cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous removal of particulate matter and gas-phase pollutants within electrostatic precipitators: Coupled in-flight and wall-bounded adsorption

ABSTRACTOlder combustion facilities are favored to comply with imposed regulations limiting emissions of trace toxic metals by modifying the operation of existing emissions control devices to concurrently capture the regulated toxic metal compound; a prominent example of this is adsorption of mercury by added activated carbon within electrostatic precipitators (ESPs). Our previous quasi-1-D analyses employed simplifying assumptions, some of which were initially proposed decades ago. The present study leverages a modern computational platform to remove restrictive, simplifying assumptions and capture details of multi-phase flows and electric and electro-hydrodynamic phenomena that were previously out of computational reach. The results reveal the conflicting interdependent trends in particulate matter (PM) collection and adsorption of a trace gas-phase pollutant, assumed here to be mercury. In particular, we show the power of the inverse correlation between PM removal efficiency and trace pollutant adsorption efficiency, for two representative particle size distributions for increasing treatment times and under constant electrical conditions (applied voltage and current density). Also noteworthy is the finding that the two mechanisms of trace pollutant adsorption within an ESP, in-flight adsorption by suspended sorbent particles and wall-bounded adsorption by sorbent-covered walls, cannot be treated as additive. Wall-bounded adsorption depletes trace pollutant concentrations in the concentration boundary layer near the walls, reducing the driving potential for in-flight adsorption in these regions. For the conditions simulated, the additional rate of pollutant removal by the former is almost entirely counter-balanced by diminished rates of pollutant removal by the latter. Such findings highlight the need to optimize emissions control processes originally designed for a single pollutant but operated for the purpose of dual-pollutant control.
Fault Performance Comparison Study of a Dual Active Bridge (DAB) Converter and an Isolated Modular Multilevel DC/DC (iM2DC) Converter for Power Conversion Module Application in a Breaker-Less Shipboard MVDC System

A breaker-less shipboard medium-voltage dc (MVDC) system is gaining more attention recently due to its advantage in dealing with a dc fault by using switched-mode power modules and disconnectors. The specific power module investigated in this paper is the power conversion module (PCM) that transforms power from a MVDC to a low-voltage dc (LVDC) bus. The PCM plays an important role in a system-level fault management. The recently emerging isolated modular multilevel dc/dc converter and the widely used dual active bridge converter are promising solutions for PCM applications. The control algorithms including fault protection strategy for both topologies have been developed and presented in this paper. The MVDC side fault and LVDC side fault of each topology has been analyzed and evaluated. The simulation and experimental results are provided to demonstrate the fault protection features of two topologies in a breaker-less dc system.
Using a hybrid genetic algorithm and fuzzy logic for metabolic modeling

The identification of metabolic systems is a complex task due to the complexity of the system and limited knowledge about the model. Mathematical equations and ODE's have been used to capture the structure of the model, and the conventional optimization techniques have been used to identify the parameters of the model. In general, however, a pure mathematical formulation of the model is difficult due to parametric uncertainty and incomplete knowledge of mechanisms. In this paper, we propose a modeling approach that (1) uses fuzzy rule-based model to augment algebraic enzyme models that are incomplete, and (2) uses a hybrid genetic algorithm to identify uncertain parameters in the model. The hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) integrates a GA with the simplex method in functional optimization to improve the GA's convergence rate. We have applied this approach to modeling the rate of three enzyme reactions in E. coli central metabolism. The proposed modeling strategy allows (1) easy incorporation of qualitative insights into a pure mathematical model and (2) adaptive identification and optimization of key parameters to fit system behaviors observed in biochemical experiments.
Case Studies in the Evolution of Species Complexes in Mimulus

The genus Mimulus—first proposed for evolutionary studies by a Carnegie Institution-sponsored conference at their Mather, California, transplant station in 1947—provides an excellent system for the experimental investigation of the nature of species. Mimulus contains in its different sections over a dozen clusters of complexes of closely related species, varieties, and populations in many diverse stages of evolutionary differentiation. These complexes lend themselves to the study of the changes within populations that lead to their reproductive isolation, one from another. Such changes are of basic significance. They are the “forks” in the path of evolution, the essential steps in the origin of new species. The purpose of these studies in Mimulus is to learn more about the occurrence, distribution, and effect of these forks or reproductive isolating mechanisms in order to improve our understanding of the dynamics of speciation.
FDA breakthrough therapy designation for oncology products: The CBER experience.

e18585Background: Breakthrough therapy (BT) designation is a regulatory program introduced in Section 902 of the Food and Drug Safety and Innovation Act of 2012. Its goal is to expedite the develop...
Hydrophobic resin treatment of hydrothermal autohydrolysate for prebiotic applications

The production of a high-value xylooligosaccharide (XOS) prebiotic product from lignocellulosic autohydrolysate requires processing for the removal of non-carbohydrate components such as lignin and furfural. In this research, the nature of XOS dissolved in autohydrolysate is evaluated including the XOS degree of polymerization (DP) distribution and potential covalent association between XOS and lignin (LCC). The impact of these factors on the yield of XOS during treatment of Miscanthus autohydrolysate with hydrophobic resin is assessed. Over 30% of the XOS in autohydrolysate was found to be likely associated with lignin (“tied” XOS), all of which was removed during hydrophobic resin treatment along with over 90% of the dissolved lignin. However, loss of dissolved XOS during resin treatment was found to not be due solely to XOS association with lignin. Over 50% of the “free,” non-lignin-associated XOS was also removed by resin treatment. Interaction between “free” XOS and the hydrophobic resin was found to be highly dependent on DP with higher DP XOS being removed far more readily than low DP XOS. Over 80% of dissolved “free” XOS with a DP of six and above (X6+) was removed from autohydrolysate during treatment while only 17% of xylose (X1) was removed. Efforts to understand the interaction between the hydrophobic resin and XOS and to improve the recovery of XOS during hydrophobic resin treatment are presented.
Improved inertial confinement fusion gamma reaction history 12 C gamma-ray signal by direct subtraction

The Gamma Reaction History (GRH) diagnostic located at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) measures time resolved gamma rays released from inertial confinement fusion experiments by converting the emitted gamma rays into Cherenkov light. Imploded capsules have a bright 4.4 MeV gamma ray from fusion neutrons inelastically scattering with carbon atoms in the remaining ablator. The strength of the 4.4 MeV gamma ray line is proportional to the capsule's carbon ablator areal density and can be used to understand the dynamics and energy budget of a carbon-based ablator capsule implosion. Historically, the GRH's four gas cells use the energy thresholding from the Cherenkov process to forward fit an estimation of the experiment's complete gamma ray spectrum by modeling the surrounding environment in order to estimate the 4.4 MeV neutron induced carbon gamma ray signal. However, the high number of variables, local minima, and uncertainties in detector sensitivities and relative timing had prevented the routine use of the forward fit to generate carbon areal density measurements. A new, more straightforward process of direct subtraction of deconvolved signals was developed to simplify the extraction of the carbon areal density. Beryllium capsules are used as a calibration to measure the capsule environment with no carbon signal. The proposed method is then used to appropriately subtract and isolate the carbon signal on shots with carbon ablators. The subtraction algorithm achieves good results across all major capsule campaigns, achieving similar results to the forward fit. This method is now routinely used to measure carbon areal density for NIF shots.
Standard for acoustic metadata for passive acoustic monitoring

Passive acoustic monitoring often relies on data collected with various instrumentation, by multiple research groups in different locations, under diverse conditions, and with a variety of data analysis methods. To make the output comparable and to preserve data for long time-series analysis, metadata needs to be reported in a standardized way. This will enable broader metadata studies and the sharing of data in repositories, which will allow for cross fertilization of analyses and hence cost savings for new projects. The Acoustical Society of America Working Group S3-SC1-WG7 “Acoustic Metadata for Passive Acoustic Monitoring” is in the process of defining this standard. We are building upon schemata developed for the metadata database software “Tethys” [Roch et al., Ecol. Inf. 31, 122–126 (2016)]. Instrument deployments and on- or off-effort detections of acoustic signals were defined within this manuscript. The current deployment schema is being implemented in the National Center for Environmental Information Passive Acoustic Monitoring Archive. We have expanded the vocabulary to include mobile platforms, vector sensors, localizations, and calibrations. Exemplary scenarios were developed to test the comprehensiveness of the current standard definitions for these frameworks. We also consider extensibility, making sure that the standard is flexible enough to support new ideas.Passive acoustic monitoring often relies on data collected with various instrumentation, by multiple research groups in different locations, under diverse conditions, and with a variety of data analysis methods. To make the output comparable and to preserve data for long time-series analysis, metadata needs to be reported in a standardized way. This will enable broader metadata studies and the sharing of data in repositories, which will allow for cross fertilization of analyses and hence cost savings for new projects. The Acoustical Society of America Working Group S3-SC1-WG7 “Acoustic Metadata for Passive Acoustic Monitoring” is in the process of defining this standard. We are building upon schemata developed for the metadata database software “Tethys” [Roch et al., Ecol. Inf. 31, 122–126 (2016)]. Instrument deployments and on- or off-effort detections of acoustic signals were defined within this manuscript. The current deployment schema is being implemented in the National Center for Environmental Infor...
Evidence-Based Interventions for Retention of Nursing Students: A Review of the Literature.

Background There is a need to better understand effective student retention strategies in nursing. Purpose This review of course and program interventions reported in the nursing literature is intended to highlight interventions, supported by evidence, to graduate more enrolled students and recommend areas of retention efforts that need further research. Methods The PRISMA search strategy was used to identify and narrow the number of relevant studies. A scoring instrument to evaluate rigor, reliability, and validity of interventions was adapted from a valid and reliable tool used to evaluate studies using a health care education intervention. Results Evidence-based interventions that improved retention included retention program/specialist, robust orientation, mentoring and tutoring, stipends, and remediation. Conclusion Nurse educators are independently striving to improve retention rates of nursing students. Implementing evidence-based interventions will advance this effort.
Extracellular matrix components isolated from diabetic mice alter cardiac fibroblast function through the AGE/RAGE signaling cascade

Individuals suffering from diabetes have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications such as heart failure. Heart failure can be a result of the stiffening of the left ventricle, which occurs when cardiac fibroblasts become "active" and begin to remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). Fibroblast "activation" can be triggered by the AGE/RAGE signaling cascade. Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs) are produced and accumulate in the ECM over time in a healthy individual, but under hyperglycemic conditions, this process is accelerated. In this study, we investigated how the presence of AGEs in either non-diabetic or diabetic ECM affected fibroblast-mediated matrix remodeling. In order to address this question, diabetic and non-diabetic fibroblasts were embedded in 3D matrices composed of collagen isolated from either non-diabetic or diabetic mice. Fibroblast function was assessed using gel contraction, migration, and protein expression. Non-diabetic fibroblasts displayed similar gel contraction to diabetic cells when embedded in diabetic collagen. Thus, suggesting the diabetic ECM can alter fibroblast function from an "inactive" to "active" state. Addition of AGEs increase the AGE/RAGE cascade leading to increased gel contraction, whereas inhibiting the cascade resulted in little or no gel contraction. These results indicated 1) the ECM from diabetic and non-diabetic mice differ from one another, 2) diabetic ECM can impact fibroblast function and shift them toward an "active" state, and 3) that fibroblasts can modify the ECM through activation of the AGE/RAGE signaling cascade. These results suggested the importance of understanding the impact diabetes has on the ECM and fibroblast function.
Performance and improvement of the DiaRem score in diabetes remission prediction: a study with diverse procedure types.

Abstract Background The DiaRem score has proven to be a reliable predictor tool for diabetes remission in Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), as well as laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). To our knowledge there are no studies that analyze DiaRem in patients undergoing biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS). Objective To test the validity of the DiaRem score as a predictor of type 2 diabetes remission at 1 year post surgery in patients who underwent LABG, LSG, RYGB, and BPD/DS, as well as to develop and test a novel model that uses DiaRem to predict type 2 diabetes remission by procedure type (LABG, LSG, RYGB, and BPD/DS). Setting University Medical Center, United States. Methods A retrospective review of institutional records identified patients who underwent primary bariatric procedures (LAGB, LSG, RYGB, and BPD/DS) between January 1, 2000 to April 10, 2017, had a diagnosis of diabetes and had complete preoperative and 1-year postoperative follow-up information. A univariable logistic regression model was fit to assess the association between DiaRem score and diabetes remission. A multivariable logistic regression model was created, including procedure type and other preoperative characteristics. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) was calculated to analyze the performance of both models for the entire cohort as well as a BPD/DS only subgroup. Results A total study cohort of 602 was obtained. The majority of patients underwent RYGB (456; 75.7%), followed by LSG (84; 14.0%), BPD/DS (35; 5.8%), and LAGB (27; 4.5%). The multivariable regression model with RYGB as the reference procedure, showed that BPD/DS results in higher odds of type 2 diabetes remission at 1 year post surgery (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27, 8.51), while LSG (adjusted OR .52, 95%CI .29, .93) and LAGB resulted in lower odds (adjusted OR.23, 95% CI.09,.60). The univariable DiaRem model and the novel model were determined to be moderately strong in classifying diabetes remission in the entire cohort (AUROC: .79, 95% CI: .75, .83 and .82, 95% CI: .79, .85, respectively) as well as in the BPD/DS sub-group (AUROC: .85, 95% CI: .70, .99 and .84, 95% CI .69, .99, respectively). Conclusion Our study shows that the DiaRem score is a reliable tool to predict diabetes remission, amongst a wide variety of different procedures as well as specifically those receiving BPD/DS. Our novel model, which takes into account procedure type, not only shows that BPD/DS patients have the highest odds of diabetes remission than other procedures, but also that this model performs significantly better at predicting diabetes remission than DiaRem alone.
Biological therapy in pediatric age.

Biological therapies, especially blocking tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) agents have radically changed the therapeutic approach and disease course of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In particular, drugs such as infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA) have been demonstrated to be effective in inducing and maintaining corticosteroid-free remission in both adult and pediatric patients with Crohns Disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC). Biosimilar biological (BioS) therapy is increasingly being used in pediatric age even though most knowledge on the safety and efficacy of these agents is based on IFX in adult IBD data. Studies show high rates of clinical response and remission in both IFX naive patients and in patients switched from originator to BioS with similar risks of adverse events (AEs) as those reported with IFX originator. In the present review indications, efficacy and AEs of biological therapy in pediatric IBD will be discussed, as well as the role of other biological agents such as Golimumab, Vedolizumab and Ustekinumab, the role of BioS biological therapy and utility of therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical practice.
Open geospatial tools for humanitarian data creation, analysis, and learning through the global lens of YouthMappers

OpenStreetMap (OSM), often thought of as a technological tool or platform, can be envisioned as a community of communities and informed by a broad understanding of geographical systems. In this article, we explore the community of university students known as YouthMappers, who utilize OSM and related tools for humanitarian data creation, analysis and learning. Students approach OSM simultaneously as aspiring members of the workforce in a global digital economy and as emerging world citizens of a global society. Established in 2014, YouthMappers is a campus-based consortium of more than 200 chapters in approximately 50 countries that networks and supports engagement in humanitarian data with practitioners, government agencies, and other actors. Open geospatial data are contributed to authentic campaigns through OpenStreetMap and an ecosystem of open source and proprietary tools. A 2019 survey of YouthMappers and an analysis of YouthMappers data contributions allow us to explore the following questions: Who are using open geospatial tools, and in what context? Which open geospatial tools are being used and where? How proficient are they as users? How confident do they feel? How prepared does this make them for the future? How do these patterns vary across the global digital divide? Results show evidence of mapping both locally and globally. They also reveal a gendered confidence gap, and tool use patterns hint at a gendered division of geospatial labor in some global contexts. Internships are key to unlocking job opportunities, and are prevalent among YouthMappers members. Findings also reveal that with growing self-reported proficiency, a commitment to the ethic of being a good global citizen increases, underscoring the potential promise for open geospatial tools to support not only workforce capacity, but also meaningful connections to learning about geography, place, people, and the world.
Mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gallbladder: a case report.

Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the gallbladder (GB-NETs) are rare, accounting for 0.5% of all NETs and 2.1% of all gallbladder cancers. Among GB-NETs, mixed neuroendocrine–non-neuroendocrine neoplasms of the gallbladder (GB-MiNENs) are extremely rare. We present the case of a 66-year-old woman who was referred to us for the management of a gallbladder tumor (incidentally found during abdominal ultrasonography indicated for gallbladder stones). The patient had no history of abdominal pain or fever, and the findings on a physical examination were unremarkable. Blood tests showed normal levels of tumor markers. Imaging studies revealed a mass of approximately 10 mm in diameter (with no invasion of the gallbladder bed) located at the fundus of the gallbladder. A gallbladder cancer was suspected. Therefore, an open whole-layer cholecystectomy with regional lymph nodes dissection was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 6. Pathological findings showed GB-MiNENs with invasion of the subserosal layer and no lymph node invasion (classified T2aN0M0 pStage IIA according to the Union for International Cancer Control, 8th edition staging system). Analysis of the neuroendocrine markers revealed positive chromogranin A and synaptophysin, and a Ki-67 index above 95%. Fourteen months after the operation, a local recurrence was detected, and she was referred to another hospital for chemotherapy. GB-MiNENs are extremely aggressive tumors despite their tumor size. Optimal therapy should be chosen for each patient.
Effect of Nimodipine and Botulinum Toxin A on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Rats: A Pilot Study.

Abstract Background Peripheral nerve damage is a frequent problem, with an estimated 2.8%-5.0% of trauma admissions involving peripheral nerve injury. End-to-end, tension-free microsurgical repair (neurorrhaphy) is the current gold standard treatment for complete transection (neurotmesis). While neurorrhaphy reapproximates the nerve, it does not address the complex molecular regenerative process. Evidence suggests that botulinum toxin A (BTX) and nimodipine (NDP) may improve functional recovery, but mechanisms of action remain unknown. Methods This research investigates BTX and NDP for their novel capacity to improve neural regeneration in the setting of neurorrhaphy using a Lewis rat tibial nerve neurotmesis model. In a triple-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized study design, we compared functional (rotarod, horizontal ladder walk), electrophysiological (conduction velocity, duration), and stereological (axon count, density) outcomes of rats treated with: NDP+saline injection, BTX+NDP, Saline+placebo, and BTX+placebo. Additional controls included sham surgery +/- BTX. Results NDP+saline outperformed other treatment groups in the ladder walk. This group had the fewest deep slips (15.07% versus 30.77% in BTX+NDP, P = 0.122), and the most correct steps (70.53% versus 55.58% in BTX+NDP, P = 0.149) in functional testing. NDP+saline also had the fastest nerve conduction velocity (0.811m/s versus 0.598m/s in BTX+NDP, P = 0.126) among treatment groups. BTX+NDP had the highest axon count (10,012.36 versus 7,738.18 in NDP+Saline, P = 0.009). Conclusion This study is the first to test NDP with BTX in a multimodal assessment of nerve recovery following neurotmesis and neurorrhaphy. NDP outperformed BTX+NDP functionally. Future work will focus on nimodipine in an effort to improve nerve recovery in trauma patients.
Infantile cortical hyperostosis.

Summary A description of the clinical picture, laboratory findings, differential diagnosis, etiology, therapy, and prognosis of infantile cortical hyperostosis, with a review of the literature, is presented. Eleven new cases of infantile cortical hyperostosis are reported. Four of this series occurred in Negro infants. Bilateral scapular involvement was found in two cases. Infantile cortical hyperostosis is not a rare entity and should be suspected in every infant with fever, leukocytosis, hyperirritability, and swelling of the soft tissues. The diagnosis is established by x-ray studies of the underlying bones.
Feasibility Study and Experimental Evaluation of the Design of Nodule Prototype Developed for Palpation Display Apparatus: A Novel Device for Contactless Primary Tactile Diagnosis

Background: Lack of feasible palpation display for primary diagnosis of a tumor without any need of physician to patient physical contact has been reported as one of the major concerns. To further explore this area, we developed a novel palpation device consisting of a uniquely designed nodule mechanism (based on optimizing nodule top and bottom hemisphere wall thickness and manipulating granular jamming method) that can vary stiffness while maintaining the shape of the same nodule display, for which current devices are not capable of in terms of aping a tumor. Methods: This paper evaluates the manufacturing approach of the nodule, exploring several iterations of the nodule prototype. Experiments were performed on nodule prototypes of varying wall thicknesses in order to evaluate its effect on stiffness and deformation. Results and Conclusions: Experimental results showed that nodule top and bottom wall thickness had a significant effect on the stiffness and deformation of the nodule. The higher the thickness of the top hemisphere and the lower the thickness of the bottom hemisphere, the greater the stiffness the nodule can achieve. Similarly, the display shape of the nodule can be maintained with minimal or no deformation if the nodule top hemisphere thickness is optimally higher than bottom hemisphere thickness.
Sex-specific plasticity and the nutritional geometry of insulin-signaling gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster

Background: Sexual-size dimorphism (SSD) is replete among animals, but while the selective pressures that drive the evolution of SSD have been well studied, the developmental mechanisms upon which these pressures act are poorly understood. Ours and others9 research has shown that SSD in Drosophila reflects elevated levels of nutritional plasticity in females versus males, such that SSD increases with dietary intake and body size, a phenomenon called sex-specific plasticity (SSP). Additional data indicate that while body size in both sexes responds to variation in protein level, only female body size is sensitive to variation in carbohydrate level. Here we explore whether these difference in sensitivity at the morphological level are reflected by differences in how the insulin/IGF-signaling (IIS) and TOR-signaling pathways respond to changes in carbohydrates and proteins in females versus males, using a nutritional geometry approach. Results: The IIS-regulated transcripts of 4E-BP and InR most strongly correlated with body size in females and males respectively, but neither responded to carbohydrate level and so could not explain the sex-specific response to body size to dietary carbohydrate. Transcripts regulated by TOR-signaling did, however, respond to dietary carbohydrate in a sex-specific manner. In females, expression of dILP5 positively correlated with body size, while expression of dILP2,3 and 8, was elevated on diets with a low concentration of both carbohydrate and protein. In contrast, we detected lower levels of dILP2 and 5 protein in the brains of females fed on low concentration diets. We could not detect any effect of diet on dILP expression in males. Conclusion: Although females and males show sex-specific transcriptional responses to changes in protein and carbohydrate, the patterns of expression do not support a simple model of the regulation of body-size SSP by either insulin- or TOR-signaling. The data also indicate a complex relationship between carbohydrate and protein level, dILP expression and dILP peptide levels in the brain. In general, diet quality and sex both affect the transcriptional response to changes in diet quantity, and so should be considered in future studies that explore the effect of nutrition on body size.
Insect inspired vision-based velocity estimation through spatial pooling of optic flow during linear motion.

Insects rely on the perception of image motion, or optic flow, to estimate their velocity relative to nearby objects. This information provides important sensory input for avoiding obstacles. However, certain behaviors, such as estimating the absolute distance to a landing target, accurately measuring absolute distance traveled, and estimating the ambient wind speed require decoupling optic flow into its component parts: absolute ground velocity and distance to nearby objects. Behavioral experiments suggest that insects perform these calculations, but their mechanism for doing so remains unknown. Here we present a novel algorithm that combines the geometry of dynamic forward motion with known features of insect visual processing to provide a hypothesis for how insects mightdirectlyestimate absolute ground velocity from a combination of optic flow and acceleration information. Our robotics-inspired-biology approach reveals three critical requirements. First, absolute ground velocity can only be directly estimated from optic flow during times of active acceleration and deceleration. Second, spatial pooling of optic flow across a receptive field helps to alleviate the effects of noise and/or low resolution visual systems. Third, averaging velocity estimates from multiple receptive fields further helps to reject noise. Our algorithm provides a hypothesis for how insects might estimate absolute velocity from vision during active maneuvers, and also provides a theoretical framework for designing fast analog circuitry for efficient state estimation that can be applied to insect-sized robots.
EXPANDing the Donor Pool: Quantifying the Potential Impact of a Portable Organ-Care System for Expanded Criteria Heart Donation.

ABSTRACT The recently concluded prospective Portable Organ Care System (OCS) Heart trial to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of The Portable Organ Care System Heart for Preserving and Assessing Expanded Criteria Donor Hearts for Transplantation (EXPAND) demonstrated that the use of ex vivo perfusion for expanded-criteria hearts may be a viable method for increasing the use of donor hearts. We sought to estimate the potential impact of ex vivo expanded-criteria heart perfusion on the donor pool in the United States by using a large national transplant registry. After applying the inclusion criteria of EXPAND, 8637 potentially eligible donors were identified in the U.S. between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019, representing a substantial potential increase in the donor pool.
A decision making model for an optimal medicine using analytical hierarchical processes

To decide on an optimal pain medicine from a clinician's viewpoint for patients who complain about pain after surgery, we use the method of Analytical Hierarchical Processes (AHP). This is an extended application of the classical AHP which has optimality. Uncertainty in assigning priorities and the use of semantic variables leads to the inclusion of fuzzy sets into the structure of the AHP paradigm. We describe our model by a hierarchical process having four levels. We will introduce inconsistencies in some of our evaluations.
The Neural Control of Sleep and Waking

Preface.- Acknowledgements.- A Brief Synopsis of Neuroanatomy.- Technological Developments.- Early Research on Brain Mechanisms of Sleep and Waking.- The Discovery of the Ascending Reticular Activating System.- The Neural Pathways that Produce Arousal.- Forebrain and Hindbrain Inhibition of the Reticular Activating System.- EEG Synchrony and Behavioral Inhibition.- Cellular Mechanisms and Neural Circuits that Produce Sleep.- Sleep Factors.- Sleep as a Circadian Rhythm.- The Discover of REM Sleep.- The Neural Control of REM Sleep.- Theories of Sleep and Waking.- Disorders of Sleep and Waking.- References.- Abbreviations.- Glossary.- Index.
An ocean current turbine system with induction generator and power electronic control

In-stream hydrokinetic electricity production, electricity generation from moving currents without the use of dams, has significant potential for increasing electric power production. This project evaluates a control system designed to regulate rotor rate (rpm) to improve power production from in-stream hydrokinetic turbines. The control algorithm is evaluated using both a numerical model of a rigidly mounted tidal turbine and a numerical model of a moored ocean current turbine system. These two system models are each coupled to an induction electric machine model. Based on the turbine torque-speed characteristic, as well as the asynchronous machine features, a Look-Up-Table (LUT) is used to generate the frequency of the sinusoidal voltages of the three phases to be supplied to the machine. However, to compensate for disturbances and perturbations of the power-plant a PI controller is generating a correction term for electrical frequency superimposed to the output of the LUT. A first round of simulations using the numerical models was performed in order to evaluate the developed algorithms.
Law-Making Through the Adversarial Process: The Need for Standards for Social Science Briefs in Family Law Cases

Social scientists and judges need standards for amicus briefs that purport to present the current state of social science knowledge in relation to family law issues in United States courts. These briefs can serve the important function of helping educate courts about social science research in critical policy areas. When these briefs are biased, incomplete, and poorly done, however, they disserve the law and social science. As judges make increasing use of social science in deciding family law cases, social scientists and legal academics should assist by providing high quality information and preventing problematic presentations to courts by following scientific rather than advocacy rules for briefs.
Does religion bring more conflict than peace? A survey of Americans' attitudes toward religion and conflict

The aim of this study is to examine Americans’ attitudes towards their disagreement with the statement that religion is more likely to reinforce conflict, especially violent conflict, than to promote peace before the September 11. Many studies showed that after 9/11 the opinion of the American people has radically changed about the potential for religion to be misused by some people for their own purposes. In this sense, we need to know Americans’ attitudes towards religion and conflict before 9/11. This is a new study clarifies the Americans’ attitudes about the issue before the 9/11 by utilizing General Social Survey (GSS) 1998 data. This article hypothesized that race, class, gender, age, marital status, political party affiliation, regional diversity, and religion make a difference in Americans’ attitudes regarding this issue. Logistic regression is used to test the hypotheses. This research shows that slightly more than half of American respondents (56%) disagree that religion brings more conflict than peace. This indicates that there is a tendency among Americans to believe that the overall effects of religion support the ideal of peace.
Proving entailment between conceptual state specifications

The lack of expressive power of temporal logic as a specification language can be compensated to a certain extent by the introduction of powerful, high-level temporal operators, which are difficult to understand and reason about. A more natural way to increase the expressive power of a temporal specification language is by introducing conceptual state variables, which are auxiliary (unimplemented) variables whose values serve as an abstract representation of the internal state of the process being specified. The kind of specifications resulting from the latter approach are called conceptual state specifications.
From enzyme adaptation to gene regulation.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews some of the main pathways that led from bacterial nutrition to physiological genetics. The growth requirements of culture are a convenient way to study the nutritional habits of individual cells. This research on bacterial nutrition is more fruitful because it generated questions, further research, and new explanations about the physiology of bacterial cells. One such phenomenon that grew out of the study of bacterial nutrition is called “enzyme adaptation.” This concept linked studies on bacterial nutrition to the eventual detailed understanding of the mechanism of environmental regulation of bacterial-gene expression. The chapter discusses this conceptual evolution. The role of vitamins, originally discovered as essential for mammals, in the nutrition of microbes is discussed in the chapter. Lwoff analyzed the importance of nutrients in microbial-cellular metabolism, an analysis that led to better understanding of the relationships between vitamins and coenzymes. Comparative studies on different microbes also suggested evolutionary relationships that could explain the wide diversity in both growth requirements and metabolic capacities of microbes.
SSME Testing Technology at the John C. Stennis Space Center

An effective capability for testing the Space Shuttle Main Engine is described. The test complex utilizes a number of sophisticated test stands, test support facilities, and control centers to conduct development testing and flight acceptance testing at both nominal and off-nominal conditions.
Integrating attribute grammar and functional programming language features

While attribute grammars have several features making them advantageous for specifying language processing tools, functional programming languages offer a myriad of features also well-suited for such tasks. Much other work shows the close relationship between these two approaches, often in the form of embedding attribute grammars into lazy functional languages. This paper continues in this tradition, but in the other direction, by integrating various functional language features into attribute grammars. Specifically we integrate rich static types (including parametric polymorphism, typed distinctions between decorated and undecorated trees, limited type inference, and generalized algebraic data-types) and pattern-matching, all in a manner that maintains familiar and convenient attribute grammar notations and especially their highly extensible nature.
Instrumentation for Propulsion Systems Development

Apparatus and techniques developed or used by NASA-Lewis to make steady state or dynamic measurements of gas temperature, pressure, and velocity and of the temperature, tip clearance, and vibration of the blades of high-speed fans or turbines are described. The advantages and limitations of each instrument and technique are discussed and the possibility of modifying them for use in developing various propulsion systems is suggested.
Diminished sympathetic nervous system activity in genetically obese (ob/ob) mouse

The genetically obese (ob/ob) mouse exhibits defective thermoregulatory responses to cold exposure. Pathophysiological explanations for this phenomenon have focused on abnormalities in intracellular metabolism or insensitivity of peripheral tissues to the thermogenic effects of catecholamines. Because the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is subject to feedback regulation, a peripheral impairment in thermogenesis should be associated with a compensatory increase in SNS activity. To examine SNS activity in the ob/ob mouse, norepinephrine (NE) turnover was measured in heart and interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) of ob/ob and lean mice. The results from studies utilizing radiolabeled NE or inhibition of NE biosynthesis with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine to measure NE turnover demonstrated reductions in SNS activity of 33-56% in heart and of 45-73% in IBAT in ob/ob mice at ambient temperature (22 degrees C) compared with measurements in lean controls. During cold exposure (4 degrees C) NE turnover increased in heart and IBAT to a similar extent in both ob/ob and lean mice, but NE turnover rates in heart, and probably in IBAT as well, remained lower in the obese mice than in the lean despite the gradual development of hypothermia in the ob/ob mice during this period. Administration of naltrexone, a long-acting opiate antagonist, failed to reverse the suppression of SNS activity observed in the ob/ob mice. These data indicate that diminished SNS activity in ob/ob mice may be an additional factor contributing to the defective thermogenesis characteristic of these animals.
The Effects of Single- Versus Multiple-Exemplar Training on Vocal Identification of Artists’ Styles

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of single- versus multiple-exemplar training with several artists’ paintings on graduate students’ stimulus generalization to novel paintings by the same artists. Six graduate students participated in this study. Participants studied decks of cards that depicted images of paintings by six different artists. Multiple-exemplar decks included three exemplars of three artists for a total of nine cards, and single-exemplar decks included single exemplars of three artists for a total of three cards. Participants “tested out” when ready following independent study with each deck and were required to score 100 % correct in order to move on to a generalization probe, during which participants were presented with novel exemplars. Overall, four of six participants performed better on the generalization probe after multiple-exemplar training, though in the case of three participants, only to a slight degree. These modest effects suggest that multiple-exemplar training may facilitate stimulus generalization, but that studying with single exemplars may allow for stimulus generalization as well.
Shape-Shifting Droplet Networks

We consider a three-dimensional network of aqueous droplets joined by single lipid bilayers to form a cohesive, tissuelike material. The droplets in these networks can be programed to have distinct osmolarities so that osmotic gradients generate internal stresses via local fluid flows to cause the network to change shape. We discover, using molecular dynamics simulations, a reversible folding-unfolding process by adding an osmotic interaction with the surrounding environment which necessarily evolves dynamically as the shape of the network changes. This discovery is the next important step towards osmotic robotics in this system. We also explore analytically and numerically how the networks become faceted via buckling and how quasi-one-dimensional networks become three dimensional.
Reading the Bible as a Pedagogical Text: Testing, Testament, and Some Postmodern Considerations About Religion/the Bible in Contemporary Education

AbstractWhile it is true that following various Supreme Court decisions in the last century, religion is, in most cases, no longer explicitly taught in public school classrooms, we use this article to explore the ways in which implicit religious understandings regarding curriculum and pedagogy still remain prevalent in current public education. Building on previous work, we first aim to problematize the ways religion and particularly Judeo‐Christian assumptions remain at the core of secular public education in the United States. To do so, we work to engage the Bible as the foundational Western text and its understanding of testing and of teaching as testament to illustrate particular assumptions about assessment, questioning, and the possibility for interrogating authoritative text. In the process we outline a historical precedent that twins passive reading of the Bible as always‐already containing singular truths with a modern educational system underwritten by these same assumptions about knowledge and ...
Scattered wave imaging of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary

Several recent studies have imaged discontinuities interpreted as the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary using receiver function methods. These are exciting results since this boundary is fundamental and yet relatively elusive. Its location is not well imaged nor are its properties well understood. The receiver function method provides high depth resolution, and the multitude of studies using this method have increased lateral resolution. A better global understanding of the location and nature of the boundary is developing, which ultimately will have implications for mantle dynamics and planetary evolution. However, these new results do not all form a clear and consistent picture, and in some cases introduce new complexities and questions. Some apparent contradictions may represent unmodeled Earth structure. Overall, interpretation and synthesis requires careful consideration of the approaches and sensitivities of individual studies.
Streptococcal glucan-binding lectins do not recognize methylated alpha-1,6 glucans.

The glucan-binding lectin (GBL) ofStreptococcus sobrinus is cell associated, enabling the bacteria to be aggregated by α-1,6 glucans. Glucans, such as amylose, pullulan, laminarin and nigeran, have no affinity for the lectin. High molecular weight α-1,6 glucans (dextrans) readily aggregate the bacteria, whereas low molecular weight glucans inhibit the aggregation brought about by the high molecular weight species. Methylated glucan T-2000 (an α-1,6 glucan with an average molecular weight of 2 × 106 Da) aggregated the bacteria very poorly when the extent of methylation (DS, or degree of substitution) was high, and less poorly when the DS was low. Similarly, methylated low molecular weight α-1,6 glucan was a poor inhibitor of aggregation induced by the high molecular weight glucan T-2000. Because the methylation occurred primarily on the hydroxyl of C-2, it is suggested that the hydroxyl is needed for formation of the lectin-glucan complex. It appears that the GBL is not only stereospecific in interaction with glucans, but also regiospecific, interacting only with the underivatized α-1,6-glucan.