cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Randomized Controlled Study of Metformin and Sitagliptin on Long-Term Normoglycemia Remission in African American Patients With Hyperglycemic Crises.

OBJECTIVE After intensive insulin treatment, many obese African American patients with new-onset diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and severe hyperglycemia are able to achieve near-normoglycemia remission. The optimal treatment to prevent hyperglycemic relapses after remission is not known. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This prospective, 4-year, placebo-controlled study randomly assigned 48 African American subjects with DKA and severe hyperglycemia to metformin 1,000 mg daily (n = 17), sitagliptin 100 mg daily (n = 16), or placebo (n = 15) after normoglycemia remission. Hyperglycemic relapse was defined as fasting glucose >130 mg/dL (7.2 mmol/L) and HbA1c >7.0% (53 mmol/mol). Oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted at randomization and at 3 months and then every 6 months for a median of 331 days. Oral minimal model and incremental area under the curve for insulin (AUCi) were used to calculate insulin sensitivity (Si) and β-cell function, respectively. Disposition index (DI) was calculated as a product of Si and incremental AUCi. RESULTS Relapse-free survival was higher in sitagliptin and metformin (P = 0.015) compared with placebo, and mean time to relapse was significantly prolonged in the metformin and sitagliptin groups compared with the placebo group (480 vs. 305 days, P = 0.004). The probability of relapse was significantly lower for metformin (hazard ratio 0.28 [95% CI 0.10–0.81]) and sitagliptin (0.31 [0.10–0.98]) than for placebo. Subjects who remained in remission had a higher DI (P = 0.02) and incremental AUCi (P CONCLUSIONS This study shows that near-normoglycemia remission was similarly prolonged by treatment with sitagliptin and metformin. The prolongation of remission was due to improvement in β-cell function.
Constraints on the merging of the transition lines at the tricritical point in a wing-structure phase diagram

Author(s): Taufour, V; Kaluarachchi, US; Kogan, VG | Abstract: We consider the phase diagram of a ferromagnetic system driven to a quantum phase transition with a tuning parameter p. Before being suppressed, the transition becomes of the first order at a tricritical point, from which wings emerge under application of the magnetic field H in the T-p-H phase diagram. We show that the edge of the wings merge with tangent slopes at the tricritical point.
Technological simulacrum: psychologists’ invention of a bogus pipeline to the soul

In 1971 two social psychologists considered how ‘nice’ it would be if people ‘really wore their hearts on their sleeves’ or, more realistically, if there existed ‘valid and reliable physiological i...
Multilevel analysis of school anti-smoking education and current cigarette use among South African students

INTRODUCTION: South Africa (SA) implemented the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) four times between 1999 and 2011. Data from the four surveys indicated that downward trends in cigarette use among students may have stalled. Understanding the effect of school anti-smoking education on current smoking among students within schools and variability across schools may provide important insights into policies aimed at preventing or reducing tobacco use among students. Objective were to assess the student- and school-level effects of students’ exposure to school anti-smoking education on current cigarette use among the study population using the most recent wave of GYTS data in SA (2011). METHODS: an analytic sample of students 13-15 years of age was selected (n=3,068) from the SA GYTS 2011. A taxonomy of two-level logistic regression models was fit to assess the relationship of various tobacco use, control, and exposure predictor variables on current cigarette smoking among the study population. RESULTS: at the student-level in the full model, secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, peer smoking, and ownership of a promotional item were significantly associated with higher risk of current smoking. At the school-level in the full model, average exposure to peer smoking was associated with significant increases in the prevalence of current cigarette use, while average family anti-smoking education was significantly associated with decreases in the outcome variable. School anti-smoking education was not a statistically significant predictor at the student- or school-levels. CONCLUSION: in this study, exposure to school anti-smoking education had no association with current cigarette smoking among the study population. Consistent with previous studies, having peers that smoked was highly associated with a student being a current smoker. Interestingly, at the school-level in the multilevel analysis, schools with higher rates of average family anti-smoking education had lower prevalence of current smoking. This finding has potential implications for tobacco control in SA, particularly if the school-level, family-centered protective effect can be operationalized as a prevention tool in the country’s tobacco control program.
Effect of airflow and material models on tissue displacement for surgical planning of pharyngeal airways in pediatric down syndrome patients

Pharyngeal narrowing in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) results from flow-induced displacement of soft tissue. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of airflow parameters and material model on soft tissue displacement for planning surgical treatment in pediatric patients with OSA and Down syndrome (DS). Anatomically accurate, three-dimensional geometries of the pharynx and supporting tissue were reconstructed for one pediatric OSA patient with DS using magnetic resonance images. Six millimeters of adenoid tissue was virtually removed based on recommendations from the surgeon, to replicate the actual adenoidectomy. Computational simulations of flow-induced obstruction of the pharynx during inspiration were performed using patient-specific values of tissue elasticity for pre and post-operative airways. Sensitivity of tissue displacement to selection of turbulence model, variation in inspiratory airflow, nasal airway resistance and choice of non-linear material model was evaluated. The displacement was less sensitive to selection of turbulence model (10% difference) and more sensitive to airflow rate (20% difference) and nasal resistance (30% difference). The sensitivity analysis indicated that selection of Neo-Hookean, Yeoh, Mooney-Rivlin or Gent models would result in identical tissue displacements (less than 1% difference) for the same flow conditions. Change in pharyngeal airway resistance between the rigid and collapsible models was nearly twice for the pre-operative case as compared to the post-operative scenario. The tissue strain at the site of obstruction in the velopharyngeal airway was lowered by approximately 84% following surgery. Inclusion of tissue elasticity resulted in better agreement with the actual surgical outcome compared to a rigid wall assumption, thereby emphasizing the importance of pharyngeal compliance for guiding treatment in pediatric OSA patients.
Patient driven care in the management of prostate cancer: analysis of the United States military healthcare system

Patient preferences are assumed to impact healthcare resource utilization, especially treatment options. There is limited data exploring this phenomenon. We sought to identify factors associated with patients transferring care for prostatectomy, from military to civilian facilities, and the receipt of minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP). Retrospective review of 2006-2010 TRICARE data identified men diagnosed with prostate cancer (ICD-9 185) receiving open radical prostatectomy (ORP; ICD-9: 60.5) or MIRP (ICD-9 60.5 + 54.21/17.42). Patients diagnosed at military facilities but underwent surgery at civilian facilities were defined as “transferring care”. Logistic regression models identified predictors of transferring care for patients diagnosed at military facilities. A secondary analysis identified the predictors of MIRP receipt at civilian facilities. Of 1420 patients, 247 (17.4%) transferred care. These patients were more likely to undergo MIRP (OR = 7.83, p < 0.01), and get diagnosed at low-volume military facilities (OR = 6.10, p < 0.01). Our secondary analysis demonstrated that transferring care was strongly associated with undergoing MIRP (OR = 1.51, p = 0.04). Patient preferences induced a demand for greater utilization of MIRP and civilian facilities. Further work exploring factors driving these preferences and interventions tailoring them, based on evidence and cost considerations, is required.
Toward Reduction in Antibiotic Use for Pediatric Otitis Media: Predicting Parental Compliance with "Watchful Waiting" Advice.

“Watchful waiting” (WW) can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in the treatment of pediatric otitis media (ear infection), but the utility of the strategy is impaired by underutilization and noncompliance. Guided by advice response theory (ART), the current study examines how parental compliance with WW and trust in the prescribing physician is predicted by evaluative and affective responses to the advice. Parents (N = 134) of at least one child aged 5 years or younger completed questionnaires that assessed responses to WW advice they received for their youngest child. Perceptions of the advantage from and capacity to undertake WW, the child’s level of pain, and the tact (autonomy-granting politeness) of the health care provider predicted compliance and provider trust both directly and indirectly, through advice quality and negative affect. The study suggests modifications to ART that will extend its scope and provides practical guidance for health care providers seeking to improve parent compliance with W...
Examining determinants of seeking help for depression: implications for effective health promotion messages

Background: Even though college students are particularly vulnerable to depression, most of those who are affected do not seek the help they need. Communication interventions could help promote hel...
TiO2 Supported gold–palladium catalyst for effective syngas production from methane partial oxidation

Abstract The CO and H2 (syngas) production from methane partial oxidation (MPO) using TiO2 supported Au-Pd bimetallic catalysts are discussed. The supported Au, Pd and Au-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation or co-impregnation method and were characterized. The supported Au-Pd catalyst was selective for reforming and was more active compared to bare TiO2, TiO2 supported Au only, or Pd only catalysts. The catalyst properties before and after MPO reaction were investigated, including the stability of the TiO2 support, and the stability of Au and Pd nanoparticles. The supported Au-Pd catalyst has the highest TON (TONH2 = 23 at 650 °C), compared to supported Au catalyst (TONH2 H bonds while gold modulates the behavior of oxygen at the catalyst surface, are shown to contribute to MPO. Additionally, the Au-Pd/TiO2 material shows long-term activity (>12 h) for the MPO reaction at 600 °C.
Abstract P248: Nightly Fasting Duration is Associated With Cardiometabolic Risk Profiles Among Hispanic/Latina Women in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Introduction: Animal studies and limited human research suggest that nightly fasting duration (NFD) and timing of food intake may influence cardiometabolic risk through behavioral and physiological mechanisms. Research is needed to clarify these associations in diverse populations including Hispanic/Latina women, who have elevated cardiometabolic risk. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that longer NFD would be associated with lower body adiposity, inflammation, blood pressure (BP) and lipids, and glucose regulation indicators and with healthier lifestyle behaviors that may explain associations with cardiometabolic risk. Methods: We examined associations of NFD with cardiometabolic risk among n= 9,781 diverse Hispanic/Latina women, aged 18-76y, from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), recruited from four US cities between 2008-2011. Pregnant women and those treated for diabetes were excluded. NFD, defined as time from last meal on one day to first meal on the next day, was calculated from two 24-hour recalls. BMI, waist size (WS), BP, blood lipids, glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, hemoglobin A 1c , and C-reactive protein measurements were used in linear and logistic regression models to evaluate associations of NDF with cardiometabolic risk. Models accounted for sample weights and design effects and were adjusted for age, marital status, education, employment, income, health insurance, race, Hispanic/Latino background, acculturation level, BMI, and percent caloric intake consumed after 8PM. Results: The mean NFD was 12.9±2.3 hours. In linear regression models, longer NFD was associated with higher BMI (β=0.19,p Conclusions: This large cross-sectional population-based study in U.S. Hispanic/Latina women showed null associations between NFD and glycemic control and inflammation, contrary to previous findings in Caucasian women, but uniquely evaluated and demonstrated deleterious associations between prolonged NFD and other cardiometabolic risk factors. Future studies should investigate longitudinal associations of NFD with cardiometabolic outcomes in this population group.
Fetal pain legislation.

Fetal pain legislation attempts to subvert women's autonomy at the expense of ethical practice and women's health.
Robust FDI Systems and H ∞ -Optimization

Abstract This paper is dedicated to the design of robust FDI systems by utilizing the H ∞ -optimization technique. Results are derived based on the optimization of a sensitivity (performance) index in terms of faults vs. uncertainties, with the assumption of a bounded norm for disturbances. The results show that, for a well-conditioned system, a robust residual generator exists for all possible disturbances. This paper discusses the robust design of a tall fault system (i.e. the number of faults is no greater than the number of outputs) with additive disturbances. The results are demonstrated on an illustrative example.
Use of existing electronic health care databases to evaluate medication safety in pregnancy: Triptan exposure in pregnancy as a case study.

Purpose The recent expansion of electronic health and medical record systems may present an opportunity to generate robust post-approval safety data and obviate the limitations of prospective pregnancy exposure registries. We examined and compared, over the same time frame, the outcomes of triptan exposure in pregnancy using (1) a retrospective claims database and (2) a previously completed pregnancy registry. Methods Using the Marketscan database, the risk of major birth defects was ascertained in live-born infants whose birth mothers were exposed to sumatriptan, naratriptan, or sumatriptan/naproxen during pregnancy. The frequencies of outcomes observed were compared with the findings of the 16-year sumatriptan, naratripan, and sumatriptan/naproxen prospective pregnancy registry. Results About 5120 pregnancies were identified in the retrospective claims cohort in contrast to 617 included in the prospective registry during the same time frame. The proportion of major birth defects among first-semester sumatriptan exposures was 4.0%, which is exactly the same as the proportion of major birth defects reported for first-semester sumatriptan exposures in the registry. There were very few non-livebirth outcomes in both the claims analyses and registry. Conclusions These results confirm broad agreement between the database analysis and the registry regarding the safety of triptans during pregnancy. Of note, the number of triptan-exposed pregnancies identified in this large US database was about 7-fold that included in the prospective registry over the same time frame. The findings of this study support an approach of using existing health care database (s) in the post-approval assessment of medication exposure in pregnancy.
Inhibition as a potential resolution to the attentional capture debate.

Physically salient stimuli, such as uniquely colored objects, seem to have an inherent power to capture our attention, but formal research on this topic has produced conflicting results and theories. Here, we review evidence that the attentional capture debate can be resolved by positing a new suppressive process. This suppressive process can occur before attentional shifting to prevent salient items from attracting attention. In the current article, we review converging evidence that salient items are suppressed to avoid attentional capture comes from studies of psychophysics, eye movements, single-unit recordings, and event-related potentials (ERPs). Crucially, the ability to inhibit salient distractors seems to be learned as participants gain experience with the simple features of the to-be-ignored stimuli.
Impact of Medicaid Coverage Expansion Under the Affordable Care Act on Mammography and Pap Tests Utilization Among Low-Income Women

Introduction The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded the coverage of Medicaid to include entire population with income below 138% of federal poverty line. It remains unclear whether this policy change has improved access to and utilization of health care, particularly use of mammography and Pap tests among poor women. Methods We used a difference-in-difference (DID) design to estimate the impact of Medicaid expansion on mammography and Pap tests utilization among low-income women. Expansion states are the treatment group and non-expansion states are the control group. The years 2012-13 are the pre-expansion period and 2015-16 are the post-expansion period for the purpose of estimating the DID parameters. Results The difference-in-difference estimate show that likelihood of utilizing mammograms did not change significantly among low-income women after the implementation of Medicaid expansion (DID coefficient -0.0476 with t-statistics at -1.26), Pap test decreased (coefficient -0.0615, t-statistics -2.76), and Medicaid enrollment has increased significantly among low-income women living in expansion states (coefficient 0.0889 with t-value of 3.68). Conclusion Expansion of Medicaid was associated with increased Medicaid enrollment but did not yield near-term improvement in use of mammography and Pap tests among low-income women. Factors beyond health insurance coverage may be important in determining the likelihood of obtaining these screenings. Policy makers should try to identify other barriers to cancer screenings among low-income women in the USA.
Cuff-Less Methods for Blood Pressure Telemonitoring

Blood pressure telemonitoring (BPT) is a telemedicine strategy that uses a patient's self-measured blood pressure (BP) and transmits this information to healthcare providers, typically over the internet. BPT has been shown to improve BP control compared to usual care without remote monitoring. Traditionally, a cuff-based monitor with data communication capabilities has been used for BPT; however, cuff-based measurements are inconvenient and cause discomfort, which has prevented the widespread use of cuff-based monitors for BPT. The development of new technologies which allow for remote BP monitoring without the use of a cuff may aid in more extensive adoption of BPT. This would enhance patient autonomy while providing physicians with a more complete picture of their patient's BP profile, potentially leading to improved BP control and better long-term clinical outcomes. This mini-review article aims to: (1) describe the fundamentals of current techniques in cuff-less BP measurement; (2) present examples of commercially available cuff-less technologies for BPT; (3) outline challenges with current methodologies; and (4) describe potential future directions in cuff-less BPT development.
Misogynistic Hate Speech and its Chilling Effect on Women's Free Expression during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Campaign

This essay argues that the proliferation of misogynistic hate speech during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign had a dangerous chilling effect on women’s free expression. The gendered slurs aimed at women candidates and journalists, both online and in-person, created a hostile political environment, which made it more difficult for women to fully participate in the process of Democratic self-governance. To address this issue, I recommend allocating state and federal tax dollars to counter speech efforts, and call for social media organizations, such as Facebook and Twitter, to reevaluate their hate speech and harassment policies.
Medium, Vector, and Connector: Fog and the Maintenance of Ecosystems

Fog and low-lying cloud (fog) play a significant role in the maintenance of ecosystems, from desert to alpine and from coastal to inland systems. Our central thesis is that fog provides ecosystems with critical water and nutrient subsidies, and also delivers pollutants, that often control ecosystem function. Fog is a medium, vector, and connector. In this mini-review, we synthesize recent research advances that reveal the diverse ways that fog shapes ecosystem processes. Crown wetting, elemental deposition, and light scattering and absorption are fundamental mechanisms by which fog has been shown to influence water fluxes, productivity, and decomposition in hyper-arid to ever-wet regions. These impacts are ultimately mediated by the structure and composition of biological systems that allow fog capture and utilization of resource subsidies. Climate change, and changes in land use, ocean circulation, and atmospheric pollution are simultaneously altering the nature of fog itself, and the architecture of the ecosystems adapted to capture it. The coupling between atmosphere and biosphere in fog-enshrouded areas raises new questions about past and future fog-dominated ecosystems, and their maintenance and diversity, in the face of global change.
Lung Ultrasound During Stress Echocardiography Aids the Evaluation of Valvular Heart Disease Severity.

The evaluation of valvular heart disease (VHD) is challenging when there is disagreement between objective hemodynamic metrics of severity and subjective findings of symptomatology. Stress echocardiography is recommended for the evaluation of these discordant cases because exertion can unmask
GPS-based satellite formation flight simulation and applications to ionospheric remote sensing

The Virginia Tech Formation Flying Testbed (VTFFTB), a GNSS-based hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation testbed for spacecraft formation flight, is developed and applied to ionospheric remote sensing. The current VTFFTB consists of GNSS RF hardware signal simulators, multi-constellation multifrequency GNSS receivers, a navigation and control system, an STK visualization system, and an ionospheric remote sensing system. GPS signals are emulated using GNSS simulator scenarios that include ionospheric phenomena. A formation of two spacecraft (“chief” and “deputy”) is considered. GNSS receiver data are used to produce space-based Total Electron Content (TEC) and scintillation measurements. A reference low Earth orbit (LEO) scenario is benchmarked with past simulation results to validate functionality. A LEO formation flying mission is designed to probe two Equatorial Spread F (ESF) scenarios with plasma bubbles. The results investigate the structure of ionospheric irregularities and demonstrate that the GPS-based satellite formation is able to measure vertical electron density by differencing 1D GPS vertical TEC.
Water Mist Systems in Protection of Mass Timber Buildings

Water mist systems are considered for the protection of timber buildings because they use significantly less amounts of water and consequently less post-water damage. Current water mist system standards and testing protocols do not consider fire scenarios involving exposed timber elements, which pose greater fire load and hazards. Therefore, without verifications through full-scale fire tests, these existing standards and test protocols should not be incorporated in the use of water mist systems in protection of timber buildings.
Availability of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-authorised retailers' voluntary commitments to encourage healthy dietary purchases using marketing-mix and choice-architecture strategies.

Objective:To examine public commitments for encouraging United States consumers to make healthy dietary purchases with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits among of prevalent SNAP-authorised retailers.Setting:National SNAP-authorised retail landscape in addition to stores located in California and Virginia, two states targetted for a Partnership for a Healthier America pilot social marketing campaign.Participants:SNAP-authorised retailers with the most store locations in selected settings.Design:A review of retailers’ publicly available business information was conducted (November 2016–February 2017). Webpages and grey literature sources were accessed to identify corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and commitments describing strategies to encourage healthy consumer purchases aligned with the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Evidence was organised using a marketing-mix and choice-architecture (MMCA) framework to characterise strategies used among eight possible types (i.e. place, profile, portion, pricing, promotion, priming, prompting and proximity).Results:Of the SNAP-authorised retailers (n 38) reviewed, more than half (n 20; 52·6 %) provided no information in the public domain relevant to the research objective. Few retailers (n 8; 21·1 %) had relevant CSR information; grey literature sources (n 52 articles across seventeen retailers) were more commonly identified. SNAP-authorised retailers in majority committed to increasing the number of healthy products available for purchase (profile).Conclusions:Substantial improvements are needed to enhance the capacity and commitments of SNAP-authorised retailers to use diverse strategies to promote healthy purchases among SNAP recipients. Future research could explore feasible approaches to improve dietary behaviours through sector changes via public–private partnerships, policy changes, or a combination of government regulatory and voluntary business actions.
Ultra Compact, Ultra Wideband, DC-1GHz CMOS Circulator Based on Quasi-Electrostatic Wave Propagation in Commutated Switched Capacitor Networks

Recent research has revealed the possibility to achieve non-magnetic non-reciprocity using time-variance. However, prior CMOS-based circulators rely on the interference between non-reciprocal switched-capacitor/transmission-line gyrators and reciprocal transmission-line rings, which increases form factor and restricts frequency tunability and bandwidth. On the other hand, recent works on quasi-electrostatic wave propagation in switched-capacitor media have demonstrated a new regime in multipath switched-capacitor network operation that enables an ultra-broadband, ultra-compact reciprocal/non-reciprocal true-time-delay element. In this work, we apply synthetic rotation across this quasi-electrostatic medium to realize an ultra-broadband N-port circulator with ultra-compact form-factor. This new architecture is showcased in a wideband 3-port circulator implemented in a standard 65nm CMOS process. This circulator exhibits symmetric performance across all 3 ports and DC-1GHz operation for a modulation frequency of 500MHz. The measured transmission losses range between 3.1-4.3dB, matching is 18dB and NF is consistent with the insertion loss. This device occupies an area of 0.19mm2 ($\lambda _{center}^2/1.9 \times {10^6}$), representing about 100-1000× higher miniaturization compared to the prior art.
The meanings of Zheng 正 in the Daoist classics

This article offers an interpretation of the concept of ‘zheng 正’ (correct, proper, straight) as it appears in Daodejing and Zhuangzi. My aim is to reveal and develop the contributions that the Dao...
Medications against drugs: Development of medications to prevent and treat substance use disorders

Els trastorns per us de substancies o TUS representen un problema considerable de salut publica. Per desgracia, hi ha pocs medicaments segurs i efectius per a tractar-los, i l’eficacia dels que hi ha es millorable. Hi ha importants obstacles financers i cientifics per al desenvolupament de nous compostos, pero el descobriment recent de nous receptors i circuits neuronals ofereix noves oportunitats per a desenvolupar farmacoterapies noves. Es necessari un enfocament cientific sistematic per a demostrar que son segures i eficaces, comercialitzar-les i prescriure-les als pacients. El proposit d’aquest article es proporcionar una visio general dels reptes i oportunitats en el desenvolupament de medicaments per als trastorns per us de substancies i descriure l’enfocament per etapes d’aquest desenvolupament, els medicaments aprovats i aquells que semblen mes prometedors.
Against Resolution: Dialogue, Demonstration, and Dispute Resolution

Critical race theory has long argued that the methods of alternative dispute resolution inhibit systemic, structural transformation by particularizing social conflicts into small-scale disputes. At the same time, the principles of interest-based dispute resolution have also been used by those working within the critical race theory tradition to forge what Derrick Bell called “interest convergences” that advance racial justice. In the present moment, amidst nation-wide protests following the killing of George Floyd and others, it is essential to understand what the methods of ADR have to offer for advancing racial justice, and how to use these methods responsibly. This article brings Bell’s interest convergence thesis into dialogue with interest-based dispute resolution to understand the limitations of ADR, and to find opportunities to use ADR’s flexibility and informality to effect structural transformations. It does so by proposing dialogical methods that emphasize the need for ongoing engagement regarding visions of a just society, rather than seeking the swift resolution of disputes.
Numerical study on the ring-like vortex structure generated by MVG in high-speed flows with different Mach numbers

Micro vortex generator (MVG) is a kind of robust and practical devices used to control the boundary layer. This research implements a set of large eddy simulations (LES) on the flow field in the downstream of the micro vortex generator (MVG) in supersonic flows with different Mach numbers. In this study, the downstream flow field affected by MVG at different Mach numbers was analyzed in detail, especially the large vortex structure generated in the upper boundary layer that plays a very important role in shock boundary layer interaction (SBLI). Studies have found that the incoming Mach number does not have a major impact on the generation mechanism of ring-like vortices, but it will affect the strength and length of the momentum deficit behind the MVG, thereby affecting the position of the vortex structure relative to the boundary layer and its intensity. At a high Mach number, the momentum deficit is located closer to the lower boundary layer so that the resulting upper vortex structure has more opportunity to interact with the structure in the lower boundary layer. This makes the upper vortex structure more distorted. Moreover, the power spectrum analysis of the frequency of ring-like vortices generated at different Mach numbers was also conducted in this research.
Social Media Use Continues to Increase Among Orthopaedic Residency Programs in the United States

Purpose To evaluate the social media usage of orthopaedic residency programs, program directors (PDs), and department chairs across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and to determine which types of social media posts are indicative of increased user following. Methods A systematic online search strategy was performed in October 2020 to identify all allopathic orthopaedic surgery residency program accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Instagram posts were further analyzed to evaluate the type of post that significantly correlated with increased follower counts. Results Of 158 orthopaedic surgery programs, 69 (43.7%) had Instagram accounts, 52 (32.9%) had Facebook accounts, and 54 (34.2%) had Twitter accounts. Program presence on Instagram and Twitter continued to grow exponentially (R2 = 0.99 and R2 = 0.95, respectively). Regarding program leadership, a total of 151 PDs and 156 chairs were identified. Of these, 21 PDs (14%) and 8 chairs (5.1%) had Instagram accounts. The number of posts and the numbers of educational, social, program information, and operative posts (P Conclusions Fewer than one-half of orthopaedic surgery residency programs and fewer than one-quarter of PDs and department chairs have a social media presence. However, the number of residency programs on social media continues to rise year-over-year. The total number of posts; the amount of educational, social, and program information; and the number of operative posts significantly correlated with increased followers on Instagram. Clinical Relevance With the growing prevalence of social media, orthopaedic surgery residency programs have the opportunity to connect with future applicants and disseminate informational content regarding their programs.
A colon cancer “prequel”

The development of colorectal cancer has been predicted to inolve the enteric microbiome. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Kordahi et al. (2021) address this predisposition by identifying not just pathobiont micro-organisms but also distinct microbial signatures within those bacteria that predict the presence of pre-cancerous polyps.
Determination of Lift or Drag Programs to Minimize Re-Entry Heating

A study of single-pass re-entry from escape speed and from circular satellite speed is made to determine the lift program for a hypersonic glider and the drag-modulation program for a nonlifting vehicle that minimize the heating of the vehicles within acceleration or range constraints. A new method of numerical solution is used, similar to Kelley's "method of gradients," that permits rapid convergence to the optimum lift program starting with an original good estimate. This method avoids the twopoint boundary-value problem of the calculus-of-variations formulation, and is applicable to any optimum-programing problem. An acceleration-tolerance limit is introduced which describes the human pilot's capability to withstand acceleration more accurately than a simple acceleration limit. at tack program, must be determined in order to minimize the total heat and satisfy the desired terminal constraints. The straightforward approach to solving such complicated problems has not met with any significant success, despite the fact t ha t the formulation is clear.7 Recently Kelley and the present authors developed, almost simultaneously, a "steepest descent" technique which is capable of solving such complicated variational problems in a practical way using highspeed digital computers. This technique is presented in the next section and then it is applied to the two problems described above.
Characterization of spoIVA, a sporulation gene involved in coat morphogenesis in Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract We report the cloning and characterization of the Bacillus subtilis sporulation locus spoIVA, mutations at which cause an unusual defect in spore formation in which the coat misassembles as swirls within the mother cell. We show that spoIVA is a single gene of 492 codons that is capable of encoding a polypeptide of 55 kDa. Transcription of spoIVA is induced at about the second hour of sporulation by the regulatory protein sigma E from two closely spaced promoters designated P1 and P2. Experiments in which the upstream promoter P1 was removed show that transcription of spoIVA from P2 is sufficient for efficient spore formation. Based on these and other findings, we infer that the spoIVA gene product is a morphogenetic protein; we discuss its role in the deposition of coat polypeptides around the developing forespore.
Effects of Free Fatty Acids, Insulin, Glucagon and Adrenaline on Ketone Body Production in Humans

In normal human subjects, when plasma insulin, glucagon and growth hormone were 'clamped' at basal concentrations (by infusion of somatostatin plus replacement infusion of these hormones), infusion of Intralipid and heparin increased plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations to approx. 1.3 mM, and ketone body production increased 4-5 fold to approx. 11 mumol . kg -1 . min-1. Hyperglucagonaemia did not further increase ketogenesis. In conditions of combined insulin and glucagon deficiency (by infusion of somatostatin without insulin and glucagon), administration of Intralipid and heparin increased plasma FFA concentrations to approx. 2.2 mM but a further increase in ketone body production did not accompany this increase. In these conditions hyperglucagonaemia increased ketogenesis by 2-3 fold the increment seen in control studies. Infusion of adrenaline (epinephrine) in conditions in which insulin secretion was not inhibited caused only a transient increase in plasma FFA concentrations and in ketone body production. These data indicate: (1) that in humans increased FFA availability can markedly augment ketogenesis in the absence of insulin deficiency and without hyperglucagonaemia; (2) that glucagon can increase ketone body production during insulin deficiency but not in its absence; and (3) that insulin deficiency may be accompanied by increased ketogenesis only because of a lack of its restraint on lipolysis and because of the action of glucagon. Glucagon may be important in determining the magnitude of ketone body production for a given degree of FFA availability and insulin deficiency, and may be necessary for attainment of maximal rates of ketogenesis. Adrenaline increases ketone body production in humans, but whether this is primarily due to a direct effect on the liver or is mediated through enhancement of lipolysis remains to be determined.
Chapter 8 Heat and electricity transport through interfaces

Summary In summary, we have introduced the equations that describe the boundary impedances of a thermoelectric. These equations are quite general and apply to all kinds of boundaries. We have given examples of these impedances for the cases of tunneling and thermionic emission, and found that the electrical components obey a boundary form of the Wiedemann-Franz law. Estimation of the corresponding boundary Seebeck coefficients indicate that S B for thermionic emission can be as large as bulk Seebeck coefficients of good thermoelectric materials. However, we have shown that the boundary and bulk thermoelectric effects cannot be combined to enhance the effective Seebeck coefficient of a heterostructure or a superlattice. On the contrary, whenever there is a finite electronic thermal resistance at the junctions, the boundary effects reduce the effective Seebeck coefficient as the thickness of the semiconducting layers decreases. On the other hand, as expected, the presence of thermal boundary resistances at the interfaces causes reduction of the effective thermal conductivity. These two effects are combined in the effective figure of merit of the device, and, depending on values of the boundary impedances, may lead either to its enhancement or to its reduction. We have found that the maximum enhancement can be achieved for submicron thickness of the layers when the boundaries block the phonon heat flow more efficiently than the electronic heat flow and when the two subsystems are out of equilibrium. Electrical boundary resistances at the junctions degrade the performance of the device, but its influence on the effective figure of merit is not very important as long as ρ B satisfies the boundary Wiedemann-Franz law. Finally, in solving the equations for the transport of heat through a device with a boundary at each end, we find a new type of thermal instability associated with the boundary. This instability should be present in short thermoelectric devices.
Laboratory and field investigations of recycled portland cement concrete subbase aggregates.

This paper compares the permeability and stiffness values of recycled portland cement concrete (RPCC) subbases to crushed limestone subbases that support portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements. Field investigations were conducted at twenty-one test sites with RPCC subbases and at six control sites with crushed limestone subbases in Iowa. This study used field results from lightweight deflectometer (LWD), Clegg impact hammer, dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP), Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) in situ permeameter tests to calculate modulus of subgrade reaction, California bearing ratio, and hydraulic conductivity design parameter values. Samples from the test sites were collected for gradation analysis. Results show that RPCC subbases are generally stiffer with lower permeability compared to the crushed limestone subbase test sections.
The Underway Survey System at the Naval Oceanographic Office

In this presentation, we will describe the design and development of the Underway Survey System (USS) and the BIOLITE photometer. The Naval Oceanographic Office's (NAVOCEANO) T-AGS 60 class ships permanently mount a USS that incorporates a bioluminescence photometer (BIOLITE). The USS is designed with simplicity in mind. It requires minimal user interactions, and its modular design allows the easy incorporation of additional sensors as needed. The USS collects data continuously while the survey vessel is underway. NAVOCEANO has been using bioluminescence photometers since 1975. The first versions were used as "Roll On/Roll Off" instruments. In 1993, BIOLITE photometers were mounted on the survey vessels for several months as an early version of the USS. In 1997, NAVOCEANO began permanently mounting the USS on the T-AGS 60 class ships. Eventually, all T-AGS 60 class ships will incorporate the USS as part of their survey capability. The BIOLITE photometer measures light produced as plankton bioluminescence. The BIOLITE photometer has four photomultiplier tubes that measure the light produced within a 49-millimetre sample chamber. The USS also measures temperature, salinity, fluorescence, and flow rates. The data are recorded, and at the end of a survey, the data are returned to NAVOCEANO for processing, databasing, and product generation.
Moving on up: can results from simple aquatic mesocosm experiments be applied across broad spatial scales?

SUMMARY 1. Aquatic ecologists use mesocosm experiments to understand mechanisms driving ecological processes. Comparisons across experiments, and extrapolations to larger scales, are complicated by the use of mesocosms with varying dimensions. We conducted a mesocosm experiment over a volumetric scale spanning five orders of magnitude (from 4 L to whole ponds) to determine the generality of algal responses to nutrient enrichment. Recognising that mesocosm dimensions may affect algal growth, we also manipulated the ratio of mesocosm surface area to volume (SA : V) over two levels (high versus low). We used mesocosm tanks of similar size and construction to those commonly used in aquatic experiments to increase the generality of our results. 2. Volume was generally a stronger determinant of algal responses than mesocosm shape (i.e. SA : V). However, the effects of both volume and shape on algae were weak and explained a small portion of the variance in response variables. In addition, there was no consistent, directional relationship (positive or neutral) between mesocosm volume and algal abundance (estimated by chlorophyll concentration). Combined, our findings suggest that results from small-scale experiments, examining the direct response of algae to nutrient enrichment, can probably be ‘moved on up’ and applied to larger, more natural aquatic systems. 3. Algal response to nutrient enrichment (e.g. nutrient use efficiency and effect size) varied strongly with time. This underscores the importance of choosing an experimental timescale appropriate to the biological and ⁄ or ecological process of interest. 4. We compared our results to those from a recent meta-analysis of nutrient-limitation studies that included 359 freshwater pelagic experiments, spanning a wide range of volumetric and temporal scales. Similar findings between this experiment and the metaanalysis indicate that algal response to nutrient enrichment varies little across spatial scales. Therefore, it is probable that results from small-scale pelagic algal nutrientlimitation experiments are relevant to large-scale processes, such as eutrophication.
Bush, Obama and Beyond - Observations on the Prospect for Fact Checking Executive Department Threat Claims Before the Use of Force

This piece looks at the recurring problem of inflated threat claims offered by executive branch actors to persuade the Nation to consent to the use of force. It sets out the experience of the Bush Administration’s use of incorrect threat claims to persuade the country to consent to the use of force in Iraq as a backdrop to evaluating the President Obama’s use of threat claims to support the continuing use of force in Afghanistan. Although comparison of threat advocacy by the Bush and Obama administrations must be imperfect, it allows for some observations about the extent to which the structures and incentives that have in the past allowed executive branch officials to assert unverified threats as certain and sufficient to justify the use of force have changed or remain the same. Because the structures and incentives that allow for the possibility of unverified threat claims have not changed significantly, and because significant legal changes to address the systematic problems are unlikely, this piece proposes that citizens can impose some minimal level of contemporaneous accountability on executive department threat claims offered to persuade them to consent to the use of force by keeping a several basic recognitions about executive department advocacy, intelligence information, and the incentives that impact oversight of executive branch activities in mind.
RAMAN STUDY OF NEUTRON IRRADIATED GaAs

Raman scattering with near band gap excitation has been used to study fast neutron damaged GaAs. In addition to disorder activated first order scattering from zone edge acoustic phonons we observe a new peak that is attributed to a resonant mode associated with an intrinsic defect of GaAs, an As vacancy being the most likely candidate.
Melting of Crustal Rocks During Continental Collision and Subduction

The continental crust can partially melt to generate silicic magmas. Compositional diversity among these magmas is determined by the pressure of melting, by the availability of free aqueous fluids, and by the composition of the protolith. Because crustal rocks are subject to extreme pressure and temperature conditions during continental collisions, collisional orogens potentially are environments for magma generation. This chapter discusses the nature of the melts and solid residues likely to be formed in response to continental collision.
A system-assisted disk I/O simulation technique

Simulation and modeling are useful tools in prototyping advances in many areas of technology. The performance of modern processors is advancing much faster than that of storage components, making disk systems prime candidates for simulation. Simulating disk systems allows researchers to determine and quantify the performance impact of alternative file system designs and disk data rearrangement techniques. This paper describes SAST (System-Assisted disk I/O Simulation Technique). This technique uses a real system to estimate disk request service times, relieving the researcher from the burden of modeling the target system. The system accepts disk trace data as input, and accurately predicts disk service times. In addition, we describe a disk trace collection technique that is capable of collecting accurate trace data from the Windows 95 operating system.