cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility of cine displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance for measuring left ventricular strains, torsion, and synchrony in mice

Advanced measures of cardiac function are increasingly important to clinical assessment due to their superior diagnostic and predictive capabilities. Cine DENSE cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is ideal for quantifying advanced measures of cardiac function based on its high spatial resolution and streamlined post-processing. While many studies have utilized cine DENSE in both humans and small-animal models, the inter-test and inter-observer reproducibility for quantification of advanced cardiac function in mice has not been evaluated. This represents a critical knowledge gap for both understanding the capabilities of this technique and for the design of future experiments. We hypothesized that cine DENSE CMR would show excellent inter-test and inter-observer reproducibility for advanced measures of left ventricular (LV) function in mice. Five normal mice (C57BL/6) and four mice with depressed cardiac function (diet-induced obesity) were imaged twice, two days apart, on a 7T ClinScan MR system. Images were acquired with 15–20 frames per cardiac cycle in three short-axis (basal, mid, apical) and two long-axis orientations (4-chamber and 2-chamber). LV strain, twist, torsion, and measures of synchrony were quantified. Images from both days were analyzed by one observer to quantify inter-test reproducibility, while inter-observer reproducibility was assessed by a second observer’s analysis of day-1 images. The coefficient of variation (CoV) was used to quantify reproducibility. LV strains and torsion were highly reproducible on both inter-observer and inter-test bases with CoVs ≤ 15%, and inter-observer reproducibility was generally better than inter-test reproducibility. However, end-systolic twist angles showed much higher variance, likely due to the sensitivity of slice location within the sharp longitudinal gradient in twist angle. Measures of synchrony including the circumferential (CURE) and radial (RURE) uniformity of strain indices, showed excellent reproducibility with CoVs of 1% and 3%, respectively. Finally, peak measures (e.g., strains) were generally more reproducible than the corresponding rates of change (e.g., strain rate). Cine DENSE CMR is a highly reproducible technique for quantification of advanced measures of left ventricular cardiac function in mice including strains, torsion and measures of synchrony. However, myocardial twist angles are not reproducible and future studies should instead report torsion.
Itinerant Teachers of Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing: Practices and Preparation

Increasing numbers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing are receiving their education in general education settings with special education support from an itinerant teacher. However, previous research indicates that the majority of teacher preparation programs do not provide training on the itinerant teaching model or set up field experiences for preservice teachers as an itinerant teacher. The purpose of this study was to survey a national sample of itinerant teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing to learn about their practices, preparation, perceptions, and the students they serve. Results, recommendations, and suggestions for future research are provided.
Antral follicle count in clinical practice: analyzing clinical relevance

Objective To determine the clinical relevance of obtaining antral follicle counts (AFC) before ovarian stimulation in an IVF program. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting An IVF program in a large academic teaching hospital. Patient(s) A total of 1,049 stimulated IVF cycles in 734 subjects between September 2003 and December 2007 selected from our program's database. Intervention(s) Basal antral follicles (AFCs) (3 mm–10 mm) were counted via ultrasound scan on cycle day 3 in luteal leuprolide acetate stimulations, or after at least 2 weeks of oral contraceptives in microdose leuprolide acetate stimulations. Patients were grouped according to basal AFC, and outcome parameters compared for AFC groups within each stimulation protocol. Main Outcome Measure(s) Oocytes retrieved, ovarian response, implantation rate, cancellations, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live births per cycle start. Result(s) Antral follicle count grouping is predictive of threefold change in ovarian response to gonadotropins and oocytes retrieved. Low AFC did predict a higher cancellation rate. Antral follicle count did not predict implantation rate, pregnancy rate, or live birth rate per cycle start. Conclusion(s) Antral follicle count may be helpful in determining stimulation protocol, as it is the most reliable determinant of oocytes retrieved per starting FSH dose. Antral follicle count predicts ovarian response, not embryo quality or pregnancy.
2.5-Gb/s error-free wavelength conversion using a monolithically integrated widely tunable SGDBR-SOA-MZ transmitter and integrated photodetector

Error-free operation at 2.5 Gb/s was demonstrated for the first monolithically integrated widely tunable photocurrent-driven Mach-Zehnder based wavelength converter. Power penalties of 1-2 dB were measured across the 37-nm wavelength range of the sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector.
Low energy motion estimation via selective aproximations

This paper presents a novel sum of absolute difference (SAD) scheme that significantly reduces the energy consumption of the motion estimation kernel in video coders. The proposed scheme exploits the facts that most of the absolute difference (AD) calculations result in small values, and most of the large AD values do not contribute to the SAD values of the blocks that are selected. Thus the large AD values can be approximated, resulting in lower critical path delay and lower energy consumption of the SAD unit. In addition, the proposed scheme truncates one lower order bit and variants of this scheme implement sub-sampling to further reduce the energy consumption. Performance of the proposed technique is evaluated using the H.264 video encoding framework. Simulation results show 37.5% reduction in energy consumption at nominal voltage and 68% energy reduction for iso-throughput compared to the conventional implementation with only 0.06% drop in PSNR and 1.8% increase in compressed data rate. With an additional ½ sub-sampling, the proposed scheme achieves 90% reduction in energy consumption with 0.6% reduction in PSNR and 6.5% increase in compressed data rate.
Effects of membrane undulations on contact time in cell adhesion

A micropipette-aspirated, ligand-coated red blood cell is a commonly used picoforce transducer for measuring its adhesion to a receptor-expressing cell mediated by as low as a single bond. Despite the fact that the two cells are put into contact by a precisely-controlled piezoelectric translator, the effective contact time is limited by the thermally excited membrane undulations. Using analytical solutions and numerical simulations, we showed that the undulation amplitude follows a normal distribution, with a variance equal to the ratio of the thermal energy k/sub B/T (where k/sub B/ is the Boltzmann constant and T is the absolute temperature) and the spring constant of the force transducer.
An Integrated Modeling Paradigm of Circuit Reliability for 65nm CMOS Technology

The de facto modeling method to analyze channel-hot-carrier (CHC) is based on substrate current (Isub), which becomes increasingly problematic with technology scaling as various leakage components dominate Isub. In this work, we present a unified approach that directly predicts the change of key transistor parameters under various process and design conditions, for both negative-bias-temperature-instability (NBTI) and CHC degradation. Using the general reaction-diffusion model and the concept of surface potential, the proposed method continuously captures the performance degradation across subthreshold and strong inversion regions. Models are comprehensively verified with an industrial 65 nm technology. We benchmark the prediction of circuit performance degradation with measured ring oscillator data and simulations of an amplifier.
Offline programming and simulation help Boeing use giant automated riveter on C‐17 aircraft

Describes the extensive use of simulation while planning the programming of a very large robot riveter. The riveter is used to assemble the skin panels and fuselage frames of the Boeing C‐17 Globemaster III aircraft.
Mucus bezoar with partial gastric obstruction.

Summary A case report of partial gastric obstruction caused by antral polyposis is presented. Serial gastroscopic examinations established the diagnosis of obstruction with mucus bezoar formation.
USING GENETIC ALGORITHMS FOR CREDIT SCORING SYSTEM M AINTENANCE FUNCTIONS

Due to recent advances in high-speed computing technology sophisticated tools for prediction have been introduced which include genetic algorithms. Geneticalgorithms operate with the objective of replicating the manner in which genes are passed from one generation to the next. The surviving genes cr eate models that form the most durable and effective offspring. Due to a high -level of understanding of the domain it is has proved to be very difficult for advanced techniquesincluding genetic algorithms to outperform traditional techniques of credit scoring such as logistic and least squares regression. However, in large organizations it is difficult to continuously update complex scoring systems. This paper explores the use of genetic algorithms to automate and institutionalize the scor ing maintenance function within an organization.
Systematic construction of Lyapunov functions for nonlinear systems in critical cases

In this paper the local stability and stabilizability of fairly general classes of smooth nonlinear systems are analyzed using normal form methods. A brief comparison is made between normal form and center manifold methods. A new procedure for constructing a Lyapunov function for a locally asymptotically stable nonlinear system is presented. These ideas are also used for finding a smooth locally stabilizing state feedback for a nonlinear control system.
Pulmonary hypertension and trisomy 16

An infant girl, born small for gestational age, with abnormal single creases on the fifth digits, subsequent severe developmental delay, hypertelorism, bilateral equinovalgus deformities, grade IV genitourinary reflux and mild right hydronephrosis, was found to have an inverted duplication of the short arm of chromosome 16 [46,XX; inv dup (16) (p 13.3-->p 11.2]. The cardiac anomalies included a large perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) and a moderate-sized atrial septal defect (ASD). Cardiac catheterization at 6 months of age revealed systemic level pulmonary artery pressure, bilateral pulmonary venous desaturation, and in room air a pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) of 0.8:1.0, which did not change significantly with administration of oxygen and nitric oxide. To our knowledge, this is the first description of early nonreactive pulmonary vascular disease in a patient with duplication 16p and a large VSD.
Verification of AIRS boresight accuracy using coastline detection

The longitude and latitude of the centroids of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) infrared spectrometer footprints are calculated by the Level 1a calibration software based on transformations of scan angles, instrument alignment angles relative to the Earth Observing System Aqua spacecraft, and the spacecraft ephemeris. The detection of coastline crossings is used to determine the accuracy of these coordinates. Tests using simulated AIRS data derived from real Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra satellite 10-/spl mu/m window data indicate that an accuracy of 1.7 km is easily achievable with modest amounts of data, such as should be available from AIRS by launch +90 days. This accuracy is a small fraction of the 13.5-km AIRS footprint and is consistent with the accuracy required by the Level 2 software. Preliminary results from actual AIRS data indicate that the algorithm works as predicted. For combined use of the AIRS 13.5-km footprints with MODIS 1-km footprints, accuracy of the order of 0.5 km is desirable. This accuracy may be achievable with several months of data, but depends on the accuracy of the reference map and whether a sufficient number of large clear homogeneous surface scenes can be found.
The Rapid Production of Antisera to ACTH, Angiotensin II and Deoxycorticosterone with Sufficient Sensitivity for Use in Radioimmunoassays

ABSTRACT Groups of rabbits (6 animals per group) were injected at multiple intradermal sites with human gamma globulin conjugates of ACTH, deoxycorticosterone, angiotensin II or angiotensin I. The immunizing dose was 1 mg of conjugate per animal. One month following immunization antisera to the appropriate hapten was detectable in all the animals receiving the ACTH conjugate and the steroid conjugate, and in 5 of those receiving the angiotensin II conjugate. The animals receiving the angiotensin I conjugate did not respond. Sera obtained 2 months following primary immunizations showed titers were decreasing in all the animals except those receiving ACTH. One week following a booster injection titers had significantly increased in all animals. The sensitivity of selected antisera obtained 1 week following the booster injection was such that the antisera could be used to measure ACTH, deoxycorticosterone, and angiotensin II in the low pg/ml range of concentration.
Validation and application of a perceptual difference model for keyhole MR imaging

To optimize the many parameters in keyhole MR imaging, we validated and applied a human visual system (HVS) perceptual difference model (PDM) to simulated keyhole images. A series of full k-space images were acquired during the insertion of a needle into ex vivo bovine liver. Human observers rated the quality of images, and we compared ratings with the PDM output to validate and calibrate the model. In a second experiment, eight keyhole sequences were evaluated by the HVS PDM. A linear relationship with R/sup 2/=99.68% was found by regressing the model output versus human observer ratings. According to the perceptual model, the quality of the entire image is preserved most favorably with a stripe parallel to the direction of insertion. For a region of interest around the needle, a perpendicular stripe resulted in the lowest level of image error. Examination of rotating stripes of k-space show that a step of 45 degrees gives better image quality. Initial experience indicates that the HVS model is an objective, promising tool for the automated evaluation and optimization of keyhole imaging sequences.
Managing Software Engineering Projects: A Social Analysis

Managing software engineering projects requires an ability to comprehend and balance the technological, economic, and social bases through which large software systems are developed. It requires people who can formulate strategies for developing systems in the presence of ill-defined requirements, new computing technologies, and recurring dilemmas with existing computing arrangements. This necessarily assumes skill in acquiring adequate computing resources, controlling projects, coordinating development schedules, and employing and directing competent staff. It also requires people who can organize the process for developing and evolving software products with locally available resources. Managing software engineering projects is as much a job of social interaction as it is one of technical direction. This paper examines the social arrangements that a software manager must deal with in developing and using new computing systems, evaluating the appropriateness of software engineering tools or techniques, directing the evolution of a system through its life cycle, organizing and staffing software engineering projects, and assessing the distributed costs and benefits of local software engineering practices. Ths purpose is to underscore the role of social analysis of software engineering practices as a cornerstone in understanding what it takes to productively manage software projects.
The Join and Extension Operations in Euclidean Geometry

This chapter is intended to prepare the reader for the formal development of the theory of join operations which will begin in Chapter 2. It is devoted to the study, in concrete terms, of geometric operations which are suggested by two familiar ideas in Euclidean geometry: (1) Joining two points to form a segment (Figure 1.1). (2) Extending or prolonging a segment endlessly beyond one of its endpoints (Figure 1.2).
Structure and Function of Nopp140 and Treacle

Determining how individual nucleolar proteins regulate preribosomal RNA transcription, its processing (cleavage and chemical modifications) and association with ribosomal proteins in the assembly of small and large ribosomal subunits, and the final egress of these subunits to the cytoplasm remains a critical endeavor as we explore the primal cell function of ribosome biogenesis. Here, we review two proteins, nucleolar phosphoprotein of 140 kDa (Nopp140) and treacle, which share structural and functional similarities. We present Nopp140 first because of its earlier discovery and because Nopp140 is conserved throughout the eukaryotes. Conversely, treacle appears to be restricted to the vertebrates; thus, vertebrates express both Nopp140 and treacle. We describe what is currently known about their domain composition, their molecular associations, and how these associations suggest functions as chaperones for small nucleolar RNPs in pre-rRNA processing and as potential transcription factors for RNA polymerase I. We also describe cell stress responses (apoptosis) that result from the loss of these proteins in progenitor cells, thus leading to developmental abnormalities. This review is intended to spark new and imaginative research approaches toward investigating not only Nopp140 and treacle, but also the many other nucleolar proteins that facilitate ribosome biogenesis.
Source of service and visit rate for family planning services: United States, 1982.

During the last 2 decades fertility control among married couples has improved dramatically as a result of a shift toward more effective contraceptive methods (female orals sterilization IUDs) which nevertheless require at least 1 clinic visit. Increased exposure of unmarried women to pregnancy risks and a growing consciousness of some negative health effects of unplanned pregnancy stimulated the formation of government subsidized family planning services chiefly set up to serve low-income women and adolescents. A brief review of literature on provider choice and visit rate is provided. This study details some results of the National Survey of Family Growth on the factors that affect how women choose their source of family planning care and how often they go for such care. The survey was based on a national sample of women 15-44 years old interviewed in 1982 4318 of whom had family planning visits in the last 3 years. Previous research had been based on small nonrepresentative samples limited to adolescents or involved no multivariate analysis. When other variables were controlled race income and insurance coverage had important effects on provider choice. Black women were more likely to use a clinic on their 1st visit than white (72% compared with 45%). Marital status was important for white but not for black women. Contraceptive method insurance coverage and race were important determinants of the frequency of family planning visits. Women using methods such as female oral contraceptives requiring frequent monitoring made more visits. Women whose last visit was covered by insurance made more visits to private physicians. It is suggested that relative costs or ability to pay confidentiality knowledge of alternative sources and convenience of location affect provider choice and visit rates.
Oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines as Covalent L858R/T790M Mutant Selective Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitors.

In nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the threonine790–methionine790 (T790M) point mutation of EGFR kinase is one of the leading causes of acquired resistance to the first generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as gefitinib and erlotinib. Herein, we describe the optimization of a series of 7-oxopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidinyl-derived irreversible inhibitors of EGFR kinase. This led to the discovery of compound 24 which potently inhibits gefitinib-resistant EGFRL858R,T790M with 100-fold selectivity over wild-type EGFR. Compound 24 displays strong antiproliferative activity against the H1975 nonsmall cell lung cancer cell line, the first line mutant HCC827 cell line, and promising antitumor activity in an EGFRL858R,T790M driven H1975 xenograft model sparing the side effects associated with the inhibition of wild-type EGFR.
Stereochemical Course of the Reaction Catalyzed by RimO, a Radical SAM Methylthiotransferase

RimO is a member of the growing radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) superfamily of enzymes, which use a reduced [4Fe–4S] cluster to effect reductive cleavage of the 5′ C–S bond of SAM to form a 5′-deoxyadenosyl 5′-radical (5′-dA•) intermediate. RimO uses this potent oxidant to catalyze the attachment of a methylthio group (−SCH3) to C3 of aspartate 89 of protein S12, one of 21 proteins that compose the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome. However, the exact mechanism by which this transformation takes place has remained elusive. Herein, we describe the stereochemical course of the RimO reaction. Using peptide mimics of the S12 protein bearing deuterium at the 3 pro-R or 3 pro-S positions of the target aspartyl residue, we show that RimO from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (Bt) catalyzes abstraction of the pro-S hydrogen atom, as evidenced by the transfer of deuterium into 5′-deoxyadenosine (5′-dAH). The observed kinetic isotope effect on H atom versus D atom abstraction is ∼1.9, suggesting that this step i...
Unpacking Social Defenses: A Resource-Dependence Lens on Technology Ventures, Venture Capital, and Corporate Relationships

Inter-organizational relationships offer many potential benefits, but they also expose firms to dangers, such as misappropriation, that pull partners apart. This tension between collaboration and competition is central to tie formation, especially for young technology-focused firms who have both high need for resources and high appropriability of their own resources. Prior work has examined legal and timing defenses that enable inter-organizational ties; we focus here on social defenses. In a longitudinal study of equity tie formation between young firms and established corporations, spanning 5 technology-based industries and 25 years, we unpack the effects of social defenses and find, intriguingly, that third-party social defenses are particularly significant when more traditional defenses are unavailable. Beyond providing resources and legitimacy, ties with centrally positioned third parties are a critical mechanism whereby young low-power firms can enhance their power in tie formation. Our study also sheds light on how a portfolio of ties helps young technology firms mobilize resources and manage resource vulnerabilities.
Set Up of Multi-channel System for Vibration Measurement and Analysis of Bridge along High-speed Railway Based on LabVIEW

A multi-channel system including signal acquisition,file management,time-domain analysis,frequency-domain analysis and spectral analysis was developed for researching the vibration rule and the amplification effect of the bridge along high-speed railway based on LabVIEW2010.The functions and the development process of software and hardware of the system were described,and improved-Bartlett method was introduced to power spectrum programming.The results of test show that the proposed system can achieve different design functions with high accuracy.
Magnetic Tunnel Junction Based Long-Term Short-Term Stochastic Synapse for a Spiking Neural Network with On-Chip STDP Learning

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) have emerged as a powerful neuromorphic computing paradigm to carry out classification and recognition tasks. Nevertheless, the general purpose computing platforms and the custom hardware architectures implemented using standard CMOS technology, have been unable to rival the power efficiency of the human brain. Hence, there is a need for novel nanoelectronic devices that can efficiently model the neurons and synapses constituting an SNN. In this work, we propose a heterostructure composed of a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) and a heavy metal as a stochastic binary synapse. Synaptic plasticity is achieved by the stochastic switching of the MTJ conductance states, based on the temporal correlation between the spiking activities of the interconnecting neurons. Additionally, we present a significance driven long-term short-term stochastic synapse comprising two unique binary synaptic elements, in order to improve the synaptic learning efficiency. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed synaptic configurations and the stochastic learning algorithm on an SNN trained to classify handwritten digits from the MNIST dataset, using a device to system-level simulation framework. The power efficiency of the proposed neuromorphic system stems from the ultra-low programming energy of the spintronic synapses.
An empirical study of students' understanding of a logical structure in the definition of limit via the ε-strip activity

This study explored students’ understanding of a logical structure in defining the limit of a sequence, focusing on the relationship between e and N. The subjects of this study were college students who had already encountered the concept of limit but did not have any experience with rigorous proofs using the e–N definition. This study suggested two statements, each of which is written by using a relationship between e and N, similar to the e–N definition. By analyzing the students’ responses to the validity of the statements as definitions of the limit of a sequence, students’ understanding of such a relationship was classified into five major categories. This paper discusses some essential components that students must conceptualize in order properly to understand the relationship between e and N in defining the limit of a sequence.
Sturgeon and paddlefish (Acipenseridae) sagittal otoliths are composed of the calcium carbonate polymorphs vaterite and calcite

This study sought to resolve whether sturgeon (Acipenseridae) sagittae (otoliths) contain a non-vaterite fraction and to quantify how large a non-vaterite fraction is using neutron diffraction analysis. This study found that all otoliths examined had a calcite fraction that ranged from 18 ± 6 to 36 ± 3% by mass. This calcite fraction is most probably due to biological variation during otolith formation rather than an artefact of polymorph transformation during preparation.
Cancer cells enter dormancy after cannibalizing mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs)

Patients with breast cancer often develop malignant regrowth of residual drug-resistant dormant tumor cells years after primary treatment, a process defined as cancer relapse. Deciphering the causal basis of tumor dormancy therefore has obvious therapeutic significance. Because cancer cell behavior is strongly influenced by stromal cells, particularly the mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) that are actively recruited into tumor-associated stroma, we assessed the impact of MSCs on breast cancer cell (BCC) dormancy. Using 3D cocultures to mimic the cellular interactions of an emerging tumor niche, we observed that MSCs sequentially surrounded the BCCs, promoted formation of cancer spheroids, and then were internalized/degraded through a process resembling the well-documented yet ill-defined clinical phenomenon of cancer cell cannibalism. This suspected feeding behavior was less appreciable in the presence of a rho kinase inhibitor and in 2D monolayer cocultures. Notably, cannibalism of MSCs enhanced survival of BCCs deprived of nutrients but suppressed their tumorigenicity, together suggesting the cancer cells entered dormancy. Transcriptome profiles revealed that the resulting BCCs acquired a unique molecular signature enriched in prosurvival factors and tumor suppressors, as well as inflammatory mediators that demarcate the secretome of senescent cells, also referred to as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Overall, our results provide intriguing evidence that cancer cells under duress enter dormancy after cannibalizing MSCs. Importantly, our practical 3D coculture model could provide a valuable tool to understand the antitumor activity of MSCs and cell cannibalism further, and therefore open new therapeutic avenues for the prevention of cancer recurrence.
Leibniz’s World-Apart Doctrine

Leibniz’s World-Apart Doctrine states that every created substance is independent of everything except God. Commentators have connected the independence of substance asserted by World-Apart to a variety of important aspects of Leibniz’s modal metaphysics, including his theory of compossibility and his notion of a possible world (including what possible worlds there are). But what sort of independence is at stake in World-Apart? I argue that there is not a single sense of “independence” at stake, but at least three: what I call “causal”, “phenomenal,” and “ontological” independence. Further, I distinguish two versions of each type of independence: what I call “basic” and “strict” versions. I argue that only basic versions can be legitimately attributed to Leibniz. In light of this result, I conclude, pace previous commentators, that World-Apart has little impact on Leibniz’s modal metaphysics.
Dangerous work: Terrorism against U.S. diplomats

ABSTRACTThe goal of diplomats is to represent their countries’ interests through diplomacy, not arms. Because they are not military personnel, they may be perceived as at lower risk of being the target of terrorists. However, recent events have called this perception into question. Despite this danger, there has been little research on terrorist attacks against diplomats. Drawing on the terrorism studies literature, this article argues that diplomats are targeted more than non-diplomatic targets in countries where certain U.S. foreign policies are implemented. An empirical analysis of 471 attacks against U.S. diplomats from 1970 to 2011 reveals that while U.S. alliances and foreign aid increase the likelihood of attacks against diplomats, U.S. military intervention and civil war, on the other hand, increase the risk of terrorism against non-diplomatic targets. This finding is relevant because it shows terrorist attacks against diplomats result from certain types of foreign policy.
Overview: Food and Nutrition Security

This chapter discusses the human right to food and nutrition security. Sustainable food and nutrition security has four key components: the nutritional quality of foods and diets, their cost, cultural acceptance, and their impact on the environment. Sustainable diets call for foods that are healthy and safe, nutrient-rich, affordable, culturally acceptable, and appealing. The environmental impact of the food supply system must be considered and steps taken to minimize the impact of eating patterns on land, water, and energy use. Nutrient density of processed foods is another matter for concern. Given global economic pressures, the effects of climate change, marketing considerations and other factors, there is a growing trend for the agricultural and food industries to produce foods that are inexpensive sources of calories but have minimal nutritional value. Food and nutrition insecurity and malnutrition are widespread in many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). They also exist to a lesser extent in some high-income countries (HIC). While the public health focus has been on diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), hidden hunger and dietary deficiency diseases must be identified and managed both in LMIC and in HIC. Effective management of resources by both the public and the private sector will be required to develop a sustainable food supply and to ensure equitable access to nutrient-rich foods by vulnerable groups. Political will, along with adequate economic and human resources, will be essential to achieve this.
Boundless: Art and Identification Across Borders

Editorial Statement for volume six of Contemporaneity: Historical Presence in Visual Culture .
Regulatory T Cells: Their Role, Mechanism of Action, and Impact on Cancer

Generating antitumor immunity by using therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to block immune checkpoint receptors expressed on the surface of T cells has led to a revolution in the treatment of several solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. T cells upregulate expression of immune checkpoint receptors following prolonged antigen stimulation, and expression of these receptors is associated with T cell dysfunction. Monoclonal antibodies targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) have been successful in the clinic. These advances in immuno-oncology have led to prolonged survival in some patients with aggressive cancers, such as metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma. Despite the success of immuno-oncology, there are still many patients that do not derive benefits from blockade of inhibitory receptors, suggesting that additional immune mechanisms may need to be targeted to elicit an effective antitumor response.
A Controlled Pilot Trial of PainTracker Self-Manager, a Web-Based Platform Combined With Patient Coaching, to Support Patients' Self-Management of Chronic Pain

Abstract The objective of this study was to develop and pilot test a chronic pain empowerment and self-management platform, derived from acceptance and commitment therapy, in a pain specialty setting. A controlled, sequential, nonrandomized study design was used to accommodate intervention development and to test the efficacy of the PainTracker Self-Manager (PTSM) intervention (Web-based educational modules and outcome tracking combined with tailored patient coaching sessions and provider guidance). Generalized estimating equations evaluated changes over time (baseline, 3 months, 6 months) in pain self-efficacy (primary outcome), chronic pain acceptance (activity engagement and pain willingness), perceived efficacy in patient–provider interactions, pain intensity and interference, and overall satisfaction with pain treatment (secondary outcomes) between intervention (n = 48) and usual care control groups (n = 51). The full study sample (N = 99) showed greater improvements over time (significant Group × Time interactions) in pain self-efficacy and satisfaction with pain treatment. Among study completers (n = 82), greater improvement in activity engagement as well as pain intensity and interference were also observed. These preliminary findings support the efficacy of the PTSM intervention in a pain specialty setting. Further research is needed to refine and expand the PTSM intervention and to test it in a randomized trial in primary care settings. Perspective We developed a Web-based patient empowerment platform that combined acceptance and commitment therapy-based educational modules and tailored coaching sessions with longitudinal tracking of treatments and patient-reported outcomes, named PTSM. Pilot controlled trial results provide preliminary support for its efficacy in improving pain self-efficacy, activity engagement, pain intensity and interference, and satisfaction with pain treatment.
Encapsulation of Stem Cells in Research and Therapy

As stem cell therapies advance, rethinking of﻿ medical device engineering provides promise for treatment options in clinical applications. In the past decades, cell transplantation has been an approach for many regenerative therapies. To date, however, limited human donor supply has hampered the transplantation of human organs and mature donor tissues for an increasing number of patients worldwide, particularly those with liver and pancreatic diseases. This chapter explores the use of stem cells as an alternative to implantation of mature cells and discusses the development of stem cell therapies that may promote organ regeneration, or delivery of endocrine products in vivo, and their challenges for the use in clinical applications. Aspects of stem cell differentiation strategies, microenvironmental factors, and cellular immunity are addressed. A second limitation to cellular transplantation has been the need for chronic immunosuppression. As an alternative to clinical immunosuppression, designs and materials for cellular encapsulation, intended to avoid rejection by the immune system and to control growth of cellular implants, have been developed. Liver disease is chosen to show examples of stem cell micro-encapsulation approaches in research and therapy. Secondly, a stem cell macro-encapsulation device is used as an example for a bio-artificial pancreas as a possible therapeutic approach for diabetes mellitus. The focus of this chapter is on the synergy between stem cell therapy and medical device engineering as a multi-disciplinary approach in the field of bioengineering, which may eventually provide new options for treatment of human disease.
Demonstration of long wavelength infrared type-II InAs/InAs 1-x Sb x superlattices photodiodes on GaSb substrate grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

We report the growth and characterization of long wavelength infrared type-II InAs/InAs1-xSbx superlattice photodiodes with a 50% cut-off wavelength at 8.0 μm on a GaSb substrate grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. At 77 K, the photodiodes exhibited a differential resistance at zero bias (R0A) of 8.0 Ω cm2 and a peak responsivity of 1.26 A/W corresponding to a quantum efficiency of 21%. A specific detectivity of 5.4 × 1010 cm Hz1/2/W was achieved at 7.5 μm.
Exploration and utilization of asteroids as interplanetary communication relays

There are more than 17,000 asteroids found near Earth and nearly 2 million asteroids estimated in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. Asteroid come in diverse forms, some may hold valuable resources such as water, carbon and rare metals that may one day supply a spacefaring civilization. However, asteroids maybe also valuable as relay stations for a permanent high-speed, high-bandwidth interplanetary communication network. Asteroids are typically pock-marked with craters and grooves. Pristine craters resemble a parabolic communication antenna, but without the reflective coating or a receiver/transmitter at the focus. In this work, we evaluate two scenarios, the preliminary feasibility of setting up such a radio antenna on the Martian moon Phobos and Deimos (thought to be captured asteroids) that would act as a communication relay between the Martian system and Earth. Phobos is closer to Mars and is tidally locked. This would require two craters converted to antennas, one perpetually pointing at Mars, another pointing at Earth and a local interconnection between the two. Alternately, the relay on Deimos would need just a single crater relay station. We will then compare this communication relay to the current state-of-the-art, namely the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The proposed communication antennas would be achieved by landing a swarm of CubeSats onto a crater to form the parabolic reflector. Each CubeSat has a mass of 4 kg and a volume of 3U or 3400 cc with one side forming the surface of the reflector. These CubeSats would hop, roll and fly into the crater and distribute themselves to cover maximum surface area. Each CubeSat has deployable reflectors to fill the gap between adjacent neighbors. A parabolic reflector would be able to reflect radio waves with a gap of one-tenth of the wavelength. A large 12U CubeSat would be positioned at the crater center and extend a deployable tower with a feed antenna to the focus. To achieve the current data rate of MRO, which is 4 Mbps, the power needs of a pair of 20 m2 aperture antennas on Phobos and the interlink will be evaluated. For Deimos, a single 20 m2 antenna will be considered. In both cases, the intent is to have an antenna gain of 50 dBi per crater. The analysis will also be extended to a 200 m2 aperture antenna that can provide a data rate of 40 Mbps and antenna gain of 60 dBi per crater. Our approach to the mission design exploits machine learning to perform formulation, design, planning and operations. The results from these preliminary mission design studies will be used to identify a pathway towards detailed design and field studies in a simulated environment.
Assessing Nutritional Requirements for Preterm Infants

Although the macrominerals calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are of primary concern in bone health, other minerals, including trace minerals can also play an important role. In this chapter, the role of some of these will be considered. In general, the data supporting and defining the role of the trace minerals in bone health is much less well developed than for the macrominerals. In many cases, studies have used animal models, which are difficult to extrapolate to humans. In others, the relationship between serum levels of minerals and markers of bone health or assessment of bone mineral density are described. These are difficult to interpret, and even if a correlation between low serum copper and low bone mineral density (for example) is demonstrated this does not mean that additional dietary copper would improve bone mineral density. Such relationships are confounded by the other lifestyle and socioeconomic factors that may cause such differences in dietary intakes. In addition, low-quality diets may be deficient in more than one nutrient, making it extremely difficult to ascribe the change to any single nutrient. There are very few well-designed intervention studies in humans that address the importance of trace and ultratrace minerals in human bone metabolism. The one exception appears to be strontium, where there is increasing good-quality data (i.e. randomized controlled studies) suggesting that high-risk adults may benefit from strontium supplementation.
Electrochemical study of gold dissolution in cyanide solution

Cyclic voltammetric and potential step chronoamperometric techniques were used to study gold dissolution in cyanide solution. Three distinct anodic peaks and one cathodic peak appear on the voltammogram between −0.50 and 0.80 V vs. SCE. The corresponding reactions were proposed to explain the peaks and the passivations. The proposed reactions were in agreement with the effect ofpH and cyanide an the magnitude of the peak currents. Cyclic voltammetric tests, with various vertex potentials, were also conducted to examine the proposed reactions. Steady-state currents at various potentials were obtained by potential step chronoamperometric technique and were compared with transient currents obtained by the cyclic voltammetric technique.
Outcomes of multivessel vs culprit lesion-only percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: Evidence from an updated meta-analysis.

Objectives This updated meta-analysis evaluated outcomes with multi-vessel (MV-PCI) vs culprit lesion-only percutaneous coronary intervention (CL-PCI), in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). Background There is considerable debate regarding the optimal revascularization strategy in patients with AMI and CS, particularly regarding management of non-culprit lesions. Methods Databases were searched for studies comparing MV-PCI and CL-PCI in patients with AMI and CS. The primary outcome of interest was short-term all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included long-term mortality, repeat revascularization and myocardial reinfarction. Safety outcomes were stroke, acute renal failure and major bleeding. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using random-effects models. Results Our meta-analysis consisting of 14 studies (13 observational, 1 RCT) involving 8,552 patients showed that in comparison to CL-PCI, MV-PCI was associated with similar short-term mortality (OR 1.14; 95% CI 0.9-1.43), as well as similar long-term mortality (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.68-1.28). There was no significant difference in the risk of myocardial reinfarction (OR 1.19; 95% CI 0.76-1.86), or repeat revascularization (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.41-1.55) between the two groups. Compared to CL-PCI, MV-PCI was associated with a similar risk of bleeding (OR 1.13; 95% CI 0.91-1.40) and stroke (OR 1.28; 95% CI 0.84-1.96), but a higher risk of developing renal failure (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.05-1.65). Conclusions Our meta-analysis suggests that there is a higher risk of renal failure with no additional benefit in efficacy outcomes with MV-PCI, compared to CL-PCI in patients with AMI and CS.
Adherence to Two Large-Bore Intravenous Lines in Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding Is Low

While the available literature recommends placement of two large-bore intravenous (2LBIV) lines in every patient presenting with acute GIB, the adherence and impact of this recommendation have never before been reported. We designed a quality improvement project to assess whether the patients presenting to our institution with acute GIB have appropriate intravenous (IV) access or not. We conducted a prospective, observational study, of all patients presenting to our emergency department with overt GIB over a 2-month period. Data analysis was performed, and based on the results, an intervention plan was developed and executed. Post-intervention data collection was done over a 3-month period. Our interventions included physician and nursing education, placing posters in the emergency department, and creation of an order set in the electronic medical record system. A total of 46 patients were in the pre-intervention group, and 71 patients were in the post-intervention group. The presence of 2LBIV lines in the pre-intervention group was only 19.5%, which improved to 36.6% in the post-intervention group (p = 0.049). Factors associated with placement of 2LBIV lines were being in the post-intervention group and admission to the intensive care unit. The relatively simple and cost-effective intervention of placing 2LBIV lines is not often executed. We suggest that specific mention of 2LBIV placement in guidelines from national gastroenterology societies might improve compliance in this aspect.
Nonhomogeneous boundary-value problems for one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equations

Abstract This paper is concerned with initial-boundary-value problems (IBVPs) for a class of nonlinear Schrodinger equations posed either on a half line R + or on a bounded interval ( 0 , L ) with nonhomogeneous boundary conditions. For any s with 0 ≤ s 5 / 2 and s ≠ 1 / 2 , it is shown that the relevant IBVPs are locally well-posed if the initial data lie in the L 2 -based Sobolev spaces H s ( R + ) in the case of the half line and in H s ( 0 , L ) on a bounded interval, provided the boundary data are selected from H l o c ( 2 s + 1 ) / 4 ( R + ) and H ( s + 1 ) / 2 l o c ( R + ) , respectively. (For s > 1 2 , compatibility between the initial and boundary conditions is also needed.) Global well-posedness is also discussed when s ≥ 1 . From the point of view of the well-posedness theory, the results obtained reveal a significant difference between the IBVP posed on R + and the IBVP posed on ( 0 , L ) . The former is reminiscent of the theory for the pure initial-value problem (IVP) for these Schrodinger equations posed on the whole line R while the theory on a bounded interval looks more like that of the pure IVP posed on a periodic domain. In particular, the regularity demanded of the boundary data for the IBVP on R + is consistent with the temporal trace results that obtain for solutions of the pure IVP on R , while the slightly higher regularity of boundary data for the IBVP on ( 0 , L ) resembles what is found for temporal traces of spatially periodic solutions.