cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vertically Reinforced 1-3 Piezoelectric Composites for Active Damping of Functionally Graded Plates

ONOLITHIC piezoelectric materials (PZTs) have beenwidely used as distributed sensors and actuators fordeveloping smart structures with self-monitoring and self-controlling capabilities [1–10]. However, their major drawback islow control authority as the magnitude of their electromechanicalcoefﬁcientsisverysmall.Thesituationcanbeimprovedbyusinganactive constrained layer damping (ACLD) treatment [11,12] whichconsists of a layer of a viscoelastic material constrained between ahost structure and an active constraining PZT layer. When theconstraining layer is activated with a voltage applied to the PZTlayer, the shearing deformations of the viscoelastic layer areenhanced to improve the damping characteristics of the overallstructures. Since its inception, the ACLD treatment has beenextensively used for efﬁcient and reliable control of ﬂexiblestructures [13–17].Piezoelectric composites, also called piezocomposites, haveemerged as a new class of smart materials and have found wideapplicationsasdistributedactuatorsandsensors.Apiezocomposite,composedofPZTreinforcementsembeddedinaconventionalepoxymatrix, provides a wide range of effective material properties notofferedbyexistingPZTs,isanisotropic,andhasgoodconformabilityand strength. We note that laminae of vertically reinforced 1-3piezocomposites are commercially available [18] and are beingeffectively used as underwater high-frequency transducers and inmedicalimagingapplications[19,20].A1-3piezocompositelaminahas PZT ﬁbers vertically reinforced in the epoxy matrix across thethicknessofthelamina,theﬁbersarepoledalongtheirlength,andthetop and the bottom surfaces of the lamina are electroded. Theeffective PZT coefﬁcient (e
Erin Brockovich Doesn't Live Here: Environmental Politics and "Responsible Care" in Mobile County, Alabama

Since the 1950s, the small rural community of Axis, Alabama, has become one of the Southeast's largest sites of chemical production. Residents attribute numerous public health anomalies to emissions from its chemical plants. Cancer mortality rates in Axis are far greater than state averages, yet organized or individual opposition to the manufacturers has been nearly nonexistent. This paper examines the apparent acquiescence of community residents to elevated rates of cancer and other diseases. Heralded by the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) as an attempt to improve its relationship with hundreds of "host communities" worldwide, the CMA's "Responsible Care" initiative has enabled the manufacturers in Axis to preempt environmental and health complaints that might threaten their operations. Such strategies are representative of an emergent environmental paradigm that privileges corporate interests over those of nearby residents.
Finite dynamic element formulation for a plane triangular element

Higher order correction terms for the stiffness and inertia matrices associated with a triangular plane stress-strain finite dynamic element are developed in detail. Numerical results are presented which indicate that the adoption of these matrices along with a suitable quadratic matrix eigenproblem solver effects a significant economy in the free vibration solution of structure when compared with the analysis based on the usual finite element procedure. Finally, a FORTRAN IV computer program listing of the various relevant matrices is given.
"You Can't Vote--You're Mentally Incompetent": Denying Democracy to People with Severe Disabilities.

Voting represents, arguably, the most important right and responsibility of a citizen in a democracy. Nevertheless, few adults are with an intellectual or developmental disability vote, and few are...
Focus on the prefix: evidence for word-internal prosodic words*

This paper presents an analysis of the relationship between focus and the prosodic word (ω) in English. Using focus as a diagnostic, I will support the position that prosodic structure is built on a separate plane from morphological structure and that certain phonological processes are conditioned by prosodic bracketing (Booij & Rubach 1984, 1987; Nespor & Vogel 1986; Halle & Vergnaud 1987; Cohn 1989; Zec & Inkelas 1990; Kang 1992; Booij & Lieber 1993; Raffelsiefen 1993). More specifically, the proposal is that semantic analysability, focus and ω status coincide in a predictable manner on prefixes.
Facile and General Synthesis of Photoactivatable Xanthene Dyes

Despite the apparent simplicity of the xanthene fluorophores, the preparation of caged derivatives with free carboxy groups remains a synthetic challenge. A straightforward and flexible strategy for preparing rhodamine and fluorescein derivatives was developed using reduced, “leuco” intermediates.
Molecular and pathological effects of a modifier gene on deficiency of the sodium channel Scn8a (Nav1.6)

Scn8a encodes an abundant, widely distributed voltage-gated sodium channel found throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. Mice with different mutant alleles of Scn8a provide models of the movement disorders ataxia, dystonia, tremor and progressive paralysis. We previously reported that the phenotype of the hypomorphic allele of Scn8a, medJ, is dependent upon an unlinked modifier locus, Scnm1. Strain C57BL/6J carries a sensitive allele of the modifier locus that results in juvenile lethality. We now provide evidence that the modifier acts on the splicing efficiency of the mutant splice donor site. Mutant mice display either 90% or 95% reduction in the proportion of correctly spliced mRNA, depending on modifier genotype. The abundance of the channel protein, Na(v)1.6, is also reduced by an order of magnitude in medJ mice, resulting in delayed maturation of nodes of Ranvier, slowed nerve conduction velocity, reduced muscle mass and reduction of brain metabolic activity. medJ mice provide a model for the physiological effects of sodium channel deficiency and the molecular mechanism of bigenic disease.
Inorganic nanocrystals as contrast agents in MRI: synthesis, coating and introduction of multifunctionality.

Inorganic nanocrystals have myriad applications in medicine, including their use as drug or gene delivery complexes, therapeutic hyperthermia agents, in diagnostic systems and as contrast agents in a wide range of medical imaging techniques. In MRI, nanocrystals can produce contrast themselves, with iron oxides having been the most extensively explored, or can be given a coating that generates MR contrast, for example gold nanoparticles coated with gadolinium chelates. These MR-active nanocrystals can be used for imaging of the vasculature, liver and other organs, as well as molecular imaging, cell tracking and theranostics. As a result of these exciting applications, the synthesis and rendering of these nanocrystals as water soluble and biocompatible are therefore highly desirable. We discuss aqueous phase and organic phase methods for the synthesis of inorganic nanocrystals, such as gold, iron oxides and quantum dots. The pros and cons of the various methods are highlighted. We explore various methods for making nanocrystals biocompatible, i.e. direct synthesis of nanocrystals coated with biocompatible coatings, ligand substitution, amphiphile coating and embedding in carrier matrices that can be made biocompatible. Various examples are highlighted and their applications explained. These examples signify that the synthesis of biocompatible nanocrystals with controlled properties has been achieved by numerous research groups and can be applied to a wide range of applications. Therefore, we expect to see reports of preclinical applications of ever more complex MRI-active nanoparticles and their wider exploitation, as well as in novel clinical settings. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating Illicit Marihuana for Aflatoxins and Toxigenic Fungi

The illicit use of marihuana as an in toxicant by a proportion of the American population has been a major issue of national concern since the early 1960’ s. Marihuana has been reported to be the most widely used nonlegal psychoactive drug, including cocaine and heroin (Miller and Cisin, 1983). Since marihuana is considered an illegal substance which has a high potential for abuse, and there is no acceptable medical use in the United States (Schedule 1 Drug), it is not regulated by governmental standards; therefore it may be more susceptible to possible contamination.
Contemporary approaches toward understanding the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung disease.

Hirschsprung disease (HD), or congenital aganglionosis coli, is a birth defect with heterogeneous causes. In an effort to understand the molecular and cellular bases for this disorder, researchers have investigated enteric neurodevelopment in normal animals and compared these findings with observations of inbred animal strains that develop aganglionosis coli due to mutations at specific genetic loci. Recent technological advances, including use of retroviral and fluorescent lineage makers, immunohistochemical probes, and transgenic mice, have provided insights into the origins, behavior, and properties of enteric neuroblasts. Experiments with mutant murine embryos indicate that aganglionosis coli results from primary failure of neural crest-derived neuroblasts to colonize the distal colon. In at least one model, impaired colonization by neuroblasts may be secondary to environmental defects restricted to colonic mesenchyme. The discovery that human piebald trait, a hereditary disorder with a high incidence...
Protein requirements of adults from an evolutionary perspective

It is argued that the observed minimum needs for protein and individual amino acids by adult humans and animals may merely reflect the diet that their predecessors consumed in the course of their evolution. The ability to adapt to diets with a lower proportion of protein than was ever encountered in practice would have given no competitive advantage. This can explain the limited ability to reduce rates of amino acid catabolism. The protein requirement of domestic cats, obligate carnivores, corresponds to approximately 20% of their energy requirement. Humans adapt to lower levels (approximately 6%). Some urge that higher protein intakes, resulting in higher rates of protein synthesis and turnover, are desirable and that, in general, the more prosperous and successful groups eat more protein. But cause and effect may be reversed. Are higher rates of turnover and catabolism necessarily beneficial? Objective data are still not available.
Data-Driven Predictive Model of Resin Filling Time of Composite Molding Process

This paper presents an application of the manufacturing constraint modeling (MCM) method we previously developed, to composite molding processes. A statistical model to predict resin filling time for given part geometry and inlet location is constructed through massive process simulations and data mining. A bitmap representation is adopted to generate massive samples of part geometries within a bounding box. The model is trained by the statistical regression based on the abstract features inspired by the underlying physics of the filling process, which dramatically enhances the model generalizability compared to the conventional surrogate models. The model is tested by in-the-bag samples and out-of-bag samples with a different inlet gate location and a different bounding box. The result shows the manufacturing constraint model trained by the knowledge-inspired feature representation achieves comparable in-the-bag training errors as the surrogate models, and remarkably better out-of-bag testing results. The proposed manufacturing constraint model will be useful to enhance the manufacturability of composite structures during manual design iterations as well as computer-based optimization.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
A Systematic Approach To Characterize the Flame Structure of Partially Premixed Flames Based on Holographic Interferometry Measurements

In order to describe the flame structure, a systematic approach is developed that is expressed in the form α = αξ), where denotes any scalar for which a state relationship is pertinent.
Long-Circulating Polymeric Nanovectors for Tumor-Selective Gene Delivery:

Significant advances in the understanding of the genetic abnormalities that lead to the development, progression, and metastasis of neoplastic diseases has raised the promise of gene therapy as an approach to medical intervention. Most of the clinical protocols that have been approved in the United States for gene therapy have used the viral vectors because of the high efficiency of gene transfer. Conventional means of gene delivery using viral vectors, however, has undesirable side effects such as insertion of mutational viral gene into the host genome and development of replication competent viruses. Among non-viral gene delivery methods, polymeric nanoparticles are increasingly becoming popular as vectors of choice. The major limitation of these nanoparticles is poor transfection efficiency at the target site after systemic administration due to uptake by the cells of reticuloendothelial system (RES). In order to reduce the uptake by the cells of the RES and improve blood circulation time, these nanoparticles are coated with hydrophilic polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). This article reviews the use of such hydrophilic polymers employed for improving the circulation time of the nanocarriers. The mechanism of polymer coating and factors affecting the circulation time of these nanocarriers will be discussed. In addition to the long circulating property, modifications to improve the target specificity of the particles and the limitations of steric protection will be analyzed.
Studies on Aphididæ. I.

I first found this aphid at Urbana, Ill., November 16, 1907, common on the ornamental Russian olive tree (Elaeagnus angustifolia). At that time only the sexual forms (wingless oviparous females and winged males) and the jet-black eggs were found, the latter being common on the branches, along and in the axils of the buds. A week later the same species was found on Shepherdia argentea.
A Tomographic-PIV Investigation of Vapor-Induced Flow Structures in Confined Jet Impingement Boiling

Abstract Tomographic particle image velocimetry (PIV) is used to study the effect of confinement gap height on the liquid flow characteristics in jet impingement boiling. This first application of tomographic PIV to flow boiling is significant given the complexity of confined two-phase jet impingement. A jet of subcooled water at a Reynolds number of 5,000 impinges onto a circular heat source undergoing boiling heat transfer at a constant heat input. Confinement gap heights of 8, 4, and 2 jet diameters are investigated. A visual hull method is used to reconstruct the time-varying regions of the vapor in the flow. The vapor motion is found to govern the liquid flow pattern and turbulence generation in the confinement gap. Time-averaged velocities and regions of turbulent kinetic energy in the liquid are highest for a confinement gap height of 8 jet diameters, with lower velocity magnitude and turbulence being observed for the smaller spacings. Coherent vortical structures identified with the λ 2 -criterion are found to occur most frequently near the moving vapor interface. The most intense regions of turbulent kinetic energy do not coincide with the location of coherent structures within the flow. Irrotational velocity fluctuations in the liquid phase caused by vapor bubble pinch-off are the primary cause of the high turbulent kinetic energy measured in these regions. At a gap height of H / d = 2 the vapor plume is constrained as it grows from the heat source, causing bulk flow oscillations in the downstream region of the confinement gap.
355 MEASUREMENT OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN A RAT MODEL OF NEPHROPATHY IN TYPE 2 DIABETES.

Oxidative stress is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, mechanisms underlying oxidative stress remain incompletely understood. Furthermore, several markers of oxidative stress have been used, and the relative merits of these remain undetermined. To address that question, we compared two different parameters of oxidative stress, viz. 8-iso prostaglandin F2α or 8 isoprostane (a measure of lipid peroxidation) and 8-OH deoxyguanosine or 8-OHdG (a measure of DNA oxidation) serially in a new rat model of type 2 diabetes. ZSF rats were fed from the eighth to the fortieth week on a high-carbohydrate Purina 5008 diet to maintain hyperglycemia. The rats developed hypertension, hyperglycemia, proteinuria, and renal failure. Measures of renal function, blood pressure, and oxidative parameters were monitored at weeks 8, 20, and 40. Our data showed that although both 8-OHdG and 8 isoprostane were elevated in the urine at 20 weeks, only the former continued to increase until 40 weeks of age. Additionally, the levels of 8-OHdG correlated better with a decline im creatinine clearance, suggesting that 8OHdG may be a superior marker of oxidative stress in DN than 8 isoprostane.
Differentiation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells on Gutta-Percha Scaffolds

Advances in treatment of tooth injury have shown that tooth regeneration from the pulp was a viable alternative of root canal therapy. In this study, we demonstrated that Gutta-percha, nanocomposites primarily used for obturation of the canal, are not cytotoxic and can induce differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) in the absence of soluble mediators. Flat scaffolds were obtained by spin coating Si wafers with three Gutta-percha compounds: GuttaCore™, ProTaper™, and Lexicon™. The images of annealed surfaces showed that the nanoparticles were encapsulated, forming surfaces with root mean square (RMS) roughness of 136–211 nm. Then, by culturing DPSC on these substrates we found that after some initial difficulty in adhesion, confluent tissues were formed after 21 days. Imaging of the polyisoprene (PI) surfaces showed that biomineral deposition only occurred when dexamethasone was present in the media. Spectra obtained from the minerals was consistent with that of hydroxyapatite (HA). In contrast, HA deposition was observed on all Gutta-percha scaffolds regardless of the presence or absence of dexamethasone, implying that surface roughness may be an enabling factor in the differentiation process. These results indicate that Gutta-percha nanocomposites may be good candidates for pulp regeneration therapy.
Advances in volume overload-induced ventricular structural remodeling

Many cardiovascular diseases were characterized by cardiac volume overload.Chronic volume overload induces ventricular structural remodeling,and then results in cardiac dysfunction and heart failure in the end.It has been reported that the activation of sympathetic nervous system(SNS) is one of the fastest and earliest compensatory mechanism in the process of volume overload.However,chronic activation of SNS causes the elevation of catecholamine concentration,resulting in cardio-toxicity.Rennin-angiogenesis-aldosterone system(RAAS) in cardiac region rather than systemic blood circulation plays a main role in ventricular structural remodeling.Inflammatory cytokines,such as tumor necrosis factor α,interleukin 1β and interleukin 6,participate in volume overload-induced ventricular structural remodeling.Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2,3,9 and decreased expression of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloprotease 1 are also involved in the pathogenesis of ventricular structural remodeling.The elevated protein expression of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ in volume overload leads to cardiac hypertrophy.Endothelial nitric oxide synthase and neural nitric oxide synthase regulate the production of nitric oxide by positive feedback,but inducible nitric oxide synthase by negative feedback of ventricular structural remodeling.Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ and their ligands reverse ventricular structural remodeling by resisting neuroendocrine function.
Analysis of Control Optimization for a Distributed Combined Cooling Heating and Power System

Analyses an project of distributed combined cooling heating and power system,facing the contradiction is not balanced,between cold/heat and power demand. On the basis of the two conventional operation modes"Heat(cool)determined by electricity"and"Electricity determined by heat(cool)",by means of optimizing control logic,optimizing operation mode,Intelligent prediction control and adding auxiliary equipment etc.,the distributed energy system of cooling heating and power system was optimized,and the practical application in a industrial park in distributed projects,Comparison between calculation results on the overall thermal efficiency of such an actual system be fo re and after optimization proves the rationality of themethod,is a good reference for the same types of projects.
Allowing Various God-Relationships

In the preceding chapters I have focused on the moral aspect of individual faith relationships to God. The morality of such individual God-relationships, I have argued, is not at at odds with a universal ethics (though it is at odds with a ‘universal’ ethics1). And, I have tried to show, the morality of God-relationships is discernible in outline by virtue of its analogy to the morality of human relationships and by virtue of its contrast with guilt and shame moralities. Now, in this chapter, I would like to examine another question. Put one way it asks: What is the range of various and varying possible God-relationships? Later I shall have to reformulate and clarify the question, but for now this expression of it will do. In the early going our concern will be with the range of different God-relationships that are faith relationships. Later in the chapter, in the second half, after I have reformulated the question, I shall broaden our perspective to include possible God- relationships that are not defined in terms of faith or belief. And in both cases our concern will not be limited to a single religious tradition.
Narrative and reflection: training in a correctional facility.

AbstractThis commentary describes the author’s experience working at two separate detention centres during her fellowship. She initially describes her experience performing forensic evaluations. The terms ‘competency to stand trial’ and ‘criminal responsibility’ are defined. It then describes the author’s experience working in an inner city and suburban detention centre. The two environments and patient demographics are compared to a traditional inpatient or outpatient community setting. Fictional patient encounters, based on an amalgamation of actual patients, are discussed.
Self-adaptive evolutionary pattern search algorithms

Convergence analyses of evolutionary pattern search algorithms (EPSAs) have shown that these methods have a weak stationary point convergence theory for a broad class of unconstrained and linearly constrained problems. We describe how the algorithmic framework for EPSAs can be adapted to allow each individual in a population to have its own mutation step length (similar to the design of evolutionary programs and evolutionary strategies). We call these self-adaptive EPSAs, since each individual's mutation step length is adapted independently. The update rule for the step length parameter can be quite simply stated, and we describe how pattern step mutation can be integrated into a variety of standard formulations of evolutionary algorithms.
Sparse Grassmannian Embeddings for Hyperspectral Data Representation and Classification

We propose an approach for the representation and classification of hyperspectral data that exploits the geometric framework, the Grassmann manifold, i.e., a parameterization of $k$ -dimensional subspaces of $\mathbb {R}^{n}$ . Multiple pixels from a data class are used to capture the variability of the class information using a subspace representation. We use two metrics defined on the Grassmannian, chordal and geodesic, and several pseudometrics to measure the pairwise distances between the points, i.e., subspaces. Once a distance matrix is generated, classical multidimensional scaling is applied to find a configuration of points with preserved or approximated original distances, thus realizing an embedding of the Grassmannian in Euclidean space. A sparse support vector machine trained in the embedding space simultaneously classifies embedded subspaces and selects a subset of optimal dimensions (features) using a weight ratio criterion. The resulting embedding affords substantial model order reduction for classification and data visualization. In many cases, this framework provides linearly separable representations even when raw data are not linearly separable. We analyze frameworks and compare binary classification results for several distances. Finally, we illustrate the embedding of multiple data classes.
Full-field, high-spatial-resolution detection of local structural damage from low-resolution random strain field measurements

Abstract Structural damage is typically a local phenomenon that initiates and propagates within a limited area. As such high spatial resolution measurement and monitoring is often needed for accurate damage detection. This requires either significantly increased costs from denser sensor deployment in the case of global simultaneous/parallel measurements, or increased measurement time and labor in the case of global sequential measurements. This study explores the feasibility of an alternative approach to this problem: a computational solution in which a limited set of randomly positioned, low-resolution global strain measurements are used to reconstruct the full-field, high-spatial-resolution, two-dimensional (2D) strain field and rapidly detect local damage. The proposed approach exploits the implicit low-rank and sparse data structure of the 2D strain field: it is highly correlated without many edges and hence has a low-rank structure, unless damage—manifesting itself as sparse local irregularity—is present and alters such a low-rank structure slightly. Therefore, reconstruction of the full-field, high-spatial-resolution strain field from a limited set of randomly positioned low-resolution global measurements is modeled as a low-rank matrix completion framework and damage detection as a sparse decomposition formulation, enabled by emerging convex optimization techniques. Numerical simulations on a plate structure are conducted for validation. The results are discussed and a practical iterative global/local procedure is recommended. This new computational approach should enable the efficient detection of local damage using limited sets of strain measurements.
Kinetic stability and sequence/structure studies of urine-derived Bence-Jones proteins from multiple myeloma and light chain amyloidosis patients

It is now accepted that the ability of a protein to form amyloid fibrils could be associated both kinetic and thermodynamic protein folding parameters. A recent study from our laboratory using recombinant full-length (encompassing the variable and constant domain) immunoglobulin light chains found a strong kinetic control of the protein unfolding for these proteins. In this study, we are extending our analysis by using urine-derived Bence Jones proteins (BJPs) from five patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis and four patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We observed lower stability in κ proteins compared to λ proteins (for both MM and AL proteins) in agreement with previous studies. The kinetic component of protein stability is not a universal feature of BJPs and the hysteresis observed during refolding reactions could be attributed to the inability of the protein to refold all domains. The most stable proteins exhibited 3-state unfolding transitions. While these proteins do not refold reversibly, partial refolding shows 2-state partial refolding transitions, suggesting that one of the domains (possibly the variable domain) does not refold completely. Sequences were aligned with their respective germlines and the location and nature of the mutations were analyzed. The location of the mutations were analyzed and compared with the stability and amyloidogenic properties for the proteins in this study, increasing our understanding of light chain unfolding and amyloidogenic potential.
Design and development of traffic-in-loop powertrain simulation

This paper presents a traffic integrated powertrain simulation framework. The co-simulation environment aims at mimicking real-world driving, by combining microscopic traffic simulation with a detailed mathematical powertrain model in Simulink. The co-simulation is capable of emulating onboard sensors, V2X communication and capturing causal behavior of the real-world scenarios, results pertaining to which have been presented. It marks a departure from the popular cycle-based simulation for powertrain analysis. Statically validated simulation results show upto 15% variation in fuel economy due to variation in onroad traffic of constant density. The environment also offers a method to develop, calibrate and validate controllers in a real-world like simulation scenario hence accelerating the design process for powertrain and safety controllers.
A Qualitative Analysis of Information Sharing in Hospice Interdisciplinary Group Meetings.

Background:In the United States, hospice agencies are required to convene interdisciplinary group (IDG) meetings no less frequently than every 15 days to review patients’ care plans. Challenges ass...
Undetected: When Medication Nonadherence Accompanies an Undetectable Viral Load

A 19-year-old man presented to the adolescent infectious disease clinic after being diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection 18 months before. In this case study, we demonstrate how barriers to engagement should be assessed and addressed through the provision of psychosocial services within the context of a comprehensive treatment plan. The capacity for ongoing engagement in care is deeply interconnected with exposure to social determinants risk factors. Therefore, these factors must be regularly assessed and addressed on an ongoing basis, including periods between medical appointments.
Survivorship care plans: Implementation in an academic medical center.

64Background: There are more than 14 million cancer survivors in the US. The Commission on Cancer requires survivorship care plans (SCPs) for patients with Stages I-III cancer. We developed a centr...
A Standards-Based Approach for Interoperability Between Engineering Design and Asset Management

There is a wealth of asset information in the design environment that is necessary in the operational environment to effectively manage the asset. However, the asset design information model is typically a complex structure that requires in-depth knowledge of the model to access the necessary information. Currently, there are no well-defined methodologies to extract the relevant design information that is needed in the asset operational domain. In addition, there are no well-defined methods to define the relationships between the terms and definitions common to the design environment and the operational environment. In this paper, we will propose the use of an open technical dictionary and an information exchange approach based on ISO 18435 to organize the relevant information to achieve interoperability of applications in both design and operational environments.
Short- and Long-Term Patterns of Soil Moisture in Alpine Tundra

Time domain reflectometry (TDR), a nondestructive technique for monitoring water content of soils, was used to measure volumetric soil moisture in three different communities in the alpine tundra during the summer of 1992. Data were converted to gravimetric estimates in order to allow comparison with 20 yr of records of gravimetric data, some of which date back to 1953. Analysis for growing-season trends indicated progressive depletion of soil moisture in all three community types studied. Using a liner model, mesic meadows showed the strongest seasonal decline and wet meadows the weakest. Curvilinear fits of the data suggested midsummer minima in xeric and mesic meadows and a midsummer maximum in wet meadows. Average summer soil moisture values for xeric meadows during the 1953-1964 interval were lower than those made in later years. This result may reflect sample site difference, but is consistent with a directional trend in increasing precipitation over this interval. Average summer soil moisture content of xeric meadows was correlated with annual precipitation, but not growing season (June-August) rainfall; this pattern was only discernible with the 20 yr data set. 35 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.
Redesigning Secure Protocols to Compel Grammatical Compliance Checking

A frequent goal of LangSec research is to demonstrate the benefits of having protocol definitions whose messages can have their grammar checked to ensure that they are well-formed prior to any other processing. It is generally taken as a given that although we can design protocols which enable this checking, we cannot compel implementers of these protocols to actually carry out these checks. In this paper we demonstrate that it is possible to modify the protocols through the use of encryption such that the implementer is essentially required to do the checking if they wish their implementation to interoperate with other implementations without errors. Crucially, this will be the case even when they are only sending and receiving well-formed messages, thus transforming the silent vulnerability of unchecked messages into an obvious error. In specific, we demonstrate how to do this for checking whether or not messages or portions thereof belong to a specified regular language and whether or not they belong to a specified context-free language.
Guardianship and Predatory Crimes among Incapacitated Persons in Kentucky.

Purpose: Guardianship is a legal process intended to aid incapacitated persons unable to fully care for themselves. Guardianship in the state of Kentucky ranges from total observation (24-hour care...
Measurement of Ion-Pairing Interactions in Buffer Solutions With Microwave Microfluidics

Microwave microfluidic spectroscopy is an emerging technique for quantifying the frequency-dependent electrical response of fluids. This technique can access important physical properties, including ion mobility and hydration, which are directly applicable to biochemistry. One critical step toward quantifying these effects is to develop accurate models for the behavior of buffer solutions containing mobile ions. Here, we show that ions in buffer solutions produce a weak ion-pairing response. We used microfluidic channels integrated with coplanar waveguides in combination with a hybrid microwave calibration protocol to extract the broadband microwave admittance spectra of a standard TAE-Mg2+ buffer solution between 100 kHz and 67 GHz. To characterize the ion-pairing response, we fit the calibrated admittance data with two models: a conventional model without ion-pairing and with a water relaxation described by a “Cole-Cole” function, to our alternative model that includes ion-pairing and a single Debye-type water relaxation. Including ion-pairing improved the goodness of fit across the entire frequency range. In the higher concentration buffer solution, we saw a reduction in the max systematic error in the fit residuals from 10% to less than 4%. The measurement and fitting techniques are widely applicable, providing critical information about the behavior of solvated ions.
Abstract WP545: White Matter Hyperintensity Burden and Quality of Life Following Lacunar Stroke: A Secondary Analysis of SPS3 Study

Introduction: White matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden has been linked to cognitive impairment, but its effect on post-stroke quality of life has not been examined. Hypothesis: Larger WMH burden, m...
Dechlorination of molten chloride waste salt from electrorefining via ion-exchange using pelletized ultra-stable H-Y zeolite in a fluidized particle reactor

Dechlorination of eutectic LiCl–KCl based electrorefiner (ER) salt is reported via ion-exchange reaction with protonated ultrastable Y-type (USHY) zeolite bound into mechanically fluidized 45–250 μm diameter particles. Evidence of exchange of cations from the salt (Li+, K+, and fission product cations) into the zeolite lattice replacing H+ ions was found based on a change in unit cell size, ICP-MS, XRD and TEM–EDS in addition to detection of HCl off gas. Ion exchange reaction was carried out at 625 and 650 °C, temperatures above the melting point of eutectic LiCl–KCl. Experiments were carried out to optimize zeolite drying temperature, estimate maximum ion-exchange capacity, and determine the thermal stability of USHY zeolite. The results indicate over 90% dechlorination can be achieved without zeolite structure collapse at 625 °C. This provides a promising route to stabilizing waste from radioactive chloride salts into dechlorinated waste forms for permanent geologic disposal.
Opioid-Mediated Astrocyte–Neuron Signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens

Major hallmarks of astrocyte physiology are the elevation of intracellular calcium in response to neurotransmitters and the release of neuroactive substances (gliotransmitters) that modulate neuronal activity. While μ-opioid receptor expression has been identified in astrocytes of the nucleus accumbens, the functional consequences on astrocyte–neuron communication remains largely unknown. The present study has investigated the astrocyte responsiveness to μ-opioid signaling and the regulation of gliotransmission in the nucleus accumbens. Through the combination of calcium imaging and whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology in brain slices, we have found that μ-opioid receptor activation in astrocytes elevates astrocyte cytoplasmic calcium and stimulates the release of the gliotransmitter glutamate, which evokes slow inward currents through the activation of neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. These results indicate the existence of molecular mechanisms underlying opioid-mediated astrocyte–neuron signaling in the nucleus accumbens.
Impact of Peer-Focused Recitation To Enhance Student Success in General Chemistry

This study investigates the impact of peer-focused, active-learning recitation sessions with the large-enrollment sections of General Chemistry I courses at Mississippi State University (MSState). Over a period of four semesters beginning in Spring 2016, recitation sessions were implemented into the General Chemistry I (CH1213) courses at MSState. In order to assess the influence of the active learning instructional hour, we studied departmental final (standardized ACS) exam scores, pass/fail rates for the course, and the success of students continuing on to General Chemistry II (CH1223) courses. Student attitudes toward the peer-focused recitation program were surveyed. The peer-focused recitation program has supported improvement on the standardized final, with students in peer-focused recitation program scoring 7.76 exam questions (17.76 percentile points) higher than the no recitation control students. The rise of exam scores with recitation learning impacted all students equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity, or math competency level (as measured by math ACT score). In addition, student pass rates for CH1213 significantly increased even though instructors greatly increased the rigor of the course. Students had improved success in the second semester of General Chemistry, CH1223, which may translate into academic confidence and continuation in STEM majors as a broader impact of the recitation program.
Linear mapping of region-to-region connectivity as a basic principle of visual and prefrontal functional organization alike

Abstract The organization of region-to-region functional connectivity has major implications for understanding information transfer and transformation between brain regions. We extended connective field mapping to 3-dimensional anatomical space to derive estimates of cortico-cortical functional organization. Using multiple publicly available resting-state fMRI data samples for model testing and replication analysis, we have three main findings. First, we found that the topology of functional connectivity between early visual regions maintained a linear relationship along the anterior-posterior dimension, which corroborates previous research. Higher order visual regions such as the fusiform face area however, showed a pattern of connectivity that supports convergence and biased sampling, which seems to contribute to their core receptive field properties. Second, we demonstrated that linearity of input is a fundamental aspect of functional connectivity of the entire cortex, with higher linearity between regions within a functional network than across networks. The principle gradient of linearity across the cortex resembled the decompositions found in previous work using conventional functional connectivity analysis and models of cortical genetic expression. Last but not least, we showed that the linearity gradients in the lateral prefrontal cortex are partially accounted for by differential dorsal and ventral stream inputs as well as increasing convergence to anterior regions, which support the concurrence of the two main theoretical accounts of prefrontal organization: domain specialization and abstraction of information processing. In sum, these findings suggest that linearity of input is a fundamental motif of functional connectivity between cortical regions for information processing and transfer, with high linearity potentially important for preserving the integrity of information from one region to another within a functional network.
Low-oxygen and knock-out serum maintain stemness in human retinal progenitor cells

Using stem and progenitor cells to treat retinal disorders holds great promise. Using defined culture conditions to maintain the desires phenotype is of utmost clinical importance. We cultured human retinal progenitor cells (hRPCs) in different conditions: such as normoxia (20% oxygen), and hypoxia (5% oxygen) with and without knock-out serum replacement (KOSR) to evaluate its effect on these cells. KOSR is known nutrient supplement often used to replace bovine serum for culturing embryonic or pluripotent stem cells, especially those destined for clinical applications. The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of different environmental and chemical cues to determine if this alters the fate of these cells. Our results indicate that cells cultured with or without KOSR do not show significant differences in viability, but that the oxygen tension can significantly change their viability (higher in hypoxia than normoxia). However, cells with KOSR in hypoxia condition expressed significantly higher stemness markers such as C-myc and Oct4 (31.20% and 13.44% respectively) in comparison to hRPCs cultured in KOSR at normoxia (12.07% and 4.05%). Furthermore, levels of markers for retinal commitment such as rhodopsin were significantly lower in the KOSR supplemented cells in hypoxia culture compared to normoxia. KOSR is known to improve proliferation and maintain stemness of embryonic cells and our experiments suggest that hRPCs maintain their proliferation and stemness characteristics in hypoxia with KOSR supplement. Normoxia, however, results in mature cell marker expression, suggesting a profound effect of oxygen tension on these cells.
Aging-Related and Gender Specific Albumin Misfolding in Alzheimer's Disease.

Aging-related protein misfolding and aggregation may play critical roles in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. In the brain, extracellular aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) is closely related to the death of neurons in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Albumin-Aβ binding is important in preventing Aβ fibril aggregation. However, because albumin is the most abundant and important antioxidant in the circulation, aging-related oxidative stress could have a significant effect on the molecular conformation and binding capacities of albumin. To investigate the link between misfolded albumin and AD, we developed fluorescent assays to determine the effects of misfolded albumin on membrane integrity in the presence of a lipolytic, inflammatory response-like enzyme, secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2). We found that misfolded albumin increased degradation of phospholipids in highly fluid bilayer membranes in the presence of sPLA2 due to hydrophobic effects of misfolded albumin. High amounts of misfolded albumin were present in sera of elderly (average 74 years) versus young (average 24 years) subjects (p < 0.0001). Albumin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of elderly subjects, though present in small concentrations, had a 2- to 3-fold increased capacity to promote sPLA2-catalyzed membrane phospholipid degradation as compared with the same amount of albumin in serum (p < 0.0001). In addition, the fatty acid binding capacity of albumin in CSF from female subjects was considerably lower than values obtained for men, especially for individuals diagnosed with AD (p = 0.0006). This study suggests that inflammation, misfolded albumin and/or other dysfunctional proteins, and changes in membrane fluidity could alter cell membrane integrity and homeostasis and contribute to the pathogenesis of aging-related dementia and AD.
The Eye and Its Anatomical Considerations

The eye itself is neatly housed in a protective anatomical structure called the boney orbit. It is “cave-like” and the globe (eye) sits inside this housing protected by the brow and lids.
Pacific women in politics: Gender quota campaigns in the Pacific Islands: by Kerryn Baker, Honolulu, University of Hawai’i Press, 2019, 212 pp., US $68.00 (hardback), ISBN 9780824872595

Nearly 80 countries have adopted gender quotas for their national parliaments, making the measure the most popular electoral reform of the late 20th and early 21st century. Thanks to gender quotas’...
Toxicity of abrasive nanoparticles (SiO 2 , CeO 2 , and Al 2 O 3 ) on Aliivibrio fischeri and human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o-)

SiO2, CeO2, and Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) are used as abrasive particles in chemical and mechanical planarization (CMP), a key process in semiconductor fabrication. The CMP process generates high volumes of effluents containing abrasive NPs. Since no regulations are available limiting the release of these NPs, there are concerns about their potential environmental and health risks. This study investigates four industry relevant model CMP slurries including colloidal silica (c-SiO2), fumed silica (f-SiO2), cerium oxide (CeO2), and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) for their inhibition on bioluminescence activity of the marine bacterium, Aliivibrio fischeri. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of the slurries on human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE14o-) was evaluated using a novel impedance-based real-time cell analysis (RTCA) system. The results showed that f-SiO2 and CeO2 slurries had no acute toxicity on A. fischeri at concentrations up to 1136 and 909 mg/L, respectively. A concentration of 1364 mg/L of c-SiO2 and Al2O3 led to 37.6% and 28.4% inhibition on microbial activity after 30 min of exposure. High concentrations of c-SiO2 and f-SiO2 slurries (250 and 500 mg/L) led to cell death in the RTCA assay. This study further demonstrated that the toxicity of the model CMP slurries was due to the abrasive NPs but not to other additives in the slurry. In contrast, CeO2 and Al2O3 slurries were not inhibitory or only showed limited inhibitory effect on the viability and proliferation of 16HBE14o- cells after 24 h of exposure. These results indicate that the abrasive NPs used in CMP are not likely to cause acute environmental and health risks at environmentally relevant concentrations.