cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the treatment for large volume renal carcinoma between retroperitoneal and transperitoneal laparoscopic operation

Objective:To investigate the effect of retroperitoneal and transperitoneal laparoscopic operation for the treatment of large volume renal carcinoma,so as to provide scientific theoretical basis for the treatment of diseases.Methods:One hundred patients with large volume of renal cell carcinoma admitted from Dec.2011 to Dec.2013 were considered as the research object,and they were randomly divided into experimental group and control group with 50 patients in each group.The patients were treated with retroperitoneal laparoscopy in the control group,while the patients in the experimental group were treated with transperitoneal laparoscopic surgery.The treatment effects were observed and compared between the two groups.Results:The average amount of hemorrhage for the patients in the experimental group was( 256.5 ± 28.8) ml,with the mean postoperative hospital stay being( 5.7 ± 1.8) d,while the average of intraoperative bleeding for the patients in the control group was( 361.4 ± 30.5) ml,with the mean postoperative hospital stay being( 8.1 ±1.5) d.The total effective rate for the patients in the experimental group was 92%,the complication rate was 2%,while the total effective rate for the patients in the control group was 78% with the complication rate being 10%.The treatment effect of experimental group was significantly better than the control group( P 0.05).Conclusions:Compared with retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery for patients with large volume of renal cell carcinoma,transperitoneal laparoscopic surgery has better treatment effect.Therefore,this method is worth spreading and using in clinic.
A New Threaded Flexible Catheter Guide

Abstract A new threaded, flexible and reusable catheter guide has been developed, which is compatible with standard filiforms and Councill catheters. It can be used in various situations that involve difficult and complicated strictures, and insertion via a panendoscope. This catheter guide is inexpensive and simple to use.
The relationship of fetal weight to serum albumin and alpha-fetoprotein in swine.

The within-litter relationship of fetal weight to fetal serum albumin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was investigated at d 30 to 40, 45 to 50, 50 to 60, 75 to 85 and 90 to 105 of gestation in swine. Regression equations were calculated on individual litters and regression coefficients pooled across litters within each gestational age group. Coefficients for the regression of albumin on fetal weight (microgram . ml-1 . g fetus-1) were significant over all groups and ranged from 22.5 +/- 6.6 to d 45 to 50 to .7 +/- .2 at d 95 to 105. There was no significant relationship between AFP levels and fetal weight at any gestational age. Unilateral ovariectomy-hysterectomy was performed before mating to study effects of uterine crowding on the relationship of fetal weight to AFP and albumin. Although the total number of ovulations was not different from controls, this treatment resulted in only about 1.3 more fetuses/uterine horn compared with controls at either d 40 or 60 of gestation. Fetal weights in crowded litters were not different from controls. However, AFP levels in fetuses from crowded litters were lower than in control fetuses at d 40 (4.5 +/- .1 vs 6.7 +/- .5 mg/ml). Albumin levels in crowded fetuses were significantly lower than in controls at d 60 (342 +/- 50 vs 653 +/- 41 micrograms/ml). Because none of these differences in albumin or AFP could be attributed to variation in fetal weight or fetal number at the time of sample collection, it is possible that more extreme uterine crowding earlier in development resulted in these differences. These results demonstrate that fetal serum albumin concentrations are related to fetal weight when analyzed on a within-litter basis and that unilateral ovariectomy-hysterectomy may affect serum concentrations of both AFP and albumin early in fetal development. Future studies involving the regulation of synthesis of these proteins at the cellular level during development should provide information as to how factors affecting overall fetal growth and development influence the expression of a single gene. Previously, such markers that are amenable to study early in development have been lacking.
Planar wireless power tranfer system with embedded magnetic metamaterial resonators

The analysis of the performance of wireless power transfer (WPT) systems that use a planar array of magnetic metamaterial (MM) resonators embedded in the transmitter and receiver loop coils is presented. A high quality factor (Q) multiturn planar spiral loaded with a chip capacitor is used to create a compact subwavelength metamaterial unit cell, which shows a better control of the WPT system resonance frequency and overall Q factor than conventionally used self-resonance coils. Cases with one unit cell, 2×2 and 3×3 MM arrays are investigated. The measured results show a stable power transfer with up to 78% power transfer efficiency (PTE) at a distance of 3 cm for a 3×3 array. The results show that planar lumped element based embedded metamaterial slabs in the transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) help improve the PTE for resonant inductive and non-resonant WPT systems.
Bridging the gap between designed and implemented controllers via adaptive robust discrete sliding mode control

Abstract Bridging the gap between designed and implemented model-based controllers is a major challenge in the design cycle of industrial controllers. This gap is created due to (i) digital implementation of controller software that introduces sampling and quantization uncertainties, and (ii) uncertainties in the modeled plant's dynamics. In this paper, a new adaptive and robust model-based control approach is developed based on a nonlinear discrete sliding mode controller (DSMC) formulation to mitigate implementation imprecisions and model uncertainties, that consequently minimizes the gap between designed and implemented controllers. The new control approach incorporates the predicted values of the implementation uncertainties into the controller structure. Moreover, a generic adaptation mechanism will be derived to remove the errors in the nonlinear modeled dynamics. The proposed control approach is illustrated on a nonlinear automotive engine control problem. The designed DSMC is tested in real-time in a processor-in-the-loop (PIL) setup using an actual electronic control unit (ECU). The verification test results show that the proposed controller design, under ADC and model uncertainties, can improve the tracking performance up to 60% compared to a conventional controller design.
Site-Directed Spin-Label EPR Spectroscopy of M2 Protein in Lipid Bilayers of Different Curvature Generation Propensity

M2 is a homotetrameric membrane protein critical to generation of membrane curvature in the budding stage of the influenza A virus life cycle. We have designed and interpreted site-directed spin-label electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (SDSL-EPR) experiments on the conformation and dynamics of M2 in lipid bilayers of different propensities for membrane curvature generation. We have obtained data for full length M2 protein spin labelled at multiple sites in the C-terminal juxtamembrane region, which forms a membrane associated amphipathic helix. Continuous wave (CW) and pulsed EPR spectra provide evidence that M2 adopts two conformational states in bilayers, and that the propensity of lipids to form membranes of differing curvature dictates the relative population of these states. Multicomponent simulation of CW-EPR spectra further show lipid bilayers of the highly curved cubic phases stabilize an immobilized conformation of M2, hypothesized to be relevant for curvature generation. We have also characterized the size distribution of large unilamellar vesicles of lipids of different curvature generation propensities alone and in the presence of full-length M2 using dynamic light scattering (DLS).
Morphological Characters in Cheilanthes together with a Key to North and Central American Species

Abstract Both general and specific facts on the leaf, stem, distribution and life cycle of fifty-one species in the fern genus Cheilanthes have been brought together for the first time. An understanding of morphology and cytology is of paramount importance in determining the course of evolution in the genus. Based on an analysis of some important characters, a key to all of the species has been constructed.
Heidegger and the myth of a Jewish world conspiracy

Andrew J. Mitchell, associate professor of philosophy at Emory University, is the translator of the third edition of Peter Trawny’s 2014 book Heidegger and the Myth of a Jewish World Conspiracy (He...
O07.5 Predictors of responsiveness among american indian adolescents to a community-based hiv risk-reduction intervention

Introduction American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescents suffer disparities in sexually transmitted infection, HIV/AIDS and unintended pregnancy. Deficits in culturally relevant risk-reduction interventions exacerbate sexual health inequalities. Our tribal-academic partnership evaluated a culturally congruent HIV risk-reduction intervention called: Respecting the Circle of Life (RCL) through a randomised controlled trial. This analysis assesses individual level predictive factors for unresponsiveness to the RCL program. Methods 267 AIs ages 13–19 participated; data was collected at baseline, immediately post, 6- and 12 months post-intervention. Regression analyses examined how baseline levels of 5 factors, established as pre-requisites for behaviour change, predicted responsiveness to the RCL program including: HIV prevention/treatment knowledge, belief condoms prevent pregnancy/infection, condom use intention, condom use self-efficacy, and partner negotiation on condom use. Results The strongest intervention impact was observed immediately post-intervention. RCL had greater impact on all 5 factors among low and medium initial scorers. Overall, high initial scorers in HIV prevention/treatment knowledge and belief that condoms prevent pregnancy/infection were predictive of unresponsiveness to RCL. Specifically, never skipping school was predictive of unresponsiveness to RCL for HIV/AIDS knowledge; female gender was predictive of unresponsiveness for condom belief; and high baseline HIV/AIDS knowledge was predictive of unresponsiveness for condom use intention. Conclusion Results suggest AI youth with higher risk factors (lower levels of knowledge, beliefs, intentions and skills) are more likely to respond to RCL. By identifying characteristics of unresponsive youth, we can modify RCL to improve its effectiveness among these subgroups. RCL is one of the first HIV risk-reduction programs developed for and rigorously evaluated with AI communities, thus replication implications are relevant for other AI/AN and indigenous populations.
Strong Civil Society as a Double-Edged Sword: Siting Trailers in Post-Katrina New Orleans

To meet the dire need for housing following Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials created lists of potential sites for trailer parks. We analyze approved sites to track which factors were linked with larger (or smaller) numbers of trailers and trailer sites per zip code block. Areas which displayed greater levels of social capital, as evidenced by voluntaristic activities such as voting, were slated for fewer trailers, controlling for race, income, education, flood damage, and other relevant factors. Civil society worked simultaneously to bring citizens together while mobilizing them against the threat of trailer parks in their backyards.
A layered graphical model for mission attack impact analysis

Business or military missions are supported by hardware and software systems. Unanticipated cyber activities occurring in supporting systems can impact such missions. In order to quantify such impact, we describe a layered graphical model as an extension of forensic investigation. Our model has three layers: the upper layer models operational tasks that constitute the mission and their inter-dependencies. The middle layer reconstructs attack scenarios from available evidence to reconstruct their inter-relationships. In cases where not all evidence is available, the lower level reconstructs potentially missing attack steps. Using the three levels of graphs constructed in these steps, we present a method to compute the impacts of attack activities on missions. We use NIST National Vulnerability Database's (NVD)-Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scores or forensic investigators' estimates in our impact computations. We present a case study to show the utility of our model.
Bodycam Footage as Document: An Exploratory Analysis.

In the United States, bodycameras have been hailed by both civil-rights organizations and police forces as a source of superior evidence than can curtail excessive police force while protecting officers from spurious claims. Polices guiding their deployment have relied on traditional definition of bodycam footage as public record, and correspondingly focused on conditions of access to and control of the record. This paper applies the theoretical framework developed by the RTP-doc collective to analyze bodycam footage along three different dimensions—formal/material, content/semiotic, and medium/social—to provide a broader picture of the footage as document. The resulting analysis provides the groundwork for stakeholders to devise policies and ethical positions that better account for the multi-dimensional nature of the technology.
Fibrations and Homotopy Groups

The theory of fibrations is a very useful tool in the determination of homotopy groups. For a fibration (E,B,F,p), there is a relationship between the homotopy groups of E, B and F, and this often allows us to determine the homotopy of one of these spaces, given that of the others. In this chapter we will formulate particular cases of this relationship, and show how they can be used in the computation of homotopy groups of specific spaces. Later we will see how to derive these particular cases from a single general theorem—the theorem on the exact homotopy sequence of fibrations, which we prove in Section 11.2.
New Developments in the Establishment of Gene Linkage Relationships in Man

Mouse/man somatic cell hybrids segregate human chromosomes. It is possible to recover independently derived hybrids which possess different numbers and combinations of human chromosomes plus an intact mouse genome. The human chromosomes can be identified by a variety of cytological techniques. The presence or absence of specific human chromosomes can be correlated with the presence or absence of specific human enzyme phenotypes. Concordant segregation of phenotypes and chromosomes provides evidence for human gene assignment to particular chromosomes. Using this approach, we have assigned LDH-A to C-11, Pep B to C-12, IDH to F-20, and TK to E-17. Evidence has been obtained for the restriction of TK to the long arm of E-17, making use of spontaneous chromosome rearrangements. Evidence also has been obtained which supports the translocation between man and mouse chromosomes. These and related matters will be discussed.
Basal Ganglia: Motor Functions

Of the multiple parallel cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits, several include motor areas of the frontal and parietal lobes. The basal ganglia output is inhibitory and acts to influence oculomotor and skeletomotor stability and movement. The discharge of basal ganglia output neurons reflects both the kinematic variables of the movement and the conditions under which the movements are made. Activity in these circuits also is modulated by the probability of success/reward, which is signaled by the release of dopamine from nigrostriatal neurons. Dopamine, which is deficient in Parkinson’s disease, is necessary for normal synaptic plasticity in the basal ganglia, and its absence may lead to an inability to scale synaptic strength appropriately.
Phospholipid alterations in canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum induced by an acid-active phospholipase C.

Phospholipid alterations and phospholipase activities were studied in a preparation of canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) known to contain lysosomes. Incubation of SR at pH 5.0 (37°C) resulted in a loss in total lipid phosphorus which was maximal (10%) by 30 min. whereas a modest increase in lipid phosphorus occurred during incubation at pH 7.0. The content of phospholipid phosphorus was decreased (8.6–19.0%) in sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine when SR was incubated at pH 5.0; however phosphatidic acid increased 14% relative to control. Lysophospholipids were not detected. Liposomes of 1-acyl 2-[1 14C]-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylethanolamine (14C-PE) were hydrolyzed by SR at pH 5.0 to yield radiolabelled diglyceride (18.1 nmol/hr mg protein) and free fatty acid (8.3 nmol/hr mg protein). SR-mediated diglyceride production at pH 5.0, but not free fatty acid release, was markedly potentiated when 14C-PE was peroxidized by preincubation at pH 5.0 for 3-24 hours at 37°C. After 24 hours of preincubation at pH 5.0 the specific activity of SR-mediated diglyceride production was 188% of control. A comparable increase in diglyceride production occurred when 14C-PE was peroxidized at pH 7.0 and hydrolyzed by SR at pH 5.0. No increase in enzymatic activity occurred when liposomes were both preincubated and assayed at pH 7.0. When 14C-PE was exposed to air at pH 5.0 or 7.0 more polar radiolabelled derivativtes were formed as determined by thin layer chromatography. Up to twice as much polar lipid was formed at pH 5.0 compared to pH 7.0. The time dependent generation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances indicated the formation of peroxidation products during incubation of PE liposomes. The concentration of peroxidation products in solution was greater at pH 7.0 than at pH 5.0. These results demonstrate that peroxidation of PE increases susceptibility to hydrolysis by a nonspecific, acid-active, phospholipase C associated with SR. This enzyme, probably of lysosomal origin, may be important in cardiac membrane dysfunction during ischaemia in which H+ and oxygen radicals are known to participate.
Economic Analysis of the N-k Power Grid Contingency Selection and Evaluation

Contingency analysis is important for providing information about the vulnerability of power grids. Many methods have been purposed to use topological structures of power grids for analyzing contingency states. Considering failures of buses and lines, we present and compare several graph methods for selecting contingencies in this chapter. A new method, called critical node detection, is introduced for selecting contingencies consisting of failures on buses. Besides these methods, we include an interdiction model which provides the worst case contingency selection. Our measurement for contingency evaluation is to maximize the social benefit, or to minimize the generating and load shedding cost. Comparing with other measurements for contingency selection, our model is based on economic analysis and is reasonable for evaluating the selected contingency state. Additionally, a contingency consisting of both buses and lines is also studied.
Synchronicity and Creativity

Synchronicity is the occurrence of meaningful coincidences that seem to have no cause. The domains of psychology, biology, and physics have discussed synchronicity. Though controversial because of its mystical implications, synchronicity has resonance for creativity in that the underlying idea is that there is unity in diversity.
Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas Disease: Cause and Effect

Despite the fact that the association between infection with T. cruzi and the disease known as Chagas disease was discovered nearly 100 years ago, the cause and effect relationship between the infection and the severity of disease is still hotly debated. The crux of the debate revolves around the question of what instigates and perpetuates the damage that ultimately results in disease symptoms: the parasite and the immune response to it, or the host, as a result of failure to regulate autoreactive immune responses. It is generally (although not universally) agreed that in both cases it is the host immune response, and not direct parasite-mediated destruction of tissue, which is responsible for tissue damage. Much of the literature in this area tends to treat T. cruzi infection and Chagas disease as two almost completely separate, even unrelated, entities. This chapter presents arguments in favor of a tight association between the course of T. cruzi infection, and in particular the persistence of T. cruzi in chronically infected hosts, and the occurrence and severity of Chagas disease.
Impact of Vasoactive Medications on ICU-Acquired Weakness in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Background Vasoactive medications are commonly used in the treatment of critically ill patients, but their impact on the development of ICU-acquired weakness is not well described. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between vasoactive medication use and the outcome of ICU-acquired weakness. Methods This is a secondary analysis of mechanically ventilated patients (N = 172) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of early occupational and physical therapy vs conventional therapy, which evaluated the end point of ICU-acquired weakness on hospital discharge. Patients underwent bedside muscle strength testing by a therapist blinded to study allocation to evaluate for ICU-acquired weakness. The effects of vasoactive medication use on the incidence of ICU-acquired weakness in this population were assessed. Results On logistic regression analysis, the use of vasoactive medications increased the odds of developing ICU-acquired weakness (odds ratio [OR], 3.2; P = .01) independent of all other established risk factors for weakness. Duration of vasoactive medication use (in days) (OR, 1.35; P = .004) and cumulative norepinephrine dose (μg/kg/d) (OR, 1.01; P = .02) (but not vasopressin or phenylephrine) were also independently associated with the outcome of ICU-acquired weakness. Conclusions In mechanically ventilated patients enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of early mobilization, the use of vasoactive medications was independently associated with the development of ICU-acquired weakness. Prospective trials to further evaluate this relationship are merited. Trial Registry ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01777035; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov
Aberrant lipid metabolism as a therapeutic target in liver cancer.

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and lethal cancers. Progress has been made in treatment of HCC; however, improved outcomes are much needed. The increased meta...
Repression of the Glucocorticoid Receptor Increases Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in the Male Neonatal Rat

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) resulting from asphyxia is the most common cause of neonatal brain damage and results in significant neurological sequelae, including cerebral palsy. The current therapeutic interventions are extremely limited in improving neonatal outcomes. The present study tests the hypothesis that the suppression of endogenous glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the brain increases hypoxic-ischemic (HI) induced neonatal brain injury and worsens neurobehavioral outcomes through the promotion of increased inflammation. A mild HI treatment of P9 rat pups with ligation of the right common carotid artery followed by the treatment of 8% O2 for 60 min produced more significant brain injury with larger infarct size in female than male pups. Intracerebroventricular injection of GR siRNAs significantly reduced GR protein and mRNA abundance in the neonatal brain. Knockdown of endogenous brain GRs significantly increased brain infarct size after HI injury in male, but not female, rat pups. Moreover, GR repression resulted in a significant increase in inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-10 at 6 h after HI injury in male pups. Male pups treated with GR siRNAs showed a significantly worsened reflex response and exhibited significant gait disturbances. The present study demonstrates that endogenous brain GRs play an important role in protecting the neonatal brain from HI induced injury in male pups, and suggests a potential role of glucocorticoids in sex differential treatment of HIE in the neonate.
Second-Trimester Ultrasound-Measured Umbilical Cord Insertion-to-Placental Edge Distance: Determining an Outcome-Based Threshold for Identifying Marginal Cord Insertions.

OBJECTIVES We sought to study potential diagnostic criteria for marginal placental cord insertions as determined by associations with obstetric outcomes. METHODS This single-center retrospective cohort investigation included singleton gestations delivering from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016, and having a standard or detailed fetal ultrasound examination from 18 weeks to 21 weeks 6 days. Cord insertion-to-placental edge distances were used to create a referent comparison group and 3 patient groups: greater than 3.0 cm (comparison); greater than 2.0 to 3.0 cm (group 1); greater than 1.0 to 2.0 cm (group 2); and 1.0 cm or less (group 3). The primary outcome consisted of any one of spontaneous delivery before 37 weeks, fetal growth restriction, oligohydramnios, placental abruption, or intrauterine fetal demise. RESULTS The numbers of participants and mean distances ± SDs for the comparison group and groups 1 to 3, respectively, were 628 and 4.68 ± 1.17 cm, 106 and 2.52 ± 0.26 cm, 131 and 1.60 ± 0.29 cm, and 77 and 0.36 ± 0.37 cm, respectively. The primary outcome was significantly associated only with cord insertion-to-placental edge distances of 1.0 cm or less (adjusted odds ratio, 3.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.73-5.38). CONCLUSIONS Marginal cord insertions may be diagnosed when the cord insertion-to-placental edge distance is 1.0 cm or less.
Development of a LC-MS/MS method for urinary hydroxytyrosol as a marker for consumption of olive oil

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop and validate a LC-MS/MS method to quantitate hydroxytyrosol in urine for clinical studies to monitor compliance of consumption of dietary extra virgin olive oil. Both pre-analytical and analytical issues were examined. The stability of hydroxytyrosol was monitored in both urine and synthetic urine at four different temperatures (room temperature, 4 °C, −20 °C, or −80 °C) for four weeks either with or without the additive acetic acid. The LC-MS/MS method was validated by performing linearity, imprecision, recovery, and carryover studies.
Protocol and Preliminary Results of the Nutritarian Women’s Health Study: A Longitudinal Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Study Assessing Dietary Intake and Health Outcomes:

Whole-food plant-rich dietary patterns have been shown to be associated with significant health benefits and disease-risk reduction. One such program, which has been gaining popularity, is the micr...
Targeting tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) mediated inhibition of T-cell migration in prostate cancer using epigenetic modifying agents.

166Background: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) perform vital anti-tumor functions and are critical to the efficacy of many anticancer therapies. In prostate cancer, the characteristic paucity of act...
Feasibility and Acceptability of Ecological Momentary Assessment with High-Risk Suicidal Adolescents Following Acute Psychiatric Care

Objective: The study purpose was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of intensive ecological momentary assessment (EMA) among high-risk adolescents with suicidal thoughts and behaviors fol...
Orthopedic Trauma and Sports Injuries

Pediatric and adolescent multi-skeletal injuries are common in trauma patients and student athletes that participate in sports. Awareness of these unique injuries can lead to prompt recognition and better outcomes.
Validity and reliability of a novel numeric rating scale to measure skin-pain in adults with atopic dermatitis.

Little is known about the measurement properties of numeric rating scales (NRS) for pain in AD. We evaluated a novel NRS for skin-pain and existing NRS for average overall-pain in adults with AD. Self-administered questionnaires and skin-examination were performed in 463 AD patients (age 18–97 years) in a dermatology practice setting. Numeric rating scales skin-pain and average overall-pain had moderate correlations with each other, and multiple clinician-reported and patient-reported AD severity outcomes (Spearman correlations, P < 0.0001). There were significant and stepwise increases of NRS skin-pain and average overall-pain scores with patient-reported global severity (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, P < 0.0001). Floor-effects were observed for NRS skin-pain and average overall-pain. Changes from baseline in NRS skin-pain and average overall-pain showed weak–moderate correlations with changes of POEM, vIGA-AD*BSA, SCORAD, and DLQI. Using an anchoring approach, the optimal interpretability band for NRS skin-pain was clear = 0, mild = 1–3, moderate = 5–6, severe = 7–9, and very severe = 10 (weighted kappa = 0.4923). The thresholds for minimally clinically important difference for NRS skin-pain ranged from 2.2 to 2.9. NRS skin-pain and average overall-pain showed moderate–good reliability. Numeric rating scales skin-pain and average overall-pain had sufficient validity, reliability, responsiveness, and interpretability in adults with AD, and were inherently feasible as single-items for use in clinical trials and practice.
Coarse grained simulations of shock-driven turbulent material mixing

We revisit coarse-grained simulation strategies for turbulent material mixing applications involving shock-driven turbulence in the context of the Radiation Adaptive Grid Eulerian (xRAGE) hydrodynamics and Besnard–Harlow–Rauenzahn (BHR) Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes codes, using newly available Low-Mach-Corrected (LMC) xRAGE hydrodynamics. Impact assessments are based on comparisons with a relevant shock-tube experiment for which turbulent mixing and velocity data are available. xRAGE Implicit Large-Eddy Simulation (ILES) and a recently proposed xRAGE-BHR bridging paradigm are tested. Bridging models turbulent stresses dynamically, based on decomposing the full stress into modeled and resolved components, using a differential filter as a secondary filtering operation to define the resolved part, and additionally requiring the resolved stress to approach the full stress with grid resolution refinement to ensure realizability of the bridging-based large-eddy simulation. Much improved scale-resolving with LMC-xRAGE ILES and with dynamic LMC-xRAGE/BHR bridging enables higher simulated mixing and turbulence levels on coarser grids. For the tested planar shock-tube case, the more-accurate models can achieve the same level of accuracy with less resolution than required with the highest-fidelity turbulence simulation models typically used at scale with default xRAGE hydrodynamics; two-levels of grid-coarsening savings can be thus achieved for the mixing prediction in these comparisons: one associated with the more-accurate LMC xRAGE hydrodynamics and an additional one from using the dynamic xRAGE-BHR bridging.
Resilience in LGBTQ PoC

LGBTQ People of Color (PoC) experience chronic oppression and their ability to survive these experiences is often attributed to their remarkable resilience. This chapter analyzes theoretical models focused on resilience for sexual/gender minority PoC. In particular, how LGBTQ PoC experience individual and community resilience is explored. Moreover, frameworks such as syndemics are discussed, and themes related to intersectionality and religiosity are highlighted as a societal-level factor pertaining to resilience building for LGBTQ PoC. Together, this chapter serves as a summary of findings on resilience in LGBTQ PoC, while also providing a critique and suggestions for future research in the study of resilience with racial/ethnic LGBTQ communities.
An Exploration of the Authoritative School Climate Construct Using Multilevel Latent Class Analysis

The authoritative school climate construct, or the degree to which schools demonstrate student support and disciplinary structure, predicts several important student outcomes (e.g., racial suspension gap, student disengagement). To better understand this construct, we used multilevel latent class analysis to identify latent classes of student perceptions of school climate, model school-level variation in student experiences, and examine the relation between school climate and student and school demographics. Using a nationally representative sample of public high students in the USA, results show that student perceptions of school climate fall into four classes, Authoritative, Permissive, Authoritarian, and Uninvolved, which are consistent with authoritative school climate literature. Student gender, ethnicity/race, and SES all impact a student’s likelihood of membership in these classes. Schools tend to have a predominant school climate experience, although considerable variability in individual student experiences within a school exists. Findings address gaps in the authoritative school climate literature and have important implications for future research and policy.
3D printing: Bioinspired materials for drug delivery

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) printing as an advanced manufacturing technology is becoming popular in the pharmaceutical industry to overcome the limitations of traditional manufacturing such as tuning pill size and shape, making medicine personalized, adding multiple drugs in a single pill, etc. Polymers are the key materials that are necessary for 3D printing of the pill. Bioinspired materials are polymers that typically derived from natural sources. Bioinspired polymers such as collagen and its derivative, cellulose derivative, polylactic acid, alginate, etc. are found to use in 3D printing of pharmaceuticals. Fused deposition modeling and pressure-assisted microsyringe are among all 3D printing processes well researched in the pharmaceutical industry. This chapter has summarized different bioinspired polymers, its rheological properties, its effect on 3D printing of pharmaceutical drugs, and current technological challenges using bioinspired materials.
The Long Duration: The Geohistory of the Yucatán Peninsula

As outlined previously, certain long-term forces provide the baseline or framework within which cultures and people function. These long-term forces include permanent or persistent environmental and cultural features that define the constraints and possibilities confronting human actors in a particular region (Bintliff 1991). These forces act at the longest wavelength of time, and therefore, they change at a nearly imperceptible rate. Processes such as geohistory, technology, subsistence mode, and worldview are long-term forces that inform and direct the actions of individuals at any particular point in history. These forces define the baseline on which a culture is grounded, and therefore, it is imperative that the processes comprising such forces be defined if the motivations behind a given culture are to be understood. Furthermore, any cultural change that takes place over the short or medium term will be registered against this long-term baseline.
How Do Students in an Innovative Principle-Based Mechanics Course Understand Energy Concepts?.

We investigated students' conceptual learning of energy topics in an innovative college-level introductory mechanics course, entitled Matter & Interactions (M&I) Modern Mechanics. This course differs from traditional curricula in that it emphasizes application of a small number of fundamental principles across various scales, involving microscopic atoms, macroscopic deformable objects, and large-scale planetary systems. To best match the unique features of this course, a multiple-choice energy assessment was developed. We followed the development framework and explicitly delineated test purpose, scope, and specifications to guide the design, implementation and evaluation of the energy assessment. Also, particular attention was given to: (1) categorizing content and cognition levels and (2) determining reasoning steps of each test item—aspects that often were not explicitly addressed in designing prior concept assessments. We implemented the energy assessment as a written test before and after course instruction with M&I students at two research universities. Interviews were also conducted to explore students' reasoning in applying energy concepts. Results showed that positive change in student conceptual understanding after course instruction was significant on the entire assessment, on individual items, and on individual test objectives. Subsequent interviews further revealed that after instruction students could properly apply the Energy Principle and perform qualitative analysis without using formula sheets. However, students still showed difficulty in dealing with systems involving deformable objects. This study exemplifies practical means of establishing and evaluating key assessment features, provides evidence for the effectiveness of a principle-focused approach to physics learning, and offers useful implications for teaching energy topics. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 9999: 1–26, 2013
Automating modular program verification by refining specifications

Modular analyses of software systems rely on the specifications of the analyzed modules. In many analysis techniques (e.g. ESC/Java), the specifications have to be provided by users. This puts a considerable burden on users and thus limits the applicability of such techniques. To avoid this problem, some modular analysis techniques automatically extract module summaries that capture specific aspects of the modules' behaviors. However, such summaries are only useful in checking a restricted class of properties. We describe a static modular analysis that automatically extracts procedure specifications in order to check heap-manipulating programs against rich data structure properties. Extracted specifications are context-dependent; their precision depends on both the property being checked, and the calling context in which they are used. Starting from a rough over-approximation of the behavior of each call site, our analysis computes an abstraction of the procedure being analyzed and checks it against the property. Specifications are further refined, as needed, in response to spurious counterexamples. The analysis terminates when either the property has been validated (with respect to a finite domain), or a non-spurious counterexample has been found. Furthermore, we describe a lightweight static technique to extract specifications of heap-manipulating procedures. These specifications neither are context-dependent, nor require any domain finitizations. They summarize the general behavior of procedures in terms of their effect on program state. They bound the values of all variables and fields in the post-state of the procedure by relational expressions in terms of their values in the pre-state. The analysis maintains both upper and lower bounds so that in some cases an exact result can be obtained. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Effect of reinforcements on properties of self-setting calcium phosphate cement

Calcium phosphate cement makes a suitable material to be used for craniofacial and orthopedic repairs because of its biocompatibility, bioresorbability and quick setting properties. These materials have an advantage over polymers and metals in that they are non-toxic and lightweight. However, the low strength of calcium phosphate prohibits its use in stress bearing bone joints. This study investigates the improvements in mechanical properties of calcium phosphate cement by reinforcements. Monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (Aldrich Chemicals, Milwaukee, WI) and β-tricalcium phosphate, synthesized by the organic steric entrapment method, were the primary components of the cement. Upon setting the cement transformed into brushite. β-TCP and cement after setting, were analyzed by X-ray analysis, EDS. Two different types of reinforcements were used, namely, (a) chopped hydroxyapatite (HA) fibers, and (b) borosilicate glass spheres. Rod shaped particles (less than 500 μm in length) were made by chopping the sintered HA fibers (about 115-120 μm in diameter). Borosilicate glass spheres, prepared by glass melting methods, had diameters in the range of 25 to 70 μm. Samples were prepared with different weight fractions of the reinforcements, and tested both in flexure and compression mode. Effects of size, shape, and weight fraction of the inclusions on the strength of the biocomposite are discussed.
To Prove the Optimal Packing

Kepler's Conjecture How Some of the Greatest Minds in History Helped Solve One of the Oldest Math Problems in the World. By George G. Szpiro . Wiley, New York, 2003. 304 pp. $24.95, C$38.95, £18.50. ISBN 0-471-08601-0. Writing for a popular audience, Szpiro provides an account of the history of efforts--from Kepler to Tom Hales--to prove that the densest packing of spheres is given by the face-centered cubic arrangement.
The nucleus lateralis tuberis system of the gobiid fish Gillichthys mirabilis

The nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT) system of the teleost fish Gillichthys mirabilis was studied with respect to the anatomical organization and distribution of the neurosecretory neurons and the nature of their secretory material. NLT neurons occur in several different areas in the tuberal region of the hypothalamus, located immediately above the pituitary gland. Only the lateral and rostral NLT neurons show definite secretory activity. These neurons, generally of large size, contain numerous large granulated vesicles (LGV), 900–1,000 A in diameter; on the other hand, the medial and ventrolateral neurons, forming a single layer of cells, are of small size and do not appear to be secretory. LGV are positive after ethanol-phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA) and zinc iodide-osmium tetroxide (ZIO) impregnations. Lateral and rostral neurosecretory neurons also show strong yellow-to-green specific fluorescence after the Falck-Hillarp technique, a strong indication that LGV are the site of catecholamine storage.
Dynamic reconfiguration of a PMMLA for high-throughput applications

High throughput and dynamic reconfigurability are required in many tasks, especially real-time applications. A logical structure of parallel computing system for such applications is a pipeline of multiprocessor modules in form of a linear array (PMMLA). This paper proposes a scheme to dynamically reconfigure the system by varying the number of processors in each stage of the PMMLA to maintain load balancing among stages.
Cretaceous planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Calera Limestone, Northern California, USA

The Calera Limestone is the largest, most stratigraphically extensive limestone unit of oceanic character included in the Franciscan Complex of northern California. The aim of this paper is to place the Calera Limestone at its type locality (Rockaway Beach, Pacifica) in a high-resolution biostratigraphy utilizing planktic foraminifers studied in thin section. A section, about 110 m-thick, was measured from the middle thrust slice exposed by quarrying on the southwest side of Calera Hill at Pacifica Quarry. Lithologically, the section is divided in two units; a lower unit with 73 m of black to dark-grey limestone, black chert and tuff, and an upper unit with 36.8 m of light-grey limestone and medium-grey chert. Two prominent black-shale layers rich in organic carbon occur 11 m below the top of the lower black unit and at the boundary with overlying light-grey unit, yielding a total organic content (TOC) of 4.7% and 1.8% t.w., respectively. The fossiliferous Calera Limestone section measured at Pacifica Quarry, from the lower black shale, contains eleven zones and three subzones that span approximately 26 m.y. from the early Aptian to the late Cenomanian. The zones identified range from the Globigerinelloides blowi Zone to the Dicarinella algeriana Subzone of the Rotalipora cushmani Zone. Within this biostratigraphic interval, the Ticinella bejaouaensis and Hedbergella planispira Zones at the Aptian/Albian boundary are missing as are the Rotalipora subticinensis Subzone of the Biticinella breggiensis Zone and the overlying Rotalipora ticinensis Zone in the late Albian owing both to low-angle thrust faulting and to unconformities. The abundance and preservation of planktic foraminifers are poor in the lower part and improve only within the upper G. algerianus Zone. The faunal relationship indicate that the lower black shale occurs in the upper part of the G. blowi Zone and correlates with the Selli Event recognized at global scale in the early Aptian. The upper black shale occurs at or near the boundary between the G. ferreolensis and G. algerianus Zone in the late Aptian. This black layer, or Thalmann Event as named here, seems to represent the sedimentary expression, at the scale of Permanente Terrane, of a global perturbation of the carbon cycle.
High-speed characterization and mechanical modeling of microscale, axial-flux, permanent-magnet generators

This paper reports the high-speed experimental characterization of a microscale, axial-flux, permanent-magnet (PM) generator to failure. A single-phase, open-circuit voltage of 0.9 V/sub rms/ was measured at 225 krpm, which corresponds to 3.3 W of DC power if the machine were connected via power electronics to a matched resistive load. Finite-element analysis was used to model and examine the mechanical design of the high-speed rotor assembly to increase the speed and, hence, output power of the device. Ultimately, rotor speeds of 325 krpm were achieved using a titanium rotor housing.
Spike Frequency Decoding and Autonomous Activation of Ca2+–Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II in Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Autonomous activation of calcium–calmodulin kinase (CaMKII) has been proposed as a molecular mechanism for decoding Ca2+ spike frequencies resulting from action potential firing, but this has not been investigated in intact neurons. This was studied in mouse DRG neurons in culture using confocal measurements of [Ca2+]i and biochemical measurements of CaMKII autophosphorylation and autonomous activity. Using electrical stimulation at different frequencies, we find that CaMKII autonomous activity reached near maximal levels after ∼45 impulses, regardless of firing frequency (1–10 Hz), and autonomous activity declined with prolonged stimulation. Frequency-dependent activation of CaMKII was limited to spike frequencies in the range of 0.1–1 Hz, despite marked increases in [Ca2+]i at higher frequencies (1–30 Hz). The high levels of autonomous activity measured before stimulation and the relatively long duration of Ca2+ spikes induced by action potentials (∼300 msec) are consistent with the lower frequency range of action potential decoding by CaMKII. The high autonomous activity under basal conditions was associated with extracellular [Ca2+], independently from changes in [Ca2+]i, and unrelated to synaptic or spontaneous impulse activity. CaMKII autonomous activity in response to brief bursts of action potentials correlated better with the frequency of Ca2+ transients than with the concentration of [Ca2+]i. In conclusion, CaMKII may decode frequency-modulated responses between 0.1 and 1 Hz in these neurons, but other mechanisms may be required to decode higher frequencies. Alternatively, CaMKII may mediate high-frequency responses in subcellular microdomains in which the enzyme is maintained at a low level of autonomous activity or the Ca2+ transients have faster kinetics.