cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OCT/PS-OCT imaging of brachial plexus neurovascular structures

Introduction: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows high-resolution imaging (less than 10 microns) of tissue structures. A pilot study with OCT and polarization-sensitive OCT (PS-OCT) was undertaken to image ex-vivo neurovascular structures (vessels, nerves) of the canine brachial plexus. Methods: OCT is an interferometry-based optical analog of B-mode ultrasound, which can image through non-transparent biological tissues. With approval of the USC Animal Care and Use Committee, segments of the supra- and infraclavicular brachial plexus were excised from euthanized adult dogs, and the ex-vivo specimens were placed in cold pH-buffered physiologic solution. An OCT beam, in micrometer translational steps, scanned the fixed-position bisected specimens in transverse and longitudinal views. Two-dimensional images were obtained from identified arteries and nerves, with specific sections of interest stained with hematoxylin-eosin for later imaging through a surgical microscope. Results: with the beam scan direction transverse to arteries, the resulting OCT images showed an identifiable arterial lumen and arterial wall tissue layers. By comparison, transverse beam OCT images of nerves revealed a multitude of smaller nerve bundles contained within larger circular-shaped fascicles. PS-OCT imaging was helpful in showing the characteristic birefringence exhibited by arrayed neural structures. Discussion: High-resolution OCT imaging may be useful in the optical identification of neurovascular structures during attempted regional nerve blockade. If incorporated into a needle-shaped catheter endoscope, such a technology could prevent intraneural and intravascular injections immediately prior to local anesthetic injection. The major limitation of OCT is that it can form a coherent image of tissue structures only to a depth of 1.5 - 2 mm.
Model-based characterization and enhancement of the through-thickness thermal conductivity of polymer composites using infrared camera

Abstract Improved out-of-plane thermal conductivity of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials will enable light weight structures to integrate efficient thermal management. Heat extraction through its relative thin thickness direction can be improved by placing highly conducting material strategically and sparingly across the thickness. This paper combines an infrared camera temperature measurement system with a finite element method to investigate the natural convection influence on the effective thermal conductivity of such heterogeneous materials. Measurements of reference samples were conducted to validate the methodology. Effective conductivity of a PTFE matrix with embedded copper rods was characterized with one of its boundaries exposed to natural convection and the results were contrasted with the condition under which the specimen is placed between two conducting bars. Our method was extended to characterize the effective thermal conductivity of a heterogeneous 3D woven fabric structure embedded within a polymer matrix. A conductive coating layer was introduced and quantified to demonstrate the heat transfer enhancement.
Engineering of the Heme Pocket of an H-NOX Domain for Direct Cyanide Detection and Quantification

A new cyanide sensing system, the Heme-Nitric oxide and/or OXygen binding domain (H-NOX domain) from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis (Tt H-NOX), has been investigated. With straightforward absorbance-based detection, we have achieved a cyanide detection limit of 0.5 μM (∼10 ppb) with an upper detection range that is adjustable with protein concentration. We find a linear correlation of multiple spectroscopic features with cyanide concentration. These spectroscopic features include the Soret band maximum and absorbance changes in both the Soret and α/β band regions of the spectrum. Multiple probes for cyanide detection makes sensing with Tt H-NOX unique compared to other cyanide sensing methods. Furthermore, using site-directed mutagenesis, we have rationally engineered the heme pocket of Tt H-NOX to improve its cyanide sensing properties. Using a mutant that alters the heme structure of Tt H-NOX (P115A) we were able to introduce colorimetric detection of cyanide. Through substituting phenylalanine 78 wit...
Subregion analysis of the rat femur: a sensitive indicator of changes in bone density following treatment with thyroid hormone or bisphosphonates.

Measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a precise and accurate way to assess changes in BMD due to a variety of causes. However, the degree of bone loss may vary depending on the skeletal site examined. We postulated that interventions that change bone density would have a different effect on an area rich in trabecular bone, such as the distal femur, than on other subregions of the femur. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (325–350 g) were treated with triiodothyronine (T3), a bisphosphonate (pamidronate), or placebo for 21 days and then sacrificed. Ex vivo BMD of the proximal, distal, mid and total femur were measured by DXA. We found that mean BMD of hyperthyroid rats was significantly lower than controls at all femoral subregions. However, the difference in mean BMD between hyperthyroid and control rats was greatest at the distal femur (8.6%). In rats treated with bisphosphonate, mean BMD was significantly higher than controls at the proximal, distal, and total femur. The difference in mean BMD between controls and rats treated with bisphosphonate was greatest at the distal femur (31.8%). Furthermore, pamidronate (APD)-treated rats had lower mean mid-femur BMD than controls. We conclude that changes in BMD after treatment with bisphosphonate or T3 are greatest at the distal femur subregion, and that treatment with bisphosphonate may cause a slight reduction in midfemur BMD. Future studies examining changes in BMD in the rat femur after interventions that alter mineral metabolism should include subregion analysis.
Enzymes in detergents

Factors affecting the performance of proteolytic and amylolytic enzymes in an anionic and nonionic detergent formulation have been studied using stain removal from EMPA blood-milk-ink and cocoa-milk-sugar soil test cloths as a measure of enzyme activity in the detergent solution. Factors considered include enzyme concentration, and temperature and pH of the wash solution. Results on stability of these enzymes in the two detergent formulations under accelerated storage conditions are also given.
Development of a plan for improved recruitment and retention of Hispanic practical nursing students

Summary In 2007, Hispanic Americans represented 14% of the US population, but only 5.8% of licensed practical nurses ( US Dept. of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2007 ). The lack of diversity in the nursing workforce results in disparities in healthcare delivery. Nursing educators are challenged to develop strategies to recruit and retain a more diverse student population. This article focuses on the development of a plan to improve recruitment and retention of Hispanic practical nursing students at an urban community college in Northern New Jersey. The first step of the project was to complete a needs assessment to understand the disproportionately low numbers of Hispanic students enrolled in the practical nursing program as compared with other majors. Phase two of the project was to identify best practices nationally that have proven to be successful in recruiting and retaining Hispanic students. Data obtained from phases one and two were used in phase three of the project to develop specific recruitment and retention strategies.
Teaching developmental psychology to adults with field experience as a vehicle for resource development

This paper examines the ways in which the “field experience”—including both job-related activities and life-span developments—of adults affects the teaching of developmental psychology. It examines the psychological differences between conventional students (18 to 22-year-olds) and the growing numbers of “adult students” who are a new challenge to higher education, particularly in the teaching of psychology in general and developmental psychology. The role of a growing new breed of colleges (colleges that make use of assessment of prior learning, utilize individualized instruction, and are nonresidential) is examined.
Muscular Strength Development by Electrical Stimulation in Healthy Individuals

The effects of electrical stimulation and its comparison with various resistance training modes were investigated in 34 subjects who trained their dominant leg isometrically three times a week for five weeks. Group E (n = 8) used maximum voluntary isometric contractions only, Group S (n = 8) received only electrical stimulation, and Group ES (n = 9) trained using a concurrent combination of isometric exercise and electrical stimulation. In addition, Group C (n = 9), a control group, did no experimental training. The expected gain in torque was shown in the isometric strength scores of the three experimental groups; however, there was little change in the isometric strength of the control group and in the isokinetic (100, 200, and 300 degrees/sec) results of any of the four groups. After adjustments were made for pretest strength results, a one-way analysis of covariance indicated that the posttest isometric strength scores of the three experimental groups differed significantly from those of the control group. No other posttest differences were found among any of the other training modes.
The Political Economy of British Imperialism: Measures of Benefits and Support

The paper provides new evidence on the debate over the decision of the British to invest in empire in the period of 1860–1914. An examination of the flow of symbolic capital indicates that the Empire was not a major recipient until the end of the period. The largest transfers went to the “rest of the world” although a surprisingly large fraction was absorbed domestically.A study of the profits of British firms operating at home, in the Empire, and abroad shows that while the Empire was relatively very profitable in the years before 1880, domestic returns were higher from that date until the end of the Boer War. Moreover, those domestic returns were also higher than foreign from the mid-1870s to the mid-1880s and again throughout the 1890s. Finally, the evidence indicates that empire returns were as high as they were only because of substantial social subsidies from the British. The imperial experience could therefore be viewed more as a redistribution of income within the United Kingdom than as a transfer from the empire to the mother country.
Color Fading of Underglaze Decalcomania

A study was made of some possible causes of color fading of underglaze decalcomania used in the commercial production of semivitreous dinnerware, While the quality of the decalcomania employed is of primary importance, ware losses due to color fading can be minimized by careful control of glost firing procedures, adjustment of glaze composition, and proper fritting practice. Cone 2 dinnerware glazes identical in chemical composition but different in constituency were found to have widely different characteristics toward underglaze colors. Best results were obtained when lead oxide was fritted and 10% or more whiting was left unfritted and added as a mill addition. Low-melting frits did not produce so good results as did the more refractory frits. Strontia, as a lead replacement, was effective in reducing color fading. Barium oxide also showed characteristics favorable to underglaze colors, but tin oxide, zinc oxide, and magnesia, even in small amounts, were decidedly harmful to most colors. When alumina and silica were varied and other oxides were kept constant, increases in alumina were decidedly unfavorable to most colors, resulting in extreme fading at the higher alumina contents. The effect of raising the silica content was generally favorable. For best results, glazes should be compounded to prevent the formation of low-temperature melts. Adjustment of glaze composition to increase viscosity and lower surface tension of the molten glaze is suggested as a method of minimizing glaze attack on color.
Renal denervation to treat cardiac fibrosis

Hypertension is extremely common across the world, and substantial resistance to pharmacological therapy occurs in a considerable subset, possibly >10% of afflicted patients.[1][1] The morbid consequences or comorbidities associated with hypertension are extensive and range from renal failure to
The influence of closure on the behaviour of the Yvon-Born-Green equation for a system of hard rods

The Yvon-Born-Green equation for a system of hard rods is solved using the Kirkwood superposition approximation and the results obtained are compared with those generated from the exact solution to the problem. Whereas the pair correlation function generated using the exact closure is unique over the entire range of densities, multiple solutions of the underlying integral equation appear above a certain density when the full Kirkwood superposition closure is used. The method of complementary variational principles is used to corroborate the findings in the pre-transition regime. The implications of these results are discussed in light of previously reported studies of the Yvon-Born-Green equation on systems of hard discs and hard spheres, where evidence of a fluid-solid transition was found.
Transsphenoidal surgery for malignant pituitary lesions: an analysis of inpatient complications.

Background Fewer than 4% of pituitary tumors are malignant lesions. These tumors predominantly represent metastatic disease from elsewhere. This study evaluates inpatient complications, demographics, and hospitalization characteristics of patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for malignant pituitary lesions. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was evaluated for TSS patients from 1998 to 2010. Demographics, hospitalization characteristics, and complications were evaluated among patients with malignant lesions and compared to those with benign tumors. Results There were 17,425 inpatient records, 1.0% of which involved malignant pituitary tumors. There was no difference in age between these cohorts (p = 0.378). Patients with malignant tumors had greater length of stay (6.7 days vs 4.5 days, p = 0.003) and higher trending charges ($55,371 vs $40,550 p = 0.091). The most common postoperative complications among patients with malignant lesions included diabetes insipidus (DI) (17.9%), fluid/electrolyte abnormalities (14.0%), neurological complications (5.6%), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea (2.2%), and iatrogenic pituitary disorders (2.2%). Patients with malignant lesions had a significantly greater rates of postoperative DI and fluid/electrolyte abnormalities (odds ratio = 2.0 and 1.7, respectively), whereas no statistical difference was noted in the rates of CSF rhinorrhea (p = 0.372). Conclusion In this analysis of inpatient hospitalizations for TSS patients, malignant pituitary disease was associated with a greater rate of postoperative DI and fluid/electrolyte abnormalities, but no differences in the rates of postoperative CSF rhinorrhea and other complications were found. Patients with malignant pituitary lesions undergoing TSS had significantly longer hospitalizations and higher trending charges than those with benign lesions. This analysis is, however, subject to the limitations of the database.
Conditions for Bias from Differential Left Truncation

Spontaneous abortion studies that recruit pregnant women are left truncated because an unknown proportion of the source population experiences losses prior to enrollment. Unconditional logistic regression, commonly used in such studies, ignores left truncation, whereas survival analysis can accommodate left truncation and is therefore more appropriate. This study assessed the magnitude of bias introduced by fitting logistic versus Cox models using left-truncated data from a 1998 US pregnancy cohort study (n = 5,104) of trihalomethanes and spontaneous abortion. In addition, the conditions producing bias were explored by using simulated exposure data. The odds ratios and hazard ratios from the actual study differed by 10% or less. However, when the exposed women entered observation earlier on average than those unexposed, the hazard ratio was closer to the null than the odds ratio, whereas the reverse was true when the exposed entered later. The simulation suggests that bias in the odds ratio will exceed 20% when average gestational age at entry for the exposed versus the unexposed differs by 10 days or more, as has been observed regarding some socioeconomic factors, such as education and ethnicity. Cox regression can correct for left truncation and is no more difficult to perform than logistic regression.
APPLICATION OF TOLERANCE MAPPING IN AEC SYSTEMS

Tolerance maps are a tool for specifying, analyzing and allocating tolerances for both product and process design. This paper introduces the authors’ tolerance mapping system and the steps for creating and implementing the system to an existing design for evaluation and improvement, via a sample case. The paper addresses current industry limitations on tolerances, future mapping improvements and mapping implementation challenges.
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Improves Tachycardia in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

Background— Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) induces disabling chronic orthostatic intolerance notable for an excessive increase in heart rate that occurs on standing. Many current therapeutic strategies focus on sympatholysis, but the alternative strategy of enhancing cardiovagal tone has not been studied. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that acetylcholinesterase inhibitors will attenuate the tachycardia and improve symptom burden in patients with POTS. Methods and Results— Seventeen patients with POTS underwent acute drug trials of pyridostigmine 30 mg orally and placebo, on separate mornings, in a randomized crossover design. Blood pressures, heart rate, and symptoms were assessed while patients were seated and after they had been standing for up to 10 minutes both before the study drug was given and at 2 and 4 hours after study drug. The heart rate was significantly lower at 2 hours after pyridostigmine than after placebo (100±16 versus 111±14 bpm, P=0.001). Pyridostigmine s...
On the importance of the range of interactions in stripping and knockout amplitudes

Tanifuji's calculations on the knockout mode for stripping reactions using the cut-off Born approximation and delta function interactions indicated that the knockout amplitude is forward peaked, while the heavy-particle knockout amplitude is backward peaked. These results are shown to arise from his use of an extremely short-range interaction. Entirely opposite results can be obtained when the amplitude is calculated in the Born approximation without a cut-off, using harmonic oscillator wave functions and interactions with gaussian shape. (D.C.W.)
Predictive Performance of Equations to Estimate Creatinine Clearance in Hospitalized Elderly Patients

OBJECTIVE:To ascertain the clinical accuracy of equations that estimate creatinine clearance to predict the correct drug doses in hospitalized elderly patientsDESIGN:Single 24-hour creatinine clearance measurement compared with estimated creatinine clearances derived from eight equations using total and modified ideal body weightSETTING:Nonintensive care medical and surgical units at a county hospitalPATIENTS:15 patients with urethral catheters were enrolled in each of three age groups: 65–75, 76–85, and ≥86 yearsMAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:Drug–dose predictions, bias, precision, and absolute errorsRESULTS:The bias for all equations was −4.0−42.0 mL/min (–0.07–0.70 mL/s) and the precision was 10.8−47.4 mL/min (0.18–0.88 mL/s). The Jelliffe 1973, Hull et al., and Mawer et al. equations were the least biased and the Jelliffe 1973 was the most precise, followed by the Mawer et al., Hull et al., and Cockcroft-Gault equations. The percent of patients with absolute percent errors >20 percent were 38 percent for J...
Monte Carlo simulations of scattering of electromagnetic waves from dense distributions of nonspherical particles

In a dense, discrete random medium, the propagation and scattering of waves are not only affected by the individual properties of the particles such as sizes, shapes and permittivities, but also by the group properties such as the statistics of relative particle positions and relative orientations. In this paper, the authors investigate the interactions of electromagnetic waves with a dense medium consisting of spheroidal particles with random or aligned orientations. A multiple scattering formulation based on the volume integral equation and method of moments is developed. A shuffling process is used to generate the positions of densely packed spheroids within a cubic box. The scattering results are averaged over many realizations. Numerical results are presented for the extinction rates to illustrate the polarimetric scattering properties and the differences of scattering properties between nonspherical and spherical particles.
Impingement of gas jets on liquid surfaces

An investigation of the interaction of a jet of air impinging normally on a liquid surface has been carried out. The regimes of stable, oscillating, and dispersing indentions were established as a function of velocity and surface tension.For the stable region, energy and force balances were formulated. The force balance, when integrated, described the indention profile well and will have further use in predicting the point of onset of instability.A linear relationship between the square of the instability velocity and the surface tension and between the square of the critical dispersion velocity and the surface tension has been determined experimentally.
Monitoring western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) susceptibility to carbaryl and cucurbitacin baits in the areawide management pilot program

Areawide pest management involves the uniform application of a pest control strategy over wide geographic areas. Therefore, these programs are likely to impose intense selective pressures, and the risk for resistance development among pest species for which areawide management programs are implemented is likely to be high. Pilot studies for areawide management of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, were conducted from 1996 to 2002 at four different sites across the Corn Belt. This program used cucurbitacin baits to deliver high doses of a traditional neurotoxic insecticide (carbaryl) to individual insects while reducing the overall rate of insecticide use. Because of the concern and potential for resistance evolution, annual assessments of susceptibility to the active ingredient carbaryl were conducted both within the managed area as well as from untreated control areas. Significantly reduced susceptibility to carbaryl based on survival at a diagnostic concentration was detected in three of the four management sites (Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois/Indiana), whereas susceptibility of beetles collected outside the managed areas remained unchanged. Additionally, significantly reduced responsiveness to cucurbitacin baits was observed in beetles collected from the managed area relative to the control area at the same three sites. These results suggest strongly that areawide management has the potential to select for resistance and that a strategy for managing resistance and reducing selective pressure should be proactively implemented.
Eavesdropping on Communications Between Liver and β Cells

Tissues throughout the body are in constant communication, a coordinated euphony of messages and responses to changes in metabolic and physiological states. Because so many molecular details are not well understood, scientists are keen to listen in on these communications. Yi et al. report on an important note passed between the liver and the pancreas (which can now be read aloud to the class!). Motivated by findings that circulating factors can regulate growth and size of β cells, Yi et al . first developed a mouse model of insulin resistance—inducible by a small molecule called S961. Consistent with other insulin-resistance models, these mice showed a compensatory increase in β cell replication. Curiously, there was no detectable effect when β cells were directly exposed to S961 in vitro, suggesting that the increase in β cell replication could be an indirect effect resulting from communication promoted by other tissues. To identify candidate tissues and messages, the researchers used microarrays to analyze gene expression within key metabolic tissues in the context of a S961 perturbation. A poorly annotated gene was strongly up-regulated in liver and fat tissues—but not in β cells—in response to S961 exposure. Characterization in vivo revealed that this overexpressed gene encoded the secreted hormone betatropin, that its expression in liver specifically induced pancreatic β cell proliferation, and that betatropin-injected mice had improved glycemic control. Although betatropin’s mechanism of action has not yet been identified, this study points to the possibility that therapeutic strategies that promote proliferation or activity of pancreatic β cells could advance diabetes treatment, augmenting (or perhaps replacing) insulin therapy. By listening closely to the conversations happening among different organs in the body, Yi et al. may have gathered an important clue to our understanding and future treatment of complex metabolic disease. P. Yi, J.-S. Park, D. A. Melton. Betatrophin: A hormone that controls pancreatic β cell proliferation. Cell. , 25 April 2013 (10.1016/j.cell.2013.04.008). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674(13)00449-2
Detection And Identification Of Visually Indiscernible Defects From Textural Background Of An Unpolished Quartz Crystal

Quartz devices play an important role in the field of radio communication and are also well known for their popular use in electronic clocks and watches. Detection of scratches and cracks on the crystals is the key quality control in their production. Difficulties encountered in these inspections are due to the fact that such defects are so thin and short that they are almost indiscernible from the blurred textural background of the crystal unless a special illumination and torsional viewing mechanism are provided. In this paper, image processing and pattern recognition techniques are introduced for the automatic detection and delineation of these indiscernible imperfections so that high quality in crystal production can be assured.
Project Planning and Scheduling

This chapter focuses on the planning and scheduling of jobs that are subject to precedence constraints. The setting may be regarded as a parallel machine environment with an unlimited number of machines. The fact that the jobs are subject to precedence constraints implies that a job can start with its processing only when all its predecessors have been completed. The objective is to minimize the makespan while adhering to the precedence constraints. This type of problem is referred to as a project planning and scheduling problem.
Lining Up: Ensuring Equal Access to the Right to Vote

Lining Up highlights that the war on voting is not over. Released in the wake of the Supreme Court’s June 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder finding the Section 5 coverage formula of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional, the Lawyers’ Committee and Advancement Project’s report chronicles the impact of restrictive voting laws on voters of color in the 2012 election. The report includes heroic stories culled from litigation documents, reports called into the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline, and interviews of real people adversely affected by restrictive voter laws and their efforts to exercise the right to vote. Considering that at least 36 states introduced restrictive voting laws in 2013, this report demonstrates the continued need for, and enforcement of, federal and state laws protecting the right to vote, coupled with voter vigilance to ensure the right to vote is not undermined. This report not only highlights the challenges that voters of color face, but also provides real solutions for progress and increased voter participation. It makes the case for the need for improvements in election administration and continued outreach, education, advocacy, and litigation in order to defend the right to vote for people of color.
Developmental and Potential Therapeutic Aspects of Mammalian Neural Stem Cells

Advances in our understanding of the biology of stem cells, including neural, hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells, have opened new avenues for cell-based therapeutic approaches to replace damaged or lost neurons. The mature central nervous system (CNS) has traditionally been considered an unfavourable environment for the regeneration of damaged axons or the generation of new neurons. The recent realization that neural stem cells exist not only in the developing mammalian nervous system but also in the adult CNS of most mammals—including humans—raises the possibility of using either endogenous or transplanted neural stem cells for therapy. Although the location of neural stem cells in the adult CNS is relatively restricted, the restorative potential of stem cells is enhanced by their ability to migrate throughout the CNS. Many aspects of the biology of neural stem cells, including migrational control, proliferative, and differentiative cues are still poorly understood. In order to effectively utilize neural stem cells, either after transplantation or by promoting the mobilization of endogenous cells, will require the ability to manipulate the molecular cues that mediate commitment to particular cell lineages and their differentiation to functional cell types within the settings of neural injury or disease. If neural stem cells can be guided to replace lost neuronal or glial cell populations in the damaged adult CNS, they may offer a highly effective therapy for a wide range of degenerative diseases and insults to the adult human nervous system.
Effects of Winter Cultural Practices on the Pink Bollworm in Arizona

Eight soil-tillage practices were evaluated during the winter and spring of 196H7 for control of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders). Best results were obtained where the top 6 inches of soil were thoroughly pulverized with a Howard Rotavator. Plowing with a moldboard plow to a depth of 6 inches (medium plowing) was more effective in reducing moth emergence than plowing to a depth of 12 inches (deep plowing) or chisel listing. Cultipacking medium-plowed soil resulted in no decrease in moth emergence, However, moth emergence was reduced considerably in the deep-plowed treatment when it was followed with cultipacking. A greater proportion of moth emergence was, i.e., the moths emerged after cotton began to square, in the treatments where the soil was plowed deeply.
Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Flow in the SNS Jet Flow Target

Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) numerical simulations were performed for the flow inside the Spallation Neutron Source jet-flow target vessel at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Different flow rates and beam conditions were tested to cover all the functioning range of the target, but for brevity, only the nominal case with a mass flow rate of 185 kg/s and a beam power of 1.54MW is presented here. The heat deposition rate from the proton beam was computed using the general-purpose Monte Carlo radiation transport code MCNPX and the commercial CFD code ANSYS-CFX was used to determine the flow velocity in the mercury and the temperature fields in both the mercury and the stainless steel vessel. Boundary conditions, turbulence model and mesh effects are presented in depth. To validate the numerical approach, Particle Imagery Velocimetry (PIV) measurements on a water-loop setup with an acrylic jet-flow target mock-up were performed and compared to the numerical simulations. It was found that a sustained wall jet was developed across the whole length of the vulnerable surface, confirming the good design of the jet-flow target. Overall, good agreements were observed between the experiments and the simulations: the velocity contours and the shape of the recirculation zone near the side baffle are qualitatively similar. However, some differences were also observed that underlines the shortcomings of both the numerical simulations and the experimental measurements.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Total Bodily Extrusion of the Lunate: An Extreme Inferior Arc Injury: A Case Report.

Case: A fifty-six-year-old man had an open radiocarpal and intercarpal dislocation with a radial styloid fracture, an open triangular fibrocartilage complex tear, and complete bodily extrusion of the lunate. We performed irrigation and debridement and an immediate total wrist arthrodesis. One year postinjury, the fusion had healed without infection, and the patient had functional digital range of motion, 80° of active pronation, and 60° of active supination without distal radioulnar joint instability; he had only mild pain with strenuous activities. Conclusion: In this severe case, we believed that total wrist arthrodesis was the most reliable treatment option, and it produced an acceptable result.
Lecture 16 Orthotics (Bracing)

No matter of what material braces are made—steel, aluminum, copper beryllium, leather or plastic—they should accomplish certain purposes. They may be designed to substitute for weak or paralyzed muscles, to limit motion, to prevent or correct deformity, or to improve the patient's appearance. When prescribing braces, physicians should see that the brace is designed to fulfill one of these purposes.
Three-level Parallel Implementation of FDTD Algorithm

The traditional parallel Finite Difference Time Domain(FDTD) algorithm is one-level or two-level parallel algorithm based on MPI or OpenMP or Message Passing Interface(MPI)+OpenMP.To accelerate the traditional two-level parallel FDTD algorithm based on MPI+OpenMP,the SSE instruction set are introduced into FDTD algorithm and the three-level parallel acceleration technique based on MPI+OpenMP+SSE is used to do so.Numerical experiment for the point source electromagnetic radiation problem in free space truncated by CPML boundary is tested on PC cluster.The ideal acceleration factor of SSE instruction set is 4 and 2.44 achieved by the numerical experiment when the cell number is equal to 200 200 200.The acceleration effect is good.
Rapid onset of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with ibrutinib

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and life threatening disorder characterized by excessive immune activation with resulting tissue injury [1]. Ibrutinib is an irreversible inhibito...
Plant secondary chemistry and the evolution of feeding specialization in insect herbivores: a different perspective

Many hypotheses to explain the evolution of feeding specialization among insect herbivores assume a trade-off in fitness across host plant species, i.e., that adaptation to one host (or host taxon) necessarily results in loss of adaptation to at least some other hosts (or host taxa). As potentially powerful and intuitively appealing as this “Jack of all trades is master of none” hypothesis may be, we presently know little about how common fitness trade-offs across hosts are, or about which mechanisms might give rise to such fitness trade-offs (Futuyma & Peterson, 1985; Jaenike, 1990). In this study, I tested the hypothesis that differences among plant species in seconday chemistry give rise to fitness trade-offs across host plant species, i.e., that adaptation to one type of secondary compound necessarily results in loss of adaptation to other types of secondary compounds.
Web Design Trends in Academic Libraries—A Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACTThis study examines several key design elements of 37 academic library Web sites (members of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries) and how they have changed between 2012 and 2015. While several studies have reviewed library Web sites looking for common design elements and content, the present work may be the first to look at the design elements of a large group of library Web sites over time. This study has two main goals: to present an objective analysis of the navigation and search interface designs at research university library Web sites, and to assess the usage of Web-scale discovery systems and content management systems in libraries. Other areas explored include when sites were most recently redesigned and whether sites have adopted a mobile-friendly, responsive design. Notable findings include a very high usage of Web-scale discovery systems, an increasing adoption of open source content management systems, and increasing implementation of responsive design. Also noted was a ...
Irradiation-induced creep in metallic nanolaminates characterized by In situ TEM pillar nanocompression

Abstract This work reports on irradiation-induced creep (IIC) measured on nanolaminate (Cu-W and Ni-Ag) and nanocrystalline alloys (Cu-W) at room temperature using a combination of heavy ion irradiation and nanopillar compression performed concurrently in situ in a transmission electron microscope. Appreciable IIC is observed in multilayers with 50 nm layer thicknesses at high stress, ≈½ the yield strength, but not in multilayers with only 5 nm layer thicknesses.
Putting Desistance Research to Work: Policy and Desistance Theory

It has been said that research should be useful as well as used. Unfortunately, much of the work on desistance remains theoretical and largely separate from the policy world. Some researchers, in fact, have argued that major correlates of desistance (such as marriage) are not relevant to policy. Fortunately, research on desistance of late has not agreed on this score, increasingly concerning itself with the criminal justice system. In this chapter, Rocque discusses how desistance research could be incorporated into criminal justice policy—in other words, what would desistance research and theory imply we should do to reduce offending? In addition, the chapter shows how certain policies already in place are relevant to desistance research. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of the future of desistance scholarship.
Simulations of Time Asymmetric Quantum Mechanics by Nonlocal Nonlinear Optics

Time-reversal symmetry in quantum mechanics has been debated by many authors, like Gamow, Prigogine and others. We show that intrinsically irreversible quantum theories can be simulated by nonlinear optical shock waves in nonlocal media.
Biological and spatial variability of backscatter coefficient parameters in the ex vivo human uterine cervix

Parameters derived from the acoustic backscatter coefficient (BSC) represent quantification on an absolute scale and have been used to characterize tissue microstructure. This motivates their use to detect and quantify microstructural remodeling and ripening of the uterine cervix during pregnancy. This work systematically assessed the ex vivo human cervix microstructure and the effects of cervical ripening based on parameters derived from the BSCs. In ripened cervices, some BSC parameter values were reduced and spatial variability became more homogeneous, suggesting BSC parameters have potential as biomarkers of abnormal changes leading to preterm birth.
Prevention of disruptive behavior problems in children

Abstract This chapter focuses on prevention within the context of a public/population health (PPH) model for addressing disruptive behavior problems/disorders in children. We frame PPH models with a dynamic systems theory, highlighting the nuanced, integrated, and reciprocal nature of key social determinants and microlevel factors in the development and attenuation of disruptive behavior problems/disorders. The chapter highlights key broad social determinants of mental health, which also relate to the development of disruptive behavior problems. The chapter concludes with a discussion of several policies and multi-tiered prevention interventions that form the basis of a PPH model. Select future directions for this work are offered.
Effective pain management in terminal care.

Pharmacologic therapy is the mainstay of pain management in the terminally ill cancer patient. Upwards of 90% of the pain of cancer can be controlled by relatively simple means (i.e. oral, rectal, or transdermal analgesics). More invasive procedures may be needed in a small percentage of patients. Effective management of pain in the elderly requires recognition of age-related changes in drug pharmacokinetics and an awareness of drug side effects that may be particularly problematic in older patients. Careful attention to the basic principles of drug use in the elderly will enhance effective pain management and quality of life.
Locke’s Religious Thinking and His Politics

The expression ‘Locke’s religious thinking’ can be taken in two ways, one religious and the other not or not-necessarily so: it may signify either Locke’s religious thoughts or his thoughts about religion. There is no doubt that Locke thought a lot about religion. The question is whether any of these thoughts were religiously meant or motivated. Something like the same distinction can be made concerning Locke’s politics, about which he also thought a lot, and so we may enquire whether any of his thoughts about politics, as well as his political actions and associations, were politically motivated? I count as religiously motivated thoughts ones that are guided by a serious consideration of God, our duty to him, and our future state (these are the main ingredients of Locke’s idea of religion). Such thoughts are often accompanied by expressions of piety. Politically motivated thoughts are, on the other hand, guided by secular interests, some of them partisan or selfish, others not; for example, establishing peace, protecting property, securing offices for oneself or one’s friends, promoting policies, or aiding commerce, and in general thoughts impelled by a desire for the public welfare, institutional integrity, wealth, power, or glory.
Managing Assets for Water Sustainability

Chapter 17 describes three types of water planning: integrated water management, integrated urban water management and asset management planning. Many states in the USA now require medium and large water and wastewater systems to submit asset management plans. To aid managers of small systems in the asset management planning processes, many state agencies have published a guide to help small systems develop their own asset plans. Some states require systems to submit an asset management plan before they can participate in the state water infrastructure resolving fund. The asset management-planning program is based on the desired level of service each water system provides its ratepayers.
The relative contribution of resident pulmonary alveolar macrophage and inflammatory polymorphonuclear neutrophils in host resistance to pulmonary infection by Candida albicans.

Cortisone (CA) or cyclophosphamide (Cy) treatment of mice was used to investigate the relative contributions of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) and inflammatory neutrophils (PMN) in the initial defense against intratracheal challenge (IT) with Candida albicans. Mice treated with either CA or Cy were susceptible to IT challenge with 10–100 x less C. albicans than were untreated mice. Untreated mice rapidly eliminated C. albicans from their lungs with the majority of the organisms being cleared within three hours of challenge. Mice treated with CA initially cleared some of the C. albicans but were unable to clear all the C. albicans as did the untreated mice. Mice treated with Cy were unable to clear C. albicans from their lungs. Candida albicans did not disseminate from the lungs of untreated mice, while in both of the treated groups, C. albicans disseminated to the liver, spleen, brain and kidneys, rapidly killing the treated hosts. Analysis of the changes in cells in lung lavage fluids collected at various times after C. albicans challenge, revealed that large numbers of PMN accumulated in the lungs of both untreated and CA-treated mice, whereas PMN were virtually undetectable in lavage fluids from Cy-treated mice. Resident PAM from untreated mice were able to kill approximately 70 % of 105C. albicans in a 3 hr in vitro killing assay. By contrast, at similar effector: target ratios, resident PAM from Cy-treated mice killed only about 20% of the inoculum and resident PAM from CA-treated mice were unable to kill C. albicans. PMNs from both untreated and CA-treated mice killed approximately 70% of 105C. albicans in vitro. The data indicates that both PAM and PMN were critical to the initial clearance of C. albicans from pulmonary tissue. The accumulation of PMN in the lungs appeared to be required for the complete clearance of C. albicans from the lungs yet was not sufficient to inhibit dissemination of C. albicans from the lungs in CA-treated mice. The presence of PAM with in vitro candidacidal abilities appeared to be required for both the clearance of C. albicans and inhibition of dissemination of C. albicans from the lungs. Compromise of either PAM or PMN function can lead to increased pulmonary susceptibility to C. albicans.
Sexual negotiation skills and risky behavior on sexual partnerships, HIV knowledge, and risk perception among urban youth of color: A latent class analysis

AbstractAdolescents of color in urban communities are at high risk for contracting HIV, unlikely to have access to HIV testing services, or any other form of screening services. Using latent class ...
Temporal Seizure Emerging From a Cluster of Eyelid Myoclonia in a Teenager With Jeavon Syndrome.

Eyelid myoclonia with absences (EMA) or Jeavons Syndrome is an idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) characterized by eyelid myoclonia with or without absences, eye-closure elicited EEG paroxysms (generalized polyspikes or spike-wave-complexes) and photosensitivity1.
Short-Chain Fatty Acids Promote Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis Growth in Nutrient-Limited Environments and Influence Susceptibility to Antibiotics.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) is a common intracellular pathogen that infects immunocompromised individuals and patients with pre-existing chronic lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, who develop chronic and persistent pulmonary infections. The metabolic remodeling of MAH in response to host environmental stresses or within biofilms formed in bronchial airways plays an important role in development of the persistence phenotype contributing to the pathogen’s tolerance to antibiotic treatment. Recent studies suggest a direct relationship between bacterial metabolic state and antimicrobial susceptibility, and improved antibiotic efficacy has been associated with the enhanced metabolism in bacteria. In the current study, we tested approximately 200 exogenous carbon source-dependent metabolites and identified short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) substrates (propionic, butyric and caproic acids) that MAH can utilize in different physiological states. Selected SCFA enhanced MAH metabolic activity in planktonic and sessile states as well as in the static and established biofilms during nutrient-limited condition. The increased bacterial growth was observed in all conditions except in established biofilms. We also evaluated the influence of SCFA on MAH susceptibility to clinically used antibiotics in established biofilms and during infection of macrophages and found significant reduction in viable bacterial counts in vitro and in cultured macrophages, suggesting improved antibiotic effectiveness against persistent forms of MAH.