cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Software for Microprocessor Controlled HPLC: Peak Area Integration

Abstract Programs are described for determination of peak areas and peak retention times from the chromatographic data obtained by a dual-microprocessor data handling microcomputer (DHC). The programs provide the necessary equipment testing and calibration routines for an accurate reproduction of a recorded chromatogram, and they are written to be merged with the data acquisition programs to provide a true “real-time” integrator. The integration is performed with baseline stabilization and automatic peak splitting. These features make the integrator applicable to gradient elution chromatography, as well as for the integration of complex chromatograms with overlapping peaks. The integrated chromatogram can be displayed with the limits of integration for each peak. Results of peak area integration of simple and complex chromatograms demonstrate satisfactorily accurate and consistant results that are independent of chromatographic conditions and shape of the peaks.
Telecentric Optics for Free-Space Optical Link

We describe a telecentric optical system for free-space multichannel optical interconnects. The targeted aggregate data rate is 240 Gb/s. We have a unique implementation of telecentric optics and achieved an optical link that is simple, robust and modular. The integrity of the optical link is not significantly degraded with a >plusmn2 mm translational misalignment between the transmitter and receiver arrays. With this optical link, we need only a low bandwidth active servo mechanism to compensate for static tilt and possibly low frequency thermally-driven shift between the transmitter and receiver arrays.
Enduring trade disputes: Disguised protectionism and duration and recurrence of international trade disputes

Why do some WTO trade disputes endure and recur while others do not? States have difficulty resolving trade conflicts when they involve certain types of trade-restrictive domestic regulations. While such regulations vary in their extent of legitimacy—fulfilling non-trade domestic regulatory objectives and availability of less trade-restrictive options—complainant states cannot always distinguish legitimate barriers from illegitimate ones. In such scenarios of disguised protectionism, which I argue is most prevalent with policies involving WTO’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, disputants confront difficulties concluding their disputes. Disputes last longer and are more likely to recur. I test the argument against a data set of WTO disputes structured in an innovative manner—one that links together related and recurring disputes into single conflicts. Both an event history analysis of conflict duration and a count analysis of conflict recurrence using this data strongly support this argument.
RT-qPCR based quantitative analysis of gene expression in single bacterial cells

Recent evidence suggests that cell-to-cell difference at the gene expression level is an order of magnitude greater than previously thought even for isogenic bacterial populations. Such gene expression heterogeneity determines the fate of individual bacterial cells in populations and could also affect the ultimate fate of populations themselves. To quantify the heterogeneity and its biological significance, quantitative methods to measure gene expression in single bacterial cells are needed. In this work, we developed two SYBR Green-based RT-qPCR methods to determine gene expression directly in single bacterial cells. The first method involves a single-tube operation that can analyze one gene from each bacterial cell. The second method is featured by a two-stage protocol that consists of RNA isolation from a single bacterial cell and cDNA synthesis in the first stage, and qPCR in the second stage, which allows determination of expression level of multiple genes simultaneously for single bacterial cells of both gram-positive and negative. We applied the methods to stress-treated (i.e. low pH and high temperature) Escherichia coli populations. The reproducible results demonstrated that the method is sensitive enough not only for measuring cellular responses at the single-cell level, but also for revealing gene expression heterogeneity among the bacterial cells. Furthermore, our results showed that the two-stage method can reproducibly measure multiple highly expressed genes from a single E. coli cell, which exhibits important foundation for future development of a high throughput and lab-on-chips whole-genome RT-qPCR methodology for single bacterial cells.
Heterocyclic σ-Bonded Systems Containing Boron and Nitrogen

A new area of boron-nitrogen chemistry has developed within the last decade. The basis of this area of investigation, involving B—N—C heterocyclic systems, has been characterized through studies by Goubbau and coworkers3’ 4. In 1955 they prepared 1,3,2-diazaboraeycloalkanes illustrating that it is possible to incorporate boron and nitrogen adjacent to each other in a B—N—C ring system in which all annular atoms are σ-bonded to each other3. The primary aim of this work was to elucidate the resonance relations in cyclic aminoborane systems. However, the boron analog of indole, 2-methyl-1,3,2-benzodiazaborolidine, which was prepared in 19574, can be considered the first known heteroaromatic boron-nitrogen compound. In 1958 Dewah initiated studies of heteroaromatic compounds in which an aromatic C—C grouping is replaced by the isoelectronic B—N combination. In the following presentation, heteroaromatics will be limited to the six-membered cyclic derivatives.
Aortic root bentall graft disarticulation following repair of type a aortic dissection.

A 47-year-old man presented with chest pain and was found to have an ascending aortic dissection. He underwent aortic arch resection and replacement with a hemishield tube graft with a valve conduit, better known as the Bentall technique. Five months later he presented with shortness of breath. A transesophageal echocardiogram revealed near-complete dehiscence of the mechanical valve conduit and a periaortic root abscess. He underwent removal of the conduit and placement of a homograft aortic root and valve. One month later he developed rigors. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed worsening systolic function and a periaortic hematoma or abscess. Serial transthoracic echocardiograms revealed increasing size in the periaortic echogenic free space and subsequent evidence of flow from the left ventricle into the periaortic space. He was determined not to be a surgical candidate and discharged to hospice in fair condition. He subsequently expired. (Echocardiography 2010;27:E27-E29)
Getting to Know You: The Relational Self-Construal, Relational Cognition, and Well-Being

Individuals with a highly relational self-construal define the self in terms of their close relationships with others. Consequently, they seek to nurture and develop new relationships. These studies examine individual differences in the self-construal in the context of a new roommate relationship, with a focus on cognitive aspects of relationship development. Study 1 revealed that persons with a highly relational self-construal were better able than others to predict a new roommate's values and beliefs. Study 2 showed that highly relational individuals tended to think optimistically about a new roommate's feelings about the relationship. The relational self-construal was more strongly related to these measures of relationship cognition in distant relationships than in very close relationships. Participants' self-construals and their perceptions of the closeness of the roommate relationship interacted in predicting well-being, revealing an unexpected negative relation between closeness and well-being for participants with a low relational self-construal.
Partial Tears of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in Children and Adolescents

Background: The functional outcome after partial anterior cruciate ligament tears in children and adolescents treated without reconstruction has not been established. Hypothesis: Nonreconstructive management of partial anterior cruciate ligament tears can be effective in certain pediatric patients. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: We studied 45 skeletally mature and immature patients 17 years of age or less who had an acute hemarthrosis, magnetic resonance imaging signal changes, grade A or B Lachman and pivot shift result, and an arthroscopically documented partial anterior cruciate ligament tears. All patients were treated without reconstruction, underwent a structured rehabilitation program, and were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Results: Fourteen patients (31%) underwent subsequent reconstruction. Significant associations with subsequent reconstruction included tears that were greater than 50%, predominantly posterolateral tears, a grade B pivot shift test result, and older chronologic and skeletal age. Among patients who did not require reconstruction, those with tears that were greater than 50% or predominantly posterolateral had significantly lower Lysholm, satisfaction, and Cincinnati Knee Scale scores. Conclusions: Nonreconstructive management is recommended for partial anterior cruciate ligament tears in children and adolescents 14 years of skeletal age or younger with normal or near-normal Lachman and pivot shift results. Reconstruction is recommended in older athletes or in those with greater than 50% or predominantly posterolateral tears. © 2002 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
Outcomes of regenerative treatment with rhPDGF-BB and rhFGF-2 for periodontal intra-bony defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The aim was to evaluate the effects of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF-BB) and recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 (rhFGF-2) on treating periodontal intra-bony defects, compared to the control (carrier alone). Methods Electronic and hand searches were performed to identify eligible studies. The weighed mean differences of linear defect fill (LDF), probing depth (PD) reduction, clinical attachment level (CAL) gain and gingival recession (GR) were calculated using random effect meta-analysis. Results The searches yielded 1018 articles, of which seven studies were included. Only one included study was considered at low risk of bias. The outcomes that reached statistical significance in comparison to carriers alone included: LDF (0.95 mm, 95% CI: 0.62-1.28 mm or 20.17%, 95% CI: 11.81-28.54%) and CAL gain (0.34 mm, 95% CI: 0.03-0.65 mm) for PDGF, and LDF (21.22%, 95% CI: 5.82-36.61%) for FGF-2. Conclusions Within the limits of this review, rhPDGF-BB demonstrated significantly more LDF and CAL gain; rhFGF-2 resulted in significantly higher percentage of LDF.
WHAT'S IN A ( N EMPTY ) NAME?

: This paper defends a direct reference view of names including empty names. The theory says that empty names literally have no meaning and cannot be used to express truths. Names, including empty names, are associated with accompanying descriptions that are implicated in pragmati-cally imparted truths when empty names are used. This view is defended against several important objections having to do with differences in names, descriptions associated with the names, and considerations of modality. The view is shown to be superior to an alternative theory treating empty names as the “descriptive names” of Kripke and Evans.
High-Energy Beam Transport in the Hanford FMIT Linear Accelerator

The High-Energy Beam Transport (HEBT) for the Hanford Fusion Materials Irradiation Test (FMIT) Facility's Linear Accelerator must transport a large emittance, high-current, high-power continuous duty deuteron beam with a large energy spread. Both periodic and nonperiodic systems have been designed to transport and shape the beam as required by the liquid lithium target. An energy spreader system distributes the Bragg Peak within the lithium. A beam spreader and a beam stop have been provided for tune-up purposes. Characterizing the beam will require extensions of beam diagnostics techniques and noninterceptive sensors. Provisions are being made in the facility for suspending the transport system from overhead supports.
On the instability of salts containing the trifluoride anion

Abstract Elemental fluorine does not form a stable [N(CH3)4]+ F3− salt with solutions of N(CH3)4F in either CH3CN at −31 °C or CHF3 at −142 °C.
A method of examining the brain of the newborn.

SUMMARY The method described entails the removal for paraffin embedding of eight small blocks taken from the sites where lesions are most frequently found. The blocks include Ammon's horn, the basal nuclear complex, fronto-parietal from the boundary zone between the anterior and middle cerebral arteries, calcarine cortex, cerebellum and brain-stem. The most useful staining methods are suggested. RESUME La methode decrite necessite le prelevement, pour inclusion dans la paraffine de huit parcelles aux endroits ou les lesions sont le plus communes. Ces parcelles interessent la come d'Ammon, les noyaux gris de la base, le cortex fronto-parietal au niveau de la zone limitee par les arteres cerebrates anterieure et sylvienne, le cortex de la scissure calcarine le cervelet et le tronc cerebral. Les methodes de coloration les plus efficaces sont decrites. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Es wird eine Methode der Untersuchung des Gehirns von Neugeborenen beschrieben, wobei acht kleine Blocke entfernt und in Paraffin eingebettet werden: diese werden den Stellen entnommen, in denen Lesionen am haufigsten auftreten. Die Blocke umschliessen Ammon's Horn, den basalen ouklearen Komplex, fronto-parietal von der Grenzzone zwischen den anterioren und Mittelhirns-Arterien, den calcarinen Kortex, cerebellum und Gehirnrinde. Die vorteilhaftesten Farbemethoden werden vorgeschlagen. RESUMEN Se describe un metodo que necesita tomar ocho pequenos bloques de los sitios donde las lesiones se hallan mas frecuentemente y embeberlos en parafina. Estos bloques incluyen el cuerno de Ammon, el complejo nuclear basal, fronto-parietal del limite entre la arteria cerebral anterior y la arteria cerebral media, la corteza calcarina, el cerebelo y el tronco cerebral. Se dan detalles de los metodos mas utiles de coloracion.
A model for determining sensor confidence

The problem of determining the reliability of individual sensors in a multi-sensor robotic system in an unknown environment is addressed. The inherent difficulty in this problem is that the decision must be based solely upon the data from the sensors themselves. The authors propose the consideration of each sensor's performance over time compared to other sensors in order to determine a measure of confidence in each sensor. This allows sensors which temporarily provide erroneous data to be accommodated. A system which can determine the reliability of its sensors is more robust since it can wisely decide which sensors are most appropriate for a given task and can also determine whether sensor conflicts are the results of poorly performing sensors. >
Pharmacologic management of acute and chronic pediatric pain.

Nurses traditionally have encountered a number of clinical problems in the area of pharmacologic management of pediatric pain. Many of the problems result from inadequate information about pediatric pain as a whole while others center around the changing knowledge base of pharmacology. This article will address 1) common everyday pediatric pain problems and their solutions, 2) clinical roadblocks encountered when requesting analgesics or a change in analgesics, 3) common analgesic errors, 4) pediatric procedure pain, 5) the causes of cancer pain and the pharmacologic approaches to them, and will provide 6) a limited amount of information concerning specific analgesics. The article also briefly discusses the pharmacologic problems encountered by nurses who deal with chronic nonmalignant pain.
Nicotine effects on regional cerebral blood flow in awake, resting tobacco smokers.

The hypothesis for this research was that regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) would increase following nasal nicotine administration to overnight abstinent tobacco smokers in relationship to the known brain distribution of nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs). Nine male and nine female healthy adult smokers were studied. They abstained overnight from tobacco products for 10 or more hours prior to study the next morning. Nicotine nasal spray was given in doses of 1-2.5 mg total with half in each nostril while the subject was awake and resting in a supine position. Oleoresin of pepper solution in a similar volume was used as an active placebo to control for the irritating effects of nicotine. Both substances were given single blind to the subjects. Positron emission tomography (PET) with H(2)(15)O was used to measure rCBF. The data from each subject volunteer were normalized to global activity to better assess regional brain changes. Both nasal nicotine and pepper spray produced similar increases in CBF in somesthetic area II, consistent with the irritant effects of both substances. The mean rCBF effects of nasal pepper were subtracted from those of nasal nicotine to determine the actions of nicotine alone. The latter produced increases in rCBF in the thalamus, pons, Brodman area 17 of the visual cortex, and cerebellum. Some brain areas that contain a large number of nAChRs, such as the thalamus, showed an increase in CBF. Other areas that have few nAChRs, such as the cerebellum, also showed an increase in relative CBF. The hippocampal/parahippocampal areas showed greater regional decreases (left) and lesser increases (right) in CBF that correlated with the increase in plasma arterial nicotine concentrations. The results obtained indicate complex primary and secondary effects of nicotine in which only some regional brain CBF changes correlate with the known distribution of nAChR. No gender differences were noted.
A new strain path to inducing phase transitions in semi-crystalline polymers

Abstract A novel application of in situ neutron diffraction under applied uniaxial strain is presented; measuring the crystalline domain evolution in a semi-crystalline polymer under bulk deformation. PTFE is shown to respond to uniaxial deformation by undergoing a crystalline phase transition that is previously believed to occur only at very high hydrostatic pressure. Discovery of this phase transition under applied uniaxial strain fundamentally changes our understanding of the deformation mechanisms in semi-crystalline polymers and how they need to be modeled. Under compression parallel to the basal plane normal (i.e., parallel to the molecular axis) the modulus is ∼1000× bulk dominated by intra-polymer chain compression, providing experimental validation of theoretical predictions. Deformation parallel to the pyramidal plane normal exhibits both axial and transverse strains of the opposite sign as the applied load, suggesting that the crystalline lattice is accommodating deformation by shearing along the prismatic planes.
Educational/Psychological Intervention Research Circa 2012

The chapter focuses on the historically perceived poor methodological rigor and low scientific credibility of most educational/psychological intervention research. We begin by discussing the notion of evidence-based interventions and identifying specific methodological components needed to produce the credible evidence that is so often lacking in educational/psychological intervention research. With examples drawn from intervention studies in the literature, we then review common methodologies and procedures that have served to reinforce the negative perceptions of educational/psychological intervention research. Throughout the chapter, contrasts are made between typical educational/psychological and medical intervention-research approaches, resulting in a proposed stage model that features a randomized classroom trials stage for the former that is analogous to the randomized controlled trials stage of the latter. Critical features, issues, and distinctions associated with randomized classroom-trials intervention research are discussed, along with exemplary published studies to illustrate the importance and impact of such research. The chapter concludes with a case made for a commitment of both researchers and federal funding to enhancing the scientific credibility of future educational/psychological intervention investigations through the adoption of randomized classroom trials methodology. Keywords: educational/psychological intervention research; methodological rigor; credible evidence; randomized classroom trials
Nonlinear synchronized LC oscillators: theory and simulation

A rigorous analysis of synchronized oscillators is presented. The analyzed circuits exhibit strongly nonlinear behavior such as frequency lock and existence of multiple solutions and yet their behavior can be fully determined by large signal characteristics obtained from harmonic balance simulation. The results can be directly applied to diode and transistor oscillators and can also serve as a benchmark in testing nonlinear simulators. >
Piezo-Electric Energy Harvesting for Wireless Sensor Networks

Numerous industrial and military applications require remote sensing of various machine and equipment operating parameters in locations where traditional power sources may not be available and long periods of unattended operation are required. Quite often, however, some source of vibrating energy may be present in operation of the machine in question. Herein, a piezoelectric source is efficiently utilized to generate power for the operation of a microcontroller and radio transmitter to acquire sampled machine data. Various techniques for the efficient conversion, use, and storage of piezo-electric power are detailed and used in a general energy harvesting data transmitter design.
A simple test method for the response of materials to large bending deformations

A simple test device is described for subjecting bars to large bending deformations and simultaneously monitoring the bending moment. Examples are given of the elastic bending of a bar of a natural rubber vulcanizate and of the maximum bending moment that molded bars of polyethylene and polypropylene can withstand before the fully-plastic state is attained.
COMBINATION "SANDWICH THERAPY FOR EXTENSIVE RENAL, CALCULI IN 100 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS: IMMEDIATE, LONG-TERM AND STRATIFIED RESULTS FROM A 10-YEAR EXPERIENCE

AbstractPurpose: We determined the immediate and long-term efficacy of combination “sandwich” therapy for management of large, extensively branched calculi in 100 consecutively treated patients.Materials and Methods: We treated 61 women and 39 men for stones ranging from 2.2 to 66 cm.2 (mean 20.8) with percutaneous debulking followed by shock wave lithotripsy and, when necessary, secondary nephroscopy via the mature tract. The primary debulking was performed via 1 to 3 tracts (total 106, mean 1.06 per patient), following which 1 to 3 shock wave treatments (total 127, mean 1.3 per patient) were administered. Subsequently, 62 patients underwent 71 secondary or tertiary percutaneous procedures (mean 1.1 per patient).Results: Total hospital stay ranged from 3 to 44 nights (mean 12.2) and decreased with experience. In 34 patients 40 complications developed, the most frequent of which were bleeding requiring transfusion in 14 patients and fever or sepsis delaying a planned procedure or hospital discharge in 20 ...
25th Inventaa Sh. C K Murthy Memorial Lecture 2009: Emerging Challenges/Frontiers for a Chemical Engineer

I consider it to be a great honour to have been invited to give Sh. C. K. Murthy Memorial Lecture 2009. I see it as my task today to take a step back and take a look at how a chemical engineer has ...
Category Neutrality: A Type-Logical Investigation

Acknowledgements List of Tables List of Figures Introduction Chapter 1: Empirical Background Chapter 2: Theoretical Background Chapter 3: Neutrality and "Mixed-wh" interrogatives Chapter 4: Neutrality and Verbal Argument Alternatives Chapter 5: Neutrality and Predicative Phrases Chapter 6: Category Neutrality and Adverbial Nouns Conclusion Appendix A: Attestations of Mixed-wh interrogatives Appendix B: Questionnaire items Bibliography Index
Response from Barton Beebe

My hope is that Alan Audi's important and necessary intervention represents a turning point in “cultural property argument.” In Parts I and II of his critique, Audi expertly uses the tools of “legal semiotics” to do exactly what those tools were designed to do: demystify the language game of legal argument to reveal the “irreducibly antinomal” and dialectical nature of its maxims and countermaxims. Audi quite persuasively sets forth a disturbing vision of a discourse that functions by its nature not so much to generate meaning and normative force as to suppress them, all so that the status quo remains undisturbed. Just as the fact that the English are unlikely to give up the Elgin Marbles anytime soon “suggests a kind of idle or recreational character to cultural property argument,” so too Audi's critique. Indeed, stripped of its legal features, the field of cultural property argument does look “rather barren.”
Health benefits of plant-derived α-linolenic acid

α-Linolenic acid (ALA) is an n-3 (ω-3) fatty acid found mostly in plant foods such as flaxseed, walnuts, and vegetable oils, including canola and soybean oils. Most of the health benefits observed for n-3 fatty acids have been attributed to the marine-derived long-chain n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid, because of the strength of evidence from both epidemiologic studies and randomized controlled trials. Furthermore, the observed cardioprotective and other health effects of ALA have been credited to its precursor role in converting to EPA in the body. The promotion of fatty fish consumption for its documented health benefits may not be practical for those who are concerned with the unsustainability of marine sources or who avoid eating fish for a variety of reasons. ALA-rich plant sources are more abundant and may serve as a suitable alternate. It is therefore worthwhile to consider the evidence for the health benefits of ALA. The purpose of this review is to present the evidence from recent studies on the association between ALA and cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and fracture risk. The potential mechanisms that explain these associations will also be briefly discussed.
Sextet quarks and light pseudoscalars

Abstract Light pseudoscalar bosons are a very general consequence of the existence of higher-color representations (such as sextets) of quarks. It is shown that if the condensate | 〈 Q Q〉 | = F 3 defines a scale F⪢ΛQCD, as has been expected on the basis of perturbative and lattice calculations, then present limits on axions exclude a wide range of values of F. Such limits therefore serve as complements to direct accelerator searches for higher-color quarks.
Intermittent abdominal pressure ventilator in a regimen of noninvasive ventilatory support.

The purpose of this work is to present 640 patient-years of experience using the intermittent abdominal pressure ventilator (IAPV) in a regimen of noninvasive ventilatory support for patients with paralytic/restrictive respiratory insufficiency. Fifty-two of the 54 patients who used the IAPV used 24-hour noninvasive ventilatory support. Thirty-eight of the 52 patients could tolerate less than 15 minutes of free time off their ventilators except by the successful use of glossopharyngeal breathing (GPB). No patient, however, retained an indwelling tracheostomy and none required or used supplemental oxygen therapy. Forty-eight of the 54 patients used the IAPV for daytime support for a mean of 12.9 ± 11.5 years (3 months to 39 years) while using other forms of noninvasive support overnight. All 48 patients maintained normal minute ventilation and end-tidal PCO, on the IAPV. One patient used the IAPV only for nocturnal ventilatory support for six months. Five patients relied on the IAPV as their sole method of ventilatory support 24 hours a day for a mean of 13.4 ± 11.2 years (range, 2 to 31 years). Three of these five patients had no free time and were studied by nocturnal SaO 2 monitoring that demonstrated a mean SaO 2 of 95 percent or greater and a minimum SaO 2 of 86 percent. The maximum end-tidal PCO 2 was 49 mm Hg during sleep on the IAPV. The 48 patients receiving daytime IAPV support reported few difficulties. However, two of the five patients using the IAPV 24 hours a day had development of sacral decubiti. The IAPV became ineffective for 12 patients after 12.3 ± 9.5 years of use. These patients then switched to daytime mouth IPPV. We conclude that the IAPV is a safe and effective method of long-term daytime ventilatory support for patients with paralytic/restrictive respiratory insufficiency. Its use is optimized when employed in combination with other noninvasive methods of ventilatory support, thus eliminating the need for tracheostomy, and optimizing the use of GPB. Regular follow-up is important because the IAPV can become less effective with time. (Chest 1991; 99:630-36)
Pricing Metrics and Concepts

This note describes the more common methods of calculating Price Premiums (also known as Relative Prices). Students will explore Reservations Prices and % Good Value, the concepts that form the foundation of price-quantity schedules, as well as Price Elasticity, a frequently used index of how responsive the market is to changes in price. The note stresses that understanding demand functions and Price Elasticity is key to the calculation of optimal prices; it also discusses the familiar concept of Prisoner's Dilemma and addresses price tailoring.
New Best Practices May Miss Their Mark: Building Educational,Social and Workplace Culture in the Age of the Millennials

Sociologists began studying workplace culture as early as the 1830s. Industrial psychologists, once employed to determine the best way to deploy troops on the front lines of WWI or spark achievement among manufacturing workers, turned its eye to general differences in workplace culture when the rule-following, male-dominated Baby Boomer generation opened the factory and office doors to the diverse, independent and entrepreneurial workers of Generation X. One would predict that, lessons learned, transitions between Generation X and the next wave of workers * called Generation Y or the Millennials * would be relatively smooth. Yet while industry haltingly adjusts to a new culture of workers, other important social institutions * particularly higher education and social organizations * seem to be setting up for another culture clash. While embracing the superficial characteristics of the Millennials, like their technological savvy, key sectors are missing the fundamental forest for the virtual trees. For example, new fMRI studies indicate basic pleasure-seeking and reward feedback experiences in these two generations result from different brain chemistry. We will look at emerging best practices literature from a variety of fields, and identify how these trends both attempt to respond to, and may fail to meet the fundamental character of the next generation of students and workers.
Analytic design of laser beam shaping optics

For 2 plano-aspheric lens laser beam shaper, one obtains analytic functions for the sag of aspheric lenses, wavefront, irradiance along rays, and the caustic surfaces when transforming a Gaussian beam into a flattened Lorentzian beam.
Voices for Change in Architectural Education: Seven Facets of Transformation from the Perspectives of Faculty Women

In the face of massive cultural, technological, and economic changes, the profession of architecture, not unlike many other professions, will be forced to reconceptualize and transform itself. Architectural education, as the entry point for future generations of architects, will of necessity have to be at the forefront of such a transformation. The thesis of this article is that faculty women in architecture occupy a special position to advance this agenda for change, both in terms of the substantive scope of the field and in terms of the pedagogical principles by which it is taught. Evidence to support these arguments is drawn primarily from our in-depth interviews with a sample of more than forty faculty women, a previously unpublished study funded by the Graham Foundation. Seven specific facets of transformation are discussed with reference both to the recently released Carnegie study and to other work on the implications of global change on higher education. The seven facets of transformation are the ...
CNS demyelination and enhanced myelin-reactive responses after ipilimumab treatment

Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody that prolongs survival in patients with metastatic melanoma.1 It targets the coinhibitory receptor cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4). CTLA-4 signaling induces a state of T-cell unresponsiveness, which facilitates tumor escape from immune surveillance. Blockade of CTLA-4 is believed to shift the immune status from T-cell exhaustion to a functional antitumor response. Anti-CTLA-4 therapy is associated with immune-related adverse events in 64% of patients. Autoimmunity involving the nervous system has a low incidence and manifests predominantly as peripheral inflammatory neuropathy.2 We report new-onset inflammatory CNS demyelination in an ipilimumab-treated melanoma patient (figure), confirmed by histology and associated with enhanced responses of myelin-reactive CD4+ T cells.
Open access scheduling: Improving access to rural healthcare

Background and Purpose: Open access scheduling is a model that allows patients to choose appointments at their convenience in an effort to provide timely access to healthcare. Healthcare providers typically have overbooked schedules that make it difficult to provide access to primary care appointments for patients in need without long wait times. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement open access scheduling at a federally-qualified health center to evaluate the number of missed patient appointments and the amount of time it takes to receive an appointment. Methods: Patient appointments (N=1,333) were analyzed via the Allscripts™ electronic computer system. During project implementation, staff utilized a written protocol for open access that had been tested at a satellite office with successful results. Patients were placed in appointment slots daily as they were available. Conclusions: The highest no-show rate prior to implementation was 42%, which improved after open access to 27%. Average TNAA trended downward post-implementation from 8.9 days three-months pre-intervention to 4.3 days three-months post-implementation. This scheduling model was successful in decreasing no-show rates by allowing patients to be seen in a timely manner and can be utilized in primary care to improve access to healthcare.
Conrad and Impressionism: Radical relativism, epistemological certainty, and ethical absolutes: Conrad's impressionist response to solipsism and anarchy

“And without you I would think myself alone in an empty universe.” “Letter to Edward Garnett” As I have shown, throughout his works, Conrad investigates a variety of objects of consciousness: physical objects, human subjects, events, ideas, space, and time. With each object of consciousness, he employs impressionist techniques to show that the epistemological process is individual, and his impressionism consistently leads to human subjectivity as the common element in the appearance of these objects. This common element demonstrates a kind of unity in Conrad's works that may not initially be apparent. Not only is the epistemological experience individual, but it also forms the building block for knowledge of the nature of human existence and the external world, and since objects of consciousness are individual, knowledge is individual as well. Furthermore, the individual nature of the epistemological process also points to questions concerning western civilization of that time, and these questions lead to an uncertainty about what human beings can know. Conrad specifically emphasizes the uncertainty of knowledge in several instances. The clearest demonstration of this fact occurs when Jim claims that Marlow cannot know what he would have done had he been in Jim's place on the Patna : “You can't tell – nobody can tell” ( LJ 92). The uniqueness of the context (physical circumstances and human subjectivity) makes it impossible for others to know how they would respond to a given situation.
Correlation-based cross-layer communication in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are event based systems that rely on the collective effort of densely deployed sensor nodes continuously observing a physical phenomenon. The spatio-temporal correlation between the sensor observations and the cross-layer design advantages are significant and unique to the design of WSN. Due to the high density in the network topology, sensor observations are highly correlated in the space domain. Furthermore, the nature of the energy-radiating physical phenomenon constitutes the temporal correlation between each consecutive observation of a sensor node. This unique characteristic of WSN can be exploited through a cross-layer design of communication functionalities to improve energy efficiency of the network. In this thesis, several key elements are investigated to capture and exploit the correlation in the WSN for the realization of advanced efficient communication protocols. A theoretical framework is developed to capture the spatial and temporal correlations in WSN and to enable the development of efficient communication protocols. Based on this framework, spatial Correlation-based Collaborative Medium Access Control (CC-MAC) protocol is described, which exploits the spatial correlation in the WSN in order to achieve efficient medium access. Furthermore, the cross-layer module (XLM), which melts common protocol layer functionalities into a cross-layer module for resource-constrained sensor nodes, is developed. The cross-layer analysis of error control in WSN is then presented to enable a comprehensive comparison of error control schemes for WSN. Finally, the cross-layer packet size optimization framework is described.
Systematic method for the validation of long-term temperature measurements

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is the process of collecting and analyzing measurements of various structural and environmental parameters on a structure for the purpose of formulating conclusions on the performance and condition of the structure. Accurate long-term temperature data is critical for SHM applications as it is often used to compensate other measurements (e.g., strain), or to understand the thermal behavior of the structure. Despite the need for accurate long-term temperature data, there are currently no validation methods to ensure the accuracy of collected data. This paper researches and presents a novel method for the validation of long-term temperature measurements from any type of sensors. The method relies on modeling the dependence of temperature measurements inside a structure on the ambient temperature measurements collected from a reliable nearby weather tower. The model is then used to predict future measurements and assess whether or not future measurements conform to predictions. The paper presents both the model selection process, as well as the sensor malfunction detection process. To illustrate and validate the method, it is applied to data from a monitoring system installed on a real structure, Streicker Bridge on the Princeton University campus. Application of the method to data collected from about forty sensors over five years showed the potential of the method to categorize normal sensor function, as well as characterize sensor defect and minor drift.
Interactive eBooks in educating patients and their families about head injury regardless of age.

Abstract Objectives Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a common and debilitating injury that is particularly prevalent in patients over 60. Given the influence of head injury on dementia (and vice versa), and the increased likelihood of ground-level falls, elderly patients are vulnerable to TBI. Educational interventions can increase knowledge and influence preventative activity to decrease the likelihood of further TBI. We sought to determine the efficacy of interactive tablet-based educational interventions in elderly patients on self-reported knowledge. Patients and methods Patients and family members, ages 20–90, presenting to a NeuroTrauma clinic completed a pre-survey to assess baseline TBI or concussion knowledge, depending on their diagnosis. Participants then received an interactive electronic book (eBook), or a text-based pamphlet with identical information, and completed a post-survey to test interim knowledge improvement. Results All participants (n = 180), regardless of age, had significantly higher post-survey scores (p Conclusions We demonstrated that interactive educational interventions are effective in the elderly TBI population. Enhanced educational awareness in the elderly population, especially patients at risk or with prior TBI, may prevent further head injury by educating patients on the importance of avoiding further head injury and taking precautionary measures to decrease the likelihood of further injury.
Latin American Investigative Journalism Education: Learning Practices, Learning Gaps:

This study seeks to examine the state of investigative journalism practices used in higher education in Latin America. Using a meta-theoretical framework called the Community of Practice (CoP), thi...
American Brachytherapy Society recurrent carcinoma of the endometrium task force patterns of care and review of the literature

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this American Brachytherapy Society task force is to present a literature review and patterns of care by a panel of experts for the management of vaginal recurrence of endometrial cancer. Methods and materials In 2016, the American Brachytherapy Society Board selected a panel of experts in gynecologic brachytherapy to update our current state of knowledge for managing vaginal recurrence of endometrial cancer. Practice patterns were evaluated via an online survey and clinical updates occurred through a combination of literature review and clinical experience and/or expertise. Results There are various retrospective series of patients treated with radiation for vaginal recurrence of endometrial cancer, which include a varied group of patients, multiple treatment techniques, and a range of total doses and demonstrate a wide scope of local control and overall survival outcomes. In the era of image-guided brachytherapy, high local control rates with low significant late-term morbidities can be achieved. Lower rates of local control and higher late-term toxicity are reported in the retreatment setting. In patients with no previous history of radiation treatment, external beam radiation therapy followed by brachytherapy boost should be used. There are varying practices with regard to the definition and appropriate doses of both the high-risk clinical target volume and the intermediate-risk clinical target volume in the setting of vaginal recurrence of endometrial cancer. There are limited data to provide appropriate dose constraints for some organs at risk with the majority of guidance taken from the definitive cervical cancer literature. Conclusions A summary of literature and expert practice patterns for patient selection, dose recommendations, and constraints are provided as guidance for practitioners.
Noncoding RNAs in Glioblastoma

ABSTRACT The vast majority of the human genome is transcribed into noncoding RNAs. Among these, microRNAs (miRNA) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) are frequently deregulated in cancer, where they regulate a wide variety of functions. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and the most deadly primary human brain tumor. This chapter reviews the deregulation, functions, mechanisms of action, and clinical applications of miRNAs and lncRNAs in GBM. miRNAs are short noncoding RNAs that broadly and profoundly regulate gene expression. Numerous miRNAs are deregulated in GBM, where their expression levels can serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. miRNAs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in GBM by regulating the expression of numerous tumor-suppressive or oncogenic proteins. miRNAs regulate all GBM malignancy parameters including tumor cell proliferation, cell survival, invasion, angiogenesis, cancer stem cells, immune escape, and therapy resistance. miRNAs are also secreted in body fluids, where they can be used as biomarkers. Because of their deep involvement in GBM malignancy, efforts are under way to also exploit miRNAs as therapeutic agents or targets. lncRNAs are a diverse group of noncoding RNAs that are >200 nucleotides long. Several lncRNAs are deregulated in GBM, where their expressions can associate with clinical parameters. lncRNAs regulate GBM functions including tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, cancer stem cell differentiation, and therapy resistance. lncRNAs exert their actions via transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic mechanisms that are only partly understood. Studying noncoding RNAs is important for the understanding, management, and development of future therapies for GBM.
Reduction of carcass fat in swine with dietary addition of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate.

Swine weighing 80 to 85 kg were fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet plus a mixture of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate (3:1) (triose) or Polycose (control), a glucose polymer, as 3.85% of calories (4% of the diet). Twenty-four pigs were pair-fed the triose mixture or control diet for 28 d in litter-mate pairs of the same sex. Weight gain and feed consumption were recorded and carcasses were evaluated for fat and muscle accretion. The right rear leg and rear one-third of the right loin were skinned, deboned, ground and analyzed for protein, fat, moisture and ash content. Average backfat depth and backfat depth at the first, last and 10th rib were reduced by 12, 15, 14 and 12% (P less than .01), respectively, in triose-fed pigs. Loin eye area and untrimmed lean cuts were not altered by diet, but percentage trimmed lean cuts was higher (P less than .02) in triose-fed pigs (57.6 vs 55.3%). Leg and loin tissue samples from pigs fed the triose mixture had a lower (P less than .01) percentage of fat and a corresponding increased (P less than .01) percentage of protein. Organ weights and the blood biochemical profile were not altered by triose feeding. Liver function tests were not altered in animals consuming the trioses, except for an 18% decrease (P less than .05) in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase. Ingestion of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate will reduce body fat in limit-fed swine without reducing muscle protein deposition.