cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Singular unlocking transition in the Winfree model of coupled oscillators.

The Winfree model consists of a population of globally coupled phase oscillators with randomly distributed natural frequencies. As the coupling strength and the spread of natural frequencies are varied, the various stable states of the model can undergo bifurcations, nearly all of which have been characterized previously. The one exception is the unlocking transition, in which the frequency-locked state disappears abruptly as the spread of natural frequencies exceeds a critical width. Viewed as a function of the coupling strength, this critical width defines a bifurcation curve in parameter space. For the special case where the frequency distribution is uniform, earlier work had uncovered a puzzling singularity in this bifurcation curve. Here we seek to understand what causes the singularity. Using the Poincar\'e-Lindstedt method of perturbation theory, we analyze the locked state and its associated unlocking transition, first for an arbitrary distribution of natural frequencies, and then for discrete systems of $N$ oscillators. We confirm that the bifurcation curve becomes singular for a continuum uniform distribution, yet find that it remains well behaved for any finite $N$, suggesting that the continuum limit is responsible for the singularity.
Control of the systematic shifts of the strontium ion optical frequency standard at the 10 mHz level

An overview of the key methods used to reduce the uncertainty of the systematic shifts of the strontium ion optical frequency standard is presented. An uncertainty of 10 mHz at a clock frequency of 445 THz is obtained, limited by the uncertainty of the blackbody radiation shift. The uncertainty estimates of other shifts such as micromotion and electric quadrupole shifts are on the order of 1 mHz or less. The effectiveness of the methods used to reduce or cancel the shifts is illustrated with experiments comparing two ion traps. One has strong micromotion levels while the other, the reference trap, provides good control over the shifts. Despite nominal shifts of 70 Hz in the trap with large micromotion levels, the agreement with the reference trap is at the sub-Hz level.
Modeling of crystal dissolution of poly(vinyl alcohol) gels produced by freezing/thawing processes

A model was developed to describe the overall dissolution kinetics of semicrystalline PVA gels prepared by freezing and thawing techniques. The dissolution process was described as a three-step mechanism: detachment-, diffusion-, and disentanglement-controlled dissolution. The unfolding of crystalline regions due to detachment and diffusion was calculated. The lamellar thickness of a PVA crystal was found to significantly change the rate of unfolding and thus, the overall dissolution kinetics. The model predicted the effect of the lamellar thickness, time of swelling, and sample thickness on the crystal chain unfolding and potential dissolution of freeze/thawed PVA hydrogels. q 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Dissecting the Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Recognition and Preference of Food Odors

Food is critical for survival. Many animals, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, use sensorimotor systems to detect and locate preferred food sources. However, the signaling mechanisms underlying food-choice behaviors are poorly understood. Here, we characterize the molecular signaling that regulates recognition and preference between different food odors in C. elegans. We show that the major olfactory sensory neurons, AWB and AWC, play essential roles in this behavior. A canonical Gα-protein, together with guanylate cyclases and cGMP-gated channels, is needed for the recognition of food odors. The food-odor-evoked signal is transmitted via glutamatergic neurotransmission from AWC and through AMPA and kainate-like glutamate receptor subunits. In contrast, peptidergic signaling is required to generate preference between different food odors while being dispensable for the recognition of the odors. We show that this regulation is achieved by the neuropeptide NLP-9 produced in AWB, which acts with its putative receptor NPR-18, and by the neuropeptide NLP-1 produced in AWC. In addition, another set of sensory neurons inhibits food-odor preference. These mechanistic logics, together with a previously mapped neural circuit underlying food-odor preference, provide a functional network linking sensory response, transduction, and downstream receptors to process complex olfactory information and generate the appropriate behavioral decision essential for survival.
The importance of side effects and outcomes in differentiating between prescription drug products.

This study determined the importance of side effects and outcomes (i.e. the control of disease, convenient dosing and cost) in physicians' differentiation of drug products used to treat hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux. In addition, the study examined whether the importance of particular characteristics attributed to a drug varied with the practice setting. The multiattribute attitude model was used as a framework to examine physicians' perceptions of the importance and the probability of occurrence of specified side effects, results and their prescription intentions. Two groups of physicians were interviewed to identify determinant side effects and results. A questionnaire was used to obtain data by post from a random sample of 2,400 physicians in four types of practices: solo practice, group practice, institution and government (n = 527, 22% response). The findings indicate that the perceived likelihood of occurrence of side effects and results differed with the drug products but did not differ with the type of practice. Practice setting, however, was found to have a significant effect on intention to prescribe. Physicians in each setting differed in their intentions to prescribe certain studied drugs. Finally, physicians in the four settings were found to be similar in their ranking of the importance of particular characteristics of the drug. The control of disease was the most important result in all three scenarios, followed by individual side effects.
Insights into cyclodextrin interactions during sample stacking using capillary isotachophoresis with on‐line microcoil NMR detection

On-line capillary isotachophoresis (cITP)–NMR experiments were used to probe the interactions of the pharmaceutical compounds S-alprenolol, S-atenolol, R-propranolol, R-salbutamol and S-terbutaline with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) during cITP concentration. In cITP, ionic analytes are concentrated and separated on the basis of their electrophoretic mobility. Because neutral molecules have an electrophoretic mobility of zero, they are normally not concentrated or separated in electrophoretic experiments like cITP. Most of the analytes studied were concentrated by cITP sample stacking by a factor of around 300. For analytes that formed a strong inclusion complex, β-CD co-concentrated during cITP sample stacking. However, once the focusing process was complete, a discrete diffusional boundary formed between the cITP-focused analyte band and the leading and trailing electrolyte, which restricted diffusion into and out of the analyte band. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conditional Performance Evaluation

Conditional performance evaluation refers to the measurement of performance of a managed portfolio taking into account the information that was available to investors at the time the returns were generated. Keywords: Conditional Performance Evaluation
Right ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with pulmonary hypertension is associated with disease severity and functional class.

Abnormalities in right ventricular function are known to occur in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Test the hypothesis that chronic elevation in pulmonary artery systolic pressure delays mechanical activation of the right ventricle, termed dyssynchrony, and is associated with both symptoms and right ventricular dysfunction. Fifty-two patients (mean age 46 ± 15 years, 24 patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension) were prospectively evaluated using several echocardiographic parameters to assess right ventricular size and function. In addition, tissue Doppler imaging was also obtained to assess longitudinal strain of the right ventricular wall, interventricular septum, and lateral wall of the left ventricle and examined with regards to right ventricular size and function as well as clinical variables. In this study, patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension had statistically different right ventricular fractional area change (35 ± 13 percent), right ventricular end-systolic area (21 ± 10 cm2), right ventricular Myocardial Performance Index (0.72 ± 0.34), and Eccentricity Index (1.34 ± 0.37) than individuals without pulmonary hypertension (51 ± 5 percent, 9 ± 2 cm2, 0.27 ± 0.09, and 0.97 ± 0.06, p < 0.005, respectively). Furthermore, peak longitudinal right ventricular wall strain in chronic pulmonary hypertension was also different -20.8 ± 9.0 percent versus -28.0 ± 4.1 percent, p < 0.01). Right ventricular dyssynchrony correlated very well with right ventricular end-systolic area (r = 0.79, p < 0.001) and Eccentricity Index (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). Furthermore, right ventricular dyssynchrony correlates with pulmonary hypertension severity index (p < 0.0001), World Health Organization class (p < 0.0001), and number of hospitalizations (p < 0.0001). Lower peak longitudinal right ventricular wall strain and significantly delayed time-to-peak strain values, consistent with right ventricular dyssynchrony, were found in a small heterogeneous group of patients with chronic pulmonary hypertension when compared to individuals without pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, right ventricular dyssynchrony was associated with disease severity and compromised functional class.
Metabolic Consequences of Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency in Mice Are Associated with Defects in Alveogenesis, Pulmonary Inflammation, and Airway Obstruction

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a purine catabolic enzyme that manages levels of the biologically active purines adenosine and 2′-deoxyadenosine in tissues and cells. ADA-deficient mice die at 3 wk of age from severe respiratory distress. This phenotype is progressive and is linked to perturbations in pulmonary purine metabolism. The inflammatory changes found in the lungs of ADA-deficient mice included an accumulation of activated alveolar macrophages and eosinophils. These changes were accompanied by a pronounced enlargement of alveolar spaces and increases in mucus production in the bronchial airways. The alveolar enlargement was found to be due in part to abnormal alveogenesis. Lowering adenosine and 2′-deoxyadenosine levels using ADA enzyme therapy decreased the pulmonary eosinophilia and resolved many of the lung histopathologies. In addition, genetically restoring ADA to the forestomach of otherwise ADA-deficient mice prevented adenine metabolic disturbances as well as lung inflammation and damage. These data suggest that disturbances in purinergic signaling mediate the lung inflammation and damage seen in ADA-deficient mice.
Ideological Voting on Federal Courts of Appeals: A Preliminary Investigation

For many decades, the United States has been conducting an extraordinary natural experiment: Randomly assigned three-judge panels on courts of appeals produce extensive evidence of the effect of judicial ideology on judges' votes. If the political party of the appointing president is treated as a rough proxy for ideology, then it becomes possible to test three hypotheses: (a) a judge's votes, in ideologically contested areas, can be predicted by the party of the appointing president; (b) a judge's ideological tendency, in such areas, will be amplified if the panel has two other judges appointed by an appointing president of the same political party; and (c) a judge's ideological tendency, in such areas, will be dampened if the panel has no other judge appointed by an appointing president of the same political party. All three hypotheses are confirmed in many areas, including affirmative action, campaign finance, sex discrimination, sexual harassment, piercing the corporate veil, disability discrimination, race discrimination, and review of environmental regulations. An important implication is that panel composition has a strong effect on likely outcomes, thus creating extremely serious problems for the rule of law. Taken as a whole, the evidence suggests that judges frequently issue collegial concurrences, that is, concurrences produced by the unanimous views of the other judges on the panel, and that judges are subject to group polarization, by which groups of like-minded people go to extremes. Notably, all three hypotheses are rejected in the areas of federalism, criminal appeals, and takings of private property, because Republican and Democratic appointees vote essentially alike. In the areas of abortion and capital punishment, the first hypothesis is confirmed, but the second and third are rejected, because judges vote their convictions, and are not affected by the composition of the panel. Disaggregating the data by circuit allows courts of appeals to be ranked along an ideological spectrum; it also shows striking differences between Republican appointees and Democratic appointees on different circuits. Normative implications are briefly explored.
Removing technical variability in RNA-seq data using conditional quantile normalization

The ability to measure gene expression on a genome-wide scale is one of the most promising accomplishments in molecular biology. Microarrays, the technology that first permitted this, were riddled with problems due to unwanted sources of variability. Many of these problems are now mitigated, after a decade's worth of statistical methodology development. The recently developed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology has generated much excitement in part due to claims of reduced variability in comparison to microarrays. However, we show that RNA-seq data demonstrate unwanted and obscuring variability similar to what was first observed in microarrays. In particular, we find guanine-cytosine content (GC-content) has a strong sample-specific effect on gene expression measurements that, if left uncorrected, leads to false positives in downstream results. We also report on commonly observed data distortions that demonstrate the need for data normalization. Here, we describe a statistical methodology that improves precision by 42% without loss of accuracy. Our resulting conditional quantile normalization algorithm combines robust generalized regression to remove systematic bias introduced by deterministic features such as GC-content and quantile normalization to correct for global distortions.
Comparison of microstructure and surface passivation quality of intrinsic a-Si:H films deposited by remote plasma chemical vapor deposition using argon and helium plasma

We have prepared intrinsic hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films by remote plasma chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD) using Ar and He plasma excitations. The microstructure and effective surface passivation quality of the films are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy and photoconductance decay (PCD). Our preliminary results show that films deposited with He plasma have significantly higher mono-hydride and lower di-hydride content compared with Ar films at similar deposition conditions, however PCD measurements show the effective passivation quality of these films to be comparable. Furthermore, a correlation between He flow rate, the microstructure, and surface passivation quality was found resulting in the enhancement of the effective minority carrier lifetime by 64%, from 1.1 ms (flow rate 520 sccm) to 1.9 ms (flow rate = 208 sccm).
XUV supercontinua supporting pulse durations of sub-one atomic unit of time

Double optical gated high-order harmonic supercontinuous spectra were generated in the extreme ultraviolet region including the “water window”. The spectra supported 16 as pulse durations that are below one atomic unit of time (24 as).
Genomic Perspectives on the Fungal Kingdom

Genome sequencing has provided a means for describing the complete genetic makeup of an organism. The application of sequencing technology to fungi has provided a wealth of data of interest to medical mycologists and to evolutionary and cellular biologists alike. The sequencing of multiple fungal genomes provides an initial view of the degree of conservation and diversity within the fungal kingdom. Furthermore, the comparison of these fungal genomes with the genomes of other eukaryotes provides a more precise view both of the scale of conservation of eukaryotic genes and of novel genes restricted to the fungi. While much research on fungi has focused on understanding conserved eukaryotic functions, the genomic sequence also will be important in characterizing fungus-specific pathways such as those involved in secondary metabolism, including antibiotics, and specialized degradation pathways, such as for cellulose. The genome sequences of related organisms provide more than just catalogs of species gene content, they allow comparisons between genomes to study elements that are highly diverged and those that are highly conserved. Alignment of genes from multiple organisms, using sequence similarity search tools like BLAST or FASTA, typically identifies the most highly conserved and slowly evolving genes since they share the greatest sequence conservation. The availability of multiple genomes from a range of species with different evolutionary distances provides perspective on the evolution of gene order, content, and substitution rates. This exciting pot of data opens up new challenges and new opportunities in fungal research.
The Mechanism of Increased Renal Clearance of Amylase in Acute Pancreatitis

Amylase isoenzymes, separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were measured in 25 normal persons (mean amylase to creatinine clearance ratio 3.0%), 15 patients with acute pancreatitis (mean clearance ratio 9.5%, P
Pressure and thermochemistry measurements in high speed flows using rotational and vibrational Raman spectroscopy

We present line imaging measurements of rotational / vibrational Raman in high speed, non-isobaric flows. The technique can be used to measure pressure, temperature, and density in in the wake of an underexpanded jet nozzle. Line images of rotational and vibrational Raman spectra are collected for a 8-mm linear laser probe, and are combined onto the same EMCCD detector. Temperature measurements along the laser test section are extracted from the rotational Raman spectra, whereas major species densities are measured by the levels of their respective vibrational Raman lines. Pressure can be calculated using an equation of state, in every location along the linear laser probe. We present detailed spatial measurements in the wake of an underexpanded jet issuing from a converging nozzle.
True hyperinsulinism versus functional hypoglycemia.

In hyperinsulinism, as differentiated from functional or spontaneous hypoglycemia, the patient shows symptoms of receiving too much insulin either by injection or from an insulin-producing tumor.Criteria for diagnosis of hyperinsulinism are (1) attacks associated with fasting or exercise, or both; (2) blood sugar of less than 50 mg. per 100 cc. during an attack; and (3) prompt relief of attacks with orally administered glucose or intravenously administered dextrose.When it has been determined that a patient with hyperinsulinism is not receiving insulin surreptitiously and when removal of three-fourths of the pancreas has failed to relieve the hypoglycemia, total pancreatectomy is advised.
Critical sand deposition velocity for gas-liquid stratified flow in horizontal pipes

Abstract Sand is frequently produced along with production fluids from a reservoir with low formation strength. Sand deposition in pipeline causes problems such as equipment failure, pipeline erosion, excessive pressure drop, and production decline. Operating above critical sand deposition velocity, which is the velocity that keeps particles moving all the time at the pipe bottom, is the best strategy to manage sand deposition and simultaneously optimizing production flow rates. In this paper, a comprehensive study of sand flow regimes in air – PAC (Polyanionic Cellulose) water stratified flow in horizontal pipelines for various sand concentrations upto 10,000 ppm is presented. Six sand flow regimes are observed, namely, fully dispersed solid flow, dilute solids at wall, concentrated solids at wall, moving dunes, stationary dunes and stationary bed. Critical sand deposition velocities are determined based on the transition between moving (concentrated solids at wall/moving dunes, as appropriate) and stationary (stationary dunes/bed, as appropriate) sand particles. The viscosity of water is increased to 5 cp by using PAC to investigate the effect of viscous sublayer. The experimental data for tested conditions show that for concentrations above 4000 ppm, stationary beds are observed at the pipe bottom, and bigger particle size has higher critical sand deposition velocities, while for concentrations less than 4000 ppm, stationary dune and stationary bed are observed, and the critical sand deposition velocity depends on which sand flow regime occurs at the pipe bottom.
Determination of Oleanolic Acid and Ursolic Acid in Pogostemon cablin by HPLC

Ursolic acid and oleanolic acid from Pogostemon cablin(Blanco)Benth.were extracted by ultrasonic and analyzed qualitatively by thin layer chromatography(TLC).The two acids were separated in the C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm) with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-0.3% phosphate acid(60∶30∶10,V/V) at 0.8 mL/min and 28℃,and quantitatively detected at 210 nm.The results showed that the calibration curves of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were linear in the range of 0.020 5～0.410 4 μg(R=0.999 4) and 0.020 7～0.414 4 μg(R=0.999 0) respectively.The average recoveries of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were 97.53% with RSD of 1.4% and 98.55% with RSD of 1.6%;0.103 mg/g of oleanolic acid and 0.169 mg/g of ursolic acid were detected in the sample.
Analysis on Application of Low-Voltage Power Line Carrier Communication in China

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the application background and development of the power line carrier communication(PLC) technology at home and abroad,and generalizes the existing PLC technology roadmaps.It also introduces some products manufactured by the leading PLS chip makers in China.About the inadequacies of the existing technology,this paper predicts the development direction of the chip technology in the future,and lists the problems tobe solved.
Determination of aluminum in food by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer with digestion by nitric acid coupled with hydrofluoric acid

Objective To identify the influence of different digestion methods for the determination of aluminum and develop a method to determine aluminum in food by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer(ICP-OES). Methods After high-pressure digestion by nitric acid coupled with hydrofluoric acid in closed-vessel,the contents of aluminum in food samples were determined by ICP-OES. Results The calibration curve showed good linearity in the range of 0.1-10 mg/L with correlation of 0.999 9,the limit of detection was 0.5 mg/kg,the precision ranged from 0.5% to 3.8%, and the results of reference materials were in the range of certificated value. Conclusion Aluminum in food samples can be effectively dissolved out by high pressure digestion with nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid,this method shows good precision and accuracy and is applicable to the determination of aluminum in food.
MO-DE-BRA-01: Flipped Physics Courses Within a Radiologic Technologist Program: Video Production and Long Term Outcomes

Purpose: To determine if the flipped class format has an effect on examination results for a radiologic technologist (RT) program and discuss benefits from creating video resources. Methods: From 2001–2015, students had taken both a radiological physics and quality control (QC) class as a part of their didactic training. In 2005/2006, the creation of videos of didactic lectures and QC test demonstrations allowed for a flip where content was studied at home while exercises and reviews were done in-class. Final examinations were retrospectively reviewed from this timeframe. 12 multiple choice physics questions (MCP) and 5 short answer QC questions (SAQC) were common to pre and post flip exams. The RT program's ARRT exam scores were also obtained and compared to national averages. Results: In total, 36 lecture videos and 65 quality control videos were created for the flipped content. Data was ∼2.4GB and distributed to students via USB or CD media. For MCP questions, scores improved by 7.9% with the flipped format and significance (Student's t-test, p<0.05) was found for 3 of the 12 questions. SAQC questions showed improvement by 14.6% and significance was found for 2 of the 5 questions. Student enrollment increased from ∼14 (2001–2004) to ∼23 students (2005–15). Content was continuously added post-flip due to the efficiency of delivery. The QC class in 2003 covered 45 test setups in-class while 65 were covered with video segments in 2014. Flipped materials are currently being repurposed. In 2015, this video content was restructured into an ARRT exam review guide and in 2016, the content was reorganized for fluoroscopy training for physicians. Conclusion: We believe that flipped classes can improve efficiency of content delivery and improve student performance even with an increase in class size. This format allows for flexibility in learning as well as re-use in multiple applications.
Anti-inflammatory Agents for the Prevention of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common chronic lung disease (CLD) of infancy that significantly affects mortality and morbidity of preterm infants and is a major health-care burden. The multifactorial etiology and complex pathogenesis of BPD makes it challenging to find a treatment for this condition. Inflammation plays a major role in the development of BPD. Here we briefly review the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of BPD and the current evidence for anti-inflammatory therapeutics against BPD.
The GSE Guarantee Fee as a Policy Tool

Setting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s guarantee fee rates can have a large impact on the housing market. Setting the rate too low can negatively impact the financial health of Fannie and Freddie. It can also have a positive impact on housing prices because it reduces the overall cost of credit. On the other hand, setting the rate too high can generate excess revenues for the two companies. This would impact Congress’ plans for them as well as possible outcomes for the investor lawsuits arising from the GSE’s conservatorships. And it would also have dampening effect on housing prices, as it would increase the cost of mortgages. While the Federal Housing Finance Agency should consider the broad policy impacts when determining the guarantee fee rate, its main goal should be to set the rate at a level that properly accounts for the guarantee risk borne by the two companies.
The effect of deformation on two-phase flow through proppant-packed fractured shale samples: A micro-scale experimental investigation

Abstract We present the results of an extensive micro-scale experimental investigation of two-phase flow through miniature, fractured reservoir shale samples that contained different packings of proppant grains. We investigated permeability reduction in the samples by conducting experiments under a wide range of net confining pressures. Three different proppant grain distributions in three individual fractured shale samples were studied: i) multi-layer, ii) uniform mono-layer, and iii) non-uniform mono-layer. We performed oil-displacing-brine (drainage) and brine-displacing-oil (imbibition) flow experiments in the proppant packs under net confining pressures ranging from 200 to 6000 psi. The flow experiments were performed using a state-of-the-art miniature core-flooding apparatus integrated with a high-resolution, X-ray microtomography system. We visualized fluid occupancies, proppant embedment, and shale deformation under different flow and stress conditions. We examined deformation of pore space within the proppant packs and its impact on permeability and residual trapping, proppant embedment due to changes in net confining stress, shale surface deformation, and disintegration of proppant grains at high stress conditions. In particular, geometrical deformation and two-phase flow effects within the proppant pack impacting hydraulic conductivity of the medium were probed. A significant reduction in effective oil permeability at irreducible water saturation was observed due to increase in confining pressure. We propose different mechanisms responsible for the observed permeability reduction in different fracture packings. Samples with dissimilar proppant grain distributions showed significantly different proppant embedment behavior. Thinner proppant layer increased embedment significantly and lowered the onset confining pressure of embedment. As confining stress was increased, small embedments caused the surface of the shale to fracture. The produced shale fragments were then entrained by the flow and partially blocked pore-throat connections within the proppant pack. Deformation of proppant packs resulted in significant changes in waterflood residual oil saturation. In-situ contact angles measured using micro-CT images showed that proppant grains had experienced a drastic alteration of wettability (from strong water-wet to weakly oil-wet) after the medium had been subjected to flow of oil and brine for multiple weeks. Nanometer resolution SEM images captured nano-fractures induced in the shale surfaces during the experiments with mono-layer proppant packing. These fractures improved the effective permeability of the medium and shale/fracture interactions.
Heating and current drive actuators study for FNSF in the ion cyclotron and lower hybrid range of frequency

Abstract This paper addresses considerations for the radio frequency (RF) heating and current drive actuators on the Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF), focusing on the Lower Hybrid Range of Frequency (LHRF) and Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequency (ICRF). FNSF will require long (∼months), steady-state pulses to fulfill its mission of high neutron fluence operation for the qualification of fusion nuclear technologies prototypical for a power plant. RF actuators are uniquely capable of sustaining the plasma without requiring large line-of-sight penetrations through the breeding blanket, which mitigates the impact on tritium breeding and neutron shielding. The technology for generation and transmission of RF waves in the LHRF and ICRF are fully mature, however the lifetime of plasma-facing antenna components in the reactor environment remains a significant technology gap. Moving the location of RF actuators from the low field side (LFS) to the high field side (HFS) of the tokamak reduces fluxes of turbulent plasma and energetic particles to the antenna. Compact HFS antenna designs are able to fit within the blanket sectors with minimal impact on overall dimensions. Material choices for antenna structures represent a significant challenge. Existing materials are unable to simultaneously meet the requirements for high conductivity, high strength, high temperature, and low activation. Pathways forward with respect to materials development are identified.
A Neoliberal Response to an Urban Crisis: Emergency Management in Flint, MI

The fiscal crisis faced by municipalities is the product of a range of structural and political factors that leave communities unable to meet their obligations. To deal with this crisis, the State ...
Pilot Randomized Trial of Integrated Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Neuromuscular Training for Juvenile Fibromyalgia: The FIT Teens Program.

Abstract Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) improves coping and daily functioning in adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia (JFM), but is less effective in reducing pain. This pilot trial evaluated the efficacy of a novel intervention (Fibromyalgia Integrative Training for Teens; FIT Teens) which integrates CBT with specialized neuromuscular exercise training to enhance the effect of treatment on reducing pain and disability. Forty adolescents with JFM (12–18 years) were randomized to CBT-only or FIT Teens. Treatment was conducted in group-based sessions over 8 weeks with assessments at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up (primary end point). Primary outcomes were pain intensity and functional disability. Secondary outcomes were depressive symptoms, fear of movement, and pain catastrophizing. Thirty-six participants (mean age=15.33 years; 90% female) completed the program. Intent to treat analysis was conducted to evaluate differences between the FIT Teens and CBT groups from baseline to 3-month follow-up, controlling for baseline group differences. Participants in the FIT Teens group showed significantly greater decreases in pain than the CBT group. FIT Teens participants also showed significant improvements in disability, but did not differ from CBT-only at the 3-month end point. Results provide preliminary evidence that the FIT Teens intervention provides added benefits beyond CBT in the treatment of JFM, particularly in pain reduction. Perspective Results from this pilot randomized controlled trial of a new combined CBT and specialized neuromuscular exercise intervention (FIT Teens), compared with CBT alone suggested that FIT Teens offers stronger treatment benefits than CBT alone at initial treatment follow-up, especially with respect to the outcome of pain reduction.
Ocularcentrism in Singapore: A Preliminary Analysis of Architecture

The critique of ocularcentrism is commonplace in feminist theory but still requires additional deconstruction outside of Western philosophy. This paper takes that critique to Singapore and the domain of its modern architecture. Through an explanation of ocularcentrism and its impact on Singaporean architecture it is argued that the values of colonialism are visibly present despite the city-state’s official post-colonial status. This paper connects the critique of ocularcentrism across three categories of architecture in Singapore – the Housing Development Board (HDB) public housing, the central business district (CBD) and the vernacular architecture of Kampong Glam. It concludes by examining the options for resistance and alternatives for space and architecture presented by Singaporean architects, theorists and critics.
The Wolfish Lover : The Dog as a Comic Metaphor in Homoerotic Symposium Pottery

This paper examines the image of the pet dog on Greek red-figure pottery from the late archaic and early classical periods. At least half of the representations depict the dogs accompanying boys and men in the gymnasium, often in homoerotic scenarios. The article suggests that rather than being ancillary figures, contributing to a sense of realism in the background setting, the dogs themselves are visual metaphors for the erastes, adding an element of humor and tension to the scenes. In the absence of a depiction of an erastes, a dog may be shown as a comic metonymic stand-in for the pursuing lover. These images are varied and multi-layered, with polyvalent meanings. Considering the representations of dogs within the context of the humorously and erotically charged symposium helps us to understand the function and meaning of the dog as a visual joke referring to the comically aggressive or foolish erastes.
The role of the medical examiner in mass casualty situations with special reference to the Alfred P. Murrah Building bombing.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the events that shaped the investigation by the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner with regard to the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995 and to provide lessons learned for reinforcement and future planning. STUDY POPULATION: All persons known to have been killed by the blast. METHODS: Standard forensic techniques with regard to crime scene investigation, documentation, body identification and cause of death determinations were followed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fatality injury and related evidence documentation. RESULTS: A total of 168 people died principally from secondary and tertiary injuries caused by projectiles, victim displacement, and crushing. Emphasis is placed on the methods of operation required to find, remove, identify, and determine cause of death in these individuals. Simultaneously, evidence must be identified and preserved in a homicide investigation of this type. Close cooperation must exist among multiple varied agencies and disciplines to accomplish the task and to prepare for subsequent analysis and courtroom testimony required by the criminal justice system. CONCLUSIONS: Terrorism, both foreign and domestic, is a current fact and will be a problem in many forms in the 21st century. No one is immune. The key to success is to plan ahead and be aware of available resources. Preplanning for short comings and difficult issues, and most importantly, relying on team work will allow future participants to successfully meet and complete the challenge. The investigation developed detailed injury data and mechanisms that were available for subsequent judicial proceedings and for in-depth epidemiological studies spearheaded by the Injury Prevention Service of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Language: en
Eigenvalue convergence on perturbed Lipschitz domains for elliptic systems with mixed general decompositions of the boundary

Abstract We consider eigenvalues of an elliptic operator L u = − ∂ ∂ x j ( A i j ∂ u ∂ x i ) where u = ( u 1 , . . . , u m ) T is a vector valued function and the coefficients A i j are m × m matrices whose elements a i j α β are bounded and symmetric. We perturb our domain Ω 0 by adding a set of small measure, T e to form the domain Ω e . We prescribe mixed boundary conditions on quite general decompositions of the boundary and look at the behavior of the eigenvalues of Ω e as T e shrinks to zero. We look at systems which satisfy either a strong ellipticity condition, a Legendre–Hadamard condition, or in particular, the system of linear elasticity.
Association patterns reveal dispersal-aggregation dynamics among cattle in a South Texas Rangeland, USA

The spatial association dynamics of free-ranging cattle herds are not fully understood; however, they can have a direct influence on the spatial patterns of resource utilization. The aim of our study was to examine new analytical methods of identifying the spatio-temporal patterns of behavioral dynamics that determine cattle herd dispersal in the semi-arid rangelands of South Texas. We fitted 10 free-ranging cows with global positioning system collars and obtained positions every 5 min for each animal for 21-day trials, twice during the summer and winter period. We used an association pattern recognition software (ASSOC1) and the herd center of gravity to identify the spatial and temporal thresholds that defined dispersion-aggregation patterns and individual position to determine their relation to social dominance. The association pattern defining herd membership was that animals spent 70% of their time within 200 m of each other. Dominance ranking did not appear to influence association membership or position within the herd. The cattle showed a more dispersed distribution during summer, but in winter, herd members behaved in a more aggregated pattern. This distribution is contrary to patterns described in more northerly and mountainous regions. The spatial thresholds of the cattle herd and the overall distance of all members to the center of the herd were smaller during winter and larger during summer, indicating that this study herd congregated during the winter and dispersed during the summer. Although this study uses a herd of 10 individuals in a 100 ha pasture to evaluate spatio-temporal dynamics, our results provide evidence of the ability of current tracking and spatial association tools to detect and quantify seasonal changes in cattle herd dispersion-aggregation patterns. The use of these data collection and analysis methods could prove useful in larger cattle herds, increase our understanding of herd spatio-temporal behavior, and subsequently help in the development of improved management practices.
First Pegfilgrastim Biosimilar Approved

Pegfilgrastim-jmdb (Fulphila) is the first approved pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) biosimilar. It is used to prevent infections when neutrophil counts drop as a result of chemotherapy for nonmyeloid cancers.It is not considered interchangeable with pegfilgrastim, meaning it cannot be substituted for pegfi
The Regional Economic Impacts of University Research and Science Parks

This paper focuses on the regional economic impacts of US university research and science parks. Motivating this focus is the fact that the landscape for private-sector research is changing, and future research might well emphasize America’s “new geography of innovation.” Thus, university research and science parks might face, if they are not already doing so, pressure to retain current tenants and competition for future tenants. We find that only 11 of 146 research and science parks in the USA have, in the spirit of public accountability, conducted an economic impact study. One reason for the paucity of such studies is that universities are unfamiliar about how to conduct as well as how to interpret the findings from such a study. We offer an economic impact method for park administrators to follow if they proceed to document the regional economic impact of their park.
Recovery of T-cell receptor V(D)J recombination reads from lower grade glioma exome files correlates with reduced survival and advanced cancer grade

The immune system plays an important role in cancer survival and disease progression, but the role of the immune system in lower grade glioma (LGG) is largely unknown To investigate the relationship between lymphocyte infiltration into the LGG microenvironment and LGG survival, we used a genomics approach to recover productive V(D)J recombination sequences from primary tumor, whole exome sequence files available via the cancer genome atlas Increased T-cell receptor V(D)J read recovery, indicating increased T-lymphocyte infiltration into the primary tumor site, strongly correlated with decreased overall and disease-free survival; and with a more advanced cancer grade. In addition, this result was more significant than related results obtainable using RNASeq-based, T-cell biomarkers, similar to a recently reported case for pancreatic cancer, where the recovery of BCR recombination reads from WXS files clearly associated with reduced survival, despite the fact that no such association was demonstrable with B-cell based, RNASeq biomarkers Overall, the results presented here support V(D)J recombination read recovery, from whole exome files, as a uniquely useful biomarker for distinct LGG survival rates.
Strategies to Circumvent Host Innate Immune Response by Hepatitis C Virus.

Innate immune responses generate interferons, proinflammatory cytokines, complement activation, and natural killer (NK) cell response. Ultimately, this leads to the induction of a robust virus-specific adaptive immunity. Although the host innate immune system senses and responds to eliminate virus infection, hepatitis C virus (HCV) evades immune attack and establishes persistent infection within the liver. Spontaneous clearance of HCV infection is associated with a prompt induction of innate immunity generated in an infected host. In this review, we have highlighted the current knowledge of our understanding of host–HCV interactions, especially for endogenous interferon production, proinflammatory response, NK cell response, and complement activation, which may impair the generation of a strong adaptive immune response for establishment of chronicity. The information may provide novel strategies in augmenting therapeutic intervention against HCV.
Radical Embodied Cognitive Science and Problems of Intentionality

Radical embodied cognitive science (REC) tries to understand as much cognition as it can without positing contentful mental entities. Thus, in one prominent formulation, REC claims that content is involved neither in visual perception nor in any more elementary form of cognition. Arguments for REC tend to rely heavily on considerations of ontological parsimony, with authors frequently pointing to the difficulty of explaining content in naturalistically acceptable terms. However, many classic concerns about the difficulty of naturalizing content likewise threaten the credentials of intentionality, which even advocates of REC take to be a fundamental feature of cognition. In particular, concerns about the explanatory role of content and about indeterminacy can be run on accounts of intentionality as well. Issues about explanation can be avoided, intriguingly if uncomfortably, by dramatically reconceptualizing or even renouncing the idea that intentionality can explain. As for indeterminacy, Daniel Hutto and Erik Myin point the way toward a response, appropriating an idea from Ruth Millikan. I take it a step further, arguing that attention to the ways that beliefs’ effects on behavior are modulated by background beliefs can help illuminate the facts that underlie their intentionality and content.
Bilateral inguinal lipoblastomas presenting as inguinal hernias.

Abstract Lipoblastomas are rare, encapsulated tumors arising from embryonic white fat. They primarily occur in infancy and early childhood and have a male predominance. Lipoblastomas are usually located on the trunk and extremities although may develop on the head and neck, mediastinum, abdomen, and retroperitoneum. They are seldom encountered in the inguinal region. A complete resection of the tumor followed by diligent postoperative imaging are essential to detect recurrent disease in its earliest stage. Herein, we report the first case in the literature of a 1-year-old boy with bilateral inguinal lipoblastomas which presented as inguinal hernias.
Impact of a Multiplexed Polymerase Chain Reaction Panel on Identifying Diarrheal Pathogens in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND Diarrhea is common and associated with substantial morbidity among hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients, but the etiology is often not identified. Multiplexed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays increase the detection of diarrheal pathogens, but the impact of this technology in this population has not been evaluated. METHODS Our center replaced stool cultures and other conventional microbiologic methods with the FilmArray Gastrointestinal Panel (GI PCR) in June 2016. We reviewed all adult patients who received an HCT from June 2014-May 2015 (pre-GI PCR, n = 163) and from June 2016-May 2017 (post-GI PCR, n = 182) and followed them for 1 year after transplantation. Clostridioides difficile infection was diagnosed by an independent PCR test in both cohorts. RESULTS The proportion of patients with ≥1 identified infectious diarrheal pathogen increased from 25% to 37% after implementation of GI PCR (P = .01). Eight patients (5%) in the pre-GI PCR cohort tested positive for a pathogen other than C. difficile versus 49 patients (27%) in the post-GI PCR cohort (P < .001). The most common non-C. difficile diarrheal pathogens in the post-GI PCR cohort were enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (n = 14, 8%), norovirus (n = 14, 8%), and Yersinia enterocolitica (n = 7, 4%). The percentage of diarrheal episodes with an identified infectious etiology increased from 14% to 23% (P = .001). Median total costs of stool testing per patient did not increase (pre: $473; post: $425; P = .25). CONCLUSIONS Infectious etiologies of diarrhea were identified in a higher proportion of HCT recipients after replacing conventional stool testing with a multiplexed PCR assay, without an increase in testing costs.