cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The research and development progress of cholesterol-lowering Lactic acid bacteria

This paper reviewed the research progress in lactic acid bacteria which can reduce the cholesterol in vivo and in vitro.It also approached the function and the mechanism of lactic acid bacteria in decreasing serum cholesterol,and summarized the application of cholesterol-lowering lactic acid bacteria in food fermentation and medical care and proposed the emphasis for future research.All these will be useful to the exploitation and utilization of lactic acid bacteria.
Naturally occurring canine nephrotic syndrome is a potentially hypercoagulable state.

Fourteen dogs with naturally occurring nephrotic syndrome were evaluated for abnormalities in the hemostatic system. Histopathologic diagnoses included 8 dogs with membraneous glomerulonephritis, 1 dog with acute glomerulon-ephritis, 2 dogs with idiopathic glomerulopathy, and 2 dogs with amyloidosis. The coagulation protein assays performed included concentrations of factors V, VII, VIII: C, IX, X, fibrinogen (I), anti-thrombin III, and plasminogen. Thrombocyte counts were also performed. All of these analytes were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) with the exception of ATIΠ which was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Five of the dogs had histologic evidence and 1 dog had angiographic evidence of thrombosis and thromboembolism. Naturally occurring canine nephrotic syndrome thus represents a potentially hypercoagulable state and may serve as a valuable model in the study of certain components of the human disease.
The role of a division of clinical pharmacology in a university environment.

A brief history is given of the development and activities of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The principles of its operation include continuing emphasis on methodology of evaluation of drugs, selection of study materials that are of scientific interest, pursuit of both clinical and nonclinical research problems, multidisciplinary approach, stability of support and personnel, and financial support free of restrictions.
Overview of HIV and AIDS. Biology and epidemiology of the virus

HIV-1 infects mononuclear cells using the CD4+ molecule and the chemical receptors of those cells. After a prolonged clinical latency period, the ability to replace destroyed cells is outpaced by ongoing cellular destruction, leading to the characteristic immunodeficiency of AIDS and its opportunistic infections and neoplasms. In the United States, the number of new cases of AIDS has diminished in recent years, although in some groups, such as women, the number of new cases continues to rise. In the developing world, AIDS remains a pandemic of huge proportions. In the absence of an effective vaccine, culturally appropriate efforts at education and behavior modification offer the best hope of controlling AIDS.
Resonant interactions between discrete phonons in quinhydrone driven by nonlinear electron-phonon coupling

This study reports experimental, computational, and theoretical evidence for a previously unobserved coherent phonon-phonon interaction in an organic solid that can be described by the application of Fano's analysis to a case without the presence of a continuum. Using Raman spectroscopy of the hydrogen-bonded charge-transfer material quinhydrone, two peaks appear near $700{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ we assign as phonons whose position and line-shape asymmetry depend on the sample temperature and light scattering excitation energy. Density functional theory calculations find two nearly degenerate phonons possessing frequencies near the values found in experiment that share similar atomic motion out of the aromatic plane of electron donor and acceptor molecules of quinhydrone. Further analytical modeling of the steady-state light scattering process using the Peierls-Hubbard Hamiltonian and time-dependent perturbation theory motivates assignment of the physical origin of the asymmetric features of each peak's line shape to an interaction between two discrete phonons via nonlinear electron-phonon coupling. In the context of analytical model results, characteristics of the experimental spectra upon 2.33 eV excitation of the Raman scattering process are used to qualify the temperature dependence of the magnitude of this coupling in the valence band of quinhydrone. These results broaden the range of phonon-phonon interactions in materials in general while also highlighting the rich physics and fundamental attributes specific to organic solids that may determine their applicability in next generation electronics and photonics technologies.
Enthalpy-based system-model for pumped two-phase cooling systems

The development of embedded chip cooling for 2D and 3D integrated circuits using pumped dielectric refrigerant has gained recent attention due to the ability to manage high heat densities and compatibility with electronics. Recent studies have focused on in-situ thermal and hydrodynamic phenomena (e.g. boiling and bubble dynamics) of two-phase flow boiling at micro-scales. In this paper we focus on the two-phase cooling system design including the cooling capability, size and coefficient of performance (COP). In implementing a two-phase cooling, a system-level computational model for two-phase cooling systems becomes necessary. Therefore, a computationally manageable and accurate one dimensional (1D) system model is described. Furthermore, the model can be easily customized for different two-phase cooling system configurations. By validating the model with experimental data from a two-phase cooling system, it is shown that model can generate accurate results, and therefore, can be used as a tool to study and predict the characteristics and performance of a pumped two-phase cooling systems.
Congressional Elections and Policy Alignments

2012 marked a return to normalcy in congressional elections after consecutive elections with large seat shifts from one party to the other. In the 2006 midterm elections, Republicans lost large numbers of House and Senate seats, which caused them to lose control of both chambers for the first time since 1995. In 2008, Democrats, led by a strong presidential candidate in Barack Obama, added to their House and Senate majorities, even briefly enjoying a so-called filibuster-proof or sixty-seat majority in the Senate. In 2010, the tables were turned as Republicans gained sixty-five House seats and majority control of the chamber, and narrowed the Democratic Party’s margin in the Senate. The 2006 and 2010 elections continued a long-standing pattern of midterm elections being electorally unfavorable for the party of the president, whereas 2008 was, in some ways, consistent with the so-called coattail effect that sees a surge in seat gains for the party of a newly elected president. In 2012, Democrats gained seats in both the House and Senate elections, but failed to win enough House seats to recapture the majority. As such, the 113th Congress began with the same partisan alignment as was present for the 112th Congress. The 2006, 2008, and 2010 election cycles stand out among elections in the past few decades in that national-level issues dominated the discussion in many states and districts. In 2006 and 2008, Republicans were weighed down by the declining popularity of President George W. Bush, based in large part on the public’s declining view of the war in Iraq in 2006, and the nation’s economic collapse in 2008. In 2010, the public’s ire over high unemployment rates and slow economic growth dragged down President Barack Obama’s approval ratings and disproportionately affected many Democratic congressional candidates. In 2012, elections were more congruent than ever. In fact, the correlation between the House vote and the presidential vote reached an all-time high in 2012.
ESTIMATION OF FISSION PRODUCT SPECTRA IN DISCHARGED FUEL FROM FAST REACTORS

The fission product spectra in discharged fuel from fast fission power reactors have been calculated over a wide range of operating conditions (reactor operating times from 10 to 10,000 days and co...
Tire type effect on pavement responses, accelerated pavement testing results

The proposed paper summarizes the accelerated pavement testing database obtained from various locations, including a database of recent studies. Test sections built as part of a study investigating the effect of new generation wide-base tire (NG-WBT 445/50R22.5) and dual-tire assembly (DTA 275/80R22.5) on flexible pavement response were used. These test sections were established at three different test locations throughout the U.S.—Florida, Davis-California, and Ohio State. Various instrumentations were installed at several locations within the pavement system to capture the most critical pavement responses. Instrumentations installed include strain gauges, pressure cells, thermocouples, multi-depth defloctometers, surface strain gauges, and strain gauge rosettes. Critical pavement responses, including strain at bottom of AC and stress on top of subgrade, were analyzed. Moreover, the effect of temperature, differential tire pressure, and near surface responses were investigated for NG-WBT versus DTA.
Chemical Characteristics of Leachate in Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities

AbstractLeachate data from four low-level radioactive waste and mixed waste disposal facilities operated by the U.S. DOE for environmental restoration programs are presented and analyzed. Constitue...
Report of the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American Venous Forum on the July 20, 2016 meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee panel on lower extremity chronic venous disease.

On July 20, 2016, a Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee panel assessed the benefits and risks of currently used lower extremity chronic venous disease (CVD) treatments and their effects on health outcome of the American adult population. The main purpose of the meeting was to advise the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on coverage determination for interventions used for treatment of CVD. A systematic review of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was presented, followed by lectures of invited experts and a public hearing of representatives of professional societies and the industry. After discussing critical issues, the panel voted for key questions. This report summarizes the presented evidence to support recommendations of the Society for Vascular Surgery/American Venous Forum coalition and the presentations on selected discussion topics. These included important venous disease evidence gaps that have not been sufficiently addressed, venous disease treatment disparities and how they may affect the health outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries, and mechanisms that might be supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to improve the evidence base to optimize the care of patients with lower extremity CVD.
Tumor-Treating Fields: Nursing Implications for an Emerging Technology

Tumor-treating fields (TTFields) are a new technology used for cancer treatment consisting of battery-powered, insulated electromagnetic transducers that are placed on the scalp. This wearable, adhesive device is a certified physician-prescribed therapy for patients with glioblastoma multiforme, a type of primary brain cancer. TTFields are being used concomitantly with temozolomide (Temodar®) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma and as a monotherapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma after radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Nursing professionals caring for patients using this emerging technology should be able to educate patients regarding proper use of TTFields and monitor for side effects. .
Economics of Alternative No-Till Spring Crop Rotations in Washington's Wheat–Fallow Region

Winter wheat [Triticum aestivum L.] (WW)-summer fallow (SF) is the dominant cropping system in the low-precipitation (<300 mm annual) region of the inland Pacific Northwest (PNW), USA. Intensive tillage during SF often leaves soil vulnerable to wind erosion. While no-till cropping is well known for wind erosion control benefits, previous research in the inland PNW showed that annual no-till hard red spring wheat (HRSW) trailed WW-SF in profitability by $113 ha -1 yr -1 . Our objective was to assess the agronomic and economic feasibility of alternative no-till spring grain and oilseed rotations in a 5-yr experiment near Ritzville, WA. Spring crops were soft white wheat (SW), barley [Hordeum vulgare L.] (SB) yellow mustard [Brassica hirta Moench] (YM), and safflower [Carthamus tinctorius L.] (SAF) grown in three rotation sequences. Net returns from WW-SF on 10 neighboring farms during the 5-yr period averaged $21.52 ha -1 yr -1 . The most profitable no-till spring cropping sequence was continuous SW, which averaged net returns of $12.11 ha -1 yr -1 , equivalent to WW-SF and much more competitive than previous HRSW results. No-till SW-SB and a 4-yr rotation of SAF-YM-SW-SW averaged -$12.10 and -$31.45 ha -1 yr -1 , respectively. Although all no-till spring crop rotations had higher annual income variability than WW-SF, positive net returns for continuous SW is the first economic good news for continuous annual cropping using no-till in the low-precipitation region of the inland PNW.
A Letter to New Interns

This issue includes 2 Annals Graphic Medicine pieces about the beginning of internship. This editorial discusses what residents face during this time.
“Ice Cream is Worse, and Joblessness is Not an Option”: Gendered experiences of freelancing

A rise in informal labor, characterized by contracted and non-salaried positions, has been observed in many industry sectors including journalism. While opportunities for freelance journalists have increased, the journalism industry has simultaneously experienced mass layoffs. Using a survey (N = 411), with quantitative and qualitative measures, this study assesses freelancers’ experiences in the US context with a particular attention to gender. The study finds that women perceive freelancing, but not full-time journalism, as compatible with raising children. Although there were no differences in perceptions about layoffs and job stability, the women in the sample were more likely to rely on freelancing as the only job and subsequently express concerns over pay. Open-ended responses provide further insight into the state of the journalism industry, full-time employment, and gender dynamics.
Introduction and Selected Topics in Source Theory

Since Shelly Glashow has cornered the market in charm and beauty, I shall not intrude on his domain. If there is to be a catchword for my contribution, it is — reality.
Metformin's impact on statin-associated muscle symptoms: An analysis of ACCORD study data and research materials from the NHLBI Biologic Specimen and Data Repository Information Coordinating Center.

Statins are widely prescribed, yet statin muscle pain limits their use, leading to increased cardiovascular risk. No validated therapy for statin muscle pain exists. The goal of the study was to assess whether metformin was associated with reduced muscle pain. A secondary analysis of data from the ACCORD trial was performed. An ACCORD sub-study assessed patients for muscle cramps and leg/calve pain while walking, typical non-severe statin muscle pain symptoms. We compared muscle pain between patients using a statin (n = 445) or both a statin and metformin (n = 869) at baseline. Overall patient characteristics were balanced between groups. Unadjusted analysis showed fewer reports of muscle cramps (35%) and leg/calve pain while walking (40%) with statins and metformin compared to statin only (muscle cramps, 42%; leg/calve pain while walking, 47%). Multivariable regression demonstrated a 22% odds reduction for muscle cramps (P = 0.049) and a 29% odds reduction for leg/calve pain while walking (P = 0.01). Metformin appears to reduce the risk of non-severe statin muscle pain and additional research is needed to confirm the findings and assess metformin's impact on statin adherence and related cardiovascular outcomes.
Using Hidden Markov Models to Characterize Student Behaviors in Learning-by-Teaching Environments

Using hidden Markov models (HMMs) and traditional behavior analysis, we have examined the effect of metacognitive prompting on students' learning in the context of our computer-based learning-by-teaching environment. This paper discusses our analysis techniques, and presents evidence that HMMs can be used to effectively determine students' pattern of activities. The results indicate clear differences between different interventions, and links between students learning performance and their interactions with the system.
A Characterization of Perfect Matrices

A zero-one matrix is called perfect if the polytope of the associated set packing problem has integral vertices only. By this definition, all totally unimodular zero-one matrices are perfect. In this paper we give a characterization of perfect zero-one matrices in terms of forbidden submatrices. The notion of a perfect zero-one matrix is closely related to that of a perfect graph as well as that of a balanced matrix as introduced by Berge. Furthermore, the results obtained here bear on an unsolved problem in graph theory, the Perfect Graph Conjecture.
Clinical measurements of bone tissue mechanical behavior using reference point indentation.

Over the last 30 years, it has become increasingly clear the amount of bone (e.g., “bone quantity”) and the quality of the bone matrix (e.g., “bone quality”) both critically contribute to bone’s tissue-level mechanical behavior and the subsequent ability of bone to resist fracture. Although determining the tissue-level mechanical behavior of bone through mechanical testing is relatively straightforward in the laboratory, the destructive nature of such testing is unfeasible in humans and in animal models requiring longitudinal observation. Therefore, surrogate measurements are necessary for quantifying tissue-level mechanical behavior for the pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of bone strength and fracture risk in vivo. A specific implementation of indentation known as reference point indentation (RPI) enables the mechanical testing of bone tissue without the need to excise and prepare the bone surface. However, this compromises the ability to carefully control the specimen geometry that is required to define the bone tissue material properties. Yet, the versatility of such measurements in clinical populations is provocative, and to date, there are a number of promising studies that have utilized this tool to discern bone pathologies and to monitor the effects of therapeutics on bone quality. Concurrently, ongoing efforts continue to investigate the aspects of bone material behavior measured by RPI and the compositional factors that contribute to these measurements. There are currently two variants, cyclic- and impact-RPI, that have been utilized in pre-clinical and clinical studies. This review surveys clinical studies that utilize RPI, with particular emphasis on the clinical instrument, as well as the endeavors to understand the fundamental mechanisms of such measurements. Ultimately, an improved awareness in the tradeoffs and limitations of in vivo RPI is critical towards the effective and successful utilization of this tool for the overall improvement of fragility determination in the clinic.
Effects of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Infancy on Asthma and Respiratory Allergy in 6-Year-Old Children

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the association between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in early infancy and health conditions such as asthma and respiratory allergies at 6 years of age in a cohort of US children born at term with no medical issues at birth. Methods Data (1542 records) from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II and the Year Six Follow-Up study were used in the analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were conducted to estimate the magnitude and direction of potential associations between children's health conditions such as asthma, hay fever, or respiratory allergy, and RSV infection during infancy. Results A substantial proportion of children with RSV infection in infancy were reported to have developed asthma (10.3%) and hay fever or respiratory allergy (9.4%) by 6 years of age. Analyses revealed that children with RSV infection in infancy were more likely to develop asthma (odds ratio 1.99, 95% confidence interval 1.06-3.74), and hay fever or respiratory allergy (odds ratio 2.13, 95% confidence interval 1.28-3.57) by 6 years of age. In addition, the risk of developing asthma and hay fever or respiratory allergy by 6 years of age increased considerably with a family history of these conditions. Conclusions Our findings support the need for understanding and monitoring the long-term health outcomes of RSV infection in infancy. Appropriate prevention and treatment measures for RSV infection during infancy may reduce the incidence of associated long-term adverse health outcomes. Knowledge of the long-term complications of RSV infection in infancy, such as asthma, hay fever, or respiratory allergy, can aid in the prevention and better management of these health conditions.
Critical Concepts concerning Non-Living Collections:

The role of museum collections has evolved through time to the point that there is now some ambiguity about the future of non-living collections. Attempts are made to provide new direction for muse...
Investigating the reliability of suicide attempt history reporting across five measures: A study of US military service members at risk of suicide.

OBJECTIVE Utilizing a sample of military service members at risk of suicide, this study aimed to: (a) identify patterns of suicide attempt (SA) history reporting across five measures and (b) evaluate whether consistent SA reporters (i.e., individuals who consistently report an SA history across measures) differ from inconsistent SA reporters on other clinical severity indices. METHOD Participants (N = 984) completed five validated SA history measures and self-report psychiatric symptom measures. RESULTS Of the sample, 35.4% inconsistently responded to SA history measures. Inconsistent reporters disclosed more severe suicide threat histories than consistent reporters. On all other clinical severity indices, inconsistent reporters evinced either less severe or comparable symptom levels. CONCLUSIONS A nontrivial portion of service members may respond inconsistently to different assessments of SA history. Research is needed to identify factors that account for inconsistent SA history reporting and to improve the accuracy of SA history assessments among military personnel.
OP0088 COMORBIDITIES AS RISK FACTORS FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) AND ACCRUAL AFTER RA DIAGNOSIS

Background Understanding the timeline of comorbidity development in patients with RA may inform disease pathogenesis and help identify targets for improving outcomes (1). Objectives We first aimed to compare the prevalence of a comprehensive list of comorbidities in RA cases versus controls. Second, we aimed to investigate the time association of comorbidity development relative to RA onset to identify which comorbidities might predispose to developing RA and comorbidities that might result from RA. Methods We performed a case-control study using a biobank at a single center, identifying 821 cases of RA (143 incident) using a rules-based algorithm combining two diagnosis codes with use of a DMARD (PPV = 95%). We matched each case to three controls based on age, sex, and location of residence at the time of the biobank survey. Participants self-reported the presence or absence and age of onset for 77 comorbidities on the survey. Results Among the 3,276 RA cases and controls, mean age was 62 years, and 73% were female. Cases with RA had the same number of comorbidities as controls before RA diagnosis (median 1.0 vs 1.0, P = 0.49) but had more comorbidities by the time of the survey (median 5.0 vs 4.0, p Conclusion Many comorbidities were associated with RA, including several potentially novel comorbidities such as COPD, epilepsy, and acid reflux. RA was not associated with an increased risk of cancer. The increased occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 diabetes prior to RA suggests either a predisposition to RA development or a shared immunological defect, meriting further study. References [1] Gabriel SE, Michaud K. Epidemiological studies in incidence, prevalence, mortality, and comorbidity of the rheumatic diseases. Arthritis Res Ther. 2009;11(3):229. Acknowledgement Funding for this project was provided by the Rheumatology Research Foundation Resident Research Preceptorship. We would also like to acknowledge the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine Disclosure of Interests Vanessa Kronzer: None declared, Cynthia S. Crowson: None declared, Jeffrey Sparks Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Amgen, Consultant for: Optum, Elena Myasoedova Grant/research support from: Pfizer, John Davis Grant/research support from: Pfizer
Ia ANTIGENS ON FcR POSITIVE T LYMPHOCYTES

Treatment of splenic T lymphocytes with anti-Ia antiserum inhibits the binding of antigen-antibody complexes (AgAb) to the majority (>50%) of FcR + T lymphocytes. Utilizing the ability of anti-Ia antisera to inhibit binding of AgAb as an assay for the presence of I -region controlled determinants, we were able to demonstrate that determinants controlled by loci mapping in the I-A and I-C, S , or G regions are present on FcR + T cells.
The Critical Role of Local Centers and Institutes in Advancing Deliberative Democracy

Utilizing the development and early history of the Colorado State University Center for Public Deliberation as an example, this paper makes the case for expanding the number of and the level of support for such campus-based centers as critical resources for expanding deliberative democracy. Due to their ability to not only provide deliberative capacity to the community, but also to attract students to our field and equip with them with essential skills, to strengthen the connection of colleges and universities to their local communities, and to contribute to the further development of deliberative theory and practice, these local “hubs of democracy” represent a natural “win-win-win-win” that warrants significant focus as we work to develop the deliberative culture of our communities.
Implementation of commercial Li-ion cells on the MarCO deep space CubeSats

Abstract In NASA's first technology demonstration of CubeSats in deep space, MarCO-A and MarCO-B were launched with the Mars InSight mission. These CubeSats successfully transmitted the InSight lander's entry, descent, and landing telemetry back to Earth in near-real time, which was not possible with existing Mars orbital data relay systems. In addition to solar arrays, each MarCO CubeSat was powered by a 3S4P battery comprising 18650-size lithium-ion cells. These commercial lithium-ion cells (Panasonic NCR18650B) were screened and matched using a cell selection process that was simplified relative to larger missions, to ensure safe and reliable battery behavior at an acceptable cost. This paper describes the design of the MarCO power system and battery, the lithium-ion battery cell testing and screening processes and results, and initial performance data from MarCO flight telemetry.
Ultrafast Dynamics of Excited Electronic States in Nitrobenzene Measured by Ultrafast Transient Polarization Spectroscopy

We investigate ultrafast dynamics of the lowest singlet excited electronic state in liquid nitrobenzene using ultrafast transient polarization spectroscopy, extending the well-known technique of optical Kerr effect spectroscopy to excited electronic states. The third-order nonlinear response of the excited molecular ensemble is measured using a pair of femtosecond pulses following a third femtosecond pulse that populates the S1 excited state. By measuring this response, which is highly sensitive to details of the excited state character and structure, as a function of time delays between the three pulses involved, we extract the dephasing time of the wave packet on the excited state. The dephasing time, measured as a function of time delay after pump excitation, shows oscillations indicating oscillatory wave packet dynamics on the excited state. From the experimental measurements and supporting theoretical calculations, we deduce that the wave packet completely leaves the S1 state potential energy surface after three traversals of the intersystem crossing between the singlet S1 and triplet T2 states.
The Effect of Surface Defects on Chloride-Induced Depassivation of Iron—A Density Functional Theory Study

Chloride-induced depassivation is a large contributor to the degradation of metals, but defects are likely to play a key role in that process. Here density functional theory calculations are used t...
Cyclic sieving for longest reduced words in the hyperoctahedral group

We show that the set $R(w_0)$ of reduced expressions for the longest element in the hyperoctahedral group exhibits the cyclic sieving phenomenon. More specifically, $R(w_0)$ possesses a natural cyclic action given by moving the first letter of a word to the end, and we show that the orbit structure of this action is encoded by the generating function for the major index on $R(w_0)$.
Machine learning workflow to predict multi-target subsurface signals for the exploration of hydrocarbon and water

Abstract NMR T1 distribution is the multitarget subsurface signal used in this study. NMR logs are acquired as depth-wise measurements of T1 and/or T2 distributions, usually every 0.5 ft, along a wellbore. NMR T1/T2 distributions contain valuable information about the in-situ permeability, viscosity and movable fluid volumes in the near-wellbore region. However, NMR logs are not readily available due to operational and financial constraints. A robust machine learning workflow is developed to process conventional “easy-to-acquire” well logs (e.g. resistivity, neutron, density, sonic and spectral gamma ray) for the depth-wise multitarget synthesis of NMR T1 distribution along the length of an entire well drilled into a hydrocarbon-bearing geological formation. Random forest model performs the best with average R2 score of 0.84, MMAPE of 0.14, and RMSE of 0.4. The random forest model is then enhanced using quantile regression forest for computing the “confidence index” associated with multitarget synthesis of NMR T1 distribution at each depth. The confidence index quantifies the certainty of multitarget synthesis on new, unseen data. The proposed data-driven workflow can be used for robust prediction/synthesis of any multi-target subsurface signal and provide a measure for evaluating the accuracy and certainty of the predicted signals.
Interpreting Averroes: critical essays

Classical Islamic thinker Ibn Rushd (Averroes) is widely recognized for his commentaries on Aristotle and his influence on Western Medieval and Renaissance thinkers. Understandably, his contributio...
Molecular dynamics simulations of separator-cathode interfacial thermal transport in a Li-ion cell

Abstract While Li-ion cells show outstanding electrochemical performance, their poor thermal transport characteristics result in reduced performance as well as significant safety concerns. The heterogeneous interface between cathode and separator plays a vital role in the process of thermal conduction in a Li-ion cell. Recent experiments have shown that the cathode-separator interfacial thermal resistance contributes significantly to total thermal resistance within the cell. In this paper, thermal conductance across the cathode-separator interface is calculated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with IFF-CVFF force field. Thermal transport in a pristine heterogeneous interface as well as when bridged with 3-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES), n-Butyl trimethoxysilane (nBTMS) and 3-Mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) molecules is computed. It is shown that molecular bridging at the interface results in up to 250% improvement in interfacial thermal conductance for the APTES case, which is consistent with recent experimental data. These results quantify the key role of the cathode-separator interface in thermal transport within the Li-ion cell, as well as the potential improvement in interfacial thermal transport by molecular bridging. The techniques and results discussed here may help downselect molecular species for interfacial thermal transport enhancement in Li-ion cells.
Infant malnutrition, clean-water access and government interventions in India: a machine learning approach towards causal inference

We use a debiased Machine Learning technique to explore causes behind infant malnutrition for households below-poverty-line in India and examine effectiveness of various government interventions al...
Of the Inequals of the Uruguay Round

Ten years ago, the TRIPs Agreement set a distinct tone in international law by requiring members to prioritize international trade obligations as a means to achieve national goals. Within the next five years, the AIDS crisis highlighted that compromising pressing national responsibilities - like a looming public health crisis - to fulfill international obligations may, in fact, detrimentally affect international trade. Meanwhile, access to medication continues to be an unresolved issue even as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of TRIPs and the end of the transitional period. This Article suggests that the success of TRIPs depends on its ability to address national responsibilities that impedes members from fulfilling international obligations. In this context, the Article analyzes policy options embraced by countries like India, which prioritized national responsibilities in its quest to appear on the global trade map.
Evaluation of circulating cell-free DNA in cholestatic liver disease using liver-specific methylation markers.

Quantification of circulating organ-specific cell-free DNA (cfDNA) provides a sensitive measure of ongoing cell death that could benefit evaluation of the cholestatic liver diseases primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), which lack reliable non-invasive biomarkers. Our goal in this pilot study was to determine whether liver-specific cfDNA levels are increased in PBC and PSC patients relative to controls and in advanced versus early disease, to evaluate their potential as novel disease biomarkers. Peripheral blood derived bisulfite-treated DNA was PCR amplified from patients with PBC (n = 48), PSC (n = 48) and controls (n = 96) to evaluate methylation status at 16 CpG sites reported to be specifically unmethylated in liver tissue near the genes IGF2R, ITIH4 and VTN. Amplicons were used to prepare paired end libraries which were sequenced on a MiSeq sequencer. Trimmed reads were aligned and used to determine unmethylation ratios and to calculate concentration of liver-specific cfDNA. Comparisons between groups were performed using the two-tailed Mann–Whitney Test and relationships between variables were evaluated using Pearson’s Correlation. Levels of liver-specific cfDNA, as measured at the 3 genetic loci, were increased in PBC and PSC patients relative to controls and in late-stage relative to early-stage patients. As well, cfDNA levels were correlated with levels of alkaline phosphatase, a commonly used biochemical test to evaluate disease severity in liver disease, in patients, but not in controls. cfDNA offers promise as a non-invasive liquid-biopsy to evaluate liver-specific cell-death in patients with cholestatic liver diseases.
The Incompatibility of a Thomistic View of Existence and Natural Existence Monism

This paper considers the incompatibility of a broadly Thomistic view of the nature of existence with natural existence monism. The first part of this paper offers two lines of reasoning to establish that existence should be understood as essential exemplification. Two “Thomistic Routes” to this conclusion are considered. The first route is an ”exterior” route developed from ordinary sense perception. This route is elaborated by George Klubertanz and Jacques Maritain. The second route is developed by Edith Stein. I call this an “interior” route, which is based on self-awareness and rational reflection. The second part of this paper considers existence monism in light of the understanding of existence as essential exemplification developed in part one. I argue that natural existence monism is incompatible with an understanding of existence as essential exemplification.
Methodology—Adherence Among Pregnant Women with and without HIV Infection

In the previous chapter, I presented the methodology, and results of the in-depth interviews which examined the perspectives and experiences of HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women, and healthcare staff, about challenges and facilitators of ART adherence.
Modeling of a Hybrid Energy System Integrated With an Intermittent Power Grid in Developing Countries

Electricity in most developing countries is inefficient, erratic and unreliable. Recent research work on grid-connected hybrid system in developing countries have not considered frequent electricity outage hours per month experienced by consumers. Effort is made to address this critical factor and HOMER software was used to model an intermittent power grid integrated with a hybrid energy system. This shortcoming is addressed by assuming generator component in HOMER to run as grid. This is made possible after some modification to fuel content, minimum load capacity ratio and scheduling capacity of the generator. A city in Nigeria was used to demonstrate this approach, but it can be replicated for any location in developing countries where there is frequent electricity outage. Outcome of the model shows that integrating an intermittent power grid with a hybrid energy system offers a competitive cost of energy, reduction in noise pollution and improved use of renewable energy for electricity generation in developing countries.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The Physics of LEED

Low-energy electron diffraction is termed a “dynamical” process to express the fact that non-geometrical parameters play an important role in its description: these parameters (mainly atomic scattering amplitudes, inner potential and inelastic electron damping), together with multiple scattering of the electrons through the crystalline lattice, complicate the understanding of the diffraction process. For example, the analogy with X-ray diffraction (with its simple Bragg reflection conditions, etc.) is obscured by the dynamical character of the scattering. This is readily seen in the failure of “kinematic” theory (single-scattering theory) to explain LEED intensity vs. energy curves (IV-curves). Background information about the development and application of LEED, including experimental questions, will be found in Refs. [2,4–9].
The Impact of Latino Caregiver Acculturation on Treatment Engagement in Children’s Community Mental Health Services

Ongoing treatment engagement is low in children’s community mental health. Although concerns are more pronounced for racial/ethnic minorities, findings have been mixed when comparing racial/ethnic minorities with Non-Hispanic Whites. Within-group variability, such as level of acculturation, may be a more proximal predictor of treatment engagement. The current study aimed to examine the effect of Latino caregivers’ acculturation on ongoing treatment engagement indicators, specifically session attendance, premature treatment termination, and treatment satisfaction. Participants were families of youth, ages 5–15, with a Latino primary caregiver (N = 93) receiving treatment for anxiety/trauma, depression, or disruptive behavior problems in community-based mental health agencies. Caregivers were classified into low and high acculturation groups using latent class analysis based on demographic indicators, such as nativity status and primary language spoken. Groups significantly differed in terms of caregivers’ nativity status, age at immigration, primary language spoken, language of study assessment completion, and language spoken in the home. Families of low acculturation caregivers no showed to significantly fewer planned treatment sessions than families of highly acculturated caregivers. Treatment satisfaction did not differ between groups. Low acculturation families also had lower odds of prematurely withdrawing from treatment. Results of this study highlight the importance of considering family characteristics such as acculturation when engaging families in treatment.
THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE INTERRACIAL/INTERCULTURAL CHURCH

(2005). THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE INTERRACIAL/INTERCULTURAL CHURCH. Journal of Pastoral Theology: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 33-48.
Andean Vaccinium (Ericaceae: Vaccinieae): Seven new species from South America

Seven new species of Andean Vaccinium are described, illustrated, and briefly discussed. They are Vaccinium aristatum and Vaccinium saxatilis from Ecuador; Vaccinium youngii, Vaccinium ortizii, Vaccinium continuum, Vaccinium amazonicum, and Vaccinium urubambensis from Peru.
Pathways of glucose metabolism by rough and smooth variants of Bacillus stearothermophilus.

Abstract The radiorespirometric method was used to study the pathways of glucose metabolism in the rough and smooth variants of Bacillus stearothermophilus NCA 1518. The Embden-Meyerhof (EM) pathway was more active in the smooth variant than in the rough variant. The participation of the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMP) and EM pathways in the smooth variant was calculated as 4.2 and 95.8%, respectively. The rough variant utilized glucose via the EM pathway exclusively or in combination with a pathway other than the HMP pathway. The estimated efficiency of the tricarboxylic acid system in the rough and smooth variants was 81.3 and 4.9%, respectively.
A reduction technique for nearest-neighbor classification: Small groups of examples

An important issue in nearest-neighbor classifiers is how to reduce the size of large sets of examples. Whereas many researchers recommend to replace the original set with a carefully selected subset, we investigate a mechanism that creates three or more such subsets. The idea is to make sure that each of them, when used as a 1-NN subclassifier, tends to err in a different part of the instance space. In this case, failures of individuals can be corrected by voting. The costs of our example-selection procedure are linear in the size of the original training set and, as our experiments demonstrate, dramatic data reduction can be achieved without a major drop in classification accuracy.
The Power of Liking: Consequences of Interpersonal Attitudes Derived from a Liberalized View of Secondary Reinforcement

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the expected consequences of interpersonal attitudes derived from a theoretical position in which persons who evoke attitudes are conceptualized as secondary reinforcers. The intent is to show that interrelated hypotheses regarding consequences can be generated by placing the concept of attitude within a learning theory framework, that a substantial number of empirical relationships can be interpreted as supporting these hypotheses, and that the behavioral effects of interpersonal attraction have far-reaching social implications, making the potential application of verified propositions an enticing possibility. The chapter proposes a number of expectations for the behavior of individuals when liked or disliked persons (or their symbolic representations) are present either prior to, during, or contingent upon the behavior. It illustrates by reference to data on human behavior that findings relevant to the effects of differential liking for persons by one another can be systematized and explained by the general behavior principles relating to secondary reinforcers and that interpersonal attitudes affect a wide variety of socially significant behavior. The chapter discusses the areas of applicability of the power of liking.
Nurse moral distress: A survey identifying predictors and potential interventions

Abstract Background Ethical dilemmas and conflicts are inherent in today's health care organizations and may lead to moral distress, which is often associated with physical and psychological symptoms. Although the existence of moral distress has been observed by scholars for decades, most of the research has been descriptive and has examined what types of health care conflicts lead to distress. Objective This study tested a comprehensive model, underpinned by Social Cognitive Theory, that examined work environment and intrapersonal variables that may influence moral distress. Design/setting/participants We surveyed nursing staff employed in a U.S. acute care hospital (response rate=45%; n =290). Results More than half of the respondents reported they experience ethical dilemmas and conflicts from several times a month to daily, and nearly half reported they experience moral distress at least several times a month. Structural equation modeling analysis simultaneously examined the effects of five independent variables on moral distress and moral voice: (a) frequency of ethical dilemmas and conflicts; (b) moral efficacy; (c) ethics communication; (d) ethical environment; and (e) organizational ethics support. Results revealed significant independent effects of the frequency of ethics issues and organizational ethics support on moral distress. Bootstrapping analysis indicated that voice fully mediated the relationship between moral efficacy and moral distress, and partially mediated the relationship between organizational ethics support and distress. Supplemental analysis revealed that organizational ethics support moderated the moral efficacy–voice–moral distress relationship such that when organizational support was low, moral efficacy was negatively related to moral distress via voice. Conclusions Although it may be impossible to eliminate all ethical dilemmas and conflicts, leaders and organizations may wish to help improve nurses' moral efficacy, which appears to give rise to voice, and reduced moral distress. Increasing organizational ethics support may be a key approach.
Design of mutually matching multiple-varactor array doubler for power

A design method is described in which properly designed λ/4 transmission line is used such that one varactor impedance is utilized to conjugately match that of another varactor at input frequency. Two such pairs are again connected by a properly designed transmission line such that they match each other at the second harmonic output frequency. Thus, a basic building block of four varactors without any external tuning circuit is obtained. Any number of these building blocks can be put together to obtain any desired output power.
Local exact and approximate solutions of the adsorption integral equation with a kernel of a Langmuir-like isotherm: Determination of adsorption energy distribution

Abstract The local exact and approximate solutions of the adsorption integral equation are presented. The Langmuir-like adsorption isotherm is assumed as a kernel. The exact local solution is compared with Sips' method. The accuracy and resolution of truncated approximations are discussed. The influence of experimental temperature on calculated results is also considered. Lateral interactions are taken into account for the random topography model of the adsorption sites.
Creating an Effective Accountability Plan in Physical Education

This article discusses some of the techniques that teachers can use to hold students accountable for achieving learning outcomes, and proposes specific steps to facilitate the creation of an effective student accountability plan. An effective student accountability plan can improve the teaching-learning process in physical education by helping to create an environment in which students learn that physical education is a place in which they are expected to participate, gain knowledge, and apply specific skills.
Primary testicular lymphoma: the site matters.

Primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is a rare entity with distinct natural history and inferior outcome compared to nodal and other extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This lymphoma is ...