cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ventilator-induced lung injury and lung mechanics.

Mechanical ventilation applies physical stresses to the tissues of the lung and thus may give rise to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), particular in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The most dire consequences of VILI result from injury to the blood-gas barrier. This allows plasma-derived fluid and proteins to leak into the airspaces where they flood some alveolar regions, while interfering with the functioning of pulmonary surfactant in those regions that remain open. These effects are reflected in commensurately increased values of dynamic lung elastance ( E L ), a quantity that in principle is readily measured at the bedside. Recent mathematical/computational modeling studies have shown that the way in which EL varies as a function of both time and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) reflects the nature and degree of lung injury, and can even be used to infer the separate contributions of volutrauma and atelectrauma to VILI. Interrogating such models for minimally injurious regimens of mechanical ventilation that apply to a particular lung may thus lead to personalized approaches to the ventilatory management of ARDS.
Designing Coils for Compact Stellarators

A method is presented for designing coils for compact stellarators. In contrast to methods that select a finite number of coils from an optimal continuous surface current distribution, the COILOPT code solves for the optimal parameters in an explicit representation of modular coils on a toroidal winding surface that is well separated from the plasma boundary, together with the coefficients of the winding surface. The problem is posed as a balance between approximating a prescribed magnetic configuration and satisfying certain critical engineering requirements. Results are presented for quasi-axisymmetric and quasi-poloidal compact stellarator designs.
Body transplants and ethical values. Viewpoints of public health professionals.

Abstract Beliefs and ethical judgements about practices involving uses of deceased bodies and body parts, the selection of the donor and his death, and the selection of recipients for organs or prosthetics were obtained by interview from 76 and by questionnaire from 229 graduate students in public health, queried prior to November, 1967. The majority hold ethical positions consonant with current practices and tend to be cautious regarding changes. Ethical judgements appear unrelated to age, sex, education, religious or professional identification; physicians and nurses (45 per cent of sample) do not differ in position from other professionals. Religiously based beliefs about the presence of a human soul, the sanctity of deceased bodies and the definition and value of a human life are found to be significantly associated with ethical positions, but with considerable individual variation. A position of “situational ethics” seems to maintain.
Effects of Growth Rate and Temperature on Metamorphosis in Eurycea wilderae (Caudata, Plethodontidae, Hemidactyliinae, Spelerpini; Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander)

The southeastern US has an incredibly diverse salamander fauna that contains ∼17% of the world's species. Furthermore, there is more variation in salamander life-cycle there than elsewhere—the diversity includes metamorphosing, paedomorphic, and directdeveloping species. The most diverse family in the world and in the southeastern US are the salamanders in the family Plethodontidae. I tested the hypothesis that variation in larvalgrowth history causes variation in metamorphic timing in Eurycea wilderae (Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander), a member of 1 of the 3 lineages of plethodontid salamanders that metamorphose. Larval Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamanders were grown at 2 food levels and at 2 temperatures. Larvae that were fed more food grew faster, but effects on earlier metamorphic timing were minimal (3.84%, 13 d, P = 0.071). In contrast, larvae grown at a high temperature metamorphosed an average of 32.98% (55 d) earlier that those grown at a low temperature. In many amphibian species, the timing of metamorphosis is strongly affected by temperature and by variation in food availability. The weak response in timing of metamorphosis to variation in food is consistent with findings for other plethodontids and may be unique among amphibians.
Structure–property relationships of hydrothermally treated western hemlock

Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), mostly found in west coast of North America, is a highly underutilized and low-value timber species, partially because of the presence of wet pockets, which makes wood processing challenging, especially when drying and sawing. The present work studies the modification of western hemlock using a hydrothermal process, which induced significant changes in the chemical structure and physical characteristics of the wood. The treatment caused the degradation of hemicellulose and reduced the quantity of adsorbed water and free hydroxyl groups. As a result, the wood became less hygroscopic and exhibited improved dimensional and thermal stability with a darker and more attractive color. The hydrothermally-induced variations in the wood structure also influenced its mechanical properties. Flexural bending tests revealed that the specific modulus of rupture and specific maximum load decreased after treatment, while the specific modulus of elasticity increased. In addition, the hydrothermal process was successful in eliminating case hardening, which is typically caused by residual compression stress during conventional kiln drying of wood. These results reveal that hydrothermal treatment is a promising method to expand utilization and develop value-added wood products using low quality wood, such as western hemlock.
Impact of mindful self-care and perceived stress on the health related quality of life among young-adult students in West Virginia

There are substantial gaps in research on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in students aged 18 and above in West Virginia. The purpose of this study is to explore the associations between min...
Potential Anticancer Agents Characterized from Selected Tropical Plants.

Higher plants are well known for their value in affording clinically useful anticancer agents, with such compounds acting against cancer cells by a range of mechanisms of action. There remains a strong interest in the discovery and development of plant secondary metabolites as additional cancer chemotherapeutic lead compounds. In the present review, progress on the discovery of plant-derived compounds of the biflavonoid, lignan, sesquiterpene, steroid, and xanthone structural types is presented. Several potential anticancer leads of these types have been characterized from tropical plants collected in three countries as part of our ongoing collaborative multi-institutional project. Preliminary structure–activity relationships and work on in vivo testing and cellular mechanisms of action are also discussed. In addition, the relevant work reported by other groups on the same compound classes is included herein.
Pruning management effects on soil carbon and nitrogen in contour-hedgerow cropping with Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit on sloping land in Haiti

Application of hedgerow prunings to the soil in alley cropping ispracticed to sustain crop yield but information is lacking on effects ofhedgerow management on soil C and N dynamics under continuous cropping.Cumulative effects of 3.5 years of leucaena [Leucaenaleucocephala (Lam.) De Wit] hedgerow management on soil organic CandN and potential C and N mineralization were determined in an alley croppingexperiment in Haiti. Treatments were combinations of pruning uses and pruningregimes in a 3 × 3 factorial with a no-tree control (rock walls) in arandomized complete block design with 3 replicates. A hedgerow + fertilizertreatment in an adjacent trial was included for comparison. Soil samplescollected at 0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm depths weresealed in mason jars and incubated at 25 °C for 30 days.Organic C and N and inorganic N were measured before the incubation. InorganicNand respired CO2-C were measured after the incubation. After 3.5years, surface soil samples with prunings applied as mulch or incorporated atplanting had, respectively, 20 and 16% higher organic C, 34 and 18% higherorganic N concentrations, higher potential C and N mineralization and higherrelative N mineralization than with prunings removed. Soil C and N dynamicsweresimilar between pruning application methods. The two-cut regime with a longerregrowth period after cutting (0–40 DAP) had highest organic C in the0–20 cm soil layer whereas two-cut with a shorter regrowthperiod (0–30 DAP) had highest C turnover. Within soil layers, pruningapplication had higher organic C and N and potential C and N mineralizationthanthe no-tree control and alley plots with prunings removed in the 0–5cm layer whereas the latter treatments had similar C and Ndynamicsat all depths. Addition of N-P-K fertilizer in presence of fresh prunings didnot increase soil organic C and N but enhanced N dynamics in the surface soil.
Comparing in-situ leaf observations in early spring with flux tower CO2 exchange, MODIS EVI and modeled LAI in a northern mixed forest.

Abstract Changes in the timing and duration of spring leaf development have implications for the start of the carbon uptake period and are therefore fundamental to the accurate calculation of carbon budgets, and in determining the potential for forests to sequester CO2. Here, we examined trends in CO2 exchange (Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE), Gross Primary Production (GPP) and Ecosystem Respiration (ER)) (1997–2016) and satellite derived measures (Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and modeled Leaf Area Index (LAI)) of the start of spring from the MODIS product MOD13Q1 (2001–2016) for a mixed forest landscape in northern Wisconsin, USA. We then explored the relationship between these indirect determinants of spring phenology and the timing and duration of spring phenophases (bud-burst, leaf-out, full-leaf unfolded) of trees over a 5-year period (2006–2010). Contrary to earlier studies focus’, our analysis did not find a consistent link between the early transition, of the forest stand from C source to sink with increased annual productivity. Interestingly, while annual regional NEE trended from a source to a sink over the study period, there were no significant concomitant trends in the timing of the start of the season, peak season or the duration of the season derived from (i) satellite data (2001–2016), (ii) flux data (1997–2016) nor from in situ observations (2006–2010). The range of time periods used and difference in phenological determinants examined likely contributed to a lack of expected relationships. The results highlight the need for in situ observations of different forest layers, in particular shrubs, which could help explain current discrepancies between direct and indirect determinants of spring phenology. Furthermore, characterization of abiotic influences on C flux measurements may further explain some of the observed discrepancies.
Insidious abdominal wall pseudocyst following ventriculoperitoneal shunting

Abstract Intra-abdominal pseudocyst is a relatively rare, but well recognized complication following ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. Formation of the cyst within the abdominal wall is extremely rare; only several published reports describe the clinical and radiological details. Chief complaints of an abdominal wall pseudocyst include acute or subacute headache, abdominal distension and pain. No previous reports have described the asymptomatic case. This is the first report presenting a case with an insidious abdominal wall pseudocyst discovered incidentally and its representative imaging findings.
Determination of Picomolar Concentrations of Paraoxon in Human Urine by Fluorescence-Based Enzymatic Assay.

Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are widely used in the agricultural field and in the prevention of pest infestation in private and public areas of cities. Despite their unquestionable utility, several of these compounds demonstrate toxic effects to the environment and human health. In particular, the occurrence of some organophosphate pesticides is correlated to the incidence of nervous system disorders, especially in children. The detection of pesticide residues in the human body represents an important task to preserve human health. In our work we propose the use of esterase-based biosensors as a viable alternative to the expensive and time-consuming systems currently used for their detection in human fluids. Using the esterase-2 activity, coupled with a fluorescence inhibition assay, we are able to detect very low concentration levels of diethyl (4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (paraoxon) in the range of the femtomole (fmol). Method robustness tests indicate the stability of esterase-2 in a diluted solution of 4% human urine, and we are able to accurately determine concentration levels of paraoxon in the range from 0.1 to 2 picomoles (pmol). The system sensitivity for OP detection is calculated at 524 ± 14.15 fmol of paraoxon recognized at 10% of inhibition, with an estimated limit of quantification of 262 ± 8.12 pmol mL−1. These values are comparable with the most recent analysis methods based on mass spectrometry carried out on human samples for pesticide detection. This research represents a starting point to develop cheap and fast testing methods for a rapid screening of toxic substances in human samples.
The Impact of Gun Violence on Those Already Dying: Perspectives From a Palliative Care Physician

* Abbreviation: AAP — : American Academy of Pediatrics The consult was for a 19-year-old man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who was in the ICU with respiratory distress and weight loss. Given his degenerative disease, establishing care with the palliative care team made perfect sense. It was, by all means, an appropriate consult. As our team sat down at this young man’s bedside, we were joined by his mother. The patient himself would gesture yes and no because speaking was difficult, so out of both fatigue and shyness, he deferred to his mother to answer for him. We introduced ourselves and explained our role with patients and families in the hospital. We asked our usual opening question: “Tell us about your son.” What followed was not the story you would expect to hear, one that would focus on symptoms related to serious illness or questions about advanced care planning. This story was different. A soft-spoken woman explained how she had cared for her son for the past 19 years: a boy she described as loving sports, enjoying music and home cooked food, and smiling almost constantly. When we explored further to elicit her hopes and worries for her son, she described a hope that he would be safe. “Safe?” our team questioned, “Tell us more.” She went on to share that the community in which they … Address correspondence to Teresa M. Vente, DO, MPH, Division of Palliative Care, Department of Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Ave, Box 16, Chicago, IL 60611. E-mail: tvente{at}luriechildrens.org
Unexpected Coordination Complexes of the Metal Tris-silylamides M{N(SiMe3)2}3 (M = Ti, V).

The synthesis, molecular structures, and spectroscopic details of a series of isocyanide and nitrile complexes of the early first-row transition-metal tris(silyl)amides M{N(SiMe3)2}3 (M = Ti, V) are reported. Previously, first-row transition-metal tris(silyl)amides were generally thought to be incapable of forming complexes with Lewis bases due to their excessive steric crowding. However, it is now shown that simple treatment of the base-free trisamides with 2 equiv of an isocyanide or nitrile base at room temperature results in the formation of the trigonal bipyramidal complexes Ti{N(SiMe3)2}3(1-AdNC)2 (1), Ti{N(SiMe3)2}3(CyNC)2 (2), Ti{N(SiMe3)2}3(ButNC)2 (3), Ti{N(SiMe3)2}3(PhCN)2 (4), V{N(SiMe3)2}3(1-AdNC)2 (5), V{N(SiMe3)2}3(CyNC)2 (6), V{N(SiMe3)2}3(ButNC)2 (7), and V{N(SiMe3)2}3(PhCN)2 (8), which incorporate two donor ligands (1-AdNC = 1-adamantyl isocyanide, CyNC = cyclohexyl isocyanide, ButNC = tert-butyl isocyanide, PhCN = benzonitrile). All complexes display a characteristic increase in the frequency of the multiple bonded C-N stretching mode which is observed to be in the range of 2170-2190 cm-1 for the isocyanide complexes 1-3 and 5-7 and at 2250 cm-1 for the nitrile complex 8. This effect was not observed for the titanium nitrile complex 4, suggesting weak binding of the donor to titanium. Paramagnetic 1H NMR studies showed these complexes to have detectable, though extremely broadened, signals attributable to the trimethylsilyl groups of the amide ligands (δ = ca. 2.8 ppm for titanium isocyanide complexes, ca. 4.5-4.7 ppm for vanadium isocyanide complexes). A variable-temperature 1H NMR study showed that in solution these complexes exist as mixtures of the five-coordinate species and a putative four-coordinate species coordinating a single Lewis basic ligand. Electronic spectroscopy indicated that the vanadium complexes 5-8 bind the Lewis bases more strongly than the corresponding titanium complexes, where the spectra of complexes 1-4 are essentially identical to the base-free Ti{N(SiMe3)2}3 at the temperatures and concentrations studied. In contrast to these results, no corresponding complexes were detected for the metal silylamides M{N(SiMe3)2}3 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, or Co) when treated with the isocyanide or nitrile bases.
Polyacrylamide and Chitosan Biopolymer for Flocculation and Turbidity Reduction in Soil Suspensions

Recent studies have shown that turbidity in construction site runoff can be greatly reduced by chemical turbidity control. This study evaluated the performance of chitosan-based biopolymer (dual polymer system, DPS) vs. anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) for turbidity reduction and characteristics of flocculated sediments using two soils from North Carolina, USA. The soils were Coastal Plain sand (CPS) and Piedmont Sandy loam (PSL), representing smectitic and kaolinitic mineralogy, respectively. A series of jar tests for DPS (charging agent + chitosan) and two commercial PAM products were conducted to find optimal concentration for turbidity reduction in the respective soil suspension (20 g L−1 in soil loading). After determining the optimal flocculant concentrations, the soil suspensions treated with DPS, PAM, and no flocculant (control) were investigated for turbidity change over settling time, floc stability, floc growth, settleable solids through Imhoff cone test, and particle size distribution by a laser diffraction method. Both flocculants were effective in reducing turbidity (> 90%) in PSL suspensions while PAM outperformed DPS in CPS suspension. Settleable solids volumes increased with flocculant treatments by 23–41% relative to untreated soil suspensions (13 mL for CPS and 20 mL for PSL), indicating efficacy of flocculant-assisted particle settlings. PAM-treated particle size was greater (115 µm, median diameter) than DPS (84 µm) in PSL suspension, both being 3–5 times greater than untreated suspension (24 µm). Repeated stirring resulted in floc growth with PAM but not with DPS. Our results suggested that practitioners using flocculants to treat turbid water in construction site need to perform tests with different flocculants to determine the optimal treatment on their project. While PAM has advantage over DPS as a single flocculant treatment, DPS could be an alternative due to its eco-friendly features.
Menses Requires Energy: A Review of How Disordered Eating, Excessive Exercise, and High Stress Lead to Menstrual Irregularities.

Abstract Purpose Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea secondary to low weight, excessive exercise, and/or high levels of stress is common among young women. Adolescence is a time in development that a positive energy balance is crucial for puberty, menarche, and regular menstruation. Disordered eating and eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness and tend to start during puberty. High-level athletes, specifically young girls participating in ballet, running, gymnastics, and figure skating, are at risk of developing hypothalamic amenorrhea from excessive exercise and inability to meet the energy needs of the body. Dysfunction of the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis leads to a hypoestrogenic state. Low levels of estrogen have a negative effect on bone health, sexual maturation, sexual function, and fertility. Puberty has the highest rate of bone accrual in a female's life. Adequate nutrition, physical activity, and estrogen are crucial for bone development and prevention of osteoporosis. Recognition and early intervention are necessary to limit the irreversibility of some of these effects. Methods A review of literature was completed to gather epidemiologic data, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, recommended laboratory/imaging, and approaches to treatment. Findings According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 16% to 47% of slender female athletes have disordered eating, which makes them at risk for functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). Most women present with previously regular menstrual cycles until there was a change in one or multiple factors, including weight, stress, and/or exercise. Athletes have a higher incidence, stemming from the synergistic relationship that exercise and low weight have on puberty and the menstrual cycle. FHA is a diagnosis of exclusion; therefore, eating disorders and other etiologies of menstrual irregularity need to be ruled out first. Implications Hypothalamic dysfunction leads to a hypoestrogenic state within the body. Low levels of estrogen manifest in multiple ways: amenorrhea, low bone mineral density, vaginal and breast atrophy, infertility, and dyspareunia. The goal of treatment of FHA and these downstream symptoms is weight gain with spontaneous resumption of menses, as this is the best indicator that the hypothalamic dysfunction and hypoestrogenic state have been resolved. In refractory cases of FHA, it may be necessary to replace hormones with physiologic dosing of transdermal estrogen and cyclic progesterone for the benefit of the young woman’s bone health (Clin Ther. 2020;42:XXX–XXX) © 2020 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc.
Effects of Lycopene on Growth Factor Response in Prostate Cancer Cells

Dietary and nutritional factors are considered critical modulating factors in prostate cancer development. Epidemiological data have suggested to the idea that dietary consumption of lycopene, found in tomatoes, may prevent prostate cancer. This study examined the mechanism by which lycopene interacts with prostate cancer cells, with the goal of discovering less toxic treatment and prevention options. The hypothesis that was addressed was that lycopene interferes with growth factor-mediated signal transduction in prostate cancer cells. The effects of lycopene on PC-3, a human prostate cancer cell line, were analyzed using proliferation assays, immunoblot analysis, and confocal microscopy. The growth factors used were lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Lycopene (10 μM) inhibited LPA and EGF-induced proliferation of PC-3 cells, confirming previous unpublished results. Lycopene also inhibited activation of Akt in response to LPA and EGF as assessed by immunoblotting. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the decrease in activated Akt was most prominent in the cell nucleus. These results confirm the ability of lycopene to inhibit growth factor response in human prostate cancer cells, and suggest new directions for future studies. SUPPORT OR FUNDING INFORMATION: Supported by the ASPET Summer Undergraduate Research Program, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sue Harriet Monroe Mullen Innovative Cancer Prevention Research Fund, and the ASPET David Lehr Award.
Unit Tests of Scientific Software: A Study on SWMM

Testing helps assure software quality by executing program and uncovering bugs. Scientific software developers often find it challenging to carry out systematic and automated testing due to reasons like inherent model uncertainties and complex floating point computations. We report in this paper a manual analysis of the unit tests written by the developers of the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). The results show that the 1,458 SWMM tests have a 54.0% code coverage and a 82.4% user manual coverage. We also observe a “getter-setter-getter” testing pattern from the SWMM unit tests. Based on these results, we offer insights to improve test development and coverage.
Topological Insulator Antenna Arrays

Photonic topological insulators are systems in which the propagation of their edge states is robust to scattering and reflection. Usually, topological systems are discussed in a lossless system, wh...
Unique Continuation Properties of Over-Determined Static Boussinesq Problems with Application to Uniform Stabilization of Dynamic Boussinesq Systems

We consider several direct and adjoint Boussinesq static problems under different types of over-determined conditions. We then conclude, in each case, that the solution pair corresponding to {fluid velocity, scalar temperature} must vanish identically on the whole domain, so that the pressure is then constant (Unique Continuation Property). In going from the direct to the adjoint problem, the coupling operators between the fluid and the thermal equations switch places. As a result, the adjoint Boussinesq system has a more favorable structure than the direct Boussinesq system and hence yields UCP results under weaker requirements; typically, a reduction by one or even two units on the number of components of the fluid vector being involved in the assumptions. To illustrate: in the key direct Boussinesq problem, over-determination consists of the additional vanishing of the solution pair in a common arbitrarily small subset of the interior. In contrast, in the corresponding adjoint Boussinesq problem, only the first $$(d-1)$$ components of the d-dimensional fluid velocity vector need to be assumed as vanishing on the interior subset. These UCPs for the adjoint problem are critical ingredients in the solution of corresponding uniform stabilization problems of (direct) dynamic Boussinesq systems by suitable finite dimensional feedback controls. They allow one to verify a corresponding Kalman algebraic condition for controllability.
Organization Theory and the Resource-Based View of the Firm: The Great Divide:

The resource-based view of the firm has become dominant within the field of strategic management, yet it has had surprisingly little influence within organization theory. In this article, we docume...
Experience with 10 years of a robotic surgery program at an Academic Medical Center

Few studies have examined robotic surgery from a programmatic standpoint, yet this is how hospitals evaluate return on investment clinically and fiscally. This study examines the 10-year experience of a robotic program at a single academic institution. All robotic operations performed at our institution from August 2005 to December 2016 were reviewed. Data were collected from the robotic system and hospital databases. A total of 3485 robotic operations were performed. Yearly case volume nearly quadrupled. There have been 37 robotic-trained surgeons in 5 specialties performing 53 different operations. Rate of conversion to open was 4.2%. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class increased over time, with ASA class 3 increasing from 20% of patients to 45% of patients. Average case time in 2005 was 453 min, but decreased by 46% to 246 min by 2007, then remained relatively stable (range 226–247). Operating efficiency improved, with room time and case time decreasing by 9% in the past 4 years. Average cost for robotic supplies was $1519 per case. Additional costs per case related to equipment and contracts totaled an average of $11,822. Average length of stay (LOS) for robotic cases was 3.3 days, compared to 3.0 days for laparoscopic and 7.0 for open. Cost per day for admission after robotic surgery was 1.7 times greater than the cost of open or laparoscopic surgery. Total admission costs of robotic operations were 1.5 times those of laparoscopic surgery, but less than open operations. Readmissions following robotic cases were lower than open (15% v 26%, p < 0.0001). Over 10 years, the use of robotic technology has grown significantly at our institution, with good fiscal and clinical outcomes. Operating room costs are high; however, efficiency has improved, LOS is shorter, admission costs are lower than open operations, and readmission rates are lower.
Snapback Design Rules for Automotive Vstress Reliability Tests

Voltage Stress (Vstress), a critical integrated circuit (IC) automotive reliability test screen, can be as high as 1.5Vddmax at 150C. This work summarizes a detailed TCAD simulation study of Snapback in 3.3V and 5V Inverters from a high performance grade-0 automotive 0.18um BCD technology. These results demonstrate that Well (Body) tie spacing of NMOS and PMOS is critical in preventing Snapback during high temperature (150C) high voltage (1.5Vddmax) Vstress tests. Therefore, an aggressive Well-tie spacing design rule incorporated during the initial technology development is required to ensure Snapback robustness for such Vstress reliability testing.
Dynamics of droplet migration in oscillatory and pulsating microchannel flows and prediction and uncertainty quantification of its lateral equilibrium position using multifidelity Gaussian processes

The dynamics of a droplet in oscillatory and pulsating flows of a Newtonian fluid in a microchannel has been studied numerically. The effects of oscillation frequency, surface tension, and channel flow rate have been explored by simulating the drop within a microchannel. These types of flows introduce new equilibrium positions for the drop compared to steady flows with similar conditions. The simulation results are very sensitive to the grid resolution due to the unsteady behavior of the base flow. Therefore, a set of fine grids have been used in this study to capture the physics of this problem more accurately. However, these fine grids make the computations significantly expensive. Therefore, a multifidelity Gaussian processes method with two levels of fidelity has been used to predict the results of the remaining fine-grid simulations along with their uncertainties based on their correlations with those of the coarse-grid cases over a wide range of input parameters.
A Modeling Approach to Remediation of Forests Contaminated by Radionuclides

The extensive radionuclide contamination resulting from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident triggered international political recognition of a shared global responsibility for the safety of all nuclear installations. The specific focus of this paper, contaminated forest ecosystems, has caused increasing concern in many European countries due to the enhanced radioactivity accumulation by forests. If forests are exposed to fallout from a nuclear-related event, forest products become contaminated resulting in possible exposure to man far from the contaminated site. This exposure can occur through the manufacture and use of forest products such as construction materials, paper, food harvested from forests, etc. Certain groups of the population, such as hunters, reindeer, berry and mushroom gatherers can have particularly large intakes of natural food products. Forestry workers have been found to receive a radiation dose up to 3 times higher than other groups of the population in the same area [1].
Green Body Drying

This chapter discusses the kinetics of drying for various conditions of temperature and solvent partial pressure in the atmosphere. The drying of ceramic green bodies has been examined in terms of its kinetics. Simultaneous mass and heat transfer equations must be solved to give a complete kinetic picture of the drying process. An analysis of the possible rate determining steps is presented, which allows the estimation of the drying time for ceramic green bodies of idealized shapes. Simultaneous heat and mass transfer in both the boundary layer surrounding the green body and the pores inside the green body are responsible for the drying kinetics. Depending on the kinetics of drying, different stresses are developed in the green body. Critical drying conditions that cause cracking in the green body are elucidated, taking into consideration the strength of the green body at various stages in the drying process. This chapter also discusses the linked differential equations for mass and heat transfer that describe the drying of a spherical green body.
SU-C-304-01: Investigation of Various Detector Response Functions and Their Geometry Dependence in a Novel Method to Address Ion Chamber Volume Averaging Effect

Purpose: A novel convolution-based approach has been proposed to address ion chamber (IC) volume averaging effect (VAE) for the commissioning of commercial treatment planning systems (TPS). We investigate the use of various convolution kernels and its impact on the accuracy of beam models. Methods: Our approach simulates the VAE by iteratively convolving the calculated beam profiles with a detector response function (DRF) while optimizing the beam model. At convergence, the convolved profiles match the measured profiles, indicating the calculated profiles match the “true” beam profiles. To validate the approach, beam profiles of an Elekta LINAC were repeatedly collected with ICs of various volumes (CC04, CC13 and SNC 125) to obtain clinically acceptable beam models. The TPS-calculated profiles were convolved externally with the DRF of respective IC. The beam model parameters were reoptimized using Nelder-Mead method by forcing the convolved profiles to match the measured profiles. We evaluated three types of DRFs (Gaussian, Lorentzian, and parabolic) and the impact of kernel dependence on field geometry (depth and field size). The profiles calculated with beam models were compared with SNC EDGE diode-measured profiles. Results: The method was successfully implemented with Pinnacle Scripting and Matlab. The reoptimization converged in ∼10 minutes. For allmore » tested ICs and DRFs, penumbra widths of the TPS-calculated profiles and diode-measured profiles were within 1.0 mm. Gaussian function had the best performance with mean penumbra width difference within 0.5 mm. The use of geometry dependent DRFs showed marginal improvement, reducing the penumbra width differences to less than 0.3 mm. Significant increase in IMRT QA passing rates was achieved with the optimized beam model. Conclusion: The proposed approach significantly improved the accuracy of the TPS beam model. Gaussian functions as the convolution kernel performed consistently better than Lorentzian and parabolic functions. Further improvement of using geometry-dependent kernels was marginal.« less
Eriksonian Developmental Stages

The developmental theory of Erik Erikson builds upon and extends Sigmund Freud's classical account of psychosexual stages. Noteworthy in this regard is the fact that Erikson was analyzed and influenced by Freud's daughter, Anna. According to orthodox Freudian psychoanalytic theory, personality development is completed by at least adolescence and is relatively independent from positive environmental influences. Moreover, ego development is considered to be defensive in nature; the ego emerges to control and regulate the id, which comprises biologically determined instincts, needs, urges, and the like.
The POX1 gene encoding peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is under the control of multiple regulatory elements

Transcription of POX1, the gene encoding peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is controlled by the carbon source given for cell growth. The gene is repressed in glucose, derepressed in glycerol, and induced in oleate. This regulation is controlled by cis-acting elements in the 5' region of the gene, which bind regulatory proteins. By deletion analysis and DNA band shift assays, we have characterized three such elements in the POX1 upstream sequence, two upstream repression sequences and an upstream activating sequence. Each was able to regulate the transcription of a heterologous gene construct iso-1-cytochrome-c (CYC1)/lacZ.
Human thymopoiesis and naïve T cell maintenance throughout life (LYM7P.724)

The extent to which thymopoieis is diminished over the human lifespan and how this affects the naive T cell repertoire in peripheral tissue sites is not well characterized. In collaboration with the New York Organ Donor Network, we have attained novel access to thymus and secondary tissues from deceased organ donors. From this, it is possible to correlate naive T cell development to distribution in tissue sites from the same individual effectively identifying when functional thymopoiesis is halted and how this affects the naive T cell pool over time. We have found marked cessation of functional thymopoiesis in donors over 40 years of age but strikingly naive T cells are maintained in lymph node tissue sites for decades undergoing low levels of proliferation and turnover comprising over 20% of total T cells in donors aged 40-73. When profiling double negative (DN) stage thymocytes using CD25 and CD44, DN1 thymocytes accumulate in donors with negligible thymic output indicating a lack of progenitor cells to progress to maturation while identified recent thymic emigrants (RTE) exhibit differential distribution and regulation in tissues during periods of active thympopoiesis but are evenly distributed in the spleen and lymph nodes when the export of new naive T cells is halted. Together this indicates that naive T cell populations are uniquely maintained as a function of thymic activity in order to preserve the ability to respond to new pathogen throughout the human lifetime.
Ideologies of the Raj

1. Introduction: Britian and India in the eighteenth century 2. Liberalism and empire 3. The creation of difference 4. The ordering of difference 5. Coping with contradiction 6. Epilogue: Raj, nation, empire.
The Invariant Laplacian

Suppose Ω is an open subset of B, f ∈ C 2 (Ω), and a ∈ Ω. We define $$\left( {\tilde \Delta f} \right)\left( a \right) = \Delta \left( {f \circ {\varphi _a}} \right)\left( 0 \right),$$ (1) where ϕa is the involution defined in §2.2.1, and Δ is the ordinary Laplacian given by $$\Delta g = 4\sum\limits_{i = 1}^n {{D_i}{{\bar D}_i}g} $$ (2) as in §1.3.4.
Penal Policy and Penal Legislation in Recent American Experience

The last quarter of the twentieth century stands out as the most remarkable period of change in American penal policy even when the entire history of the United States is considered. Nothing in the two centuries before 1975 would prepare observers to expect that a long run of stable rates of incarceration would shift to a fourfold expansion of rates of imprisonment in less than three decades. This Article will consider the origins and careers of proposals for penal legislation in a time of radical change. How, when, and why were legislative acts involved in the massive shift of policy after the early 1970s? What institutional controls were implicated in penal policy changes after 1975,
Constitutive endocytosis and degradation of CD22 by human B cells.

The CD22 B lymphocyte-surface Ag is an important component of the B cell-surface IgM (sIgM)/B cell receptor complex and has been shown to regulate B cell activation. In addition, this molecule has been shown to be an effective target for immunotherapy of B cell malignancies using immunotoxins and radioimmunoconjugates. In this report we describe the internalization and metabolic degradation of this molecule under constitutive conditions and after stimulation of B cells with phorbol dibutyrate or mAbs binding to sIgM, CD19, and CD22. Flow cytometry, "neuraminidase protection," and "neuraminidase shift" assays demonstrated that CD22 is internalized constitutively by unstimulated B cell lines and subsequently degraded in an acidic intracellular compartment (presumably lysosomes) without detectable recycling of the molecule back to the cell surface. Ligation of CD22 with anti-CD22 mAbs markedly increased CD22 internalization but did not affect the rate of intracellular degradation of CD22, suggesting that anti-CD22 mAbs perturb the intracellular trafficking of CD22. In contrast, CD22 internalization and degradation was unaffected by stimulation of B cell lines with phorbol dibutyrate or ligation of other components of the B cell receptor complex (e.g. CD19, sIgM) with mAbs. These patterns of internalization and degradation under constitutive and stimulated conditions contrast with those reported for other lymphoid differentiation Ags (e.g., the TCR, CD3, CD4, and the transferrin receptor), and may help explain the utility of this molecule as a target for immunoconjugate therapy.
Controlled release of transforming growth factor β1 from biodegradable polymer microparticles

Recombinant human transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) was incorporated into biodegradable microparticles of blends of poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) at 6 ng/1 mg microparticles. Fluorescein isothiocynate labeled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) was coencapsulated as a porogen at 4 microg/1 mg of microparticles. The effects of PEG content (0, 1, or 5 wt %) and buffer pH (3, 5, or 7.4) on the protein release kinetics and the degradation of PLGA were determined in vitro for up to 28 days. The entrapment yield of TGF-beta1 was 83.4 +/- 13.1 and 54.2 +/- 12.1% for PEG contents of 0 and 5%, respectively. The FITC-BSA and TGF-beta1 were both released in a multiphasic fashion including an initial burst effect. Increasing the PEG content resulted in the decreased cumulative mass of released proteins. By day 28, 3.8 +/- 0. 1 and 2.8 +/- 0.3 microg (based on 1 mg microparticles) of loaded FITC-BSA and 3.4 +/- 0.2 and 2.2 +/- 0.3 ng of loaded TGF-beta1 were released into pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline (PBS) from microparticles with 0 and 5% PEG, respectively. Aggregation of FITC-BSA occurred at lower buffer pH, which led to decreased release rates of both proteins. For microparticles with 5% PEG, 2.3 +/- 0.1 microg of FITC-BSA and 2.0 +/- 0.2 ng of TGF-beta1 were released in pH 7.4 buffer after 28 days, while only 1.7 +/- 0.3 microg and 1.3 +/- 0.4 ng of the corresponding proteins were released in pH 3 buffer. The degradation of PLGA was also enhanced at 5% PEG content, which was significantly accelerated at acidic pH conditions. The calculated half-lives of PLGA were 20.3 +/- 0.9 and 15.9 +/- 1.2 days for PEG contents of 0 and 5%, respectively, in pH 7.4 PBS and 14.8 +/- 0.4 and 5.5 +/- 0.1 days for 5% PEG in pH 7.4 and 3 buffers, respectively. These results suggest that PLGA/PEG blend microparticles are useful as delivery vehicles for controlled release of growth factors.
How do PIG-A mutant paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria stem cells achieve clonal dominance?

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disease that can present with bone marrow failure, hemolytic anemia and thrombosis [1,2]. The disease originates from a...
Manufacturing Landmarks in New York City Parks

Recently, derelict artifacts of the industrial age such as railroad tracks and gantry cranes have emerged as prominent aesthetic features in New York City’s newest parks. This article documents and...
Temperature dependence of light-induced proton movement in reconstituted purple membrane

Abstract Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) was incorporated into phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles containing different amounts of other lipids. Under the conditions of nullified membrane potential, light-induced proton movement seemed to follow a kinetic scheme which assumed the existence of a proton-pumping inhibition process characterized by a rate constant, k I . The temperature dependence of both k I and the membrane proton leak rate constant ( k D ) obeyed a simple Arrhenius equation. The presence of cholesterol in the membrane significantly increased the activation energy ( E a ) of both the inhibition and leak process. However, further addition of phosphatidic acid (PA) suppressed the increase of E a associated with k I . The initial proton pumping rate ( R 0 ) of vesicles reconstituted with PC showed a bell-shaped temperature dependence with a maximum at ~20 °C. The addition of cholesterol abolished this dependence. These results suggest that the molecular origin of the inhibition process characterized by k I is different from that of R 0 or k D . The temperature dependence of the steady-state fluorescence polarization of dansylated bacteriorhodopsin in vesicles was also investigated. The polarization of the labels in the vesicles without cholesterol showed a bell-shaped temperature dependence with a maximum at ~20 °C. However, in the presence of cholesterol, the polarization increased linearly as temperature decreased. A comparison of these results with the observed proton movement in similarly reconstituted systems with unmodified protein indicates that membranes with a low fluidity and negatively charged surfaces enhance proton pumping efficiency of bacteriorhodopsin.
Effects of age, menopause, and comorbidities on neurological function of the female genitalia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of age, menopause, and comorbidities on neurological function of the female genitalia using a noninvasive, validated technique. In all, 58 consecutive women were enrolled in the study. Biothesiometry was performed at five genital sites and one peripheral site with S2 dermatome distribution. Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA on ranks was used to evaluate the relationship between age and vibratory sensation. Bivariate and regressional analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of age, menopause and comorbidities on genital sensation. The mean age was 44.6+14.8 y (range 20–78 y). Vibration thresholds increased with advancing age at all six sites. Multilinear regression analysis indicated that menopause and increasing age negatively affect sensation. History of herniated lumbar disc, vaginal delivery, and diabetes variably affected genital sensation. There is a significant increase in vibration thresholds (indicating worsening neurological function) in women as they age and undergo menopause. Biothesiometry is a technique for evaluating genital neurological function in women with coexisting morbidities.
Theory of plastic deformation: - properties of low energy dislocation structures

Abstract Work-hardening phenomena are based on the very fundamental principles (i) that at the position of every dislocation axis the respective resolved shear stress cannot exceed the friction stress, including the self-stress of bowing dislocations, and (ii) that always that structure forms which among those accessible by the dislocations minimizes stored energy per unit length of dislocation line. Such dislocation structures have been named LEDSs. The corresponding work-hardening theory, the mesh length theory, is applicable to all materials deforming via gliding dislocations and to all types of deformation. Results previously achieved with the mesh length theory are summarized, and a number of new developments are discussed. Depending on the dislocation structures formed, the work-hardening behavior differs. Easily intersecting glide causes dislocation cell structures with almost dislocation-free cell interiors delineated by dislocation rotation boundaries. Pronounced planar glide causes Taylor lattices characterized by local planar order parallel to the one or perhaps two most highly stressed glide plane(s), no systematic lattice rotations, and overall uniform dislocation density. The most widely observed basic features of work hardening are explained in general terms. Specific applications are indicated for layer-type crystals, h.c.p. single crystals, single-crystal and polycrystalline pure f.c.c. metals and α-brass-type alloys, precipitation-hardened materials and steels. Included are the different stages of work hardening, dynamical effects in low temperature plasticity, the general characteristics of grain boundary strengthening and the Hall-Petch relationship. In addition, proposed explanations for (i) glide system interactions in polyslip resulting in microbands and affecting texture formation, and (ii) creep without stress dependence of dislocation density, are discussed.