cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of vortices on a delta wing by leading-edge injection

This experimental investigation addresses the control of flow past a half-delta wing at high angle of attack. Application of steady blowing, steady suction, or alternate suction-blowing in the tangential direction along the leading edge of the wing can retard substantially the onset of vortex breakdown and stall. The most effective period of the alternate suction-blowing is on the order of one convective time scale of the flow past the wing. As a result of this type of control, the vortex structure in the crossflow plane is modified from a fully stalled condition to a highly coherent leading-edge vortex. This transformation to a restabilized vortex is represented by instantaneous velocity fields, streamline patterns, and vorticity contours
The history of fruit thinning.

The history of fruit thinning is reviewed, beginning with hand removalof fruits, the effects upon subsequent flowering, and current attemptsto develop mechanical methods of fruit removal. Early experiments withcaustic compounds and growth regulators and their subsequent developmentas commercial practices are discussed, as well as the modes of action ofgrowth regulators. Brief reviews of methods of application, factorsaffecting response, modeling to improve efficiency, and the economicvalue of thinning to the grower are also included.
Transfusion Reaction During Marrow Suppression in a Thalassemic Patient with a Blood Group Anomaly and an Unusual Cold Agglutinin

Summary On two occasions a cold iso-agglutinin resembling anti-IH except for its reactions with Oh and A cells, appeared in the serum of a thalassemic patient at the time of a severe transfusion reaction. Antibodies with other specificities which probably caused the hemolysis were subsequently detected in both instances. Anemia following the second reaction was accentuated by temporary marrow suppression due to hypertransfusion and by inability to find compatible donor blood. The patient's red cell phenotype was A2B, although both parents and several siblings were A1B. His red cells reacted strongly with anti-H, anti-I and anti-i, but not with his pseudo-anti-IH antibody. It is suggested that these anomalies in the ABO and I systems may be interrelated. Resume A deux reprises, une iso-agglutinine froide, ressemblant a un anti-IH, exception faite de ses reactions avec des erythrocytes Oh et A, est apparue dans le serum d'un patient atteint de thalassemie au moment d'une reaction transfusionnelle grave. Des anticorps avec d'autres specificites, probablement responsables de l'hemolyse, ont ete mis en evidence par la suite a deux reprises. L'anemie, consecutive a la seconde reaction, etait renforcee par une suppression temporaire de la moelle, due a un surdosage transfusionnel, et, a l'impossibilite de trouver du sang donneur compatible. Le phenotype erythrocytaire du patient etait A2B, malgre le fait que ses deux parents et plusieurs membres de sa famille etaient A2B. Les erythrocytes du patient reagissaient fortement avec l'anti-H, l'anti-I et l'anti-i, mais ne reagissaient pas avec son pseudo-anticorps anti-IH. On pense qu'il y a interrelation possible de ces anomalies des systemes ABO et I. Zusammenfassung Anlaslich von zwei schweren Transfusionsreaktionen bei einem Thalassamiepatienten wurde ein kalteaktives Isoagglutinin gefunden, welches, wenn man von seinem Verhalten gegenuber Oh- und A-Zellen absieht, einem Anti-IH gleichkommt. In beiden Fallen wurden auserdem Antikorper mit anderer Spezifitat gefunden, wobei mit aller Wahrscheinlichkeit diese die Hamolysereaktionen verursacht hatten. Die auf die zweite Reaktion folgende Anamie beruhte auf einer kurzfristigen Markhemmung zufolge von ubertransfusion, sowie auf der Unmoglichkeit, einen kompatiblen Spender ausfindig zu machen. Die Blutgruppe des Patienten war A2B, obschon beide Eltern und mehrere Geschwister die Blutgruppe A1B aufwiesen. Seine Erythrozyten reagierten stark mit Anti-H-, Anti-I- und Anti-i-Antikorpern, nicht aber mit seinem eigenen Pseudo-Anti-IH-Antikorper. Ein Zusammenhang dieser Anomalien im ABO- und I-System erscheint als wahrscheinlich.
Complementary telephone strategies to improve postdischarge communication.

P w t v t u t p d i c Adverse events after hospital discharge are common and often preventable, representing a vulnerable time for patients. Hospitals are challenged to provide patients with a communication safety net postdischarge compared with ambulatory practices. Dedicated transitional care programs have tried to address this gap, focusing on specific diagnoses or selected high-risk populations, such as older adults. However, adoption of communication strategies targeting all discharged patients is still lacking despite its potential to prevent adverse events and reduce readmissions.
Guiding Student Inquiry into Eukaryotic Organismal Biology using the Plasmodial Slime Mold Physarum polycephalum

In order to challenge our undergraduate students’ enduring misconception that plants, animals, and fungi must be “advanced” and that other eukaryotes traditionally called protists must be “primitive,” we have developed a 24-hour take-home guided inquiry and investigation of live Physarum cultures. The experiment replicates recent peer-reviewed research regarding speed–accuracy tradeoffs and reliably produces data with which students explore key biological concepts and practice essential scientific competencies. It requires minimal resources and can be adapted for high school students or more independent student investigations. We present statistical analyses of data from four semesters and provide examples of our strategies for student engagement and assessment.
Secretion of α‐amylase in human parotid gland epithelial cell culture

The secretions of the salivary gland system are essential for the maintenance of oral health. The nature of cell-specific secretions of the various glands and their regulation is not completely understood. The objective of this study was to establish epithelial cell cultures from the human parotid gland that exhibit the tissue-specific function of alpha-amylase secretion. A specimen of normal human parotid gland was obtained at surgery and used to obtain primary cultures by the explant/outgrowth procedure. The cultures were maintained in keratinocyte basal medium, supplemented with insulin (5 micrograms/ml), EGF (10 ng/ml), hydrocortisone (0.5 micrograms/ml), bovine pituitary extract (25 micrograms/ml), and antibiotics. The cultures were passaged using 0.125% trypsin to dissociate the cells. Phase contrast and ultrastructural observations showed that the cells were polygonal and exhibited desmosomes. Their cytoplasm contained tonofilament bundles and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes. Immunofluorescence studies showed that all cells were positive for cytokeratins. Immunoblot analysis revealed keratins with molecular weights of 58, 56, 52, 50, 48, 46, and 40 KD, which are characteristic of secretory epithelia. The cells have been passaged 35 times so far, undergoing a cumulative 120-140 population doublings. The serially passaged epithelial cell cultures produced and secreted alpha-amylase, a major component of parotid gland acinar cell secretion. The beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol (ISP), stimulated alpha-amylase secretion, which was accompanied by increased intracellular concentrations of cAMP. ISP-induced stimulation of amylase and cAMP was blocked by the beta-adrenergic antagonist, propranolol. Further, dibutyryl cAMP also enhanced the secretion of amylase. Thus we have established a long-term epithelial cell culture model of human parotid gland epithelial cells that exhibits differentiated function and retains the intact beta-adrenergic receptor system.
Spatial partition graphs: a graph theoretic model of maps

The notion of a map is a fundamental metaphor in spatial disciplines. However, there currently exist no adequate data models for maps that define a precise spatial data type for map geometries for use in spatial systems. In this paper, we consider a subclass of map geometries known as spatial partitions that are able to model maps containing region features. However, spatial partitions are defined using concepts such as infinite point sets that cannot be directly represented in computers. We define a graph theoretic model of spatial partitions, called spatial partition graphs, based on discrete concepts that can be directly implemented in spatial systems.
Bradykinin induces tubulin phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of MAP kinase in mesangial cells

Glomerular hypertension and glomerular hypertrophy act early and synergistically to promote glomerular injury in diabetes. We have previously shown that increased renal kinin production contributes...
The Relevant Conduct Controversy

Laymen and law students are often surprised to learn that defendants may receive sentences based, in part, on uncharged conduct, conduct contained in dismissed counts of an indictment, and even conduct that a jury has found not proved beyond a reasonable doubt.The reliance of a sentencing judge on information other than the elements of the offense of conviction has been referred to as "real offense sentencing." This term may be misleading. How do we know what the "real" offense was? Conduct is only "real" in a court of law if a judge or jury finds by some standard of proof that it occurred. "Real offense sentencing" is best understood as the use of a standard of proof lower than proof beyond a reasonable doubt to find relevant sentencing facts beyond the offense of conviction.It is possible to construct a pure charge-based sentencing system. At the other extreme, conviction on any count of an indictment might simply serve as the starting point for a wide-ranging exploration of the offender's past and predicted conduct to shape a unique punitive, incapacitative, rehabilitative or deterrent sentence.
Period Doubling Near the Feigenbaum Limit

(1999). Period Doubling Near the Feigenbaum Limit. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 72, No. 4, pp. 324-324.
Effect of Selected Insecticides on Rhinocyllus conicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Musk Thistle

Musk thistle infested with eggs or young larvae of a beneficial weevil, Rhinocyllus conicus Froelich, were treated with five insecticide treatments that are registered for control of grasshoppers on field and forage crops. During the recommended time interval for grasshopper control, the preponderance of weevils were protected in larval cells inside of the thistle seed heads. Mortality among those individuals did not exceed 5% compared with untreated controls. However, weevil eggs or newly hatched larvae were vulnerable to some of the treatments.
A case of intestinal duplication

A term neonate was hospitalised for progressive abdominal distension, non-bilious vomiting and delayed meconium passage on his fifth day of birth. The full gastrointestinal tract contrast showed a filling defect in the right middle and lower third of the abdomen, which were occupied by dilated loops of the bowel (figure 1). Figure 1 The upper and lower gastrointestinal tract contrast showed a filling defect in the right middle and lower third of the …
Deep belief network based semantic taggers for spoken language understanding.

This paper investigates the use of deep belief networks (DBN) for semantic tagging, a sequence classification task, in spoken language understanding (SLU). We evaluate the performance of the DBN based sequence tagger on the well-studied ATIS task and compare our technique to conditional random fields (CRF), a state-of-the-art classifier for sequence classification. In conjunction with lexical and named entity features, we also use dependency parser based syntactic features and part of speech (POS) tags [1]. Under both noisy conditions (output of automatic speech recognition system) and clean conditions (manual transcriptions), our deep belief network based sequence tagger outperforms the best CRF based system described in [1] by an absolute 2% and 1% F-measure, respectively.Upon carrying out an analysis of cases where CRF and DBN models made different predictions, we observed that when discrete features are projected onto a continuous space during neural network training, the model learns to cluster these features leading to its improved generalization capability, relative to a CRF model, especially in cases where some features are either missing or noisy.
Kinetics of IO Production in the CH2I + O2 Reaction Studied by Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy was used to study the kinetics of formation of IO radicals in the reaction of CH2I + O2 in a flow cell at 52 ± 3 Torr total pressure of N2 diluent and a temperature of 295 K. CH2I was produced by photolysis of CH2I2 at 355 nm and IO probed on the A(2)Π3/2–X(2)Π3/2 (3,0) and (3,1) bands at 435.70 and 448.86 nm, respectively. The rates of formation of IO(v″ = 0) and IO(v″ = 1) were measured as a function of O2 number density using either conventional transient absorption or the simultaneous kinetic and ring-down technique, respectively. IO(v″ = 1) was found to be formed with a significantly larger rate constant, but reached far smaller peak concentrations than IO(v″ = 0). Kinetic modeling supports the conclusion that IO(v″ = 0) is produced both directly and through secondary chemistry, most probably involving the initial formation of the Criegee intermediate CH2OO and subsequent reaction with I atoms, while IO(v″ = 1) is produced exclusively via a direct mechanism. We propose that the reaction mechanism (direct or indirect) depends upon the degree of initial excitation of the photolytically produced CH2I reagent.
Can buyer “mobility” reduce aggregation failures in land-assembly?

Abstract In this paper we examine whether site-development competition can be used to facilitate land assembly, in the absence of contingent contracts. In particular, we attempt to determine (1) whether competition can be induced among prospective sellers, (2) whether or not competition increases aggregation rates, and (3) what effects competition has on the distribution of surplus among the bargaining parties. We also study the incidence with which a buyer (endogenously) chooses to deal with a single “large parcel” owner vs. multiple “small parcel” owners. To do so, we make use of a laboratory experiment where all the relevant information about the project is common knowledge and landowner valuations are private information. Our results show that competition more than doubles aggregation rates, with aggregation rates of approximately 40% in the baseline, and at least 84% in the competitive treatments. We also find that developers have a strong preference to make transactions with landowners who have consolidated land holdings, doing so in 24/27 successful aggregations, providing empirical evidence that there is a link between the transactions cost associated with land-assembly and suburbanization, as suggested by Miceli and Sirmans (2007).
Conducting and Using an Academic Library Data Inventory

This article describes the need for and the processes used to create an inventory of data collected by an academic library. The study uses a survey augmented by multiple interviews to create and populate an inventory of data. The study was able to identify and sort sources of data generated by library personnel based on type of data (demographic, location, log, qualitative, and quantitative) and library division. It indicated the frequency of data collection and use, as well as where the data was stored. Finally, the inventory also identified types of data not currently collected but librarians would like to collect. The article indicates how the data inventory may be used to support planning and improve library operations.
Effect of ionic strength on membrane fouling during ultrafiltration of plasmid DNA

Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated that the selectivity of membrane systems for DNA purification can be enhanced by proper selection of solution ionic strength, but these data were all obtained in dilute solutions where fouling is negligible. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of solution conditions on the fouling characteristics of both supercoiled and linear plasmid DNA isoforms with different length. Data were obtained using Biomax polyethersulfone ultrafiltration membranes with 300 and 1000 kDa nominal molecular weight cutoffs. Sieving coefficient and filtrate flux data were analyzed using a model based on the partial blockage of the membrane pores by trapped plasmids. Fouling increased dramatically at low ionic strength, with the flux decline parameter for the 3.0 kbp plasmid in a 1 mM NaCl solution being an order of magnitude greater than that in a 10 mM solution. Fouling was also most pronounced for the larger 16.8 kbp plasmid, consistent with the greater probability of plasmid trapping at the pore entrance. These results provide important insights into the development of membrane systems for plasmid DNA filtration in different solution conditions.
Racial variations in upgraded gleason scores of active surveillance candidates.

e548Background: Currently, active surveillance is an appropriate option for patients who have low risk PCa as determined by the NCCN as Gleason Score (GS) ≤ 6 and a PSA <10. Methods: Following IRB approval, we determined that 141 men from our database had low risk PCa and were eligible for AS, but underwent radical prostatectomy (RP). We performed a retrospective review of these patients examining GS upon RP. Disease upgrading on RP was considered Gleason score ≥ 7. A two-tailed t-test was performed to examine whether African American (AA) patients had greater incidence of upgrading on RP than non-African American patients. Results: Of the 141 patients identified (36 AA, 105 non-AA) there were no significant differences in age at RP (59 AA, 59 non-AA), median PSA (5.5 ng/dL AA, 5.4 ng/dL non-AA), and number of positive cores (3 AA, 3 non-AA) at biopsy when stratified by race. A total of 85 patients (19 AA, 66 non-AA) were found to have an upgraded GS at the time of RP; again without significant difference...
Sacred Practices and Family Processes in a Jewish Context: Shabbat as the Weekly Family Ritual Par Excellence.

The present article provides a deep and more focused look at the utility, meaning, processes, and power involved in a specific, family-level, sacred practice or ritual from Judaism: Shabbat (Sabbath). Content analysis of in-depth interviews with 30 diverse, marriage-based Jewish families living in the United States (N = 77 individuals) yielded three emergent themes: (a) "Shabbat brings us closer together"; (b) How Shabbat brings the family together; and (c) The Power of Blessing the Children. These themes will be discussed respectively, along with related verbatim data from participants' in-depth qualitative interviews.
Perceptions of Higher Education Administrators regarding the Role of Club Sports in the Recruitment and Retention of Male Students

A current challenge for higher education is the declining trend of men attending college. Because of this downward trend, universities are working hard to attract male students. Club sports are a potential strategy to help recruit and retain male students. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of higher education administrators concerning the role club sports play in recruiting and retaining male students. Using a case study approach, administrators at four North Carolina schools were interviewed. In addition, campus tours and club sports facilities were observed, and document analysis was conducted on admissions, campus recreation, and club sports brochures, pamphlets and webpages. Results indicated that club sports are used at each institution to recruit and retain male students at varying levels. Although challenges exist, administrators acknowledged the possibility for success with a specific male market interested in club sport.
How to Run American Science (Successfully)

AbstractAlthough the United States is the leading scientific nation in the world, there is much concern about the future, particularly about such matters as an adequate supply of young scientists, a wise allocation of existing and expanded resources, the provision of modern instruments and facilities, sensible management and regulation of science and the need to strengthen the relationship between academia, government and industry. To all these problems the author proposes solutions.
Oncologic Outcomes of Definitive Treatments for Low- and Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer After a Period of Active Surveillance.

Abstract Background To compare oncologic outcomes of different definitive treatment (DT) modalities in a cohort of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) after active surveillance (AS). Methods We identified 237 patients with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer diagnosed from 1990 to 2012 who did not undergo immediate DT within 12 months of diagnosis (ie, AS patients as well as watchful waiting and those refusing DT). Charts were examined for clinical/pathologic data and type of DT: surgery (RP), radiation including brachytherapy (XRT), cryotherapy, and androgen deprivation therapy monotherapy (ADT). The impact of DT on oncologic outcomes of biochemical recurrence (BCR), metastasis, disease-specific (DSS), and overall survival (OS) was examined with the Cox proportional hazards model, along with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Results After median time on AS of 63.4 months, 40% of patients underwent DT: 47% XRT, 28% RP, 14% ADT, and 11% cryotherapy. On multivariable analysis, the use of XRT predicted higher BCR (hazard ratio [HR] 6.1, P = .001) and worse overall mortality (HR 2.1, P = .03) compared with other treatments, controlling for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), stage, Gleason score, and NCCN risk category. Median follow-up was 71.7 months. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, 10-year OS was superior for RP versus XRT among patients with prostatic specific antigen (PSA) velocity >2.0 ng/mL/y. Conclusions Low- and intermediate-risk patients with PCa who progress to DT after AS may be inadequately treated with radiation therapy compared with other DT modalities, especially when pretreatment PSA velocity is > 2 ng/mL/y.
Ultrasound and Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Report Transcription Error Rates and Strategies for Reduction.

Abstract Purpose Radiologists play an essential role in patient care by providing accurate and timely results. An error-free radiology report is an expectation of both patients and referring physicians. Software is currently available that can eliminate measurement and side types of errors while saving radiologists and sonographers time. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential reduction in report errors, estimate the potential time savings associated with implementation, and conduct a cost-benefit analysis of implementing two software programs. Methods Data on the number of measurement errors and side errors in ultrasound and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry reports were collected, and the time required for data entry that the software would reduce was measured by report type. Generalized estimating equations regression was used to estimate error rates and data entry times and corresponding 95% confidence intervals by report type for radiologists and sonographers. Current wages and report volumes were then applied to the time savings to estimate the annual wage savings. Projected volume increases were applied to the annual estimates to generate a 5-year savings estimate. Results Overall, measurement errors occurred in 6% to 28% of ultrasound reports, depending on the report type. Side errors were rare. It was estimated that over 5 years, the software could save $693,777 in radiologist wages and $130,771 in sonographer wages, a total of $824,548 (range, $621,866-$1,039,714). Conclusions The use of data integration software would both significantly reduce errors in ultrasound and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry reports and save a considerable amount of time and money.
Stellar wind retention and expulsion in massive star clusters

Mass and energy injection throughout the lifetime of a star cluster contributes to the gas reservoir available for subsequent episodes of star formation and the feedback energy budget responsible for ejecting material from the cluster. In addition, mass processed in stellar interiors and ejected as winds has the potential to augment the abundance ratios of currently forming stars, or stars which form at a later time from a retained gas reservoir. Here we present hydrodynamical simulations that explore a wide range of cluster masses, compactnesses, metallicities and stellar population age combinations in order to determine the range of parameter space conducive to stellar wind retention or wind powered gas expulsion in star clusters. We discuss the effects of the stellar wind prescription on retention and expulsion effectiveness, using MESA stellar evolutionary models as a test bed for exploring how the amounts of wind retention/expulsion depend upon the amount of mixing between the winds from stars of different masses and ages. We conclude by summarizing some implications for gas retention and expulsion in a variety of compact ($\sigma_v \gtrsim 20 \, {\rm km s^{-1}}$) star clusters including young massive star clusters ($10^5 \lesssim M/M_\odot \lesssim 10^7$, $age \lesssim 500$~Myrs), intermediate age clusters ($10^5 \lesssim M/M_\odot \lesssim 10^7$, $age \approx 1-4$~Gyrs), and globular clusters ($10^5 \lesssim M/M_\odot \lesssim 10^7$, $age \gtrsim 10$~Gyrs).
Insect and Disease Control

All organisms compete with each other for available resources. Under normal conditions, several organisms may occupy the same space in such a way as to afford survival without any one dominating. Generally, the numbers will be several, and the tendency for any one to dominate the biological scene is restricted by its predators or availability of food. The vigor of a population is somewhat less than the genetic potential.
Overload and Regeneration During Resistance Exercise

Whether they know it or not, anyone who has entered a weight training facility with the intention of getting bigger or stronger or improving physical performance has had to deal with the concept of an overload. This includes not only athletes, but also recreational lifters, those exercising for health reasons, and anyone going through a rehabilitation program. In order to alter the physiological system, it is necessary to expose the system to an unaccustomed stress. Only in this manner can the body respond by appropriately adapting to the stress. As with many stresses, the adaptation response is not immediate, and requires a period of regeneration. How long this regeneration period must be to permit complete recovery will depend on the training stress itself. In many ways, this training stress response is quite similar to the General Adaptation Syndrome as proposed by Hans Selye.33 The recovery time required following a training stress is directly related to the magnitude of the stress. In training terms, this stress is called an overload, or exposing the body to a stress beyond which it is accustomed.2
Optimal Superstructure-Based Design and Synthesis of Hydrocarbon Biorefinery via Fast Pyrolysis, Hydrogen Production and Hydroprocessing Pathway

Abstract This paper is concerned with the process design and synthesis of hydrocarbon biorefinery under economic and environmental considerations. A superstructure is developed that consists of fast pyrolysis, bio-crude collection, hydroprocessing, and hydrogen production sections. Multiple process alternatives are included in the superstructure for process optimization. Three hydrotreating feed options with different bio-crude ratios and hydrotreating catalysts are placed; natural gas steam reforming, bio-crude steam reforming and biomass gasification are employed for hydrogen generation. A bi-criteria mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is proposed to maximize the economic performance measured by the net present value (NPV) and minimize the environmental impact quantified by global warming potential (GWP). The bi-criteria MINLP model is solved with the e-constraint method, and the resulting Pareto curve reveals the trade-off between the economic and environmental behaviour of the process. The two “good choice” optimal designs indicate a unit cost of $3.43 and $5.26 per gallon of gasoline equivalent (GGE), corresponding a net greenhouse emission of 1.95 and 2.04 kg CO2-eq/GGE, respectively.
Photovoltaic Laboratory: Safety, Code-Compliance, and Commercial Off-the-Shelf Equipment

Photovoltaic Laboratory: Safety, Code-Compliance, and Commercial Off-the-Shelf Equipment is the only textbook that offers students the opportunity to design, build, test, and troubleshoot practical PV systems based on commercially available equipment. Complete with electrical schematics, layouts, and step-by-step installation instructions, this hands-on laboratory manual: Promotes "safety first" by covering working in extreme weather conditions, personal protective equipment, working at heights, electrical safety, and power tool safety Includes chapters on trade math, DC/AC electrical circuits, and assessing a property for a photovoltaic system (e.g., surveying the available space, shading, and solar harvest) Discusses aspects of mechanical and electric integration specific to different roof types, and characterizing a PV module under different levels of irradiation and ambient temperature Addresses the design, installation, and testing of off-grid PV systems with DC-only loads and with DC and AC loads, as well as 2.4 kw DC grid-tied PV systems with microinverters and string inverters Trains students on exactly the sort of equipment that they will encounter in the field, so they gain valuable experience and skills that translate directly to real-world applications Photovoltaic Laboratory: Safety, Code-Compliance, and Commercial Off-the-Shelf provides in-depth, project-driven instruction on everything from attaching brackets and flashing to modeling PV cells, modules, and arrays. This textbook is ideal preparation for those seeking a career in the PV industry—from system installers and designers to quality assurance and sales/marketing personnel.
Fully Automatic Segmentation of the Right Ventricle Via Multi-Task Deep Neural Networks

Segmentation of ventricles from cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) images is a key step to obtaining clinical parameters useful for prognosis of cardiac pathologies. To improve upon the performance of existing fully convolutional network (FCN) based automatic right ventricle (RV) segmentation approaches, a multi-task deep neural network (DNN) architecture is proposed. The multi-task model can employ any FCN as a building block, allows for leveraging shared features between different tasks, and can be efficiently trained end-to-end. Specifically, a multi-task U-net is developed and implemented using the Tensorflow framework. Numerical tests on real datasets showcase the merits of the proposed approach and in particular its ability to offer improved segmentation performance for small-size RVs.
Mindfulness and Speed Testing for Children with Learning Disabilities: Oil and Water?.

Metacognitive approaches are important in teaching reading skills, but experts know little about how to develop self-regulation through classroom interventions. This article reports results from a ...
Synthesis of C14-Desmethylene Corialactone D and Discovery of Inhibitors of Nerve Growth Factor Mediated Neurite Outgrowth

An asymmetric synthesis of C14-desmethylene corialactone D is described on the basis of strategic application of a metallacycle-mediated annulative cross-coupling reaction, a Still [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement, and Morken's hydroxyl-directed diboration reaction. While representing a convenient approach to access novel compositions of matter inspired by the sesquiterpenoid natural product class (including classic natural product synthesis targets including the picrotaxanes and dendrobine), these studies have led to the discovery of natural product-inspired agents that inhibit nerve growth factor (NGF)-mediated neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells.
Nearly monoenergetic positive ion beam with self-neutralized space charge extracted from a pulsed plasma

A nearly monoenergetic Ar+ ion beam (100 eV peak energy, 3.5 eV full width at half maximum), with self-neutralized space charge, was extracted from a power modulated (pulsed) inductively coupled plasma (ICP), through a single grounded grid. The beam energy was set by applying a synchronous DC bias voltage to a boundary electrode in contact with the plasma, in the late afterglow of the power pulse. A retarding field energy analyzer and a movable Faraday cup were used to measure the ion energy distribution (IED) and the time resolved ion and electron current densities, as a function of position along the beam axis, to unravel the mechanism of self-neutralization of the space charge of the beam. When a +100 V DC bias was applied to the boundary electrode during the afterglow, a ~100 eV beam (ion density ~109 cm−3) emerged that was space-charge neutralized by periodic injection of electrons, mainly during the early afterglow, into the region downstream of the extraction grid. A background plasma (electron density ~1010 cm−3) was formed by these electrons, in conjunction with relatively low-energy ions (1–10 eV) that flew out of the ICP when the DC bias was off, as well as formed by resonant charge exchange of the 100 eV beam ions with the background Ar in the downstream region near the extraction grid. The behavior of the beam IED as a function of pressure and power of the ICP as well as the timing of application of the DC bias voltage was also studied.
Connection-less BLE Performance Evaluation on Smartphones

Abstract Previous studies concerning theoretical discovery latency for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) have been repeatedly validated on dedicated BLE Systems on Chips (SoCs), but to a much lesser extent on multi-radio SoCs such as those found in smartphones. In this paper, we evaluate neighbor discovery latency and energy consumption across various parameters available on an Android smartphone under API 24 for Bluetooth 4.2. We further investigate the effect of concurrent Wi-Fi traffic on energy consumption and BLE packet reception over advertising channels. We found that average discovery latency can be comparable to what state of the art models predict, while exhibiting higher variability across advertising intervals. Energy consumption deviates from that predicted by the chosen models and Wi-Fi interference tests show a much greater impact on energy consumption and discovery latency when interference traffic involves the BLE scanning activity.
Improving the efficiency of energy assessments with application of lean tools—a case study

Energy auditing is steadily rising on the list of priorities for companies, and government mandates and restrictions are requiring businesses to become energy conscious. A typical university-based energy auditing program like the Louisiana Smart and Secure Energy Assessment Laboratory (LASSEL) provides useful service to local industries by identifying energy-saving opportunities and by creating energy management plans for the industries. While the energy audit procedure is standardized, it is possible that the use of lean concept can improve the efficiency of the auditing process. This research is a case study which examines how the total task time needed to carry out energy assessments can be reduced using lean tools. In this study, the potential areas of improvement are analyzed using the Pareto analysis and non-value-added activities are identified. To achieve savings in task time, lean tools such as four-step rapid setup, standardized work, and 5S are applied. A revised procedure is developed and the results of using the new procedure can decrease total energy assessment time by an average of 18%. The variation in total energy assessment time measured by range can be reduced by 65%. Using the lean-based procedure, LASSEL is able to serve more industries per period.
Korean general extenders tunci ha and kena ha ‘or something’: Approximation, hedging, and pejorative stance in cross-linguistic comparison

Abstract Using natural conversation corpora, I demonstrate that the Korean x-tunci ha ‘x-or do’ and x-kena ha ‘x-or do’, which originally list options (e.g., ‘x or y do’) have emerged as independent constructions that can indicate approximation, epistemic uncertainty, tentativeness, and even polite hedging. I argue that these Korean “general extenders” (Overstreet 1999) followed a similar (inter)subjectification process to English x-or something and Japanese x-tari suru ‘x-or do.’ I also illustrate how these two Korean general extenders specialize in different hedging strategies. Ironically, Korean tunci ha and Japanese tari suru can also convey a speaker’s negative affective stance. I demonstrate that tunci ha was frequently used in making non-imposing suggestions (hedging) and obtained its negative affect in the context of suggesting an obvious but untried solution (i.e., the frustration of the suggesting speaker). This result differs from Suzuki (2008)’s argument of the Japanese case which attributes this development to a speaker’s non-committal attitude.
Immigrant Latino parents demonstrated high interactivity with pediatric primary care text messaging intervention

Background The majority of Latino immigrants have been shown to have a mobile phone. Cellular phones offer a low-cost method of reaching larger populations and have the potential for increased tailoring and interactivity. This supports the development of mHealth interventions to address healthcare disparities in this population. In this study we sought to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of interactive Spanish-language text messages sent throughout a child's first year of life in a low-income, limited-English proficient (LEP) Latino population to support families in accessing and using pediatric primary care more effectively. Methods Participants (n=79) received interactive text messages over a period of 12 months as a part of a multi-modal mHealth intervention conducted at an urban academic pediatric primary care practice. Inclusion criteria were: singleton infant 18, parent preferred healthcare language of Spanish, and at least one household cellular phone. Interactive text messages were designed to promote increased healthcare engagement and prompted participant responses through preprogramed algorithms. Text message sequences included clinic appointment reminders, support for obtaining medicine and completing referral appointments, monitoring of illness care needs and use, and parent support program reminders. Descriptive analyses were used to examine text message volume, usability, and participant response to text sequences. Results Among participants, mean parent age was 30.1 years (SD: 6.1 years); mean years in the US was 7.5 years (SD: 5.1 years). 63.3% of parents had less than a high school education and 84.8% of parents had possible/high likelihood of limited health literacy. Participants completed the majority of sequences with appointment reminder sequences having the quickest response time. The top quartile of responders completed 88.3% of sequences; lower educational attainment was associated with lower text message sequence completion. Participants rated the program positively, especially the appointment reminders. Conclusions LEP Latino parents successfully engaged with interactive Spanish-language text sequences and parent acceptability was high. This study demonstrates feasibility for interventions employing this technology. Text message interventions may be a feasible approach to reduce healthcare disparities and costs for vulnerable populations.
Right diaphragmatic palsy as a cause of QRS alternans.

Loss of body mass and exercise intolerance are common findings in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and are often difficult to reverse despite optimal nutritional intake. Similar findings have been reported in healthy individuals during high-altitude exposure. The role of hypoxia in modulating metabolism has been largely investigated in vitro and in animal studies. More fragmentary is the knowledge regarding hypoxia effects on in-vivo human metabolism. This paper reviews recent literature regarding the effects of chronic exposure to hypoxia on metabolism, particularly comparing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with humans exposed to high altitude.
Diagnosis and Operative Treatment of Peroneal Tendon Tears

Peroneal tendon tears are a common but under-recognized source of ankle pain and dysfunction. Recognition of the characteristic symptoms, physical findings, and imaging results of peroneal tendon t...
Neutrophil dysfunction in cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Background Excessive neutrophil inflammation is the hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway disease. Novel technologies for characterizing neutrophil dysfunction may provide insight into the nature of these abnormalities, revealing a greater mechanistic understanding and new avenues for CF therapies that target these mechanisms. Methods Blood was collected from individuals with CF in the outpatient clinic, CF individuals hospitalized for a pulmonary exacerbation, and non-CF controls. Using microfluidic assays and advanced imaging technologies, we characterized 1) spontaneous neutrophil migration using microfluidic motility mazes, 2) neutrophil migration to and phagocytosis of Staphylococcal aureus particles in a microfluidic arena, 3) neutrophil swarming on Candida albicans clusters, and 4) Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced neutrophil transepithelial migration using micro-optical coherence technology (µOCT). Results Participants included 44 individuals: 16 Outpatient CF, 13 Hospitalized CF, and 15 Non-CF individuals. While no differences were seen with spontaneous migration, CF neutrophils migrated towards S. aureus particles more quickly than non-CF neutrophils (p Conclusions Advanced technologies for characterizing CF neutrophil function reveal significantly altered migratory responses, cell-to-cell clustering, and microbe containment. Future investigations will probe mechanistic basis for abnormal responses in CF to identify potential avenues for novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
An Essential Clinical Dataset Intervention for Nursing Documentation of a Pediatric Admission History Database.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to improve nursing documentation efficiencies and satisfaction of a pediatric admission history workflow. Secondary aims determined if defining essential data elements was associated with decreased pediatric admission history documentation time, increased dataset completion rate, and increased satisfaction. Design and methods A quasi-experimental between-group difference comparison was conducted for a nurse-led quality improvement study that included implementation of a pediatric essential clinical dataset (ECD) tool for pre/post-intervention analysis of nursing admission history documentation time, dataset completion rate, and satisfaction. A survey was administered to nurses pre- and post-intervention to compare documentation satisfaction. Results Nursing admission history documentation time decreased by 1 min 31 s and the number of clicks decreased 38%. Dataset utilization increased 8% indicating improved nursing documentation of essential questions within a pediatric admission history form. Nursing documentation satisfaction with the pediatric admission history form was minimally impacted by the pediatric ECD study intervention. Conclusions Defining what is essential for nurses to document positively influenced nursing documentation time, dataset completion rate, and satisfaction. Practice implications The study contributed to EHR content standardization, optimization, and documentation efficiencies for nurses within a pediatric organization with implications for clinical and informatics collaboration to create real-world evidence, leveraging an intervention that decreased documentation burden and increased time for children and families.
Comparative one-year outcomes of invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections among persons with and without drug use: an observational cohort study

BACKGROUND Persons who use drugs (PWUD) face substantial risk of Staphylococcus aureus infections. Limited data exist describing clinical and substance use characteristics of PWUD with invasive S. aureus infections or comparing treatment and mortality outcomes in PWUD vs. non-PWUD. These are needed to inform optimal care for this marginalized population. METHODS We identified adults hospitalized from 2013-2018 at 2 medical centers in San Francisco with S. aureus bacteremia or ICD-coded diagnoses of endocarditis, epidural abscess, or vertebral osteomyelitis with compatible culture. In addition to demographic and clinical characteristic comparison, we constructed multivariate Cox proportional hazards models for one-year infection-related readmission and mortality, adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, housing, comorbidities, and MRSA. RESULTS Of 963 hospitalizations for S. aureus infections in 946 patients, 372/963 (39%) occurred in PWUD. Among PWUD, heroin (198/372, 53%) and methamphetamine use (185/372, 50%) were common. Among 214 individuals using opioids, 98/214 (46%) did not receive methadone or buprenorphine. PWUD had lower antibiotic completion than non-PWUD (70% vs. 87%; p<0.001). While drug use was not associated with increased mortality, one-year readmission for ongoing or recurrent infection was double in PWUD vs. non-PWUD (28% vs. 14%; aHR 2.0 [95% CI:1.3-2.9). MRSA was independently associated with one-year readmission for infection (aHR 1.5 [95% CI 1.1-2.2]). CONCLUSION Compared to non-PWUD, PWUD with invasive S. aureus infections had lower rates of antibiotic completion and twice the risk of infection persistence/recurrence at one year. Among PWUD, both opioid and stimulant use were common. Models for combined treatment of substance use disorders and infections, particularly MRSA, are needed.
Bend Stress Relaxation Creep of CVD Silicon Carbide

Bend stress relaxation (BSR) creep of two forms of chemically vapor-deposited beta phase silicon carbide, namely polycrystalline and single-crystalline, was studied. The experiment was primarily oriented to demonstrate the applicability of BSR technique to irradiation-induced / enhanced creep behavior of silicon carbide in nuclear environments. It was demonstrated that thin strip samples with sufficient strength for BSR experiment could be machined and the small creep strains occurred in those samples could be measured to sufficient accuracy. The thermal creep experiment was conducted at 1573-1773K in argon to maximum hold time of 10 hours. Both materials exhibited similar primary creep deformation at the initial stresses of 65 - 100 MPa. The relative stress relaxation determined in the present experiment appeared significantly smaller than those reported for a commercial CVD SiC fiber at given temperature, implying a significant effect of the initial material conditions on the relaxation behavior. The analysis based on the relaxation time - temperature relationship gave an activation energy of ∼850 kJ/mol for the primary responsible process in CVD SiC.
Variational Inequality Theory

Equilibrium is a concept central to the analysis of economic phenomena. Methodologies that have been applied to the formulation, qualitative analysis, and computation of economic equilibria have included systems of equations, optimization theory, complementarity theory, as well as fixed point theory. In this chapter the foundations for the theory of variational inequalities are established and the relationship of this methodology to other existing equilibrium analysis tools identified. Variational inequality theory will be utilized throughout the book as the fundamental methodology in synthesizing network economic equilibrium models operating under a spectrum of behavioral mechanisms and ranging from spatial price equilibrium problems and imperfectly competitive oligopolistic market equilibrium problems to general financial equilibrium problems.