cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Right Atrial Function in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background— Elevated right atrial (RA) pressure is an established prognostic measure in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, little is known about perturbations in RA function in PAH. Methods and Results— Reservoir (RA longitudinal strain [RA LS]), conduit (RA early LS rate), and active (RA late LS rate) phases were assessed by 2D speckle tracking in 65 patients with PAH, 6-minute walk distance ≤450 m, and a pulmonary vascular resistance >800 dynes·s/cm5, despite therapy with at least 2 PAH-specific medications enrolled in the Imatinib in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, a Randomized Efficacy Study (IMPRES) trial and were compared with 30 healthy controls of similar age and sex. We studied the association of RA functional measures with invasive pulmonary hemodynamics, cardiac structure and function, and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide. RA LS and early LS rate were reduced in PAH patients compared with controls (27.1±11.6 versus 56.9±12.7, adjusted P <0.001 and −0.6±0.5 versus −1.5±0.5, adjusted P <0.001, respectively) even after adjusting for RA area and invasive RA pressure, whereas RA late LS rate was similar between groups (−1.4±0.7 versus −1.5±0.4, P =0.42). Among PAH patients, worse RA LS correlated with greater RA size ( r =−0.50, P <0.0001) and pressure ( r =−0.37, P =0.002), but not pulmonary artery pressure ( r =−0.07, P =0.58). Worse RA LS was also associated with right ventricular enlargement and dysfunction and higher N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide independent of RA size and pressure. Conclusions— RA reservoir and passive conduit functions are impaired in PAH, independent of RA size and pressure, and likely reflect right ventricular failure and overload. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT00902174][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00902174&atom=%2Fcirccvim%2F8%2F11%2Fe003521.atom
Stability of a Thick Neo-Hookean Plate

An account is given of some recent results on the stability of critical states of a thick plate subjected to compressive loading. Flexural and barreling types of bifurcations are considered, and stability results for both are compared on a common basis. The phenomenon of surface wrinkling is shown to stem from barreling bifurcations.
Regulation of Rho GTPase Activity Through Phosphorylation Events: A Brief Overview

As discussed in Parts I and II of this book the Rho GTPases are highly regulated in their ability to become activated. The concept that there are many more guanine exchange factorss and GTPase-activating proteinss than Rho proteins, and given the function of the Rho guanine dissociation inhibitors (RhoGDIs), they would lead to the conclusion that all regulation occurs on the level of the Rho regulatory proteins. However, evidence that implicates phosphorylation events as being additional mechanisms for controlling Rho activity and potential interactions with downstream effectors is emerging. This chapter provides a brief overview of Rho phosphorylation events via the activity of four well-studied protein kinases: protein kinase A, protein kinase B (aka Akt), protein kinase C, and protein kinase G.
An Empirical Analysis of Vendor Response to Software Vulnerability Disclosure

Software vulnerability disclosure refers to the publication of vulnerability information before a patch to address the vulnerability has been issued by the software vendor. It has generated intense interest and debate. In particular, there have been arguments made both in opposition to and in favor of alternatives such as full and instant disclosure and limited or no disclosure. An important consideration in this debate is the behavior of the software vendor. Does vulnerability disclosure policy have an effect on patch release behavior of software vendors? This paper compiles a unique data set from CERT/CC and SecurityFocus to answer this question. Our results suggest that disclosure policy has a significant positive impact on the vendor patching speed. Vendors are 137% more likely to patch due to disclosure. In particular, instant disclosure hastens the patch delivery by almost 29 days. Open source vendors patch more quickly than closed source vendors and severe vulnerabilities are patched faster. We also find that vendors respond more slowly to vulnerabilities not handled by CERT/CC. This might reflect unmeasured differences in the severity and importance of vulnerabilities. It might also reflect the stronger lines of communication between CERT/CC and vendors, and the value of the vulnerability analysis by CERT/CC.
Judicial Wisdom or Patent Envy? The Eleventh, Seventh and Federal Circuits' Patent Jurisdictional Battle

This article observes a startling new appellate jurisdictional battle waged by regional circuit courts to chip away the Federal Circuit’s exclusive jurisdiction in patent cases. The Eleventh Circuit took an unprecedented step by engaging in patent claim construction and infringement under literal infringement analysis and the doctrine of equivalents analysis. In a case of first impression, the Eleventh Circuit asserted that it legitimately has appellate jurisdiction to decide cases involving substantive patent law. Instead of grabbing jurisdiction, the Seventh Circuit, through its Chief Judge, grabbed public attention by advocating for the abolishment of the Federal Circuit’s exclusive jurisdiction over patent cases. The Chief Judge announced that the Seventh Circuit is able and ready to hear patent cases. Why do regional circuit courts now want to assert jurisdiction over patent cases? What implications can be drawn from the jurisdictional battle? Are their assertions of jurisdiction over patent cases legitimate? This article addresses these urgent questions. * Gerald R. Bepko Chair in Law & Director of the Center for Intellectual Property & Innovation, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law; Former IP Associate, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson (NYC) and Pryor Cashman Sherman & Flynn (NYC). Many thanks to Professor Bob Gomulkiewicz, UW School of Law, Professor Danielle Conway, University of Hawaii, Richardson School of Law and Professor Jeffrey A. Maine, University of Maine School of Law for their support. Special thanks to Erik Darwin Hille and Khai-Leif Nguyen-Hille for their unconditional love, patience and support. Copyright 2015 by Professor Xuan-Thao Nguyen. 1 Nguyen: Judicial Wisdom or Patent Envy? Published by Reading Room, 2015 304 GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW [Vol. 32:2
Two-Dimensional Neutronics Calculation for the High Yield Lithium Injection Fusion Energy Converter

The nuclear heating and tritium breeding characteristics of the high yield lithium injection fusion energy (HYLIFE) converter, a reactor concept for an inertial confinement fusion electric power pl...
Crossbreeding Studies with Seven Species of Trogoderm

Crossbreeding tests were made with seven species of Trogoderma (T. glabrum (Herbst) , T. granarium Everts, T. grassmani Beal, T. inclusum LeConte, T. parabile Beal, T. simplex Jayne, and T. sternale Jayne) found in California. Progeny were not obtained from any crossbreeding tests which included T. grassmani, T. inclusum, T. parabile, T. simplex , and T. sternale , indicating complete reproductive isolation of these five forms of Trogoderma . Interspecific hybrid progeny were readily obtained from crosses between T. glabrum and T. granarium but all hybrids were sterile. Evidence of hybrid sterility indicated that specific isolation was preserved, although reproductive isolation between T. glabrum and T. granarium was not complete. It was conduced that all seven forms of Trogoderma used in the study were distinct and valid species.
Capsular Complexes of Nonpolar Guests with Octa Amine Host Detected in the Gas Phase

Nanocapsules, made up of the deep cavitand octa amine and several guests, were prepared in aqueous acidic solution and were found to be stable in the gas phase as detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The observed gas phase host-guest complexes contained five positive charges and were associated with several acid molecules (HCl or HBr).
Gait mechanics in those with/without medial compartment knee osteoarthritis 5 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

The objective of the study was to evaluate differences in gait mechanics 5 years after unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery, for non-osteoarthritic (n = 24) versus osteoarthritic (n = 9) subjects. For the involved knee, the osteoarthritic group demonstrated significantly lower peak knee flexion angles (non-osteoarthritic = 24.3 ± 4.6°, osteoarthritic = 19.1 ± 2.9°, p = 0.01) and peak knee flexion moments (non-osteoarthritic = 5.3 ± 1.2% Body Weight × Height, osteoarthritic = 4.4 ± 1.2% Body Weight × Height, p = 0.05). Differences in peak knee adduction moment approached significance, with a higher magnitude for the osteoarthritic group (non-osteoarthritic = 2.4 ± 0.8% Body Weight × Height, osteoarthritic = 2.9 ± 0.5% Body Weight × Height, p = 0.09). Peak medial compartment joint load was evaluated using electromyography-informed neuromusculoskeletal modeling. Peak medial compartment joint load in the involved knee for the two groups was not different (non-osteoarthritic = 2.4 ± 0.4 Body Weight, osteoarthritic = 2.3 ± 0.6 Body Weight). The results suggest that subjects with dissimilar peak knee moments can have similar peak medial compartment joint load magnitudes. There was no evidence of inter-limb asymmetry for either group. Given the presence of inter-group differences (non-osteoarthritic vs. osteoarthritic) for the involved knee, but an absence of inter-limb asymmetry in either group, it may be necessary to evaluate how symmetry is achieved, over time, and to differentiate between good versus bad inter-limb symmetry, when evaluating knee gait parameters. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:625-633, 2017.
Leptin Administration Normalizes Insulin Secretion from Islets of Lepob/Lepob Mice by Food Intake-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms:

Leptin-deficient Lepob/Lepob mice exhibit elevations in plasma insulin early in development. The present study tested the hypothesis that absence of leptin during neonatal development permanently p...
Cancer and Clinical Trials

Experiments, as Claude Bernard had shown, manipulate materials and processes in the natural world to determine underlying cause-and-effect relationships. To do this, experimenters seek to change certain known conditions and control for others, an inductive and powerful approach to problem solving. This drive for experimentalism, combined with the search for new therapeutic agents arising in the years before WWII, helped stimulate by mid-century perhaps the key methodological (we might even say ideological) innovation in twentieth century biomedicine, the randomized clinical trial (RCT). Although there are other claimants to the title of the ‘first’ controlled clinical trial, historians generally recognize the MRC’s 1946 study of tuberculosis treated with streptomycin3 as the beginning of the new movement.4 Part of the notoriety attached to the streptomycin trial came because its results were, unlike some earlier efforts, positive and clearly so.5 The original scarcity of the antibiotic had made the division of patients between a treatment group who got the drug and other groups who did not ethically straightforward (a feature of clinical trials that would become increasingly complex as I discuss in the next chapter), and helped to make the results clear and compelling.
Managing patients with local anesthetic complications using alternative methods.

This article discusses various alternative methods of treating the patient who encounters problems with local anesthetics. Those alternative methods include: acupuncture, hypnosis, sedation, general anesthesia, and antihistamines as a substitute for local anesthetics with more of a focus in using antihistamines as an effective local anesthetic agent. Although not frequently encountered in the clinical setting, allergic reactions to local anesthetics do occur. Various surveys indicate the number of deaths attributed to local anesthesia range from 1:1,500,000 to 1:4,000,000, with oral surgery offices having higher mortality rates than general dentistry offices. This occurs despite clinicians' attention to patient medical histories, aspiration of the local anesthetic syringe during injections, and minimizing the dosage of local anesthetic solutions. Generally speaking, local anesthetics can be divided into two groups: ester of benzoic and aminobenzoic derivatives (cocaine, benzocaine, procaine, tetracaine, butacaine, etc.) or amide-derivatives of xylidine and toluidine groups (lidocaine, mepivacaine, prilocaine a.k.a. Citanest, etc.). Adverse effects include allergic or toxic reactions, as well as negative effects of any vasoconstrictors contained within the local anesthetic solution. This article will concentrate on how to successfully manage patients who have previously encountered allergic reactions.
Poly-p-hydroquinone Ethers: Isoenergetic Molecular Wires with Length-Invariant Oxidation Potentials and Cation Radical Excitation Energies

Typical poly-p-phenylene wires are characterized by strong interchromophoric electronic coupling with redox and optical properties being highly length-dependent. Herein we show that an incorporation of a pair of para-methoxy groups at each p-phenylene unit in poly-p-phenylene wires (i.e., PHEn) changes the nodal structure of HOMO that leads to length-invariant oxidation potentials and cation radical excitation energies. As such, PHEn represents a unique class of isoenergetic wires where hole delocalization mainly occurs via dynamic hopping and thus may serve as an efficient medium for long-range charge transfer. Availability of these wires will allow demonstration of long-range electron transfer via incoherent hopping using donor-bridge-acceptor systems with isoenergetic PHEn-based wires as bridges.
Computational electromechanical peridynamics modeling of strain and damage sensing in nanocomposite bonded explosive materials (NCBX)

Abstract Polymer bonded explosives are complex materials which can weaken and more importantly accidentally detonate as a result of microstructural damage if subjected to mechanical insults. It is proposed that dispersing carbon nanotubes within the material will allow for in situ, real time structural health monitoring owing to the unique piezoresistive properties of nanocomposites. To explore this further, a coupled electromechanical peridynamics framework is employed to investigate the deformation and damage sensing capabilities of nanocomposite bonded explosives at the microstructural level. The peridynamics framework enables in capturing key deformation and damage mechanisms associated with this complex material system. Preliminary studies show that CNT content and the electrical conductivity of the grains are important parameters which impact the piezoresistive response. Moreover, these parameters affect the response in the elastic and damage regimes in significantly different ways. Lastly, results from numerical simulations are compared to experimental data on the piezoresistive response of mock NCBX materials, and it is concluded that there is promise in this novel application of nanocomposite based sensing.
Contemporary prevalence estimates for giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica, 2015.

Abstract Objective There are no estimates of the prevalence of giant cell arteritis (GCA) or polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) in a US population in the current millennium. The purpose of this study was to estimate the 2015 prevalence of GCA and PMR in a US population-based setting. Methods Cohorts of incident GCA in 1950–2009 and incident PMR in 1970–2014 were previously identified among residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota. Prevalence estimates were obtained from the age-, sex-, and calendar year-specific incidence rates and adjusted to the US white 2010 population aged ≥50 years. Confidence intervals (CI) were computed using bootstrap sampling. Results There were 248 incident cases of GCA in 1950–2009 and 790 cases of PMR in 1970–2014. The overall age- and sex-adjusted prevalence rate of GCA on January 1, 2015 was 204 (95% CI: 161–254) per 100,000 population aged ≥50 years. GCA prevalence rate in women was 304 (95% CI: 229–375) and in men was 91 (95% CI: 46–156) per 100,000 population. The overall age and sex adjusted prevalence rate of PMR on January 1, 2015 was 701 (95% CI: 651–750) per 100,000 population. PMR prevalence rate in women was 870 (95% CI: 787–957) and in men was 508 (95% CI: 426–589) per 100,000 population. Conclusion Prevalence rates of GCA and PMR in 2015 are similar to previously published prevalence estimates in the late 1990s. The health burden of these diseases among older persons continues to be substantial and reflects the need for continued efforts to better manage it.
Keynote talk: K.1 Sub-surface radar remote sensing for exploration and safe utilization of energy resources

As human population is growing faster than ever, access to reliable and sustainable energy has become one of the most important problems in the 21st century. Access to energy resources will influence and shape the future of human society as we go forward. The cost and availability of energy significantly impacts our quality of life. While most people in industrialized countries have easy access to energy more than two billion people on still relying solid fuels like wood for cooking and heating. There are also environmental issues to be considered in our efforts for exploration and utilization of new sources of energy.
Protective Factors and Processes Contributing to the Academic Success of Students Living in Poverty: Implications for Counselors

This phenomenological qualitative study examined a national sample of high-achieving, low-income middle school students' (N = 24) perspectives of protective factors and processes that contribute to their academic success in school. Four main themes and 12 subthemes were identified. The main themes are peer social capital, teachers who care, family and community assets, and multiple streams of motivation. Implications for counselors who serve students living in poverty are discussed. Este estudio cualitativo fenomenologico examino las perspectivas de factores de proteccion y procesos que contribuyen al exito academico escolar de una muestra nacional de alumnos de escuela media con altos logros y bajos ingresos (N = 24). Se identificaron cuatro temas principales y doce subtemas. Los temas principales son capital social entre pares, maestros que muestran interes, recursos familiares y comunitarios, y multiples fuentes de motivacion. Se discuten las implicaciones para consejeros que sirven a estudiantes que viven en la pobreza.
Information Technology and the Ethics of Globalization

OFFSHORING AS AN ETHICAL ISSUE In some circumstances there is no ethical issue involved in exporting jobs to exploit lower wages. If currency exchange rates make work done in Canada cheaper than work done in the U.S., but otherwise the standards of living of the workers in the two countries are comparable, it is hard to see an ethical issue in what seems to be a form of arbitrage on labor prices. 1
Use of Intravenous Posaconazole in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Background:Posaconazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal used for prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal infections. There is no published data to inform prescribers on dosing of the intravenous (IV) formulation in the pediatric population. We describe our experience including dosing, serum conc
Lezama: en el umbral del dios venidero

Aquest article analitza la poetica de Lezama Lima en relacio amb la teoria literaria del Goethezeit. En la primera part plantejo les similituds entre els conceptes lezamians de “senor barroco” i “eras imaginarias”, i les teoritzacions de Schiller sobre allo Ingenu i Sentimental. La segona part es centra en les relacions entre la Neue Mythologie i la concepcio mitic/misterica de la figura Jose Cemi a Paradiso (1966). Una determinada “era imaginaria” de la cultura europea, la literatura alemanya de l’entresegle XVIII/XIX, ens serveix per a il·luminar l’obra de Lezama, llegida aixi des del cor de la teoria literaria i filosofica de la Modernitat.
Thermal Resistance of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in Liquid Egg White.

Survival of a five-strain mixture of Listeria monocytogenes and a six-strain mixture of Salmonella enteritidis, S. typhimurium, and S. senftenberg (not 775W) in liquid egg white was determined by a submerged-vial technique at 51.5°C and 53.2°C with 0.875% added H 2 O 2 and at 55.5°C, 56.6°C, and 57.7°C with no additions. Survival at a range of pH values at 56.6°C also was determined. Surviving bacteria were counted on tryptic soy agar and results expressed as D-values; log-unit reductions in counts in 3.5 min or 6.2 min were calculated from these D-values. Plate pasteurization of commercially broken egg white (pH 8.8) inoculated with a single strain of L. innocua or S. senftenberg also was performed. Heating under currently approved pasteurization conditions, 51.5°C for 3.5 min with hydrogen peroxide, 55.6°C for 6.2 min, or 56.7°C for 3.5 min, resulted in a less than 3-log unit reduction of viable Salmonella spp. and a less than 0.5-log unit reduction of L. monocytogenes. At 53.2°C with peroxide, plate pasteurization resulted in a 3.44-log unit reduction of S. senftenberg in 3.5 min. At 57.7°C with no peroxide, the D-value for Salmonella spp. was 0.78 min when heated in submerged vials, and plate pasteurization reduced viable numbers by 3.64 log units in 3.5 min. Destruction of Listeria under these conditions was still less than 1 log unit. Variation in the pH of the egg white from 7.8 to 9.3 resulted in D-values for Salmonella spp. at 56.6°C of 3.60 min to 1.08 min, respectively. D-values for L. monocytogenes under these conditions ranged from 10.4 min at pH 7.8 to 20.9 min at pH 9.3. The reduced heat sensitivity of Salmonella spp. at lower pH values should be considered in reevaluating pasteurization procedures.
Endothelial Dysfunction in Microvascular Angina

A large proportion of patients with chest discomfort, thought to be angina pectoris, have “normal” or non-obstructive epicardial coronary arteries at angiography. However, absence of angiographic evidence of stenosis is not a sufficient criterion to fully determine the health status of the coronary vasculature as related to exclusion of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Endothelial and vascular smooth muscle dysfunction, at both the microvascular and macrovascular level, may negatively influence myocyte oxygenation and cannot be directly visualized by coronary angiography. Alternative techniques that measure coronary blood flow changes in response to stressors or resistance changes are required to more fully evaluate coronary microvascular function. Of the pathophysiological mechanisms proposed to explain functional impairment of the microvasculature as well as IHD, endothelial dysfunction is one central etiologic substrate. While dysfunctional endothelium clearly impacts coronary vasomotor properties and blood flow responses, endothelium-independent vascular smooth muscle dysfunction also has a role in the development of IHD and related symptoms like angina and is a predictor of adverse outcomes.
Jackson Vocational Interest Survey

(1979). Jackson Vocational Interest Survey. Measurement and Evaluation in Guidance: Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 49-52.
Selective production of hydrogen by partial oxidation of methanol over catalysts derived from CuZnAl‐layered double hydroxides

Hydrogen production by partial oxidation of methanol (POM) reaction (CH3OH + (1/2)O2 ⇌ 2H2 + CO2) was investigated over a series of CuZnAl ternary oxide catalysts derived from CuZnAl hydroxycarbonate precursors containing hydrotalcite‐like layered double hydroxide as a major phase. These catalysts exhibited a good catalytic activity and high H2 selectivity. A methanol conversion of about 40–60% was obtained at 200°C with high selectivity of H2 and CO2. The undesirable by‐product, CO was virtually not produced over most of the catalysts at this temperature. The catalytic activity was found to decrease with increasing (Cu + Zn)/Al atomic ratio in the precursor and, was correlated with Cu metal surface areas, Cu dispersion and Cu particle sizes, which were calculated by both XRD and TPR‐N2O passivation methods. The catalyst with higher Cu surface areas and Cu dispersion displayed a higher catalytic activity. Lifetime experiments showed that these catalysts were stable over a period of 24 h of continuous operation. Catalyst precursors containing hydroxycarbonates other than LDH as a major phase offered considerable amount of dimethyl ether as a by‐product.
Retrospective comparison of standard clotting tests and novel clot waveform parameters in dogs using the turbidimetric ACL-TOP CTS 300 coagulation analyzer.

Clot waveforms are generated by coagulation analyzers, such as the ACL-TOP, that utilize photo-optical turbidimetric methods to measure prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin ti...
The Impact of Tumor Location on Resection and Survival for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Background Differences in clinical staging and survival among pancreatic head, body, and tail cancers are not well defined. We aim to identify the prognostic relevance of primary tumor location in patients undergoing treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Materials and methods The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with PDAC from 1998 to 2011 (n = 175,556). Patients were categorized by primary tumor site into head (67.5%, n = 118,343), body (15.5%, n = 27,218), and tail (17.0%, n = 29,885) groups. Univariate and Cox regression analyses were used to determine covariates associated with overall survival (OS). Results Patients with head PDAC presented with earlier stage disease (39.2% Stage I/II versus 19.7% versus 16.0%, P Conclusions When examining patients with PDAC undergoing resection, tumor localization to the head is associated with improved resectability because they present earlier. Of resected PDACs, however, those localized to the head have worse OS compared with body and tail tumors. This discrepancy may represent a combination of lead time and selection biases and biologic differences between tumor sites.
Challenges of the Euro

„The lesson from previous episodes of trade reform is in part a story of political framing as well as a story of compensatory deals. Countries can calculate that they might lose out on the solution to one of the issues but gain on another.”
Spectroscopic characterization and in silico modelling of polyvinylpyrrolidone as an anion-responsive fluorescent polymer in aqueous media

Aqueous anion recognition has been a long-standing challenge in molecular recognition. The use of synthetic polymers is an emerging area of interest due to their conformational flexibility, creatin...
Energy efficiency of thermoelectric materials: A three-dimensional study

This work presents a three-dimensional (3D) model for the energy conversion efficiency of thermoelectric (TE) materials. Analytical series solutions are obtained for the temperature and electric fields in a TE element under 3D conditions. The model allows detailed examination of the effects of the lateral geometrical dimensions and the surface heat transfer coefficient on the energy efficiency of TE materials. It is analytically proved that the energy efficiency of the 3D model approaches that of the commonly used one-dimensional (1D) model when the lateral dimensions go to infinity or the surface heat transfer coefficient goes to zero. The numerical results for a bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) TE material show that the energy efficiency predicted by the 1D model represents an upper bound of the efficiency. The peak efficiency decreases with decreasing lateral dimension for a fixed leg length of the TE element. The peak efficiency also decreases with increasing lateral surface heat transfer coefficient. The present 3D model may be used as a quantitative tool to design TE modules with alleviated efficiency reduction due to the 3D effects.This work presents a three-dimensional (3D) model for the energy conversion efficiency of thermoelectric (TE) materials. Analytical series solutions are obtained for the temperature and electric fields in a TE element under 3D conditions. The model allows detailed examination of the effects of the lateral geometrical dimensions and the surface heat transfer coefficient on the energy efficiency of TE materials. It is analytically proved that the energy efficiency of the 3D model approaches that of the commonly used one-dimensional (1D) model when the lateral dimensions go to infinity or the surface heat transfer coefficient goes to zero. The numerical results for a bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) TE material show that the energy efficiency predicted by the 1D model represents an upper bound of the efficiency. The peak efficiency decreases with decreasing lateral dimension for a fixed leg length of the TE element. The peak efficiency also decreases with increasing lateral surface heat transfer coefficient. The p...
A Study of Substrate Models and Its Effect On Package Warpage Prediction

In this work, a study of different substrate models on package warpage is performed. Three different substrate models are built: First, the package substrate is simplified and modeled as one effective layer. Second, a three-layer model is proposed with a top build-up layer, the middle that contains a low Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) core, and a bottom build-up layer. Third, a multi-layer laminate substrate that accounts for the complexity of copper trace, and the combination of polymer or non-metallic materials is considered. Package warpage among these models are compared and evaluated by both an analytical approach and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in conjunction with the empirical data. The analytical and FEA results reveal that the three-layer model and multi-layer model could predict package warpage behavior in close approximation to the experimental results, whereas the one effective model provides an outlier quantity. A small amount of uncorrected warpage prediction may result in a large discrepancy of service life assessment of interconnected solder joints. The multi-layer model with detailed copper trace configuration is prohibitively expensive, while one effective layer could not represent correctly the major mechanical properties of the substrate; above all, the three-layer model is an optimal consideration and is recommended to have a proper FEA model for a more exact life prediction of solder interconnections.
Pediatric Chief Resident Exchange Program-A Novel Method to Share Educational Ideas Across Training Programs.

ABSTRACT Background Pediatric residency programs offer many conferences and activities to meet the educational needs of their residents. We developed and assessed The Pediatric Chief Resident Exchange Program where pediatric chief residents visited another institution for a day with the goal of sharing educational and curricular innovations between residency programs in an experiential manner. Approach/Innovation Pediatric chief residents participated in various activities during the exchange including educational conferences and discussions with residency program leadership at the host institutions. Surveys were administered to all participating chiefs to determine if any changes to educational conferences or curriculum were made or planned to be made at their home program based upon what they observed at the other institution and to have chiefs reflect on what they gained from the experience. Results Twenty-eight chief residents from nine programs participated in the exchange program over three academic years (2015-2018). All respondents felt the exchange experience was worthwhile. The majority (67%) of programs planned to implement a change at their institution based on participation in the exchange with over half actually making a change by the end of the academic year. Participating chiefs gained a sense of camaraderie, appreciated that other programs experienced similar struggles, and developed further insight into the chief resident role. Discussion The Pediatric Chief Resident Exchange Program is a novel method of sharing educational practices between institutions that can lead to curricular changes at participating programs. It can also be an opportunity for chief resident professional development.
Directed-Energy Non-Lethal Weapons: An Evaluation of Their Ethical Use and Potential Applications

Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW) are not themselves a new or game-changing technology. However, new forms of NLW enable a standoff capability previously only available from traditional or lethal systems. These system architectures rely on directed acoustic or electromagnetic energy to achieve a desired effect in their targets, whether personnel or materiel. As with many emerging and game-changing technologies, political and ethical concerns, alongside technical ones, affect the development of Non-Lethal Weapons. The end result is a debate between NLW advocates who favor utility-based arguments and NLW opponents who point to less quantifiable issues with the use of such systems. This chapter aims to bridge the divide between the two sides of the debate and to illustrate that NLW are not only useful systems but also to explore inherent problems in the three primary arguments against their deployment. NLW are a greater ethical good than either lethal (or permanently-harming) force or the lack of action that results in further losses. Politically, the treaties that would govern NLW deployment and use either do not address these systems directly or indirectly encourage their use by advocating for minimizing collateral damage. Lastly, concerns about the “slippery slope” of NLW technology development is a logical fallacy based upon the erroneous concept of “cerebralcentrism” and the assumption that NLW provide an oppression capability not currently possible with traditional lethal force.
Calibration Transfer for Food Recognition Models for E-Noses

Gas sensors using the low-priced MOS technique face several problems that reduce their applicability for classification tasks. In literature, several methods can be found that try to alleviate these problems. In this extended abstract, we focus on the problem that the behavior of different sensors (of same type) results in different data even for the same gas concentrations. Hence, the models cannot be reused for sensors of same type. Additionally, it is hardly possible to record high amounts of this type of data which makes transfer learning techniques on such data sets necessary. We apply a calibration transfer procedure and present the results on a data set for food recognition, which we recorded simultaneously with two identical gas sensor boxes in a controlled environment. We compare the results on MOS-based gas sensors from the MQ series and a more modern sensor using MEMS fabrication. The applied technique shows increased recognition rates on this data set.
Radiation Evaluation of the ADS1278-SP Radiation Hardened 24-Bit 8-Ch Simultaneous-Sampling ADC

ADS1278-SP is a Radiation Hardened 24-Bit 8-Ch Simultaneous-Sampling Delta-Sigma ADC for Space applications. ADS1278-SP has been characterized to pass Total dose level of up to 50 krad(Si). Single Event Heavy Ion testing showed that ADS1278-SP was SEL-free up to LETeff =75 MeV-cm2//mg, and has very low cross section for SET.
Duck-Rabbit: A Reply to Professor Hasnas

In an earlier article, I introduced the character theory of corporate punishment. Inspired by virtue ethics, the theory proposes that criminal law should punish a corporation only by coercively reforming any criminogenic organizational traits responsible for its crime. In a response, Professor Hasnas argued that character theory is better viewed as a theory of corporate regulation rather than punishment. This reply concessively counters that one of character theory's strengths is that its recommendations have both regulatory and punitive dimensions.
An examination of idiographic networks of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms

Although the application of network theory to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has yielded promising insights, the lack of equivalence between inter- and intraindividual variation limits the generalizability of these findings to any one individual with PTSD. Instead, a better understanding of how PTSD symptoms occur and vary over time within an individual requires exploring the idiographic network structure of PTSD. To do so, the present study used an intensive repeated-measures design to estimate intraindividual networks of PTSD symptoms on a person-by-person basis. Participants were 20 individuals who met criteria for PTSD and completed daily surveys assessing PTSD symptoms; surveys were completed four times per day for approximately 30 days. Employing a recently validated method provided by Fisher, Reeves, Lawyer, Medaglia, and Rubel (2017), we used these data to estimate a contemporaneous and temporal network of PTSD symptoms for individuals on a person-by-person basis. We then calculated centrality metrics to determine the relative importance of each symptom in each idiographic network. Across all contemporaneous networks, negative trauma-related cognitions and emotions were most commonly the most central symptoms. Further, across all temporal networks, (a) negative trauma-related emotions were the most common driver of variation in other symptoms over time and (b) distressing trauma-related dreams and sleep disturbance were the most common downstream consequences of variation in other PTSD symptoms over time. We also reviewed data from two randomly selected participants to illustrate how this approach could be used to identify maintenance factors of PTSD for each individual and guide individual treatment planning.
Which geomorphic processes can be informed by luminescence measurements

Abstract Luminescence signals from quartz and feldspar contain a wealth of information about exposure to heat and sunlight. While many studies have focused on quantifying individual processes such as grain transport and burial, cooling during exhumation, or bleaching of freshly exposed rock surfaces, not much work has yet been done to illustrate how these effects might interact. For example, how might a geologist/geomorphologist interpret the luminescence signals within a riverine cobble or within a recent rockfall from an uplifting terrain? This study attempts to address this issue by first presenting a simple kinetic expression for OSL signal accumulation in response to background radiation, and OSL loss by exposure to heat or to direct or attenuated sunlight. This model is then used to simulate three example sample histories. Simulation results demonstrate how much information can be embedded within one sample's luminescence signal and how disparate geomorphic histories can produce strikingly similar signals. The temperatures and timescales which can be examined with luminescence signals are presented in comparison to those of various geomorphic processes. Finally, simulation results illustrate the benefit of using signals of different stability to better understand a sample's recent geologic history.
Automatic Power Frequency Rejection Instrumentation for Nonintrusive Frequency Signature Tracking

This article presents a design for data acquisition hardware that can automatically track and reject utility frequency components of a measured current or voltage waveform. Measurements of subtle harmonic content in the waveform can therefore be made with the full dynamic range of the on-board analog-to-digital converter. This permits the detection of small, higher frequency signals for applications to condition-based maintenance and energy scorekeeping. Experimental demonstrations in this article show the hardware prototype isolating the rotor slot harmonics in a motor’s input current. The high-resolution measurements of slot harmonics permit the estimation of motor speed from the detected slot harmonic frequency and the rejected fundamental frequency. The performance and accuracy of the speed estimator are demonstrated with both steady-state and transient experiments.
Using naturalistic incubation temperatures to demonstrate how variation in the timing and continuity of heat wave exposure influences phenotype

Most organisms are exposed to bouts of warm temperatures during development, yet we know little about how variation in the timing and continuity of heat exposure influences biological processes. If heat waves increase in frequency and duration as predicted, it is necessary to understand how these bouts could affect thermally sensitive species, including reptiles with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). In a multi-year study using fluctuating temperatures, we exposed Trachemys scripta embryos to cooler, male-producing temperatures interspersed with warmer, female-producing temperatures (heat waves) that varied in either timing during development or continuity and then analysed resulting sex ratios. We also quantified the expression of genes involved in testis differentiation (Dmrt1) and ovary differentiation (Cyp19A1) to determine how heat wave continuity affects the expression of genes involved in sexual differentiation. Heat waves applied during the middle of development produced significantly more females compared to heat waves that occurred just 7 days before or after this window, and even short gaps in the continuity of a heat wave decreased the production of females. Continuous heat exposure resulted in increased Cyp19A1 expression while discontinuous heat exposure failed to increase expression in either gene over a similar time course. We report that even small differences in the timing and continuity of heat waves can result in drastically different phenotypic outcomes. This strong effect of temperature occurred despite the fact that embryos were exposed to the same number of warm days during a short period of time, which highlights the need to study temperature effects under more ecologically relevant conditions where temperatures may be elevated for only a few days at a time. In the face of a changing climate, the finding that subtle shifts in temperature exposure result in substantial effects on embryonic development becomes even more critical.
Machine learning glass transition temperature of polymers.

Abstract As an important thermophysical property, polymers' glass transition temperature, Tg, could sometimes be difficult to determine experimentally. Modeling methods, particularly data-driven approaches, are promising alternatives to predictions of Tg in a fast and robust way. The molecular traceless quadrupole moment and molecule average hexadecapole moment are closely correlated with polymers' Tg. In the current work, these two parameters are used as descriptors in the Gaussian process regression model to predict Tg. We investigate 60 samples with Tg values from 194 K to 440 K. The model provides rapid and low-cost Tg estimations with high accuracy and stability.
Target-Centered Virtue Ethics

I provide an overview of Christine Swanton’s target-centered account of right (and virtuous) action. First, I contrast the target-centered account with its virtue-ethical rivals. Second, I detail what it takes for an action to hit the target of a virtue. Finally, I explicate and build upon Swanton’s holistic interpretation of overall virtuousness. Along the way, I showcase attractive features of the target-centered account, note alternatives to Swanton’s version, and respond to objections.
MULTI-WAVELENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF PERIOD-LUMINOSITY RELATIONS

We present a physically motivated explanation for the observed, monotonic increase in slope, and the simultaneous (and also monotonic) decrease in the width/scatter of the Leavitt law (the Cepheid period-luminosity (PL) relation) as one systematically moves from the blue and visual into the near- and mid-infrared. We calibrate the wavelength-dependent, surface-brightness sensitivities to temperature using the observed slopes of PL relations from the optical through the mid-infrared and test the calibration by comparing the theoretical predictions with direct observations of the wavelength dependence of the scatter in the Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheid PL relation. In doing so we find the slope of the period-radius (PR) relation is c = 0.724 ± 0.006. Investigating the effect of differential reddening suggests that this value may be overestimated by as much as 10%; however, the same slope of the PR relation fits the (very much unreddened) Cepheids in IC 1613, albeit with lower precision. The discussion given is general and also applies to RR Lyrae stars, which also show similarly increasing PL slopes and decreasing scatter with increasing wavelength.
Concurrent lymphovascular and perineural invasion after preoperative therapy for gastric adenocarcinoma is associated with decreased survival.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate the impact of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI) on survival outcomes in gastric cancer patients treated with preoperative therapy. METHODS Patients with gastric cancer treated with preoperative therapy and potentially curative resection were stratified according to the presence of LVI, PNI, or both. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the impact on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS The study included 281 patients, of whom 93 (33%) had LVI, 69 (25%) had PNI, 51 (18%) had both LVI and PNI, and 170 (61%) had neither. LVI and PNI were each associated with higher ypT and ypN categories and more positive lymph nodes (all p < .001), associations that were emphasized with both factors present. On multivariable analyses, ypN (p < .001) and concurrent LVI/PNI (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.55-4.45; p = .001) were predictive of OS and DFS (ypN: p < .001; both LVI/PNI: HR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.34-3.82; p = .002). CONCLUSIONS Gastric cancer patients with concurrent LVI and PNI after preoperative therapy have more advanced disease and worse survival outcomes than patients with neither or only one of these factors.
The Abundance and Diversity of Fungi in a Hypersaline Microbial Mat from Guerrero Negro, Baja California, México.

The abundance and diversity of fungi were evaluated in a hypersaline microbial mat from Guerrero Negro, Mexico, using a combination of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) amplification of domain-specific primers, and metagenomic sequencing. Seven different layers were analyzed in the mat (Layers 1–7) at single millimeter resolution (from the surface to 7 mm in depth). The number of copies of the 18S rRNA gene of fungi ranged between 106 and 107 copies per g mat, being two logarithmic units lower than of the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria. The abundance of 18S rRNA genes of fungi varied significantly among the layers with layers 2–5 mm from surface contained the highest numbers of copies. Fifty-six fungal taxa were identified by metagenomic sequencing, classified into three different phyla: Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Microsporidia. The prevalent genera of fungi were Thermothelomyces, Pyricularia, Fusarium, Colletotrichum, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Candida and Neurospora. Genera of fungi identified in the mat were closely related to genera known to have saprotrophic and parasitic lifestyles, as well as genera related to human and plant pathogens and fungi able to perform denitrification. This research suggests that fungi in the mat may participate in nutrient recycling, modification of community composition through parasitic activities, and denitrification.