cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of M-H Loop Shape in Perpendicular Recording Media by Ion Implantation

We have investigated the properties of CoCrPt-SiO2 perpendicular recording media as influenced by Co ion implantation, and have shown that a substantial change of the M-H loop squareness and a control of coercivity (Hc) over a wide range are feasible. Thin films of Ta(5 nm)/Ru(20 nm)/CoCrPt-SiO 2 (15 nm) were deposited and then subjected to the ion implantation with various acceleration energies, doses, and incident angles. It has been found that the cobalt ion implantation significantly alters the magnetic properties of CoCrPt-SiO 2. In the case of the near-perpendicular implantation at 60 KV, the M-H loop became much squarer but there was a decrease of coercivity 4300 to 2100 Oe. There was no noticeable decrease of the saturation magnetization by implantation. The reason for the significantly increased squareness by near-perpendicular implantation is mainly attributed to the increase of exchange coupling between the grains by cobalt ion implantation
Ear disease and its management

Tissue changes, diseases or factors predisposing to, bacteria and yeast associated with, diagnosis of, and management of otitis externa, media, and interna are discussed in this article.
Pre-introductory risk assessment studies of Gonatocerus ashmeadi (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) for use as a classical biological control agent against Homalodisca vitripennis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in the Society Islands of French Polynesia

Abstract Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (=H. coagulata [Say]) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) invaded French Polynesia in 1999. A classical biological control program against H. vitripennis was initiated in 2004 aiming to introduce the exotic egg parasitoid Gonatocerus ashmeadi (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) to the Society Islands archipelago. Prior to any release, two risks were assessed: (a) continued uncontrolled H. vitripennis spread and proliferation in French Polynesia, and (b) non-target impacts by G. ashmeadi on indigenous French Polynesian cicadellids. The primary risk of H. vitripennis is its potential to vector the lethal plant bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa. While the presence of X. fastidiosa in French Polynesia has not yet been demonstrated, the presence of uncontrolled H. vitripennis greatly elevates the risk of a disease outbreak and thus represents a major threat for numerous plant species. Assessing the risk of G. ashmeadi introduction for native cicadellids first required an inventory of...
High Energy and Power Density Capacitors from Solution-Processed Ternary Ferroelectric Polymer Nanocomposites

Concurrent improvements in dielectric constant and breakdown strength are attained in a solution-processed ternary ferroelectric polymer nanocomposite incorporated with two-dimensional boron nitride nanosheets and zero-dimensional barium titanate nanoparticles that synergistically interact to enable a remarkable energy-storage capability, including large discharged energy density, high charge-discharge efficiency, and great power density.
A novel CMOS implementation of double-edge-triggered flip-flops

A CMOS implementation of a D-type double-edge-triggered flip-flop (DET-FF) is presented. A DET-FF changes its state at both the positive and the negative clock edge transitions. It has advantages with respect to both system speed and power dissipation. The design presented requires little overhead in circuit complexity. This CMOS D-type DET-FF is capable of operating at more than 50 MHz, which gives an equivalent system frequency of 100 MHz. >
Protection against Cryptococcosis by Using a Murine Gamma Interferon-Producing Cryptococcus neoformans Strain

We evaluated cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses in mice given a pulmonary infection with a Cryptococcus neoformans strain engineered to produce the Th1-type cytokine gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Mice given a pulmonary infection with an IFN-γ-producing C. neoformans strain were able to resolve the primary infection and demonstrated complete (100%) protection against a second pulmonary challenge with a pathogenic C. neoformans strain. Pulmonary cytokine analyses showed that Th1-type/proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression were significantly higher and Th2-type cytokine expression was significantly lower in mice infected with the IFN-γ-producing C. neoformans strain compared to wild-type-infected mice. This increased pulmonary Th1-type cytokine expression was also associated with significantly lower pulmonary fungal burden and significantly higher pulmonary leukocyte and T-lymphocyte recruitment in mice infected with the IFN-γ-producing C. neoformans strain compared to wild-type-infected mice. Our results demonstrate that pulmonary infection of mice with a C. neoformans strain expressing IFN-γ results in the stimulation of local Th1-type anti-cryptococcal CMI responses and the development of protective host immunity against future pulmonary cryptococcal infections. The use of fungi engineered to produce host cytokines is a novel method to study immune responses to infection and may be useful in developing vaccine strategies in humans.
Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Sub-Saharan Africa

In Sub-Saharan Africa, 15.1 million children have been orphaned because of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). They face significant vulnerabilities, including stigma and discrimination, trauma and stress, illness, food insecurity, poverty, and difficulty accessing education. Millions of additional children who have living parents are vulnerable because their parents or other relatives are infected. This article reviews the current situation of orphans and vulnerable children, explores the underlying determinants of vulnerability and resilience, describes the response by the global community, and highlights the challenges as the HIV pandemic progresses through its fourth decade.
Lost Classroom, Lost Community: Catholic Schools' Importance in Urban America by Margaret F. Brinig and Nicole Stelle Garnett

Since 1961, student enrollment in American Catholic schools has fallen from 5.2 million to 2.1 million. More than 1,600 of these institutions have closed in the past two decades. In this carefully ...
RESPONSES OF FLORAL TRAITS TO SELECTION ON PRIMARY SEXUAL INVESTMENT IN SPERGULARIA MARINA: THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE SEXES.

Two widespread assumptions underlie theoretical models of the evolution of sex allocation in hermaphroditic species: (1) resource allocations to male and female function are heritable; and (2) there is an intrinsic, genetically based negative correlation between male and female reproductive function. These assumptions have not been adequately tested in wild species, although a few studies have detected either genetic variation in pollen and ovule production per flower or evidence of trade-offs between male and female investment at the whole plant level. It may also be argued, however, that in highly autogamous, perfect-flowered plant taxa that exhibit genetic variation in gamete production, strong stabilizing selection for an efficient pollen:ovule ratio should result in a positive correlation among genotypes with respect to mean ovule and mean pollen production per flower. Here we report the results of a three- generation artificial selection experiment conducted on a greenhouse population of the autogamous annual plant Spergularia marina. Starting with a base population of 1200 individuals, we conducted intense mass selection for two generations, creating four selected lines (high and low ovule production per flower; high and low anther production per flower) and a control line. By examining the direct and correlated responses of several floral traits to selection on gamete production per flower, we evaluated the expectations that primary sexual investment would exhibit heritable variation and that resource-sharing, variation in resource-garnering ability, or developmental constraints mold the genetic correlations expressed among floral organs. The observed direct and correlated responses to selection on male and female gamete production revealed significant heritabilities of both ovule and anther production per flower and a significant negative genetic correlation between them. When plants were selected for increased ovules per flower over two generations, ovule production increased and anther production declined relative to the control line. Among plants selected for decreased anthers per flower, we observed a decline in anther production and an increase in ovule production relative to the control line. In contrast, the lines selected for low ovules per flower and for high anthers per flower exhibited no evidence for significant genetic correlations between male and female primary investment. Correlated responses to selection also indicate a genetically based negative correlation between the production of normal versus developmentally abnormal anthers (staminoid organs); a positive correlation between the production of ovules versus staminoid organs; and a positive correlation between the production of anthers and petals. The negative relationship between male versus female primary investment supports classical sex allocation theory, although the asymmetrical correlated responses to selection indicate that this relationship is not always expressed.
The Benefits of Packet Service in Evolving Space Communications Provider Networks

We advocate a general packet interface for space missions. This service interface is essential to support the delivery of bursty and variable-size data units across the ProviderUser boundary for all missions using CCSDS Space Packet, Internet Protocol (IP), Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN), CFDP, or user-defined packets. This service bridges the ground and space domains, allowing optimization within either domain without impacting the other. The proposed Packet Service enables the service provider systems to directly engage in the execution of space link optimization and enhancement by applying methods including adaptive coding, modulation, and data rate as well as automatic retransmission. Packet Service reduces the user ground system complexity and provides a more natural interface to user applications. In addition, Packet Service offers a crucial step in the transition toward the future Solar System Internetwork.
Study on the Quality Assurance Mechanism of Education Doctoral Training-- Taking the Education Doctoral Training of Southwestern University as an Example

At present, the quality of education doctoral training is the common concern of the society. Since beginning of the pilot of China's education doctoral degree, the Ministry of education and the pilot colleges and universities have tried to have an effective mechanism or paradigm, and have done a lot of practice and research. This paper takes Southwestern University as an example,studies the comprehensive cultivation mode, innovative teaching mode, and hopes to provide reference for practice and theoretical research in the field of education.
Cloning of mouse GRIM-19 gene and its apoptotic effect on prostate cancer rm-1 cells

Objective To construct pcDNA3.1-GRIM-19 eukaryotic expression vector and to investigate its function in mouse prostate cancer rm-1 cells.Methods RT-PCR was performed on total RNA extracted from mouse spleen tissue to obtain the cDNA of GRIM-19,which was inserted into pMD-18T vector.DNA sequencing was tested before the amplified products were cloned into pcDNA3.1.The recombinant vector was transfected into rm-1 cells and its expression was examined by RT-PCR.The apoptotic effects of cells were observed by laser scanning confocal microscope(LSCM)and DNA ladder assay.Then,using the RT-PCR detected caspase-3 activity in rm-1 cells after transfection.Results The amplified products were confirmed as the cDNA of rm-1 by DNA sequencing,being capable of expression in rm-1 cells.Typical apoptosis was observed by LSCM and DNA ladder in recombinant plasmid group after 48h of transfection in rm-1 cells.Overexpression of GRIM-19 increased caspase-3 expression.Conclusion The eukaryotic expression vector for GRIM-19 was successfully constructed,which can be expressed in rm-1 cells and can induce the cell apoptosis.Its apoptosis mechanism may related to caspase-3 activity.
Secure outsourcing of scalar multiplication on elliptic curves

Cloud computing enables resource-constrained endusers to outsource their computational tasks to the cloud in a flexible manner. One major concern of computation outsourcing is the security of the outsourced data as well as the results. In this paper, we propose a secure outsourcing scheme (SecMul) for one basic and expensive computation in cryptography, that is scalar multiplication of points on elliptic curves. The basic idea of the proposed SecMul is to transfer computations in a finite field to computations in a ring. The scheme is designed in such a way that without the secret key, it is computationally infeasible for the cloud to recover the input and the output. The proposed SecMul is highly efficient in that it enables the endusers to outsource a scalar multiplication at the cost of only a few multiplications. Especially, the performance gain of outsourcing is O(log(s)), where s is the multiplier. Our comprehensive security and complexity analysis demonstrate that the proposed SecMul scheme is both secure and efficient.
Septic Embolic Stroke Resulting From Staphylococcus lugdunensis Endocarditis.

Background: Staphylococcus lugdunensis, a member of the coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), has been recognized as a causal organism for infective endocarditis since the 1980s. Although most CoNS have an insidious and chronic nature, they are involved in a variety of systemic infections. S lugdunensis infective endocarditis is a rare entity but is as catastrophic as Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis and requires aggressive antibiotic therapy and, typically, valve replacement. S lugdunensis infective endocarditis–induced septic embolic cerebrovascular accident has rarely been reported in the literature. Case Report: We present the case of a 63-year-old African American man who presented with sudden-onset aphasia and right-sided hemiplegia and was admitted for the management of cerebrovascular accident. Afterwards, he developed a fever and was found to have S lugdunensis bacteremia, with subsequent imaging revealing vegetations of the mitral valve. Despite being treated with culture-appropriate antibiotics, he remained persistently bacteremic and required surgical mitral valve replacement. Conclusion: S lugdunensis infective endocarditis is rare but can have a malignant course and requires early surgical intervention in most cases.
Human upper airway epithelium produces nitric oxide in response to Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Background Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by sinonasal epithelial cells as part of the innate immune response against bacteria. We previously described bitter-taste-receptor-dependent and -independent NO responses to product(s) secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. We hypothesized that sinonasal epithelium would be able to detect the gram-positive, coagulase-negative bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis and mount a similar NO response. Methods Sinonasal air-liquid interface cultures were treated with conditioned medium (CM) from lab strains and clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci and S aureus. NO production was quantified by fluorescence imaging. Bitter taste receptor signaling inhibitors were utilized to characterize the pathway responsible for NO production in response to S epidermidis CM. Results S epidermidis CM contains a low-molecular-weight, heat, and protease-stabile product that induces an NO synthase (NOS)–mediated NO production that is less robust than the response triggered by S aureus CM. The S epidermidis CM–stimulated NO response is not inhibited by antagonists of phospholipase C isoform β-2 nor the transient receptor potential melastatin isoform 5 ion channel, both critical to bitter taste signaling. Conclusion This study identifies an NO-mediated innate defense response in sinonasal epithelium elicited by S epidermidis product(s). The active bacterial product is likely a small, nonpeptide molecule that stimulates a pathway independent of bitter taste receptors. Although the NO response to S epidermidis is less vigorous compared with S aureus, the product(s) share similar characteristics. Together, the responses to staphylococci species may help explain the pathophysiology of upper respiratory infections.
A Hierarchical Approach for Predicting Sport Consumption Behavior: A Personality and Needs Perspective

The present study was conducted to explore the influence of personality and needs of sport consumers on their sport consumption behavior. The proposed hierarchical model of sport consumption hypothesizes that individuals’ personality, need traits, and involvement interact through hierarchical stages and ultimately influence sport participation and spectatorship. The results of the structural model test using 471 sport consumers indicate that conscientiousness, openness, and extraversion were positively related to achievement need, whereas extraversion and neuroticism were significantly related to affiliation need. Conscientiousness was found to be positively related to arousal need. Needs for arousal and affiliation were significantly related to sport spectatorship involvement, whereas need for affiliation was related to sport participation involvement. Interestingly, sport spectating and participation are significantly related to each other in both involvement and behavioral intention levels. The results...
Widespread control of calcium signaling by a family of SERCA-inhibiting micropeptides

Micropeptides function as master regulators of calcium-dependent signaling in muscle. Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA), the membrane pump that promotes muscle relaxation by taking up Ca2+ into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, is directly inhibited by three muscle-specific micropeptides: myoregulin (MLN), phospholamban (PLN), and sarcolipin (SLN). The widespread and essential function of SERCA across diverse cell types has raised questions as to how SERCA is regulated in cells that lack MLN, PLN, and SLN. We identified two transmembrane micropeptides, endoregulin (ELN) and another-regulin (ALN), that share key amino acids with their muscle-specific counterparts and function as direct inhibitors of SERCA pump activity. The distribution of transcripts encoding ELN and ALN mirrored that of SERCA isoform-encoding transcripts in nonmuscle cell types. Our findings identify additional members of the SERCA-inhibitory micropeptide family, revealing a conserved mechanism for the control of intracellular Ca2+ dynamics in both muscle and nonmuscle cell types.
Closed-loop Big Data Analysis with Visualization and Scalable Computing

Abstract Many scientific investigations require data-intensive research where big data are collected and analyzed. To get big insights from big data, we need to first develop our initial hypotheses from the data and then test and validate our hypotheses about the data. Visualization is often considered a good means to suggest hypotheses from a given dataset. Computational algorithms, coupled with scalable computing, can perform hypothesis testing with big data. Furthermore, interactive visual interfaces can allow domain experts to directly interact with data and participate in the loop to refine their research questions and redirect their research directions. In this paper we discuss a framework that integrates information visualization, scalable computing, and user interfaces to explore large-scale multi-modal data streams. Discovering new knowledge from the data requires the means to exploratively analyze datasets of this scale—allowing us to freely “wander” around the data, and make discoveries by combining bottom-up pattern discovery and top-down human knowledge to leverage the power of the human perceptual system. We start with a novel interactive temporal data mining method that allows us to discover reliable sequential patterns and precise timing information of multivariate time series. We then proceed to a parallelized solution that can fulfill the task of extracting reliable patterns from large-scale time series using iterative MapReduce tasks. Our work exploits visual-based information technologies to allow scientists to interactively explore, visualize and make sense of their data. For example, the parallel mining algorithm running on HPC is accessible to users through asynchronous web service. In this way, scientists can compare the intermediate data to extract and propose new rounds of analysis for more scientifically meaningful and statistically reliable patterns, and therefore statistical computing and visualization can bootstrap each another. Furthermore, visual interfaces in the framework allows scientists to directly participate in the loop and can redirect the analysis direction. All these combine to reveal an effective and efficient way to perform closed-loop big data analysis with visualization and scalable computing.
Effects on Health Outcomes of a Mediterranean Diet With No Restriction on Fat Intake

This meta-analysis of controlled trials examines whether a Mediterranean diet with no restriction on fat intake affects cardiovascular outcomes, cognitive function, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, ...
Factors Associated With Early Readmission Among Patients Discharged to Post-Acute Care Facilities

Background Over a quarter of Medicare patients admitted to the hospital are discharged to post-acute care (PAC) facilities, but face high rates of readmission. Timing of readmission may be an important factor in identifying both risk for and preventability of future readmissions. This study aims to define factors associated with readmission within the first week of discharge to PAC facilities following hospitalization. Design and Measurements This was a secondary analysis of the 2011 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) for California, Massachusetts, and Florida. The primary outcome was all-cause readmission within 7 days after hospital discharge, compared to readmission on days 8–30, for patients aged 65 and older who were discharged from the hospital to a PAC facility. Predictor variables included patient, index hospitalization, and hospital characteristics; multivariable logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of readmission within 7 days. Results There were 81,173 hospital readmissions from PAC facilities in the first 30 days after hospital discharge. Patients readmitted within the first week were older, white, urban, had fewer comorbid illnesses, had a higher number of previous hospital admissions, and less commonly had Medicare as a payer. Longer index hospital length of stay (LOS) was associated with decreased risk of early readmission (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.70–0.74 for LOS 4–7 days and 0.60; 95% CI 0.56–0.64 for LOS ≥8 days). Conclusions Shorter length of index hospital stay is associated with earlier readmission and suggests that for this comorbid, older population, a shorter hospital stay may be detrimental. Readmission after 1 week is associated with increased chronic disease burden, suggesting they may be associated with factors that are less modifiable.
Specification and Verification for Integration of a CIM System

Abstract Specification and verification of system integration are the central issues in the design, implementation, and operation of Computer-Integrated Manufacturing systems. This paper shows that both specification and verification can be addressed conveniently and effectively by using Petri nets. The primary goals here are to develop a Petri net model for the integration specification of a CIM system for part processing, to conduct process analysis for the system based on its Petri net model for the purpose of verification, and finally, to determine some supervisory control procedures, such as deadlock prevention and avoidance, for the system according to the result of analysis and the other specified requirements.
Autocar Accessories Company: The Pay-on-Scan Decision

In January 2003, AutoZone, the largest automotive aftermarket retailer in the United States, announced that all of its vendors would have to convert to a new "Pay-on-Scan" (POS) reimbursement program. The program would transfer all existing inventory from AutoZone's balance sheet back to the vendors, who would own their inventory until it was sold to a customer at an AutoZone store. AutoZone's initiative was closely observed by its major competitor, which has signaled its own vendors—including Autocar Accessories Company (AAC), a family-owned supplier of replacement parts—that it intended to copy AutoZone. AAC management must quickly understand the AutoZone POS concept and estimate its potential benefits, costs, and overall effect on AAC. Excerpt UVA-OM-1098 Rev. Jan. 7, 2014 Autocar Accessories Company: The Pay-On-Scan Decision As the owners and managers of the Autocar Accessories Company (AAC) gathered for their quarterly board meeting in late March 2003, they wondered how they would respond to their largest customer's latest demands. Forward Auto Parts & Accessories (FAPA), an aftermarket retailer of automotive parts and accessories, represented more than 50% of their total revenue and had just issued an ultimatum: all vendors would convert to the new “Pay-on-Scan” (POS) initiative, or FAPA would find vendors that would. AutoZone, the largest aftermarket auto-parts retailer and competitor to FAPA, announced the introduction of their POS program in January, and the entire aftermarket industry followed the announcement closely. The program would transfer all existing inventory from AutoZone's balance sheet back to the vendors. Each vendor would first buy back all inventory items currently in AutoZone's warehouses, distribution centers, and more than 3,100 retail stores, and then continue to feed new inventory into AutoZone's distribution-and-sales network. The payment cycle, instead of starting upon delivery of product to AutoZone warehouses, would not begin until AutoZone actually sold (scanned) the product to the end customer. AutoZone would essentially defer payment to its vendors until it had sold the units to its customers. Although AAC sold no parts to AutoZone, its owners became concerned when other retailers indicated their intention to emulate the market leader. For example, the CEO of O'Reilly Auto Parts, another AutoZone competitor, commented in an industry magazine about AutoZone's aggressive introduction of POS: “Obviously, if this goes anywhere, if it goes to first base, second base, or however far it gets, we're going to want to be there too. We're no different than anybody else. In fact, we'll insist that we be there to remain competitive.” . . .
Shannon Sampling and Weak Weyl’s Law on Compact Riemannian Manifolds

The well known Weyl’s asymptotic formula gives an approximation to the number \(\mathcal {N}_{\omega }\) of eigenvalues (counted with multiplicities) on an interval \([0,{\,}\omega ]\) of an elliptic second-order differential self-adjoint non-negative operator on a compact Riemannian manifold \(\mathbf{M}\). In this paper we approach this question from the point of view of Shannon-type sampling on compact Riemannian manifolds. Namely, we give a direct proof that \(\mathcal {N}_{\omega }\) is comparable to cardinality of certain sampling sets for the subspace of \(\omega \)-bandlimited functions on \(\mathbf{M}\).
Supervisory control evaluation on a hybrid pilot Jameson flotation cell

Abstract In this work, a metallurgical simulator, developed in a previous project, was implemented to complete the operation of a L-150 pilot Jameson flotation cell, available at the Process Control Laboratory. The cell was instrumented and its distributed control system includes the pulp to air ratio, the froth depth and the wash water flow rate controllers. A fraction of the tailings can be recycled in order to keep a constant flow rate to the downcomer, independently of the fresh feed flow rate. This hybrid system combines the real operating variables of the pilot plant (feed flow rate, air flow rate, froth depth, wash water flow rate, downcomer pressure and gas hold up) with virtual variables, characterizing the feed (solids per cent, particle size distribution by classes, grades of mineralogical species by classes). All these variables are fed to a simulator to predict the characteristics of the concentrate and tailings (mass flow rate, grades, particle size distribution). The expert control strategy developed is based on the maximization of the cell Cu recovery subject to the technical specifications of the produced concentrate are met. To achieve this, the quality of the concentrate and tailings, predicted by the metallurgical simulator, are monitored on line. The cell recovery is estimated when an on line steady state test is passed. The expert system modifies the set points of the distributed control system. The supervisory control includes two main routines: expert feedback control, acting whenever a steady state is reached, and expert feed forward control, to compensate for measured disturbances on the characteristics of the feed. Several cases for different feed conditions are discussed and evaluated.
Radiation resistant PIDECα cell using photon intermediate direct energy conversion and a 210Po source.

Abstract Radiation damage is a significant concern with both alphavoltaic and betavoltaic cells because their performance degrades, especially with high-energy - (>200 keV) beta and alpha particles. Indirect excitation methods, such as the Photon Intermediate Direct Energy Conversion (PIDEC) framework, can protect the transducer from radiation. A nuclear battery using a 90Sr beta source was constructed by the author's research group, which demonstrated the radiation resistance of a PIDEC cell driven by beta particles (PIDECβ cell). Use of alpha sources to drive nuclear batteries would appear to be much more attractive than beta sources due to higher potential power density. However, they are also subject to higher rates of radiation damage. This paper describes the successful incorporation of alpha particles into the PIDEC framework using the alpha emitter 210Po to form a PIDECα cell. The PIDECα cell transducer was exposed to alpha particles for over one year without experiencing adverse effects from radiation damage.
Complications of laparoscopic urological surgery: experience at St. Louis University.

AbstractA total of 221 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery at our institution. An outcome analysis with regard to type of procedure, success and complications was done. Overall, 216 of 221 procedures (97.7%) were performed as originally planned. One operation was converted to an open procedure. Complications producing morbidity occurred in 33 of 217 patients (15.2%). There was no associated mortality. Most complications occurred early in the participating surgeons experience. Of the complications 11 (5.0%) were considered major and included formation of symptomatic lymphoceles (4 patients), vascular injury (1), ureteral transection (1), bladder perforation (1), bowel obstruction (1), cecal perforation (1) and cerebrovascular accident (1). One patient had an idiopathic reaction to the inhalation anesthetic. Of the 11 major complications 9 occurred among 98 patients undergoing pelvic lymphadenectomy and 7 of these occurred among a subset of 15 patients undergoing an extended dissection.Adjuvant surgical...
MR elastography in primary sclerosing cholangitis: correlating liver stiffness with bile duct strictures and parenchymal changes.

To determine correlation of liver stiffness measured by MR Elastography (MRE) with biliary abnormalities on MR Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and MRI parenchymal features in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Fifty-five patients with PSC who underwent MRI of the liver with MRCP and MRE were retrospectively evaluated. Two board-certified abdominal radiologists in agreement reviewed the MRI, MRCP, and MRE images. The biliary tree was evaluated for stricture, dilatation, wall enhancement, and thickening at segmental duct, right main duct, left main duct, and common bile duct levels. Liver parenchyma features including signal intensity on T2W and DWI, and hyperenhancement in arterial, portal venous, and delayed phase were evaluated in nine Couinaud liver segments. Atrophy or hypertrophy of segments, cirrhotic morphology, varices, and splenomegaly were scored as present or absent. Regions of interest were placed in each of the nine segments on stiffness maps wherever available and liver stiffness (LS) was recorded. Mean segmental LS, right lobar (V–VIII), left lobar (I–III, and IVA, IVB), and global LS (average of all segments) were calculated. Spearman rank correlation analysis was performed for significant correlation. Features with significant correlation were then analyzed for significant differences in mean LS. Multiple regression analysis of MRI and MRCP features was performed for significant correlation with elevated LS. A total of 439/495 segments were evaluated and 56 segments not included in MRE slices were excluded for correlation analysis. Mean segmental LS correlated with the presence of strictures (r = 0.18, p < 0.001), T2W hyperintensity (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), DWI hyperintensity (r = 0.30, p < 0.001), and hyperenhancement of segment in all three phases. Mean LS of atrophic and hypertrophic segments were significantly higher than normal segments (7.07 ± 3.6 and 6.67 ± 3.26 vs. 5.1 ± 3.6 kPa, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, only the presence of segmental strictures (p < 0.001), T2W hyperintensity (p = 0.01), and segmental hypertrophy (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with elevated segmental LS. Only left ductal stricture correlated with left lobe LS (r = 0.41, p = 0.018). Global LS correlated significantly with CBD stricture (r = 0.31, p = 0.02), number of segmental strictures (r = 0.28, p = 0.04), splenomegaly (r = 0.56, p < 0.001), and varices (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). In PSC, there is low but positive correlation between segmental LS and segmental duct strictures. Segments with increased LS show T2 hyperintensity, DWI hyperintensity, and post-contrast hyperenhancement. Global liver stiffness shows a moderate correlation with number of segmental strictures and significantly correlates with spleen stiffness, splenomegaly, and varices.
The Reinvestigation of Vinyl Acetate Emulsion Polymerization (III) - Isotope Effect

To determine the major chain transfer site of vinyl acetate in emulsion polymerization, two deuterated vinyl acetates, vinyl trideuteroacetate and trideuterovinyl acetate were synthesized, polymerized both in bulk and emulsion and each compared with undeuterated vinyl acetate. The polymer molecular weights and polymerization rates of the three were determined under identical conditions. The major chain transfer site was found to be on the vinyl hydrogens of vinyl acetate (94%). The overall isotope effect of chain transfer to vinyl acetate was found to be 3.0. The major termination step in bulk polymerization was found to be the reaction of monomer radical with growing radicals.
Stress Optical Behavior and Structure Development in Melt Spun PEEK/PEI Blends

Abstract Stress optical behavior as influenced by blend composition has been investigated by on–line stress monitoring during melt spinning of a series of melt miscible PEEK/PEI blends. At low stre...
Stock Prices and Differences of Opinion: Empirical Evidence that Prices Reflect Optimism

I provide empirical support for Miller's (1977) hypothesis that a stock price will reflect the optimistic view whenever there is disagreement about its value. Using dispersion in analyst earnings forecasts as a proxy for disagreement, I find that high-dispersion stocks earn lower returns than otherwise similar stocks. This effect is more pronounced for small-cap and growth stocks. The subnormal returns are linked to the resolution of uncertainty. I also document that consensus earnings forecasts are more optimistic the higher the dispersion in underlying estimates - consistent with a view that the more pessimistic analysts chose not to issue forecasts.
Nothing Personal: The Evolution of The Newest Equal Protection from Shaw v. Reno To Bush v. Gore

This article is a response to a piece by Robinson Everett, principal lawyer for the plaintiffs in a series of challenges to North Carolina?s post-1990 congressional redistricting collectively referred to as the Shaw cases. In it, I argue that the Shaw cases reflect a ?structural? notion of equal protection, in which the clause is detached from the protection of any identifiable injury to a particular individual and is instead used to regulate the political process itself. In particular, I focus on the concept of standing to show how incongruous the Shaw cases are. I then argue that Bush v. Gore is also a structural equal protection case. It raised quite similar issues of standing, remedies, judicial respect for the states and the political branches, and the frame within which to assess equal protection claims. In particular, using the resources of the Stanford Law Library's Election 2000 website, which contains virtually all the legal documents filed in the Florida recount cases, I show that Bush v. Gore raises serious questions of standing with respect to the equal protection clause claim with which the Supreme Court ultimately disposed of the case.
Advances in Fast Power Flow Algorithms

ABSTRACT The object of this paper is to survey the recent literature on fast power flow algorithms in order to determine the direction of research which is most likely to lead to new, possibly faster and/or more robust power flow algorithms. The analysis here identifies the central idea running through these algorithms. The orientation provided by this review is used to propose some new algorithms. One of the many candidate algorithms proposed is tested on high R/X ratio systems and shown to be robust and to have low execution times when compared with the BX or XB algorithms. It is expected that there exist more algorithms or variations of current algorithms which have similar properties.
Detecting Changes in Color

In image processing, detecting change in color between pixels is necessary for tasks like image compression and object recognition. For this chapter, we have a written a program that shows how to compute differences in RGB values of a pixel and its right and bottom neighbors. If the difference is significant, the main pixel is colored red to distinguish it from the pixels surrounding it. Coloring a pixel red is simply making its R component full value of 255, and the other components (G and B) zero.
Human Rights, Peace, and the Relationship of Moral and Legal Rights

This paper was presented as a Plenary Lecture at the 28th World Congress of the International Association for the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (IVR), “Peace Based on Human Rights.” University of Lisbon, July 2017. The recognition and protection for human rights varies significantly across countries. Many countries purport to recognize human rights through their constitutions, statutes, or international treaties, but questions arise when the rights protected in practice vary, at least in some commentators’ views, from what the scope of the rights actually are, or should be. For those legal systems where human rights are not supported by conventional positive, one can ask: Can human rights norms be said to be part of the law even where there is no conventional social source? This topic is considered briefly, using the Nuremberg Trials as an example. In general, the connection between general moral standards and human rights complicates the already intricate problems relating to the relationship of conventional law and morality. In connection with that basic question about the relationship of law and morality, the paper ultimately defends a view that is simultaneously simple, naive, and radical (and goes back to H. L. A. Hart): that law is a sui generis form of normativity, a form of normativity of its own, that is not identical with or a subset of morality or any other normative system. Another way of putting the view would be to say that under this approach legal normativity in general, and legal propositions in particular, do not, by their nature, reduce to or equate to propositions of another type, nor do legal propositions, by their nature, purport to be propositions of another type. The paper defends this position against both the common contemporary view (by theorists like Joseph Raz) that law purports to make moral claims, and the recent position (taken by theorists like Mark Greenberg) that law simply is a subset of morality.
Maternal Sleep in Pregnancy and Postpartum Part I: Mental, Physical, and Interpersonal Consequences

Sleep is a critical restorative behavior which occupies approximately one third of people’s lives. Extensive data link sleep health with disease and mortality risk in the general population. During pregnancy and following childbirth, unique factors contribute to overall sleep health. In addition, there are unique implications of poor sleep during these time periods. Poor maternal sleep may contribute to risk for adverse birth outcomes as well as poor maternal physical and mental health in pregnancy, postpartum, and longer term during childrearing. Moreover, the extent to which notable racial disparities in sleep contribute to disparities in adverse perinatal health outcomes remains to be fully explicated. Part I of this two-part review details these implications of poor sleep for mental health, physical health outcomes, and relationship functioning, while Part II delves into biological mechanisms as well as treatment approaches.
Posterior Contraction Rates for Stochastic Block Models

With the advent of structured data in the form of social networks, genetic circuits and protein interaction networks, statistical analysis of networks has gained popularity over recent years. The stochastic block model constitutes a classical cluster-exhibiting random graph model for networks. There is a substantial amount of literature devoted to proposing strategies for estimating and inferring parameters of the model, both from classical and Bayesian viewpoints. Unlike the classical counterpart, there is a dearth of theoretical results on the accuracy of estimation in the Bayesian setting. In this article, we undertake a theoretical investigation of the posterior distribution of the parameters in a stochastic block model. In particular, we show that one obtains near-optimal rates of posterior contraction with routinely used multinomial-Dirichlet priors on cluster indicators and uniform or general Beta priors on the probabilities of the random edge indicators. Our theoretical results are corroborated through a small scale simulation study.
A PATHWAY TO GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY SUBSPECIALTY TRAINING: THE AAGP SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Abstract The AAGP Scholars program initially began in 2010 as a member funded training program for medical students and Psychiatry residents with the goal of inspiring interest in the field of Geriatric Psychiatry. Between 2010-2018, 292 former Scholars participants were surveyed, eliciting 98 responses (response rate 33%). Survey responses are currently being collated and included collection of demographic data, and assessment of the following: ongoing involvement in the AAGP, completion of or ongoing interest in geriatric psychiatry fellowship training, board certification status in geriatric psychiatry, and the impact of the program on the career path of the trainees who completed the program.
A Hybrid Biological–Biomaterial Vector for Antigen Delivery

A hybrid biological-biomaterial vector composed of a biocompatible polymeric biomaterial coating and an Escherichia coli core was designed and developed for antigen delivery. It provides a unique and efficient mechanism to transport antigens (protein or genetic) via different mechanisms of vector design that include antigen cellular localization (cytoplasm, periplasm, cellular surface) and nonnative functionalities that assist in antigen delivery. Based on a variety of E. coli strain development and polymer chemistry tools, the hybrid vector can be constructed into a number of formats for the purpose of optimized uptake and processing by antigen presenting cells, serving as the basis for a potent subsequent immune response. This chapter serves to outline a protocol for assembling a hybrid biological-biomaterial vector for use as a vaccine delivery system.
From Virtual Field Trip to Geologically-Reasoned Decisions in Yosemite Valley

Abstract. This study highlights a Geology of Yosemite Valley virtual field trip (VFT) and companion exercises produced as a four-part module to substitute for physical field experiences. The VFT is created as an Earth project in Google Earth Web, a versatile format that allows access through a web browser or Google Earth app with the sharing of an internet address. Many dynamic resources can be used for VFT stops through use of the Google Earth Engine (global satellite imagery draped on topography, 360° street-level imagery, user-submitted 360° photospheres). Images, figures, videos, and narration can be embedded into VFT stops. Hyperlinks allow for a wide range of external resources to be incorporated; optional background resources help reduce the knowledge gap between general public and upper-division students, ensuring VFTs can be broadly accessible. Like many in-person field trips, there is a script with learning goals for each stop, but also an opportunity to learn through exploration as the viewer can dynamically change their vantage at each stop (i.e. guided discovery learning). This interactive VFT format scaffolds students’ spatial skills and encourages attention to be focused on a stop’s critical spatial information. The progression from VFT to mapping exercise to geologically-reasoned decision-making results in high quality student work; students find it engaging, enjoyable, and educational.
Cortisol reactivity to psychosocial stress mediates the relationship between extraversion and unrestricted sociosexuality

Abstract We investigated the hypotheses that extraversion is associated with unrestricted sociosexuality (operationalized as greater sexual experience and greater short-term mating orientation) and that this association is mediated by reduced cortisol reactivity to psychosocial stress. Study participants were heterosexual male college students (n = 109). Extraversion was assessed with the Big Five Inventory and sociosexuality was assessed with the Multidimensional Sociosexuality Orientation Inventory. Cortisol reactivity to psychosocial stress was assessed via three saliva samples collected immediately before, immediately after, and 15 min after the Trier Social Stress Test. Extraversion was associated with greater sexual experience but not with greater short-term mating orientation. As predicted, more extraverted individuals showed a lower increase in cortisol in response to psychosocial stress than less extraverted individuals. Previous sexual experience and short-term mating orientation were negatively correlated with cortisol reactivity to stress. Finally, mediation analyses confirmed our hypothesis that cortisol reactivity to psychosocial stress is a mechanism mediating the association between extraversion and unrestricted sociosexuality. These findings have implications for our understanding of the benefits and costs of different personality traits as well as for our understanding of the determinants or correlates of individual differences in sociosexuality.