cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transition from depressurization to long term cooling in AP600 scaled integral test facilities

Abstract A novel light water reactor design called the AP600 has been proposed by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. In the evaluation of this plant’s behavior during a small break loss of coolant accident (LOCA), the crucial transition to low pressure, long-term cooling is marked by the injection of the gravitationally driven flow from the in-containment refueling water storage tank (IRWST). The onset of this injection is characterized by intermittency in the IRWST flow. This happens at a time when the reactor vessel reaches its minimum inventory. Therefore, it is important to understand and scale the behavior of the integral experimental test facilities during this portion of the transient. The explanation is that the periodic liquid drains and refills of the pressurizer are the reason for the intermittent behavior. The momentum balance for the surge line yields the nondimensional parameter controlling this process. Data from one of the three experimental facilities represent the phenomena well at the prototypical scale. The impact of the intermittent IRWST injection on the safe plant operation is assessed and its implications are successfully resolved. The oscillation is found to result from, in effect, excess water in the primary system and it is not of safety significance.
Children's Speech Revisions for a Familiar and an Unfamiliar Adult

Initial characterizations of the communicative abilities of preschoolers stressed their egocentric nature. Recently, however, even 2-year-olds have been observed to adjust their speech appropriatel...
Cash Sufficiency: The Missing Link in Strategic Planning

During the last ten years, strategic planning models have become increasingly popular among large, diversified companies as an aid in making strategic resources allocation decisions. In general, these models classify the business units that comprise a company into one of four categories according to the unit's market share and the growth rate of the industry in which the unit competes. For each of the four categories into which a business unit may fall, a strategy is automatically prescribed:
Asymmetric spinning sidebands from coaxial cells in NMR spectra

Abstract Asymmetric spinning sidebands appear in the NMR spectrum of material contained in the annular region of a coaxial cell. These sidebands are caused by linear gradients in the magnetic field. Theoretical equations are developed to show the nature of these effects.
Optimizing distributed spatial joins using R-Trees

One of the basic problems in distributed databases is how to efficiently perform distributed joins. Spatial databases are particularly appropriate for distribution, but we need special techniques to deal with spatial data efficiently.In this work we study the distributed spatial join problem and how to perform this operation efficiently. We develop cost models for estimating the cost of this operation. We study the issues involved in optimizing it and develop specific techniques using R-Trees. Our techniques outperform other widely-used approaches for this operation.
The effect of tetracycline fiber therapy on beta-glucuronidase and interleukin-1beta in crevicular fluid

Treatment with the tetracycline HCL-containing (Actisite infinity) fiber has been shown to improve clinical measures of periodontitis, as well as reduce the number of sites infected with putative periodontal pathogens. In this study, we examined the effect of the tetracycline fiber on biochemical mediators of the host's inflammatory response in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). The total amount of the lysosomal enzyme beta-glucuronidase (beta G), considered a marker of primary granule release from polymorphonuclear leukocytes and interleukin-1 beta, a cytokine with important proinflammatory effects, were examined in GCF. Patients with localized recurrent periodontitis were followed over a 16 week period. Treated teeth (Tx), teeth adjacent to treated teeth (ADJ) and control teeth (Cx) were studied. Following fiber therapy, the Tx teeth displayed statistically significant reductions in mean probing depth, depth of the deepest site and bleeding on probing over the 16 weeks of the trial. Significant reduction in the depth of the deepest site was also seen for the ADJ teeth over 16 weeks. Total beta G in GCF was reduced for the Tx teeth comparing baseline to 16 weeks, but no significant changes were observed for the ADJ or Cx teeth. Prior to treatment, total beta G for the Tx teeth was 211 +/- 49 U (mean +/- standard error), versus 146 +/- 174 U for the ADJ teeth and 121 +/- 33 U for the Cx teeth. 16 weeks treatment, the mean values for these 3 categories of teeth were comparable (Tx = 95 +/- 20 U, ADJ = 93 +/- 42 U and Cx = 103 +/- 29 U). For the Tx teeth, the maximum reduction in total beta G following therapy occurred at 6 weeks (65%). Total IL-1 beta was significantly reduced for the Tx teeth at 3 and 6 weeks, but rebounded at 16 weeks. In contrast to what was seen for beta G, the maximum reduction in total IL-1 beta for the Tx teeth was observed at 3 weeks (68%). These data suggest that host mediators associated with increased risk for active disease are reduced following tetracycline fiber therapy. Future studies will determine the relative importance of a reduced microbial challenge versus a tetracycline-mediated direct modification of the host response to account for the reduction in the host inflammatory response in GCF following tetracycline fiber therapy.
Constant envelope eight-dimensional trellis coded modulation schemes

The authors present two 8-D TCM (trellis-coded modulation) schemes which use 512 points to transmit 2 b/s/Hz. The systems have constant envelope and yield asymptotic gains of 3.01 dB with only four or eight trellis states, without expanding the bandwidth over that of the equivalent uncoded system (QPSK over four consecutive time intervals). The size of the coded constellation is doubled but the minimum square Euclidean distance, the peak and average energies, and the modulation level remain identical to those of the uncoded system. The novel constellation is formed by the union of an 8-D QPSK (quadrature phase shift keying) and a rotated version of it. The present low-complexity schemes achieve small normalized redundancy, have constant envelope, and use simple and small constituent 2-D constellations. >
Re-irradiation of recurrent esophageal cancer after primary definitive radiotherapy.

Purpose For recurrent esophageal cancer after primary definitive radiotherapy, no general treatment guidelines are available. We evaluated the toxicities and clinical outcomes of re-irradiation (re-RT) for recurrent esophageal cancer. Materials and methods We analyzed 10 patients with recurrent esophageal cancer treated with re-RT after primary definitive radiotherapy. The median time interval between primary radiotherapy and re-RT was 15.6 months (range, 4.8 to 36.4 months). The total dose of primary radiotherapy was a median of 50.4 Gy (range, 50.4 to 63.0 Gy). The total dose of re-RT was a median of 46.5 Gy (range, 44.0 to 50.4 Gy). Results The median follow-up period was 4.9 months (range, 2.6 to 11.4 months). The tumor response at 3 months after the end of re-RT was complete response (n = 2), partial response (n = 1), stable disease (n = 2), and progressive disease (n = 5). Grade 5 tracheoesophageal fistula developed in three patients. The time interval between primary radiotherapy and re-RT was less than 12 months in two of these three patients. Late toxicities included grade 1 dysphagia (n = 1). Conclusion Re-RT of recurrent esophageal cancer after primary radiotherapy can cause severe toxicity.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation credentialing: where do we stand?

Abstract Background No guidelines exist for credentialing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) physicians despite variable training backgrounds. We aim to identify national patterns of institutional credentialing for ECMO physicians. Methods Program directors from 173 US ECMO centers were surveyed regarding credentialing, recertification, training elements, and barriers. Results Response rate was 42% (73/173). ECMO credentialing for physicians was required in 66% of responding ECMO centers. Only 57% reported an established institutional ECMO credentialing program. Yearly recertification was required in 16%. Common elements included didactic courses (90%), simulation (73%), and proctored cases (68%). Lack of standardization for credentialing (36%) and too little time (36%) were major barriers to program establishment. No differences were found between small- and large-volume centers with respect to credentialing or recertification. Conclusions Not all physicians managing ECMO are credentialed and only about half of US centers have established credentialing programs. Standardization of ECMO credentialing may increase training rates and improve variability in credentialing practices across the United States
Consequences of low mobility in spatially and temporally heterogeneous ecosystems

Summary 1 Spatially explicit landscape models have revealed the importance of spatial arrangement of habitat patches in the behaviour of mobile organisms. Such models fail to account for creation and destruction of habitat, which may interrupt the movement of slowly migrating species such as forest herbs. 2 To explore the interaction of habitat turnover and population migration, we present a dynamic landscape model inhabited by a dispersing species. The landscape is represented as a square lattice in which individual cells may be either habitat or non-habitat, and a hypothetical species may spread among habitat cells. Rate of species spread, habitat frequency and habitat clearance and regeneration are allowed to vary. 3 In static landscapes, the fraction of the landscape occupied by the species is limited by connectivity among habitat patches and rate of population migration. Slow species often cannot reach all available habitat despite the presence of continuous paths to it. 4 In dynamic landscapes, slow-moving species show reduced map-scale frequency and high risk of extinction due to the cumulative effects of habitat patch destruction and the failure to colonize newly created habitat. Such species decline cannot be predicted based on static descriptions of habitat connectivity or migration rate. 5 Fast-moving species may be reduced in dynamic landscapes by the cumulative effect of numerous local isolation events. Fast-moving species may also experience a modest range expansion in low-connectivity landscapes due to the cumulative effects of shortlived patch adjacency. 6 These results suggest a novel mechanism that could account for species impoverishment in fragmented landscapes. They emphasize the importance of maintaining habitat connectivity on a time-scale that accommodates slow-migrating species such as forest herbs.
Performance monitoring of substance use disorder interventions in the Veterans Health Administration.

Background: Measuring and improving the quality of treatment for patients with substance use disorders are enduring challenges. Methods: This article describes how the Veterans Affairs health care system is using incentivized performance measures to promote more effective delivery of interventions for nicotine, illegal drug, and alcohol disorders. Results: The monitoring and incentive system has increased the delivery of evidence-based services, including screening for alcohol use disorders. Conclusions: Further work remains to be done to strengthen the connection between process-based measures and longer-term patient outcomes.
Natural frequencies and mode shapes of initially curved carbon nanotube resonators under electric excitation

Estimating accurately the natural frequencies of electrically actuated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been an active research subject over the past few years. Despite the importance of the topic, robust knowledge is still missing in the understanding of the role of various physical parameters affecting the natural frequencies, such as the stretching of doubly clamped CNTs, the DC electrostatic force, and the initial curvature of slack CNTs. In this investigation, we use a 2D nonlinear curved beam model in the form of an arch to simulate the coupled in-plane and out-of-plane motions of a CNT with curvature. We calculate the variation of its natural frequencies and mode shapes with the level of slackness and the DC electrostatic load. Towards this end, we derive a reduced-order model using a multimode Galerkin procedure. We show various scenarios of mode crossing and mode veering as the levels of slackness and DC load are varied. Finally, we tackle the forced vibration problem of a curved CNT when actuated by small DC and AC loads. The results show the transfer of energy among the vibration modes involved in the veering phenomenon.
An adsorption model of insoluble particle activation: Application to black carbon

[1] We present a model of insoluble particle activation based on a modification of the Kohler equation in which we introduce a term based on the activity of water adsorbed on the particle surface. We illustrate the model by application to activation data from black carbon (BC) particles. We parameterize the model using a free energy of adsorption that reflects the relative affinity for water vapor adsorbing on either the BC surface or the adsorbed water layer. This enables the parameterization of either chemically modified (hydrophilic) or graphitic (hydrophobic) BC. Several features of a suite of carbon activation data are captured by the model. In particular, upper and lower bounding curves are predicted for activation supersaturation as a function of diameter. We show a large body of recent activation data that all fall within these bounds. The model also predicts that activation of BC aerosol leads to activation diameters from 3 to 10 times smaller than activation of soluble particles of identical dry diameter. The activation of smaller particles may be expected to impact the size distribution of resulting cloud droplets and thus the aerosol first indirect effect on climate. Finally, we compare activation of BC aerosol as calculated with this model to activation of mixed particles of BC and ammonium sulfate. It is shown that for some range of the adsorption free energy a hydrophilic BC aerosol is predicted to activate at lower supersaturation than comparable mixed aerosol of low mass fraction in the soluble component, indicating the utility of a model of mixed particle activation based on the adsorption of water to form an interfacial solution.
Ribbons characterize magnetohydrodynamic magnetic fields better than lines: a lesson from dynamo theory

Blackman & Brandenburg argued that magnetic helicity conservation in dynamo theory can in principle be captured by diagrams of mean field dynamos when the magnetic fields are represented by ribbons or tubes, but not by lines. Here we present such a schematic ribbon diagram for the $\alpha^2$ dynamo that tracks magnetic helicity and provides distinct scales of large scale magnetic helicity, small scale magnetic helicity, and kinetic helicity involved in the process. This also motivates our construction of a new "2.5 scale" minimalist generalization of the helicity-evolving equations for the \alpha^2 dynamo that separately allows for these three distinct length scales while keeping only two dynamical equations. We solve these equations and, as in previous studies, find that the large scale field first grows at a rate independent of the magnetic Reynolds number R_M before quenching to an R_M dependent regime. But we also show that the larger the ratio of the wavenumber where the small scale current helicity resides to that of the forcing scale, the earlier the non-linear dynamo quenching occurs, and the weaker the large scale field is at the turnoff from linear growth. The harmony between the theory and the schematic diagram exemplifies a general lesson that magnetic fields in MHD are better visualized as two-dimensional ribbons (or pairs of lines) rather than single lines.
Optically recording velocity interferometer system configurations and impact of target surface reflectance properties [Invited]

The utility of the optically recording velocity interferometer system (ORVIS) diagnostic to be configured to meet specific experimental needs in terms of line- and surface-imaging modes enabling direct control of the spatial, temporal, and velocity sensitivities is presented along with two case studies of gas gun testing with highly heterogeneous materials. These experiments have successfully coupled two and three ORVIS interferometers onto a single experiment. Light collection from the target reflector is of critical importance to successful test execution. By utilizing the established field of electromagnetic wave scattering from rough surfaces, the reflectance characteristics of several ORVIS reflectors are qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed in terms of the surface roughness statistics, power spectral density, and bidirectional reflectance distribution function. Insights into the impact of the surfaces on ORVIS image records are quantified. Through method development for quantitatively characterizing reflector surfaces, future experimentation can begin with an ability to tailor a reflector to a given test material and experimental arrangement.
Reducing the complexity of the register file in dynamic superscalar processors

Dynamic superscalar processors execute multiple instructions out-of-order by looking for independent operations within a large window. The number of physical registers within the processor has a direct impact on the size of this window as most in-flight instructions require a new physical register at dispatch. A large multi-ported register file helps improve the instruction-level parallelism (ILP), but may have a detrimental effect on clock speed, especially in future wire-limited technologies. In this paper, we propose a register file organization that reduces register file size and port requirements for a given amount of ILP. We use a two-level register file organization to reduce register file size requirements, and a banked organization to reduce port requirements. We demonstrate empirically that the resulting register file organizations have reduced latency and (in the case of the banked organization) energy requirements for similar instructions per cycle (IPC) performance and improved instructions per second (IPS) performance in comparison to a conventional monolithic register file. The choice of organization is dependent on design goals.
Removing JPEG blocking artifacts using machine learning

JPEG is a commonly used image compression method. While it normally yields very good compression ratios, it also introduces blocking artifacts and quantization noise. In this paper, we present a method to remove noise and blocking effects from JPEG-compressed images. We use machine learning techniques to predict DCT coefficients and pixel values in a compressed image. Results show a decrease in mean square error between our predicted images and the original uncompressed images when compared to the compressed images, as well as a clear reduction of blocking artifacts.
Therapeutic potential of matrix metalloproteinases in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are secreted proteinases that have physiologic roles in degradation and remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) in almost all tissues. However, their excessive production in disease conditions leads to many pathological features including tissue breakdown, inflammation, cell death, and fibrosis. Duchenne Muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating genetic muscle disorder caused by partial or complete loss of cytoskeletal protein dystrophin. Progressive muscle wasting in DMD is accompanied by myofiber necrosis followed by cycles of regeneration and degeneration and inflammation that eventually result in replacement of myofiber by connective and adipose tissues. Emerging evidence suggests that gene expression and the activity of various MMPs are aberrantly regulated in muscle biopsies from DMD patients and in skeletal muscle of animal models of DMD. Moreover, a few studies employing genetic mouse models have revealed that different MMPs play distinct roles in disease progression in DMD. Modulation of the activity of MMPs improves myofiber regeneration and enhances the efficacy of transplantation and engraftment of muscle progenitor cells in dystrophic muscle in mouse models of DMD. Furthermore, recent reports also suggest that some MMPs especially MMP-9 can serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of DMD. In this article, we provide a succinct overview of the regulation of various MMPs and their therapeutic importance in DMD.
Lack of anticonvulsant tolerance to the neuroactive steroid pregnanolone in mice.

GABA-potentiating neuroactive steroids such as pregnanolone have potent protective effects in the pentylenetetrazol seizure test. We sought to determine if tolerance develops to the anticonvulsant activity of pregnanolone with chronic administration. Mice were treated with two daily injections of a 2 × ED50 dose of pregnanolone (25 mg/kg, i.p.) for 7 days. On the day after the chronic treatment protocol, the dose-response relationship for protection in the pentylenetetrazol seizure test was obtained. The ED50value after the chronic treatment protocol was not significantly different from that in naive mice (12 mg/kg), indicating that tolerance does not develop to the anticonvulsant activity of pregnanolone. In subsequent experiments, we extended the chronic treatment protocol to 14 days with three daily injections of pregnanolone (25 mg/kg, i.p.). Again, no tolerance was observed (ED50, 13 mg/kg). The anticonvulsant activity of pregnanolone was well correlated with plasma levels in both the naive and chronically (14 day) treated mice. The estimated plasma concentrations of pregnanolone representing threshold (10%) protection (125–150 ng/ml) and 50% protection (575–700 ng/ml) were similar in naive and chronically treated animals. In both chronically treated and naive animals, plasma levels of pregnanolone declined rapidly (t½, 16–19 min) and there was a corresponding reduction in the anticonvulsant activity. Our results with pregnanolone suggest that tolerance does not develop to the anticonvulsant activity of neuroactive steroids as it does with other GABA potentiating drugs such as benzodiazepines, supporting the potential clinical utility of neuroactive steroids in chronic seizure therapy.
A Model of Decadal Middle-Latitude Atmosphere–Ocean Coupled Modes

An analytical model of the mutual interaction of the middle-latitude atmosphere and ocean is formulated and studied. The model is found to support coupled modes in which oceanic baroclinic Rossby waves of decadal period grow through positive coupled feedback between the thermal forcing of the atmosphere induced by SST anomalies and the resulting wind stress forcing of the ocean. Growth only occurs if the atmospheric response to thermal forcing is equivalent barotropic, with a particular phase relationship with the underlying SST anomalies. The dependence of the growth rate and structure of the modes on the nature of the assumed physics of air‐sea interaction is explored, and their possible relation to observed phenomena discussed.
Methods of Kaolin Investigation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the methods of Kaolin investigation. Methods of kaolin investigation may be organized in several ways: field geology (EFH 2 ) and pedology, laboratory, and industrial and engineering. Brains and Black Boxes (BBB) refers to methods and equipment used in the laboratory and for greatest appeal in grantsmanship. The method of investigation used for field use was geobotanical. Other methods and techniques for field use include geologic and geomorphic environment, field mapping of petrologic units, aerial photos, use of pollen and spores, geologic ages of rocks, sedimentologic facies, and others. The methods of investigating bulk or lump kaolin from the mine emphasize properties of the kaolin in the natural-lump state are natural lump density, inter-crystallinity, cohesion, etc., which are lost in the process of pulverizing the kaolin. Optical methods of investigation include identification, solid impurities, textural relations to parent rock, electrically oriented double-refraction, and dark-field microscopy.
IMPACT OF ENDF/B-VII.0 RELEASE ON FUSION EVALUATED NUCLEAR DATA LIBRARY FENDL-2.1

AbstractData for 40 of the 71 isotopes/elements in FENDL-2.1 were taken from ENDF/B-VI.8. Following the release of ENDF/B-VII.0 we performed a preliminary assessment for changes made in data of these 40 isotopes/elements. We compared the relevant cross sections in the two libraries. In addition, we carried out MCNP calculations for a calculational benchmark representative of an early ITER design that was utilized during the FENDL development process. In addition, we performed 3-D calculations for an inertial fusion power plant conceptual design. It is concluded that modifying FENDL-2.1 to include the most recent ENDF/B-VII.0 is not urgently needed for ITER analysis. On the other hand, the larger changes in calculated ICF target neutronics parameters and tritium breeding ratio confirm the need for updating FENDL-2.1 for use in analysis of fusion systems beyond ITER. Additional calculations are in progress for integral experimental benchmarks to fully understand the impact of data changes introduced in ENDF...
Metabolic Consequences of Dietary Medium-Chain Triglycerides in the Pig

SummaryLipid metabolism was studied in pigs fed diets containing corn oil, lard, tallow, coconut oil, or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT). The ingestion of diets containing tallow, lard, corn oil, or coconut oil resulted in approximately a 50% depression in the capacity for fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissue as measured by the incorporation of glucose-U-14C into fatty acids. The ingestion of MCT resulted in a significantly lower rate of fatty acid synthesis than observed in adipose tissue from the pigs fed the control diet, but MCT was less inhibitory than the other sources of fat. The activities of malic enzyme and citrate cleavage enzyme were significantly reduced by all fat sources except MCT. Plasma cholesterol levels were increased by feeding 10% dietary corn oil, tallow, lard, or coconut oil as compared with the pigs fed low-fat control diets. Pigs ingesting MCT-supplemented diets had plasma cholesterol levels similar to those of pigs consuming the low-fat diet. The ingestion of 10% MCT resulted ...
Hemodynamic directed cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves short-term survival from ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest.

Objectives During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, adequate coronary perfusion pressure is essential for establishing return of spontaneous circulation. Current American Heart Association guidelines recommend standardized interval administration of epinephrine for patients in cardiac arrest. The objective of this study was to compare short-term survival using a hemodynamic directed resuscitation strategy versus chest compression depth-directed cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a porcine model of cardiac arrest. Design Randomized interventional study. Setting Preclinical animal laboratory. Subjects Twenty-four 3-month-old female swine. Interventions After 7 minutes of ventricular fibrillation, pigs were randomized to receive one of three resuscitation strategies: 1) Hemodynamic directed care (coronary perfusion pressure-20): chest compressions with depth titrated to a target systolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg and titration of vasopressors to maintain coronary perfusion pressure greater than 20 mm Hg; 2) Depth 33 mm: target chest compression depth of 33 mm with standard American Heart Association epinephrine dosing; or 3) Depth 51 mm: target chest compression depth of 51 mm with standard American Heart Association epinephrine dosing. All animals received manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation guided by audiovisual feedback for 10 minutes before first shock. Measurements and main results Forty-five-minute survival was higher in the coronary perfusion pressure-20 group (8 of 8) compared to depth 33 mm (1 of 8) or depth 51 mm (3 of 8) groups; p equals to 0.002. Coronary perfusion pressures were higher in the coronary perfusion pressure-20 group compared to depth 33 mm (p = 0.004) and depth 51 mm (p = 0.006) and in survivors compared to nonsurvivors (p Conclusions Hemodynamic directed resuscitation targeting coronary perfusion pressures greater than 20 mm Hg during 10 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest improves short-term survival, when compared to resuscitation with depth of compressions guided to 33 mm or 51 mm and standard American Heart Association vasopressor dosing.
On laminar boundary-layer separation

Iterative finite-difference techniques are developed for integrating the boundary-layer equations, without approximation, through a region of reversed flow. The numerical procedures are used to calculate incompressible laminar separated flows and to investigate the conditions for regular behavior at the point of separation. Regular flows are shown to be characterized by an integrable saddle-type singularity that makes it difficult to obtain numerical solutions which pass continuously into the separated region. The singularity is removed and continuous solutions ensured by specifying the wall shear distribution and computing the pressure gradient as part of the solution. Calculated results are presented for a number of separated flows and the accuracy of the method is verified.
Structural and chemical evolution of methylammonium lead halide perovskites during thermal processing from solution

Following the prominent success of CH3NH3PbI3 in photovoltaics and other optoelectronic applications, focus has been placed on better understanding perovskite crystallization from precursor and intermediate phases in order to facilitate improved crystallinity often desirable for advancing optoelectronic properties. Understanding of stability and degradation is also of critical importance as these materials seek commercial applications. In this study, we investigate the evolution of perovskites formed from targeted precursor chemistries by correlating in situ temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and mass spectral analysis of the evolved species. This suite of analyses reveals important precursor composition-induced variations in the processes underpinning perovskite formation and degradation. The addition of Cl− leads to widely different precursor evolution and perovskite formation kinetics, and results in significant changes to the degradation mechanism, including suppression of crystalline PbI2 formation and modification of the thermal stability of the perovskite phase. This work highlights the role of perovskite precursor chemistry in both its formation and degradation.
What's your epistemology?: quiz design as a pedagogical tool in library & information science doctoral education

We propose that collaboratively developing a quiz that identifies individuals' epistemologies is an effective way to meet critical pedagogical ends in Library & Information Science (LIS) doctoral education. As a case study, we recount the process of creating and sharing one such quiz in a recent research design course at our home institution. Posted to various social media outlets in March 2015, this quiz has since been taken over 25,000 times and has a 69% completion rate. The pedagogical impact of this tool has thus extended far beyond a single classroom. We evaluate the current LIS PhD research methods and design course requirements of programs in North America to contextualize our arguments regarding the value of quiz design as a pedagogical tool. Using an activity theory framework, we suggest a plan for productively employing quiz design in relevant doctoral courses. Ultimately, we contend that the process of designing and implementing an epistemology quiz can help LIS faculty teach a complicated subject matter to beginning researchers. Further, the quiz can help LIS doctoral students to (1) make sense of methodological differences, (2) engage in epistemological perspective-taking, and (3) fruitfully negotiate epistemological and methodological disputes with colleagues.
Mucus gland adenoma of the bronchus

Mucus gland adenoma of the bronchus is a rare lesion which should be clearly differentiated from carcinoid and cylindromatous adenomas. Characteristically, the tumor projects into the lumen of the bronchus as a polypoid mass. Although it can cause obstruction and hemoptysis, it does not invade bronchial tissues or metastasize. The case described in this report is typical of mucus gland adenoma. The involved lung lobe was excised, and the patient was discharged after an uncomplicated postoperative course.
Spine Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Patients with Metastatic Thyroid Cancer: Secondary Analysis of Phase I/II Trials

Background: Metastatic deposits to the spine in thyroid cancer patients represent the most common site of bone involvement and can contribute to pain, neurologic deficits, and death. This study sought to determine the efficacy and safety of spine stereotactic radiosurgery (SSRS) for thyroid cancer patients. Methods: Thyroid cancer patients with spine metastases were selected and analyzed from a cohort of patients who were prospectively enrolled in two single-institution Phase I/II studies. SSRS was delivered in single or multi-fraction schedules. Dose regimens ranged from 16–18 Gy in one fraction to 27–30 Gy in three to five fractions. Toxicity was graded according to the NCI-CTC toxicity scale. Local control was determined by serial post-treatment magnetic resonance imaging scans showing no evidence of progressive disease. Patients were followed until date of death or date of last known visit for survival analyses. Local control and overall survival rates were carried out using Kaplan–Meier estimates. Th...
MRI/Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy Versus Standard 12-Core Biopsy.

Prostate biopsy effectively samples < 1% of the prostate and many men undergo multiple repeat biopsies during their lifetimes.1 Recently, numerous studies have examined the use of multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) of the prostate as a standalone technology as well as targeted biopsies using MRI-US fusion.2 This review summarizes two studies demonstrating the potential that targeted biopsies hold in limiting the diagnosis of insignificant disease while still detecting significant cancer.
Evaluating the Ability of the PBS Children’s Show Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood to Teach Skills to Two Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is a children’s television show incorporating many elements of video modeling, an intervention that can teach skills to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study evaluated the impact of watching Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood episodes on the accurate performance of trying new foods and stopping play politely with two five-year-old children with ASD. Both children showed improved performance of skills only following exposure to episodes of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, suggesting that watching episodes can help children with ASD learn specific skills.
String flash-boiling in gasoline direct injection simulations with transient needle motion

Abstract A computational study was performed to investigate the influence of transient needle motion on gasoline direct injection (GDI) internal nozzle flow and near-field sprays. Simulations were conducted with a compressible Eulerian flow solver modeling liquid, vapor, and non-condensable gas phases with a diffuse interface. Variable rate generation and condensation of fuel vapor were captured using the homogeneous relaxation model (HRM). The non-flashing (spray G) and flashing (spray G2) conditions specified by the Engine Combustion Network were modeled using the nominal spray G nozzle geometry. Transient needle lift and wobble were based upon ensemble averaged X-ray imaging preformed at Argonne National Lab. The minimum needle lift simulated was 5 µm and dynamic mesh motion was achieved with Laplacian smoothing. The results were qualitatively validated against experimental imaging and the experimental rate of injection profile was captured accurately using pressure boundary conditions and needle motion to actuate the injection. Low needle lift is shown to result in vapor generation near the injector seat. Finally, the internal injector flow is shown to be highly complex, containing many transient and interacting vortices which result in perturbations in the spray angle and fluctuations in the mass flux. This complex internal flow also results in intermittent string flash-boiling when a strong vortex is injected and the resulting swirling spray contains a thermal non-equilibrium vapor core.
Epigenetic Regulations in Cardiac Development

Abnormalities in heart development lead to congenital heart disease affecting ~1 % of newborns. Severe congenital heart disease can cause heart dysfunction at very early development stages, whereas mild heart defects may trigger heart dysfunction until adulthood. The adult mammalian heart has very limited regenerative capacity. Designing therapeutic strategies for congenital heart disease is likely dependent on understanding the mechanisms of heart development. Heart development is orchestrated by complicated biological processes, including signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, and epigenetic regulation. In this chapter, we review the current processes of epigenetic modifications during heart development.
Frequency and clinical correlates of elevated plasma Epstein‐Barr virus DNA at diagnosis in peripheral T‐cell lymphomas

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded RNAs (EBER) in tumor tissue and cell-free plasma EBV-DNA (pEBVd) are detected in EBV-associated lymphomas. Studies have suggested that EBER+ peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) have worse prognosis but the role of EBV in these neoplasms remains unclear. pEBVd is quantitative and more easily amenable to standardization than EBER, but frequency of pEBVd detection, clinical impact and agreement with EBER status in PTCL are unknown. We retrospectively assessed frequency of detectable pre-treatment pEBVd, presence of EBER in tumor tissue, and outcomes in 61 of 135 EBV-assessable PTCL patients. Fifteen of 61 patients (24.5%, 95% CI: 14–37%) were pre-treatment pEBVd+, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics or treatment between pEBVd+ and pEBVd− patients. EBER-ISH was performed on 10 pEBVd+ and 35 pEBVd− tumors. All 10 pEBVd+ patients were EBER+, but 9 pEBVd− patients were also EBER+. With median follow up of 24 months (range 1–96), overall survival (OS) was shorter in pEBVd+ compared to pEBVd− patients (13 vs. 72 months; p = 0.04). In our retrospective study, pre-treatment pEBVd was elevated in 25% of PTCL patients, was highly specific for EBER+ tumors, and was associated with shorter survival. pEBVd should be further explored as a prognostic variable and tumor biomarker in PTCL.
A rare cause of constrictive pericarditis

A 67-year-old man presented with 3 months of exertional dyspnoea and 1 week of oedema. Examination revealed elevated neck veins, pulsus paradoxus, muffled heart sounds, decreased breath sounds and pedal oedema. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) demonstrated cardiac tamponade, and chest X-ray showed pleural effusion. Pericardiocentesis, thoracocentesis, laboratory investigations and CT did not elucidate an underlying aetiology. Three weeks later, he presented with recurrent cardiac tamponade and pleural effusion. Pericardial window histology was benign. Pleural and pericardial fluids were again unrevealing. Three months later, he presented with worsening congestive heart failure. TTE, cardiac catheterisation and cardiac MRI were consistent with constrictive pericarditis. Preoperative workup did not identify an underlying cause. The patient underwent subtotal pericardiectomy. Intraoperative frozen section indicated malignancy. Pathology confirmed metastatic poorly differentiated signet ring adenocarcinoma of intestinal origin. He died 4 days postoperatively from multiorgan failure.
Extra-dimensional gravity and dijet production at {gamma}{gamma} colliders

In this Brief Report, we consider dijet production at {gamma}{gamma} colliders as a probe of recently proposed, large extra-dimensional gravity models. The exchange of virtual, spin-2 graviton towers (Kaluza-Klein excitations) significantly modifies the cross section, as compared to the standard model predictions. We find that, in order to maximize the value of the effective scale that can be probed at a given center-of-mass energy, a very severe p{sub T} cut should be applied; in general, a p{sub T} equal to approximately 46% of the e{sup +}e{sup -} beam energy gives the highest reach. We find that we can probe the effective mass scale from about 2.7 TeV to 11.1 TeV, depending on the center-of-mass energy and assumptions about the model. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
A kinematic calibration technique for robotic manipulators with multiple Degrees of Freedom

Robotic manipulators are sold with reference to repeatability, but the manufacturers rarely quote figures for accuracy. The repeatability figures for many small/medium sized industrial 5 degree or 6 degree of freedom (5/6DoF) arms are on the scale of 20µm, which is certainly impressive. But, this is not a measure of accuracy it is a measure of whether the arm will return to the same requested position again. As the paper will reveal, we encountered accuracy nearly two orders of magnitude worse than the repeatability metric. Our work on integrating 2D and 3D imaging systems with robotic manipulators for high precision interaction with 3D objects identified the requirement to determine the level of intrinsic/out of the box errors. This is in order to prevent potential collisions when automatically interacting at close proximity with any object in an unknown orientation where typical teach pendent or other prior correction is not applicable. In addition, understanding how to derive accurate calibration data allowed us to develop an approach for precise kinematic re-calibration of the manipulator.
Surgical management of severe ocular surface injury due to Roman candle explosion accidents.

Abstract Purpose To report the clinical features, management, and outcomes of patients with ocular surface damage secondary to Roman candle explosion accidents. Methods Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series of 11 patients with Roman candle explosion-related ocular surface injuries referred to the Cincinnati Eye Institute between 2007 and 2016. Results Eleven patients (10 male, 1 female, mean age 22.4 years) sustained unilateral ocular surface injuries with presenting visual acuity ranging from count fingers to light perception. All patients had severe limbal stem cell deficiency with total ocular surface failure. Eight eyes received a conjunctival-limbal autograft (CLAU) with a keratolimbal allograft (KLAL), 1 eye received a living related-conjunctival limbal allograft (lr-CLAL) with a KLAL, and 2 eyes received a CLAU with lr-CLAL. Nine eyes underwent subsequent penetrating keratoplasty, and 7 eyes had reconstructive eyelid surgery. Nine eyes demonstrated improved visual acuity at last follow-up; seven eyes demonstrated a stable ocular surface at last follow-up. Nonadherence was noted in 7 patients, either with poor adherence with post-operative treatment or poor follow-up; this portended a worse visual result. Conclusions Roman candle-related accidents can lead to severe ocular surface injury. Despite total ocular surface failure, these eyes can achieve good postoperative visual results following limbal stem cell transplantation and subsequent keratoplasty with appropriate compliance.
Image-sourced fingerprinting for LED-based indoor tracking

The advent of location-based services has created a necessity for indoor positioning and tracking. We propose an automated fingerprinting-based algorithm for an indoor tracking system that uses light-emitting diodes (LED) equipped with imaging sensors. The fingerprint collection part requires a calibration step that consists of the following: (i) a theoretic light power distribution is calculated using the visible light communication channel model; (ii) the imaging sensors mounted on the LED arrays capture the grayscale images; (iii) the captured images and the theoretically calculated light power distribution are used to estimate the light power map. Linear and non-linear regression, and artificial neural networks are used for mapping from the grayscale pixel values to the light power levels. A photodetector on the user equipment measures the light power in real-time. The estimated fingerprint map and the real-time power measurements are used in an extended Kalman filter. The results show that we can reach an accuracy on the order of the degree of granularity of the fingerprint map.
The Gambia: Migration in Africa's 'Smiling Coast'

There has been a long tradition of migration in the tiny West African nation The Gambia due to its geographic location, which has drawn international trade, wars, and conquests throughout history. The Senegambia region was one of the main transit points for the transatlantic slave trades between the 15th and 20th centuries, during which some 12 million slaves were forced from Africa to the Americas. Today, The Gambia is the smallest country on the African continent, with notable flows of both internal and international migrants. Since gaining independence from Britain in 1965, economic turmoil has been a primary driver of these flows. Between 1993 and 2010, the urban population increased from about 37 percent to 58 percent of the total population, largely driven by young Gambians in rural areas migrating to urban areas in search of work. The Gambian government’s inability to restore economic stability — including rectifying high unemployment especially among youth — has resulted in increased emigration among all segments of the population, in particular nurses and doctors. With approximately 65,000 Gambians abroad in 2010 (or around 4 percent of the total population), the country’s emigrant stock is small compared to other African countries. However, its skilled emigration rate (63 percent in 2000) was ranked among the top 20 worldwide and the second highest among African countries. Emigrants from The Gambia — both skilled and unskilled — send high levels of remittances home, but historically, the contributions of the Gambian diaspora have not been recognized by the Gambian government. In recent years, however, the Gambian government has begun to reach out to its citizens abroad, who mainly reside in Spain, the United States, Nigeria, Senegal, and the United Kingdom.
Chronic Lithium Treatment Decreases Brain Phospholipase A2 Activity

Chronic lithium administration decreases the turnover of arachidonic acid (AA) in several brain phospholipids. This suggests that lithium may attenuate phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity in brain. We now report effects of chronic lithium treatment on PLA2 activity in postnuclear supernatant from rat brain: Enzyme activity was determined by two assay methods, radiometric and fluorometric, and measured the release of the fatty acid on the second acyl position (sn2) from choline and ethanolamine phospholipids. PLA2 activity in brain postnuclear supernatant from rats chronically treated with lithium in the diet was significantly decreased (20–50%) when compared with controls. In vehicle or lithium-treated rats, PLA2 activity was not significantly augmented or attenuated by the addition of calcium chelators, divalent cations or LiCl supplementation (1.0 mM) to postnuclear supernatant. These results suggest that a major therapeutic effect of lithium is to attenuate brain PLA2 activity involved in signal transduction.