cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compliant Substrates for Heteroepitaxial Semiconductor Devices : Theory, Experiment, and Current Directions

This review paper presents important findings relative to the use of compliant substrates for mismatched heteroepitaxial devices, including the theoretical background, experimental results, and the directions for current efforts. Theories for relative compliance and absolute compliance are presented. Key experimental results are summarized for a number of compliant substrate technologies, including cantilevered membranes, silicon-on-insulator, twist bonding, and glass bonding. Two approaches of current interest, layer transfer and universal compliant trench (UCT) substrates, are presented as potential solutions to the problem of limited absolute compliance in planar compliant substrates attached to handle wafers.
Does needle rotation improve lesion targeting

Background Image-guided robots are manipulators that operate based on medical images. Perhaps the most common class of image-guided robots are robots for needle interventions. Typically, these robots actively position and/ororientaneedleguide,butneedle insertionisstilldonebythephysician. While this arrangement may have safety advantages and keep the physician in control of needle insertion, actuated needle drivers can incorporate other useful features. Methods We first present a new needle driver that can actively insert and rotate a needle. With this device we investigate the use of needle rotation in controlled in-vitro experiments performed with a specially developed revolving needle driver.
Microbial Habitability of Icy Worlds

For most of Earth's history, life was microscopic and, even today, microorganisms dominate the planet. Hence, we believe that, if life exists beyond Earth, it likely started as microorganisms and may remain at this stage. Much of contemporary astrobiological research focuses on the metabolic potential of microorganisms and their ability to inhabit extreme environments.
Heparin binding domain of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 stimulates mesangial cell migration.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5) is produced by mesangial cells (MCs) and likely functions to modulate glomerular IGF-I activity. Although IGFBP-5 may be inhibitory ...
Ba-RICH K-FELDSPAR FROM MAFIC XENOLITHS WITHIN MESOARCHEAN GRANITIC ROCKS, BEARTOOTH MOUNTAINS, MONTANA, USA: INDICATORS FOR BARIUM METASOMATISM

A mafic xenolith included within 2.8 Ga granitic rocks from the eastern Beartooth Mountains of Montana, USA shows evidence of significant Ba metasomatism related to an influx of hydrous fluids under lower amphibolite-facies conditions, and is indicated by the development of “hyalophane”. The volumetrically dominant Mesoarchean host rocks include granodioritic-granitic-tonalitic gneisses that have variable and high barium (Ba) contents, with some rocks exceeding 3500 ppm Ba. The mafic xenolith retains some textural features inherited from its igneous tonalitic protolith, but it was affected by multi-stage metamorphic overprints. An initial amphibolite-facies overprint generated a distinctive texture, mineral assemblage, and mineral chemistry, but these features are locally replaced by mineral assemblages and chemistry that result from infiltration of lower-temperature Ba-rich hydrous fluids. The original amphibolite facies assemblage is magnesio-hornblende + plagioclase (An 35 ) + biotite + quartz + titanite + allanite + zircon. Thermobarometry indicates peak conditions of ~660 °C and ~7 kbar partially overprinted by a later, fluid-rich metamorphism at ~550 °C. Submillimeter-scale regions modified by the invasive fluid are characterized by a change in texture denoted by vermicular epidote, epidote overgrowths on allanite cores, myrmekitic plagioclase (~An 20 ), and complexly zoned "hyalophane". "Hyalophane" grains locally have interior regions with a low celsian component (Cn,BaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 ) of ~Cn 7 flanked by more enriched zones of up to Cn 27 . Very fine exsolution lamellae of albite-hair perthite are observed in the central zone of the low-Cn “hyalophane”. The Ba-rich hydrous fluid is considered to have been derived from the surrounding granitic rocks. Ultimately, the most likely source of the Ba is subducted sediments in a Mesoarchean subduction zone where fluids generated from Ba-enriched sediments were incorporated into fluids associated with formation of the 2.8 Ga granitic rocks. Upon crystallization of the granitic rocks, a Ba-enriched metasomatic fluid was released to develop “hyalophane” in the mafic xenolith.
Enseigner La Procédure Civile Comparée (Teaching Comparative Civil Procedure) French

This article discusses the author's experience teaching Comparative Civil Procedure for US and foreign students in the past 10 yeas. This is an interactive course, as compared to the essentially "passive" Socratic Method and can be an inspiring experience for both the faculty and the students, because it creates a rare environment for learning and experimentation. The methodology can be used to teach any course from a comparative perspective, like Comparative Contracts, Comparative Torts, Comparative Class Actions, Comparative Antitrust, etc. The English version of this document can be found at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1016897 The Greek version of this document can be found at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1757707La version en espanol de este articulo puede encontrarse en: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2063017
Regularity of Discharge Constrains Models of Ventral Cochlear Nucleus Bushy Cells

The bushy cells of the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) are characterized by two unusual features. The first is the large synaptic contact, the endbulb of Held, made by auditory nerve (AN) fibers on bushy cell somata (Brawer and Morest,’ 75; Lorente de No,’ 81; Ryugo and Fekete,’ 82). In the rostral anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN), spherical bushy cells receive a small number of large endbulbs, as few as one to four per cell (Lorente de No,’ 81; Ryugo and Sento,’ 91). In the posterior AVCN and the anterior part of the posteroventral cochlear nucleus (PVCN), endbulbs are smaller (Brawer and Morest,’ 75; Lorente de No,’ 81; Rouiller et al.,’ 86). It is clear that the globular bushy cells in this region receive endbulbs from a larger number of AN fibers than the spherical cells of rostral AVCN, although current estimates of the number of endbulbs per cell are indirect (Spirou et al.,’ 90; Liberman,’ 91). Based on estimates of the total number of endbulbs in the globular bushy cell area (Ryugo and Rouiller,’ 88) and the number of globular bushy cells (Brownell,’ 75; Osen,’ 70), the number of endbulbs per cell has been estimated as about 17 (Spirou et al.,’ 90). In addition to endbulbs, both spherical and globular bushy cells receive smaller bouton terminals from AN fibers (Cant and Morest,’ 79; Lenn and Reese,’ 66; Lorente de No,’ 81; Ryugo and Sento,’ 91; Liberman,’ 91); these terminals increase the numbers of AN fibers per cell, but the contribution of these small terminals to postsynaptic processing is unclear, given their relatively small size compared to endbulbs.
Uncovering statistical features of bradycardia severity in premature infants using a point process model

Premature infants are susceptible to a variety of life-threatening events. Underdeveloped cardiovascular control due to an immature autonomic nervous system can lead to recurrent bradycardias that reduce blood flow and oxygen to critical organs, and result in long-term developmental disabilities or sudden death. In this study, we investigate the use of a novel point process framework to model heart rate dynamics in premature infants, including the full range of bradycardia severity. We find that the lognormal distribution accurately models the R-R interval time series, due to the long-tail nature of the distribution. We also find that the degree of bradycardia severity is correlated with distinct clustering features of the point-process indices in regions encompassing and adjacent to bradycardias. This underlying property in heart rate dynamics may provide valuable statistical information for quantifying the vulnerability of premature infants to develop bradycardia.
A 45 nm CMOS-SOI Monolithic Photonics Platform With Bit-Statistics-Based Resonant Microring Thermal Tuning

The microring resonator is critical for dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) chip-to-chip optical I/O, enabling modulation and channel selection at the $\upmu\text{m}$ -scale suitable for a VLSI chip. Microring-based links, however, require active tuning to counteract process and thermo-optic variations. Here, we present a bit-statistical tuner that decouples tracking of optical one- and zero-levels to realize non-dc-balanced data transmission, an “eye-max”-locking controller, and self-heating cancellation without need for a high-speed sensing frontend. We implement the tuner on a 45 nm CMOS-SOI process with monolithically integrated photonic devices and circuits. The tuner consumes 0.74 mW in the logic while achieving a record 524 GHz ( $>$ 50 K temperature) tuning range at $3.8\;\upmu\text{W/GHz}$ heater efficiency. To our knowledge, this is the highest range and heater efficiency reported by an on-chip closed-loop thermal tuner to date. The tuner integrates with a 5 Gb/s 30 fJ/bit monolithic microring transmitter, achieving wavelength-lock and immunity to both tracking failures and self-heating events caused by arbitrary, non-dc-balanced bitstreams. In addition, the tuner provides critical functionality for an 11- $\lambda$ DWDM transmitter macro capable of $11\ \times\ 8$ Gb/s bandwidth on a fiber. Together with the transmitter, a 10 Gb/s on-chip monolithic optical receiver with $10^{-{\textbf{12}}}$ BER sensitivity of $9\;\upmu\text{A}$ at 10 Gb/s enables a sub-pJ/bit 5 Gb/s optical chip-to-chip link, with the bit-statistical tuner providing thermally robust microring operation.
The Application of TQM in University Library Management

This paper first introduces what TQM is and the characteristics of it,then the paper touches upon the necessities of adopting TQM and what measures should be taken to successfully carry TQM out in University Library.Finally,an ideal TQM model of university library is recommended in this paper.
Book and Resource Reviews

The article reviews the book “Shaping the Next One Hundred Years: New Methods for Quantitative, Long-Term Policy Analysis,” by Robert J. Lempert, Steven W. Pooper and Steven C. Bankes.
Kappa-opioid receptors differentially regulate low and high levels of ethanol intake in female mice

Introduction Studies in laboratory animals and humans indicate that endogenous opioids play an important role in regulating the rewarding value of various drugs, including ethanol (EtOH). Indeed, opioid antagonists are currently a front-line treatment for alcoholism in humans. Although roles for mu- and delta-opioid receptors have been characterized, the contribution of kappa-opioid receptors (KORs) is less clear. There is evidence that changes in KOR system function can decrease or increase EtOH drinking, depending on test conditions. For example, female mice lacking preprodynorphin – the precursor to the endogenous KOR ligand dynorphin – have reduced EtOH intake. Considering that KORs can regulate dopamine (DA) transmission, we hypothesized that KORs expressed on DA neurons would play a prominent role in EtOH intake in females. Methods We used a Cre/loxP recombination strategy to ablate KORs throughout the body or specifically on dopamine uptake transporter (DAT)-expressing neurons to investigate the role of KORs on preference for and intake of EtOH (2-bottle choice), the transition from moderate to excessive EtOH drinking (intermittent EtOH access), and binge EtOH drinking (drinking in the dark [DID]). Results KOR deletion decreased preference for EtOH, although this effect was less pronounced when EtOH intake increased beyond relatively low levels. Discussion Our findings indicate that KOR activation increases EtOH drinking via effects mediated, at least in part, by KORs on DA neurons. While the mechanisms of this regulation remain unknown, previous work suggests that alterations in negative reinforcement processes or sensitivity to the sensory properties of EtOH can affect preference and intake.
Aggregate Energy Consumption Model for Electrical Vehicles at Signalized Intersections

Development of an energy-efficient signal control system that minimizes the total electricity usage of all electrical vehicles (EVs) running through intersections has been considered one of the most effective approaches for addressing the EV energy-efficiency problem when EVs gain significant market penetration. The critical first step in developing such a system is to derive an aggregate energy consumption function, which can serve as an objective function for energy-based signal optimization. The research described here addresses this challenge by deriving an aggregate energy consumption model (AECM) for EVs at an intersection. The proposed AECM was developed by integrating an individual EV’s energy consumption model with a simplified car-following model; this described the trajectory of each EV by assuming that its driving maneuvers could be simplified into four phases: cruising, decelerating, idling, and accelerating. The proposed model has been evaluated by using detailed vehicle trajectory data prov...
The utility of genetic testing in neuromuscular disease: A consensus statement from the AANEM on the clinical utility of genetic testing in diagnosis of neuromuscular disease.

Introduction: The aim of this consensus statement is to provide a recommendation from experts at the AANEM on the clinical utility of genetic testing. It is not meant to recommend or endorse any specific genetic testing methodology or algorithm. Method: The AANEM Professional Practice Committee reached a consensus based on expert opinion on the utility of genetic testing in neuromuscular diseases and made recommendations on factors that physicians and patients should consider when deciding whether to proceed with such testing. Results: Despite the costs of genetic testing, these tests can be both valuable and beneficial in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular diseases in many situations. Summary/Discussion: AANEM believes that genetic testing and arriving at a specific molecular diagnosis is a critical step in providing high quality care to neuromuscular patients. The cost of testing should not be a deterrent, since there are important clinical, safety, psychosocial, and research benefits. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
SERS-enhanced piezoplasmonic graphene composite for biological and structural strain mapping

Thin-film optical strain sensors have the ability to map small deformations with spatial and temporal resolution and do not require electrical interrogation. This paper describes the use of graphene decorated with metallic nanoislands for sensing of tensile deformations of less than 0.04% with a resolution of less than 0.002%. The nanoisland-graphene composite films contain gaps between the nanoislands, which when functionalized with benzenethiolate behave as hot spots for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Mechanical strain increases the sizes of the gaps; this increase attenuates the electric field, and thus attenuates the SERS signal. This compounded, SERS-enhanced "piezoplasmonic" effect can be quantified using a plasmonic gauge factor, and is among the most sensitive mechanical sensors of any type. Since the graphene-nanoisland films are both conductive and optically active, they permit simultaneous electrical stimulation of myoblast cells and optical detection of the strains produced by the cellular contractions.
The Medical Library Association's professional development program: a look back at the way ahead.

Objective: Reflecting patterns evident in past Janet Doe Lectures, the 2005 address reviews the Medical Library Association’s (MLA’s) professional development activities from their beginnings after World War II. A group of related but separate activities is traced through the establishment of an integrated professional development program. A further objective is to introduce newer members of MLA to their heritage and to remind others how the association has reached this point in its history. Setting: The lecture provides an overview of the evolution of MLA’s professional development program—with emphasis on certification and continuing education in the early years. It further reflects briefly on some of the more recent MLA activities that have greatly impacted professional development and underscores some new initiatives. Analysis: The efforts of a virtual who’s who of MLA’s membership have been responsible for the convergence of the association’s efforts over more than half a century to provide a comprehensive professional development program. As a participant in MLA’s professional development activities for more than forty years, the 2005 lecturer provides a personal view of the growth and expansion of the program. Conclusions: Professional development has been a hallmark of MLA for many years. The association’s challenge is to continue to develop creative and innovative programs, to continuously review and revise existing programs, and to have the vision and vitality to maintain a viable program that will provide the membership with the knowledge and skills needed to function effectively now and in the future.
Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid, Federalism, and Unequal Politics

Medicaid is the single largest public health insurer in the United States, covering upwards of 70 million Americans. Crucially, Medicaid is also an intergovernmental program that yokes poverty to federalism: the federal government determines its broad contours, while states have tremendous discretion over how Medicaid is designed and implemented. Where some locales are generous and open handed, others are tight-fisted and punitive. In Fragmented Democracy, Jamila Michener demonstrates the consequences of such disparities for democratic citizenship. Unpacking how federalism transforms Medicaid beneficiaries' interpretations of government and structures their participation in politics, the book examines American democracy from the vantage point(s) of those who are living in or near poverty, (disproportionately) Black or Latino, and reliant on a federated government for vital resources.
Fast Forward - Neoadjuvant Cancer Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapies that are based on blocking the axis of the programmed death 1 (PD-1) pathway are having a transformational effect in cancer medicine. To date, the Food and Drug Administration has a...
Soft Bremsstrahlung.

Simple analytic formulas are considered for the energy radiated in low frequency bremsstrahlung from fully ionized gases. A formula that has been frequently cited over many years turns out to have only a limited range of validity, more narrow than for a formula derived using the Born approximation. In an attempt to find a more widely valid simple formula, a soft photon theorem is employed, which in this context implies that the differential rate of photon emission in an electron-ion collision with definite initial and final electron momenta is correctly given for sufficiently soft photons by the Born approximation, to all orders in the Coulomb potential. Corrections to the Born approximation arise because the upper limit on photon energy for this theorem to apply to a given collision becomes increasingly stringent as the scattering approaches the forward direction. A general formula is suggested that takes this into account.
Dunn’s Model of Sensory Processing: An Investigation of the Axes of the Four-Quadrant Model in Healthy Adults

Date Presented 04/05/19 We examined the constructs of behavioral response and threshold of Dunn’s four-quadrant model of sensory processing. We tested if these axes, as measured by the Adult and Adolescent Sensory Profile, are ordinal ranges and if variation is consistent with external measures of characteristics that may also reflect sensory processing, Eysenck's personality model, and somatosensory event-related potentials and sensory gating. Primary Author and Speaker: Alexia Metz Contributing Authors: Daniella Boling, Ashley DeVore, Holly Holladay, Karen Karmol, Jo Fu Liao
The limits of perceptual phenomenal content

There is an ongoing debate in philosophy of mind and epistemology about whether perceptual experience only represents those “thin” features of our environment that are apprehended by our senses, or whether, in addition to these, at least some perceptual experiences represent more complex, “thick” properties. My aim in this paper is to articulate an important difference between thin and thick properties, and thus to diagnose a key intuitive resistance many proponents of the thin view feel towards the thick view. My diagnosis then provides us with a novel and compelling argument against the thick view. In what follows, first I consider two unsuccessful versions of an alternative strategy against the thick view found in the literature. Next, I present my own argument. The argument involves proposing two constraints on the phenomenal contents of perceptual experience, which I call the Presentation Principle and the Containment Principle, and then reasoning from these principles to a conclusion that is fatal to (most forms of) the thick view—an outcome that I call the problem of Phenomenal Explosion. I conclude by responding to several objections.
Adverse neonatal outcomes associated with pregestational diabetes mellitus in infants born preterm.

Background Pregestational diabetes mellitus is associated with a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Based on the available data, it is unclear whether infants born preterm to mothers with pregestational diabetes mellitus are at a higher risk of adverse outcomes than other preterm infants. Objective This study aimed to quantify the neonatal complications associated with pregestational diabetes mellitus in infants born preterm. Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study of all nonanomalous singleton neonates born in Texas from 2006 to 2014. Analysis was limited to births between 24 and 36 weeks’ gestation and excluded multiple births, stillbirths, fetal congenital anomalies, neonates born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus, and neonates born to mothers with chronic hypertension. Results were stratified by pregestational diabetes mellitus status. Neonatal outcomes of interest included infant death, neonatal intensive care unit admission, low 5-minute Apgar scores, assisted ventilation of >6 hours, surfactant administration, and seizures. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between pregestational diabetes mellitus and neonatal outcomes controlling for potential confounding variables. Results After predefined exclusions, 277,210 births were analyzed, 4164 of which were to mothers with pregestational diabetes mellitus. The comparison group consisted of mothers without pregestational diabetes mellitus. The preterm infant mortality rates between the pregestational diabetic and nondiabetic groups were similar. However, after adjusting for confounding variables, there was an increased risk of infant mortality for preterm neonates born to mothers with pregestational diabetes mellitus. In infants born preterm, pregestational diabetes mellitus was associated with an increased risk of infant death, low 5-minute Apgar score, prolonged assisted ventilation, surfactant requirement, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Neonates born before 34 weeks’ gestation had an increased risk of assisted ventilation of >6 hours, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and seizure. Neonates born to mothers with pregestational diabetes mellitus in the late preterm period between 34 and 36 weeks’ gestation had an increased risk of low Apgar score at 5 minutes, assisted ventilation of >6 hours, surfactant use, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Conclusion Pregestational diabetes mellitus is associated with a higher risk of adverse neonatal outcomes in infants born preterm.
Sampling and Scrambling in Compressive Sensing Based Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Compressed sensing-based sampling and scrambling strategies for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography are presented and their performance evaluated. It is shown that the latter can be used for reconstructing both spatially sparse and non-sparse signals.
Asians Have Higher Risk of Developing Pancreatic Necrosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patient Population: A National Inpatient Sample Database Study.

Background The aim of this study is to evaluate race-associated risk factors of acute pancreatitis (AP) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Methods A retrospective analysis using 2016 and 2017 National Inpatient Sample database was performed. Inclusion criteria were principal diagnosis of AP and a secondary diagnosis of IBD. Patients below 18 years of age were excluded. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality rate and secondary outcomes included pancreatic necrosis, surgical necrosectomy, total hospitalization charges, total parenteral nutrition use, and length of stay. For the primary and secondary outcomes, adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and mean difference calculation using multivariate regression were calculated. Results A total of 7,060 patients with AP in IBD were identified; of which 53.5% were female. The use of Medicaid was significantly higher in blacks (39.5%), Hispanics (32.6%), and Asian/Pacific Islanders (40%) compared to whites (19.9%). Approximately 63.2% of AP patients in IBD received care at an urban teaching hospital. Pancreatic necrosis was noted to be highest in Asians or Pacific Islanders compared to whites (aOR 12.62, 95% CI 1.00-159.3, p = 0.05). Conclusion Our study shows that racial disparities exist among AP in IBD patients with pancreatic necrosis being more common in Asians and Pacific Islanders compared to whites. Identification of potential causes of these disparities is of paramount importance to expand access to healthcare.
CNO Line Radiation and the X-ray Bowen Fluorescence Mechanism in Optically-Thick, Highly-Ionized Media

Radiative transfer effects due to overlapping X-ray lines in a high-temperature, optically-thick, highly-ionized medium are investigated. One particular example, where the O VIII Ly-alpha doublet coincide in frequency with the N VII Ly-zeta lines is studied in detail to illustrate the effects on the properties of the emergent line spectrum. We solve the radiative transfer equation to study the energy transport of resonance line radiation in a static, infinite, plane-parallel geometry, which is used to compute the destruction/escape probabilities for each of the lines for various total optical thicknesses of the medium, as well as destruction probabilities by sources of underlying photoelectric opacity. It is found that a large fraction of the O VIII Ly-alpha line radiation can be destroyed by N VII, which can result in an reversal of the O VIII Ly-alpha/N VII Ly-alpha line intensity ratio similar to what may be seen under non-solar abundances. Photoelectric absorption by ionized carbon and nitrogen can also subsequently increase the emission line intensities of these ions. We show that line ratios, which are directly proportional to the abundance ratios in optically thin plasmas, are not good indicators of the true CNO abundances. Conversely, global spectral modeling that assumes optically thin conditions may yield incorrect abundance estimates when compared to observations, especially if the optical depth is large. Other potentially important overlapping lines and continua in the X-ray band are also identified and their possible relevance to recent high resolution spectroscopic observations with Chandra and XMM-Newton are briefly discussed.
hBD-2 Binds SARS-CoV-2 RBD and Blocks Viral Entry: Strategy to Combat COVID-19

New approaches to complement vaccination are needed to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and stop COVID-19 related deaths and medical complications. Human beta defensin 2 (hBD-2) is a naturally occurring epithelial cell derived host defense peptide that has antiviral properties. Our comprehensive in-silico studies demonstrate that hBD-2 binds the site on the CoV-2-RBD that docks with the ACE2 receptor. Biophysical and biochemical assays confirm that hBD-2 indeed binds to the CoV-2-receptor binding domain (RBD) (KD ~ 300 nM), preventing it from binding to ACE2 expressing cells. Importantly, hBD-2 shows specificity by blocking CoV-2/spike pseudoviral infection, but not VSV-G mediated infection, of ACE2 expressing human cells with an IC50 of 2.4± 0.1 μM. These promising findings offer opportunities to develop hBD-2 and/or its derivatives and mimetics to safely and effectively use as novel agents to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Funding Statement: LZ: Energy Center of TTU helped support JP; pilot funds from Drs. Weinberg and Buck for undergraduate student Ann Brewer. PR: We thank Dr. Jesse Bloom, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center for kindly proving the plasmids to generate Spike pseudovirus and ACE2 expressing HEK 293T cells. PR funded by NIH/NIAID R01AI116730, R21AI144264, NIH/NCI grant R21 CA246194 and pilot funding from NORD Family Foundation. MB: Thanks to Dr. Parvesh Shrestha for help with MST experiments. MB funded by NIH/NEI R01EY029169 and by a pilot grant from the Department of Physiology and Biophysics of CWRU. AW: Studies herein supported by NIH/NCI R21CA253108, NIH/NIDCR R21DE028416 and pilot funds from the Department of Biological Sciences of the School of Dental Medicine, CWRU. Declaration of Interests: LZ, SKG, PR, MB and AW are co-inventors in using AMPs, and their derivatives, as anti-coronavirus agents, and have submitted an invention disclosure to Case Western Reserve University. S.C.B. J.M-G, J.P. and A.B. declare no competing interests.
Fundamentals of Gynecologic Ultrasound

Over the years, many different imaging modalities including Computed tomography (CT), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Positron emission tomography (PET), and ultrasound have been utilized to image the pelvis. Ultrasound is one of the oldest, most reliable, and inexpensive ways to image the structures in female pelvis, with the capability of two-dimensional imaging, three-dimensional volume imaging, Doppler study, three-dimensional doppler study, and the addition of saline infusion techniques. Additionally, ultrasonography does not carry the same risk and burden associated with exposure to radiation or the need for sedation in comparison to other imaging modalities. This chapter will highlight the techniques and positioning for imaging, normal imaging of the reproductive tract and imaging associated with pathology. It is intended to cover the basics of non-obstetrical ultrasonography of the female pelvis. It is important to understand normal imaging and the benign variants of the female pelvis in order to detect abnormal pathology.
Spatiotemporal Maneuverability Hazard Analytics from Low-Altitude UAS Sensors

Low-altitude unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have a rapidly changing field of view for most sensor payloads, especially downward-looking high-resolution visual imagery. In this research, we explore visible-spectrum derived spatiotemporal awareness applied to companion sensor phenomenologies and computationally derived information, such as computer vision- based road extraction and maneuverability hazard localization. Specifically, short-span visual-temporal analysis is performed to understand the platform motion and therefore geospatial context of measurements, whether from sensors or analytical processes. The mathematical model of frame-to-frame platform motion is extracted as homographies and affine transformations that describe how one image "fits into" the next. By coupling these computed motion models with derived data, such as road segmentation and object localization, we show how this technique allows the development of temporal-confidence to aid scene understanding of a complex environment and results in more robust feature matching process. The resulting context-aware geospatial platform facilitates increasing complex spatiotemporal analytics for enhanced maneuverability and route planning for ground units from assistive low-altitude airborne platforms. The tools proposed show promise for increasing user security through spatial awareness in regions that are GPS-denied or unseen. In particular, these capabilities are demonstrated on a collection of sequential aerial images taken of a region with mixed use.
Domestic Violence Torts: Righting a Civil Wrong

Tort law, especially personal injury law, has become an integral aspect of American society. Domestic violence injuries – including physical injury, pain and suffering, and death – have been conspicuously absent from the development of tort law. The common law history of chastisement, coverture, and spousal immunity contributed to the current dearth of domestic violence tort claims. Today tort law offers a number of underused claims that can be used to address domestic violence harms. Victims can use existing common law causes of action – such as battery, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress – to sue their abusers for abusive conduct. Specific causes of action for domestic and gender-motivated violence also offer ready remedies to victims of domestic violence. Through these actions, victims can achieve financial compensation for harm, obtain therapeutic outcomes, and seek deterrence of the abuser’s conduct. Domestic violence tort claims should be pursued aggressively and frequently and should become a prominent approach to addressing domestic violence.
Comparison of the pathogenicity of the USDA challenge virus strain to a field strain of infectious laryngotracheitis virus

Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) causes respiratory disease in chickens. This alphaherpesvirus infects laryngeal tracheal epithelial cells and causes outbreaks culminating in decreases in egg production, respiratory distress in chickens and mortality. There are several different vaccines to combat symptoms of the virus, including chicken embryo origin, tissue culture origin and recombinant vaccines. All vaccines licensed for use in the U.S. are tested for efficacy and potency according to U.S. federal regulation using a vaccine challenge assay involving the use of an ILT challenge virus. This challenge virus is provided to biologics companies by the Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The current USDA challenge virus originated from a vaccine strain and has been subjected to multiple passages in eggs, and may not represent what is currently circulating in the field. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the pathogenicity of USDA's challenge virus strain to the pathogenicity of a recent ILT field isolate. Using the challenge virus and various dilutions of the field isolate, clinical signs, mortality and pathology were evaluated in chickens. Results indicate that the field isolate at a 1:20 dilution is comparable in pathogenicity to the USDA challenge virus at a 1:4 dilution, and that the ILTV field isolate is a viable candidate that could be used as a challenge virus when evaluating vaccine efficacy.
Diode protection of GMR sensors

Magnetoresistive (MR) sensors are damaged by pulses of the order of a few Volts with a few ns duration. The forward recovery time of diodes used to protect MR sensors can dramatically diminish the protection efficiency of diodes. This paper addresses the short time response of diodes.
Developing inertial fusion energy - Where do we go from here?

Development of inertial fusion energy (IFE) will require continued R&D in target physics, driver technology, target production and delivery systems, and chamber technologies. It will also require the integration of these technologies in tests and engineering demonstrations of increasing capability and complexity. Development needs in each of these areas are discussed. It is shown how IFE development will leverage off the DOE Defense Programs funded inertial confinement fusion (ICF) work.
Testing for Neglected Nonlinearity Using Regularized Artificial Neural Networks

The artificial neural network (ANN) test of Lee et al. (Journal of Econometrics 56, 269–290, 1993) uses the ability of the ANN activation functions in the hidden layer to detect neglected functional misspecification. As the estimation of the ANN model is often quite difficult, LWG suggested activate the ANN hidden units based on randomly drawn activation parameters. To be robust to the random activations, a large number of activations is desirable. This leads to a situation for which regularization of the dimensionality is needed by techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA), Lasso, Pretest, partial least squares (PLS), among others. However, some regularization methods can lead to selection bias in testing if the dimensionality reduction is conducted by supervising the relationship between the ANN hidden layer activations of inputs and the output variable. This paper demonstrates that while these supervised regularization methods such as Lasso, Pretest, PLS, may be useful for forecasting, they may not be used for testing because the supervised regularization would create the post-sample inference or post-selection inference (PoSI) problem. Our Monte Carlo simulation shows that the PoSI problem is especially severe with PLS and Pretest while it seems relatively mild or even negligible with Lasso. This paper also demonstrates that the use of unsupervised regularization does not lead to the PoSI problem. Lee et al. (Journal of Econometrics 56, 269–290, 1993) suggested a regularization by principal components, which is a unsupervised regularization. While the supervised regularizations may be useful in forecasting, regularization should not be supervised in inference.
Effect of oxalate and malonate on red cell metabolism

The addition of oxalate to blood stored in Citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) produces a marked improvement in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) preservation; an increase in 2,3-DPG levels can also be documented in short-term incubation studies. Oxalate is a potent in vitro inhibitor of red cell lactate dehydrogenase, monophosphoglycerate mutase, and pyruvate kinase (PK). In the presence of fructose 1,6-diphosphate the latter inhibitory effect is competitive with phospho(enol)pyruvate (PEP). Determination of the levels of intermediate compounds in red cells incubated with oxalate suggest the presence of inhibition at the PK step, indicating that this is the site of oxalate action. Apparent inhibition at the glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase step is apparently due to an increase in the NADH/NAD ratio. Oxalate had no effect on the in vivo viability of rabbit red cells stored in CPD preservatives for 21 days. Greater understanding of the toxicity of oxalate is required before it can be considered suitable as a component of preservative media, but appreciation of the mechanism by which it affects 2,3-DPG levels may be important in design of other blood additives. Malonate, the 3-carbon dicarboxylic acid analogue of oxalate late did not inhibit pyruvate kinase nor affect 2,3-DPG levels.
Water Quality and Effluent Standards of Hawaii

The sequential development of water quality standards for the State of Hawaii, commencing with the passage of the federal Water Quality Act of 1965, resulted in the enactment of receiving water standards in January 1968 that were expressed in terms of basic freedoms and through eight specific standards which applied to separate classes (two fresh waters and three coastal waters) of all surface fresh and near and offshore coastal waters in the state. In order to meet the receiving water requirements at the point of discharge the present or potential discharger can apply for a variance or “zone of mixing” permit within specific boundaries. The enactment of PL 92-500 together with other reasons prompted the state to develop effluent limitation standards (effective August 1973) that apply to fresh and nearshore coastal waters and subsurface discharges which for practical reasons are limited to discharges of less than 1 mgd (3,785 m³/day) that have received tertiary treatment.
Sedimentary Hydrocarbons, Biomarkers for Early Life

Molecular biological markers, or biomarkers, are natural products that can be assigned to a particular biosynthetic origin. For environmental and geological studies, the most useful molecular biomarkers are organic compounds with high taxonomic specificity and potential for preservation. This chapter introduces some of the general principles, provides examples of their use for discerning the identities and physiologies of microbes in contemporary environments and summarizes biomarker research aimed at elucidating aspects of biological and environmental evolution in the Precambrian.
Application of a radially viewed inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer to simultaneous measurement of Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, and Mn/Ca ratios in marine biogenic carbonates

[1] We developed and applied an analytical system for the simultaneous determination of magnesium/calcium, strontium/calcium, and manganese/calcium ratios in biogenic carbonates using a Perkin-Elmer 4300 Optima DV inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer in radial mode. Intensity ratio responses to calibration standard elemental ratios were linear over suitable working ranges. We evaluated instrumental response using solution replicates, and we analyzed planktonic foraminifera in multiple runs. Ca concentrations were kept in a relatively narrow range, typically ∼0.6–2.4 mM Ca, although we found no resolvable Ca matrix effect over a much wider range. Each analysis required a minimum sample volume of 300 μl and took 3.5 min instrument time. An analytical run of 30 samples plus standards, blanks, and control materials typically took ∼5–6 hours. Reproducibility (interrun precision, 1s %RSD) for solutions was 1.2%, 1.5%, and 1.2% for Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, and Mn/Ca ratios, far smaller than reproducibility for foraminiferal replicates over multiple analytical runs. There was no independent reference material for assessing accuracy. Detection limits were equivalent for an 0.5 mM Ca solution to 0.058 mmol/mol for Mg/Ca, 0.015 mmol/mol for Sr/Ca, and ∼0.005–0.020 mmol/mol for Mn/Ca. Precautions included limiting length of time the peristaltic tubing for the autosampler was used, avoiding Mg contamination from plastic ware, and screening out results from samples with very low Ca concentrations (<0.25 mM Ca).
Thomas Hobbes: Magnanimity, Felicity, and Justice

Thomas Hobbes’s concept of magnanimity, a descendant of Aristotle’s “greatness of soul,” plays a key role in Hobbes’s theory with respect to felicity and the virtue of justice. In his Critique du ‘De Mundo’, Hobbes implies that only genuinely magnanimous people can achieve the greatest felicity in their lives. A life of felicity is a life of pleasure, where the only pleasure that counts is the well grounded glory experienced by those who are magnanimous. Hobbes suggests that felicity involves the successful pursuit of desires, a pursuit at which the magnanimous are particularly adept. Additionally, Hobbes implies that those who possess the virtue of justice must also possess magnanimity; it is the just person’s “Nobleness or Gallantnesse of courage, (rarely found).” Leo Strauss and Dorothea Krook suggest that this cannot be Hobbes’s “final word” on justice, because, they say, Hobbes considers magnanimity a type of pride, which he derogates and cannot consistently associate with virtue. I argue that magnanimity, associated with well-grounded glory, is not a type of pride; only vain glory is.
Key Themes in Research on the Demography of Aging

For years, researchers and policymakers have attempted to focus attention on population aging by discussing the likely implications to individuals, governments, and society of the baby boom generation reaching old age. No longer can researchers and policymakers say that these are issues that will arise far into the future; the leading edge of the baby boom cohort—born in 1946—will turn age 65 next year. The future is upon us.The implications of this change in age structure are tremendous, although we may not fully understand the impact for years to come. However, an incredibly rich research infrastructure is now in place that did not exist just 20 years ago. Drawing on this infrastructure, scientists of today and tomorrow will generate new knowledge that will allow us to more intelligently address the most pressing social and economic issues facing society, issues such as the ones examined in this special issue.
A focussed review of scheduling in services

Abstract The paper first outlines the special characteristics of services, as compared to those of the manufacturing systems. The second section stresses that each of the service systems has its own major primary objective/objectives, but such primary objectives are invariably in conflict with the well-known cost-minimization objective of manufacturing systems. The paper also discusses the variety of legal, union, and budgetary constraints which must not be violated by the service-system managers under any circumstances. Finally, the paper lists eleven different types of service systems, showing for each the unique constraints, the special sets of conflicting objectives as designated by their respective managements, and the commonly used techniques, methods and procedures. The most important and the most frequently referenced articles related to each type of system are indicated.
Pulse Radiolysis Study of the Reactions of Hydrogen Atoms in the Ionic Liquid Methyltributylammonium Bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide

Reactions of hydrogen atoms with pyrene, phenanthrene, benzophenone, 2-propanol, and crotonic acid in the ionic liquid methyltributylammonium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide (R4NNTf2) were studied by pulse radiolysis. Radiolysis of the ionic liquid leads to formation of dry electrons and solvated electrons, which are scavenged by H3O+ to produce H• atoms. Hydrogen atoms react very rapidly with pyrene (3.8 × 109 L mol-1 s-1) and phenanthrene (2.9 × 109 L mol-1 s-1) to form H-adduct radicals with sharp absorption peaks at 405 and 395 nm, respectively. They also react with benzophenone to form ring adducts, but the reaction is much slower. By competition kinetics with pyrene, the rate constants for reactions of H• atoms with 2-PrOH and with crotonic acid were estimated to be ≈6 × 107 and 4.6 × 109 L mol-1 s-1, respectively. All the rate constants, except for benzophenone, are similar to the values measured or estimated for the same reactions in aqueous solutions. The reactions with the aromatic hydrocarb...
Short-term complications of central line placement in children with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize the perioperative complications of central venous catheter placement in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all central venous catheters placed by the surgical service into HIV-infected children from 1988 to 1998 at a large urban children's hospital. Complications occurring within 1 month of catheter placement were analyzed for several host and environmental factors. Results: Forty HIV-positive patients underwent 60 central venous access procedures. Thirty-two of the patients were severely immunosuppressed. Eight catheter placements (13%) resulted in perioperative complications, including hemorrhage (n = 2), site infection (n = 2), catheter sepsis (n = 2), thrombotic occlusion (n = 1), and a pleural effusion secondary to catheter malposition (n = 1). Only 3 patients required catheter removal. There was no significant relationship between either hemophilia or thrombocytopenia and perioperative hemorrhage. No significant relationship was found between infectious complications and preoperative white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, CD4% and CD4#, suggesting that a patient's compromised immune status should not be considered a contraindication to central venous catheter placement. Conclusion: The complication rate of central venous catheter placement into HIV-infected children is low ( J Pediatr Surg 36:1777-1780. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.