cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adsorptive desulfurization of liquid hydrocarbons using zeolite-based sorbents: a comprehensive review

Sulfur removal from transportation fuels is essential for maintaining a pollutant-free environment and ensuring a healthy living. While hydrodesulfurization (HDS) has been the state-of-the-art solution for sulfur reduction in fuels, the technology is characterized by high energy and cost consumption, and it is ineffective for the removal of heavy sulfur molecules, such as alkyl-dibenzothiophenes. For this reason, alternative technologies such as oxidative desulfurization, extractive desulfurization, biodesulfurization and adsorptive desulfurization are studied. Among these, adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) represents a promising alternative method of removing sulfur by adsorption under ambient conditions. The lifetime, selectivity and capacity of ADS highly depend on the type of sorbent used. Among the many sorbents studied, Y zeolites have shown to be excellent candidates for such application. Y zeolites have a unique pore structure, large surface area and available acid sites, all of which are beneficial for the adsorption of sulfur molecules. Moreover, the structure of Y zeolites is easily tunable; thus mesoporosity and metal cations can be incorporated in the structure and increase sulfur capacity and selectivity. Two types of adsorption mechanisms have been identified, namely π-complexation and direct S–M interaction. The biggest challenge with the ADS technology is the selective adsorption of refractory sulfur compounds in the presence of aromatics/olefins, since these compounds exhibit similar structure and adsorption energies. This review focuses on past and recent ADS studies using various modified zeolites to meet federal sulfur specifications for transportation fuels, such as gasoline, jet fuel and diesel, without compromising the quality of the fuels. The most effective sorbents utilize the synergy of bimetals as a means to increase adsorption selectivity and capacity, leading to higher sulfur uptake. In the deep desulfurization region, which involves refractory sulfur compounds, mesoporous Y zeolites have shown promise in higher sulfur capacity by overcoming diffusion limitations. Hence, many studies in the recent literature have demonstrated that ADS using Y zeolites can be a promising desulfurization technology, which can work either as a stand-alone process or complimentary to the HDS process.
Ethics and Affects in the Fiction of Alice Munro

While scholarship focused on Alice Munro’s fiction has been an ongoing feature of Canadian literature since the early 1980s (the first analogous volume to this one was Probable Fictions [1983]), an...
Assessment of Local and Systemic Changes in Plant Gene Expression and Aphid Responses during Potato Interactions with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Potato Aphids

This research examined aphid and plant responses to distinct levels (none, low, and high) of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal root colonization by studying the association between potato aphids (Macrosiphum euphorbiae), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), and AM fungi (Rhizophagus intraradices). It extends knowledge on gene expression changes, assessed by RT–qPCR, of ten defense-related genes at two time-points post-herbivory (24 h and 10 days), focusing on aphid-infested local leaves, non-infested systemic leaves, and roots. The results showed that aphid fitness was not altered by AM symbiosis. At 24 h, ETHYLENE RECEPTOR 1 gene expression was repressed in roots of aphid-infested non-mycorrhizal plants and aphid-infested plants with a high level of AM fungal root colonization, but not on aphid-infested plants with a low level of AM fungal root colonization. At 10 days, ALLENE OXIDE CYCLASE and POTATO TYPE I PROTEASE INHIBITOR were upregulated exclusively in local leaves of aphid-infested plants with a low level of AM fungal root colonization. In addition, local and systemic changes in plant gene expression appeared to be regulated exclusively by AM status and aphid herbivory. In summary, the gene expression data provide insights on mycorrhizal potato responses to aphid herbivory and serve as a starting point for future studies using this system.
A closed vitrification system enables a murine ovarian follicle bank for high-throughput ovotoxicity screening, which identifies endocrine disrupting activity of microcystins

Increasing evidence reveals that a broad spectrum of environmental chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds cause female ovarian toxicity (ovotoxicity). The current gold standard of ovotoxicity testing largely relies on whole laboratory animals, but in vivo models are time consuming, costly, and present animal welfare concerns. We previously demonstrated that the 3D encapsulated in vitro follicle growth (eIVFG) is a robust in vitro model for ovotoxicity testing. However, the follicle preparation process is complex and highly dependent on technical skills. Here, we aimed to use vitrification method to cryopreserve murine immature follicles for a high-content eIVFG, chemical exposure, and ovotoxicity screening. Results indicated that a closed vitrification system combined with optimized vitrification protocols preserved mouse follicle viability and functionality and vitrified follicles exhibited comparable follicle and oocyte reproductive outcomes to freshly harvested follicles during eIVFG, including follicle survival and development, ovarian steroidogenesis, and oocyte maturation and ovulation. Moreover, vitrified follicles consistently responded to ovotoxic chemical, doxorubicin (DOX). We further used vitrified follicles to test the response of microcystins (MCs), an emerging category of environmental contaminants produced by cyanobacteria associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs), and found that different congeners of MCs exhibited differential ovotoxicities. In summary, our study demonstrates that vitrification enables a long-term-storage and ready-to-use ovarian follicle bank for high-throughput ovotoxicity screening, which identifies endocrine disrupting effects of MCs.
Transmitted features of family aggregation on pertussis in Tianjin

2010年天津市百日咳发病率显著上升,报告发病率(1.03/10万)与2009年(0.18/10万)相比上升了472%,同时监测到未到免疫接种年龄或未完成全程接种的婴幼儿(67.77%)为高发人群[1].天津市在加强个案管理的同时,开展了续发病例的主动监测,并监测到20起家庭聚集性发病事件.为此本研究对家庭内百日咳聚集性发病的传播特征进行了分析。
Self-management among pre-teen and adolescent diabetes device users.

Objective Despite increased diabetes device use, few adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) meet glycemic targets. We examine associations between utilization of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and glycemic control. Research design and methods This prospective cohort study included 80 youths (10-18 years of age) with T1D. Multiple linear regression and linear mixed models (LMM) were used to estimate the effects of device self-management on HbA1c and daily time in range (70-180 mg/dL), respectively. Results Every blood glucose (BG) input/day was associated with a 0.2% decrease in HbA1c (95% CI: -0.297, -0.013), each bolus/day was associated with a 0.2% decrease (-0.327, -0.057), and use of CGM was associated with a 0.5% decrease (-1.00, -0.075). Among CGM users (n = 45) every 10% increase in CGM use was associated with a 0.3% decrease in HbA1c (-0.390, -0.180). In LMM accounting for within subject and between subject variability, there was a negative association between BG input/day frequency (coefficient = -1.880, [-2.640, -1.117]) and time in range. Residual random effects for CGM users were large showing time in range varied between youth with a SD of 15.0% (3 hours and 36 minutes) (SE 2.029, [11.484, 19.530]). Time in range varied significantly from day-to-day with SD of 18.6% (4 hours and 40 minutes) (SE0.455, [17.690, 19.473]). Conclusions Device self-management behaviors among youth are significantly associated with both HbA1c and time in range. Our findings showing an association between reduced time in range and increased self-management behaviors is novel and deserves further investigation.
International Medical Graduates are Comparable to American Medical Graduates as General Surgery Interns.

Abstract Background International medical graduates (IMGs) are often relegated to preliminary positions in general surgery (GS) owing to uncertainties about the candidate's performance in the American healthcare setting. We aimed to determine the comparative performance of IMGs and American medical graduates (AMGs) at baseline and assess these trends over the course of their GS internship. Methods Evaluations of all IMG preliminary and AMG categorical interns from 2013 to 2017 at our GS residency program were obtained from three faculty members to score overall performance, technical skills, interpersonal communication, and medical knowledge on a 10-point Likert scale. Scores on the American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam, an in-house preparation test, United States Medical Licensing Exam, and performance during the biannual multistation objective assessments were compared between the two resident groups. Results Seventy-two interns (28 [39%] AMG categorical and 44 [61%] IMG preliminary) met inclusion criteria. The AMG group had significantly higher median Step 1 and Step 2 scores compared with our IMG group (243 versus 231, P = 0.002, and 250 versus 246, P = 0.03, respectively).Although in-house preparation test scores were higher among IMGs (median [interquartile range] of 36 [33-40] among AMGs and 38 [34-45] among IMGs; P = 0.002), there were no statistically significant differences between the American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam scores of the two groups. The median scores for the four faculty evaluation components were similar between the AMG (7, 8, 7, 7) and IMG resident groups (7, 7, 7, 7; P = nonsignificant). IMGs scored significantly higher in both biannual multistation objective assessments than AMGs (median [interquartile range] July: 59 [47-91] versus 55 [37-62], P = 0.005; January: 103 [86-116] versus 91 [87-104], P = 0.03). Conclusions It is reassuring to confirm that no matter where they are from, great candidates can perform well as surgical interns in a GS training program.
Voltage bias stress effects in metal halide perovskites are strongly dependent on morphology and ion migration pathways

The solar-to-power power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of metal halide perovskites (MHP) have improved over the last decade using a wide variety of methods, including composition manipulation, dopant introduction, and interfacial buffers. These methods, however, have taken little regard for the electronic and interfacial effects such alterations may cause within devices under voltage bias stress – a condition required for most device operation. We investigate how halide and cation substitution in MHP structures [specifically, CH3NH3PbI2.87Cl0.13 and Cs0.1(MA0.17FA0.83)0.9Pb(I0.83Br0.17)3] effects the current behavior of devices while under a range of voltage bias stress in both light and dark conditions. Conducting in depth investigations into the electronic and morphological differences between these two MHP devices, we confirmed their unique voltage bias stress effects are due to intrinsic behavior within the perovskite structure. Importantly, we also determined how crystallite orientation can influence ion migration and therefore alter charge transport and current stability in MHP photovoltaic devices.
Twelve tips for mindful teaching

Medical educators' stressors continue to increase, and they increasingly find themselves removed from their learners. This distance is thought to contribute to the disenchantment many educators feel. The challenge for educators is to reengage with their learners and restore their satisfaction in teaching. Mindful teaching can help educators meet this challenge. Mindful teaching is not an instructional technique; rather, it is a way of being that the teacher embodies. Mindful teachers practice awareness, acceptance and curiosity. They recognize the needs of their learners, engaging with learners who are 'at the ready'; encouraging those who might not be engaged; and advocating for those who need support. These educators are less susceptible to burnout and help learners develop their own mindfulness. The Tips noted in this article can help educators make deeper connections with their learners, garner greater sense of personal accomplishment and become invigorated by their learners' achievements.
Tumor contrast enhancement using fluorescence lifetime: a new promise for image guided surgery (Conference Presentation) (Withdrawal Notice)

Despite improving survival rates, a major challenge for oncologic surgery is the accurate identification of tumor-positive margins both intraoperatively and in resection specimens immediately following surgery. Fluorescence intensity-based imaging, using tumor specific near infrared fluorescent agents is currently being evaluated for tumor margin assessment, but suffers from large background signals due to tissue autofluorescence and non-specific probe uptake in healthy tissue, significantly reducing sensitivity and specificity. Here we present preclinical and clinical data to demonstrate that fluorescence lifetime measurements using exogenous near infrared probes can significantly improve the accuracy for tumor vs. normal classification in the presence of non-specific background fluorescence.
A giant right atrial myxoma-The growth rate and multi-modality imaging.

A young and healthy woman presented with progressive dyspnea on exertion. An echocardiogram showed a giant right atrial mass. Cardiac CT angiography provided the most accurate estimate for the tumor size, while 2-D echo, 2-D, and 3-D trans-esophageal echo underestimated the dimensions of the cardiac tumor when referenced by the surgical specimen. We also calculated the growth rate of the right atrial myxoma to be at least 1.2 mm per month based on a normal chest CT 54 months before her presentation. Surgical pathology confirmed typical features of cardiac myxoma in the right atrium.
MGDrivE 2: A simulation framework for gene drive systems incorporating seasonality and epidemiological dynamics

Interest in gene drive technology has continued to grow as promising new drive systems have been developed in the lab and discussions are moving towards implementing field trials. The prospect of field trials requires models that incorporate a significant degree of ecological detail, including parameters that change over time in response to environmental data such as temperature and rainfall, leading to seasonal patterns in mosquito population density. Epidemiological outcomes are also of growing importance, as: i) the suitability of a gene drive construct for release will depend on its expected impact on disease transmission, and ii) initial field trials are expected to have a measured entomological outcome and a modeled epidemiological outcome. We present MGDrivE 2 (Mosquito Gene Drive Explorer 2): a significant development from the MGDrivE 1 simulation framework that investigates the population dynamics of a variety of gene drive architectures and their spread through spatially-explicit mosquito populations. Key strengths and fundamental improvements of the MGDrivE 2 framework are: i) the ability of parameters to vary with time and induce seasonal population dynamics, ii) an epidemiological module accommodating reciprocal pathogen transmission between humans and mosquitoes, and iii) an implementation framework based on stochastic Petri nets that enables efficient model formulation and flexible implementation. Example MGDrivE 2 simulations are presented to demonstrate the application of the framework to a CRISPR-based split gene drive system intended to drive a disease-refractory gene into a population in a confinable and reversible manner, incorporating time-varying temperature and rainfall data. The simulations also evaluate impact on human disease incidence and prevalence. Further documentation and use examples are provided in vignettes at the project's CRAN repository. MGDrivE 2 is freely available as an open-source R package on CRAN (https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=MGDrivE2). We intend the package to provide a flexible tool capable of modeling gene drive constructs as they move closer to field application and to infer their expected impact on disease transmission.
Isocrates’ Pragmatic Reflective Life at Euthydemus 304d–306e

This article explores the role of Isocrates in Plato’s Euthydemus, with special attention given to M.M. McCabe’s defense of Socratic philosophy against the sophistic challenges of Euthydemus and Di...
An Exploration of the Heterogeneous Nature of Reading Comprehension Development in First Grade: The Impact of Word and Meaning Skills.

This exploratory study builds upon extant reading development studies by identifying discrete groups based on reading comprehension trajectories across first grade. The main goal of this study was ...
Government Royalties on Sales of Pharmaceutical and Other Biomedical Products Developed with Substantial Public Funding: Illustrated with the Technology Transfer of the Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent

Government Royalties on Sales of Pharmaceutical and Other Biomedical Products Developed with Substantial Public Funding: Illustrated with the Technology Transfer of the Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent
Flow Past Large and Moderate Aspect Ratio Wings

In this chapter we will study 3-D steady flows past finite wings of large and moderate aspect ratios.
Telemetry recovery and uplink commanding of a spacecraft prior to three-axis attitude stabilization

After separation from the launch vehicle, a spacecraft's guidance and control system typically orients the spacecraft autonomously into a three-axis stabilized attitude for non-spinners. If an anomaly occurs, or if the spacecraft fails to orient itself appropriately, the Mission Operations team will want to observe spacecraft telemetry or may even be required to command the spacecraft before attitude stabilization. Antenna coverage in these cases is critical, since the command and control antenna may be rotating away from the ground station line-of-sight as the spacecraft tumbles. However, activating opposite-pointing hemispherical low-gain antennas on the spacecraft to obtain more complete angular coverage comes at the cost of presenting an interferometric signal to the ground station (or spacecraft receiver, depending on the radio-frequency subsystem configuration) which fluctuates as a function of the relative antenna positions and tumble rate of the spacecraft. Recent programs developed by The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, specifically MESSENGER and STEREO, have investigated the capability of the deep space network and universal space network receivers to recover telemetry from a tumbling spacecraft at a low orbital altitude. Also investigated was the ability of a tumbling spacecraft utilizing a small deep-space transponder to register valid uplink commands, even in the presence of a second, closely-spaced uplink frequency, as expected for the two STEREO spacecraft.
Specifying Reusable Components Using Contracts

Contracts were introduced by Helm et al. as a high level construct for explicitly specifying interactions among groups of objects. This paper describes further developments and application of the Contract construct. We show how Contracts can be used to represent classic algorithms as large grained reusable object oriented abstractions, how these algorithms can be customized through Contract refinement and how they are reused through Contract conformance. The example algorithm used throughout is the classic graph depth first traversal algorithm. This algorithm is represented as a Contract which is then refined to specify algorithms which number connected regions of graphs and which check graphs for cycles. Changes to the Contract language are introduced and we discuss some new problems resulting from the simultaneous reuse of related contracts.
The Effects of Computerized Reading Instruction on the Academic Performance of Students Identified with ADHD

A computerized program, Headsprout, was investigated as an intervention for beginning reading instruction with 3 students identified with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A multiple...
Nut consumption and risk of colorectal cancer in women

Increasing nut consumption has been associated with reduced risk of obesity and type II diabetes, the risk factors for colorectal cancer. However, the association between nut consumption and colorectal cancer risk is unclear. We aimed to examine the association of long-term nut consumption with risk of colorectal cancer. We prospectively followed 75 680 women who were free of cancer at baseline in the Nurses’ Health Study, and examined the association between nut consumption and colorectal cancer risk. Nut consumption was assessed at baseline and updated every 2–4 years. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. During 2 103 037 person-years of follow-up, we identified 1503 colorectal cancer cases. After adjustment for other known or suspected risk factors, women who consumed nuts 2 or more times per week (that is, ⩾56 g per week) had a 13% lower risk of colorectal cancer compared with those who rarely consumed nuts, but the association was not statistically significant (RR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.72–1.05; P-trend: 0.06). No association was observed for peanut butter. In this large prospective cohort of women, frequent nut consumption was not significantly associated with colorectal cancer risk after adjusting for other risk factors.
Inducible models of bone loss.

Bone is an essential organ that not only confers structural stability to the organism, but also serves as a reservoir for hematopoietic elements and is thought to affect systemic homeostasis through the release of endocrine factors as well as calcium. The loss of bone mass due to an uncoupling of bone formation and bone resorption leads to increased fragility that can result in devastating fractures. Further understanding of the effects of environmental stimuli on the development of bone disease in humans is needed, and can be studied using animal models. In this chapter, we present established and novel methods for the induction of bone loss in mice, including manipulation of diet and environment, drug administration, irradiation, and hormone deficiency. All of these models are directly related to human cases, and can thus be used to investigate the causes of bone loss resulting from these interventions.
Strengthening river basin institutions: The Global Environment Facility and the Danube River Basin

[1] Increased international attention to water resource management has resulted in the creation of new institutional arrangements and funding mechanisms as well as international initiatives designed to strengthen river basin institutions. The Global Environment Facility's (GEF) International Waters Program is at the heart of such novel collaborative regional approaches to the management of transboundary water resources. This paper assesses GEF-led efforts in the Danube River Basin, GEF's most mature and ambitious projects to date. It finds that GEF has been quite successful in building scientific knowledge and strengthening regional governance bodies. However, challenges of coordinating across expanding participants and demonstrating clear ecological improvements remain. GEF-led collaborative activities in the Danube River Basin reveal three critical lessons that can inform future river basin institution building and decision making, including the importance of appropriately creating and disseminating scientific data pertaining to the river system, the need for regional governance bodies for integrated river basin management, and the necessity to address coordination issues throughout project planning and implementation.
Breaking Dogma on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Anatomical Relations in Vertebrates.

The hypothalamus and pituitary are present in all vertebrates from agnathans (jawless fishes) to mammals. The hypothalamus is located below the thalamus, just above the brain stem and forms the ventral part of the diencephalon. The appearance of the pituitary was a seminal event in the evolution of vertebrates (1, 2). The pituitary is not present in protochordates or other invertebrates. The pituitary consists of the same 2 principal divisions, the neurohypophysis and adenohypophysis. The neurohypophysis develops from the floor of the diencephalon as an infundibular extension, whereas the adenohypophysis develops from the oral epithelium that comes in contact with this infundibulum. In vertebrates, the evolution of a complex pituitary with dual developmental origin along with the more highly developed tripartite brain added another layer of control leading to the neuroendocrine control of many complex physiological functionssuchasgrowth,reproduction,developmentand metabolism among others. These functionally adaptive conditions may then have contributed to the expansion of vertebrates into new environments. The acquisition of the vertebrate pituitary probably resulted from wholegenome duplications that occurred early in vertebrate evolution (3). The adenohypophysis of the pituitary gland secretes a number of protein hormones that regulates a variety of the physiological processes of vertebrates. The adenohypophysialhormonescanbeclassified,onthebasis of structural and functional similarity, into 3 groups, the proopiomelanocortin family, the GH/prolactin/somatolactin family, and theglycoprotein hormone family (gonadotropins, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and a novelhormonecalledthyrostimulin).Somatolactinisonly found in teleosts. Each family is believed to have evolved fromanancestralgenebyduplicationandsubsequentmutations (4). During the evolution of the vertebrates, structural features of the pituitary and hypothalamus also evolved that perhaps optimized the communication between these tissuesasvertebratesbecamelargerandmorecomplicatedin form and distance between the hypothalamus and pitu
Diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and breast cancer: a review of the current evidence

Incidences of breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome have increased over the past decades with the obesity epidemic, especially in industrialized countries. Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and changes in the signaling of growth hormones and steroid hormones associated with diabetes may affect the risk of breast cancer. We reviewed epidemiologic studies of the association between type 2 diabetes and risk of breast cancer and the available evidence on the role of hormonal mediators of an association between diabetes and breast cancer. The combined evidence supports a modest association between type 2 diabetes and the risk of breast cancer, which appears to be more consistent among postmenopausal than among premenopausal women. Despite many proposed potential pathways, the mechanisms underlying an association between diabetes and breast cancer risk remain unclear, particularly because the 2 diseases share several risk factors, including obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and possibly intake of saturated fat and refined carbohydrates, that may confound this association. Although the metabolic syndrome is closely related to diabetes and embraces additional components that might influence breast cancer risk, the role of the metabolic syndrome in breast carcinogenesis has not been studied and thus remains unknown.
Traumatic coagulopathy - Part 2: Resuscitative strategies.

Objective To discuss the current resuscitative strategies for trauma-induced hemorrhagic shock and acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC). Etiology Hemorrhagic shock can be acutely fatal if not immediately and appropriately treated. The primary tenets of hemorrhagic shock resuscitation are to arrest hemorrhage and restore the effective circulating volume. Large volumes of isotonic crystalloids have been the resuscitative strategy of choice; however, data from experimental animal models and retrospective human analyses now recognize that large-volume fluid resuscitation in uncontrolled hemorrhage may be deleterious. The optimal resuscitative strategy has yet to be defined. In human trauma, implementing damage control resuscitation with damage control surgery for controlling ongoing hemorrhage, acidosis, and hypothermia; managing ATC; and restoring effective circulating volume is emerging as a more optimal resuscitative strategy. With hyperfibrinolysis playing an integral role in the manifestation of ATC, the use of antifibrinolytics (eg, tranexamic acid and aminocaproic acid) may also serve a beneficial role in the early posttraumatic period. Considering the sparse information regarding these resuscitative techniques in veterinary medicine, veterinarians are left with extrapolating information from human trials and experimental animal models. Diagnosis Viscoelastic tests integrated with predictive scoring systems may prove to be the most reliable methods for early detection of ATC as well as for guiding transfusion requirements. Summary Hemorrhage accounts for up to 40% of human trauma-related deaths and remains the leading cause of preventable death in human trauma. The exact proportion of trauma-related deaths due to exsanguinations in veterinary patients remains uncertain. Survivability depends upon achieving rapid definitive hemostasis, early attenuation of posttraumatic coagulopathy, and timely restoration of effective circulating volume. Early institution of damage control resuscitation in severely injured patients with uncontrolled hemorrhage has the ability to curtail posttraumatic coagulopathy and the exacerbation of metabolic acidosis and hypothermia and improve survival until definitive hemostasis is achieved.
Three paradoxes of medical diagnosis

Sadegh-zadeh [23] has proposed a theory of the relativity of medical diagnosis in terms of the time at which a diagnosis is accepted, the patient to whom the diagnosis applies, the physician who renders the diagnosis, the medical knowledge used, the diagnostic method applied, and the set of patient observations. Use of classical formal logic as the ‘diagnostic method’ may result in three paradoxes: the paradoxes of consistency, completeness, and justifiable ignorance. These paradoxes may be resolved by the addition of two non-classical operators, the ‘certainty’ and ‘effort’ operators, akin to the non-classical operators of modal logic.
Message from poster chair

The COMSNETS 2015 Poster Session is a forum to showcase new and exciting ideas in the fields of networking and communications. The session is designed for the researchers and students to showcase their current and cutting edge work. This years session includes posters from computer networks, data measurement, communication theory, and software systems, and participation from within and outside India. We received 25 poster abstract submissions for this year's poster session of which 14 were accepted for posters. The posters were evaluated by a PC consisting of 14 members from institutes and research labs from within and outside India. Each poster abstract received at least two and in some cases three reviews. The process also had an intermediate round where first versions of posters received feedback from the review committee. We would like to thank all PC members for their timely, insightful and detailed reviews. Additionally, the poster session has two best poster awards, selected by a jury during the presentation session. We welcome you to COMSNETS 2015 posters session, and we hope that you will find the posters interesting and engaging.
Beyond Writing: Feminist Practice and the Limitations of Ethnography

I want to say that you came to Nepal for two years, you wrote a book about the women's movement, you did a Ph.D. But your work seems like nothing. Your book has no importance. After all, what is writing? You looked, you saw, you wrote a book. But that book won't do anything if not accompanied by work, by practice. Right?
Half-cell potentials of semiconductive simple binary sulphides in aqueous solution

Theoretical consideration of the charge-transfer mechanism operative in cells with an electrode of a semiconductive binary compound leads to the conclusion that the half-cell potential of such a compound is not only a function of ionic activities in the electrolytic solution, but also a function of the activities of the component elements in the compound phase. The most general form of the electrode equation derived for such a compound with a formula MiXj which dissociates into Mj+ and Xi− ions in aqueous solution is EMiXj = EMiXj0 + RT2ij ln [(suaMj+)aqi · (suaX)jMiXj/(suaXi−)aqj· (suaM)iMiXj], where EMiXj0 = 12(EM,Mj+0 + EXi−,X). The equation can be modified to other forms. When applied to semiconductive simple binary sulphides, these equations appear to give better descriptions of the observed electrode potentials of such sulphides than any other proposed equations.
Differential Effect of Chymotryptic Digestion on the Biological Activity of Pituitary, Serum and Urinary Gonadotropins

1. The luteinizing hormone activity in gonadotropin preparations from human and equine pituitaries, human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnant mare serum was inactivated by digestion with alpha-chymotrypsin. By contrast, the luteinizing hormone activity of a human postmenopausal urinary gonadotropin preparation was resistant to enzymic digestion. 2. As with human, ovine and porcine pituitary gonadotropin preparations, human postmenopausal urinary follicle stimulating hormone was not inactivatedinactivated by chymotryptic digestion. This hormonal activity, however, was destroyed by the enzyme in preparations from equine pituitaries and pregnant mare serum. 3. The results suggest that differences exist between pituitary and urinary LH, and between equine FSH and FSH from the other sources studied. These dissimilarities are presumably a reflection of structural differences in the neighborhood of the biologically active site on these hormones. (Endocrinology 84: 9, 1969)
Evaluation of Modern Passenger Side Door Types and Integration With Car Design for Heavy Rail and Light Rail Applications in North America

In 2007–08, a study of passenger side entrance door types and integration with overall car design was conducted by Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) for a client in the State of California. As found on many other intercity and commuter operations in North America, the client had for years endured a variety of technical challenges with the side entrance doors that had compromised passenger service and safety. Recent advances in side entrance door designs and the subsequent changes to new car specifications have opened the door to solutions to many of these challenges; solutions include hardware changes to the door panels and assemblies, and intelligent systems included in software and sensors of the door control for monitoring and diagnosing door settings, operations and faults in real time. Through field inspections and equipment evaluations, this study determined that the majority of the faults were caused by contamination. A principle solution to eliminating this contamination was determined to be in the door seals and subsequent door panel type. Among the recommendations made to the client were to change from a bi-parting pocket sliding door system to a bi-parting sliding plug door system. This paper presents two portions of the PB study: 1) an overview of the technical challenges of operating intercity and commuter rail passenger service in California, and 2) an industry study that identifies the latest in appropriate technologies for service in California. Modern rail passenger cars with similar service and bi-parting pocket sliding doors are evaluated. This paper also discusses how the findings in California can be applied to other commuter, heavy and light rail transit operations in North America.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Theory of superradiance in an extended, optically thick medium

This paper presents a semiclassical treatment of the evolution of an initially inverted system into a superradiant state in an extended, optically thick medium. In this process spontaneous emission and background thermal radiation initiate the collective radiative decay and produce a superradiant output pulse of intensity proportional to the square of the number of radiators. The treatment is based on the coupled Maxwell-Schr\"odinger equations, modified to include a fluctuating polarization source properly constructed to account for the effects of spontaneous emission. Computer results show that for a high-gain system only two parameters significantly influence the evolution process: ${T}_{R}$, the characteristic radiation damping time of the collective system; and ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{0}$, a function of the conditions which initiate the superradiant process. In this limit one obtains a normalized emission curve and simple analytical expressions for the time delay, pulse width, and peak intensity of the output radiation. These results are in good agreement with experiments. A comparison of our model with previous treatments of superradiance is given.
An illustration of the technique of canonical analysis

The use of a multivariate statistical technique, canonical analysis, for the assignment of patients to diagnostic categories is presented. The classification of thyroid status using clinical findings is investigated to exemplify the application of the technique. Emphasis is placed on the stages in the data analysis that are generic in examining any set of medical data for the purpose of automatically classifying patients.
Subperiosteal gain and endosteal loss in protein-calorie malnutrition.

Subperiosteal and medullary cavity diameters of 91 Guatemalan boys hospitalized with a diagnosis of protein-calorie malnutrition show a slight but significant increase in total width but a marked reduction at the endosteal surface, and in cortical area and percent cortical area, indicative of continuing subperiosteal apposition and a dramatic excess of endosteal resorption.
Growth mechanisms of WC in WC–5.75 wt% Co

Abstract The grain growth mechanisms of WC in WC–5.75 wt% Co are studied in this work. The two well known growth modes of WC in cemented carbides (coalescence process and solution/reprecipitation process) are both observed and show temperature dependence. At low temperatures (1100 and 1200 °C), the growth of WC grains is mainly through coalescence. At intermediate temperatures (1300 °C), coarsening of most WC grains takes place via isotropic growth, accompanied by the shape relaxation leading to the faceting of round grains. At high temperatures (1400 °C), layer-by-layer structures, resulting from anisotropic growth, are observed. Both isotropic growth at 1300 °C and anisotropic growth at 1400 °C are assisted by the solution/reprecipitation process. This is the first time that layer-by-layer structures are observed for WC crystals in WC–Co. The formation mechanism of layer-by-layer structures has been discussed based on the 2D nucleation and growth mechanism and the diffusion rates of W and C atoms within the Co binder at different temperatures.
Structural studies of decomposition in Fe–x at.%Ga alloys

Abstract Decomposition in Fe–x at.%Ga alloys subjected to different thermal treatments has been investigated by high-resolution X-ray and neutron diffraction for 12
Detection of recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma with PET-CT.

Abstract:We report the case of a 33-year-old man, diagnosed and treated with surgery and radiation therapy 12 years earlier for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left parotid gland, who presented with shooting pain in the left neck and a minimally enlarged palpable nodule near the angle of the jaw. Co
Amplitude squeezing of light by means of a phase-sensitive fiber parametric amplifier

We experimentally demonstrate generation of bright sub-Poissonian light by means of parametric deamplification in a phase-sensitive fiber amplifier that is based on a balanced nonlinear Sagnac interferometer. On direct detection, the photocurrent noise falls below the shot-noise limit by 0.6±0.2 dB (1.4 dB when corrected for detection losses). To observe the noise reduction we employed a scheme that used two orthogonally polarized pulses to cancel the noise that arises from the predominantly polarized guided-acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering in the fiber. We also present a simplified semiclassical theory of quantum-noise suppression by this amplifier, which is found to be in good agreement with the experimental results.
RAPID SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR ESTIMATING EPOXY CAROTENOIDS.

Abstract A rapid spectrophotometric method for estimating epoxy carotenoid content of leaf extracts is described. The method is based on the acid-catalyzed isomerization of 5,6-epoxy carotenoids to 5,8-furanoid oxides. Results obtained with the rapid method showed good agreement when tested on model mixtures but were lower than values obtained by chromatographic separation on Micro-Cel C. Precautions are discussed.
Binding of pyridostigmine bromide, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide and permethrin, alone and in combinations, to human serum albumin.

In this study we examined the interaction of the anti-nerve agent drug pyridostigmine bromide (PB, 3,3-dimethylaminocarbonyloxy-N-methylpyridiniyum bromide), the insect repellent DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), and the insecticide permethrin [3-(2,2-dichloroethyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (3-phenoxyphenyl)methyl ester] in binding to human serum albumin (HSA). Concentrations between 500 ng/ml and 10 µg/ml PB, DEET and permethrin, alone or in combination, were incubated with HSA at 37°C for 60 min. Concentrations of PB, DEET and permethrin were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that 81.2±4.2%, and 84.6±2.5% of the initial concentration of PB was bound to HSA when incubated alone or in combination with DEET or permethrin, respectively. DEET and permethrin did not significantly interact with HSA after 1 h of incubation. Incubation of combinations of two or three compounds did not significantly alter the binding pattern of any of the compounds with HSA. These results showed that PB is highly bound to albumin protein, while the competition between PB, DEET and permethrin on binding sites of HSA as a possible site of interaction following combined administration in vivo is not likely.
Biventricular pacing reduces ventricular arrhythmic burden and defibrillator therapies in patients with heart failure.

Background: Cardiac resynchronizationtherapy (CRT) has recently emerged as a new modality for the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure (HF). Hypothesis: Cardiac resynchronization therapy reduces atrial and ventricular arrhythmia burdens. Methods: We analyzed the clinical data of patients who underwent an upgrade from a dual-chamber to a biventricular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) at a tertiary care center. Results: Nineteen patients (age 67 ± 10years, 18 men, left ventricular [LV] ejection fraction 0.24 ± 0.07) underwent an upgrade to CRT-ICD. The LV lead was placed in a lateral position in 11, posterolateral in 4, and anterolateral in 3 patients. Baseline New York Heart Association class of HF improved in 11 (58%) patients who were considered “responders.” After adjusting for the duration of follow-up before and after the upgrade, the number of patients receiving any ICD therapy decreased significantly from 13 to 4 (p = 0.004) and the total number of therapies decreased from 72 to 17 (p = 0.067). Also, the number of detections of sustained ventricular arrhythmias decreased from 40 to 11 episodes (p = 0.05), but the decrease in the number of detected supraventricular arrhythmias and mode switch episodes was not significant. The reductionin the ventricular arrhythmia load was independent of whether or not the patient responded to CRT. Conclusion: Our data suggest that CRT reduces ventricular but not atrial arrhythmia burden in patients with HF irrespective of their clinical response. This suggests that the reduction in arrhythmia is primarily an electrical phenomenon. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to uncover their underlying mechanisms.
Mode shape estimation algorithms under ambient conditions: A comparative review

This paper provides a comparative review of five existing ambient electromechanical mode shape estimation algorithms, i.e., the Transfer Function (TF), Spectral, Frequency Domain Decomposition (FDD), Channel Matching, and Subspace Methods. It is also shown that the TF Method is a general approach to estimating mode shape and that the Spectral, FDD, and Channel Matching Methods are actually special cases of it. Additionally, some of the variations of the Subspace Method are reviewed and the Numerical algorithm for Subspace State Space System IDentification (N4SID) is implemented. The five algorithms are then compared using data simulated from a 17-machine model of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) under ambient conditions with both low and high damping, as well as during the case where ambient data is disrupted by an oscillatory ringdown. The performance of the algorithms is compared using the statistics from Monte Carlo simulations and results from measured WECC data, and a discussion of the practical issues surrounding their implementation, including cases where power system probing is an option, is provided. The paper concludes with some recommendations as to the appropriate use of the various techniques.
Single-Molecule Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering: Can STEM/EELS Image Electromagnetic Hot Spots?

Since the observation of single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SMSERS) in 1997, questions regarding the nature of the electromagnetic hot spots responsible for such observations still persist. For the first time, we employ electron-energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) to obtain maps of the localized surface plasmon modes of SMSERS-active nanostructures, which are resolved in both space and energy. Single-molecule character is confirmed by the bianalyte approach using two isotopologues of Rhodamine 6G. Surprisingly, the STEM/EELS plasmon maps do not show any direct signature of an electromagnetic hot spot in the gaps between the nanoparticles. The origins of this observation are explored using a fully three-dimensional electrodynamics simulation of both the electron-energy-loss probability and the near-electric field enhancements. The calculations suggest that electron beam excitation of the hot spot is possible, but only when the electron beam ...
The Thunderstorm Forecasting System at the Kennedy Space Center

Outline of some of the more successful diagnostic tools which have been developed to aid in the forecasting of thunderstorm activity and associated adverse weather phenomena. The techniques involve a variety of statistical procedures, including conditional probabilities, exposure-period probabilities, and systems of multiple-regression equations based on nonlinear predictors. It is demonstrated that thunderstorm data can be processed in a variety of ways, each designed to present specific answers to specific forecast requirements.
A minimally invasive alternative approach for reoperative grafting of the right coronary artery.

Background Target vessel revascularization on a beating heart via a mini subxiphoid incision, not only eliminates the hazards of sternal reentry, but also avoids the detrimental systemic effects of extracorporeal circulation. Aim The goal of the study was to develop and describe a safe and effective method to revascularize the right coronary artery in reoperative cases, using beating heart and minimally invasive techniques in lieu of the RGEA. Methods There were three men and four women with a mean age of 69 years; four were second time reoperations and three third time reoperations. Through a subxiphoid approach, a lower ministernotomy is performed. Once the coronary target is established, a Rultract retractor is used to gently elevate the right half of the sternum to take down the RITA. A mechanical stabilizer was used to provide stabilization for distal anastamoses. Flow was measured in all the grafts with the Medi-Stim before and after protamine administration. Results [table: see text] Conclusion We believe that this technique provides another effective approach to the patient who requires reoperative coronary revascularization of the RCA.