cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of single or multiple doses of intragastrically administered tribendimidine,mebendazole,albendazole,and artesunate on rats infected with Clonorchis sinensis

Objective To assess the efficacy of single or combined oral doses of tribendimidine,mebendazole,albendazole,or artesunate on Clonorchis sinensis in rats.Methods One hundred and forty rats were infected with 100 C.sinensis metacercariae and treated with experimental chemotherapy.All drugs were administered intragastrically 5 weeks after infection.Infected rats were randomly divided into drug treatment groups and untreated groups(5 to 10 rats per group).In order to observe the effects of the five drugs on juvenile C.sinensis,tribendimidine,mebendazole,albendazole,and artesunate were used in single or combined oral doses given at relatively high or low doses.All groups except the control groups were given separate doses.Rats were sacrificed 10 days after treatment.Worms were recovered from the bile ducts and the liver tissue of rats,the mean reduction in worm burden was calculated,and the mean worm burden was compared among the groups using one-way ANOVA.Results Rats infected with C.sinensis and treated with a single 75 mg/kg dose of tribendimidine,mebendazole,or albendazole had a high worm reduction of 98.04%,100%,and 86.67%,respectively,while rats treated with 30 mg/kg dose of artesunate had worm reduction of 87.25%.However,a single 50 mg/kg dose of tribendimidine,mebendazole,or albendazole resulted in slightly lower worm reduction of 78.3%,46.02%,and 31.94%,respectively,while a 20 mg/kg dose of artesunate resulted in worm reduction of 62.07%.Results showed that single doses of drugs were more effective at an increased dosage.Combined treatment of 20 mg/kg artesunate plus 50 mg/kg albendazole or 50 mg/kg mebendazole resulted in worm reduction of 89.22% and 97.55%.Combining drugs was significantly more effective than single-dose treatment with 75 mg/kg albendazole or 30mg/kg artesunate but less effective than single-dose treatment with 75 mg/kg mebendazole.Resultssuggested that combining these drugs could both allow their dosage to be reduced and make treatment more effective.Conclusion The investigation confirmed that,compared to single doses,drug combinations act synergistically at lower doses,enhancing the effectiveness of treatment of C.sinensis.Combined treatment of 50 mg/kg tribendimidine plus 50 mg/kg mebendazole or 50 mg/kg albendazole was relatively effective at treating rats infected with this parasite.
Calcium Intake of Residents in the Tea-type Fluorosis Ward in Sichan Province

Objective To understand the status of calcium intake of residents in tea-type fluorosis ward.Methods Through the cross-sectional dietary survey in typical ward,with the inquiry method and weighing combined,according to the food composition table,the calcium intake was investigated.Results The daily calcium intake of the residents from the main food is 229.68 mg,it is lower than the average daily calcium intake level(289.9 mg) of rural residents in Sichuan province;the daily calcium intake of residents in pastoral areas(244.05 mg) is higher than of agricultural areas(213.02 mg).The differences of daily calcium intake of residents between the two places(Kangding 222.68 mg,Ma'erkang 236.05 mg),and between ethnic groups(Tibetan 230.3 mg,Han 221.27 mg) were not statistically significant.Thirty percent of the calcium is from the barley.Conclusion The calcium intake of residents in tea-type fluorosis ward area is insufficient,and the dietary structure of them is irrational,in which the quality of calcium is not high.
Dynamic modeling of cable driven elongated surgical instruments for sensorless grip force estimation

Haptic feedback plays a key role in surgeries, but it is still a missing component in robotic Minimally Invasive Surgeries. This paper proposes a dynamic model-based sensorless grip force estimation method to address the haptic perception problem for commonly used elongated cable-driven surgical instruments. Cable and cable-pulley properties are studied for dynamic modeling; grip forces, along with driven motor and gripper jaw positions and velocities are jointly estimated with Unscented Kalman Filter and only motor encoder readings and motor output torques are assumed to be known. A bounding filter is used to compensate for model inaccuracy and to improve method robustness. The proposed method was validated on a 10mm gripper which is driven by a Raven-II surgical robot. The gripper was equipped with 1-dimensional force sensors which served as ground truth data. The experimental results showed that the proposed method provides sufficiently good grip force estimation, while only motor encoder and the motor torques are used as observations.
Interdisciplinary Team-Teaching Experience For A Computer And Nuclear Energy Course For Electrical And Computer Engineering Students

A new, interdisciplinary, team-taught course has been designed to educate students in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) so that they can respond to global and urgent issues concerning computer control systems in nuclear power plants. This paper discusses our experience and assessment of the interdisciplinary computer and nuclear energy course, which was developed and offered primarily to ECE students at Howard University. A unique team-teaching model utilized with ECE professors and nuclear field experts was applied to teach the two diverse subjects: computer safety and nuclear energy. The survey result from the first offering of the course showed a very positive response from the majority of the students about the team-teaching method and the knowledge acquired on the two subjects.
Community Earth System Model: Implementation, Validation, and Applications

The Community Earth System Model (CESM) is a coupling of five different models which are combined to simulate the dynamic interactions between and within the Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, land, land-ice, and sea-ice. In this work, the installation and testing of CESM on Portland State University’s Cluster for Climate Change and Aerosol Research (CsAR) is described and documented, and two research applications of the model are performed. First, the improved treatment of cloud microphysics within recent versions of CESM’s atmospheric module is applied to an examination of changes in shortwave cloud forcing (SWCF) and results are compared to output from older versions of the model. Second, the CESM model is applied to an examination of the effect that increased methane (CH4) concentrations have had on the catalytic destruction of ozone (O3) by ozone depleting compounds (ODCs) such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and nitrous oxide (N2O).
Advocating for More Student-Centered Physical Education: The Case for Need-Supportive Instruction

The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of need-supportive instruction as a practical means through which PE teachers can satisfy their students' psychological needs, leading to more self-determined student motivation in class and, ultimately, tangible benefits outside of school.
Functional assessment of MeCP2 in Rett syndrome and cancers of breast, colon, and prostate

Ever since the first report that mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) causes Rett syndrome (RTT), a severe neurological disorder in females world-wide, there has been a keen interest to gain a comprehensive understanding of this protein. While the classical model associated with MeCP2 function suggests its role in gene suppression via recruitment of co-repressor complexes and histone deacetylases to methylated CpG-sites, recent discoveries have brought to light its role in transcription activation, modulation of RNA splicing, and chromatin compaction. Various post-translational modifications (PTMs) of MeCP2 further increase its functional versatility. Involvement of MeCP2 in pathologies other than RTT, such as tumorigenesis however, remains poorly explored and understood. This review provides a survey of the literature implicating MeCP2 in breast, colon and prostate cancer.
Expression of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in normal and neoplastic cells.

Current evidence strongly supports a role forthe breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, in both normal development and carcinogenesis.Valuable clues regarding the function of these genes have been garnered through studies of theirpatterns of expression. A central feature of the in vivopattern of BRCA1 and BRCA2 expression is that each ofthese putative tumor suppressor genes is expressed at maximal levels in rapidly proliferatingcells. This feature is consistent with in vitroobservations that BRCA1 and BRCA2 are expressed in acell cycle-dependent manner. This feature is also wellillustrated during mammary gland development wherein theexpression of BRCA1 and BRCA2 is induced in rapidlyproliferating cellular compartments undergoingdifferentiation, such as terminal end buds duringpuberty and developing alveoli during pregnancy.Strikingly, the spatial and temporal patterns of BRCA1and BRCA2 expression are virtually indistinguishableduring embryonic development and in multiple adulttissues despite the fact that these genes areunrelated. These observations have contributed to theemerging hypothesis that these genes function in similarregulatory pathways.
Behavioral and hormetic effects of the butenolide insecticide, flupyradifurone, on Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri

Huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening is an economically important disease of citrus associated with the bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’. The pathogen is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. Currently, insecticide management of D. citri and removal of infected trees are the only means of decreasing HLB infections. Therefore, with continuous use of insecticides, resistance is one of the most important problems facing citrus production. Flupyradifurone is a new generation butenolide insecticide that has been shown to deter insect feeding and reduce pathogen transmission. We determined the concentration-mortality response of D. citri to flupyradifurone. We also quantified sublethal effects of flupyradifurone on D. citri feeding, settling, flight behaviors, as well as, fecundity of females. We found that after 24 and 48 h of exposure, the LC50 was 0.39 ng/μl (0.16–0.82) in a bottle bioassay and 10.43 ng/μl (2.07–55.87) in a leaf dip bioassay, respectively. D. citri that fed on citrus leaves treated with 0.001, 0.02, 0.39, 8.25 and 130.13 ng/μl solution of flupyradifurone excreted significantly less honeydew (8–83%) compared with a negative control; feeding inhibition occurred in a concentration dependent manner suggesting an antifeedant effect of flupyradifurone. There was no effect of flupyradifurone on D. citri settling behavior at 24 and 48 h after leaf treatment. However, there were significantly fewer adults on treated leaves at 72 h after treatment compared to untreated leaves. D. citri exposed to sublethal concentrations of flupyradifurone initiated flight at greater frequency than negative controls. D. citri exposed to sublethal concentrations (LC10 and LC25) of flupyradifurone laid more eggs than those treated with the negative control. Exposure to lethal and sublethal concentrations of flupyradifurone induced hormesis in D. citri with respect to fecundity. Our data indicate that flupyradifurone may be a useful tool for managing D. citri; however, unexpected sublethal effects must be considered when integrating this chemistry into management programs.
Characterization of the Dihydroorotase from Methanococcus jannaschii

The gene that codes for the putative dihydroorotase in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii was subcloned in pET-21a and expressed in Escherichia coli. A purification protocol was devised. The purity of the protein was evaluated by SDS-PAGE and the protein was confirmed by sequencing using LC–MS. The calculated molecular mass is 48104 Da. SEC-LS suggested that the protein is a monomer in solution. ICP-MS showed that there are two Zn ions per monomer. Kinetic analysis of the recombinant protein gave hyperbolic kinetics with Vmax = 12.2 µmol/min/mg and Km = 0.14 mM at 25 °C. Furthermore the activity of the protein increased with temperature consistent with the hyperthermophilic nature of the organism. A homology model was constructed using the mesophilic Bacillus anthracis protein as the template. Residues known to be critical for Zn and substrate binding were conserved. The activity of the enzyme at 85 and 90 °C was found to be relatively constant over 160 min and this correlates with the temperature of optimal growth of the organism of 85 °C. The amino acid sequences and structures of the two proteins were compared and this gave insight into some of the factors that may confer thermostability—more Lys and Ile, fewer Ala, Thr, Gln and Gly residues, and shorter N- and C-termini. Additional and better insight into the thermostabilization strategies adopted by this enzyme will be provided when its crystal structure is determined.
Positrons from primordial black hole microquasars and gamma-ray bursts

Abstract We propose several novel scenarios how capture of small sublunar-mass primordial black holes (PBHs) by compact stars, white dwarfs or neutron stars, can lead to distinct short gamma-ray bursts (sGRBs) as well as microquasars (MQs). In addition to providing new signatures, relativistic jets from these systems will accelerate positrons to high energies. We find that if PBHs constitute a sizable fraction of DM, they can significantly contribute to the excess observed in the positron flux by the Pamela, the AMS-02 and the Fermi-LAT experiments. Our proposal combines the beneficial features of astrophysical sources and dark matter.
Implementing a practice change: early initiation of continuous renal replacement therapy during neonatal extracorporeal life support standardizes care and improves short-term outcomes

We hypothesized that a standardized approach to early continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) during neonatal extracorporeal life support (ECLS) results in greater homogeneity of CRRT initiation times with improvements in fluid balance and outcomes. Retrospective analysis of data (2007–2015) obtained from neonates treated prior to (E1; n = 32) and after (E2; n = 31) a 2011 practice change: CRRT initiation within 48 h of ECLS. Birthweight, gestational age, ECLS mode, and age at ECLS initiation were similar to each epoch. Survival [E1: median 75%, E2: 71%] and length of ECLS [E1: median 221 h, E2: 180 h] were comparable. During E2, 100% of infants received CRRT (vs. E1: 37%; p < 0.001) and 97% of infants initiated CRRT within 48 h of ECLS (vs. E1: 13%; p < 0.001). Control charts demonstrate reduced practice variation. Elapsed time from ECLS to CRRT differed between Epochs [E1: median 105 h, E2: 9 h; p < 0.001] as did weight at CRRT initiation [E1: 4.13 kg (29% above baseline), E2: 3.19 kg (0%); p < 0.001]. Significant differences in weight change were noted on days 6 and 7 (E1: 14%, E2: 2%; raw data comparison yielded p < 0.05) and curves were different (p < 0.05). We successfully implemented a practice change, initiating CRRT within 48 h of ECLS cannulation, leading to decreased practice variation and improved short-term outcomes including decreased weight gain at CRRT initiation and faster return to baseline weight during the first 7 days of ECLS. We did not demonstrate changes in duration of ECLS, invasive ventilation, or survival.
High-throughput DFT calculations of formation energy, stability and oxygen vacancy formation energy of ABO 3 perovskites.

ABO3 perovskites are oxide materials that are used for a variety of applications such as solid oxide fuel cells, piezo-, ferro-electricity and water splitting. Due to their remarkable stability with respect to cation substitution, new compounds for such applications potentially await discovery. In this work, we present an exhaustive dataset of formation energies of 5,329 cubic and distorted perovskites that were calculated using first-principles density functional theory. In addition to formation energies, several additional properties such as oxidation states, band gap, oxygen vacancy formation energy, and thermodynamic stability with respect to all phases in the Open Quantum Materials Database are also made publicly available. This large dataset for this ubiquitous crystal structure type contains 395 perovskites that are predicted to be thermodynamically stable, of which many have not yet been experimentally reported, and therefore represent theoretical predictions. The dataset thus opens avenues for future use, including materials discovery in many research-active areas.
In patients with suspected acute stroke, CT perfusion-based cerebral blood flow maps cannot substitute for DWI in measuring the ischemic core.

Background Neuroimaging may guide acute stroke treatment by measuring the volume of brain tissue in the irreversibly injured "ischemic core." The most widely accepted core volume measurement technique is diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI). However, some claim that measuring regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) with CT perfusion imaging (CTP), and labeling tissue below some threshold as the core, provides equivalent estimates. We tested whether any threshold allows reliable substitution of CBF for DWI. Methods 58 patients with suspected stroke underwent DWI and CTP within six hours of symptom onset. A neuroradiologist outlined DWI lesions. In CBF maps, core pixels were defined by thresholds ranging from 0%-100% of normal, in 1% increments. Replicating prior studies, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to select thresholds that optimized sensitivity and specificity in predicting DWI-positive pixels, first using only pixels on the side of the brain where infarction was clinically suspected ("unilateral" method), then including both sides ("bilateral"). We quantified each method and threshold's accuracy in estimating DWI volumes, using sums of squared errors (SSE). For the 23 patients with follow-up studies, we assessed whether CBF-derived volumes inaccurately exceeded follow-up infarct volumes. Results The areas under the ROC curves were 0.89 (unilateral) and 0.90 (bilateral). Various metrics selected optimum CBF thresholds ranging from 29%-32%, with sensitivities of 0.79-0.81, and specificities of 0.83-0.85. However, for the unilateral and bilateral methods respectively, volume estimates derived from all CBF thresholds above 28% and 22% were less accurate than disregarding imaging and presuming every patient's core volume to be zero. The unilateral method with a 30% threshold, which recent clinical trials have employed, produced a mean core overestimation of 65 mL (range: -82-191), and exceeded follow-up volumes for 83% of patients, by up to 191 mL. Conclusion CTP-derived CBF maps cannot substitute for DWI in measuring the ischemic core.
Bias from outcome misclassification in immunization schedule safety research.

PURPOSE The Institute of Medicine recommended conducting observational studies of childhood immunization schedule safety. Such studies could be biased by outcome misclassification, leading to incorrect inferences. Using simulations, we evaluated (1) outcome positive predictive values (PPVs) as indicators of bias of an exposure-outcome association, and (2) quantitative bias analyses (QBA) for bias correction. METHODS Simulations were conducted based on proposed or ongoing Vaccine Safety Datalink studies. We simulated 4 studies of 2 exposure groups (children with no vaccines or on alternative schedules) and 2 baseline outcome levels (100 and 1000/100 000 person-years), with 3 relative risk (RR) levels (RR = 0.50, 1.00, and 2.00), across 1000 replications using probabilistic modeling. We quantified bias from non-differential and differential outcome misclassification, based on levels previously measured in database research (sensitivity > 95%; specificity > 99%). We calculated median outcome PPVs, median observed RRs, Type 1 error, and bias-corrected RRs following QBA. RESULTS We observed PPVs from 34% to 98%. With non-differential misclassification and true RR = 2.00, median bias was toward the null, with severe bias (median observed RR = 1.33) with PPV = 34% and modest bias (median observed RR = 1.83) with PPV = 83%. With differential misclassification, PPVs did not reflect median bias, and there was Type 1 error of 100% with PPV = 90%. QBA was generally effective in correcting misclassification bias. CONCLUSIONS In immunization schedule studies, outcome misclassification may be non-differential or differential to exposure. Overall outcome PPVs do not reflect the distribution of false positives by exposure and are poor indicators of bias in individual studies. Our results support QBA for immunization schedule safety research.
Assessing above- and below-ground traits of disparate peanut genotypes for determining adaptability to soil hydrologic conditions

Abstract Crop water deficit stress contributes to more global crop loss than any other abiotic or biotic stress. To help achieve greater crop production under water scarcity, much emphasis has been placed on identifying irrigation management practices and crop genotypes for improving water stress resilience in agriculture. The objectives of this research were to: (i) quantify genotypic differences between subspecies of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), hypogaea and fastigiata, in root and canopy architecture, and evaluate their relationship with pod yield; and (ii) examine the response of these above- and below-ground traits of peanut genotypes to various irrigation regimes conducted in a humid climate. Field trials were implemented in 2015 and 2016 in north central Florida. Irrigation treatments included 1.9 cm per application (100%); a primed acclimation treatment consisting of 1.1 cm of water per application until mid-bloom and then 1.9 cm of water for the remainder of the season (60%PA); 1.1 cm of water per application for the entire season (60%); and a rainfed only (RF) system. Peanut genotypes included two Valencia (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. fastigiata Waldron) market types COC 041 (PI 493631) and New Mexico Valencia C (NMVC), and two runner (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea) commercial cultivars FloRun™ ‘107′ and TUFRunner™ ‘511′. Genotypic total root length (TRL) and leaf area index (LAI) did not interact with irrigation treatments, but decreasing the total amount of irrigation over the growing season reduced LAI and pod yield, with no impact on TRL growth or distribution to 80 cm of soil depth. Genotypic effects influenced the TRL development over the growing season, and genotypes of subspecies fastigiata had greater TRL deep in the soil profile. However, all genotypes had similar amounts of root total surface area (TSA) distribution to 80 cm of soil depth. A positive relationship was observed between pod yield and maximal LAI in both study years, although this relationship was weak (R2 = 0.15) in 2016 when greater water deficit stress severity occurred during reproductive growth. A significant low coefficient of determination of 0.15 and 0.20 was observed for the negative relationship between pod yield and maximal TRL in 2015 and 2016, respectively. The lack of interaction between irrigation and genotype for pod yield demonstrates that peanut genotypes with more prolific root growth at depth may not necessarily have an advantage for increased amounts of water acquisition and utilization that are translated into yield.
Repeatability in Particulate and Gaseous Emissions from Pellet Stoves for Space Heating

The discussion of emission performance test method repeatability has been a long-standing problem. In March of 2016 the U.S. EPA released a discussion paper on processes for developing improved cordwood test methods for wood heaters. This paper discussed the need to improve repeatability of cordwood fueling protocols and emission measurements to improve confidence in certification processes; however, repeatability for pellet stoves was not addressed. In 2016 the Alliance for Green Heat held the Pellet Stove Design Challenge which was created to test, study, and assess high-efficiency, low-emission pellet stoves. During this workshop, three pellet stoves were selected for extensive testing which provided results on their repeatability to one single test method in the U.S. in terms of emission rates, emission indices, and efficiency. The goal of this study was to assess the repeatability of a single certification test method for pellet stoves and the emission data used for certification purposes. Overall, t...
Thulium fiber laser-induced vapor bubble dynamics using bare, tapered, ball, hollow steel, and muzzle brake fiber optic tips

This study characterizes laser-induced vapor bubble dynamics for five different distal fiber optic tip configurations, to provide insight into stone retropulsion commonly experienced during laser ablation of kidney stones. A thulium fiber laser with 1908-nm wavelength delivered 34-mJ energy per pulse at 500-μs pulse duration through five different fibers such as 100-μm-core / 170-μm-OD bare fiber tip, 150- to 300-μm-core tapered fiber tip, 100-μm-core / 300-μm-OD ball tip fiber, 100-μm-core / 340-μm-OD hollow steel tip fiber, and 100-μm-core / 560-μm-OD muzzle brake fiber tip. A high-speed camera with 10-μm-spatial and 9.5-μs-temporal resolution was used to image the vapor bubble dynamics. A needle hydrophone measured pressure transients in the forward (0 deg) and side (90 deg) directions while placed at a 6.8 ± 0.4 mm distance from the distal fiber tip. Maximum bubble dimensions (width/length) averaged 0.7/1.5, 1.0/1.6, 0.5/1.1, 0.8/1.9, and 0.7 / 1.5 mm, for bare, tapered, ball, hollow steel, and muzzle brake fiber tips, respectively (n = 5). The hollow steel tip exhibited the most elongated vapor bubble shape, translating into increased forward pressure in this study and consistent with higher stone retropulsion in previous reports. Relative pressures (a.u.) in (forward/side) directions averaged 1.7/1.6, 2.0/2.0, 1.4/1.2, 6.8/1.1, and 0.3/1.2, for each fiber tip (n = 5). For the hollow steel tip, forward pressure was 4 × higher than for the bare fiber. For the muzzle brake fiber tip, forward pressure was 5 × lower than the bare fiber. Bubble dimensions and pressure measurements demonstrated that the muzzle brake fiber tip reduced forward pressure by partially venting vapors through the portholes, which is consistent with the observation of lower stone retropulsion in previous reports.
Laboratory Study and Mathematical Modeling of a Novel Marsh Shoreline Protection Technology for Sand Collection

Abstract Erosion along shorelines is a major cause in the conversion of shoreline wetlands to open water bodies. Conventional shoreline protection structures are expensive to construct and may impede environmental exchanges essential for connectivity and functionality. A novel marsh shoreline protection technology, the Wave Suppressor and Sediment Collection (WSSC) system, addresses these issues. Laboratory studies were conducted on three WSSC units to determine the governing parameters of sediment collection efficiency of this technology. The three units had varying open areas and pipe sizes which enabled those parameters to be directly compared. Two types of sands with median particle diameters (d50) of 0.43 and 0.34 mm were used to evaluate the effects of particle size on the collection efficiency of the units. A new mathematical model was developed to predict the sediment collection efficiency using Van Rijn’s equation for particle fall velocity, and Ribberink and Al-Salem’s equation for sand concentration distribution in a water column. Results showed that the Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3 are capable of collecting sand at 0.30, 0.21 and 0.21 (kg/h) for sand 1, and at 0.39, 0.29, 0.39 (kg/h) for sand 2 respectively. The mathematical model fit the experimental data well and from the model, mass accumulation coefficient (α) alpha was calculated. Mass accumulation coefficients (α) for sand 1 and sand 2 were- 0.94 and 0.97 for Unit 1, 0.63 and 0.70 for Unit 2 and 0.32 and 0.22 for Unit 3 respectively. A sensitivity study of the mathematical model was also performed to determine the governing factors behind the sand collection. The sensitivity study found that water depth, wave height and particle diameter affected the sand collection efficiency the most. The amount of open area on the units, frequency and wavelength were also found to have some effect on collection efficiency.
CC-MOSFET Structure

The power MOSFET structures discussed in the previous chapters utilize a one-dimensional junction for supporting the drain voltage when operating in the blocking mode. As discussed and derived in Chap. 1, the smallest specific on-resistance that can be achieved in these devices is limited to the ideal specific on-resistance, which is given by: $$ {{\hbox{R}}_{{\mbox{on - ideal}}}}{\;=\;}\frac{{{{\rm 4B}}{{{\rm V}}^2}}}{{{{\varepsilon}_{{\rm S}}}{{\mu}_{{\rm n}}}{\hbox{E}}_{{\rm C}}^3}} $$ (5.1) A significantly smaller specific on-resistance can be achieved by utilizing a two-dimensional charge coupling effect that alters the electric field distribution from the triangular shape in a one-dimensional case to a rectangular shape for the two-dimensional case.
Mechanisms of tumor escape from the immune system: Adenosine-producing Treg, exosomes and tumor-associated TLRs

Human tumors utilize many different mechanisms of immunosuppression to prevent immune cells from exercising their antitumor activities. These mechanisms, which enable the tumor to escape from the host immune system and to progress, are being intensively investigated in hope of finding therapeutically safe and effective inhibitors able to counteract tumor-induced immunosuppression. Three of more recently discovered tumor-related suppression mechanisms, i.e. accumulations of adenosine-producing regulatory T-cells (Treg) in the tumor microenvironment, release by tumors of suppressive microvesicles (TMV) and expression of toll-like receptors (TLR) on the tumor cell surface, are described in this review. All contribute in a varying degree to creating a milieu favorable for the tumor and unfavorable for immune effector cells. Tumor escape has been a major problem in cancer immunotherapy and it has been held responsible for the failure of many immune interventions in cancer. For this reason, it is important to study and understand the various suppressive pathways human tumors utilize. Future antitumor immunotherapies are likely to include inhibitors of tumor-induced suppression with the goal of restoring antitumor immune responses in patients with cancer.
Mortality Patterns, Sex Ratios, and Parental Investment in Monogamous Birds

A subject of great interest to students of animal mating systems over the past 15 years has been parental investment, a concept that includes parental care and the cost of gametes. Parental care in birds (and other animals) had been studied for many years prior to Trivers’s (1972) seminal paper, but Trivers’s contribution was of major importance because he placed parental care in a theoretical framework. Specifically, he attempted to link parental care to mortality patterns and sex ratios, and thereby account for the varying strength of sexual selection in a diversity of mating systems. Parental investment (PI) is defined as “any investment by the parent in an individual offspring that increases the offspring’s chance of surviving (and hence reproductive success) at the cost of the parent’s ability to invest in other offspring” (Trivers, 1972). This definition has been modified to apply to clutches or broods of offspring (Wittenberger, 1981).
Blastic variant of hairy-cell leukemia

Three patients with hairy-cell leukemia presented with an unusual combination of clinical and cytologic features. Clinical manifestations included constitutional symptoms, progressive left upper abdomen discomfort, and lymphadenopathy. All three had pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspirate was hypercellular, with extensive replacement by abnormal blastic mononuclear cells with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio. Round, oval, or indented nuclei, with reticular chromatin and prominent nucleoli, and basophilic cytoplasm, with abundant large azurophilic granules, were noted. The bone marrow biopsy specimen showed diffuse involvement in two patients and patchy involvement in one, with absence of fibrosis. The abnormal cells were intensely positive by tartrateresistant acid phosphatase stain. All of the patients responded well initially to splenectomy. One, who presented with multiple chromosomal abnormalities, had a relatively short survival. The other two are alive. One started therapy with chlorambucil 21 months after operation, and the other presented in a hyperleu-kocytotic phase five years after operation and responded dramatically to 2′-deoxycoformycin.
Off-Grid Wind and Hydro Power Systems

This chapter continues our discussion on energy conversion technologies. The on-going cost and difficulty in maintaining a reliable supply of fossil or biomass fuel make gen sets impractical for some off-grid applications. Wind turbines, hydro turbines, and photovoltaic arrays have no fuel costs. Instead, they make use of locally available and replenishable energy sources. This chapter describes the principle of operation, modeling, analysis, and practical considerations of wind energy conversion systems and micro hydro power systems. Particular attention is given to the use of wind energy conversion systems for battery charging. The design and analysis of Pelton turbines are discussed.
A linear mixed model framework for gene-based gene–environment interaction tests in twin studies

Interaction between genes and environments (G×E) can be well investigated in families due to the shared genes and environment among family members. However, the majority of the current tests of G×E interaction between a set of variants and an environment are only suitable for studies with unrelated subjects. In this paper, we extend several G×E interaction tests to a linear mixed model framework to study interaction between a set of correlated environments and a candidate gene in families. The correlated environments can either be modeled separately or jointly in one model. We demonstrate theoretically that the tests developed by modeling correlated environments separately are valid and present a computationally fast alternative to detect G×E interaction in families. For either strategy, we propose treating the genetic main effects as a random effect to reduce the number of main-effect parameters and thus improve the power to detect interactions. Additionally, we propose a generalization of a test of interaction that adaptively sums the interactions using a sequential algorithm. This generalized set of tests, referred to as the sequential algorithm for the sum of powered score (Seq-SPU) family of tests, can be expressed as a weighted version of the SPU. We find that the adaptive version of our test, Seq-aSPU, can outperform aSPU in cases where the interactions effects are in opposite directions. We applied these methods to the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research data set and found one significant gene in interaction with four psychosocial environmental factors affecting the alcohol consumption among the twins.
Examining the Needs and Experiences of Domestic Violence Survivors in Transitional Housing

Transitional Housing (TH) programs were developed for domestic violence (DV) survivors in order to provide the time, financial assistance, and supports needed for survivors to achieve long-term safety and housing stability. Previous research indicates TH may be effective for homeless families, but there is a paucity of evidence related to DV survivors’ need for or use of TH. TH is an expensive housing intervention that is space limited and requires survivors to relocate at program end. It is therefore imperative to understand who is best suited for, interested in, and helped by DVTH. Thirty current survivors in a DVTH program were interviewed in order to elucidate the benefits and drawbacks of DVTH. The interviews were semi-structured, and both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Survivors in severe danger from their abusive partners and ex-partners, those with greater psychosocial needs, and immigrant survivors identified aspects unique to DVTH (e.g., high-level security, intensive services) as being critical to their safety and well-being. A small number of survivors would have chosen a less intensive and structured housing option, such as Rapid Re-housing (RR), that would have allowed them to remain in their housing after assistance ended, had such an option been available. DVTH appears to be an important option for some DV survivors, but more housing options are needed across communities to meet survivors’ myriad needs.
The Most Perfect Knight’s Countess: Isabella de Clare, Her Daughters, and Women’s Exercise of Power and Influence, 1190–ca. 1250

Isabella de Clare, the wife of William le Marshal—and the heiress through whom he acquired his wealth, titles, and influence—has been far less studied than her famous husband. The same is true of their daughters. The careers of Countess Isabella and three of her five daughters who are the focus of this article—Maud Bigod Warenne, Isabelle de Clare Plantagenet, and Eva de Braose—demonstrate that they were political actors in their own right. These women were strategic in their political activities, associating themselves and their marital kin with their own siblings rather than becoming subsumed under their husbands’ political shadows. This pattern of kinship-based political activity within the larger Marshal kinship became the standard mode of action for successive generations.
Emotional understanding predicts facial recognition in 3-to 5-year-old children

ABSTRACTTo investigate 3- to 5-year-old children’s difficulty with facial recognition across a change in facial expression, children were assessed for emotional understanding and facial recognition...
The Effect of Voids and Inclusions on Wave Propagation in Granular Materials

Theoretical and experimental studies have been conducted on the dynamic response of granular materials containing local discontinuities of voids and inhomogeneous inclusions. The granular medium was simulated by a specific assembly of circular disks which were subjected to explosive loadings of short duration. Voids were created by removing particular disks from the assembly, while inclusions were constructed by replacing certain disks with those of a higher impedance material. The computational simulation was accomplished through the use of the distinct element method in which the intergranular contact forces and displacements of the assembly disks are determined through a series of calculations tracing the movements of each of the individual disks. The experimental study employed the use of photoelasticity in conjunction with high-speed photography to collect photographic data of the propagation of waves in transparent assemblies of model granular media. Comparisons were made between the computational results and the experimental data for the local intergranular contact forces around each void or inclusion. Both voids and inclusions produce local wave scattering through various reflection mechanisms, and the results seem to indicate that the inclusions produced higher local wave attenuation.
Models of Pediatric Palliative Oncology Outpatient Care—Benefits, Challenges, and Opportunities

PURPOSE:Although the bulk of current pediatric palliative care (PPC) services are concentrated in inpatient settings, the vast majority of clinical care, symptom assessment and management, decision...
Preliminary Investigation of Short-Baseline Stereo Cameras for Motion Detection and Alignment of Pre-existing Attenuation Maps for AdaptiSPECT-C

AdaptiSPECT-C, a multi-pinhole, multi-detector, and stationary brain SPECT imaging system is being developed by the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the University of Arizona. During AdaptiSPECT-C acquisitions, the patient’s head will be positioned entirely inside a hemi-spherical collimator assembly. A popular method to mitigate head motion during the protracted acquisitions is to use external cameras for tracking the motion of the head throughout the acquisition. This motion estimate is then used during SPECT reconstruction to compensate for the motion. Unfortunately, the close proximity of the bore to the patient will occlude the motion tracking camera’s view of the patient from outside the bore, thereby posing a significant challenge to using such methods. Therefore, we propose to use small-baseline stereo depth-sensing cameras placed inside the AdaptiSPECT-C bore, to track patient’s head motion. In this study, using an imaging phantom, we measure the manually generated phantom motion at a distance of about 15 cm from small baseline stereo depth sensing cameras. The motion is measured simultaneously with Optitrack motion tracking system, a commercially available marker based motion tracking system to provide a reference ground truth. Finally, we showed that at close range, we can utilize the 3D surface estimates generated by the small baseline stereo depth sensing cameras, for aligning a preexisting CT to the patient’s SPECT acquisition in order to provide attenuation correction during SPECT reconstruction. Future work will include reconstruction simulations that incorporate motion correction based on actual motion data from the tested cameras as well as providing CT alignment for CT-based attenuation correction.
The effect of exposure to media campaign messages on adult cessation.

Abstract Introduction Numerous studies have examined the relationship between antitobacco mass-media campaigns and quit attempts. However, less is known about the effect of these campaigns on relapse. This paper evaluates the effect of media exposure on smokers' quit attempts and relapse. Methods We used data from the Florida Adult Cohort Survey, a telephone follow-up survey of adult smokers and recent quitters, who completed the Florida Adult Tobacco Survey. For this study, 1823 unique smokers and recent quitters from baseline first observed between July 2008 and October 2012 were surveyed through up to seven follow-up interviews between October 2009 and October 2013. Media exposure during this period primarily represents exposure to Florida's Tobacco Free Florida (TFF) campaign, although it also includes exposure to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Tips From Former Smokers media campaign in 2012–2013. A multiple-spell discrete-time survival model was estimated using logistic regression. Each spell represents a quit attempt or relapse event. Results The odds of the first observed quit attempt are higher at higher levels of target rating points (TRPs) (aOR = 1.02, p = 0.023). The odds ratio for relapse and second quit and second relapse was not statistically significant. Conclusions The results suggest that exposure to media campaign messages in Florida has led to increases in quit attempts. Although the estimates were not statistically significant for relapse or the second spell of quit attempts or relapse, the results suggest that media messages might also influence subsequent quit attempts or relapses after an initial quit attempt.
Gender Differences in Stress of Community College Students

Stress experienced by community college students is increasing and can jeopardize health and performance. Sources of stress felt by students are not well understood because they typically confide i...
Management of Rheumatic Immune-Related Adverse Events (irAEs): General Principles

No evidence-based guidelines exist for the management of rheumatic irAEs. The goal of management is to control irAEs while preserving the drug’s antitumor immune response. Glucocorticoids are the first-line agent, but they should be used with caution and limited in both dose and duration if possible. Early referral to rheumatology is the key to addressing the issues in these complex patients. More human trials using DMARDs and biologic treatments are necessary.
“I learned that sports teaches rape culture”: Assessing Sexual Violence Prevention Education for Intercollegiate Athletes

In fall 2018, 81 intercollegiate athletes participated in Fair Play: Sexual Violence Prevention for Athletes. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the Fair Play curriculum and facilitation, specifically learning if athletes’ attitudes toward women and/or rape myth acceptance changed as a result of their participation in Fair Play. Athletes completed pre- and post-test surveys to measure perceptions of sexual assault/rape myth acceptance (Gerger, Kley, Bohner, & Siebler, 2007) and gender roles (Spence, Helmreich, & Stapp, 1973). In addition, 20 athletes participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews to further explain their knowledge of sexual violence after completing Fair Play. Survey results showed significant differences for pre- and post-test scores on rape myth acceptance, but not for attitudes toward women. Interview results showed that Fair Play participants could articulate a raised awareness of sexual violence, appropriately define sexual violence and consent, and a rejection of rape myths. Implications include further understanding of effective rape prevention education.
Primary care practices' ability to predict future risk of expenditures and hospitalization using risk stratification and segmentation.

Patients with complex health care needs may suffer adverse outcomes from fragmented and delayed care, reducing well-being and increasing health care costs. Health reform efforts, especially those in primary care, attempt to mitigate risk of adverse outcomes by better targeting resources to those most in need. However, predicting who is susceptible to adverse outcomes, such as unplanned hospitalizations, ED visits, or other potentially avoidable expenditures, can be difficult, and providing intensive levels of resources to all patients is neither wanted nor efficient. Our objective was to understand if primary care teams can predict patient risk better than standard risk scores. Six primary care practices risk stratified their entire patient population over a 2-year period, and worked to mitigate risk for those at high risk through care management and coordination. Individual patient risk scores created by the practices were collected and compared to a common risk score (Hierarchical Condition Categories) in their ability to predict future expenditures, ED visits, and hospitalizations. Accuracy of predictions, sensitivity, positive predictive values (PPV), and c-statistics were calculated for each risk scoring type. Analyses were stratified by whether the practice used intuition alone, an algorithm alone, or adjudicated an algorithmic risk score. In all, 40,342 patients were risk stratified. Practice scores had 38.6% agreement with HCC scores on identification of high-risk patients. For the 3,381 patients with reliable outcomes data, accuracy was high (0.71–0.88) but sensitivity and PPV were low (0.16–0.40). Practice-created scores had 0.02–0.14 lower sensitivity, specificity and PPV compared to HCC in prediction of outcomes. Practices using adjudication had, on average, .16 higher sensitivity. Practices using simple risk stratification techniques had slightly worse accuracy in predicting common outcomes than HCC, but adjudication improved prediction.