cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congenital infundibulopelvic stenosis: Indications for intervention, surgical technique, and review of literature

Summary Introduction Congenital infundibulopelvic stenosis (IFPS) is a rare renal dysmorphism marked by dilated calyces proximal to diminutive infundibulum and renal pelvises. The entity is theorized to exist on the spectrum of congenital obstructive renal diseases between ureteropelvic junction obstruction and multicystic dysplasia. Objective This case series sought to review and present the surgical management of three cases of IFPS with progressive renal insufficiency. Materials and methods After Institute Review Board approval, we reviewed three cases of IFPS treated by a single surgeon over a 20-year period. All cases displayed evidence of progressive renal decline. The first case of a 16-year-old female had IFPS in a solitary kidney, with previous contralateral nephrectomy of a multicystic dysplastic kidney. The second case, a 17-year-old male, presented after blunt trauma to the ipsilateral flank. The third case of a 10-year-old female presented with microhematuria, mild azotemia and bilateral IFPS. Results Our current surgical management has evolved from renal sinus exposure and multiple infundibuloplasties in the first case to preoperative three-dimensional mapping of the dilated calyceal system with intraoperative ultrasonography for selective calicocalicostomies draining to a lower pole ureterocalicostomy in the third case. Our first case, treated with multiple infundibuloplasties experienced slow renal decline into her 20s, and the later cases, treated with calicocalicostomies, have experienced stable to mild loss of renal function with ongoing nephrological follow-up. Discussion IFPS is a complex pediatric urology problem without a clear treatment algorithm. The goal of surgical intervention is to offer an opportunity to halt or reduce progressive renal insufficiency. Our current surgical approach utilizes preoperative three-dimensional modeling via magnetic resonance urography to guide placement of multiple calicocalicostomies draining to a lower pole ureterocalicostomy. Conclusions Not all cases of IFPS require surgical intervention. We have intervened in cases of IFPS with progressive hydronephrosis or worsening renal insufficiency with acceptable results. Download : Download high-res image (144KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure .
Monoterpenoids as possible control agents for Varroa destructor

SUMMARYThe use of plant-derived monoterpenoids for control of Varroa destructor, a destructive ectoparasite of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, was investigated in laboratory bioassays and autumn field treatments. Twelve monoterpene derivatives were analysed through fumigation bioassays. Linalyl acetate, (R)-myrtenyl acetate, (S)-perillyl acetate, and thymyl acetate exhibited high toxicities toward V. destructor (mean LC50 = 0.05) and significantly lower toxicities toward A. mellifera (mean LC50 = 0.95). Due to their demonstration of species-selective toxicity, these four acetates were chosen for field trials. In the field trials, all four monoterpenoid-treated groups were statistically significantly different from the control group in reduction of V. destructor infestation, yielding a 51–64% reduction of V. destructor when compared with the control group.
Systems Engineering Tasks and Products

Developing of a cohesive technical plan, requires engineering efforts to follow established guidance at each tier of the architecture, and is critical to achieve successful system engineering processes. A technical plan should establish the guidance and/or work instructions for the technical artifacts, so that a standards-based approach can be maintained across both small and large development, taking into account time, schedule and personnel turn-over. When guidance is established, it allows for management and tracking of activities at each development level ensuring system design and implementation meets development objectives. As the program progresses, refinement of technical guidance may occur. If so, it is critical that changes in guidance flows down efficiently to the entire engineering staff and that the new direction is followed. Although many optimizations can be found during development, it is important for Systems Engineering to watch closely for and to avoid unnecessary shortcuts during all technical engineering efforts, as each shortcut can lead to increased development and cost risks.
Incentives In The Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Program: A Review Of The Literature

The alleged disincentives created by generous public assistance programs are common fodder for political debate. However, there appears to be limited empirical support for these statements. This review of relevant literature attempts to aggregate current knowledge of incentives in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Results indicate that recipients in states with relatively lenient programs are more likely to achieve long-term financial independence and maintain strong family ties. It is argued that the most successful programs are those incorporating a person-in-environment perspective.
The university as a critical component of a new architecture ecosystem: the Intel/sup /spl reg// IXA university program - a case study

The establishment of a new microprocessor architecture is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks that can be undertaken by a technology company. In the case of Intel's new IXP family of network processors, much work needed to be done for these new devices to gain acceptance in a crowded telecommunications market. This paper describes how this program was implemented and also outlines the processes and strategies that were utilized to achieve the aforementioned results. It also provides a specific set of guidelines and recommendations for any high technology corporation wishing to initiate or improve programs tied to academia either to help bring to market a new architecture or enhance an already existing relationship. The author also analyzes a variety of other interesting possibilities that arise when these kinds of successful relationships get implemented between the academic and private world
Lipoxin A 4 Counter-regulates Histamine-stimulated Glycoconjugate Secretion in Conjunctival Goblet Cells

Conjunctival goblet cells synthesize and secrete mucins which play an important role in protecting the ocular surface. Pro-resolution mediators, such as lipoxin A4 (LXA4), are produced during inflammation returning the tissue to homeostasis and are also produced in non-inflamed tissues. The purpose of this study was to determine the actions of LXA4 on cultured human conjunctival goblet cell mucin secretion and increase in intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) and on histamine-stimulated responses. LXA4 increased mucin secretion and [Ca2+]i, and activated ERK1/2 in human goblet cells. Addition of LXA4 before resolvin D1 (RvD1) decreased RvD1 responses though RvD1 did not block LXA4 responses. LXA4 inhibited histamine-stimulated increases in mucin secretion, [Ca2+]i, and ERK1/2 activation through activation of β-adrenergic receptor kinase 1. We conclude that conjunctival goblet cells respond to LXA4 through the ALX/FPR2 receptor to maintain homeostasis of the ocular surface and regulate histamine responses and could provide a new therapeutic approach for allergic conjunctivitis and dry eye diseases.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Amorphous Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and Its Mixtures With Felodipine and Water

Abstract Understanding drug-polymer molecular interactions, their miscibility, supersaturation potential, and the effects of water uptake may be invaluable for selecting amorphous polymer dispersions that can maximize the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed using a model for hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) resembling the substitution patterns found experimentally. HPMC at low and high water contents (0.9%-23.0% wt/wt) and mixtures with a hydrophobic drug, felodipine (FEL), were constructed. T g values and densities after ∼30 ns aging at 298 K were close to published results. Except for hydrogen bonds (HBs) between the 5-O- and a 3-OH group in a neighboring repeat unit, HPMC oxygen atoms have a low HB probability ( p
The Pten-Parkin Axis: At the Nexus of Cancer and Neurodegeneration

The PARK2 gene encodes an ubiquitin E3 ligase that is involved in mitochondrial homeostasis and linked to Parkinson's disease. In this issue, Gupta et al. (2017) demonstrate that PARK2 expression is frequently reduced in human cancers and that this alteration leads to dysregulated PI3K signaling.
A Digital Control System for the Triton Undersea Robot

Abstract Santa Clara University’s Triton undersea robot is a small shallow-water vehicle used to support a variety of marine science, technology, and education objectives. With a human-in-the-loop, analog-based control system at its core, a microcontroller-based digital control layer has been developed as a class exercise in order to augment piloting with automatic control and to support networked operation of the vehicle. This paper presents the Triton system, describes the design of the digital control layer, and presents experimental results of the system during operation.
Normative Left Ventricular M-Mode Echocardiographic Values in Preterm Infants up to 2 kg

Background There is a paucity of normative echocardiographic data in preterm infants. The objectives of this study were to (1) derive left ventricular (LV) M-mode reference values and (2) compare the performance of alternative methods of indexing LV dimensions and LV mass (LVM) in preterm infants. The authors propose that indexing LV measures to weight in preterm infants is a practical approach given the variability associated with tape-measure length measurement in infants. Methods In this retrospective study, LV M-mode echocardiographic measurements of end-diastolic interventricular septal thickness, end-diastolic LV posterior wall thickness, LV end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions, LVM, and relative wall thickness were remeasured in 503 hospitalized preterm infants ≤2 kg (372 from a retrospective sample and 131 prospectively enrolled). Measures for all variables did not differ between retrospective and prospective samples, so results were pooled. LV dimensions and LVM indexed for weight, length, and body surface area sex-specific centile curves and corresponding Z scores were generated using Cole's lambda-mu-sigma method. Threshold limits (10th and 80th percentiles) were used to generate the normative range for relative wall thickness. Results Sex-specific centile curves using LVM, end-diastolic interventricular septal thickness, end-diastolic LV posterior wall thickness, LV end-diastolic dimension, and LV end-systolic dimension indexed to weight were similar to the curves generated using length and body surface area. The mean normal range for relative wall thickness was 0.33 (10th percentile, 0.26; 80th percentile, 0.38). Conclusions From this large cohort of preterm infants, LV M-mode dimension and LVM centile curves indexed to weight were developed as a practical method to assess LV morphology in preterm infants.
Reliability of Controlled Structures Subject to Real Parameter Uncertainties

This paper presents a systematic and probabilistically consistent approach for determining the likelihood that instability will result from the uncertainty inherently present in a controlled structure. The formulation employs the Hurwitz determinants to characterize the stability of the system. A single degree-of-freedom structure with a delayed controller is investigated to illustrate the methodology. Second order reliability methods are used to calculate the probability of instability for both ideal and phase corrected control strategies.
The Mindful Way through the Semester: Evaluating the feasibility of delivering an acceptance-based behavioral program online

Abstract Promoting mental health, preventing the development of depression, and providing treatment to first-year college students are crucial areas in need of attention and resources. Online programs may be a cost-effective and efficient way to reach a large numbers of students who may not otherwise seek out mental health services. We tested the feasibility and efficacy of an online version of a previously studied acceptance-based behavioral (ABBT) program, the Mindful Way through the Semester (MWTS), for decreasing levels of depression and enhancing acceptance in first year college students. The current study also sought to examine the impact of engagement in mindfulness and values practice on depression, as well as to replicate the finding that change in acceptance is associated with change in depression. This study also examined whether students' participation in the workshop was associated with improvements in depression in comparison to the control condition. One hundred three students were randomly assigned to either the online MWTS workshop condition or the waitlist control condition (in which the students were not contacted until follow-up). Results revealed that the workshop did not significantly affect depression or acceptance. However, changes in acceptance were negatively associated with changes in depression (i.e., larger increases in acceptance were associated with larger decreases in depression) across conditions. Lastly, level of engagement in mindfulness and values practice was significantly associated with decreases in depression in the workshop condition. Implications of these findings for future interventions are discussed.
Selective oxidation over structured multicomponent molybdate catalysts

Abstract NiMoO 4 -MoO 3 catalysts prepared by reactive sputtering were evaluated for the conversion of 1-butene to furan and maleic anhydride. As for precipitated catalysts, individual phases of NiMoO 4 or MoO 3 yielded very little of these products; however, thin films (150-300 A) of NiMoO 4 on M0O3 (010) surfaces were highly active and selective. The sputtering technique has significant advantages for preparation and characterization of multicomponent catalysts compared to precipitation or impregnation routes.
Spinal Cord Injury, Physical Stress of

Spinal cord injury is an uncommon but potentially devastating event, causing significant challenges to the patient's organ systems. This article provides an outline of the physical stresses manifested in spinal cord injury and their associated complications.
Efficient Use of Simple Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction Challenge Testing in Pediatric Exercise-Induced Dyspnea.

BACKGROUND: A simple exercise test to evaluate for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is routinely ordered in pediatric patients with exercise-induced dyspnea. However, the utility of this test in establishing the cause of exercise-induced dyspnea is not thoroughly examined in the pediatric population. We sought to assess the efficiency of a simple EIB challenge test in finding the cause of exercise-induced dyspnea in pediatric patients referred to our tertiary center in the last 5 y. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review for all of these exercise tests done at Akron Children9s Hospital from March 2011 to March 2016. Patients with chronic conditions (eg, cystic fibrosis, cardiac abnormality) were excluded. Demographics, clinical diagnosis of asthma, a presumptive diagnosis of exercise-induced asthma or EIB by the referring provider, symptoms with and without exercise, albuterol use, spirometry, and simple EIB challenge test results were collected. The chi-square test of independence was utilized in the examination of potential dependent relationships between categorical variables. A P value RESULTS: Out of 164 enrolled subjects (57 males; age 6–20 y), only 19% showed evidence of EIB. There were no significant associations between EIB status (ie, EIB-positive or EIB-negative) based on exercise testing and gender, typical symptoms of EIB, diagnosis of exercise-induced asthma or EIB, and albuterol use (P > .05). However, a subject without asthma was 2.8 times more likely to have negative exercise test for EIB (odds ratio 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–6.5); in addition, approximately 85% of tests in subjects without asthma were negative. CONCLUSION: In a majority of subjects without asthma, a simple EIB challenge testing failed to uncover the cause of exercise-induced dyspnea and thus was inefficient. In these subjects, cardiopulmonary exercise testing may be more useful and cost-effective to explore other causes of dyspnea including EIB.
Tuning-Free Heterogeneous Inference in Massive Networks

Heterogeneity is often natural in many contemporary applications involving massive data. While posing new challenges to effective learning, it can play a crucial role in powering meaningful scienti...
On entanglement entropy of Maxwell fields in 3+1 dimensions

Abstract We consider entanglement entropy between two halves of space separated by a plane, in the theory of free photon in 3+1 dimensions. We show how to separate local gauge invariant quantities that belong to the two spatial regions. We calculate the entanglement entropy by integrating over the degrees of freedom in one half space using an approximation that assumes slow variation of the magnetic fields in longitudinal direction. We find that the entropy is proportional to the transverse area as expected. Interestingly the entanglement properties of the 2D transverse and longitudinal modes of magnetic field are quite different. While the transverse fields are entangled mostly in the neighborhood of the separation surface as expected, the longitudinal fields are entangled through an infrared mode which extends to large distances from the entanglement surface. This long range entanglement arises due to necessity to solve the no-monopole constraint condition for magnetic field.
Reduced Na+ K+ -ATPase activity may reduce amino acid uptake in intrauterine growth restricted fetal sheep muscle despite unchanged ex vivo amino acid transporter activity.

Key points Fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) have reduced muscle mass that persists postnatally, which may contribute to their increased risk for adult onset metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Amino acid transporter-mediated histidine uptake and system L amino acid transporter activity were similar in sarcolemmal membranes isolated from control and IUGR hindlimb skeletal muscle. Activity of Na+ K+ -ATPase, which is responsible for establishing the sodium gradient necessary for system A and N amino acid transporter function, was significantly reduced in IUGR skeletal muscle sarcolemma compared to control. ATP content was lower in IUGR skeletal muscle. Expression and phosphorylation of proteins in the mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway were similar in control and IUGR skeletal muscle homogenate. Our data suggest that lower Na+ K+ -ATPase activity, which reduces the driving force for active amino acid transport, and lower ATP availability contribute to reduced amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in IUGR fetal skeletal muscle. Abstract Fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) have lower muscle mass that persists postnatally. Using a sheep model of placental insufficiency and IUGR, we have previously demonstrated lower net total uptake of amino acids by the fetal hindlimb and lower skeletal muscle protein synthesis rates. To investigate the mechanisms underlying these changes, we tested the hypothesis that ex vivo amino acid transporter and Na+ K+ -ATPase activity is reduced, and ex vivo ATP levels are lower in hindlimb skeletal muscle of the IUGR fetus. We developed a novel protocol to measure transporter-mediated histidine uptake, system L amino acid transporter activity and Na+ K+ -ATPase activity using sarcolemmal membranes isolated from hindlimb muscle of control (CON, n = 11-12) and IUGR (n = 12) late gestation fetal sheep. We also determined ATP content and the activity of insulin and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling, which are involved in regulating cellular amino acid uptake and protein synthesis, by measuring the expression and phosphorylation of AKT, 4E-BP1, eIF2α, AMPKα, p70 S6 kinase and rpS6 in muscle homogenates. Transporter-mediated histidine uptake and system L activity were similar in control and IUGR sarcolemma, although ex vivo Na+ K+ -ATPase activity was lower by 64% (P = 0.019) in IUGR sarcolemma. ATP content was lower by 25% (P = 0.007) in IUGR muscle. Insulin, AMPK, and mTOR signalling activity was similar in control and IUGR muscle. We speculate that reduced muscle sarcolemmal Na+ K+ -ATPase activity and lower ATP content diminishes the sodium gradient in vivo, resulting in a reduced driving force for sodium-dependent transporters and subsequently lower muscle amino acid uptake.
Clinically significant subscapularis failure after anatomic shoulder arthroplasty: is it worth repairing?

Background Symptomatic subscapularis (SC) failure after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is difficult to treat. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcomes of reoperation for SC failure. Methods All patients undergoing reoperation for SC failure after TSA were identified from a single-institution database. Patients underwent either revision SC repair or revision to reverse shoulder arthroplasty. At a minimum of 1 year after reoperation, complications, reoperations, and functional outcomes were collected. Results Patients who initially underwent SC repair were significantly younger than patients who underwent revision to reverse shoulder arthroplasty (mean age, 59.3 years vs. 70.3 years; P = .004), had a better comorbidity profile (mean Charlson Comorbidity Index, 2.2 vs. 3.6; P = .04), and had a more acute presentation (mean time between injury and surgery, 9.1 weeks vs. 28.5 weeks; P = .03). Patients who underwent SC repair also had a significantly higher reoperation rate (52.9% vs. 0.0%, P = .01). At final follow-up, functional outcomes scores and patient satisfaction rates were not significantly different between treatment groups. Discussion Decision making on how to treat patients with SC failure following TSA remains challenging and should be individualized to the patient's age, level of activity, comorbidities, timing and mechanism of SC failure, and functional expectations.
Footprints of local adaptation span hundreds of linked genes in the Atlantic silverside genome.

The study of local adaptation in the presence of ongoing gene flow is the study of natural selection in action, revealing the functional genetic diversity most relevant to contemporary pressures. In addition to individual genes, genome-wide architecture can itself evolve to enable adaptation. Distributed across a steep thermal gradient along the east coast of North America, Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia) exhibit an extraordinary degree of local adaptation in a suite of traits, and the capacity for rapid adaptation from standing genetic variation, but we know little about the patterns of genomic variation across the species range that enable this remarkable adaptability. Here, we use low-coverage, whole-transcriptome sequencing of Atlantic silversides sampled along an environmental cline to show marked signatures of divergent selection across a gradient of neutral differentiation. Atlantic silversides sampled across 1371 km of the southern section of its distribution have very low genome-wide differentiation (median F ST = 0.006 across 1.9 million variants), consistent with historical connectivity and observations of recent migrants. Yet almost 14,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are nearly fixed (F ST > 0.95) for alternate alleles. Highly differentiated SNPs cluster into four tight linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks that span hundreds of genes and several megabases. Variants in these LD blocks are disproportionately nonsynonymous and concentrated in genes enriched for multiple functions related to known adaptations in silversides, including variation in lipid storage, metabolic rate, and spawning behavior. Elevated levels of absolute divergence and demographic modeling suggest selection maintaining divergence across these blocks under gene flow. These findings represent an extreme case of heterogeneity in levels of differentiation across the genome, and highlight how gene flow shapes genomic architecture in continuous populations. Locally adapted alleles may be common features of populations distributed along environmental gradients, and will likely be key to conserving variation to enable future responses to environmental change.
Rapid Simulation of Scattering Parameters for Coupled Waveguides With Arbitrary Geometries

We present a new method to accurately simulate arbitrarily shaped coupled waveguides and ring resonators 100 to 1000 times faster than existing techniques. The new method uses a novel analytic formulation and multivariate polynomial regression to map the physical dimensions of the simulated waveguides to the complex cross-coupling coefficients of input and output ports, giving the full scattering parameters. We benchmark the results against full-wave solutions and illustrate its use with several application examples.
India’s rural transformation and rising obesity burden

Abstract While obesity across rural India has doubled in the last decade, research explaining such an unprecedented change is sparse. This paper shows that the rise in the incidence of rural obesity is associated with the process of structural transformation, especially within rural spaces. As the distance to nearby towns from the villages has reduced, urban proximity not only leads to improved livelihoods but also a change in dietary practices and access to processed food. Combining the rural sample of India’s latest National Family Health Survey (2015–16) with the estimates for town distance from the village clusters, we show that an additional kilometer of reduction in rural–urban distance increases the risk of obesity among women by 0.06 percent. Our estimates imply that for every kilometer of reduction in rural–urban proximity 3000 rural women become at-risk for obesity. Heterogeneity analysis shows that this burden is higher in towns with a population of over 50,000. We also find that the risk has increased disproportionately among the lower socio-economic classes. Similarly, states at a more mature stage of structural transformation face higher risk of obesity. Finally, we find that higher dietary diversity reduces the influence of urban growth on rural obesity. Our findings underscore the looming dual burden of malnutrition among developing countries and suggest that nutrition policies that promote diet diversity could be a panacea.
Off-farm Income, Credit Constraints, and Farm Investment

Many farmers face borrowing limits that depend on their household income and net worth. Given such credit constraints, an increase in off-farm income should allow farmers to borrow more, thus influencing production decisions and productivity. To test this hypothesis, the education level of the farm operator’s spouse is used to identify exogenous variation in off-farm income. Findings indicate that higher off-farm income leads to more borrowing, capital expenditures, capital input intensity, farm labor use, output, farm income, and productivity. Results suggest that Federal programs that promote access to credit for limited-resource farmers may increase farm investment and productivity.
Reflections on Reform of § 2254 Habeas Petitions

It has been proposed that the habeas process be streamlined by injecting § 2254 petitions directly into the federal appellate courts, without any preliminary federal district court proceeding. This treatment of state prisoners’ habeas petitions is arguably appropriate because the modern law of habeas corpus effectively uses federal habeas proceedings for appellate supervision of the state criminal process.There are a number of concerns which underlie the development of modern habeas law. Once these are understood, it becomes possible to gain an understanding of modern § 2254 habeas doctrine that depends upon reference to an appellate model. From this understanding, two practical proposals can be made: first, that there can be direct recourse from the state courts to the intermediate federal appeals courts; and second, that there should be a limited extension of the Powell Committee recommendation with a statutory refinement of Justice Harlan’s vision of habeas, essentially adopted by the Supreme Court in Teague v. Lane.To recharacterize the modern writ as a right of appeal is radical at first glance. Turning the flow of cases from United States District Courts to the Courts of Appeals may, in fact, be unwise for the sole reason that there are fewer Courts of Appeals. The question becomes whether the advantages to the entire system are sufficient to justify the shift of the burden to the Courts of Appeals.
SATB2-associated syndrome in adolescents and adults.

The goal of this study was to investigate the medical, communication, activities of daily living (ADLs), and mental health concerns affecting adolescents and adults with SATB2-associated syndrome (SAS). A comprehensive questionnaire was administered to the caregivers of 49 individuals 12 years or older with SAS (mean age was 19.4 years, range 12-37 years). For all individuals, medical records, including laboratory results, were reviewed. Most individuals required some degree of assistance for ADLs and none of the adults were able to live independently. Health status was qualified as excellent or very good in 61% of individuals. The most common medical problems were dental anomalies, with a significantly higher frequency of hypotonia and gastroesophageal reflux in younger individuals. Medical and surgical interventions were often required. Sixty-nine percent (n = 33) of individuals spoke 10 or fewer words. Autism (41%), anxiety (37%), and attention deficit disorder (37%) were common with one third of individuals receiving medical treatments for these diagnoses. While medical and developmental problems in individuals with SAS were similar to those previously reported, many of these are persistent into adolescence and adulthood. This study provides better guidance for the challenges facing adults with SAS and their families.
Coupling Misalignment Detection and Condition Monitoring of a Rotor Assembly Using FEA-Based Reduced-Order Modeling Methods

Coupling misalignment is a common issue in rotating assemblies connected to driving shafts via coupling systems. Keeping the level of misalignment within safe thresholds is a major requirement for the reliable functioning of rotating systems. Coupling misalignments can result in sub- and super-synchronous excitations (displacements, velocity and acceleration, reaction forces at critical locations) that can be used to ascertain the level of misalignment for a given coupling type. Coupling misalignment happens due to frictional interaction of the coupling spider from driving and driven side. To model it in full generality, it will require nonlinear transient analysis of actual 3D CADs of the couplings with frictional contacts. Challenge to model such systems using FEA is that it requires full nonlinear FEA analysis and is very time-consuming. In the present study, a full 3D nonlinear transient analysis is first done to capture the effect of misaligned coupling and proposes various methodologies that can be employed to reduce the solution times. Component mode synthesis (CMS) is employed to model the stationary part to reduce the solve times considerably. Further effect of varying levels of misalignment on the results is studied. Result trends are studied to explore the possibility of creating reduced-order models (ROMs) from such design of experiments (DoE) study for real-time physics-based condition monitoring of rotating machinery.
Advanced Transport Phenomena: Fluid Mechanics and Convective Transport Processes

Advanced Transport Phenomena is ideal as a graduate textbook. It contains a detailed discussion of modern analytic methods for the solution of fluid mechanics and heat and mass transfer problems, focusing on approximations based on scaling and asymptotic methods, beginning with the derivation of basic equations and boundary conditions and concluding with linear stability theory. Also covered are unidirectional flows, lubrication and thin-film theory, creeping flows, boundary layer theory, and convective heat and mass transport at high and low Reynolds numbers. The emphasis is on basic physics, scaling and nondimensionalization, and approximations that can be used to obtain solutions that are due either to geometric simplifications, or large or small values of dimensionless parameters. The author emphasizes setting up problems and extracting as much information as possible short of obtaining detailed solutions of differential equations. The book also focuses on the solutions of representative problems. This reflects the book's goal of teaching readers to think about the solution of transport problems.
The dynamics of placental oxygen transfer. I. Effects of maternal hyperoxia in pregnant ewes and fetal lambs.

Abstract The effects of hyperoxia at one atmosphere on placental oxygen transfer in the pregnant sheep have been studied. Fetal blood pO 2 does not increase proportionately to the maternal increase, but is effectively limited below values of 60 mm. Hg. Net umbilical oxygen transfer is reversibly reduced during maternal hyperoxia. The Krogh equation is inadequate to predict or explain these findings. The need for a model of placental gas diffusion employing terms dealing with blood flow rates, hemoglobin properties, concentrations, and geometric relationships is established.
Sphingosine inhibits thyrotropin-releasing hormone binding to pituitary cells by a mechanism independent of protein kinase C.

Abstract Sphingosine inhibited [3H]methylhistidine-thyrotropin-releasing hormone (MeTRH) binding to intact GH3 cells and to GH3 membranes. This inhibition was dependent on the concentration of sphingosine and on the ratio of sphingosine to cell number (or membrane protein) and was partly reversed by washing. In intact cells, the IC50 was 63 microM (1.8 X 10(6) cells/ml; 2 nM MeTRH), and 100 microM sphingosine was found, by Scatchard analysis, to increase the apparent dissociation constant (Kd) from 1.1 +/- 0.3 to 6.5 +/- 2.3 nM and to decrease the maximal binding capacity (Bmax) to 41 +/- 9.5% of control. Kinetic analysis showed that the major effect of sphingosine on Kd was due to a marked decrease in the apparent association rate constant for MeTRH from 2.5 +/- 0.4 X 10(5) M-1 s-1 to 0.10 +/- 0.015 X 10(5) M-1 s-1. At 100 microM, sterylamine was as effective as sphingosine in inhibiting MeTRH binding, whereas sphinganine was less effective, and psychosine and steroylsphingosine were without effect. The following observations show that sphingosine inhibition of MeTRH binding did not involve protein kinase C. The IC50 for sphingosine inhibition of MeTRH binding was the same in GH3 cells that had been incubated with 1 microM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate for 16 h, to "down-regulate" protein kinase C, as in control cells. Sphingosine inhibited MeTRH binding to membranes isolated from GH3 cells that contain very little protein kinase C activity. In GH3 membranes, 100 microM sphingosine increased the Kd for MeTRH from 3.4 +/- 0.1 to 13 +/- 3.1 nM but did not significantly decrease Bmax (12 +/- 5.0% of control, p greater than 0.05). And, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, failed to decrease MeTRH binding to intact GH3 cells or to membranes, and did not interfere with the effects of sphingosine. These data show that sphingosine and its analogs have complex actions to inhibit MeTRH binding to GH3 cells, at least some of which are independent of protein kinase C, and thereby demonstrate that sphingolipids cannot be used as specific inhibitors of protein kinase C.
VISUALLY RECOGNIZING SPEECH USING EIGENSEQUENCES

Humans have the very complex ability to interpret facial expressions, gestures, even the so called “body language”. Hearing-impaired people further develop this ability since most of them can perform some lipreading and/or understand sign language. It is well known that the visual information about speech through lipreading is very useful for human speech recognition. Humans use visual information to enhance our speech recognition, even when the available visual signal is noisy, distant or incomplete.
Microfluidics engineering: A lab-on-chip bioassay for in vivo nematode tesing

The nematode is a microscopic worm belonging to the phylum Nematoda. With over 2200 described genera in about 250 families, the nematode is among the most diverse of all pseudocelomates. These worms are the most ubiquitous multicellular organisms on earth and are crucial for maintaining soil nutrients and overall symbiotic relationships between plants and certain organisms. However, as many as 33% of the estimated 40,000 nematode species have been classified as parasitic. Of particular interest to the farming community, nematode parasites can infect plants (e.g. corn, soybean and wheat), animals (e.g. pigs, sheep, goats and cows) and even humans, causing illness and severe agricultural loss. Conventional control methods based on chemotherapy face a major challenge as nematodes are developing resistances to the known nematocides. As new resistant isolates emerge and new drugs are developed to control them, there is a great need for improved methods of screening resistance and determining dose response. In this thesis, a microfluidic platform for screening drugs and their dose response on the locomotive behavior of parasitic nematodes is presented. The system offers reduced experimental time, higher sensitivity, and, for the first time, real-time observation of drug effects at a single worm resolution. The presented lab-on-chip bioassay can be reliably used to identify changes in multiple locomotion parameters and to determine exposure effects as a function of time. Existing nematode motility and migration assays do not offer such a level of sophistication. The device comprises two principal components: (i) microchannels to study nematode motility during the preand post-exposure periods of the experiment and (ii) a drug well for administering the dose and studying drug effects at different exposure times. The drug screening experiment can be described by three main phases: (i) ‘pre-exposure study’ worms are inserted into the microchannels and their locomotion is characterized, (ii) ‘dose exposure’ – worms are guided from the microchannels into the drug well and exposed to a dose for a predefined time and (iii) ‘postexposure study’ – worms are guided back into the microchannels where their locomotion is characterized and compared to pre-exposure motility. * The nematode is typically microscopic, but can range from micrometers to millimeters in size. The worms studied in this thesis were ~400μm in length when stretched (i.e. not in a sinusoidal position) and measured from head to tail.
Evaluation of the performance of a rural municipal wastewater treatment plant in Nacogdoches, East Texas (USA)

The performance of a rural wastewater treatment facility, Nacogdoches Wastewater Treatment Plant (NWWTP), in East Texas, USA, was assessed from January 2013 through June 2014. The elemental concentrations (Na, Mg, Ca, Ni, Pb, Mn, Cr, Mo, and Cu, Al, As, B, Ba, Ag, Cd, Fe, Hg, K, Se, Zn, Co, P, and S) were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The anion concentrations (Br−, , F−, Cl−, and ) were measured by ion chromatography. In general, the NWWTP was found efficient in removal to ≥ 96% for metals. The removal efficiency for anions was in the range 33–100% (33% for Cl−, 39% for F−, 84% for , and >96% for ). The mean concentrations for Cl−, were in the range 0–172.5, 0.0–0.4, 0.0–18.6, 0.0–98.0, 0.0–0.9, and 4.0–89.4 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations for most metals and anion concentrations, with the exception of phosphates, were found below USEPA maximum contaminant limits.
A multi-phase approach to floating-point compression

This paper presents a lossless double-precision floating point compression algorithm. Floating point compression can reduce the cost of storing and transmitting large amounts of data associated with big data problems. A previous algorithm called FPC performs well and uses predictors. However, predictors have limitations. Our program (fzip) overcomes some of these limitations, fzip has 2 phases, first BWT compression, second value and prefix compression with variable length arithmetic encoding. This approach has the advantage that the phases work together and each phase compresses a different type of pattern. On average, fzip achieves a 20% higher compression ratio than other algorithms.
I Told You So

I am informed by my betters, of whom there are many, that it is unseemly to say "I told you so." But, I told you so. Back in 1988, a mere quarter of a century ago, when Delaware's legislature was debating the merits of Section 203, and while I had the privilege of serving as a Commissioner of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, I wrote a series of three letters to the Corporate Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association. All three letters sought to make a single, simple point: Section 203's exemption threshold that was originally proposed be set at 90%, and that was later reduced to 85%, was far too high. Based on the empirical data available as of 1988, it was highly improbable that bidders would, in any material number of cases, be able to achieve those thresholds. A more realistic, though still ambitious threshold might, I suggested, be set at 75%. Professor Subramanian's important article picks up the story from 1988 and makes the point that Section 203's exemptive threshold has indeed been set at a level that has made it impossible for any transaction to qualify. He ably documents that "between 1990 and 2010, not a single bidder was able to achieve the 85% threshold required by Section 203." He also documents that the empirical evidence on which courts have previously relied in judging the constitutionality of Section 203 is fatally flawed, and that when subject to careful examination actually underscores the historic impossibility of achieving Section 203's 85% exemption threshold. From these observations, Professor Subramanian argues that Section 203 could well be unconstitutional and suggests that to avoid such a finding, Delaware consider amending Section 203 to lower the exemptive threshold to 70%. In commenting on Professor Subramanian's insightful analysis, I will initially take a historical perspective and then follow that up with a realpolitik analysis of the policy implications that follow from the data. As readers will observe, my conclusion is that even if Professor Subramanian's empirical analysis is precisely correct, as I believe it is, the probability that Delaware will sua sponte amend Section 203 is quite low, and the probability that courts will rule Section 203 to be unconstitutional is subject to a set of legal judgments that are difficult to predict on the current record.
Sales and Marketing Management

The term “marketing” is misunderstood and misapplied in many companies and industries. To improve the understanding, it may be helpful specifying what marketing is not. Marketing is not synonymous with advertising or sales. Marketing is an umbrella term covering a host of activities involved with strategy and planning. Advertising and sales are “after” activities involved with executing the plans. Both are part of the marketing function in an organization. Advertising often plays a rather substantial role in encouraging consumers to buy products and services for household use (or to support the sales effort in business-to-business sales). Selling often plays a rather substantial role in encouraging business purchasers to buy products and services for organizational use (or in negotiating with trade partners to stock consumer products). 1 Introduction 2 Fundamental Principles 3 Market Intelligence 4 Targeting Customers 5 Brand Image and Positioning 6 Marketing Strategy & Planning 7 Implementing Strategies & Plans 8 Concluding Remarks Keywords: consumer; market; positioning; people; proficiency; intelligence; target; image; segment; channel
Lipid and macrophage accumulations in arteries of children and the development of atherosclerosis

About one-half of infants in the first 6 mo of life have small collections of macrophages and macrophages filled with lipid droplets (foam cells) in susceptible segments of the coronary arteries. In subsequent years, fewer children have foam cells but around puberty (12-15 y) foam cell accumulations mostly larger than those in infants occur in 69% of adolescents. Lesions that represent the previously missing link between foam cell accumulations and atheromas have now been identified in a subgroup of highly susceptible locations. Such "preatheroma" lesions contain small pools of lipid droplets and dead cell remnants (extracellular lipid) in addition to macrophage foam cells. Atheromas, which emerge in some adolescents and young adults in the same locations, have a lipid core in which increased extracellular lipid displaces structural smooth muscle cells and the normal extracellular matrix. As soon as lipid cores form, calcium granules appear in some smooth muscle cells and among the extracellular lipid of the core. The degree of calcification is variable and, in youth, generally small. In the age group of 16-19 y, 15% of persons have either preatheromas or atheromas in coronary arteries; foam cell accumulations only are present in an additional 53% of 16-19-y-olds. Because the lipid cores of atheromas may be an underlying cause of lesion rupture, hematomas, and thrombosis, and because their development begins soon after puberty, it would be prudent to attempt to lower the influx of excessive atherogenic lipoproteins into the arterial wall by that age.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AND BIRTH DEFECTS

This report compares the history of oral contraceptive (OC) use for 715 New York state women who gave birth to malformed infants with the history for a group of 715 matched controls who gave birth to normal children. The case mothers were found to have used the OC after last menstrual period (LMP), or just before conception, slightly more often than the controls. Confidence intervals for the relative risk estimates were wide, and were significantly higher than 1.0 only among the group of women whose children had one or more major structural or anatomical malformations. Cytogenetic abnormalities and hypospadias were not associated with OC use around or after the time of conception. For women who had children with major anatomical or structural malformations, the association with OCs was stronger among the older age group. The authors found no evidence of an increased risk among women who had conveived their child after one or more pill-free menstrual cycles. Several reported studies, including this one, show a predominance of males among malformed offspring whose mothers used OCs during pregnancy. These findings indicate that the association between birth defects and OC use around the time of conception is not large, but the association is not easily reconciled with a non-causal explanation.
Technology partnerships: The continuing evolution of technology transfer from a US government agency's perspective

New technology transfer mechanisms used jointly to develop technology meet both agency needs and partner objectives. Partnerships provide mutual benefits, reduce costs, shorten development time, and reduce risks. The US Department of Energy's experience making the transition from technology transfer to technology partnerships is addressed from policy, process, and performance perspectives. Despite meeting or exceeding performance goals, and in spite of a documented high–level of partner/customer satisfaction, congressional actions in the 1996 budget have forced the department to change its organizational structure for the department–wide technology transfer functions.