cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethical Principles in Critical Care

THE MOST compelling principle of medical ethics always has beenbeneficence: acting to benefit patients by sustaining life, treating illness, and relieving pain. A correlative principle isnonmaleficence: refraining from harm. A third principle that has increasingly gained acceptance in the United States isautonomy: respecting the right of patients to determine much of their medical care. Closely related to this isdisclosure: providing adequate and truthful information for competent patients to make medical decisions.1-3A fifth ethical principle issocial justice: allocating medical resources fairly and according to medical need.4 The first four ethical principles outlined above are the foundation of the fiduciary relationship in which physicians are expected to serve the best interests of their patients as the patients define these interests. This relationship is relatively easy to maintain when primary physicians follow up patients in their offices or in hospital rooms. However, the relationship may
LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO BE CAREFUL: The Relationship Between Reading Romance Novels and Safe Sex Behavior

According to the sexual script portrayed in romance novels, true love is demonstrated by being “swept away” in passion. To the extent that this traditional romance script influences romance readers' own sexual scripts, readers may express greater reluctance to engage in precautionary sexual health behaviors, such as using condoms. We explored the relationship between women's reading of romance novels and their attitudes toward condom use, reports of past condom use, and intention to use condoms in the future. A systematic content analysis of modern romance novels documented the extremely low incidence of portrayals of condom use in initial sexual encounters. Study 1 demonstrated that high levels of romance reading were associated with negative attitudes toward condoms and reduced intent to use condoms in the future; Study 2 showed experimentally that including safe sex elements in romance stories increased positive attitudes toward condoms and marginally increased intent to use condoms in the future.
Composition control of long wavelength MBE HgCdTe using In-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry

Improved composition control of Hg1-xCdxTe layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy using in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry is described. This has increased our composition yields from <40% to approximately 70% for a specification of x to within 0.0015 of target composition. Knowledge of composition during growth also enables corrections to effusion cell temperatures so that the in-depth composition profile can be controlled. Further improvements were obtained after active composition control was implemented whereby the ellipsometer controls the Te cell temperature to maintain the desired composition.
The Old Country Service School: Gender, Class, and Identity and the YWCA's Training of Immigrant Women in International Social Welfare Philosophy, 1919

In April 1919, the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) created the Old Country Service School (OCSS) to train foreign-born women in American social welfare philosophy. The YWCA expected OCSS students to help rebuild war-torn Europe. A study of the school's curriculum and students provides an interesting examination of gender, class, and identity as they related to international peace efforts during the interwar years.
Transmission electron microscopy of rapidly solidified powders of Ni3Al

Rapidly solidified powders (<100 μm diameter) of stoichiometric Ni3Al and Ni3Al(B,Ti) were examined using transmission electron microscopy. The powders consisted of martensitic dendrites in a Ll2 matrix that contained numerous dislocations. The stoichiometric Ni3Al powder also contained martensitic lamellae between the dendrites. The martensite plates were internally twinned and enriched in aluminum, and probably formed by the transformation of β-NiAl.
DNA fingerprint analysis of three short tandem repeat (STR) loci for biochemistry and forensic science laboratory courses

We have devised and implemented a DNA fingerprinting module for an upper division undergraduate laboratory based on the amplification and analysis of three of the 13 short tandem repeat loci that are required by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Combined DNA Index System (FBI CODIS) data base. Students first collect human epithelial (cheek) cells using sterile buccal swabs and then utilize commercially available kits and materials to extract genomic DNA. This is followed by the PCR amplification of three specific short tandem repeat loci (i.e. CSF1PO, TPOX, THO1). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is used to resolve the allelic bands associated with the three short tandem repeat loci, and the results are statistically analyzed in the context of human population genetics. In addition, DNA was collected from a family, and the children's allele sets were compared with those of the parents to help illustrate paternal and maternal relatedness. This module enables students to use the materials and methods employed by actual law enforcement agencies and therefore can be used for laboratory exercises in traditional biochemistry curricula as well as for the growing field of forensic science and education.
Inertial Separation of Ultrafine Particles Using a Condensational Growth/Virtual Impaction System

ABSTRACT A system for the separation of ultrafine particles (i.e., particles smaller than 0.1 μm) has been developed and evaluated. Ultrafine particles are first grown by means of supersaturation to a size that can be easily separated in a virtual impactor. Thus, inertial separation of ultrafine particles occurs without subjecting them to a high vacuum. The condensational growth/virtual impaction system has been evaluated using monodisperse 0.05 and 0.1 μm fluorescent PSL particles, as well as polydisperse ultrafine ammonium sulfate and potassium nitrate aerosols. The generated aerosols were first drawn over a pool of warm water (50°C) where they became saturated. Subsequently, the saturated aerosol was drawn through a cooling tube (8°C) where particles grew due to supersaturation to sizes in the range 1.0–4.0 μm. By placing a virtual impactor with a theoretical 50% cutpoint of 1.4 μm downstream of the condenser, ultrafine particles were separated from the majority (i.e., 90%) of the surrounding gas. The ...
Diurnal changes in sucrose phosphate synthase activity in leaves

Studies were conducted to identify and compare diurnal changes in sucrose phosphate synthase (EC 2.4.1.14) activity in leaves of different species, and the effect of nitrogen nutrition on the rhythm in soybean [Glycine max (L). Merr] leaves. In recently expanded corn (Zea mays L.) leaves, a single peak of enzyme activity was observed at the beginning of the photoperiod. A similar pattern was observed in older corn leaves, but activities (leaf fresh weight basis) were lower. In recently expanded pea (Pisum sativum L.) and soybean leaves, two peaks of sucrose phosphate synthase activity were observed over a 24-h light:dark period, one at the beginning and one at the end of the photoperiod. A similar pattern was observed in older soybean leaves, but activities were generally lower and the amplitude of the changes was reduced. In a separate experiment, soybean plants were grown in the greenhouse with either 2 or 10 mM nitrate. The high-N plants had higher rates of photosynthesis and translocation, and greater activities of sucrose phosphate synthase in leaf extracts, compared to low-N plants. Over both experiments with soybeans, changes in sucrose phosphate synthase activity during the photoperiod were closely aligned with changes in translocation rate.
Resistance without Protest and without Organization: Peasant Opposition to the Islamic Zakat and the Christian Tithe

This study presents an analysis of Malay peasant resistance to the Islamic zakat today and of French peasant resistance earlier to the Christian tithe, but it is offered with a larger argument in mind. Its purpose is to show that a vast range of what counts—or should count—as peasant resistance involves no overt protest and requires little or no organization.
Culture Clash: Transitioning from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Abstract The hospitalization of a child is one of the most traumatic episodes of parenthood. The fear, frustration, anger, and loss of control can be overwhelming to the parents of the critically ill child. Acute care hospitalizations such as those that occur in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are especially distressing to every member of the family. Unfortunately, families subjected to both NICU and PICU admissions experience two distinctive cultures with very different philosophies and goals. In spite of the best intentions of health care providers, the obvious cultural differences between the NICU and PICU potentially aggravate the stress suffered by families. Unfortunately, most NICU and PICU staff members are unfamiliar with the contrasting cultures. Utilizing specific examples from Phoenix area facilities, the purpose of this article is to describe the many factors that shape and influence the NICU and PICU experience for families.
Abstract IA1-1: Systematic functional genomics and cancer target identification and validation

Recent advances in genomics now make it possible to consider enumerating all of the genetic lesions in specific cancers. While these approaches will yield critical information regarding the identify, number, and types of alterations found in human tumors, a complementary approach to decipher the molecular basis of malignant transformation depends upon the application of genome scale tools to annotate the function of genes involved in cancer initiation and progression. Over the past several years, we have developed genome scale RNAi libraries and open reading frame expression libraries that permit a systematic evaluation of genes involved in cancer initiation and maintenance. Using these libraries, we have now performed screens in a panel of human cancer cell lines to systematically identify cancer vulnerabilities. By combining these functional approaches with information derived from mapping the structural abnormalities present in cancer genomes, we have identified several new oncogenes that contribute to cancer development. In addition, many commonly occurring and well- validated oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes remain refractory to molecularly targeted therapies. For example, the proto-oncogene KRAS is mutated in a wide array of human cancers, most of which are aggressive and respond poorly to standard therapies. An alternative strategy for targeting KRAS is to identify gene products that, when suppressed or inhibited, result in cell death only in the presence of an oncogenic allele. Through the use of systematic RNAi screens, we have identified two kinases, TBK1 and STK33 that act in a synthetic lethal manner to selectively kill cancer cell lines that depend on mutant KRAS. Taken together, these studies suggest that combining forward and reverse genetic approaches with information derived from the cancer genome characterization projects will yield a comprehensive list of cancer vulnerabilities and establish a general approach for the rational identification of oncogenic and codependent pathways in cancer. Citation Information: Clin Cancer Res 2010;16(14 Suppl):IA1-1.
Reinventing exhibition spaces in China

As a consequence of socio‐economic transformation, new types of exhibition spaces have appeared in China’s cultural landscape. Wu Hung explores the social basis of these changes and reviews the rap...
A fast-closing vacuum valve for the Berkeley superhilac

Abstract A larger fast-closing vacuum valve has been built to protect the Berkeley SuperHilac against radioactive contamination during bombardments of highly radioactive targets with heavy ion beams. The valve has a 3.8 cm diameter through-hole and can be vacuum sealed in less than 4 ms by means of a wedge-shaped Teflon gate which is moved into the closed position by the gas pressure from an explosive cartridge. This explosive charge is triggered by the electronic signal from a nude ion gauge at 10−5 Torr. The fast modified ion gauge power supply will trip the vacuum valve at a rate of pressure rise of 100–1000 dec/s which should prevent any misfirings on slow pressure rise.
Effects of methylphenidate on behavioral adjustment in children with mental retardation and ADHD: Preliminary findings from a study in progress

In this preliminary report from a study in progress, the effects of methylphenidate on behavioral adjustment in children (N=13) with mental retardation (MR) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were investigated using a placebo-controlled, double blind, crossover design. Parent and teacher behavioral ratings, and reports of side effects, were obtained with placebo, 0.15 mg/kg, 0.30 mg/kg, and 0.60 mg/kg BID dosages of methylphenidate. Results revealed significant declines in ADHD symptomatology (e.g., inattention, hyperactivity) with medication treatment, with the most significant declines appearing at the 0.60 mg/kg dose of the medication. No significant behavioral improvements (relative to placebo) were noted below the 0.60 mg/kg threshold, i.e., at the 0.15 mg/kg or 0.30 mg/kg dosages. These preliminary results strongly suggest that teachers may be more sensitive raters of symptoms of ADHD, or else may simply have more opportunity to observe the core symptoms of ADHD in a setting in which such symptoms are most likely to be problematic. Although teachers appeared to be more sensitive raters of ADHD symptomatology, parents may have been more sensitive raters of symptoms of side effects than were teachers. Results suggest that both parents and teachers provide important information in titrating stimulant medication in children with MR and ADHD.
The preparation of graft copolymers of polystyrene with poly‐2‐vinylpyridine

Graft copolymers have been prepared with polystyrene backbones and poly-2-vinylpyridine side chains. The approach used was to couple together two preformed polymers which were themselves separately characterized. Thus, a knowledge of the overall composition and separate descriptions of the two homopolymers gave reasonably well defined grafts. The living-polymer technique of Szwarc was found to be well suited to this approach. Polystyrene backbones were prepared by anionic polymerization, with Mw/Mn values of less than 1.1 and then chloromethylated to provide reactive grafting sites. The poly-2-vinylpyridine side chains were also prepared by anionic polymerization and, while still active, were allowed to react with the chloromethylated polystyrene. The homopolymers were removed by solvent extractions, leaving the graft copolymer as a residue. The molecular weight of the graft was then determined by osmotic-pressure measurements. Several features of the synthesis and characterization of the grafts and of the homopolymers are discussed. Within very broad limits this method permitted an unrestricted choice of backbone and of side-chain length and of the average number of side chains per backbone.
Formation of surface-grafted copolymer brushes with continuous composition gradients

We report on a simple methodology that facilitates the generation of surface-grafted assemblies comprising block copolymers with tunable composition and molecular weight gradients along flat solid substrates.
A review of dosimetry studies on external-beam radiation treatment with respect to second cancer induction

It has been long known that patients treated with ionizing radiation carry a risk of developing a second cancer in their lifetimes. Factors contributing to the recently renewed concern about the second cancer include improved cancer survival rate, younger patient population as well as emerging treatment modalities such as intensity-modulated radiation treatment (IMRT) and proton therapy that can potentially elevate secondary exposures to healthy tissues distant from the target volume. In the past 30 years, external-beam treatment technologies have evolved significantly, and a large amount of data exist but appear to be difficult to comprehend and compare. This review article aims to provide readers with an understanding of the principles and methods related to scattered doses in radiation therapy by summarizing a large collection of dosimetry and clinical studies. Basic concepts and terminology are introduced at the beginning. That is followed by a comprehensive review of dosimetry studies for external-beam treatment modalities including classical radiation therapy, 3D-conformal x-ray therapy, intensity-modulated x-ray therapy (IMRT and tomotherapy) and proton therapy. Selected clinical data on second cancer induction among radiotherapy patients are also covered. Problems in past studies and controversial issues are discussed. The needs for future studies are presented at the end.
An improved algorithm based on subset closures for synthesizing a relational database scheme

An algorithm for synthesizing a better relational database scheme in elementary key normal form (EKNF) is developed. This algorithm eliminates not only extraneous attributes and other redundancies, but also superfluities from a given set of functional dependences (FDs), based primarily on subset closures, Hamiltonian cycles of FDs, and equivalent subsets of attributes. Following this algorithm, a better LR-minimum FD covering is obtained. A more practical and efficient method for designing a relational database scheme in EKNF is then provided. The time complexity of the algorithm is polynomial. >
Partially folded bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor analogues attain fully native structures when co-crystallized with S195A rat trypsin.

Abstract Crystal structures, at 1.7 A resolution, were solved for complexes between each of two chemically synthesized partially folded analogues of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) with the proteolytically inactive rat trypsin mutant S195A. The BPTI analogue termed [14–38]Abu retains only the disulfide bond between Cys14 and Cys38, while Cys5, Cys30, Cys51, and Cys55 are replaced by isosteric α-amino-n-butyric acid residues. The analogue K26P,A27D[14–38]Abu contains two further replacements, by statistically favored residues, in the type I β-turn that has been suggested to be a main site for initiation of BPTI folding. As a control, the structure of the complex between S195A trypsin and wild-type BPTI was also solved. Despite significant differences in the degree of structure detected among these three BPTIs in solution by several biophysical techniques, their tertiary folds once bound to S195A trypsin in a crystalline lattice are essentially superimposable.
Participation, Deliberation, and Decision Making The Dynamics of Inclusion and Exclusion in Mixed-Income Developments

This paper explores the mechanisms, processes, and dynamics of participation and deliberation in three newly created, mixed-income communities being built on the footprint of former public housing ...
A Noise Figure Lower Bound and a Frequency Converter

This article establishes a lower bound for the noise figure of two networks in cascade. This is illustrated by means of a passive low-level frequency converter which utilizes a back diode as a nonlinear conductance. Other investigators have analyzed the properties of low-level frequency converters. However, the greatest lower bound of a combination of the converter and intermediate frequency amplifier system was not considered previously and is the subject of this paper. Knowledge of this lower bound has practical significance because if a measured value of noise figure is less than this lower bound, it follows that the measurement is in error. For illustrative purposes a lower bound is established on one of the highest quality systems available, employing a special General Electric diode as a frequency converter for the first network, and a 60 MHz IF amplifier for the second network. This resulted in a noise figure lower bound of 3.86 db for the overall system. This paper shows how this lower bound was obtained. Also the controversial right angle diode characteristic is found to be undesirable from an impedance viewpoint.
SELECTIVE INDUCTION OF PHASE II DRUG METABOLIZING ENZYME ACTIVITIES BY QUINOLINES AND ISOQUINOLINES

Rats treated with quinoline, and to a lesser extent, isoquinoline (75 mg/kg, daily for 3 days) showed induction of phase II drug metabolizing enzyme activities without inducing either cytochrome P450 concentration or CYP1A-, CYP2B-, CYP2E-, and CYP3A-selective activities. Elevations of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol, 1-naphthol, and morphine elicited by quinoline (1.9- to 2.7-fold), were greater than those elicited by isoquinoline (1.4- to 1.8-fold). UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards estrone and testosterone were not increased by either compound. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity was increased only by quinoline (2.7-fold). NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase activity was increased 2-fold by quinoline and isoquinoline. Cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was increased similarly (approximately 20%) by both agents. Similar treatment of rats with either quinine (75 mg/kg) or chloroquine (150 mg/kg) increased 1-naphthol glucuronidation and GST (quinine only) activities. At 75 mg/kg, chloroquine did not affect any phase II enzyme activities but caused a minor elevation of a phase I enzyme, CYP1A; ascertained from an elevation of 7-ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity and a small hypsochromic shift to the absorbance maximum of the cytochrome P450 CO-complex. With quinoline and isoquinoline treatments (n = 14), the correlation coefficients (R) between microsomal epoxide hydrolase and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol and morphine were 0.96 and 0.92 respectively, suggesting a highly coordinated induction. The highest NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase correlations were with microsomal epoxide hydrolase and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol and morphine (R approximately 0.78). Correlation coefficients between GST and microsomal epoxide hydrolase and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase activities were approximately 0.49. Quinoline and isoquinoline, nitrogen heterocyclic analogs of naphthalene, join the list of simple nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic agents capable of selective induction of phase II drug metabolizing enzymes. The position of the single heterocyclic nitrogen atom in the bicyclic ring influences the magnitude and breadth of the induction response. The addition of bulky ring substituents (quinine, chloroquine) reduced the induction response.
A sum-of-products model for effective coherent modulation filtering

Modulation filtering is a technique for filtering slowly-varying envelopes of frequency subbands of a nonstationary signal, ideally without affecting the signal's phase and fine-structure. Coherent modulation filtering is a promising subtype of such techniques where subband envelopes are determined through demodulation of the subband signal with a coherently detected subband carrier. In this paper we demonstrate how modulation filtering, when done coherently, is far more effective than standard incoherent methods. We show that empirical results can be made to be almost ideal, and significantly better than previous coherent attempts, as long as fine-structure information is retained as side information and the filterbank reduces subband interference.
The use of high performance computing in JPEG image compression

The problem inherent to any digital image (or digital video) system is the large amount of bandwidth required for transmission or storage. This has driven the research area of image compression to develop more complex algorithms that compress images to lower data rates with better fidelity. One approach that can be used to increase the execution speed of these complex algorithms is to implement the algorithms on a parallel supercomputer. The authors address the parallel implementation of the JPEG still image compression standard on the MasPar MP-1, a massively parallel SIMD computer. They demonstrate that the greatest difficulty lies not with the compression algorithm per se, but with the speed bottleneck that arises in the output of the compressed image. They develop a parallel output algorithm which addresses this problem and present results which show real-time performance on 1024/spl times/1024 images. >
Classification method of QRS waves by fractal dimension

Discusses the theoretical analysis of multiresolution ECG decomposition and expounds the calculation of the fractal dimension. Based on Mallat's multiresolution analysis and fractal dimension of the series, a new approach to classify the QRS complex is provided. The QRS complex is decomposed with a quadratic spline wavelet. At scale 3, the fractal dimension of the decomposed series is calculated, the values of modulus maxima of wavelet transform and the fractal dimension are used as discriminatory criteria to classify QRS. The method is simple and has high anti-noise ability, with the detection rate of PVB reaching 99.5% by the MIT database test.
THE EFFECTS OF VARIANCE HETEROGENEITY ON SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE‐COMPARISON PROCEDURES WITH EQUAL SAMPLE SIZE

The robustness of three multiple-comparison procedures (multiple t test, Tukey WSD and Scheffe S test) to the violation of the homogeneous population variance assumption was investigated using three different standard error estimates. These estimates were (1) the square root of two mean square within/n, (2) the standard error of the traditional t test and (3) the standard error of the Behrens-Fisher t′ statistic. The procedures were highly robust to variance heterogeneity using the Behrens-Fisher standard error estimate. The procedures were considerably less robust using MSW. The universal use of the Behrens-Fisher statistic with the Welch solution for critical values is recommended.
Controlled-Release Film Coatings Based on Ethylcellulose

AbstractEthylcellulose has become a polymer widely used in pharmaceutical film coating, especially when it is necessary to produce a modified-release dosage form. While initial emphasis was placed on using organic-solvent-based solutions of this polymer, more recent introduction of aqueous latex dispersions of ethylcellulose has attracted a lot of interest. This review will describe the characteristics of ethylcellulose film-coating systems, and discuss those factors (including those relating to the substrate, coating formulation and coating process) that can influence the behavior of such systems
Air motion in a two stroke engine cylinder ― The effects of exhaust geometry

Mouvement de l'air dans le cylindre d'un moteur a deux temps. Influence de la geometrie de l'echappement
Pills are not enough: the case for long-acting reversible contraceptives--and how North Carolinians can benefit.

This article centers on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods hormonal implants and intrauterine devices and their use in North Carolina. It provides the benefits of LARC methods the challenges of increasing the use of LARC the availability of the methods as well as the advocacy for LARC by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Presidential Power versus Bureaucratic Intransigence: The Influence of the Nixon Administration on Welfare Policy

Many observers routinely assert the relative weakness of presidents before the bureaucracy. The research of this study, guided by a structuralist theory of organizations, provides evidence of the Nixon administration's power to change policy, even over the opposition of the bureaucracy, concerning the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program. The study demonstrates that the management tools available to the president and top officials, when used adroitly, are more powerful than are generally presumed. That presidents can affix their indelible stamps on policy by short-circuiting the legislative process and dominating the bureaucracy is more than a remote possibility.
Mathematical Modeling and Methods for the Determination of the Static Thermoelastic State of Multilayer Thermally Sensitive Cylinders

We propose a procedure of getting analytic expressions for the description of axisymmetric stationary thermal fields, axisymmetric static or quasistatic stress and strain fields in long hollow multilayer cylinders made of thermally sensitive materials with constant normal loads and arbitrary classical conditions of heat exchange specified on the bounding surfaces. The problem of construction of the solution of the problem of heat conduction is reduced to the determination of one constant of integration and all other constants from a nonlinear algebraic equation are determined via the indicated constant. The problem of thermoelasticity is thus reduced to the solution of a system of Volterra integral equations of the second kind with the corresponding integral conditions. As a result of application of the proposed methods for the solution of the system of integral equations, we deduce formulas for the evaluation of the characteristics of the stress-strain state in the form of functional dependences on temperature, mass forces, thicknesses of the layers, surface loads and the temperature dependences of the mechanical characteristics of the materials of layers.
Methods for Virus Recovery in Water

Research involving the recovery of viruses from various water sources can be traced back to the 1950s when scientists were eager to better understand the occurrence and transmission of disease-causing viruses in water; most significant viruses at the time were poliovirus and hepatitis virus. LoGrippo and Berger (1952) utilized ion-exchange resins to concentrate poliovirus, and shortly thereafter Kelly (1953) demonstrated the use of these same resins for the concentration of coxsackie viruses from sewage samples. This seminal research led to development of the first methods that relied on manipulation of virus surface charge for recovering viruses from large volumes of water. Virus adsorption to filter media followed by elution by a pH-adjusted solution (Wallis and Melnick 1967) became collectively known as VIRADEL (virus adsorption elution) method. Shortly after VIRADEL methods were introduced, alternative methods to concentrate viruses based on size exclusion (i.e. ultrafiltration based on nominal molecular weight cut-off) were investigated. Belfort et al. (1975) concentrated viruses from 5 L of water using hollow fiber membranes and from this initial report through the present day, numerous studies have shown hollow-fiber ultrafiltration is effective for the recovery of viruses from water (Fong and Lipp 2005; Gensberger and Kostic 2013; Hill et al. 2007).
Show Me the Money: The Applicability of Contract Law's Ratification and Tender-Back Doctrines to Title VII Releases

If an employee releases her claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), but her assent to the release is not “voluntary and knowing,” the release is voidable at her option. But under common law, the power of a party to void a release, or any other contract, could be lost if the party ratifies the release or fails to tender back the consideration received. This raises the issue of whether these common law contract doctrines apply to releases that are voidable under Title VII. Although the United States Supreme Court in Oubre v. Entergy Operations, Inc. held that the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (OWBPA) generally precludes the application of the ratification and tender-back doctrines to a voidable release of claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), the decision in Oubre does not resolve whether ratification and tender back apply to a Title VII release. The Court's rationale in Oubre relied primarily (though not exclusively) on the specific language in the OWBPA for an effective waiver of ADEA claims, and the OWBPA does not apply to Title VII. Lacking binding precedent on the issue from the Supreme Court, lower courts have reached different conclusions. The uncertain state of the law regarding the application of ratification and tender back to Title VII releases adds further unpredictability to the already confusing law regarding the release of Title VII claims. The U.S. courts of appeals are divided on the proper test to apply to determine if a Title VII release was entered into knowingly and voluntarily, and the majority rule — the totality-of-the-circumstances test — is itself confusing and unpredictable. Thus, not only is it often unclear if a Title VII release is voidable, it is often unclear if an employee has lost the power to void the release because of the doctrines of ratification and tender back. This Article seeks to remove this confusion and set forth the proper role (if any) for the common law contract doctrines of ratification and tender back with respect to a release of Title VII claims. It concludes that ratification should apply to Title VII releases, but that the tender-back doctrine should be applied flexibly on a case-by-case basis.
Decomposing Drama Management in Educational Interactive Narrative: A Modular Reinforcement Learning Approach

Recent years have seen growing interest in data-driven approaches to personalized interactive narrative generation and drama management. Reinforcement learning (RL) shows particular promise for training policies to dynamically shape interactive narratives based on corpora of player-interaction data. An important open question is how to design reinforcement learning-based drama managers in order to make effective use of player interaction data, which is often expensive to gather and sparse relative to the vast state and action spaces required by drama management. We investigate an offline optimization framework for training modular reinforcement learning-based drama managers in an educational interactive narrative, Crystal Island. We leverage importance sampling to evaluate drama manager policies derived from different decompositional representations of the interactive narrative. Empirical results show significant improvements in drama manager quality from adopting an optimized modular RL decomposition compared to competing representations.
Effects of Hyperglycemia on Adults Hospitalized With Sepsis

Infectious sepsis (IS) is the result of a complex infection that is difficult to identify, diagnosis and treat. The gold standard for treatment of IS is early identification and intervention. There is a rise in patients with IS along with a concurrent rise of adults with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Adults with DM are more susceptible to acute illness due to the multiple body systems affected by DM. Acute illness in adults with DM leads to increased blood glucose levels that become difficult to treat. Extreme elevations of blood glucose are linked to longer lengths of stay and higher mortality rates in adults with IS. Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommends blood glucose levels to be controlled below 180mg/dl for all adults with and without diabetes. The purpose of this research study was to identify if a relationship exists between hyperglycemia, hyperlactatemia, hospital length of stay and mortality rates in septic adults with diabetes (Group A) and without diabetes (Group B). Findings of the study did not project what was predicted regarding hyperglycemia, however high lactate levels were associated with longer lengths of stay and higher mortality rates as predicted. This retrospective, two group design study found adults without diabetes had longer lengths of stay and higher mortality rates than adults with diabetes indicating poorly controlled glucose levels in nondiabetic adults with sepsis may impact patient outcomes. APRN’s can be instrumental in implementing change in patient care and hospital policy by providing evidenced based practice by following practice standards established at a national level such as the Surviving Sepsis Campaign.
Constitutive Rhetoric in the Age of Neoliberalism

Constitutive rhetoric is a theory of speech regarding the ability of language and symbols to create a collective identity for an audience. Focusing on the emancipatory power of newly constituted identities, Seitz and Tennant explore how constitutive rhetoric functions in a neoliberal world, where generating identification around democratic principles such as equality and freedom is an increasingly futile proposition. The authors advance Jacques Ranciere’s political theory of “dissensus” as an innovative conceptual framework for understanding the nature, limits, and rich potential of democratic constitutive rhetorical action as it actually occurs today. Through a brief concluding case study, Seitz and Tennant uncover the ways neoliberalism complicates traditional conceptions and practices of constitutive rhetoric and illustrate how Rancierean “dissensus” functions as a much-needed alternative.
Ethnic Hair Care Products

The multibillion dollar market for black hair care and styling products is constantly growing and changing. These products are tailored to satisfy the unique hair care needs of black consumers (and others with curly hair) and are often located in a separate section of the cosmetics aisle in retail stores and pharmacies. This section will discuss the use of hair oils, butters, and various styling aids commonly used by those with tightly curled hair. It is important that dermatologists become aware of these frequently used hair care and styling aids, and understand how they affect the hair.
Trajectories of sleep and cardiac sympathetic activity indexed by pre-ejection period in childhood.

Summary Fragmented and insufficient sleep has been implicated in disrupted autonomic nervous system activity during resting state conditions in typically developing children. Towards explication of these relations over development, the current study tested reciprocal relations between the development of sleep parameters (efficiency, duration, latency) and cardiac sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity indexed by pre-ejection period (PEP) during waking–resting state conditions throughout middle and late childhood. Whether sleep derives changes in PEP or vice versa was examined. A longitudinal design was employed and latent growth modelling was used to examine the research questions. During the first assessment, 282 children aged 9.44 years (65% European American, 35% African American) participated. Two more assessments followed, with a 1-year lag between consecutive study waves. Sleep was examined with 7 nights of actigraphy in the child's home. Controlling for many potential confounds (sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index and family socioeconomic status), higher sleep efficiency and more sleep minutes predicted increases in PEP (less SNS activity) over 3 years. PEP did not predict changes in sleep efficiency or duration over time and there were no significant effects for sleep latency. Findings highlight the probable direction of effects between these two key bioregulatory systems. High levels of cardiac SNS activity are associated with many negative health outcomes, and thus these findings may have important implications.
Developing Foresight Capacity: Sensemaking about the Future in Public Media Organizations

Many organizations struggle with envisioning and planning for the future. Making sense of the future is an integral and implicit part of management processes yet the temporal elements of strategy a...
Design, fabrication and characterization of flexible MEMS accelerometer using multi-Level UV-LIGA

Abstract Surface micro-machined z-axis capacitive accelerometers were designed and fabricated on a flexible polyimide substrate, conformal down to 2 cm radius of curvature with the stresses sustained by all layers well below the yield strength for each material. A novel UV-LIGA fabrication technique was developed to realize a thicker proof-mass (8 μm) compared to the spring (3 μm), thus decoupling the two important parameters: the stiffness and the proof-mass to achieve higher sensitivity. Devices with three different sizes were fabricated with the capability of sustaining under distinct amount of acceleration and tuned to frequencies ranging from 600 Hz to 1100 Hz. The largest device, having the area of 960 μm × 960 μm, showed a sensitivity of 187 fF/g with a SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) of at least 100 when characterized at its resonance frequency of 800 Hz. The applied acceleration was ±4 g in addition to gravitation.
Palladium-Catalyzed Negishi Coupling of α-CF3 Oxiranyl Zincate: Access to Chiral CF3-Substituted Benzylic Tertiary Alcohols

We report a Pd-catalyzed stereospecific α-arylation of optically pure 2,3-epoxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane (TFPO). This method allows for the direct and reliable preparation of optically pure 2-CF3-2-(hetero)aryloxiranes, which are precursors to many CF3-substituted tertiary alcohols. The use of continuous-flow methods has allowed the deprotonation of TFPO and subsequent zincation at higher temperature compared to that under traditional batch conditions.
High performance and record subthreshold swing demonstration in scaled RMG SiGe FinFETs with high-Ge-content channels formed by 3D condensation and a novel gate stack process

We demonstrate scaled high-Ge-content (HGC) strained SiGe pMOS FinFETs with very high short channel (SC) performance using a Replacement High-K/Metal Gate (RMG) flow, for the first time. A novel RMG gate stack process was introduced to create Ge-free interface-layer (IL) with excellent reliability and sub-threshold swing (SS) as low as 62mV/dec, the best reported to date for Si-cap-free SiGe FinFETs. We also present some structural details of the gate stack, for the first time. Short channel characteristics of HGC SiGe FinFETs have also been studied for various fin widths. Compared to our earlier RMG work, improved I/I free process with ultra-thin spacers has led to considerable R on and R ext reduction. As a result, we have demonstrated very high SiGe performance with I on =0.45mA/μm at I off =100nA/μm at V dd =0.5V for L G =25nm, matching our record for gate-first SiGe FinFETs and outperforming the gate-first results at such LG.
Developing a 3-DOF compliant perching arm for a free-flying robot on the International Space Station

This paper presents the design and control of the 3-DOF compliant perching arm for the free-flying Astrobee robots that will operate inside the International Space Station (ISS). The robots are intended to serve as a flexible platform for future guest scientists to use for zero-gravity robotics research—thus, the arm is designed to support manipulation research. It provides a 1-DOF underactuated tendon-driven gripper capable of enveloping a range of objects of different shapes and sizes. Co-located RGB camera and LIDAR sensors provide perception. The Astrobee robots will be capable of grasping each other in flight, to simulate orbital capture scenarios. The arm's end-effector module is swappable on-orbit, allowing guest scientists to add upgraded grippers, or even additional arm degrees of freedom. The design of the arm balances research capabilities with Astrobee's operational need to perch on ISS handrails to reduce power consumption. Basic arm functioning and grip strength were evaluated using an integrated Astrobee prototype riding on a low-friction air bearing.
Diastereoselective C-H Bond Amination for Disubstituted Pyrrolidines.

We report herein on the improved diastereoselective synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines from aliphatic azides. Experimental and theoretical studies of the C-H amination reaction mediated by the iron dipyrrinato complex (AdL)FeCl(OEt2) provided a model for diastereoinduction and allowed for systematic variation of the catalyst to enhance selectivity. Among the iron alkoxide and aryloxide catalysts evaluated, the iron-phenoxide complex exhibited superior performance towards the generation of syn 2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines with high diastereoselectivity.
Theories of Promissory Estoppel: Reliance and Promise

Despite contract law’s modern-day theoretical pluralism, discussed in Chapter 1, the bargain theory of consideration constituted the principal basis for enforcement of promises in the United’States from the late-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century.1 The bargain theory was underinclusive, however, in part because an assortment of gratuitous promises called out for enforcement.2 Suppose, for example, a promisee improved land in reliance on a landowner’s broken gift promise to convey. Suppose a promisee failed to insure her property in reliance on an insurance agent’s gratuitous broken promise to insure the property. Suppose a donor broke a promise to donate money to a charity.3 Responding to the promisee’s hardship or, occasionally, another strong policy such as aiding charitable institutions, courts began to enforce these and other gratuitous promises.4 Corbin amassed these cases to persuade the drafters of the first Restatement of Contracts to recognize justifiable reliance on gift promises as a distinct basis of enforcement.5
Primary care management of chronic pelvic pain in women

Chronic pelvic pain in women can arise from many causes and often results in significant declines in function and quality of life. A systematic approach for evaluating patients and initiating a management plan are recommended in the primary care setting. Comprehensive management strategies may include medication, pelvic physical therapy, and behavioral interventions.
DIFFUSE INTERSTITIAL MYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH ABNORMAL LEFT ATRIAL MECHANICS

An increasing number of studies demonstrate the clinical and prognostic importance of phasic LA function. A better understanding of the determinants of LA function in clinical populations is required. Increased myocardial stiffness from myocardial fibrosis may impair afterload during LA contraction
The Role of Spatial and Spectral Hole Burning in QCL Frequency Comb Formation

We investigate theoretically formation of frequency comb in Quantum Cascade Lasers operating in mid-IR and THz regions and show that spectral and spatial hole burning mitigation favors pseudo-random frequency modulation format.
Gastro-jejunostomy tube related intestinal perforation in an infant presenting incidentally with a splenic abscess

Abstract Introduction Gastro-jejunostomy tubes (GJT) are commonly used for enteral nutrition in patients with gastric feeding intolerance, gastroesophageal reflux, and those at high risk of aspiration. Complications are generally minor, however highly morbid complications exist, specifically in younger and smaller infants. Case presentation A 12 month old male with a history of long gap esophageal atresia presented for management of refractory esophageal stricture and intolerance of enteral feeds. To improve his nutritional status and enteral tolerance, he underwent conversion of his gastrostomy tube to a GJT with fluoroscopic guidance. Eight days later, a computed tomography scan of the chest obtained for preoperative planning incidentally noted a splenic abscess containing the tip of the GJT. The patient was taken to the operating room where diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a small bowel perforation at the ligament of Treitz (LOT), with the tip of the GJT embedded within the spleen. The tube was removed, the abscess was debrided, and the small bowel repaired. He completed a post-operative course of intravenous antibiotics and recovered without further complications. Conclusion While complications from GJTs are well described, this case uniquely highlights the risk of intestinal perforation from GJT, with a delayed and subtle presentation. We suggest that patients, specifically those under 12 months of age and weighing under 10 kg, be monitored closely for complications post-operatively, and the use of modified GJTs with jejunal limbs employing smaller/thinner feeding tubes that are placed well beyond LOT be strongly considered.