cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultraviolet germicidal coil cleaning: Impact on heat transfer effectiveness and static pressure drop

Abstract Cooling coil surfaces are ideal sites for biofilm formation due to the presence of adequate nutrients (deposited particles) and moisture (condensate), causing adverse impacts on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) energy usage and performance. In this study, an HVAC test apparatus was built in our laboratory to investigate the hypothesis that ultraviolet germicidal coil cleaning (UVG-CC) of heat exchanger surfaces improves heat transfer effectiveness and reduces the static pressure drop across the coil. The test apparatus consisted of two parallel ducts, each with its own cooling coil. One coil was treated with UVG-CC while the other was the control and left untreated. Thermodynamic properties of the air and water flowing through both heat exchangers were monitored over the course of two years with sensors and a data acquisition system. Differences in static pressure drop and coil effectiveness between the UV-treated and control coil were compared across multiple modes of coil operation (defined by presence of condensate). The effectiveness of UVG-CC was drastically affected by the presence of condensation on coil fins. We observed a statistically significant difference in the heat transfer effectiveness between the UV-treated and control coils in wetted conditions while no difference was observed in dry conditions. Sensor accuracy, however, contributed to large uncertainty in our result. The average heat transfer of the UV-treated coil was 3.0–6.4% higher compared to the control coil, with an uncertainty of ±2.7%. UVG-CC, however, did not significantly reduce static pressure drop.
Musical chairs: in utero HCT via mobilization.

In this issue of Blood , [Kim et al][1] demonstrate, in a mouse model of in utero hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), a novel approach to enhancing donor hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) engraftment by mobilizing host HSCs from their endogenous niche and then infusing the donor HSCs during the
Fetal blood studies. XI. The effect of prophylactic oxygen on the oxygen pressure gradient between the maternal and fetal bloods of the human in normal and abnormal pregnancy.

IN PREVIOUS reports 1 • 2 estimates were made of the difference in the oxygen pressure of fetal and matemal blood as each passes through the human placenta. Such information not only enables one to assess quantitatively the normal limitation placed by the placenta upon the free movement of oxygen from one circulation to the other but also aids in evaluating the effect of abnormal and postmature pregnancy on oxygen transfer. Although these observations are of obvious importance, the clinician is primarily concerned with such questions as the following: (a) What measures may be taken to improve the position of the fetus when the limitation to oxygen transfer exceeds a normal range 1 (b) What can be done to forestall or mitigate intrauterine hypoxia~ These questions are understandable, for, in modern obstetrics, it is generally accepted that the threat of hypoxia is the greatest danger to which the fetus in utero is exposed; it is the most common cause of intrauterine death. Following up the important observations of Lund, 3 obstetricians have adopted the procedure of giving a patient oxygen when signs of fetal distress a})pear. During the past few years, in the Department of Obstetrics at the .Johns Hopkins Hospital, a large number of normal parturients have received oxygen 10 to 15 minutes before delivery; the administration of prophylactic oxygen to all parturients has been advocated by Eastman. His recommendation was based upon the general feeling that oxygen transfer to the fetus was enhanced, and this belief was based upon an increased oxygen saturation of umbilical vein blood. The interpretation of this latter finding is difficult for two main reasons. First, equally high values of umbilical vein oxygen saturation have been obtained in cases where no oxygen was given. Second, it is generally
Addressing the Paradox of Fun and Rigor in Learning Programming

Course withdrawal and failure rates are known problems in introductory computer science programming courses (CS1). In turn, these problematic performance rates contribute to declines in retention rates between introductory programming courses and subsequent CS courses. In a bit of a twist, however, retention rates are also influenced by successful student performance. Some students frequently leave the computer science major due to unpleasant experiences and lack of satisfaction, despite earning good grades [1]. These competing retention factors create a paradox to provide a fun learning experience that makes students want to stay in the CS major while simultaneously emphasizing the rigor and discipline needed to advance in the CS major.
SAM-VI RNAs Selectively Bind S-adenosylmethionine and Exhibit Similarities to SAM-III Riboswitches

Five distinct riboswitch classes that regulate gene expression in response to the cofactor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) or its metabolic breakdown product S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) have been reported previously. Collectively, these SAM- or SAH-sensing RNAs constitute the most abundant collection of riboswitches, and are found in nearly every major bacterial lineage. Here, we report a potential sixth member of this pervasive riboswitch family, called SAM-VI, which is predominantly found in Bifidobacterium species. SAM-VI aptamers selectively bind the cofactor SAM and strongly discriminate against SAH. The consensus sequence and structural model for SAM-VI share some features with the consensus model for the SAM-III riboswitch class, whose members are mainly found in lactic acid bacteria. However, there are sufficient differences between the two classes such that current bioinformatics methods separately cluster representatives of the two motifs. These findings highlight the abundance of RNA structures that can form to selectively recognize SAM, and showcase the ability of RNA to utilize diverse strategies to perform similar biological functions.
Overcoming the Barriers to Successful Completion of GED Programs among Prison and Jail Inmates

This study examines the barriers faced by inmates participating in General Educational Development (GED) courses in prisons and jails, with the goal of proposing strategies for the removal of these barriers. By examining the literature surrounding prison and jail GED programs, the factors are categorized as those unique to each inmate (inmate factors), those experienced within the prison environment (environmental factors), and barriers that arise as a result of social conditions (outside factors). By examining various similar examples in the literature, solutions are discussed that have helped prison inmates overcome similar barriers.
Exploring profiles of academic help seeking: A mixture modeling approach

Abstract Two studies were conducted to empirically explore the most common profiles of academic help seeking in college student populations. Specifically, mixture modeling was used to identify and evaluate naturally occurring combinations, or patterns, of help seeking attitudes and behaviors. Mixture modeling supported three quantitatively ordered classes/profiles of “adaptive” help seekers for first-year students. Relationships between class membership and external variables (e.g., self-efficacy, performance) also suggested classes were not qualitatively distinct. Results from upperclass students were similar to those from first-year students with the exception of a fourth class with a somewhat qualitatively distinct profile. Implications are discussed, with a focus on the utility of person-centered techniques to identify typical profiles of complex processes, such as help seeking.
Creep-fatigue life prediction of aged 13CrMo44 steel using the tensile plastic strain energy

Abstract Low cycle creep-fatigue tests of 13CrMo44 steel used for boiler header of fossil power plant for 185,000 hr are conducted at 515°C with triangular and trapezoidal strains wave. Trapezoidal wave is considered about hold time for creep effects. The relationship between the tensile hysteresis energy and number of cycles to failure is examined to predict the low cycle creep-fatigue life of 13CrMo44 steel. The life, predicted by the tensile hysteresis energy method, is found to coincide with experimental results and analytical results obtained from models such as Coffin-Manson method.
Grounding Knowledge and Normative Valuation in Agent-Based Action and Scientific Commitment

Philosophical investigation in synthetic biology has focused on the knowledge-seeking questions pursued, the kind of engineering techniques used, and on the ethical impact of the products produced. However, little work has been done to investigate the processes by which these epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical forms of inquiry arise in the course of synthetic biology research. An attempt at this work relying on a particular area of synthetic biology will be the aim of this chapter. I focus on the reengineering of metabolic pathways through the manipulation and construction of small DNA-based devices and systems synthetic biology. Rather than focusing on the engineered products or ethical principles that result, I will investigate the processes by which these arise. As such, the attention will be directed to the activities of practitioners, their manipulation of tools, and the use they make of techniques to construct new metabolic devices. Using a science-in-practice approach, I investigate problems at the intersection of science, philosophy of science, and sociology of science. I consider how practitioners within this area of synthetic biology reconfigure biological understanding and ethical categories through active modelling and manipulation of known functional parts, biological pathways for use in the design of microbial machines to solve problems in medicine, technology, and the environment. We might describe this kind of problem-solving as relying on what Helen Longino referred to as “social cognition” or the type of scientific work done within what Hasok Chang calls “systems of practice”. My aim in this chapter will be to investigate the relationship that holds between systems of practice within metabolic engineering research and social cognition. I will attempt to show how knowledge and normative valuation are generated from this particular network of practitioners. In doing so, I suggest that the social nature of scientific inquiry is ineliminable to both knowledge acquisition and ethical evaluations.
Finite volume Ghost Fluid Method implementation of interfacial forces in PISO loop

Abstract In this work, we implement interfacial forces (surface tension, hydrostatic and viscous forces) by enlisting the finite volume discretization of GFM (Ghost Fluid Method) using A-CLSVOF (Algebraic Coupled Level-Set/Volume-of-Fluid) method for the mass conservative, and smooth interface description. The widely used PISO momentum solution to resolve the pressure–velocity coupling is presented along with the present GFM discretization and its placement within the PISO loop. The pressure jump at the interface due to the interfacial forces is made sharp via direct calculation of the modified pressure matrix coefficients corresponding to targeted interfacial cells, and as a source term for the jump value itself. The Level-Set field is enlisted for curvature computation in A-CLSVOF and for the interpolation and weighting of the relative contribution of the capillary force in adjacent for the matrix coefficients in the FV framework. To assess the A-CLSVOF/GFM performance, four canonical cases were studied. In the case of a static droplet in suspension, A-CLSVOF/GFM produces a sharp and accurate pressure jump compared to the traditional CSF implementation of A-CLSVOF. The interaction of viscous and capillary forces is proven to be accurate and consistent with theoretical results for the classical capillary wave. For the linear two-layer shear flow, GFM sharp treatment of the viscosity captured the velocity gradient across the interface and removed the diffusion of the viscous stresses caused by the discontinuous material properties. Finally, the combination of all GFM improvements proposed in this study are compared to experimental findings of terminal velocity for a gaseous bubble rising in a viscous fluid. GFM outperforms CSF with errors of 4.6% and 14.0% respectively.
Dysmetria in Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (P5.441)

Objective: To characterize voluntary movements in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) Background: DM 1 is the most common muscular dystrophy inherited in autosomal dominant fashion. Motor impairments in DM1 are usually related to the muscle disease; but DM 1 clearly affects the central nervous system. Animal models suggest possible central contribution to motor deficits and possible cerebellar dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to characterize voluntary movements and their relation to central and peripheral impairments in DM1. Design/Methods: Ten individuals diagnosed with DM1 (38.8 ± 12.4 years, 4 women) and 10 age-matched controls (37.6 ± 16.9 years, 4 women) performed 50 trials of fast goal directed movements with ankle dorsiflexion aiming at a spatiotemporal target (9° at 180 ms). We recorded the mechanical and electromyographic activity of the primary agonist (tibialis anterior; TA) and antagonist (soleus; SOL) muscles and quantified the following: 1) dysmetria: endpoint error in ankle dorsiflexion; 2) central impairments: movement variability and the modulation of the agonist muscle activity in the first 100 ms of the contraction; 3) peripheral impairments: time for muscle relaxation and muscle MRI. Results: Ankle dysmetria was greater in DM1 patients than healthy controls (28.7 ± 10.4 vs 10.6 ± 2.5 %; P 2 =0.8, P 2 =0.15, P 2 =0.01, P>0.4) or tibialis anterior muscle T2 weight (R 2 =0.001, P>0.4). Conclusions: These findings provide novel evidence that DM1 patients exhibit dysmetria relative to healthy controls and that central but not peripheral impairments contribute to these impairments. Study Supported by: DM-Wyck Foundation Disclosure: Dr. Subramony has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yacoubi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Casamento-Moran has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lott has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with PTC Therapeutics. Dr. Christou has nothing to disclose.
Automated Quantification of Vocal Fold Motion in a Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury Mouse Model

Objectives/hypothesis The goal of this study was to objectively examine vocal fold (VF) motion dynamics after iatrogenic recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury in a mouse surgical model. Furthermore, we sought to identify a method of inducing injury with a consistent recovery pattern from which we can begin to evaluate spontaneous recovery and test therapeutic interventions. Study design Animal model. Methods The right RLN in C57BL/6J mice was crushed for 30 seconds using an aneurysm clip with 1.3-N closing force. Transoral laryngoscopy enabled visualization of VF movement prior to surgery, immediately post-crush, and at two endpoints: 3 days (n = 5) and 2 weeks (n = 5). VF motion was quantified with our custom motion-analysis software. At each endpoint, RLN samples were collected for transmission electron microscopy for correlation with VF motion dynamics. Results Our VF tracking software permitted automated quantification of several measures of VF dynamics, such as range and frequency of motion. By 2 weeks post-injury, the frequency of VF movement on the right (injured) side equaled the left, yet range of motion only partially recovered. These objective outcome measures enabled detection of VF dysfunction that persisted at 2 weeks post-crush. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed RLN degeneration 3 days post-crush and partial regeneration at 2 weeks, consistent with functional results obtained with automated VF tracking. Conclusions Our motion-analysis software provides novel objective, quantitative, and repeatable metrics to detect and describe subtle VF dysfunction in mice that corresponds with underlying RLN degeneration and recovery. Adaptation of our tracking software for use with human patients is underway. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 129:E247-E254, 2019.
Genomic Applications in Thyroid Cancer

The last decade has witnessed the characterization of the cancer genome through the harmonized application of next-generation genomic technologies by large research networks such as The Cancer Genome Atlas. Thyroid cancer, especially the most common types derived from follicular thyroid cells, has been included in such genomic efforts. In this chapter, the oncogenic genetic and genomic alterations across the spectrum of thyroid cancers are presented, as well as the resulting genomic clinical applications in molecular pathology. In the current era of precision oncology, these genomic advances are yielding critical insights into thyroid cancer pathogenesis and facilitating the development of novel diagnostic molecular tools.
Wind and rainfall loss assessment for residential buildings under climate-dependent hurricane scenarios

Residential buildings in the US coastal regions face a huge risk against hurricane hazard. The damage and loss in these structures during hurricane can be attributed to two major causes – high inte...
Synthesis of Diaryl Ethers, Diaryl Thioethers, and Diarylamines Mediated by Potassium Fluoride-Alumina and 18-Crown-6: Expansion of Scope and Utility(1).

An efficient alternative to the Ullmann ether synthesis of diaryl ethers, diaryl thioethers, and diarylamines involving the SNAr addition of a phenol, thiophenol, or aniline to an appropriate aryl halide, mediated by potassium−fluoride alumina and 18-crown-6 in acetonitrile or DMSO, is described. Expansion of the reaction conditions to include DMSO as solvent has resulted in a far greater range of substitution patterns permitted on the electrophile. For example, it was found that electronically unfavorable 3-chlorobenzonitrile could be condensed with 3-methoxyphenol to form the corresponding diaryl ether in 66% yield, a combination not normally amenable to Ullmann coupling. Electron-withdrawing groups present on the electrophile may be as diverse as nitro, cyano, formyl, acetyl, ester, amide, and even aryl. The method features a simple reaction procedure that provides products in generally good to excellent purified yields.
Mimickers of Hill-Sachs Lesions :

The purpose of this article is to describe the imaging appearance, etiology, clinical features, and treatment of rare presentations of common bone and joint diseases known to mimic Hill-Sachs lesio...
Rice Bran and Quercetin Produce a Positive Synergistic Effect on Human Gut Microbiota, Elevate the Level of Propionate, and Reduce the Population of Enterobacteriaceae family when Determined using a Bioreactor Model.

Diet is one of the prominent determinants of gut microbiota composition significantly impacting human health. Recent studies with dietary supplements such as rice bran and quercetin have been shown to provide a beneficial impact on the host by positively influencing the gut microbiota. However, the specific bacterial species impacted when rice bran or quercetin is present in the diet is not well understood. Therefore, in this study, we used a minibioreactor array system as a model to determine the effect of quercetin and rice bran individually, as well as in combination, on gut microbiota without the confounding host factors. We found that rice bran exerts higher shift in gut microbiome composition when compared to quercetin. At the species level, Acidaminococcus intestini was the only significantly enriched taxa when quercetin was supplemented, while 15 species were enriched in rice bran supplementation and 13 were enriched when quercetin and rice bran were supplemented in combination. When comparing the short chain fatty acid production, quercetin supplementation significantly enriched isobutyrate production while propionate dominated the quercetin and rice bran combined group. Higher levels of propionate were highly correlated to the lower abundance of the potentially pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae family. These findings suggest that the combination of rice bran and quercetin serve to enrich beneficial bacteria and reduce potential opportunistic pathogens. However, further in vivo studies are necessary to determine the synergistic effect of rice bran and quercetin on host health and immunity.
γ -ray measurements in fast-neutron-induced reactions on 203 Tl

Background: Fast-neutron-induced reactions can be used to characterize reaction mechanisms, investigate nuclear structure, and impose constraints on nuclear models. Because of the difficulty in predicting such effects, experimental data are important to constrain models. Thallium isotopes located close to the doubly magic $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ nucleus are important for comparison with shell-model calculations.Purpose: Study the population of excited states in $^{203}\mathrm{Tl}$ and lighter isotopes in such reactions.Methods: $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray cross sections were measured. The data were taken by using the Germanium Array for Neutron-Induced Excitations spectrometer. The pulsed neutron source of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center's Weapons Neutron Research facility provided neutrons in the energy range from 1 to 300 MeV. The time-of-flight technique was used to determine the incident neutron energies.Results: Cross sections for emission of several $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays in 20 reaction channels were determined. Candidates for the intruder $9/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ state in $^{203}\mathrm{Tl}$, from the odd proton in the ${h}_{9/2}$ orbital, and the first ${5}^{+}$ states in $^{202,204}\mathrm{Tl}$, from admixture of configurations, were identified.Conclusions:The excitation energy of the candidate $9/{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}, \ensuremath{\pi}{h}_{9/2}$ state is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction from a semi-empirical weak-coupling model and its half-life is in the range of tens of nanoseconds. The feeding of a previously known isomer in $^{202}\mathrm{Tl}$ exhibits similarities with the feeding of other isomers in this mass region.
Applying the classic rape scenario to robbery: An examination of situational characteristics and reporting victimization to police

Abstract The classic rape scenario creates an expectation that “real rape” only occurs in the context of certain situational characteristics. These stereotyped expectations are attributed to the low rates of sexual assault reporting especially when compared to other violent crimes like robbery. However, the literature on sexual assault reporting has been divorced from the larger criminological literature on reporting with few comparisons to other types of crimes, therefore the uniqueness of these situational factors for sexual assault is unknown. Robbery is particularly well-suited for comparison to sexual assault due to the presence of situational characteristics similar to those of “real rape” and a lack of stereotyped expectations of victimization. Using logistic regression and multiequation probit modeling, this study employs the NCVS to explore the decision to report robberies and sexual assaults to police and the differences attributed to negative perceptions of police for nonreporters. We found that robberies were indeed more likely to reflect the classic scenario and thus more accurately reflect what is expected in the classic rape scenario. However, few differences were found in regards to the decision to report and reasons for nonreporting across classic scenario characteristics. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Cultural Diversity in Online Education: An Exploration of Instructors’ Perceptions and Challenges:

Purpose/Objectives/Research/Focus of StudyThis qualitative study investigated online instructors’ perceptions of cultural diversity in the online classroom and the challenges that instructors of on...
Crystal forms in pharmaceutical applications: olanzapine, a gift to crystal chemistry that keeps on giving

This contribution reviews the efforts of many scientists around the world to discover and structurally characterize olanzapine crystal forms, clearing up inconsistencies in the scientific and patent literature and highlighting the challenges in identifying new forms amidst 60+ known polymorphs and solvates. Owing to its remarkable solid-state chemistry, olanzapine has emerged over the last three decades as a popular tool compound for developing new experimental and computational methods for enhanced molecular level understanding of solid-state structure, form diversity and crystallization outcomes. This article highlights the role of olanzapine in advancing the fundamental understanding of crystal forms, interactions within crystal structures, and growth units in molecular crystallization, as well as influencing the way in which drugs are developed today.
Intrapulse Polyphase Coding System for Second Trip Suppression in a Weather Radar

This article describes the design and implementation of intrapulse polyphase codes for a weather radar system. Algorithms to generate codes with good correlation properties are discussed. Thereafter, a new design framework is described, which optimizes the polyphase code and corresponding mismatched filter, using a cost/error function, especially for weather radars. It establishes the performance of these intrapulse techniques with specific application toward second trip removal. The developed code is implemented on NASA D3R, which is a dual-frequency, dual-polarization, Doppler weather radar system.
Structural evolution and skyrmionic phase diagram of the lacunar spinel GaMo 4 Se 8

The lacunar spinel family, which contains multiferroic skyrmion hosts GaV4S${}_{8}$ and GaV${}_{4}$Se${}_{8}$, is characterized by unique metal--metal bonding leading to strong coupling between crystal structure and magnetism. Synchrotron diffraction analysis of the low temperature crystal structure of GaMo${}_{4}$Se${}_{8}$, a less studied member of the family, reveals coexistence of the reported rhombohedral crystal structure and a new metastable orthorhombic structure. Computational and experimental characterization of the magnetic phase diagram of GaMo${}_{4}$Se${}_{8}$ indicates that slight crystal structure differences lead to distinct magnetic properties; the reported $R3m$ phase hosts skyrmions similar to GaV${}_{4}$Se${}_{8}$, while the novel $I\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}m\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}m2$ phase is a strongly uniaxial ferromagnet.
OCT‐Based Angiography and Surface Topography in Burn‐Damaged Skin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES There is a clinical need for an accurate, non-invasive imaging tool that can provide the objective assessment of burn wounds. The aims of this study are to demonstrate the potential of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in evaluating burn wound healing, as well as exploring the physiological basis of human wound healing. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective study. Seven patients with severe burn wounds who were admitted to Harborview Medical Center were imaged using an in-house-built, clinical-prototype OCT system. OCT imaging was carried out at multiple scan sites on the burned skin across two time points (imaging session #1 and #2) with a field of view of ~9 × 9 mm. Due to pathological differences among burn zones, scan sites were classified into red sites (zone of hyperemia), white sites (zone of coagulation), and mixed sites. In addition to obtaining qualitative en face vascular and surface topography maps, we quantified vascular area density and surface roughness for comparative purposes. RESULTS En face vascular and surface topography maps demonstrated numerous morphological changes over both imaging sessions associated with burn injury, such as altered blood flow and loss of regular texture. Quantitative analyses revealed that during imaging session #1, vascular area density was significantly increased within the red sites compared with that of a healthy control (P = 0.0130), while vascular area density was significantly decreased within the white sites compared with that of a healthy control (P < 0.0001). During imaging session #2, vascular area density was significantly reduced to a more normal range within the red sites compared with imaging session #1 (P = 0.0215); however, vascular area density was still significantly lower within the white sites compared with that of a healthy control (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, vascular area density and surface roughness were significantly increased within the white sites during imaging session #2 compared with imaging session #1 (both P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS OCT is clinically feasible to monitor vascular changes and alterations in skin surface roughness during the process of burn wound healing. Variations in vascular area density and roughness measurements within the burn wounds revealed by OCT offer some key insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for wound healing, which may become critical biological indicators in future clinical evaluation and monitoring of wound healing. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Electrochemistry of the Interaction of Methane with Platinum at Room Temperature Investigated through Operando FTIR Spectroscopy and Voltammetry

Electrochemical processes show potential to enable new catalytic technologies that facilitate the conversion of light alkanes in more mild conditions than those traditionally employed in thermochem...
Intelligence: from secrets to policy, eighth edition: by Mark M. Lowenthal, Thousand Oaks, CA, CQ Press, 2019, 587 pp., $85, Paperback, ISBN: 9781544325064

More than two decades after Mark Lowenthal published the first edition of Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy, this book – now in its eighth edition – still stands as the pre-eminent textbook on U...
Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Thermosensitive Chitosan Hydrogel Loaded with Fosfomycin

Thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels—renewable, biocompatible materials—have many applications as injectable biomaterials for localized drug delivery in the treatment of a variety of diseases. To combat infections such as Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis, localized antibiotic delivery would allow for higher doses at the site of infection without the risks associated with traditional antibiotic regimens. Fosfomycin, a small antibiotic in its own class, was loaded into a chitosan hydrogel system with varied beta-glycerol phosphate (β-GP) and fosfomycin (FOS) concentrations. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the interactions between FOS and chitosan hydrogel. The Kirby Bauer assay revealed an unexpected concentration-dependent inhibition of S. aureus, with reduced efficacy at the high FOS concentration but only at the low β-GP concentration. No effect of FOS concentration was observed for the planktonic assay. Rheological testing revealed that increasing β-GP concentration increased the storage modulus while decreasing gelation temperature. NMR showed that FOS was removed from the liquid portion of the hydrogel by reaction over 12 h. SEM and FTIR confirmed gels degraded and released organophosphates over 5 days. This work provides insight into the physicochemical interactions between fosfomycin and chitosan hydrogel systems and informs selection of biomaterial components for improving infection treatment.
Oblique and Spiral Metacarpal Shaft Fractures

Spiral and oblique metacarpal shaft fractures are caused by torquing forces. These fractures tend to shorten and rotate but, on occasion, may angulate (Figs. 17-1 A, B). The border metacarpals are less stable and become deformed more than the internal metacarpals when fractured individually because the internal metacarpals are protected on either side by an intact metacarpal pillar whose deep transverse metacarpal ligaments tether the distal fragment. Five Degrees of malrotation in a metacarpal fracture can cause 1.5 cm of digital overlap. Malrotation causing digital overlap must be corrected (Fig. 17-1 C).
Understanding metabolic alterations in space flight using quantitative models: Fluid and energy balance☆

This report summarizes many of the results obtained during the Skylab program, on metabolic changes during weightlessness. The examination of the data was conducted following an integrated multi-disciplinary and multi-experimental approach. Emphasis is given on several major aspects of metabolic adaptation to space flight: fluid-electrolyte regulation, mechanisms of hormone disturbances, energy balance and etiology of weight loss. The aim is to obtain a composite picture of the fluid, electrolyte and energy response to weightlessness.
Endocardial fibroelastosis: case reports with special emphasis on the clinical findings.

Summary 1. The case histories of four infantsand children who were thought to have endocardial fibroelastosis have been presented. In the two patients who died, the typical gross and microscopic changes of endocardial fibroelastosis were found. 2. The typical signs, symptoms,physical findings, and laboratory findings have been described for this disease. 3. The course of the disease was shown to be fulminating in some infants, whereas in others there were periodic episodes of left heart failure eventually leading to death. It was postulated that some patients survive the initial disease and go on to live a relatively normal life in spite of cardiomegaly. 4. The differential diagnosis hasbeen discussed. It was concluded that endocardial fibroelastosis can be diagnosed clinically. 5. Evidence has been presented tonegate claims that endocardial fibroelastosis is one of the collagen diseases.
Validation of High-Resolution Inversion Techniques for Measuring Seabed Geoacoustic Properties During the ONR-SW06 Experiment

Abstract : The long term goals of this work are to develop high-resolution subbottom imaging and inversion techniques that can be complementary to low-frequency geoacoustic inversion methods. The objectives of this effort are to invert bottom geoacoustic properties along the ONR-SW06 acoustic propagation tracks by using chirp sonar data and to validate the inversion results by using wide-band acoustic probe measurements of sound-speed and attenuation.
A Survey of College Health Services: How Widely Are Protocols Used in the College Health Setting?

We developed a survey to assess the prevalence and use of protocols in college health services, using the college health nurse as the primary focus. Three thousand and twenty copies of the survey were mailed to individual and institutional members of the American College Health Association (ACHA), and 812 surveys were returned, yielding a return rate of 25%. The data, which came from all 50 states, Canada, and Guam, were then compiled and analyzed using computer software dBase III. The generalizability of the results are somewhat limited because some surveys were returned with unanswered questions and because duplicate surveys were received from some facilities.
Thin Laminates with Homogeneous Elastic Properties

The analytic design of thin laminates is presented. The constitutive equation of a multilayer shell element of arbitrary construction is derived and reduced to the special cases of orthotropic and isotropic materials. The terms of the coefficient matrix are shown to be functions of the mechanical properties of each layer, as well as the lamination parameters, i.e., the number, thickness, and orientation of laminas. A comparison of the laminate’s coefficient matrix with those of its homogeneous counterparts is made in order to deduce the mathematical relations which ensure homogeneous behavior. These relations contain lamination parameters only; the mechanical properties of each layer can thus be selected to obtain the optimum composite stiffness characteristics. Laminate configurations which satisfy the requirements for homogeneous elastic response are found by exact and approximate means. These results are useful in structural applications which call for orthotropic or isotropic material properties, or when a reliable stress analysis is mandatory.
Optimal spacings for a rectangular grid transportation network—II: Revised assignments

Abstract The artificial assignment used in Part-I (Fawaz and Newell, 1976) for the analysis of three and four hierarchy systems is replaced by more realistic assignments. The revisions allow short trips to travel via the lower hierarchy roads only. The main effect of the revision is that new hierarchies are introduced at a significantly lower trip density than described in I and at a much larger spacing.
Parents' Perceptions of the Appropriateness of AIDS Education Topics for Their Eighth Grade School Children

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine parents' perceptions regarding AIDS education information for their eighth grade school children. Their perceptions were based on responses to a questionnaire that included topics derived from the Surgeon General's Report on AIDS. A survey packet was mailed to 148 parents of eighth grade children in a midwest suburban middle school during Spring, 1989. Survey results indicated that most parents in the sample favored all topics as appropriate for their eighth grade school children. Further analysis indicated that seven topics related to sex and controversial issues showed 10 percent or greater of parental disagreement. A discussion of the findings reveal that more parents are supportive of sex-related AIDS education topics than they were with sex education a few years ago. Results of the study pose apparent implications for researchers, teachers, school administrators, and curriculum specialists.
Manikin‐Ship: Value‐added relatedness in Vietnamese museums, 1996–2005

Objects are telling of identity and difference, through possession, exchange, and display, but this dynamic must be historicised and socially situated. In this article, I focus on the signification of ethnicity in Vietnamese museums, particularly on an apparent distinction between historically ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ matter. The earliest displays responded to the previous hegemony of French colonial significations. Subsequent national exhibits consistently enable Vietnam through assemblies of objects and images, but suggest—when examined over time—fundamentally different configurations of the nation, ethnicity, gender, and historicity. Object assemblies, where a centrepiece signifies the surrounding objects, indicate repeated prospecting for new social assemblages, most recently situating Vietnam in post-Cold War networks through the Southeast Asian kinship implied in the nation’s ethnic diversity.
Effects of secondary air injection during cold start of SI engines

The paucity of exhaust oxygen during cold start of automobile SI engines limits the extent of exothermic chemical reactions in the exhaust port, manifold, and catalyst. The injection of air into the exhaust system therefore could be an effective way to utilize additional thermal and chemical energy available in the exhaust gas. This study investigates the thermal and chemical processes associated with secondary air injection (SAI) inside the exhaust system in order to fully exploit the simultaneous benefits of reducing converter-in emissions and improving catalyst lightoff performance during cold start. An experimental study was performed to develop a more fundamental understanding of the effects of SAI on exhaust gas emissions and catalyst light-off characteristics during cold start of a modern SI engine. The effects of several design and operating parameters such as spark retardation, fuel enrichment, secondary air flow rate and air injection location were investigated to understand the mixing, heat loss, and thermal and catalytic oxidation processes associated with SAI. Timeresolved HC, CO and CO2 concentrations were tracked from the cylinder exit to the catalytic converter outlet and converted to mass flow rates by applying an instantaneous exhaust mass flow rate model. A phenomenological model of exhaust heat transfer combined with the gas composition analysis was also developed to define the thermal and chemical energy state of the exhaust gas with SAI. The study found that significant emissions reduction can be achieved with SAI by the thermal oxidation process prior to the catalyst, which results in enhancing the chemical process inside the catalyst by faster catalyst light-off. The engine operation, with a relative air/fuel ratio 20% rich of stoichiometric and 100% secondary air, yielded the fastest catalyst light-off (4.2 sec). The SAI system reduced HC emissions by 46% to 88% and CO emissions by 37% to 93% compared with the normal operating conditions. The analysis showed that the post-catalyst HC emissions levels were optimized with secondary air flow rates corresponding to an overall exhaust lambda of 1.3. Thesis Supervisor: John B. Heywood Title: Professor of Mechanical Engineering
The placental problem: Linking abnormal cytotrophoblast differentiation to the maternal symptoms of preeclampsia

The placenta is a remarkable organ. In normal pregnancy its specialized cells (termed cytotrophoblasts) differentiate into various specialized subpopulations that play pivotal roles in governing fetal growth and development. One cytotrophoblast subset acquires tumor-like properties that allow the cells to invade the decidua and myometrium, a process that attaches the placenta to the uterus. The same subset also adopts a vascular phenotype that allows these fetal cells to breach and subsequently line uterine blood vessels, a process that channels maternal blood to the rest of the placenta. In the pregnancy complication preeclampsia, which is characterized by the sudden onset of maternal hypertension, proteinuria and edema, cytotrophoblast invasion is shallow and vascular transformation incomplete. These findings, together with very recent evidence from animal models, suggest that preeclampsia is associated with abnormal placental production of vasculogenic/angiogenic substances that reach the maternal circulation with the potential to produce at least a subset of the clinical signs of this syndrome. The current challenge is to build on this knowledge to design clinically useful tests for predicting, diagnosing and treating this dangerous disorder.
Poverty and Children′s Adjustment

Introduction Child Attributes Poverty and the Family Demographic and Structural Features Poverty and the Family Psychological Processes Exosystemic Influences Future Directions
Atrophy of the proximal part of the femur after total hip arthroplasty without cement. A quantitative comparison of cobalt-chromium and titanium femoral stems with use of dual X-ray absorptiometry

The purpose of this study was to compare the density of periprosthetic bone about titanium and cobalt-chromium stems that had been inserted without cement. The analysis was done, three to four years after a total hip arthroplasty, in a retrospectively matched cohort of thirty patients. Fifteen patients had a stem that was collarless, proximally coated, and made of titanium; the other fifteen had a stem of similar design that was made of cobalt-chromium. The criteria for selection in the study included an excellent clinical and radiographic result and separately calculated modified Harris and Mayo hip scores of more than 94 points. All stems had radiographic evidence of osseous ingrowth. A comparison of the bone-mineral density about the two different types of stem with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry revealed a significant difference only along the calcar of the femur. There was no significant difference about the remaining, preponderant portion of the proximal part of the femur. Our data suggest that the difference in the modulus of elasticity between the two types of stem had little effect on the loss of bone-mineral density in most of the proximal part of the femur after arthroplasty without cement.
Respiratory modulation of neuronal discharge in the central nucleus of the amygdala during sleep and waking states.

Abstract The relationship between neuronal discharge in the central nucleus of the amygdala (ACE) and timing of the respiratory cycle was assessed during quiet and active sleep and during the waking state. Of 169 neurons recorded from the ACE in intact, drug-free cats, 22% discharged phasically with the respiratory cycle during at least one sleep or waking state. The dependency between neuronal discharge and the respiratory cycle was typically strong in only one state. Forty-three percent of the respiratory-related neurons were most strongly correlated with the respiratory cycle during the waking state (AW). An additional 30% were most strongly related to the respiratory cycle during quiet sleep (QS), whereas only 11% showed the strongest dependency during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Half of the ACE neurons (49%) discharged at fre-quencies less than 10 spikes per second, and the most common trend in firing rate across states was one in which neurons fired more rapidly during AW and REM than during QS. No relationship between discharge rate of ACE neurons in the three states and propensity for phasic discharge with the respiratory cycle could be demonstrated.
Annual cycles of sea ice and phytoplankton in Cape Bathurst polynya, southeastern Beaufort Sea, Canadian Arctic

[1] The relationship between the dynamics of sea ice and phytoplankton abundance were investigated for the Cape Bathurst polynya region of the Canadian Arctic using five years (1998–2002) of satellite data from SSM/I and SeaWiFS. The Cape Bathurst polynya exhibited marked interannual variability in sea ice dynamics, both in the timing of initial polynya formation and in the extent and persistence of open water. Related to this, although all years exhibited two distinct phytoplankton blooms, these also varied in their intensity and timing. Generally, the late bloom of each year was the most intense, after surface waters had stratified in summer. Blooms were most intense in spring 1998, following anomalous warming and early stratification, and late summer 2002, following a summer ice melt event. Changes in the timing of phytoplankton bloom development in polar waters can impact food web structure and the relative importance of top-down versus bottom-up control of marine ecosystems.
Centrifugal field line breaking - an upper limit to Io mass injection

The magnetic field generated by the current needed to balance the centrifugal force on the Io torus plasma is considered to find a self-consistent equation for radial mass transport. Solutions are obtained which give plasma density and field strength as a function of distance for different mass transport rates. The solutions are subjected to a stability analyses to find where the field lines break about 3 x 10 to the 30th atoms/sec (about 100,000 kg/sec) it reaches Io. This sets an upper limit on the magnetosphere's ability to off-load mass from Io. The effect of corotation lag was ignored.