cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human rights and sovereign abolitions of slavery, c. 1885–1956

The League of Nations and the United Nations advocated clear, ethical principles to govern relations between the great powers and developing nations. These principles reflected the different political eras in which these international governments were founded, the first in the high era of European imperialism, and the second in the era of imperial decline that presaged the Cold War and decolonization. The League employed a decidedly imperial discourse, ranking people in a cultural hierarchy that ascended from savagery to civilization. According to the League’s covenant, trusteeship was the fundamental principle that defined an ethical relationship between the civilized and the savage. This ‘sacred trust’ was premised upon paternalism, capitalist development, the intrinsic sovereignty of colonial nations, and the trustee’s commitment to relinquish power when the colonial wards had become civilized and thus capable of governing themselves. By contrast, the United Nations discarded the idiom of civilization and savagery.
Abstract 8: Outcomes following Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Medicare Beneficiaries

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart dysrhythmia and risk increases with advancing age. Guidelines advocate catheter ablation as a treatment for AF in patients who have failed antiarrhythmic drug therapy. However, little is known about outcomes associated with AF ablation in elderly patients. Methods: We obtained administrative claims for all Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries ≥65 years who underwent intracardiac catheter ablation from 7/1/2007 to 12/31/2009. Outcomes included mortality, stroke/TIA, pericardial effusion, new MI, and vascular complications requiring surgery within 30 days, and mortality, stroke/TIA, heart failure, new hospitalization, and repeat AF ablation within 1 year. We used Kaplan-Meier methods to calculate unadjusted outcome rates overall and by age, and multivariable Cox models to examine predictors of 1-year outcomes. Results: Overall, 15,423 Medicare beneficiaries underwent AF ablation (mean age 72 years, 41% female and 96% white). Common comorbidities included hypertension (78%) and ischemic heart disease (51%). Dementia (0.6%) and stroke/TIA (6%) were relatively rare. Adverse outcomes at 30 days were fairly infrequent, including death (0.8%), stroke/TIA (0.8%), pericardial effusion (2%), MI (0.3%) and vascular complications (0.5%). Within 1 year, 4% of patients died, 43% required new hospitalization, and 11% had repeat ablation. AF or atrial flutter was the primary discharge diagnosis in a minority of new hospitalizations (38%). The death rate among patients aged ≥80 years (10%) was 5 times higher than among patients aged 65-69 years (2%). Whereas stroke/TIA, heart failure and hospitalization (Figure) also increased with age, repeat ablation was more common in younger patients. After multivariable adjustment, renal impairment (HR 2.07 [1.66, 2.58]), advanced age (HR for age ≥ 80 years, =3.09 [2.32, 4.11]), and heart failure (HR 2.54 [2.07, 3.13]) were notable risk factors for 1-year mortality following AF ablation. Conclusion: While major complications following AF ablation were fairly infrequent, new hospitalization was common. Given the association of complications and death with increasing age, randomized trials should inform the risk-benefit of AF ablation for elderly patients. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Habitat fragmentation, species diversity, extinction, and design of nature reserves

We review theories commonly offered to predict the consequences of habitat fragmentation for community- and population-level diversity, and their potential use in conservation strategies. Exploring community-level effects of habitat subdivision, we demonstrate why island biogeography theory is not applicable to the problem of determining the best reserve size for maximum diversity. Evidence from field studies and experiments tends to argue for higher levels of diversity with some moderate degree of habitat subdivision, provided that the amount of total habitat area, whether intact or subdivided, is the same. We examine the relationship between population subdivision and extinction. In theory, large populations are resistant to extinction due to demographic or genetic stochasticity, whereas population subdivision permits escape from chance environmental threats. It follows that a conservation advantage might be gained from preserving multiple populations, depending on the relative importance of different extinction mechanisms in nature. Empirical evidence for this is mixed, varying among different organisms in different habitats. We conclude that strategies emphasizing reserve size to the exclusion of other concerns are not well supported.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-associated angioedema treated with c1-esterase inhibitor: A case report and review of the literature.

Case ReportA 59-year old man currently on >5 years of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) therapy presented to the emergency department with angioedema of the tongue and difficulty swall...
Enhancement of infrared activity by moving electrons through bonds: The case of CO2 anion and carboxylate

Abstract In this work, we compare the intensity ratio of symmetric to antisymmetric C O stretching vibrational transitions in CO 2 − and MCOO − (M = H, Ag and Bi) using photodissociation spectroscopy. We observe that this ratio depends strongly on the bonding partner M. We trace this behavior to a dynamic change in the charge distribution of the molecules during vibrational motion by comparing the derivatives of the dipole moment during vibrational motion calculated from a fixed-charge approximation, a charge distribution analysis, and the prediction of the infrared spectra of the ions under study. The calculations are based on density functional theory.
The 3D Autojuggie: automating acquisition of 3D near-surface seismic reflection data

New instrumentation, known as the 3D Autojuggie, has been developed that allows acquisition of three-dimensional shallow seismic reflection data in a cost-effective manner. The 3D Autojuggie is capable of simultaneously planting 220 geophones with 0.5-m spacing in the inline and crossline directions in less than 1 minute. Likewise, all 220 geophones can be picked up in the same amount of time so that the receiver grid can be moved and redeployed on the order of a few minutes without disconnecting cables and seismographs. This significantly reduces the time required to roll geophones and cables and the number of crew members needed for three-dimensional high-resolution seismic surveying. While efficiency of three-dimensional surveying is demonstrated here, the use of the Autojuggie will be limited in rough terrain and in dry or rocky top soil. This study presents two field tests of the 3D Autojuggie. The first one was conducted over soil using conventional geophones with spikes, and the second one was conducted over hard pavement using geophones mounted on base plates. Each dataset is compared to corresponding walkaway lines of conventional manually placed control geophones. Data acquired using the 3D Autojuggie are directly comparable and nearly indistinguishable to hand-planted geophones. Field experiments resulted in a minimum of triple the acquisition efficiency increase compared with conventional geophone deployment methods. This work demonstrates that the 3D Autojuggie can facilitate the acquisition of high-resolution three-dimensional seismic data, making possible routine ultra-shallow seismic imaging.
Hepcidin Expression Is Regulated by a Complex of Hemochromatosis-Associated Proteins.

Abstract Hemochromatosis is a common genetic disease resulting from increased dietary iron absorption and tissue iron deposition. Mutations in five unrelated genes are known to cause hemochromatosis in humans and mice. These encode the classic hemochromatosis protein (HFE), transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2), the iron exporter ferroportin (FPN), hemojuvelin (HJV), and the circulating anti-microbial peptide hepcidin (HAMP). Hepcidin binds to FPN, causing its internalization and degradation, thus decreasing cellular iron release. A basic understanding of the pathophysiology of FPN and hepcidin mutations has recently been elucidated; however, it was still unclear how mutations in HFE, TFR2, and HJV cause hemochromatosis. All are associated with decreased hepcidin production and inappropriately high levels of ferroportin activity. HFE, TFR2 and HJV are normally expressed in the hepatic cells that produce hepcidin. With collaborators, we showed that HJV acts as a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) co-receptor. HJV binds to the BMP ligands and forms a complex with Type I BMP receptors, resulting in signaling through a SMAD pathway and induction of hepcidin expression. Disease causing mutations in HJV abrogate BMP co-receptor activity, and hepatocytes from Hjv−/ − mice have a blunted response to BMP2. HFE was known to form a complex with the classical transferrin receptor, TFR1. Several models have been proposed implicating this complex in the regulation of normal iron homeostasis, but they have not taken the role of hepcidin into account. To examine the HFE/TFR1 interaction in vivo, we developed mice expressing a mutant form of TFR1 that should constitutively interact with HFE. We found that these transgenic animals have a phenotype similar to Hfe−/ − mice, suggesting that TFR1 serves to sequester HFE to silence its activity. We next asked whether HFE might also participate in BMP signaling. We found that forced expression of HFE in a hepatoma cell line induces transcription of a reporter gene linked to the hepcidin promoter. It also induces transcription from a heterologous promoter containing BMP-responsive elements, suggesting that HFE works through the BMP pathway. In contrast, forced expression of TFR2 did not amplify expression of either reporter, but it prevented cellular release of a soluble cleavage product of HJV. Furthermore, we showed that both HFE and TFR2 are associated with HJV in a stable protein complex that can be isolated by co-immunoprecipitation or Ni-affinity chromatography. TFR2 appears to aid in the recruitment of HFE to this complex. We conclude that HFE and TFR2 thus serve to amplify BMP signaling through an HJV/BMP receptor pathway. Our findings provide a compelling explanation for the similar clinical hemochromatosis phenotypes resulting from mutations in these genes.
Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Vascular Properties: The Value of Repeatedly Measured Longitudinal Data.

In this issue of JAHA , O'Neill et al demonstrate the utility of longitudinal data in illustrating the relation between alcohol consumption and arterial stiffness.[1][1] Recent reports from various parts of the world detail a disturbing stagnation and decline in peace‐time population life
Degradation of C14-labeled thymidine and its halogenated analogues in man.

The incorporation into DNA of mammalian cells in vitro of the halogenated thymidine analogues 5-bromo-, 5-iodo-, and 5-chlorodeoxyuridine (BUdR, IUdR, and CUdR) has been demonstrated in a number of laboratories, and many of the conditions promoting such incorporation have been defined. Such incorporation, when quantitatively adequate, renders the cells hypersensitive to X-irradiation [1]. While these compounds may also be incorporated into DNA in vivo [2,3,4] quantitative substitution for DNA thymidine is greatly limited under these conditions because of the rapid phosphorolytic cleavage of the analogues [5,6]. To study the possibility of achieving a therapeutically useful degree of radiosensitization in man, it is important to be able to measure conveniently the amounts of the analogues incorporated under various conditions.
Superacid-promoted synthesis of highly porous hypercrosslinked polycarbazoles for efficient CO2 capture

A superacid-promoted “knitting” strategy has been developed for the generation of a novel family of hypercrosslinked nanoporous polycarbazoles for efficient CO2 capture. Using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, a Bronsted superacid, we demonstrate the facile and rapid synthesis of highly porous polycarbazoles with BET surface areas as high as 1688 m2 g−1, and capable of adsorbing 3.5 mmol g−1 of CO2 at 298 K and 1 bar. This impressive result bestows the material with the highest CO2 uptake capacity for all nanoporous carbazolic polymers and ranks among the best by known porous organic polymers under this condition. This innovative approach affords a metal-free alternative to Friedel–Crafts alkylation, and may open up new possibilities for the rational design and synthesis of new hypercrosslinked nanoporous organic networks for carbon capture.
Organizational Communication Theory and Research: An Overview of Communication Climate and Network Research

This review is designed to provide the reader with an understanding of the issues and problems facing two of the most important areas of contemporary organizational communication research: communic...
Expeditious emergency room referral pathway improves patient access to otolaryngology care.

Objectives Historically at a multi-hospital residency program, there was an unexpected number of non-urgent consults from the county hospital emergency room (ER) that caused residents to make more trips between hospitals and come closer to violating duty hours. Moreover, there was also a poor follow-up rate for these patients. An alternate pathway to redirect such consults to the Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) clinic, staffed by an attending physician, was devised. This study illustrates how an undemanding process change can improve access to care, and resident duty hours and satisfaction. Study Design Quality Improvement Study. Methods The average rate of no-show appointments and overall number of patients referred from the county hospital ER; a survey of impact on resident workload; and an average number of on-call resident trips to county hospital were compared in the 12 months before and after implementation of an expedited ER referral pathway. Results The overall number of patients referred to clinic from ER increased by 35% (123 to 166 patients). The average number of completed visits for patients referred to the ORL-HNS clinic from the ER increased by 29% (91 to 117 patients). There was no statistically significant change in the no-show rate of said patients. The average number of overnight resident trips to the county hospital, frequency of resident unpreparedness for routine clinical duty and need to alter schedule to avoid duty hour violations all decreased, while resident satisfaction increased. Conclusions An undemanding process change in a safety-net, publicly-funded, county hospital setting can decrease resident workload and improve satisfaction while possibly improving patient access to specialty clinic care and follow-up rates for patients. Level of Evidence clinical outcomes, level IV.
Iron and Oxidative Stress in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury Directions for Therapeutic Intervention

When placental or pulmonary gas exchange is compromised in the fetus or newborn infant it produces hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and metabolic acidosis. Initially during asphyxia, blood flow to the brain increases to maintain cerebral energy metabolism until cardiac depression causes hypotension, bradycardia, and cerebral ischemia (Van-nucci, 1990). Unless prompt and effective resuscitation is achieved, the asphyxiated infant will die. Even when resuscitation is successful, survival may be accompanied by varying degrees of brain injury, the nature of which is related to the duration of the primary insult, the gestational age, and therapeutic interventions initiated during the post-resuscitation period.
Discord and Collaboration in UN Security Council Negotiations: The Case of China, 1971-2009

In the past half-decade, China has adopted a relatively assertive approach on a series of issues brought before the UN Security Council. These include North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Burma and Zimbabwe. This paper argues that, in historical perspective, China has been a relatively restrained participant in UNSC negotiations, using power to substantively impact outcomes only when major national interests were at stake. It has avoided disputes when the source of contention was of a purely ideological character. Assertiveness in the early 21st century, though more pronounced than in the past, is merely a continuation of a generally pragmatic and meticulous approach to diplomacy in the UNSC. The expectation is that China will continue to avoid unnecessary friction and oppose the U.S. and its allies only when doing so is useful from a strategic point of view.
Deep Learning Model for Classifying Drug Abuse Risk Behavior in Tweets

Social media such as Twitter can provide urgently needed drug abuse intelligence to support the campaign of fighting against the national drug abuse crisis. We employed a targeted tweet collection approach and a two-staged annotation strategy that combines conventional annotation with crowdsourced annotation to produce annotated training dataset. In this demo, we share deep learning models trained in a boosting manner using the data from the two-staged annotation method and unlabeled data collection to detect drug abuse risk behavior in tweets.
Toward a Model for Preparatory Community Listening

While current community literacy scholarship foregrounds the importance of listening carefully to communities in the process of establishing, developing, and sustaining equitable and ethical community partnerships, the field does not yet offer explicit methods for practicing community listening, especially in the early, preparatory stages of the process. We address this gap by drawing on a case study of "preparatory community listening" in San Bernardino, California. In this project, we article an asset-based method for practicing community listening that emphasizes attention to discursive, material, political, and economic dynamics, particularly in communities shaped by deficit narratives.
Juror notetaking and question asking during trials: A national field experiment.

Juror notetaking and question asking is examined in 160 trials. Results do not support the hypotheses that juror notes aid memory or increase satisfaction with the trial or verdict. Jurors do not overemphasize noted evidence; their notes do not produce a distorted view of the case. Notetakers can keep pace with the trial, and they do not distract other jurors nor have an undue influence over non-notetakers. Juror notetaking does not favor either party and it consumes little time. Results support the hypothesis that jury questioning promotes juror understanding of facts and issues. Questions do not clearly help get to the truth, alert trial counsel to significant issues, or increase trial or verdict satisfaction. Potential disadvantages of questions are not supported: Jurors do not ask inappropriate questions, are not embarrassed or angered by objections, do not become advocates rather than neutrals, and do not overemphasize their own questions and answers. Counsel are not reluctant to object to juror questions. The jury does not draw inappropriate inferences from unanswered questions, and questions do not have detectable prejudicial effects.
Optical mapping of crack tip deformations using the methods of transmission and reflection coherent gradient sensing - A study of crack tip K-dominance

A new full field optical technique-‘Coherent Gradient Sensing’ (CGS)-is developed and used to study crack tip deformations in transparent as well as opaque solids. A first order diffraction analysis is provided for the technique and its feasibility is demonstrated both in transmission and reflection modes. Preliminary results from the dynamic crack growth experiment clearly demonstrate the capability of CGS to be an effective experimental alternative to other optical methods used in dynamic fracture studies. Notably, it is a full field technique which works with optically isotropic materials.
Disseminated Central Nervous System Histoplasmosis: A Case Report

Central nervous system (CNS) histoplasmosis is a rare manifestation of disease, often misdiagnosed due to the wide spectrum of neurological presentation. We present a rare case of CNS histoplasmosis in a 62-year-old male with untreated myeloproliferative disease who presented with altered mental status. This case emphasizes the clinical presentation and diagnostic difficulty in a patient with CNS histoplasmosis. We also highlight the importance of implementing a multidisciplinary approach in the medical management of disseminated histoplasmosis with CNS involvement.
Recent advances in coeliac disease

Coeliac disease is a genetically determined, immune-mediated chronic noninfectious enteropathy. Though possessing a common multifactorial aetiology embracing genes and environment, the unique feature of coeliac disease is a well-defined external cause — a wheat constituent named gluten, and similar storage polypeptides from rye and barley. The disorder is caused by the interaction of gluten with the immune-competent cells, whereby different genes and multiple environmental factors may confer either increased or reduced risk for acquiring the disease. It could be described as a piece of music directed by gluten and performed by the orchestra of immune cells of both innate and acquired immunity, on a stage set by genes and environmental factors, with a resulting synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines which change a velvety small bowel mucosa into a flat moon surface. However, many melodies in this symphony are far from being unravelled into simple tunes.
Barriers and Facilitators to Latinx College Students Seeking Counseling

The current study sought to investigate possible negative and positive predictors of hypothetically and actually engaging in mental health services for Latinx college students. Online surveys were ...
Measuring Irregular Geographic Exposure on the Internet.

We examine the extent of needless traffic exposure by the routing infrastructure to nations geographically irrelevant to packet transmission. We quantify what countries are geographically logical to observe on a network path traveling between two nations through the use of convex hulls circumscribing major population centers. We then compare that to the nation states observed in over 2.5 billion measured paths. We examine both the entire geographic topology of the Internet and a subset of the topology that a Tor user would typically interact with. We find that 44% of paths across the entire geographic topology of the Internet and 33% of paths in the user experience subset unnecessarily expose traffic to one or more nations. Finally, we consider the scenario where countries exercise both legal and physical control over autonomous systems, gaining access to traffic outside of their geographic borders, but carried by organizations that fall under the AS's registered country's legal jurisdiction. At least 49% of paths in both measurements expose traffic to a geographically irrelevant country when considering both the physical and legal countries that a path traverses.
Exacerbated heat strain during consecutive days of repeated exercise sessions in heat.

Abstract Objectives An exercise session in a hot environment may increase thermal strain during subsequent exercise sessions on the same and consecutive days. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine lasting physiological strain from moderate-high intensity, intermittent exercise in heat on subsequent exercise. Design Repeated measures laboratory study. Methods Seventeen healthy, recreationally active men (age: 22 ± 3 y, maximal oxygen consumption: 54.6 ± 5.3 mL kg−1 min−1) underwent two intermittent moderate-high intensity aerobic exercise sessions separated by 2 h of rest one day, followed by one session 24 h later in a 40 °C, 40% relative humidity environment. Heart rate, rectal temperature, heat stress perception, and environmental symptoms were assessed. Results 100%, 35%, and 71% of participants completed the full exercise protocol during the first exercise session, second exercise session, and the following day, respectively. Exercising heart rate and rectal temperature were greater during the second exercise session (189 ± 11 bpm, 38.80 ± 0.47 °C) than the first identical exercise session (180 ± 17 bpm, p = 0.004; 38.41 ± 0.52 °C, p = 0.001), respectively. Immediate post-exercise heart rate, rectal temperature, thirst, thermal sensation, fatigue, and perceived exertion were similar among exercise sessions despite a shorter exercise duration during the second exercise session (93 ± 27 min, p = 0.001) and the following day (113 ± 12 min, p = 0.032) than the first exercise session (120 ± 0 min). Conclusions Moderate-high-intensity intermittent exercise in the heat resulted in greater heat strain during a second exercise session the same day, and exercise the subsequent day.
The influence of traumatic brain injury on the allocation of vertical spatial attention

Objective: Research on impairments of spatial attention has primarily investigated hemispatial neglect in brain-lesioned patients, revealing decrements in the allocation of attention to right versu...
Challenges in Radio Frequency and Mixed-Signal Circuit Reliability

The reliability challenges encountered during the design of radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal circuits are discussed. RF circuits can operate at voltages greater than twice the nominal supply voltage and thus hot-carrier and off-state aging are key considerations. Mixed-signal circuits also present a reliability challenge due to their stringent matching and offset requirements.
Reactive Changes of Endocrine Cells of Intestinal Mucosal Epithelium with Administration of Melatonin or Doxylamine Succinate (Electron Microscopic Study)

Using an electron microscopy method, the structure of endocrinocytes of mucosal epithelium of duodenum, colon, and rectum in Wistar line rats was studied after daily administration of melatonin or doxylamine succinate for 1 month. It was demonstrated that morphological traits of increased functional activity (which is often accompanied by intracellular regeneration phenomena) are observed 1 day after the last administration of the studied substances. Mitochondria of endocrinocytes are primarily subject to changes. In addition, a large number of poorly differentiated endocrine cells were registered in the intestinal epithelium of rats subjected to experimental exposure, which indicates the activation of cambial elements of the epithelium. In all studied cases, D1 cells were more frequently found in the epithelium than other types of endocrinocytes.
Ur-Technical Debt

These days, everyone uses the term technical debt. It's so prevalent that we shorten it to tech debt tech debt or even just TD. Tech debt is also hacky code, code written by novices, code written without consideration of software architecture (so-called big balls of mud), and code with antipatterns flagged by static analysis tools.
Public and Private Information: Complements or Substitutes?

Public information is widely viewed as a way to level the playing field among investors. We provide evidence that is inconsistent with this notion; public information can make private signals more valuable. Hedge funds acquiring public information subsequently earn 1.5%-higher annualized abnormal returns than non-acquirors. Acquisition forecasts news and its value-relevance, suggesting that public information complements private signals. The positive relation between public information acquisition and fund performance is not explained by information processing skill, time-varying effort, or other differences in fund ability. Our results inform theories that make assumptions on the relation between public and private signals.
Kantianism and Virtue

C. M. Korsgaard’s Kantianism allows, as the contribution aims to show, for a central role of virtue inside a Kantian framework. We always act in the light of practical identities – self-conceptions under which we value ourselves. To be moral means to be a member in the Kingdom of Ends, contribute to other’s well-being and strive for one’s own excellence. Concluding, three problems are addressed: (a) the lack of specificity of what exactly counts as virtuous, (b) the free-rider problem, and (c) the selfishness-objection against setting one’s own virtue as an end.
Why Collaborative Apparel Consumption is Gaining Popularity? An Empirical Study of U.S. Gen Z Consumers

Apparel rental (a.k.a. collaborative consumption) has created an innovative business model, which provides consumers with the ability to focus on using their products instead of ownership, is becoming popular in recent years. To better understand the emerging popularity of apparel rental services among Gen Z adult consumers who are becoming a major driving force for retail growth and sustainability movement,this study aimed to identify the factors significantly influencing the U.S. Gen Z adult consumers’ intention to use apparel rental services. Attitude, subject norms, perceived consumer effectiveness, past environmental behavior, and fashion leadership significantly affect Gen Z consumers’ intent to use apparel rental services. There are no significant differences between ages, genders, education levels, and income levels inregard to their intent to use apparel rental services. Environmental knowledge, fashion leadership,and need for uniqueness positively shape Gen Z consumers’ attitude toward use of apparel rental services.
Collaborative Partnering for Airport Construction Projects: State-of-Practice

AbstractPartnering has enabled state departments of transportation (DOTs) and aviation construction projects to significantly reduce claims and improve project schedules. Today there is a wide body...
Executives’ gender-diversity, education, and firm’s bankruptcy risk: Evidence from China

Abstract We empirically investigate the relationship between the gender-diversity and bankruptcy risks in Chinese-listed manufacturing firms. We also investigate whether the executives’ education level moderates the relationship between the gender-diversity and bankruptcy risk. Using a sample of 4079 firm-year observations from 2005–2016, we find that, at the executives’ level, firms with greater gender-diversity have a lower propensity for bankruptcy risk compared to firms with lower gender-diversity. More importantly, we find that the higher educational level strengthens this negative relationship between gender-diversity and bankruptcy.
Efficacy of a Lung-Tuned Monopole Antenna for Microwave Ablation: Analytical Solution and Validation in a Ventilator-Controlled Ex Vivo Porcine Lung Model

The goal of this study was to optimize a lung-tuned monopole antenna to deliver microwave energy at 2.45 GHz into a novel ventilator-controlled ex vivo lung model. An analytic\approach was utilized to create an optimized monopole antenna that was impedance-matched to aerated lung tissue. This lung-tuned antenna was then fabricated using a copper 0.085” semi-rigid copper coaxial cable. For validation, the lung-tuned antenna was inserted centrally into lobes of a ex vivo porcine lung that was fully inflated to physiologically appropriate volumes. Microwave ablations were then created at 50 and 100 W for 1 minute and 5 minutes. Reflected power, cross sectional ablation sizes and spherical shape of the lung-tuned antenna were compared against a liver-tuned antenna in the ventilator-controlled ex vivo lung tissue. The study showed that the lung-tuned antennas delivered energy significantly more efficiently, with less reflected power, compared to the conventionally-used liver-tuned antennas at 50 W at 1 minute (11.8 ${\pm }$ 3.0 vs 16.3 ${\pm }$ 3.1 W; p value = 0.03) and 5 minutes (16.2 ${\pm }$ 2.8 vs 19.4 ${\pm }$ 2.9 W; p value = 0.04), although this was only true using 100 W at the 1 min time point (29.0 ${\pm }$ 3.5 vs 38.0 ${\pm }$ 5.3 W; p value = 0.02). While overall ablation zone sizes were comparable between the two types of antenna, the lung-tuned antenna did create a significantly more spherical ablation zone compared to the liver-tuned antenna at the 1 minute, 50 W setting (aspect ratio: 0.43 ${\pm }$ 0.07 vs 0.38 ${\pm }$ 0.04; p value = 0.04). In both antenna groups, there was a significant rise in the ablation zone aspect ratio between 1 and 5 minutes, indicating that higher power and time settings can increase the spherical shape of ablation zones when using tuned antennas. Adapting this combined analytic and parametric approach to antenna design can be implemented in adaptive tissue-tuning for real-time microwave ablation optimization in lung tissue.
Isotopic Substitution in the Analysis of the Infrared Spectra of High Polymers

One of the important methods for identifying the origin of bands in the infrared spectrum of a high polymer, and therefore aiding in their assignment, is isotopic substitution. The most useful of such substitutions is that of deuterium for hydrogen, which leads to a lowering of the frequencies of all modes that involve the motions of the substituted hydrogen atoms. In the past this effect has only been discussed qualitatively. The use of a recently proposed approximate isotopic frequency rule, however, now makes it possible in many cases to identify the particular normal mode associated with a given band from the magnitude of its frequency shift on deuteration. This can be an important aid in the analysis of a spectrum. The applications and limitations of this rule, as well as the general problems associated with the study of deuterated polymers, will be discussed with reference to several polymers, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride.
A Survey of VLSI Architectures for FFT Computation in Signal and Image Processing Applications

The increasing demands of speed and performance in modern signal and image processing applications necessitate design and applications of massive parallel processors technology. Due to the availability of low-cost, high density, high speed Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) devices and emerging computer aided design, there has been a dramatic worldwide growth in research and development efforts on mapping various signal and image processing applications onto such VLSI architectures. Modern image processing technology depends critically on the device and architectural innovations of the computing hardware. This paper attempts to survey some of the VLSI architectures that have already been reported for computation of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in signal and image processing applications. Primarily, pipeline-based, parallel architecture is discussed and parallel-pipeline FFT processor architectures are also touched upon. In the end, the paper also discusses the importance of using CORDIC algorithms for design and implementation of efficient VLSI architectures for the said computing method.
EXISTENCE: WHO NEEDS IT? THE NON‐IDENTITY PROBLEM AND MERELY POSSIBLE PEOPLE

In formulating procreative principles, it makes sense to begin by thinking about whose interests ought to matter to us. Obviously, we care about those who exist. Less obviously, but still uncontroversially, we care about those who will exist. Ought we to care about those who might possibly, but will not actually, exist? Recently, unusual positions have been taken regarding merely possible people and the non-identity problem. David Velleman argues that what might have happened to you - an existent person - often doesn't merit moral consideration since the alternative person one would have been had what might have happened actually happened is a merely possible person about whom one has no reason to care. He argues that his way of thinking can eliminate the non-identity problem. Caspar Hare argues that merely possible people have interests and are morally relevant. He argues that we can solve the non-identity problem by rejecting the view that merely possible people are morally irrelevant. Both Hare and Velleman argue that focusing on one's de dicto rather than on one's de re children can help us avoid the non-identity problem. I analyze the role that merely possible, nonexistent hypothetical entities ought to play in our moral reasoning, especially with regard to procreation. I refute both Velleman's and Hare's views and demonstrate the difficulties we encounter when we try to apply their views to common non-identity cases. I conclude with the common-sense view regarding who matters, morally: only those who do, did, or will exist.
Maize, Soybean, and Alfalfa Biomass Densification

Several biomass samples of soybean straw, dry corn stalks, wet corn stalks, and dry alfalfa hay were compression tested. The objectives of this experiment were to (1) define a relationship between bulk density and applied pressure for several samples of corn stalks, soybean straw, and alfalfa hay, and curve fit the results using Equation 1 that models biomass densification, and (2) observe similarities or differences in the values for the constants k and n due to differences in moisture or type of biomass. γ = k(pn ) (1) where: γ = bulk density, kg/m3 k = constant p = pressure, kPa n = exponential constant Biomass samples were tested with an MTS Sintech® 60/D Materials Testing Workstation (Figure 1) using a 2224 N (500 lb) load cell and a crosshead movement of 12.7 cm (5 in) per minute. The samples were compressed within a PVC tube having a 39-cm (15.4-in) inside diameter and a 56-cm (22.0-in) height. In increasing order, the average k-value for each material tested was 25 (dry corn stalks), 36 (soybean straw), 49 (wet corn stalks), and 56 (dry alfalfa hay). The most difficult biomass material to compact, from the four tested, was dry corn stalks. This experiment also indicates dry biomass is tougher to compact than wet biomass. In decreasing order, the average n-value for each material tested was 0.29 (dry corn stalks), 0.24 (soybean straw), 0.24 (wet corn stalks), and 0.23 (dry alfalfa hay). An ANOVA test determined that the k-values are statistically different for each material. However, an ANOVA test did not conclusively prove the n-values of the different biomass materials are different.
Career Development Programs in Corrections

Currently there is a need for more concerted attention to career development in corrections settings. Limited research has demonstrated that comprehensive programming focusing on career development issues is a method by which recidivism rates may be reduced. The current literature review explains and clarifies the need for such programming in prison settings and provides practical programming considerations for professionals interested in this area. Current programs targeting career issues are described in addition to an explanation of the limited history of career programming in corrections. Also included are potential resources and recommendations for practitioners.
STOCK OPTION RETURNS AND STOCK ANOMALIES: CROSS MARKET EFFICIENCY AND THE COST OF HEDGING VALUE VS GROWTH FIRMS STOCK RETURNS

The empirical literature on stock returns shows overwhelming evidence of stock anomalies related to value investing. This paper studies the relative performance of stock options of value and growth stocks. This yields insight into different strategies in attempting to hedge some of these types of stocks.Monthly option returns are examined from 1995 to 2004. The returns of calls and puts are analyzed with a corresponding discussion of other strategies directly linked to these results. In particular, evidence is found that the option returns on some growth stocks and the option returns on some value stocks outperform the average option return for puts deep out of the money. For puts deep in the money, buying puts for the most extreme decile of value stocks is significantly less expensive than other deciles. For value stocks deep out of the money call options had significantly higher returns (20%) than growth stocks(negative option returns). For both puts and calls across the value and growth deciles, writing options had higher returns than buying options. Strategies with profitable returns over the decade included bear spreads using calls on value stocks and bull spreads on value stocks and growth stocks (but not the highest decile for growth). A third strategy that was profitable for the decade included buying deep out of the money puts for deciles 2, 3 (growth) and 10 (value). The relative cost of hedging stocks in the options markets does depend on value vs. growth characteristics
Gamma-interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (GILT). Maturation, activity, and mechanism of action.

Abstract We recently identified agamma-interferon-induciblelysosomal thiol reductase (GILT), constitutively expressed in antigen-presenting cells, that catalyzes disulfide bond reduction both in vitro andin vivo and is optimally active at acidic pH. GILT is synthesized as a 35-kDa precursor, and following delivery to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-containing compartments (MIICs), is processed to the mature 30-kDa form via cleavage of N- and C-terminal propeptides. The generation of MHC class II epitopes requires both protein denaturation and reduction of intra- and inter-chain disulfide bonds prior to proteolysis. GILT may be important in disulfide bond reduction of proteins delivered to MIICs and consequently in antigen processing. In this report we show that, like its mature form, precursor GILT reduces disulfide bonds with an acidic pH optimum, suggesting that it may also be involved in disulfide bond reduction in the endocytic pathway. We also show that processing of precursor GILT can be mediated by multiple lysosomal proteases and provide evidence that the mechanism of action of GILT resembles that of other thiol oxidoreductases.
Structural characterization of a cyclic dipeptidomimetic: the effect of ring size on a 1,2,5-trisubstituted-3-oxo-1,4-diazepine system.

A series of dipeptidomimetics derived from C(alpha)(i)-to-N(i-1) side chain-to-backbone amide cyclization of adjacent amino acids are structurally characterized. The resulting ring systems are either 1,2,5-trisubstituted-3-oxo-1,4-diazepine (DAP) structurally related to benzodiazepines, commonly used in drug candidates and therapeutic agents, or higher homologs of it. Here, we examine the structural consequences of enlarging the ring size from seven members to eight-, nine-, and ten-membered rings. The structural features determined by high-resolution NMR methods, relying largely on homo- and heteronuclear coupling constants, indicate that variation of the ring leads to alternative conformations and topological orientations of the attached chemical moieties or functional groups. Controlling the topological display of the ring substituents required for biological action, using a molecular scaffold made up entirely of functional groups found in peptides, should facilitate the rational, stepwise transformation of peptide lead candidate into a nonpeptidic drug candidate.
Leakage and interface engineering in titanate thin films for non-volatile ferroelectric memory and ulsi drams

Abstract The leakage behavior of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 PZT and (Ba,Sr)TiO3 (BST) thin films has been studied. The leakage behavior is dependent upon the bottom electrode. PZT films on RuO2 bottom electrodes display a large leakage, predominantly ohmic in behavior, which we have shown to be PZT microstructure-controlled. The leakage of PZT and BST films on Pt display Schottky emission characteristics which is controlled by the film/electrode interface. In the case of PZT films, we have shown that several methods can be utilized to successfully lower the RuO2/PZT/RuO2 system leakage, while retaining the long term performance. These methods include pre-annealing of RuO2 bottom electrode prior to PZT film deposition; addition of buffer layer between RuO2 and PZT film; and PZT film growth via in-situ ion beam sputter-deposition.
An algorithm for approximating piecewise linear concave functions from sample gradients

An effective algorithm for solving stochastic resource allocation problems is to build piecewise linear, concave approximations of the recourse function based on sample gradient information. Algorithms based on this approach are proving useful in application areas such as the newsvendor problem, physical distribution and fleet management. These algorithms require the adaptive estimation of the approximations of the recourse function that maintain concavity at every iteration. In this paper, we prove convergence for a particular version of an algorithm that produces approximations from stochastic gradient information while maintaining concavity.
Proactive infectious disease approach to dermatologic patients who are taking tumor necrosis factor-alfa antagonists: Part I. Risks associated with tumor necrosis factor-alfa antagonists.

Tumor necrosis factor–alfa levels are linked to disease severity in patients with inflammatory conditions, such as psoriasis. Inhibitors of this cytokine are commonly used with significant success in the treatment of such inflammatory disorders. Their use, however, can be plagued by infectious complications. An awareness of potential infections associated with these therapies is critical in order to maximize preventive efforts both before and during therapy. This review provides a guide for dermatologists caring for patients in need of this type of biologic therapy to preemptively address the infectious risks. Part I of this continuing medical education article reviews background information on the various infectious risks associated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy and appropriate historical data to obtain in the context of pretherapy evaluations.
REGULATOR OF BULB BIOGENESIS1 (RBB1) Is Involved in Vacuole Bulb Formation in Arabidopsis

Vacuoles are dynamic compartments with constant fluctuations and transient structures such as trans-vacuolar strands and bulbs. Bulbs are highly dynamic spherical structures inside vacuoles that are formed by multiple layers of membranes and are continuous with the main tonoplast. We recently carried out a screen for mutants with abnormal trafficking to the vacuole or aberrant vacuole morphology. We characterized regulator of bulb biogenesis1-1 (rbb1-1), a mutant in Arabidopsis that contains increased numbers of bulbs when compared to the parental control. rbb1-1 mutants also contain fewer transvacuolar strands than the parental control, and we propose the hypothesis that the formation of transvacuolar strands and bulbs is functionally related. We propose that the bulbs may function transiently to accommodate membranes and proteins when transvacuolar strands fail to elongate. We show that RBB1 corresponds to a very large protein of unknown function that is specific to plants, is present in the cytosol, and may associate with cellular membranes. RBB1 is involved in the regulation of vacuole morphology and may be involved in the establishment or stability of trans-vacuolar strands and bulbs.