cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The experience of Chinese American parents of children with life-limiting illness: a comprehensive review

Life-limiting childhood illness is a traumatic experience presenting parents with psychological, physical, and social challenges. While cultural influences affect all parents coping with the life-limiting illness and end-of-life period of their child, little is known about the experiences of Chinese American parents. The purpose of this comprehensive literature review was to describe Chinese American parents' experiences during their children's end-of-life period from a culturally informed perspective. Important themes in the literature are revealed including culture-based phenomena regarding philosophy of life and illness that can affect treatment choices, cultural mores that influence parental behaviour in Western health-care systems, specific communication patterns within families and between families and providers, certain coping risks, and gender-based roles and caregiving activities that have implications for provider communication patterns. The findings are consonant with the larger literature regarding the impact of traditional culture and values on Chinese family and health behaviours. Health professionals must be sensitive to Chinese American parents' communication styles, unspoken concerns, and unresolved cultural conflicts in American health-care settings. Educational interventions may be very helpful in this regard.
Unusual intraosseous transmigration of a palatally impacted canine

Intraosseous migration of impacted teeth across the midline to the opposite side of the jaw is a rare dental anomaly of unknown etiology. Transmigration of an impacted mandibular canine through the symphysis to the contralateral side of the arch has been documented. Transmigration of an impacted maxillary canine across the midpalatal suture to the opposite side of the maxilla has not been previously observed and is reported here for the first time.
How to Reid Moore

Moore's ‘Proof of an External World’ has evoked a variety of responses from philosophers, including bafflement, indignation and sympathetic reconstruction. I argue that Moore should be understood as following Reid on a variety of points, both epistemological and methodological. Moreover, Moore and Reid are exactly right on all of these points. Hence what I present is a defence of Moore's ‘Proof’, as well as an interpretation. Finally, I argue that the Reid-Moore position is useful for resolving an issue that has recently received attention in epistemology, namely, how is it that one knows that one is not a brain in a vat?
Effect of dinitrophenol on thyroid responses to thyrotropin.

Rats were either injected ip with 4 mg 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) 3 hr before thyroidectomy or fed a Purina Chow diet containing 0.2% DNP for 7–14 days; this resulted in substantial but proportional decreases in body and thyroid weight; serum PBI, thyroidal 131I uptake and thyroid/serum radioiodide concentration ratio were significantly lowered. Thyroid glandular content and oxido-reduction state of pyridine nucleotides were unaffected. The DNP regimen prevented: 1) goitrogenesis from incorporation of 0.03% PTU into the diet; 2) increase in thyroid weight following 7 daily injections of TSH (2 U); 3) the enhanced thyroidal incorporation of 14C-labeled amino acid in TSH and PTU-treated rats; and 4) a significant rise in total NADP and in NADPH/NADP ratio 3 hr after a single iv injection of TSH (3 U), all of which occurred in control rats not given DNP. By contrast, TSH (0.1–3 U) stimulated glandular 131I release of prelabeled DNP-treated rats as promptly and effectively as controls, and both thyroid 1 hr 131I...
How do recent population trends matter to climate change

Although integrated assessment models (IAM) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) consider population as one of the root causes of greenhouse gas emissions, how population dynamics affect climate change is still under debate. Population is rarely mentioned in policy debates on climate change. Studies in the past decade have added significantly to understanding the mechanisms and complexity of population and climate interactions. In addition to the growth of total population size, research shows that changes in population composition (i.e. age, urban–rural residence, and household structure) generate substantial effects on the climate system. Moreover, studies by the impact, vulnerability and adaptation (IAV) community also reveal that population dynamics are critical in the near term for building climate change resilience and within adaptation strategies. This paper explores how global population dynamics affect carbon emissions and climate systems, how recent demographic trends matter to worldwide efforts to adapt to climate change, and how population policies could make differences for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Design of an apparatus for optical and VUV spectroscopy of explosive emission processes

This study focuses on the design of an experimental apparatus for optical and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectroscopy of explosive emission processes at the cathode in a high power vacuum sealed tube. The system consists of a high power pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a highly tunable optical parametric oscillator (OPO, 200 to 2600 nm), a 300 kV, 80 J Marx Generator, and a triode-geometry vircator that is 6 inches in diameter and 11 inches in length. It has been observed that the explosive emission occurring at the cathode forms a plasma front propagating across the A-K gap negatively affecting the impedance of the gap thus shortening pulse length and spoiling the desired consistent low vacuum within the sealed tube. The scope of this project is to probe the plasma formed between the A-K gap to determine the species emitted off the cathode. The timing integration of each sub-system is very critical as the window for measurement is approximately 200 ns. A compact, fiber optically coupled, battery-operated, low jitter (500 ps), fast risetime (20 ns) pulse trigger generator has been designed and incorporated as the trigger source in a trigatron triggering scheme for the Marx generator. Preliminary jitter measurements of 20 to 30 ns have been seen on the fully erected Marx Generator. The intent of this paper is to discuss the details of the various sub-systems and the timing between them, enabling optical / VUV spectroscopic measurements of the explosive emission process.
Characterization and distribution of transferrin receptors in the rat brain.

Abstract: Transferrin receptors were characterized with 125Iferrotransferrin on membrane fractions prepared from the rodent forebrain. The distribution of transferrin receptors in the rat brain was investigated further by in vitro autoradiography. Saturation binding analysis revealed an apparent single class of sites with a dissociation constant of 2 nM and a binding site density of 15 pmol/g. The Hill coefficient derived from these data was 1.05. indicating the absence of cooperativity and that 125I-ferrotransferrin binds to a single class of sites. Estimates of the kinetically determined Kd for forebrain membranes were within the 2–4 nM range, in agreement with the equilibrium measurements. Apotransferrin and ferrotransferrin competitively displaced the binding of 125I-ferrotransferrin, while ferritin, albumin, and cytochrome c failed to compete for the binding site. Ceruloplasmin, the copper transport protein, was a weak inhibitor of 125I-ferrotransferrin binding. Autoradiographic localization studies demonstrate a heterogeneous distribution of transferrin receptors in the rat brain. Transferrin receptor densities were markedly elevated over the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. Moderate to high 125I-ferrotransferrin binding was also apparent throughout areas involved in motor functions, including the caudate-putamen, the nucleus accumbens, the substantia nigra, the red nucleus, and the cerebellum.
Effect of imperfect phase and timing synchronization on the bit-error rate performance of PSK modulations

A great deal of attention has been devoted in the recent literature to the study of the bit-error rate (BER) performance of phase-shift keyed (PSK) constellations, due to their high spectral efficiency. It is well known that an error in phase or timing synchronization affects the probability of correct decisions at the receiver. This problem becomes much more significant as data rates increase, and the corresponding symbol durations decrease. In this letter, we look into this problem and analyze the exact BER performance of generalized hierarchical PSK constellations under imperfect phase or timing synchronization over additive white Gaussian noise channels.
Using In-Service and Coaching to Increase Teachers’ Accurate Use of Research-Based Strategies

Increasing the accurate use of research-based practices in classrooms is a critical issue. Professional development is one of the most practical ways to provide practicing teachers with training related to research-based practices. This study examined the effects of in-service plus follow-up coaching on first grade teachers’ accurate delivery of three research-based strategies during math instruction. Teachers were trained to use a combination of whole-class instruction strategies, including model-lead-test for introducing new concepts and correcting errors, choral responding, and response cards. Results indicated that all teachers improved their delivery of the strategies after the in-service, with a second level of growth achieved after coaching. Improvements also generalized to untrained math sessions. Teachers reported very high levels of satisfaction with the training model.
Cutaneous infections of the head and neck.

Impetigo (Fig. 1), a superficial cutaneous bacterial infection, is one of the more common infections of the face. The nonbullous form was originally named ‘‘impetigo faciei contagiosa’’ by Kaposi in 1895 [1]. Localization to the perioral and nares regions is common because these areas are frequently the targets of trauma [2]. Staphylococcus aureus is the most commonly isolated agent in the nonbullous form, though group A b-hemolytic Streptococcal infections might also be seen [3]. Characteristically, 2to 4-mm, erythematous macules evolve into vesicles or pustules, which quickly rupture to leave ‘‘honey-colored’’ yellow, crusted exudates [4]. Disease risk factors include varicella, insect bites, abrasions, lacerations, and burns [5]. Regional lymphadenopathy [6] and leukocytosis are common [7]. The bullous variant is invariably caused by S. aureus, it does not favor the face, and it is usually seen in neonates. Superficial fragile bullae rupture, leaving annular erosions with a collarette of scale. Complications include osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, pneumonia, septicemia [6], cellulitis, and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis [8]. Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis is caused by nephrogenic strains of group A b-hemolytic Streptococcus.
Structure of Est3 reveals a bimodal surface with differential roles in telomere replication

Telomerase is essential for continuous cellular proliferation. Substantial insights have come from studies of budding yeast telomerase, which consists of a catalytic core in association with two regulatory proteins, ever shorter telomeres 1 and 3 (Est1 and Est3). We report here a high-resolution structure of the Est3 telomerase subunit determined using a recently developed strategy that combines minimal NMR experimental data with Rosetta de novo structure prediction algorithms. Est3 adopts an overall protein fold which is structurally similar to that adopted by the shelterin component TPP1. However, the characteristics of the surface of the experimentally determined Est3 structure are substantially different from those predicted by prior homology-based models of Est3. Structure-guided mutagenesis of the complete surface of the Est3 protein reveals two adjacent patches on a noncanonical face of the protein that differentially mediate telomere function. Mapping these two patches on the Est3 structure defines a set of shared features between Est3 and HsTPP1, suggesting an analogous multifunctional surface on TPP1.
Alternative Contexts of Political Behavior: Churches, Neighborhoods, and Individuals

This paper examines the political consequences that arise due to multiple and simultaneous bases of social experience. Two alternative contexts--those of neighborhoods and churches--provide an empi...
Numerical modeling of windblown dust in the Pacific Northwest with improved meteorology and dust emission models

[1] Soil erosion by wind is a serious consequence of dry land agriculture in eastern Washington, where the main adverse effects are loss of nutrient-rich soil, reduced visibility during dust storms and degradation of air quality. A multidisciplinary research effort to study windblown dust in central and eastern Washington was initiated under the Columbia Plateau PM10 (CP3) program, which involved measuring wind erosion and windblown dust emissions at sites throughout the region and developing a transport and dispersion model for the area. The modeling system includes the prognostic meteorological model, Mesoscale Metorological Model Version 5 (MM5), coupled with the CALMET/CALGRID Eularian modeling pair and a new dust emission module (EMIT-PM). Improvements to the modeling system included employing higher spatial resolutions for the meteorological models and improved parameterizations of emission factors in EMIT-PM. Meteorological fields, dust emissions and the resulting dust concentrations were simulated for six historical regional dust storms: 23 November 1990, 21 October 1991, 11 September 1993, 3 November 1993, 30 August 1996 and 23–25 September 1999. For all the simulated events, with the exception of the August 1996 event, ratios of observed to predicted concentrations were favorable, within a range of 0.5–6.0 without calibration of the dust emission model; PM10 emissions averaged 22 Gg per 24-hour event, representing approximately 1% of the daily dust flux on a global basis. These results showed that the model performed best for large, strong dust storms but did not simulate smaller storms as well.
The multirate simulation of FACTS devices in power system dynamics

In this paper, the multirate method is applied to the problem of simulating the dynamics of a power system which contains fast components such as induction machine loads and FACTS devices. Results concerning the numerical stability and accuracy of the multirate method are presented. Implementation concerns are also addressed by studying an example power system which contains a wide range of time response behavior.
Informative Advertising with Differentiated Products

In this paper we study the role of promotional expenditures by sellers in a model of product differentiation. Advertising conveys full and accurate information about the characteristics of products. Heterogeneous consumers, who have no source of information other than advertisements, seek to purchase the products that best fit their needs. Despite the roles played by advertising in improving the matching of products and consumers, and in increasing the elasticity of demand faced by each firm, we find that the market-determined levels of advertising are excessive, given the extent of diversity in the market. We derive a promotional equilibrium based on a specific information transmission technology, paying explicit attention to the structure of consumer information and its impact on firms' demand curves. This allows us to study the effects of changes in the advertising technology. including an increased ability to target messages to specific groups of consumers, on the equilibrium in the product market. We find that decreased advertising costs may reduce profits by increasing the severity of price competition.
Glutaredoxin AtGRXC2 catalyses inhibitory glutathionylation of Arabidopsis BRI1-associated receptor-like kinase 1 (BAK1) in vitro

Brassinosteroid insensitive 1 (BR1)-associated receptor-like kinase 1 (BAK1) is spontaneously glutathionylated in vitro by GSSG or GSH plus H2O2. The glutaredoxin (GRX) AtGRXC2 (GRX C2) interacts with and can catalyse glutathionylation of the BAK1 in vitro . Potential redox control of BAK1 and a novel activity for plant GRXs are discussed. Abbreviations: 3-AT, 3-amino 1,2,4-triazole; AD, activation domain; AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase; anti-pThr, anti-phosphothreonine; AtGRXC2, glutaredoxin C2; BAK1, brassinosteroid insensitive 1-associated receptor-like kinase 1; BD, binding domain; BRI1, brassinosteroid insensitive 1; CaMKI, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I; cAPK, cAMP-dependent protein kinase; EFR, elongation factor tu receptor; EF-Tu, elongation factor Tu; FLS2, flagellin sensitive 2; GRX, glutaredoxin; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; ICL, isocitrate lyase; LRR, leucine-rich repeat; MEKK1, MAPK/ERK kinase kinase 1; NTA, nitrilotriacetic acid; PKC, protein kinase C; PTM, post-translational modification; PTP, protein tyrosine phosphatase; RLK, receptor-like protein kinase; SD, synthetic defined medium; Y2H, yeast-two-hybrid
Relationship influences on teachers’ perceptions of academic competence in academically at-risk minority and majority first grade students

This study examined the associations among child demographic variables, teacher perceptions of parent-teacher and student-teacher relationship quality, and teacher perceptions of children's academic abilities in an ethnically diverse sample of 607 academically at-risk first grade children. Relative to relationships with African American children and parents, teachers rated their relationships with White and Hispanic children and parents more positively. Measures of relationship quality added unique variance to teachers' perceptions of children's abilities, controlling for parent educational level and measured ability. Relationship variables fully mediated the association between African American status and teachers' perceptions of children's abilities. Implications of the findings for teacher in-service and professional development and for parent involvement programs are discussed.
THE MICROSOMAL MIXED FUNCTION OXIDASES AND CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS

ABSTRACT. The microsomal mixed function oxidases are a group of related enzymes with similar activities and structures. They are complexes composed of at least two different polypeptide subunits bound to a phosphatidyl choline. The polypeptides are an NADPH dependent reductase and a P-cytochrome. The several forms of the enzyme are differentially inducible by a number of compounds, and the induction is thought to involve mainly the cytochrome moiety. The enzymes have a wide spectrum of activities, some of which are overlapping in various degrees. Known substrates include a variety of drugs, insecticides, steriod hormones, and many polycyclic hydrocarbons including some of the chemical carcinogens.
Arthroscopy of the Temporomandibular Joint in Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Purpose The early diagnosis of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) before joint destruction and growth disturbances could allow for interceptive treatment. The purpose of this article is to report early TMJ arthroscopic findings in patients with JIA. Patients and Methods This was a case series of 3 patients with JIA treated at the Emory University Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from July 2011 through December 2012. Patients were included if they had a confirmed diagnosis of JIA, did not respond to anti-rheumatologic medication, and had TMJ pain or limited mouth opening. All patients underwent TMJ arthroscopy with an injection of triamcinolone hexacetonide. Demographics, medical history, magnetic resonance imaging findings, arthroscopic findings, and postoperative course were reported. Results Three female patients (mean age, 12.5 yr; 5 joints) underwent arthroscopy. Arthroscopic findings consisted of mild to moderate synovitis and grade 2 to 4 chondromalacia with or without fibrosis. Postoperatively, all patients had improvement in pain and mouth opening. Conclusions There was a positive correlation between duration of JIA activity in the TMJ and severity of arthroscopic findings. Arthroscopic lysis and lavage combined with triamcinolone hexacetonide injection resulted in improvement in pain and range of motion.
Communication and the Service Exchange: A Coorientational Approach to Predicting Service Encounter Satisfaction

While service encounters are known to feature interdependence of provider and client behaviors, little research exists that measures the underlying processes of service satisfaction at the dyadic level of analysis. This research describes and tests a causal model predicting service encounter satisfaction using dyadic data collected from service provider-client exchanges completed in a variety of service industries.
Bigger may be better, but is older wiser ? Organizational age and size in the New York life insurance industry

The author explores the effects of organizational size and age on failure rates among New York life insurance companies between 1813 and 1985. Theorists tend to agree that organizational growth and aging processes increase organizational inertia, but they disagree on the effect of that inertia on failure rates. He finds that organizational size affects failure rates nonmonotonically, but over the actual range of sizes, large size almost always lowers failure rates. He also finds a strong liability of aging; this runs counter to ecological theories of liabilities of newness and adolescence. An empirical test of the relative effects of age during periods of environmental turbulence and calm indicates that organizational inertia is especially problematic during turbulent times. This suggests that the liability of aging occurs more through obsolescence than senescence, at least in the population of insurance companies he investigate
Adaptive Interventions and SMART Designs Application to Child Behavior Research in a Community Setting

Heterogeneity between and within people necessitates the need for sequential personalized interventions to optimize individual outcomes. Personalized or adaptive interventions (AIs) are relevant for diseases and maladaptive behavioral trajectories when one intervention is not curative and success of a subsequent intervention may depend on individual characteristics or response. AIs may be applied to medical settings and to investigate best prevention, education, and community-based practices. AIs can begin with low-cost or low-burden interventions and followed with intensified or alternative interventions for those who need it most. AIs that guide practice over the course of a disease, program, or school year can be investigated through sequential multiple assignment randomized trials (SMARTs). To promote the use of SMARTs, we provide a hypothetical SMART in a Head Start program to address child behavior problems. We describe the advantages and limitations of SMARTs, particularly as they may be applied to the field of evaluation.
Analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of 333 burn patients in industrial areas

OBJECTIVE Epidemiological characteristics of burn patients in industrial areas were studied to provide insight into the effective preventive measures against burn and the related injuries,disabilities,and deaths.METHODS Clinical data of 333 burn patients were collected and the epidemiological characteristics of burn injuries with age,gender,cause of injury,and time of healing were analyzed.RESULTS In industrial areas,the majority of burn patients were male between the age of 21 and 50,accounting for 52.56% of the surveyed cases.Industrial accidents and hot liquid scald were the first and second cause of burn injuries,accounting for 42.04% and 41.14% of the surveyed cases,respectively.In addition,summer was the primary season for burn injuries,accounting for 31.53% of the surveyed cases.Average time of healing after the treatments was 18.93 ± 11.69 days;however,significant difference in healing time existed between different age,treatment,type of burn injury and area and depth of trauma(P﹤0.005).CONCLUSION Industrial burn injury in industrial areas is the main focus of intervention.Society,factories,schools,and families shall act as a whole and enhance the sense of responsibility to prevent and reduce the incidence of burn injuries.
An efficient and fair cooperative approach for resource management in wireless networks: Research Articles

In cellular networks, the implementation of various resource management processes, such as bandwidth reservation and location updates, has been based on the one-to-one resource management information exchange paradigm, between the mobile nodes and the base stations. In this paper, we design and demonstrate the use of a distributed cooperative scheme that can be applied in the future wireless networks to improve the energy consumption for the routine management processes of mobile terminals, by adopting the peer-to-peer communication concept of wireless ad hoc networks. In our approach, the network is subdivided into one-hop ad hoc clusters where the members of each cluster cooperate to perform the required management functions, and conventional individual direct report transmissions of the mobile terminals to the base stations are replaced by two-hop transmissions. The performance evaluation and the corresponding numerical results presented in this paper confirm that our proposed scheme reduces significantly the overall system energy consumption when compared with the conventional one-to-one direct information management exchange approach. Furthermore the issue of fairness in dynamically selecting the various cluster heads in successive operational cycles of the proposed scheme is analyzed, and an enhanced algorithm is proposed and evaluated, which improves significantly the cluster head selection fairness, in order to balance the energy consumption among the various mobile terminals. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fracture and Embrittlement

Embrittlement of a metal is measured by the amount of plastic or creep deformation that occurs before fracture. Irradiation invariably renders a metal less ductile than the unirradiated condition. Fracture can be of the brittle type in which a small crack rapidly propagates across an entire component, or it can occur after long times at stress and after appreciable plastic deformation. Failure by stress rupture takes place by linkage of small intergranular cracks or cavities that have developed throughout the interior of the metal.
Negative pressure wound therapy

Abdominal wall defects, whether spontaneous, traumatic, or iatrogenic in origin, can prove to be a frustrating problem for even the most seasoned surgeon. One tool at the modern surgeon’s disposal that can be employed as both a bridging remedy as well as definitive treatment of abdominal wall defects is negative pressure wound therapy. In this chapter, we present a brief description of negative pressure wound therapy technology (NPWT) and an overview of current trends in management of both partial-thickness and full-thickness abdominal wall defects with NPWT. Lastly, our personal algorithm and operative technique utilizing NPWT for closure of abdominal wall defects in high-risk patients will be described.
Medical Multimedia Databases

Recent advances in computer technology and software have resulted in a shift from paper-based medical record to electronic medical record systems. Although electronic databases have been used in medical research for analysis of data for years, computerized information systems rarely have been used for collection of data during actual patient-physician interactions. The essential parts on this data are the medical images. Management of medical images has become a major issue for the development of healthcare in the last decades. Several medical devices produce medical images, such as: X-ray, X-ray computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), ultrasound, electrical source (ESI), electrical impedance tomography (EIT), magnetic source (MS) and magnetic optical images. Medical systems suppose to have tools to analyze multidimensional and multimodal medical images in order to improve diagnosis and therapy, especially when therapy is guided by medical images (video-surgery, interventional radiology, radiotherapy, etc.).
Estimating p-values for Mardia’s coefficients of multivariate skewness and kurtosis

Mardia’s coefficients of multivariate skewness and kurtosis can be used to assess the multivariate normality assumption that must be satisfied in many multivariate statistical procedures. However, the asymptotic tests of multivariate skewness and kurtosis do not perform well in small samples. A Monte Carlo method for accurately estimating the p-value is proposed and illustrated.
Identification of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphic Loci Associated with Biomass Yield under Water Deficit in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Using Genome-Wide Sequencing and Association Mapping.

Alfalfa is a worldwide grown forage crop and is important due to its high biomass production and nutritional value. However, the production of alfalfa is challenged by adverse environmental factors such as drought and other stresses. Developing drought resistance alfalfa is an important breeding target for enhancing alfalfa productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. In the present study, we used genotyping-by-sequencing and genome-wide association to identify marker loci associated with biomass yield under drought in the field in a panel of diverse germplasm of alfalfa. A total of 28 markers at 22 genetic loci were associated with yield under water deficit, whereas only four markers associated with the same trait under well-watered condition. Comparisons of marker-trait associations between water deficit and well-watered conditions showed non-similarity except one. Most of the markers were identical across harvest periods within the treatment, although different levels of significance were found among the three harvests. The loci associated with biomass yield under water deficit located throughout all chromosomes in the alfalfa genome agreed with previous reports. Our results suggest that biomass yield under drought is a complex quantitative trait with polygenic inheritance and may involve a different mechanism compared to that of non-stress. BLAST searches of the flanking sequences of the associated loci against DNA databases revealed several stress-responsive genes linked to the drought resistance loci, including leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase, B3 DNA-binding domain protein, translation initiation factor IF2 and phospholipase-like protein. With further investigation, those markers closely linked to drought resistance can be used for MAS to accelerate the development of new alfalfa cultivars with improved resistance to drought and other abiotic stresses.
Correct by construction design of autonomous vehicles through a barrier function method

This paper presents a supervisory control structure to ensure safety of low speed autonomous vehicles. The method can provably ensure safety for an autonomous robotic vehicle to navigate in an urban/indoor environment with multiple moving objects. A polar algorithm is developed to construct a polytopic avoidable set, which is then used to construct barrier functions. Then the mixed integer programming (MIP) is used to solve for the control action ensuring safety. The method was tested in simulations with multiple random walking and non-hostile objects. The results show that the proposed method can effectively navigate the autonomous vehicle with guaranteed safety.
In Vivo Evaluation of the Role of Neutrophil-Derived Free Radicals in the Development of Endotoxic Shock

Clinical and experimental data strongly suggests that a significant portion of the peripheral responses occurring during septic shock are initiated by endotoxin.1 One of the peripheral responses initiated by endotoxin is the stimulation of neutrophils resulting from interaction with tumor necrosis factor derived from endotoxin activated macrophages. Stimulated neutrophils have the potential to marginate along endothelial cells and migrate to extravascular tissue. Once this has occurred activated neutrophils have the capacity to release enzymes, hypochlorous acid, and importantly hydrogen peroxide and superoxide ions resulting in cellular injury. Tumor necrosis factor is becoming increasingly recognized as a major mediator of sepsis and the effects of endotoxin. Evidence strongly suggests that a majority of tumor necrosis factor effects are a result of its action on neutrophils and oxidative metabolism.2 Endotoxin has a dual action on neutrophil function since, in addition to the tumor necrosis factor mediated effect, this toxin has been shown to prime neutrophils for an enhanced oxidative burst and release of neutrophil-generated mediators of injury.3 This study was designed to determine the significance of neutrophils in the development of endotoxic shock by challenging neutropenic rats with endotoxin.
Effect of Antibiotic Administration during Infancy on Growth Curves through Young Adulthood in Rhesus Macaques ( Macaca mulatta)

Recent human studies indicate a possible correlation between the administration of antibiotics during early life and the risk of later obesity, potentially due to antibiotic-induced alteration of the gastrointestinal microbiome. In humans, the risk of obesity increases with multiple courses of antibiotics and when fetuses or infants are treated with broad-spectrum and macrolide antibiotics. In addition, the obesity risk in humans seems higher for males than females. We used a retrospective, case-control, matched-pair study design to evaluate health records for 99 control-matched pairs of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from an outdoor breeding colony. We hypothesized that NHP treated with antibiotics prior to 6 mo of age would have steeper growth curves than those who were not. However, in contrast to prior research with humans and mice, growth curves did not differ between antibiotic-treated and control animals. Differences between humans and NHP may have influenced this outcome, including the relative standardization of NHP environmental factors and diet compared with those of human populations, types of infections encountered in infancy and choice of antibiotic treatment, and the different relative maturity at 6 mo of age in the 2 species. The results provide support for current standard medical practice in NHP and highlight a difference between macaques and humans that may influence future obesity research using macaques. Determining the basis for this difference might improve our understanding of the risks of earlylife antibiotic treatment and suggest mitigation strategies for treating infant illnesses without risking obesity.
Assessing Quality of Care in Pharmacy: Remembering Donabedian.

While some incremental and fragmented progress has been made in recent years, assessing the quality of care provided by pharmacists and pharmacy organizations remains an elusive goal. Revisiting th...
Cytochemistry of the Histones

The histones and protamines were discovered along with the nucleic acids late in the last century by Friedrich Miescher 1. They were part of the “nuclein”, first extracted by Miescher in 1869 from pus cell nuclei obtained from old bandages gotten from the hospitals of Tubingen (Miescher 1897). This hard won material was one of a class of biological substances, including casein and phosphoproteins of egg yolk, which were then considered to be unique because of their acidic properties and phosphorus content. Twenty years later however, as the means were devised by Altmann (1889) for resolving the nuclein into its component parts, and the attributes which had previously aroused the most curiosity were found to reside in the nucleic acid portion, most attention was directed toward this substance and the associated proteins were treated as an unwanted by-product obtained during its isolation.
ECLSS Regenerative Systems Comparative Testing and Subsystem Selection

In support of Space Station Freedom Phase C/D Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) regenerative systems development, comparative testing was performed on predevelopment hardware of competing technologies for each regenerative function. The purpose of the test program was to collect data on latest generation hardware in order to make final technology selections for each subassembly in the oxygen recovery and water reclamation strings. This paper discusses the testing performed, test results, and evaluation of these results relative to subsystem selections for CO2 reduction, O2 generation, potable water processing, hygiene water processing, and urine processing.
Cerebral Lateralization and Hemisphere Specialization

The human brain seems mysteriously unique in phylogeny. In addition to being unpredictably large, man’s brain differs from its anthropoid legacy in that the two halves are functionally asymmetric, with the left performing better on verbal tasks and the right excelling in some situations demanding nonverbal skills. These observations have led to the view that each half-brain has evolved its own specialized neural substrate to sustain a unique cognitive style and mode of information processing.
Average liquid film thickness of annular air-water two-phase flow in 8 × 8 rod bundle

Abstract In order to develop detailed model of the annular two-phase flow the average liquid film thickness is an important parameter. It can significantly affect the occurrence of dryout and post-dryout phenomenon on heater surfaces. Most research on film thickness has been focused on pipe flows. Data in rod bundle geometry are very limited. However data in rod bundle geometry is much more valuable for reactor safety modeling and calculations. Because of this, an experiment to measure liquid film thickness has been performed for the air-water annular flow in a 8 × 8 BWR rod bundle. Film thickness data were obtained both on the rods and on the channel wall. Data were recorded at four axial locations within the rod bundle. This included locations just before and just after a spacer grid. This allowed the spacer grids effect on the film thickness to be evaluated. The minimum film thickness was on the center rod. Also, the presence of the spacer grid resulted in reduced film thickness.
The Bionic Man: Surgical and Percutaneous Advances in Heart Failure and D-transposition of the Great Arteries

Background Modern advances in surgery and percutaneous interventions have resulted in new therapeutic possibilities for end-stage heart failure in congenital heart disease. We present a case of a patient with D-transposition of the great arteries undergoing multiple surgeries and percutaneous interventions for advanced heart failure. Description A 44-year-old man with D-transposition of the great arteries underwent a Blalock-Hanlon septectomy at age 9 days and a Mustard atrial switch procedure at age 3 years. He received an epicardial ventricular pacemaker at age 12 years for high grade atrioventricular (AV) block. He developed supraventricular tachycardia ten years ago, received electrophysiology ablation, and was found to have an inferior vena cava (IVC) baffle leak for which he underwent Amplatzer occluder device placement. Four years ago, he developed superior vena cava (SVC) and IVC baffle stenosis and underwent dilation and covered stent placements in the SVC and IVC baffles. His pacemaker was upgraded to a biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) utilizing the epicardial ventricular lead and an endocardial lead through the covered stent in the SVC baffle for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Due to worsening heart failure despite inotropic support, the patient underwent systemic HeartWare ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation as a bridge to transplantation. Discussion The chest X-ray shows a HeartWare ventricular assist device attached to the systemic right ventricle. The biventricular ICD includes endocardial right-atrial lead, ICD lead in the non-systemic left-ventricle, and two epicardial ventricular leads. Multiple sternotomy wires, endotracheal tube and right internal jugular catheter are seen. The stented superior and inferior vena cava baffles and Amplatzer closure device for baffle leak project over the mediastinum. Conclusion Significant advances in surgery and percutaneous interventions allow for complex therapeutic options for patients with congenital heart disease and advanced heart failure.
A high-throughput microfluidic microphysiological system (PREDICT-96) to recapitulate hepatocyte function in dynamic, re-circulating flow conditions

Microphysiological systems (MPSs) are dynamic cell culture systems that provide micro-environmental and external cues to support physiologically relevant, organ-specific functions. Recent progresses in MPS fabrication technologies have enabled the development of advanced models to capture microenvironments with physiological relevance, while increasing throughput and reducing material-based artefacts. In addition to conventional cell culture systems, advanced MPSs are emerging as ideal contenders for disease modeling and incorporation into drug screening. Since liver is a central organ for drug metabolism, liver-on-chip models have been developed to recapitulate hepatic microenvironment with varying complexities, while allowing long-term culture. Recently, we have developed a novel thermoplastic, oxygen-permeable MPS for primary human hepatocyte (PHH) culture. Herein, we have adapted and extended the MPS to a) a 96 microfluidic array (PREDICT-96 array) and b) integrated a novel, ultra-low volume, re-circulating pumping system (PREDICT-96 pump) - collectively known as the PREDICT-96 platform. The PREDICT-96 platform conforms to the industrial standard 96-well footprint and enables media re-circulation. First, we demonstrate the introduction of PHHs into the PREDICT-96 array using standard handling procedures for multi-well plates and allow cells to stabilize in static conditions. Next, we introduce recirculating flow into the bottom channel (using PREDICT-96 pump) to mimic mass transport in vivo. Our results indicate an increase in metabolic and secretory functions of PHHs in the PREDICT-96 platform, and their maintenance over 10 days of flow. Furthermore, long-term culture with fluid flow allows for the periodic introduction of media components (e.g., fatty acids, cytokines) and capture cellular responses to chronic stimuli. The low-volume footprint of the pump and small media volume in the MPS allow for the interrogation of hepatic responses incorporating secretion feedback to a stimulus, which is essential for disease model development and drug interrogation. We envision future development of this liver model to incorporate key primary hepatic cells, multi-cellular co-cultures and adaptation, integration with high-throughput analytical tools.
Site-dependent thenar compound muscle action potential: Comparison between surface and needle recordings.

BACKGROUND Within the thenar eminence, the median nerve innervates three muscles: abductor pollicis brevis (APB), flexor pollicis brevis (FPB), and opponens pollicis (OP). Of these muscles, APB was often considered as the sole contributor to the thenar compound muscle action potential (CMAP). OBJECTIVE To evaluate subcomponents of the thenar CMAP from the median nerve innervated muscles. METHODS Surface and needle CMAPs were recorded in normal human subjects from three recording sites: proximal (site-I), middle (site-II), and distal (site-III) aspects of the thenar eminence when the median nerve was activated at the wrist. RESULTS In the site-I and -II, both the surface and needle CMAPs shared many similar characteristics although the needle CMAPs were larger (∼ 5 folds) and briefer (∼ 60%, needle/surface duration). In addition, on the surface recording, the CMAP was larger (by ∼ 1.9 mV) when recorded from the site-I comparing to that of the site-II. In the site-III, the surface recordings registered a delayed (by ∼ 3.8 ms) CMAP. The muscle fiber action potential (MFAP) study suggested a predominant FPB contribution in the site-III. CONCLUSION The optimal recording site for APB derived thenar CMAP is the site-I and for FPB is the site-III. The CMAPs registered by the needle recordings are more robust than the surface ones.
Abolish ICE . . . And Then What

In recent years, activists and then politicians began calling for the abolition of the United States’s interior immigration-enforcement agency: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Many people have misinterpreted the call to “Abolish ICE” as merely a spontaneous rhetorical device used to express outrage at the current Administration’s brutal immigration policies. In fact, abolishing ICE is the natural extension of years of thoughtful organizing by a loose coalition of grassroots immigrant-rights groups. These organizations are serious, not only about their literal goal to eliminate the agency, but also about not replacing it with another dedicated agency of immigration police. Accordingly, the proposal to eliminate ICE necessarily raises the question of how, in a post-ICE world, the United States would enforce its immigration laws. Missing from the public discourse, however, is an affirmative vision for the mechanics of a just and humane immigration-enforcement system that could follow the abolition of ICE. Drawing on lessons from our own and other nations’ past immigration-enforcement schemes, enforcement mechanisms employed by other federal agencies, and interviews with leaders of the “Abolish ICE” movement, I seek to begin to fill this void. This Essay suggests a paradigm shift in immigration enforcement toward the creation of an enforcement scheme that does not rely on detention, mass deportation, or any dedicated agency of immigration police but is nevertheless realistic and effective at increasing compliance with immigration law. The new immigration enforcement principles set forth herein are intended as a starting point for the immigrant-rights movement and for policymakers to use, critique, and improve upon.
Geometric Modeling Tasks and Opportunity to Learn Geometry: The Ranking Triangles Task Revisited

I discuss design considerations behind a problem that was used in a classroom research project, the “ranking triangles task” (Herbst, 2003), in the context of illustrating what a modeling perspective may look like in creating opportunity to learn in high school geometry. Quite often in scholarship that reports on design experiments in mathematics instruction, analysis of what emerges from teacher and students’ interaction around mathematical work takes center stage, and the considerations made in the design of such work recede to the background. Yet the work of choosing problems that can precipitate interesting mathematical work requires disciplined thought, quite often inspired by prior research, informed by design iterations, and involving not obvious epistemological and mathematical considerations as well as pedagogical ones. One is tempted to describe such work as curriculum development, but if we think of the design as contributing to the possibility to ask empirical research questions, one could also consider the work as akin to instrument development. The question of what it takes to document a task design is quite important in increasing the capacity of our field to reproduce research findings and more generally develop a knowledge base about classroom instruction.