cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and efficiency-based control of interleaved LLC converters for PV DC microgrid

In this paper, the interleaved LLC resonant converter with zero-voltage switching (ZVS) is investigated to form the PV module with series-connected PV panels in the dc microgrid system. The interleaved LLC resonant converter is analyzed as a whole and a small signal model of it is proposed based on Extended Describing Function (EDF). According to the proposed model, the analytical form of open-loop control-to-output transfer function and corresponding frequency response are obtained. Furthermore, based on the system efficiency model, a novel two-stage efficiency-based control scheme is proposed to achieve the stability and optimize the efficiency. The first stage is the phase-shedding control for the single PV module efficiency optimization and the second stage is the central controller for the multi-module system efficiency improvement. Two 2kW rated interleaved LLC converters connected into 270V DC power system verifies the feasibility of the proposed model and control strategy.
Organizing the Manhattan Project, 1939–1943

Effective organization and administration were vital to the success of the Manhattan Project. Between late 1939 and the end of the war, government funding of the Project would grow by a factor of over 300,000 from an initial investment of $6,000 to nearly $2 billion. Without aggressive, competent, and committed leaders of great personal integrity drawn from the ranks of civilian scientists and engineers, industrial executives, military officers, and government officials to oversee such an undertaking, the possibilities for inefficiency, lack of results, mismanagement, and outright waste would have been rife. It is a testament to the quality of these people that the record reveals both spectacular success and not even minor examples of such malfeasance. Without these individuals the Project could never have been mounted and carried out as effectively as it was.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Polymer-Nanotube Composites

The structure and mechanical properties of nanocomposites composed of (10,10) carbon nanotubes in an amorphous polyethylene matrix have been modeled with molecular dynamics simulations. Two systems were studied, an infinite nanotube (via periodic boundaries) and a finite capped nanotube 6 nm in length. In the infinite case the modulus in the direction of the nanotube is given by the upper bound of the rule of mixtures, as expected under isostrain conditions for a well-aligned fiber-reinforced composite. In the finite case, no load transfer is observed at low strain, consistent with the weak nanotube-polymer adhesion and a subcritical nanotube length. The simulations predict that regions of amorphous polymer close to the bulk density remain around the nanotubes at relatively large strains, and that the density decrease during strain results primarily from chain disentanglement and alignment in regions between nanotubes.
Intrahepatic Artery Aneurysm Associated with Hemobilia: A case report

Abstract The case of a woman with intermittent upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage beginning 1 month after cholecystectomy is presented. Celiac arteriography demonstrated an intrahepatic arterial aneurysm, and laparotomy confirmed the presence of hemobilia. Ligation of the common hepatic artery was performed, and bleeding has not recurred.
Application of Embedded System and GPS in Real-Time Monitoring of Vehicle Motion Stability

More and more importance has been attached to the vehicle motion stability with the gradual enhancement of the active safety.In this paper,GPS technique was introduced into the research of real-time monitoring system,and an embedded OS to monitor the state parameters related to the vehicle was designed.At the initial,the extracting and processing of the data of GPS receiver based on ARM by software was discussed;then,the kinematics theory was applied to deduce the theoretical formula of the vehicle motion stability.Simulated by experiment data,it can realize successive monitor of the motion state of the vehicle.
Evaluation of Young or Unproven Horses for Potential Exercise Intolerance

The determination of poor performance in the young or unproven horse can be a difficult experience for the practitioner. This article describes an incremental exercise test that may be helpful in determining the cause of poor performance in horses when a complete physical examination and a lameness examination fail to elucidate the causes of poor performance. Included are values from normal yearling and 2-year-old horses that have undergone the incremental exercise test.
μ-Rainbow: CdSe Nanocrystal Photoluminescence Gradients via Laser Spike Annealing for Kinetic Investigations and Tunable Device Design.

Much of the promise of nanomaterials derives from their size-dependent, and hence tunable, properties. Impressive advances have been made in the synthesis of nanoscale building blocks with precisely tailored size, shape and composition. Significant attention is now turning toward creating thin film structures in which size-dependent properties can be spatially programmed with high fidelity. Nonequilibrium processing techniques present exciting opportunities to create nanostructured thin films with unprecedented spatial control over their optical and electronic properties. Here, we demonstrate single scan laser spike annealing (ssLSA) on CdSe nanocrystal (NC) thin films as an experimental test bed to illustrate how the size-dependent photoluminescence (PL) emission can be tuned throughout the visible range and in spatially defined profiles during a single annealing step. Through control of the annealing temperature and time, we discovered that NC fusion is a kinetically limited process with a constant acti...
Direct Ways Parents Impact Sibling Bonds

The foundation for healthy sibling relationships begins early in life. Closeness between siblings in adulthood is driven by the way they engaged each other in childhood. Hence, the childhood years are a crucial building stage for solidifying the sibling bond. With a correct mix of ingredients, siblings can emerge from their childhood years with a sibling bond that will serve them well as they enter the adolescent years and transition into adulthood. Consequently, efforts at creating closeness between siblings in childhood are well worth it considering the importance of sibling relationship warmth throughout life. Clinicians are often called upon to help parents in these efforts.
The Association of Latino Children's Kindergarten School Readiness Profiles with Grade 2-5 Literacy Achievement Trajectories.

This study utilized latent class analysis (LCA) to identify 5 discernible profiles of Latino children’s (N = 1,253) social-emotional, physical, and cognitive school readiness at the time of kindergarten entry. In addition, a growth mixture modeling (GMM) approach was used to identify 3 unique literacy achievement trajectories, across Grades 2–5, for these students. A latent transition analysis (LTA) approach was used to examine how Latino children’s readiness profiles at kindergarten entry were related to longitudinal literacy achievement trajectories in Grades 2–5. Results provided evidence that Latino students enter kindergarten with discernible readiness profiles and that these profiles predicted longitudinal literacy achievement trajectories through Grade 5. Specifically, children with higher levels of readiness at kindergarten entry had greater probabilities of following favorable literacy achievement patterns than those students who were rated with lower levels of readiness. Results also provided evidence suggesting that Latino children’s cognitive readiness levels were particularly predictive of longitudinal literacy achievement patterns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was identified as a unique chemical brain constituent in 1950, but its role as a central nervous system inhibitory transmitter was not immediately recognized.
MEASURING RED CELL AGGREGATION KINETICS WITH NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE

Abstract This report describes a simple pulsed Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technique which measures the mean residence time of water, T, in red cell aggregates. This quantity, converted into the number of cells per aggregate, provides a means of studying red cell aggregation kinetics in anti-coagulated whole blood samples and in other erythrocyte suspensions of physiolo′ical hematocrits.
Gate-current injection and surface impact ionization in MOSFET's with a gate induced virtual drain

In this paper, gate current injection into the gate oxide of MOSFET's with a split-gate (virtual drain) structure is examined. The split-gate structure is commonly employed in flash EEPROM and CCD's. An important parameter characterizing the gate current injection is the ratio phi /sub b// phi /sub i/ (where phi /sub b/ is the effective energy barrier for electron injection into gate oxide, and phi /sub i/ is the impact ionization energy). We present new experimental data of the ratio phi /sub b// phi /sub i/ measured at relatively constant vertical and lateral electric fields. Using a novel triple-gate MOSFET, the vertical field, the lateral field, and the drain current of the MOSFET can be independently controlled using proper biases. The measured phi /sub b// phi /sub i/ ranged from 2.6 to 3.2 depending on gate and drain biases, and gate geometry. >
Systemic-Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

This chapter will provide the pediatrician caring for a child with possible SoJIA with the following:
Cavernous Sinus Fat and Pseudomasses

Most cavernous sinuses (>90 %) have some degree of fat on autopsy, but on occasion fat can replace most of the cavernous sinus on computed tomography (CT) and may simulate air or gas. Without proper windowing the hypodensity on CT can lead to undue concern for air emboli or gas from a fracture involving the skull base (such as gas from the sphenoid sinus or petrous apices), for an arachnoid cyst, or it may even be windowed appropriately but considered a congenital anomaly such as a lipoma or dermoid cyst. This may occur bilaterally or unilaterally.
The Exoskeleton and Insect Proprioception: III. Activity of Tribal Campaniform Sensilla During Walking in the American Cockroach, Periplaneta Americana

1.In the cockroach tibia, the activities of campaniform sensilla that monitor cuticular strain have been recorded in free-walking animals. 2.In walking, sensillum firing is correlated with myographic activity of the flexor and extensor tibiae muscles. 3.The specific activity of a single campaniform sensillum depends upon the orientation of its cuticular cap. 4.In slow walking, proximal sensilla, whose ovoid cuticular caps are oriented perpendicular to the leg long axis, fire in bursts that are initiated just prior to the onset of extensor tibiae activity in the stance phase of locomotion. The firing frequency within bursts of proximal sensilla is generally inversely related to the frequency of the slow extensor tibiae motoneurone and ceases when motoneurone activity exceeds 200 Hz. 5.Distal campaniform sensilla, oriented parallel to the leg long axis, only fire when slow extensor tibiae activity exceeds 300 Hz. In slow walking, distal sensillum activity typically occurs as a short intense burst near the end of the stance phase of the step cycle, when slow extensor frequency is maximal. Distal sensillum firing is greatly increased when forward progression is impeded. 6.The patterns of afferent activity seen in slow walking indicate that the campaniform sensilla function in load compensation and limitation of muscle tensions. The proximal sensilla respond to initial loading of the leg and can reflexly excite the slow extensor motoneurone in compensation. The distal sensilla respond to cuticular strains that result from large extensor contractions and can reflexly inhibit the slow motoneurone. 7.In rapid walking, activities of both subgroups of campaniform sensilla shift in phase relative to slow extensor firing. Proximal sensilla activity occurs after the onset of slow extensor firing. Distal sensilla bursts follow the termination of slow extensor activity. 8.These phase shifts limit the reflex functions of the tibial campaniform sensilla in rapid walking. Shifts in phase of afferent activity may contribute to the need for central programming of locomotion.
Mechanisms of Hydroquinone-Induced Growth Reduction in Leafy Spurge

Field observations indicate leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is inhibited by the presence of Antennaria microphylla. Hydroquinone (HQ), one of several compounds isolated from A. microphylla has been shown to inhibit leafy spurge seed germination, root elongation, and callus culture growth. The present study was designed to analyze the effects of HQ on water relations and photosynthesis of leafy spurge. Plants grown in 0.25 mM HQ had consistently higher leaf diffusive resistance and lower transpiration rates than control plants (P < 0.05). Chlorophyll fluorescence was significantly lower than controls (P < 0.05) towards the end of the treatment period. At the end of the treatment, tissue from 0.25 mM HQ plants had higher levels of 13C, indicating there had been a sustained interference with stomatal function. These data suggest that a disruption of the plant water balance is one mechanism of leafy spurge inhibition by A. microphylla.
State-Led Growth and Development

The health of the state is a symbolic conceptualization of a collective entity that is made up of geographic territory, institutions, laws, and people. At the national level, health can intersect with concern for state and human security , macroeconomic performance and population health . Two dominant models of state investment developed in the late 20th century. One placed human development , with concern for health and education , at the forefront of policy concern; the second placed macroeconomic growth at the policy apex. Each approach entailed trade-offs which affect both short-and long-term outcomes and opportunities for the nation. Rapid, short-term economic growth can create monetary and material resources that can improve the availability of inputs to health but can also increase health inequalities. If the state does not intervene, these inequalities will cause long-term harm to the poorest, most vulnerable in society. Investment in human health and welfare can achieve equitable health coverage, access to care and gains in health outcomes. However, it can also lead to unsustainable and unsound budgetary practices that impact the macroeconomic performance of the state. Chile and Sri Lanka demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of the aforementioned approaches to health and development.
Brief of Amici Curiae Professors of Patent and Administrative Law in Support of Neither Party, Wi-Fi One, LLC v. Broadcom Corporation, No. 15–1944, -1945, -1946 (Fed. Cir., Feb. 23, 2017)

This case implicates a significant balance in the patent system between the competing powers of the federal courts and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to review patent validity. Although Congress already allocated these powers through various provisions of the America Invents Act, this Court’s decision in Achates Reference Publishing, Inc. v. Apple, Inc., 803 F.3d 652 (Fed. Cir. 2015), failed to take account of that balance of power and now threatens to obstruct this Court’s ability to safeguard the balance from further disruption. Intervening guidance from the Supreme Court in Cuozzo Speed Techs., LLC v. Lee, 136 S. Ct. 2131 (2016), sheds new light on the court-agency balance of patent powers, whose scope and impact extend well beyond the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board and into the courts. New empirical evidence reveals that litigants use the USPTO to a significant extent as a strategic substitute for courts in reevaluating patent validity. Strategic substitution is subject to important statutory constraints, especially the one-year bar of 35 U.S.C. § 315(b). These constraints promote repose for litigants, conservation of both court and agency resources, and inter-branch respect for the judgments of competing tribunals. Notably, these constraints appear to channel litigants into socially desirable collective action but may also foster undesirable harassment of patent owners and delay in adjudicating patent disputes. Accordingly, in deciding the judicial reviewability of USPTO determinations regarding timeliness under § 315(b), this Court should take careful account of the significant scope and impact that § 315(b) has beyond the inter partes review setting in preserving the balance of power that Congress has allocated to the USPTO and to the courts.
The effect of glenoid component version and humeral polyethylene liner rotation on subluxation and impingement in reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Background A previously validated finite element modeling approach was used to determine how changes in glenoid component version and polyethylene liner rotation within the humeral component affect the arm abduction angle at which impingement between the inferior glenoid and the polyethylene liner occurs as well as the amount of subluxation generated by that impingement. Materials and Methods Five glenoid component versions (5° anteversion; neutral; 5°, 10°, and 20° retroversion) and 7 polyethylene liner rotations (20° and 10° anterior; neutral; 10°, 20°, 30°, and 40° posterior) were considered, resulting in 35 different clinically representative models. The humerus was internally and externally rotated and extended and flexed, and the resulting impingement and subluxation were measured. To further analyze more global trends and to identify implantations least prone to subluxation, polyethylene liner rotation was additionally varied in coarser 30° increments across the entire 360° range. Results All subluxation caused by impingement occurred during external rotation and extension, and external rotation produced nearly 10-fold more subluxation than extension. Neutral glenoid component version was associated with the least amount of subluxation for all polyethylene liner rotations. Posteriorly rotated polyethylene liners, which place the thick inferior region of the component away from the scapula, produced the least amount of subluxation. The 90° and 120° posterior liner rotations produced no subluxation, whereas the 30° and 60° anterior liner rotations produced the greatest amount of subluxation. Conclusion These results indicate that rotating modern radially asymmetric humeral polyethylene liners posteriorly can reduce the risk of subluxation leading to dislocation and increase external rotation range of motion.
Answering FAQs in CSPs, probabilistic graphical models, databases, logic and matrix operations (invited talk)

In this talk we will discuss a general framework to solve certain sums of products of functions over semi-rings. This captures many well-known problems in disparate areas such as CSPs, Probabilistic Graphical Models, Databases, Logic and Matrix Operations. This talk is based on joint work titled FAQ: Questions Asked Frequently with Mahmoud Abo Khamis and Hung Q. Ngo, which appeared in PODS 2016.
Load Variables in Information Processing

The effects of presentation rate, number of stimulus channels, and length of stimulus runs on an operator’s information processing accuracy were investigated. Thirty Ss responded to visual stimuli by depresing a pushbutton. Stimuli were combinations of four shapes and three colors presented at rates of 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50 seconds per stimuli. The stimuli were presented on two or four channels and the runs consisted of 25, 50, and 100 successive stimuli. The S is conceptualized as an information channel in which the central mediating processes of encoding and decoding are the principal operations in information processing.
Enhancement of BLM-DNA2-Mediated Long-Range DNA End Resection by CtIP.

Summary DNA double-strand break repair by homologous recombination entails the resection of DNA ends to reveal ssDNA tails, which are used to invade a homologous DNA template. CtIP and its yeast ortholog Sae2 regulate the nuclease activity of MRE11 in the initial stage of resection. Deletion of CtIP in the mouse or SAE2 in yeast engenders a more severe phenotype than MRE11 nuclease inactivation, indicative of a broader role of CtIP/Sae2. Here, we provide biochemical evidence that CtIP promotes long-range resection via the BLM-DNA2 pathway. Specifically, CtIP interacts with BLM and enhances its helicase activity, and it enhances DNA cleavage by DNA2. Thus, CtIP influences multiple aspects of end resection beyond MRE11 regulation.
Techniques and Applications of Langevin Dynamics Simulations

A review of Langevin dynamics simulations, with emphasis on the practical details, is presented. The topics include (i) parametrisation of the friction constant and related hydrodynamic theory; (ii) choice of algorithms and estimation of systematic and statistical error; (iii) calculation of transition rates from time correlation functions and the Kramers theory of barrier crossing; (iv) reorientational correlation functions; (v) application to lipid bilayers, including the analysis of NMR spin-lattice relaxation times from simulations. Topics (ii)-(iv) are illustrated with simulations of a particle in a harmonic potential, a particle in a bistable potential, and a dimer in a Maier-Saupe potential, respectively. The FORTRAN programs for these examples are included.
Utility of Curriculum-Based Approaches for Students With Hearing Loss:

Data collection procedures using adapted Curriculum-Based Assessment (CBA) and Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) were developed for deaf and hard of hearing students. Results from statistical anal...
Efficacy and safety of cefotaxime in the management of pediatric infections

The utilization of cephalosporins in serious bacterial infections in children has become more widely accepted by pediatric infectious disease specialists over the past five years. The use of cephalosporins has become increasingly popular in empiric antibiotic regimens. The recognition that age-specific bacterial pathogens in neonates, older infants and children can be effectively treated with cephalosporins alone, or in combination with ampicillin, has led to this increasing popularity. This review will discuss the use of cephalosporins in empiric antibiotic regimens and relate the efficacy and safety of specific cephalosporins in the treatment of serious bacterial infections in children.
Effect of viscosity and compression rate on the collapse phase transition of pulmonary surfactant at an air-water interface

Publisher Summary This chapter models the collapse phase transition using nucleation and growth theory, and simulates the behavior of a spherical bubble with surfactant at its interface. If interfacial shear viscosity varies according to free area theory within the film, and free area vanishes with vanishing surface tension—the model correctly predicts the experimental behavior. The main goal of the chapter is to understand how pulmonary surfactant is able to reach and sustain high surface pressures. Pulmonary surfactant adsorbs at the air-water interface in the lungs, reducing its surface tension, particularly during exhalation, when the decreasing surface area compresses the interfacial film. In vitro, however, a collapse phase transition, in which the 2D film transforms to 2D structures, limits access to low surface tensions. When compressed on the surface of a captive bubble, pulmonary surfactant films partially avoid collapse and reach low surface tensions if compressed faster than a threshold rate. At progressively lower surface tensions, rates of collapse initially increase but then pass through a maximum and slow down.
Continuous Solutions of Linear Equations

We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of continuous solutions of a system of linear equations whose coefficients are continuous functions.
Introduction to Special Topic Forum: The Changing Nature of Work Relationships

Relationships are fundamental to organizations and organizing. In this Special Topic Forum on the Changing Nature of Work Relationships, we describe important contextual shifts that have implicatio...
Paced QRS morphology predicts incident left ventricular systolic dysfunction and atrial fibrillation.

Abstract Background The prognostic significance of paced QRS complex morphology on surface ECG remains unclear. This study aimed to assess long-term outcomes associated with variations in the paced QRS complex. Methods Adult patients who underwent dual-chamber pacemaker implantation with 20% or more ventricular pacing and a 12-lead ECG showing a paced complex were included. The paced QRS was analyzed in leads I and aVL. Long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes were compared at 5 years. Results The study included 844 patients (43.1% female; age 75.0 ± 12.1). Patients with a longer paced QRS (pQRS) duration in lead I had a lower rate of atrial fibrillation (HR 0.80; p = 0.03) and higher rate of systolic dysfunction (HR 1.17; p Conclusions Longer durations of all tested parameters in lead I were associated with increased rates of left ventricular systolic dysfunction. ICD implantation and CRT upgrade were also linked to increased TPC and pID durations. Paradoxically, patients with longer pID and pQRS had less incident atrial fibrillation.
The Effects of the Kalamazoo Promise Scholarship on College Enrollment and Completion

We estimate the effects on postsecondary education outcomes of the Kalamazoo Promise, a generous, place-based college scholarship. We identify Promise effects using two forms of difference-in-differences: (i) comparing eligible to ineligible graduates before and after the Promise's initiation and (ii) comparing the treated district to comparison districts before and after the Promise's initiation. According to our estimates, the Promise increases college enrollment and credential attainment. Stronger effects occur for women. The results also provide suggestive but less precise evidence that Promise effects extend to disadvantaged groups. [End Page 269] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Elucidating the Geometric Substitution of Petroporphyrins by Spectroscopic Analysis and Atomic Force Microscopy Molecular Imaging

Determination of the molecular structures of petroporphyrins has been crucial to understand the diagenetic pathways and maturation of petroleum. However, these studies have been hampered by their s...
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder: Pathological Neural Circuits and Association with Parkinson's Disease

Abstract Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by complex recapitulations of waking acts during REM sleep due to unsuppressed voluntary muscle tone. Long-term studies indicate that RBD strongly predicts the subsequent development of Parkinson's disease (PD), Lewy body disease, and multiple system atrophy, with a conversion rate approaching 80%. Localizing the aberrant circuits involved in RBD has focused on the networks associated with REM generation, including the sublateral dorsal nucleus, the mesopontine tegmentum, and the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus—nuclei affected by circuit dysregulation in PD. Interestingly, parkinsonism transiently abates during RBD complex movements, suggesting that movement during RBD may bypass the circuitry affected in PD, including the basal ganglia. Only recently have electrophysiological recordings in PD during sleep informed our understanding of how abnormal activity in the basal ganglia contributes to sleep dysregulation, specifically to RBD. Here, we highlight the pathophysiology shared between RBD and PD, focusing on the presumed aberrant neural networks, based on neuroimaging and neurophysiology data collected from human RBD and PD populations.
Three dimensional (3D) spatial metrics for objects

The increasing availability of lidar data and structure from motion processing techniques is moving pattern metric research toward the development of three-dimensional (3D) analysis. There is a need to develop spatial pattern metrics that leverage 3D datasets, such as those derived from lidar or unmanned aircraft systems technology, that are meaningful and interpretable across landscape contexts. We introduce a suite of 3D spatial pattern metrics that can be computed on gradient surfaces such as digital surface models, but are rooted in traditional, patch-based landscape metrics that are familiar and interpretable across landscape contexts. We compute a suite of 3D metrics and demonstrate their use by analyzing a landscape pattern in the built environment of New Orleans in 2002 and 2008—pre- and post- Hurricane Katrina. Lidar data are used to segment individual buildings and calculate 3D patterns at the equivalent of the patch-, class- and landscape-levels for traditional landscape metrics. 3D spatial metrics can characterize landscape patterns at multiple spatial scales. These metrics capture aspect of pattern that traditional patch-mosaic and surface metrics cannot. Future research can build from these measures to develop other measures of 3D spatial patterns that are applicable for different ecological contexts. Continuing advances in full waveform lidar may contribute to the development of more complex metrics.
Reexamining the restraint pathway as a conditional process among adolescent girls: When does dieting link body dissatisfaction to bulimia?

The mediational sequence from body dissatisfaction through dieting to bulimia—often referred to as the “restraint pathway”—has been validated in numerous samples of adolescent girls, but the prevalence rate of bulimic pathology pales in comparison to rates of body dissatisfaction and dieting in this risk group. This discrepancy indicates that the restraint pathway may only apply to adolescent girls possessing certain characteristics or experiencing certain circumstances. Accordingly, the current study examined the moderating roles of thin-ideal internalization, interoceptive deficits, and age by using self-report data from a community sample of 353 middle school (n = 115), high school (n = 112), and college girls (n = 126). We found that (a) body-dissatisfied girls who reported high, versus low, thin-ideal internalization engaged in greater dietary restraint; (b) only dieters who reported high interoceptive deficits and were of college age expressed bulimic symptoms; and (c) the mediating effect pertained only to college girls with high interoceptive deficits, but was strongest for those who reported high, versus low, thin-ideal internalization. These results suggest that the restraint pathway's precision may be fine-tuned through greater sensitivity to potentiating factors and developmental context. Theoretical, empirical, and practical implications are discussed.
Hypertension-causing cullin 3 mutations disrupt COP9 signalosome binding

The discovery of new genetic mutations that cause hypertension has illuminated previously unrecognized physiological pathways. One such regulatory pathway was identified when mutations in with no l...
The effect of pulsed lavage irrigation on suture knot security.

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of low-pressure and pulsed lavage irrigation on suture knot security.Methods:Ninety-tied suture loops were measured for baseline circum...
EP818 Primary debulking surgery versus primary neoadjuvant chemotherapy with or without interval debulking surgery for advanced stage ovarian cancer: a single institute study

Introduction/Background Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery (NACT-IDS) has been recommended as an alternative treatment for selected patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The aim of present study was to compare clinical outcomes of primary debulking surgery (PDS) versus NACT with or without IDS in a single institute of women with advanced-stage EOC. Methodology Retrospective cohort study of women with stage IIIC(T3cN0-1) and IV EOC diagnosed between 2008 and 2016 treated at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Patients who underwent PDS and NACT were identified. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) data. Results A total of 143 newly diagnosed stage IIIC (T3cN0-1)and IV EOC patients were included in the final analysis. 92 women (64.3%) underwent PDS, 33 (23.1%) underwent NACT-IDS, and 18 (12.6%) received chemotherapy alone. The patients who received chemotherapy alone had significantly lower PFS of 4 months and OS of 28 months compared to PDS (PFS:13 months; OS:46 months) and NACT-IDS (PFS: 14 months; OS:28 months) groups, respectively. Conclusion NACT-IDS did not improve PFS and OS compared to PDS in advanced-stage EOC. Patients received chemotherapy alone had the lowest PFS and OS compared to PDS and NACT-IDS groups. Disclosure Nothing to disclose.
Stochastic Scheduling and Control Using Data-Driven Nonlinear Dynamic Models: Application to Demand Response Operation of a Chlor-Alkali Plant

Modern chemical manufacturers are increasingly interested in improving the agility of their operations. This is particularly true in regions with deregulated electricity markets, where participatio...
Disambiguated Indexical Pointing as a Tipping Point for the Explosive Emergence of Language Among Human Ancestors

Drawing on convergent work in a broad range of disciplines, this article uses the tipping point paradigm to frame a new account of how early human ancestors may have first broken free from, as Bickerton calls it, the “prison of animal communication.” Under building pressure for an enhanced signaling system capable of supporting joint attentional-intentional activities, a cultural tradition of disambiguated indexical pointing (a finger point disambiguated by a facial expression, vocalization, or other gesture), combined with increasingly sophisticated mindreading circuitry and prosocial tendencies, may have sparked the first in the series of biocultural explosions that led from a simple protolanguage to fully modern human language. This account successfully integrates at least ten other competing hypotheses, and is shown to pass nine important tests that have been proposed for language origin scenarios of its type.
Optimizing the Technological Design of a Blended Synchronous Learning Environment.

Blended synchronous learning has the potential to increase students’ co-presence and improve upon the flexibility and accessibility of course offerings if designed well. However, this method of instruction has yet to realize that potential. This exploratory study used qualitative methods to iteratively design, assess, and refine the technological design of a blended synchronous learning environment to improve the experience for students and instructors. Across three iterations, a combination of qualitative data collection and analysis procedures were used to examine the influence of design decisions on the experiences of the instructor and students. The findings resulted in a set of design recommendations that can serve as a guide for future research on the effective design of blended synchronous learning environments.
Dynamic Transcriptional and Epigenetic Changes Drive Cellular Plasticity in the Liver

Background and aims Following liver injury, a fraction of hepatocytes adopt features of biliary epithelial cells (BECs) in a process known as biliary reprogramming. The aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular events accompanying this dramatic shift in cellular identity. Approach and results We applied the techniques of bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), single-cell RNA-seq, and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing to define the epigenetic and transcriptional changes associated with biliary reprogramming. In addition, we examined the role of TGF-β signaling by profiling cells undergoing reprogramming in mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion in the downstream TGF-β signaling component mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (Smad4). Biliary reprogramming followed a stereotyped pattern of altered gene expression consisting of robust induction of biliary genes and weaker repression of hepatocyte genes. These changes in gene expression were accompanied by corresponding modifications at the chromatin level. Although some reprogrammed cells had molecular features of "fully differentiated" BECs, most lacked some biliary characteristics and retained some hepatocyte characteristics. Surprisingly, single-cell analysis of Smad4 mutant mice revealed a dramatic increase in reprogramming. Conclusion Hepatocytes undergo widespread chromatin and transcriptional changes during biliary reprogramming, resulting in epigenetic and gene expression profiles that are similar to, but distinct from, native BECs. Reprogramming involves a progressive accumulation of biliary molecular features without discrete intermediates. Paradoxically, canonical TGF-β signaling through Smad4 appears to constrain biliary reprogramming, indicating that TGF-β can either promote or inhibit biliary differentiation depending on which downstream components of the pathway are engaged. This work has implications for the formation of BECs and bile ducts in the adult liver.
Does epidural analgesia really enhance recovery in pediatric surgery patients

We sought to determine the benefits of epidural anesthesia (EA) in pediatric surgical patients. This study is a single-institution retrospective review of EA for pediatric patients undergoing thoracotomy or laparotomy from 2015 to 2020. Patients with recent or chronic opioid use were excluded. Urgent or emergent cases, patients with hemodynamic instability, or those with surgical complications that significantly impacted their post-operative course were also excluded. The primary objectives were comparison of pain scores and systemic opioid use between those patients with EA and those without EA. Epidural anesthesia was used in 151 (81.6%) laparotomies and 58 (77.3%) thoracotomies. EA use was associated with lower mean systemic opioid administration during the early post-operative period for laparotomy (POD#0—0.33 ± 0.3 oral morphine equivalents per kilogram (OME/Kg) with EA vs 0.93 ± 1.53, p < 0.001, POD#1—1.34 ± 1.79 OME/Kg with EA vs 2.61 ± 2.60, p < 0.001) and thoracotomy (POD#0—0.40 ± 0.37 OME/Kg with EA vs 0.68 ± 0.41, p = 0.008, POD#1—0.89 ± 0.86 OME/Kg with EA vs 2.02 ± 1.92, p < 0.001). There were no differences seen by POD#2. Average pain scores were significantly lower in patients with EA following laparotomy (POD#0—1.22 ± 0.99 with EA vs 1.75 ± 1.33, p = 0.008) and thoracotomy (POD#0—1.71 ± 1.13 with EA vs 2.40 ± 1.52, p = 0.04). The use of EA in pediatric surgery patients was associated with lower pain scores despite lower systemic opioid requirements in the early post-operative period.
Considerations for utilizing medullary sponge kidney allografts in pediatric patients.

Background Medullary sponge kidney (MSK) disease predisposes patients to recurrent nephrolithiasis, which affects one in every 5000 people in the United States. Methods We report a rare case of a pediatric recipient of a living donor MSK transplant and discuss considerations when discussing risks and benefits of accepting MSK allografts for this population. Results The recipient was admitted due to concerns for nephrolithiasis, hydronephrosis, and urinary tract infection at 1-month post-transplant. The hydronephrosis was resolved by surgical removal of an encrusted ureteral stent; this was followed by supplementation with oral medications to prevent future episodes of nephrolithiasis. The recipient did not have any further episodes after this as seen at a 1-year follow-up. The donor has remained well through this period. Conclusions With increasing organ shortages, the use of variety of donors may need to be considered to enlarge the organ pool.
Singular value decomposition of a technology matrix

This paper is the first application of the singular value decomposition (SVD) in general equilibrium theory. Every technology matrix can be decomposed into three parts: a definition of composite commodities; a definition of composite factors; and a simple map of composite factor prices into composite goods prices. This technique gives an orthogonal decomposition of the price space into two complementary subspaces: vectors that generate the price cone; and a basis that describe the flats on the production possibility frontier. This decomposition can be used easily to compute Rybczynski effects.
“Use of the WEE-FIM Tool to Monitor the Progress of Children with Disabilities in a Resource Limited Community in India”

PURPOSE: Throughout resource limited communities, there is a need for education and care for children with special health care needs. Even for communities that provide services, their progress is rarely monitored or evaluated for improvement in functional outcomes. A nonprofit organization in rural India, NNCT, in partnership with the University of Kentucky initiated a school specifically designed to help children with developmental disorders receive adequate healthcare, education and developmental services. Since 2009, interdisciplinary teams from the University of Kentucky consisting of pediatricians, physical therapists, and education specialists have traveled …
Sand Filtration Enhanced by Various Reactive Materials for Bioretention Cell Design Considerations

AbstractVarious reactive treatment materials were evaluated to enhance sand filtration of dissolved species common in stormwater runoff: NO3−, PO43−, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+. Fly ash and iron oxyhydro...
Long Term Accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 Interferon-γ Release Assay and its Application in Household Investigation

BackgroundAn immunodiagnostic assay that sensitively detects a cell-mediated immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is needed for epidemiological investigation and for clinical assessment of T cell-mediated immune response to vaccines, particularly in the context of emerging variants that might escape antibody responses. MethodsThe performance of a whole blood interferon-gamma (IFN-{gamma}) release assay (IGRA) for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells was evaluated in COVID-19 convalescents tested serially up to 10 months post-infection and in healthy blood donors. SARS-CoV-2 IGRA was applied in contacts of households with index cases. Freshly collected blood in the lithium heparin tube was left unstimulated, stimulated with a SARS-CoV-2 peptide pool, and stimulated with mitogen. ResultsThe overall sensitivity and specificity of IGRA were 84.5% (153/181; 95% confidence interval [CI] 79.0-89.0) and 86.6% (123/142; 95% CI;80.0-91.2), respectively. The sensitivity declined from 100% (16/16; 95% CI 80.6-100) at 0.5-month post-infection to 79.5% (31/39; 95% CI 64.4-89.2) at 10 months post-infection (P<0.01). The IFN-{gamma} response remained relatively robust at 10 months post-infection (3.8 vs. 1.3 IU/mL, respectively). In 14 households, IGRA showed a positivity rate of 100% (12/12) and 65.2% (15/23), and IgG of 50.0% (6/12) and 43.5% (10/23) in index cases and contacts, respectively, exhibiting a difference of +50% (95% CI +25.4-+74.6) and +21.7% (95% CI, +9.23-+42.3), respectively. Either IGRA or IgG was positive in 100% (12/12) of index cases and 73.9% (17/23) of contacts. ConclusionsThe SARS-CoV-2 IGRA is a useful clinical diagnostic tool for assessing cell-mediated immune response to SARS-CoV-2. Key pointsSARS-CoV-2 immunodiagnostics are needed to identify infected individuals in order to understand the transmission dynamics of emerging variants and to assess vaccine response. Interferon-gamma release assay maintains sensitivity 10 months post-infection in convalescents and detects more household contacts than IgG.
Tying the Autocrat's Hands: The Rise of The Rule of Law in China

Under what conditions would authoritarian rulers be interested in the rule of law? What type of rule of law exists in authoritarian regimes? How do authoritarian rulers promote the rule of law without threatening their grip on power? Tying the Autocrat's Hands answers these questions by examining legal reforms in China. Yuhua Wang develops a demand-side theory arguing that authoritarian rulers will respect the rule of law when they need the cooperation of organized interest groups that control valuable and mobile assets but are not politically connected. He also defines the rule of law that exists in authoritarian regimes as a partial form of the rule of law, in which judicial fairness is respected in the commercial realm but not in the political realm. Tying the Autocrat's Hands demonstrates that the rule of law is better enforced in regions with a large number of foreign investors but less so in regions heavily invested in by Chinese investors.
Mandibular Incisor Proclination Variability During Class II Correction

MANDIBULAR INCISOR PROCLINATION VARIABILITY DURING CLASS II CORRECTION By J. Ryan Redford, D.D.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2014 Thesis Director: Steven J Lindauer, D.M.D., M.Dent.Sc. Professor and Chair, Department of Orthodontics Background Lower incisor proclination has been shown to increase during Class II correction with appliances such as the Forsus. This lower incisor flaring shows great variability among patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Class II severity, mandibular growth, and occlusal plane rotation on lower incisor flaring in patients treated with the Forsus appliance. Materials and Methods 121 records of Class II patients treated with the Forsus appliance were analyzed retrospectively. Cephalograms were traced at three time points. ANOVA was used to compare changes in cephalometric measurements over time. Pearson’s correlation was used to test for relationships between variables. Multiple regression tested for correlation between multiple variables. Results/Conclusions Lower incisor flaring during Class II correction with the Forsus appliance was only weakly associated with sex, molar relationship change, and occlusal plane steepening. There was no correlation between the change in lower incisor proclination and mandibular growth.
Worker Perspectives from the Front Line: Implementation of Evidence-Based Interventions in Child Welfare Settings

Despite the expansion of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) into child welfare settings, there are gaps in existing knowledge about how to effectively put them into practice. Implementation scientists suggest that multiple factors influence quality EBI delivery and ultimately positive outcomes. To understand the applicability of existing implementation evidence for child welfare settings and to document real-world experiences of EBI implementation in this setting, this study interviewed program staff from two child welfare agencies in two separate states. We sought their perspectives on what helps and what hinders EBI implementation. Transcripts were coded and analyzed with a modified analytic induction approach. This analytic technique permitted researchers to confirm or disconfirm prior research on key implementation factors. Findings describe the role of six broad factors consistent with extant literature: process, provider, innovation, client, organizational, and structural. Front line workers conceptualized these factors as distinct but interrelated and viewed them as influencing the success of EBI implementation. Child welfare staff made several important suggestions including: interactive, engaging training; coaching supports that facilitate high-fidelity implementation alongside well-tailored interventions; organizational supports and leadership that create a welcoming environment for the EBI, including adequate resources for the day-to-day use of the EBI and proactive problem-solving to manage the inevitable unforeseen implementation barriers; and, efforts to actively educate and gain the buy-in of external stakeholders. As EBIs continue to expand into child welfare settings, local implementers should carefully consider how various factors at multiple levels may impede or facilitate effective implementation.