessarily produce fixation disparity and that fixation disparity does not necessarily sustain heterophoria.
From systems thinking to systems being: The embodiment of evolutionary leadership

AbstractThis article grew out of a personal reflection on the meaning of evolutionary leadership based on the learning derived from my experiences as an educator, consultant, coach, social entrepreneur and mother. Systems thinking has been a means for enabling critical and creative perspectives from which ideas for improving a difficult situation or innovating a new possibility emerge. However, no matter how powerful this way of thinking is, there is more to the task of catalyzing evolutionary transformation towards life-affirming, future creating and opportunity increasing realities. Thus evolutionary leadership is a call for participation in the most important task of our time: to innovate a future of peace and abundance in partnership with all the living systems of our planet Earth. This is not a task for a few privileged, ‘enlightened’ ones, but a responsibility for every human being. If the insights from systems thinking and practice will be of help in the transition to a viable future for all, they ...
Predictors for delayed ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement after external ventricular drain removal in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

AbstractObjective. Hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) requires temporary cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage using an external ventricular drain (EVD). This drain is removed if patients pass a clamp trial, or a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is placed. Little is known about the risk factors for delayed VPS placement in patients who pass a clamp trial and have their EVD removed. In order to explore the risk factors associated with delayed VPS placement, we studied a retrospective cohort of SAH patients at our institution. Methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of SAH patients who had an EVD placed between January 2008 and June 2012 at our institution. We extracted demographic, imaging, and CSF data from the medical record and analyzed risk factors associated with delayed VPS placement. Results. Of 91 patients who passed a clamp trial and had their EVD removed, 12 (13%) required delayed VPS placement at a median of 54 (interquartile range: 15–75) days after EVD removal. After multiva...
Deletion of PTEN produces autism-like behavioral deficits and alterations in synaptic proteins

Many genes have been implicated in the underlying cause of autism but each gene accounts for only a small fraction of those diagnosed with autism. There is increasing evidence that activity-dependent changes in neuronal signaling could act as a convergent mechanism for many of the changes in synaptic proteins. One candidate signaling pathway that may have a critical role in autism is the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. A major regulator of this pathway is the negative repressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). In the current study we examined the behavioral and molecular consequences in mice with neuron subset-specific deletion of PTEN. The knockout (KO) mice showed deficits in social chamber and social partition test. KO mice demonstrated alterations in repetitive behavior, as measured in the marble burying test and hole-board test. They showed no changes in ultrasonic vocalizations emitted on postnatal day 10 or 12 compared to wildtype (WT) mice. They exhibited less anxiety in the elevated-plus maze test and were more active in the open field test compared to WT mice. In addition to the behavioral alterations, KO mice had elevation of phosphorylated AKT, phosphorylated S6, and an increase in S6K. KO mice had a decrease in mGluR but an increase in total and phosphorylated fragile X mental retardation protein. The disruptions in intracellular signaling may be why the KO mice had a decrease in the dendritic potassium channel Kv4.2 and a decrease in the synaptic scaffolding proteins PSD-95 and SAP102. These findings demonstrate that deletion of PTEN results in long-term alterations in social behavior, repetitive behavior, activity, and anxiety. In addition, deletion of PTEN significantly alters mGluR signaling and many synaptic proteins in the hippocampus. Our data demonstrates that deletion of PTEN can result in many of the behavioral features of autism and may provide insights into the regulation of intracellular signaling on synaptic proteins.
Use of Inorganic Polymer to Improve the Fire Response of Balsa Sandwich Structures

The study presented in this paper deals with the fire performance of balsa sandwich panels made using inorganic Geopolymer resin and high-strength fiber facings. A thin layer of a fire-resistant paste composed of Geopolymer and hollow glass microspheres was applied to the facings to serve as a protective fire barrier and to improve the fire resistance of the sandwich panels. Using 17 sandwich panel specimens, the primary objective of this program was to establish the minimum amount of fireproofing necessary to satisfy the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for heat and smoke release. The influence of this fireproofing insulation on the increase in mass of the panels was also evaluated. The system is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and a 1.8-mm-thick layer of fireproofing satisfies the FAA requirements for both heat release and smoke emission.
Hypertension in Women of Reproductive Age in the United States: NHANES 1999-2008

Objective To examine the epidemiology of hypertension in women of reproductive age. Methods Using NHANES from 1999–2008, we identified 5,521 women age 20–44 years old. Hypertension status was determined using blood pressure measurements and/or self-reported medication use. Results The estimated prevalence of hypertension in women of reproductive age was 7.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.9%–8.5%). The prevalence of anti-hypertensive pharmacologic therapy was 4.2% (95% CI 3.5%–4.9%). The prevalence of hypertension was relatively stable across the study period; the age and race adjusted odds of hypertension in 2007–2008 did not differ significantly from 1999–2000 (odds ratio 1.2, CI 0.8 to 1.7, p = 0.45). Significant independent risk factors associated with hypertension included older age, non-Hispanic black race (compared to non-Hispanic whites), diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and higher body mass index. The most commonly used antihypertensive medications included diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE), and beta blockers. Conclusion Hypertension occurs in about 8% of women of reproductive age. There are remarkable differences in the prevalence of hypertension between racial/ethnic groups. Obesity is a risk factor of particular importance in this population because it affects over 30% of young women in the U.S., is associated with more than 4 fold increased risk of hypertension, and is potentially modifiable.
Developmental Regulation of the Immune System

Term newborns have a higher frequency of microbial infections than older children and adults. Extremely premature newborns (<28 weeks gestation) have an even higher frequency. Quantitative and qualitative differences in the development of the immune system have been identified as a partial explanation for the increase in the incidence of infectious sequelae in these two patient populations. A less studied population of patients is late preterm newborns that are 34 to 35 6/7 weeks gestation. In general, this subset of patients is frequently grouped with term newborns. However, recent studies have provided data suggesting a potential unrecognized risk to health in this population, including at least a clinical suspicion for an increased risk of sepsis. Although little specific data on the host-defense capability of the near-term newborn exist, recent advancements in developmental immunology provide a framework for understanding the mechanisms underlying the propensity of infections in the preterm, near-term, and term newborn.
Methacholine-induced temporal changes in airway geometry and lung density by CT

Purpose Electron-beam CT (EBCT) was utilized to assess the time course of changes in airways cross-sectional area (CSA) and lung density during methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction. Materials and methods EBCT scans (200 ms, 3-mm thickness, 2 mm increments) were obtained before (baseline) and 30 s, 2 min, and 4 min after bolus IV injection of methacholine to pigs receiving mechanical ventilation. A total of seven experiments were analyzed using custom-made image analysis software. With each challenge, five different airways and 50 lung regions of interest were studied. Results The time course of lung density changes paralleled the time course for CSA changes. The maximal response to methacholine, measured in terms of both CSA and lung density changes, occurred 30 s after injection. Lung density changes were unaffected by reconstruction algorithm, normal (standard) or sharp (high resolution). Overall, there was increased air content in the lung during bronchoconstriction. This effect was significantly greater at the dependent lung regions. Conclusions EBCT is an effective tool to assess temporal and regional changes in the lung during bronchoconstriction. Measurements of lung density during bronchoconstriction allow for assessment of peripheral changes that are beyond the CT spatial resolution of airways anatomy.
Summarizing a Posterior Distribution of Trees Using Agreement Subtrees

Bayesian inference of phylogeny is unique among phylogenetic reconstruction methods in that it produces a posterior distribution of trees rather than a point estimate of the best tree. The most common way to summarize this distribution is to report the majority-rule consensus tree annotated with the marginal posterior probabilities of each partition. Reporting a single tree discards information contained in the full underlying distribution and reduces the Bayesian analysis to simply another method for finding a point estimate of the tree. Even when a point estimate of the phylogeny is desired, the majority-rule consensus tree is only one possible method, and there may be others that are more appropriate for the given data set and application. We present a method for summarizing the distribution of trees that is based on identifying agreement subtrees that are frequently present in the posterior distribution. This method provides fully resolved binary trees for subsets of taxa with high marginal posterior probability on the entire tree and includes additional information about the spread of the distribution.
A Photonic Method for Measuring the AM Noise of Periodic Electrical Signals

In this work, we demonstrate mode partition noise in the radio-frequency spectra of periodic signals generated using electrical pattern generators that are often used in digital optical communications and error testing. This effect makes the measurement of the amplitude modulation noise of the repetitive signal through its single sideband (SSB) power spectral density (PSD) at its fundamental frequency inaccurate. This is demonstrated for a square wave, where the dependence of the SSB PSD on the duty cycle of the signal is experimentally shown. To alleviate this ambiguity, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a photonic up-convert and down-convert method that results in invariant SSB power spectra at the signal's fundamental frequency.
Review article: perioperative pain management of patients on methadone therapy.

Purpose Methadone, an opioid traditionally associated with the management of opioid addictive disorders, has been prescribed increasingly as an analgesic for the management of various chronic pain conditions. Despite the increasing popularity of methadone, most anesthesiologists are not familiar with its complex pharmacology. The purpose of this article is to review the pharmacology of methadone and to suggest a management algorithm for the perioperative care of methadone patients.
On the Asymptotic Scalability of the Consensus Algorithm

Average consensus algorithms are gossiping protocols for averaging original measurements taken at different sensors. Without any communication rate restrictions, the algorithms ideally allow every node state to converge to the initial average after some iterations. Noting that brute force quantization is highly suboptimal given the rich temporal and spatial correlation of the messages exchanged, in our previous work we proposed two source coding methods, predictive coding and Wyner-Ziv coding which achieve convergence with vanishing quantization rates in the case of block coding. Both methods ideally require complete information about the network parameters and topology as well as processing and storage of the past state values. The knowledge of the network parameters is not a practical requirement, especially considering that one is implementing average consensus algorithms that are decentralized. In this study we show that as the node density increases or in homogeneously distributed networks, the encoder and decoder parameters become independent on the network size and specific location. We also lower bound the error performance of the predictive coding scheme in terms of eigenvalues of the connectivity and initial state covariance matrices. We show the relation between MSE behavior of the algorithm and network connectivity, as well as quantization rate.
In-situ monitoring of the resin transfer molding impregnation and cure process

Resin transfer molding (RTM) of advanced fiber architecture materials promises to be a cost effective process for obtaining composite parts with exceptional strength. However there are a larger number of material processing parameters that must be observed, known, and/or controlled during the resin transfer molding process. These include the viscosity both during impregnation and cure. In-situ sensors which can observe these processing properties within the RTM tool during the fabrication process are essential. This paper will discuss recent work on the use of frequency dependent electromagnetic sensing (FDMS) techniques to monitor these properties in the RTM tool. Our objective is to use these sensing techniques to address problems of RTM scaleup for large complex parts and to develop a closed loop, intelligent, sensor controlled RTM fabrication process.
A prototype quasi-optical SIS array receiver

We report measurements on a prototype SIS array receiver consisting of a ten-element dipole antenna array with half square micron niobium SIS junctions. The mixer array is a completely planar, integrated device mounted on the front surface of a quartz-filled parabolic reflector. The ten mixer elements are switched into a single IF filter-amplifier chain. Results at 230 GHz show receiver noise temperatures as low as 75 K DSB, with 120 K being a typical value. >
Epigenetics of the antibody response

Epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications and miRNAs, are induced in B cells by the same stimuli that drive the antibody response. They play major roles in regulating somatic hypermutation (SHM), class switch DNA recombination (CSR), and differentiation to plasma cells or long-lived memory B cells. Histone modifications target the CSR and, possibly, SHM machinery to the immunoglobulin locus; they together with DNA methylation and miRNAs modulate the expression of critical elements of that machinery, such as activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), as well as factors central to plasma cell differentiation, such as B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1). These inducible B cell-intrinsic epigenetic marks instruct the maturation of antibody responses. Their dysregulation plays an important role in aberrant antibody responses to foreign antigens, such as those of microbial pathogens, and self-antigens, such as those targeted in autoimmunity, and B cell neoplasia.
Spatial modulational instability in one-dimensional LiNbO/sub 3/ slab waveguides

Summary form only given. There has always been a close link in optically nonlinear media between solitons and high power beam break-up, i.e., modulational instability (MI). The classical example are temporal solitons, and the break-up of CW beams into a periodic pattern of pulses in fibers. Similarly for spatial solitons which have a finite spatial extent, very wide beams break up into periodic filaments. Theory has predicted MI for planewave nonlinear eigenmodes consisting of fundamental (FW) and second harmonic (SH) waves. However, MI occurs with only FW injection in SHG and was observed with quasione-dimensional (Q1D) input. A wide elliptical beam incident into a doubling medium broke up into a line of periodic two-dimensional quadratic solitons. There the excess energy was shed transverse to the line allowing the formation of solitons. The situation is different for the one-dimensional (1D) case in slab waveguides because the radiation is trapped in the plane of the waveguide and can only leak out after a long propagation distance. In the paper we report on spatial MI during SHG in LiNbO/sub 3/ slab waveguides.
Fractographic analysis on the die surface crack of a LOC packaged DRAM

This paper describes the surface crack on the Silicon die of a LOC packaged DRAM device. Surface crack was found to occur on the die at one edge, after reliability tests. The root cause was found to be the interaction of the LOC tape that exceed the die area covered by the protective PIX, and the scribe structures at the saw street due to thermal stress on the tape. This paper presents the fractographical analysis done on a failed unit to find the root cause, sample preparation needed, and the micrographs of the nature of the crack and the striations observed in the crack site using the optical microscope, SEM and the Laser Scan Microscope (LSM) confocal imaging.
The Text, the Whole Text, and Nothing but the Text, So Help Me God: Un-Writing Amar's Unwritten Constitution?

Professor Akhil Amar has it all wrong this time: The thesis of America’s Unwritten Constitution – that America has an “unwritten constitution” that shadows, supplements, and sometimes even supplants the written Constitution – is fundamentally flawed. America has no “unwritten constitution.” Ours is a system of exclusive, written constitutionalism. There are only sound – or unsound – interpretations of and inferences from the meaning of an authoritative written text. There may be ambiguities in that text. Some provisions may bear a range of meanings that admit of interpretive choices. There may be uncertainties as to the correct answer to certain constitutional questions. There may be room for legitimate interpretive disagreements. But none of these things in any way warrants the extravagant conclusion that there is such a thing as “America’s Unwritten Constitution.” Some of Amar’s supposed proof-illustrations do not support the claim of unwritten constitutionalism at all, but are better recast as instances of sophisticated textual interpretation or straightforward textual inference. Other of Amar’s conclusions do indeed depend upon invention or extrapolation of an unwritten constitution, but these conclusions are simply unsound – and some of them rather outrageously so. They do not support unwritten constitutionalism but rather tend to expose and refute it as fundamentally unfaithful to the written constitution and capable of yielding almost any result the unwritten constitution’s interpreter desires.
Look Who is Talking: Soundbite Speaker Name Recognition in Broadcast News Speech

Speaker name recognition plays an important role in many spoken language applications, such as rich transcription, information extraction, question answering, and opinion mining. In this paper, we developed an SVM-based classification framework to determine the speaker names for those included speech segments in broadcast news speech, called soundbites. We evaluated a variety of features with different feature selection strategies. Experiments on Mandarin broadcast news speech show that using our proposed approach, the soundbite speaker name recognition (SSNR) accuracy is 68.9% on our blind test set, an absolute 10% improvement compared to a baseline system, which chooses the person name closest to the soundbite.
Thermophysics Characterization of Kerosene Combustion

A one-formula surrogate fuel formulation and its quasi-global combustion kinetics model are developed to support the design of injectors and thrust chambers of kerosene-fueled rocket engines. This surrogate fuel model depicts a fuel blend that properly represents the general physical and chemical properties of kerosene. The accompanying gaseous-phase thermodynamics of the surrogate fuel is anchored with the heat of formation of kerosene and verified by comparing a series of one-dimensional rocket thrust chamber calculations. The quasi-global combustion kinetics model consists of several global steps for parent fuel decomposition, soot formation, and soot oxidation and a detailed wet-CO mechanism to complete the combustion process. The final thermophysics formulations are incorporated with a computational fluid dynamics model for prediction of the combustion efficiency of an unielement, tripropellant combustor and the radiation of a kerosene-fueled thruster plume. The model predictions agreed reasonably well with those of the tests.
Alfalfa Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Population Dynamics and Mortality Factors in Virginia

The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), is a major pest of alfalfa in Virginia despite being under complete biological control in the northeastern states. In 1997 we initiated a 2-yr study of alfalfa weevil populations at three different geographic regions of Virginia to better understand the ecological mechanisms underlying the differences in pest pressure among the major alfalfa-growing regions of the state. Alfalfa weevil populations from the low-lying Piedmont plateau, Shenandoah Valley, and southwestern mountain-valley regions were sampled regularly from No- vember until first harvest in each season. Fields located in the Piedmont had significantly higher alfalfa weevil numbers than those in the Shenandoah Valley and southwestern region. Warmer winter temperatures in the Piedmont contributed to a much higher rate of alfalfa weevil oviposition and concomitant higher infestations of larvae in the spring compared with the higher elevations. Parasitization of adult weevils by Microctonus aethiopoides (Loan), which plays a key role in reducing alfalfa weevil reproduction in the northeastern states, was low in all regions of Virginia, particularly the Piedmont. Mortality of alfalfa weevil larvae was comparable to that reported in more northerly states. The dominant natural enemy of weevil larvae was the parasitoid, Bathyplectes anurus (Thom- son), which parasitized 36—92% of larvae. Analysis of alfalfa weevil life tables showed that different mortality factors were important in explaining variations in total alfalfa weevil mortality.
Recurrent Selection for Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Resistance in Three Closely Related Corn Southern Synthetics

Plant resistance offers a good alternative to pesticides for protecting corn (Zea mays L.) from attack by corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). The GT-CEW-RS8 synthetic is a breeding population with some resistance to corn earworm, but based on variability for this trait, further improvement was possible in this population. S1 recurrent selection for corn earworm resistance was conducted to improve three synthetics derived from GT-CEW-RS8. The objective of this research was to study the effectiveness of these selection programs to increase insect resistance and maintain agronomic performance. Cycles of selection for each population were evaluated under four environments. Significant gains in resistance were realized, but all three synthetics derived from GT-CEW-RS8 showed a negative response for yield. However, yield losses were not very dramatic for 66RM4 and inbreeding depression would not affect the yield performance in hybrid combination. Selection for yield done simultaneously with selection for reducing ear damage by corn earworm and husk tightness could assist in avoiding decreased yield.
What is the DNA repair defect underlying Fanconi anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare human genetic disease characterized by bone marrow failure, cancer predisposition, and genomic instability. It has been known for many years that FA patient-derived cells are exquisitely sensitive to DNA interstrand cross-linking agents such as cisplatin and mitomycin C. On this basis, it was widely assumed that failure to repair endogenous interstrand cross-links (ICLs) causes FA, although the endogenous mutagen that generates these lesions remained elusive. Recent genetic evidence now suggests that endogenous aldehydes are the driving force behind FA. Importantly, aldehydes cause a variety of DNA lesions, including ICLs and DNA protein cross-links (DPCs), re-kindling the debate about which DNA lesions cause FA. In this review, we discuss new developments in our understanding of DPC and ICL repair, and how these findings bear on the question of which DNA lesion underlies FA.
The Cauchy Problem for Higher Order Equations

A function of n real variables u(x1,..., xn) is said to be analytic in a domain D if for some neighborhood of each point P = (ξ1,...,ξn) in ·D it is representable as a multiple power series in the xi - ξi, i = 1,..., n, $$ u({x_l}, \ldots ,{x_n}) = \sum\limits_{\mathop {{i_j} = l}\limits_{j = l,...,n} }^\infty {{a_{{i_l},...,{i_n}}}} {({x_i} - {\xi _i})^{{i_l}}} \ldots {({x_n} - {\xi _n})^{{i_n}}} $$ (1) .
Catalytic Efficiency Is a Function of How Rhodium(I) (5 + 2) Catalysts Accommodate a Conserved Substrate Transition State Geometry: Induced Fit Model for Explaining Transition Metal Catalysis

The origins of differential catalytic reactivities of four Rh(I) catalysts and their derivatives in the (5 + 2) cycloaddition reaction were elucidated using density functional theory. Computed free energy spans are in excellent agreement with known experimental rates. For every catalyst, the substrate geometries in the transition state remained constant (<0.1 A RMSD for atoms involved in bond-making and -breaking processes). Catalytic efficiency is shown to be a function of how well the catalyst accommodates the substrate transition state geometry and electronics. This shows that the induced fit model for explaining biological catalysis may be relevant to transition metal catalysis. This could serve as a general model for understanding the origins of efficiencies of catalytic reactions.
A relationship of direct Coombs test pattern to autoantibody specificity in acquired hemolytic anemia.

SummaryOf 31 cases of acquired hemolytic, anemia with “warm” γG autoantibodies, 17 exhibited positive direct antiglobulin reactions only with anti-γG globulin (Group 1) while 14 gave positive reactions with both anti-γG globulin and anti-complement serum (Group 2). As a preliminary test of Rh-related specificity, autoantibodies eluted from the RBC of patients in both groups were studied for their reactivity with Rhnull RBC. Twelve of 13 eluates showing negative or feeble reactions with Rhnull RBC were from patients in Group 1. Conversely, 13 of 18 eluates which gave reactions of equal intensity against Rhnull RBC and “normal” RBC were from patients in Group 2. The correlation of these apparent differences in antibody specificity with differences in the potential of γG autoantibodies for in vivo complement fixation has been discussed.
Examination of the Leading Edge Flow Structure of a Dynamically Pitching NACA 0012 Airfoil

The purpose of this paper is to examine the leading-edge flow structure during dynamics stall under realistic helicopter flight conditions (M = 0.2 and Rec = 2x 10 6 ). The test article was a rectangular wing with a NACA 0012 airfoil section. The wing was dynamically pitched about the ¼ -chord at a reduced frequency of 0.1. The leading-edge flow structure was quantified experimentally using high-fidelity PIV (measurement resolution of 0.25 mm x 0.25 mm). Numerical simulations were performed using a variety of turbulence models. The experimental and numerical data were analyzed to provide better understanding of the leading-edge flow dynamics. Improved understanding of the leading-edge flow dynamics has the potential to provide the scientific background necessary to identify new flow control opportunities.
Coupled Aeroelastic / Trajectory Optimization of Reentry Vehicles

An emerging multidisciplinary design optimization capability for the preliminary design and optimization (PDOT) of re-entry vehicles is presented. The paper focuses on the optimal structural and shape design optimization of flexible generic flight vehicles during re-entry on an optimal trajectory path. Since direct fully detailed integrated shape/structural /trajectory optimization is still a formidable and probably non-practical task, the process is divided into three separate steps coupled via an optimization system driver: rigid body aerodynamics and shape sensitivity; trajectory optimization of a rigid configuration including sensitivity of the optimal trajectory with respect to vehicle’s shape design variables and mass; and finally, structural/aeroelastic optimization of the flexible configuration and integration with the two previous steps. The latter is the main subject of the presented article.
Bound state of the αΛΛΞ0 system

The Faddeev–Yakubovsky equations in configuration space are applied to the study of the four-body system αΛΛΞ comprising three distinct particles. We use the OBE-simulating potential of the NSC97 model for the ΛΞ and ΛΛ interactions. For the Ξα and Λα interactions we use phenomenological potentials. The Faddeev–Yakubovsky equations for the system and its subsystems are numerically solved in s-wave approach by the cluster reduction method. We evaluate the binding energy of the hypothetical multi-strangeness nucleus . We find that the existence of the ground state of this nucleus depends strongly on the behavior of the Ξα potential at small distances. In particular, for a Woods–Saxon type potential having no repulsive core, the system can be bound.
Sonographic diagnosis of cisternal subarachnoid hemorrhage in the premature infant.

PURPOSE To evaluate sonographic criteria for the diagnosis of subarachnoid, and particularly cisternal, hemorrhage in the preterm infant. METHODS The subarachnoid cisterns were studied on cadaveric anatomic sections and on postmortem ultrasonograms, as well as on in vivo ultrasonograms of healthy neonates. Based on the normal ultrasound appearances of these cisterns, criteria were developed for the recognition of abnormal cisternal fluid collections, which strongly suggest the presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage in the premature infant. These criteria were evaluated prospectively in a group of 63 preterm infants who underwent subsequent autopsy. RESULTS In the 63 infants with neuropathologic verification, increased echogenicity and/or increased echo-free content of the subarachnoid cisterns correctly predicted subarachnoid hemorrhage with an accuracy of 75%, sensitivity of 69%, and specificity of 93%. The positive and negative predictive values were 97% and 46%, respectively. In 47% of the cases, ultrasound correctly detected cisternal subarachnoid hemorrhage before intraventricular hemorrhage could be diagnosed. CONCLUSION A highly specific, although somewhat insensitive, sonographic diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage can be made from the appearance of the subarachnoid cisterns. The diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage may predate the ultrasound diagnosis of intraventricular hemorrhage and may alert the neonatologist to the need for follow-up sonograms in the absence of ultrasound evidence of intraventricular hemorrhage.
Treatment of relapse after autologous blood stem cell transplantation for severe rheumatoid arthritis

There is little information about the clinical course of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who relapse after autologous blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT). We describe 6 patients with severe RA who received ASCT in 3 US centers. Duration of followup was between 24 and 42 months posttransplant. Five patients achieved major responses but relapsed 3-22 months posttransplant. Two patients with relapse improved remarkably after restarting disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD). Two patients developed a mild RA flare at 3 and 5 months posttransplant and improved spontaneously. All 4 patients who improved after an initial disease flare remained highly functional at 14-22 months posttransplant. All patients in this study were anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drug naive; all received a TNF blocker as a second line posttransplant salvage therapy, but only 3 responded. Future ASCT strategies need to focus on improving the durability of the early posttransplant responses.
Comparative analysis of type 2b von Willebrand disease mutations: implications for the mechanism of von Willebrand factor binding to platelets

von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a multimeric glycoprotein that forms an adhesive link following vascular injury between the vessel wall and its primary ligand on the platelet surface, glycoprotein Ib (GpIb). Type 2b von Willebrand disease (vWD) is a qualitative form of vWD resulting from enhanced binding of vWF to platelets. Molecular characterization of the vWF gene in patients with type 2b vWD has resulted in identification of a panel of mutations associated with this disorder, all clustered within the GpIb binding domain in exon 28 of the vWF gene. We have expressed six of the most common type 2b vWD mutations in recombinant vWF and show that each mutation produces a similar increase in vWF binding to platelets in the absence or presence of ristocetin. Furthermore, expression of more than one type 2b vWD mutation in the same molecule (cis) or in different molecules within the same multimer (trans) failed to produce an increase in vWF platelet binding compared with any of the individually expressed mutations. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that the vWF GpIb binding domain can adopt either a discrete "on" or "off" conformation, with most type 2b vWD mutations resulting in vWF locked in the on conformation. This model may have relevance to other adhesive proteins containing type A domains.
Combined Infrapubic and Retropubic Ligation of the Dorsal Vein of the Penis During Radical Retropubic Surgery

AbstractA reliable technique for ligation of the dorsal vein of the penis at the pelvic diaphragm before division of the puboprostatic ligaments is presented.
SU-G-BRB-16: Vulnerabilities in the Gamma Metric

Purpose: To explore vulnerabilities in the gamma index metric that undermine its wide use as a radiation therapy quality assurance tool. Methods: 2D test field pairs (images) are created specifically to achieve high gamma passing rates, but to also include gross errors by exploiting the distance-to-agreement and percent-passing components of the metric. The first set has no requirement of clinical practicality, but is intended to expose vulnerabilities. The second set exposes clinically realistic vulnerabilities. To circumvent limitations inherent to user-specific tuning of prediction algorithms to match measurements, digital test cases are manually constructed, thereby mimicking high-quality image prediction. Results: With a 3 mm distance-to-agreement metric, changing field size by ±6 mm results in a gamma passing rate over 99%. For a uniform field, a lattice of passing points spaced 5 mm apart results in a passing rate of 100%. Exploiting the percent-passing component, a 10×10 cm2 field can have a 95% passing rate when an 8 cm2=2.8×2.8 cm2 highly out-of-tolerance (e.g. zero dose) square is missing from the comparison image. For clinically realistic vulnerabilities, an arc plan for which a 2D image is created can have a >95% passing rate solely due to agreement in the lateral spillage, with the failing 5% in the critical target region. A field with an integrated boost (e.g whole brain plus small metastases) could neglect the metastases entirely, yet still pass with a 95% threshold. All the failure modes described would be visually apparent on a gamma-map image. Conclusion: The %gamma<1 metric has significant vulnerabilities. High passing rates can obscure critical faults in hypothetical and delivered radiation doses. Great caution should be used with gamma as a QA metric; users should inspect the gamma-map. Visual analysis of gamma-maps may be impractical for cine acquisition.
Comparison of daily versus continuous administration of somatotropin on growth rate, feed intake, and body composition in intact female rats.

The response to continuous delivery or daily bolus injection of porcine somatotropin (pST) was compared in mature, pituitary-intact female rats (225 g). Growth rate in control rats was approximately 1 g/d over the 14-d study. There was a dose-dependent (0, .4, 1.2, and 3.6 mg of pST/d; P < .001) increase in rate of gain with an interaction (P < .001) of dose and mode of delivery. The slope of the dose-response curve for growth rate was linear on a logarithmic scale for both modes of delivery but was greater for continuous delivery. At the low dose (.4 mg/d) pST stimulated gain (21.7 g/14 d above control, P < .05) when administered by daily injection but failed to stimulate gain (6.0 g/14 d above control, NS) when delivered continuously. At the high dose (3.6 mg/d), gain (above that in control rats) was 49.1 and 79.7 g/14 d for daily and continuous delivery; the two modes were different (P < .05) from each other. Feed intake and liver weights were also stimulated by pST in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in liver size was accompanied by a dose-dependent increase in liver DNA, indicative of an increase in cell number. Increased carcass gain was largely accounted for by increased carcass protein accretion. Rates of carcass lipid accretion were lower than those for protein accretion and were further decreased by pST, particularly by the high dose administered by continuous delivery, where a negative lipid accretion value was observed. Circulating IGF-I was increased by pST (P < .001) but was not affected by the mode of delivery. The results demonstrate that the increased gain observed in mature rats is largely due to lean tissue accretion and is accompanied by an increase in feed intake.
Anesthesia Emergencies in the Ambulatory Setting

Ambulatory surgery centers are facilities designed for day surgery, which frequently lack the equipment required to treat complex medical conditions, perform invasive monitoring, and provide prolonged observation. When emergencies occur in the ambulatory setting, they must be recognized promptly and managed with emphasis on stabilization and transfer to a hospital, if necessary. Many emergencies can be avoided with careful patient selection. Airway, cardiac, and neurologic emergencies, as well as local anesthetic toxicity and anaphylaxis, may occur despite good screening efforts. This article discusses the diagnosis and management of perioperative complications in an ambulatory setting.
Soup to Nuts in Doing Qualitative Research: A Comprehensive Guide by David Silverman and Amir Marvasti

Doing Qualitative Research: A Comprehensive Guide by David Silverman and Amir Marvasti is a masterpiece for any graduate student looking for guidance in research and dissertation process. The authors provide extensive information on the entire research and dissertation procedure as well as offer tips to conquer the qualifying exam and the rewards and challenges to publishing post dissertation.
Differential effects of young maternal age on child growth

Background : The association of early maternal birthing age with smaller children has been widely observed. However, it is unclear if this is due to confounding by factors such as socioeconomic status, or the age at which child growth restriction first occurs. Objective : To examine the effect of early maternal birthing age on the first-born child’s height-for-age in a sample of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Design : Cross-sectional data from Demographic Health Surveys from 18 countries were used, to select the first-born child of mothers aged 15–24 years and a range of potential confounding factors, including maternal height. Child length/height-for-age z -scores (HAZs) was estimated in age bands of 0–11, 12–23, 24–35, 36–47, and 48–59 months; HAZ was first compared between maternal age groups of 15–17, 18–19, and 20–24 years. Results : 1) There were significant bivariate associations between low child HAZ and young maternal age (71 of 180 possible cases; at p <0.10), but the majority of these did not persist when controlling for confounders (41 cases, 23% of the 180). 2) For children <12 months, when controlling for confounders, three out of seven Asian countries showed a significant association between lower infant HAZ and low maternal age, as did six out of nine African countries (15–17 or 15–19 years vs. the older group). 3) The association (adjusted) continued after 24 months in 12 of the 18 countries, in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 4) The stunting differences for children between maternal age groups were around 9 percentage points (ppts) in Asia, 14 ppts in Africa, and 10 ppts in Latin America. These data do not show whether this is due to, for example, socioeconomic factors that were not included, an emerging effect of intrauterine growth restriction, or the child feeding or caring behaviors of young mothers. The latter is considered to be the most likely. Conclusions : The effect of low maternal age on child height restriction from 0 to 11 months occurred in half the countries studied after adjusting for confounders. Poorer growth continuing after 24 months in children of younger mothers was observed in all regions, but needs further research to determine the causes. The effects were about double (in stunting prevalence terms) in Africa, where there was an increase in 10 ppts in stunting for children of young mothers. Keywords: child malnutrition; adolescent pregnancy; age at first childbirth; growth; Demographic Health Surveys (Published: 15 November 2016) Citation: Glob Health Action 2016, 9 : 31171 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v9.31171
Transient GaAs Plasmonic Metasurfaces at Terahertz Frequencies

We demonstrate the ultrafast formation of terahertz (THz) metasurfaces through all-optical creation of spatially modulated carrier density profiles in a deep-subwavelength GaAs film. The switch-on of the transient plasmon mode, governed by the GaAs effective electron mass and electron–phonon interactions, is revealed by structured-optical pump THz probe spectroscopy, on a time scale of 500 fs. By modulating the carrier density using different pump fluences, we observe a wide tuning of the electric dipole resonance of the transient GaAs metasurface from 0.5 THz to 1.7 THz. Furthermore, we numerically demonstrate that the metasurface presented here can be generalized to more complex architectures for realizing functionalities such as perfect absorption, leading to a 30 dB modulation depth. The platform also provides a pathway to achieve ultrafast manipulation of infrared beams in the linear and, potentially, nonlinear regime.
Current developments in oral drug administration.

Globally, oral drug delivery still remains the most patient compliant route of administering drugs. Many researchers within pharmaceutics have looked at ways to minimize dosing frequency, or dosage...