cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Localization, delocalization and compression fracture in externally pressurized thick cross-ply (very) long cylindrical shells with material non-linearity: A multi-scale and multi-physics analysis

Abstract Compression fracture in carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) involves multiple physical mechanisms operating at multiple scales ranging from angstroms to cms and beyond. First, at the macro/meso-scale, combined effects of modal imperfections, transverse shear/normal deformation along with the non-linear hypo-elastic transverse shear (GTT) material property on the emergence of interlaminar shear crippling type instability modes, related to the localization (onset of deformation softening), delocalization (onset of deformation hardening) and propagation of mode II compression fracture/damage, in thick imperfect cross-ply very long cylindrical shells under applied hydrostatic pressure, are investigated. The primary accomplishment is the (hitherto unavailable) computation of the layer-wise mode II stress intensity factor, energy release rate and kink crack band-width, under hydrostatic compression, from a non-linear finite element analysis (FEA), using Maxwell’s construction and Griffith׳s energy balance approach. Numerical results include the effects of hypoelastic (GTT only) material property, on localization and delocalization leading to compression fracture. At the micro-scale, a novel three-dimensional eigenfunction expansion technique, based in part on separation of the cylinder length-variable and partly utilizing a modified Frobenius type series expansion in conjunction with an affine transformation to compute the local stress singularity, in the vicinity of a kinked-fiber/matrix trimaterial junction front. Such computed stress singularities represent a measure of the degree of inherent flaw sensitivity of unidirectional CFRP under compression. Finally, dislocation glide in graphite crystallites plays a dominant role in kink band nucleation and propagation at the nano-meter scale.
Kahler Moduli Inflation in Type IIB Compactifications: A random tumble through the Calabi-Yau landscape

In this paper we present an initial exploration of the Calabi-Yau landscape in the context of Kahler moduli inflation. We review how the slow-roll requirement on the scalar potential translates to a geometric constraint on the Kahler geometry of the vacuum. This constraint leads to a hard bound on the moduli space geometry and we consider the effects of this constraint on the string landscape that arises in type IIB string compactifications on an O3/O7 orientifold. Most notably we find that the inflationary constraint is independent of the moduli space dimension and only 6.57% of geometries inspected support high-scale Kahler moduli inflation.
Chemical Wear of Cu CMP

In this work, we used surface analysis techniques, such as a field-emission highresolution analytical TEM, X-ray spectroscopy, and XPS to analyze abrasive particles after polishing. Results showed evidence of copper oxide (Cu2O) in the polished slurry. However, there was no metallic crystalline copper detected. After comparing these data with the results obtained from our electro-chemical experiments, we propose two possible chemical wear mechanisms in Cu CMP.
Inflow Boundary Conditions for DNS and LES of Compressible Turbulent Boundary Layers

Direct and Large Eddy Simulation of compressible turbulent flows oftentimes requires the specification of dynamic (i.e., time varying) inflow boundary conditions that simulate a turbulent inflow. The paper summarizes several recent methods for generating dynamic inflow boundary conditions for a flat plate turbulent boundary layer using a recycling technique.
Facile Synthesis of Pure Boron Nanotubes and Nanofibers

A facile and scalable chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process in flowing argon using a solid instead of a reactive gaseous boron precursor has been carried out to synthesize crystalline boron nanostructures comprising of relatively straight boron nanotubes (BNTs) and nanofibers (BNFs). The synthesis involves the use of solid magnesium boride as the boron and magnesium catalyst precursor, nickel boride as co-catalyst, and MCM-41 zeolite as the growth template. The BNTs and BNFs produced have a narrow distribution of diameters between about 10 nm to 20 nm and lengths from about 500 nm to above 1 μm. Scanning and transmission electron microscope (SEM and TEM) imaging together with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) have been conducted to characterize the structure, morphology and growth mechanism of these novel nanostructures. High resolution TEM imaging has been used to identify BNTs and BNFs in the nanostructures synthesized.
Metastable Defects in the Amorphous Silicon-Germanium Alloys

This paper first briefly reviews a few of the early studies that established some of the salient features of light-induced degradation in a-Si,Ge:H. In particular, I discuss the fact that both Si and Ge metastable dangling bonds are involved. I then review some of the recent studies carried out by members of my laboratory concerning the details of degradation in the low Ge fraction alloys utilizing the modulated photocurrent method to monitor the individual changes in the Si and Ge deep defects. By relating the metastable creation and annealing behavior of these two types of defects, new insights into the fundamental properties of metastable defects have been obtained for amorphous silicon materials in general. I will conclude with a brief discussion of the microscopic mechanisms that may be responsible.
Application and Design on Generalized Intelligent Control System of Boiler Steam Temperature

The contradiction of speediness and stability is a difficult problem in face of control theory study and control system design at all times.The paper takes time-variant,great-inertia and nonlinear controlled object as study background,designing generalized intelligent control system,and mathematical proof to sufficiency conditions of the closed-loop control system coming into asymptotically stabilization in full scope has presented.The practicability and the validity of the design method have been proven based on simulation tests and effect of engineering practice in boiler steam temperature control system of thermal power plant.It can better solve the contradiction of speediness and stability of control system.
Holoacardius amorphus: Report of a case with chromosome analysis

Abstract Forty-six normal chromosomes were found in mitoses of cells in a tissue culture obtained from an acardiac monster. This finding is interpreted as supporting the concept that this anomaly is secondary to chance vascular communications in the placenta. The XY sex chromosomes correspond to the sex of the associated normal twin and support previous findings of isosexual relations of such twins.
Early-stage Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Impairs Erectile Function and Neurite Outgrowth From the Major Pelvic Ganglion and Downregulates the Gene Expression of Neurotrophic Factors.

Objective To assess neurite sprouting and gene expression of neurotrophic factors, nerve markers, and apoptosis in the major pelvic ganglia (MPGs) of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as it relates to erectile function. Materials and Methods Male rats were fed high-fat diet for 2 weeks followed by 2 low-dose injections of streptozotocin (20 mg/kg). In 3 groups (controls, 3-week, or 5-week T2DM), erectile function was measured by ratios of intracavernosal pressure to mean arterial pressure after cavernous nerve stimulation. MPGs were harvested, and gene expressions of neurotrophic factor 3, nerve growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, caspase-1, -3, -9, beta tubulin type III, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Additional MPGs were harvested and cultured in Matrigel. Neurite outgrowth from the MPG was evaluated at 48 hours after culture. Results Erectile function was significantly decreased in all rats with T2DM. Gene expressions of neurotrophic factor 3, nerve growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were slightly lower at 3 weeks and significantly lower at 5 weeks after T2DM induction. Gene expression of apoptotic markers caspase-1, -3, -9, and neuronal markers beta tubulin type III and neuronal nitric oxide synthase remained unchanged. Rats with T2DM had shorter neurite length and less neurite sprouting than did the control MPG. Conclusion Early-stage T2DM downregulates neurotrophic factors, induces erectile dysfunction, and impairs MPG neurite outgrowth, suggesting that erectile dysfunction may be prevented by supplementing neurotrophic factors at early-stage T2DM.
The Artistic Renaissance

Although science was not developing rapidly, new-found wealth in the early fourteenth century drove the development of art, and many of the most successful artists were by necessity required to deploy mechanics in new and ingenious ways. Among these were Giotto di Bondone, Filippo Brunelleschi, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, as painting, sculpture, clock towers, and domes led the way toward the coming scientific renaissance.
Sometimes Laugher Is the Best Medicine.

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” (Proverbs 17:22, King James Bible)The idea that laughter and humor have positive health benefits is an old one, dating back at least to biblical times. L...
Gene Editing With CRISPR/Cas9 RNA-Directed Nuclease

Genetic engineering of model organisms and cultured cells has for decades provided important insights into the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular development and disease. In the past few years the development of several nuclease systems has broadened the range of model/cell systems that can be engineered. Of these, the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) system has become the favorite for its ease of application. Here we will review this RNA-guided nuclease system for gene editing with respect to its usefulness for cardiovascular studies and with an eye toward potential therapy. Studies on its off-target activity, along with approaches to minimize this activity will be given. The advantages of gene editing versus gene targeting in embryonic stem cells, including the breadth of species and cell types to which it is applicable, will be discussed. We will also cover its use in iPSC for research and possible therapeutic purposes; and we will review its use in muscular dystrophy studies where considerable progress has been made toward dystrophin correction in mice. The CRISPR/Ca9s system is also being used for high-throughput screening of genes, gene regulatory regions, and long noncoding RNAs. In addition, the CRISPR system is being used for nongene-editing purposes such as activation and inhibition of gene expression, as well as for fluorescence tagging of chromosomal regions and individual mRNAs to track their cellular location. Finally, an approach to circumvent the inability of post-mitotic cells to support homologous recombination-based gene editing will be presented. In conclusion, applications of the CRISPR/Cas system are expanding at a breath-taking pace and are revolutionizing approaches to gain a better understanding of human diseases.
A Variational Multiscale Method for the Simulation of Porous Media Flow in Highly Heterogeneous Formations

Multiscale phenomena are ubiquitous to flow and transport in porous media. They manifest themselves through at least the following three facets: (1) effective parameters in the governing equations are scale dependent; (2) some features of the flow (especially sharp fronts and boundary layers) cannot be resolved on practical computational grids; and (3) dominant physical processes may be different at different scales. Numerical methods should therefore reflect the multiscale character of the solution. In this paper, we concentrate on the development of simulation techniques that account for the extreme heterogeneity present in realistic reservoirs, and have the ability to perform accurate predictions on coarse grids. Traditionally, this problem has been tackled by upscaling the fine-scale properties to coarse-scale effective coefficients. Recently, two related but distinct methods have been proposed: the multiscale finite element method, and the variational multiscale method. The organizing center of the variational multiscale (VMS) paradigm is that the original problem is split (rigorously) into a coarse-scale problem and a subgrid-scale problem. The framework is very flexible with respect to how each of these problems is approximated. In this paper, we develop a VMS method for the simulation of flow in highly heterogeneous reservoirs. The proposed VMS method employs a low-order mixed finite element method at the coarse scale, and a finite volume method at the subgrid scale. The method is therefore locally conservative at both the coarse and fine scales. We pay special attention to the definition of the local boundary conditions for the subgrid problems. In particular, we develop a well model, which accounts for subgrid heterogeneity and radial flow regime in a consistent fashion, without compromising the local mass conservation property. We present the application of the method to two-dimensional, highly heterogeneous problems. These results illustrate the applicability and enormous potential of the method. Finally, we discuss the extension of the method to nonlinear problems, three-dimensional systems, and complex (unstructured) grids.
Indications and Controversies for Complete and Implant-Enhanced Latissimus Dorsi Breast Reconstructions.

This article describes the use of implant-enhanced and total-autologous latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps in breast reconstruction. It addresses the indications for use of this reconstruction alternative, which have recently been expanded thanks to the advent of high-volume fat grafting. Given its straightforward dissection, reliable vascular pedicle, variety of approaches, and potential for excellent aesthetic results, use of latissimus dorsi flaps may be considered among first-line options in selected patients.
A Web-Delivered Multicomponent Intervention for Adolescents with Poorly Controlled Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Type 1 diabetes is associated with significant mortality and economic cost. Management of type 1 diabetes involves completing multiple daily adherence behaviors, and many adolescents struggle with self-management and show poor glycemic control. Purpose The purpose was to conduct an unblinded pilot randomized controlled parallel-group study of a web-delivered multicomponent intervention targeting self-monitoring of blood glucose, working memory, and parent supervision of diabetes care among adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Intervention components included high magnitude incentives for adolescents and parents, motivational and cognitive behavioral therapy and working memory training for adolescents, and training in contingency contracting for parents. Methods Adolescents (N = 114) with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes were screened, and N = 61 were randomized using minimum likelihood allocation to usual care (usual care, N = 31) or to a 25-week/15-session web-delivered intervention (WebRx, N = 30). Results At the end of treatment, adolescents in WebRx had higher self-monitoring of blood glucose (d = 0.58) (primary outcome), better visual spatial working memory (d = 0.48) and inhibition (d = 0.98), and lower HbA1c (d = 0.45) than those in usual care. WebRx parents reported more frequent review of the adolescent's glucometer (d = 1.30) and reduced family conflict (d = 0.56). Between-condition differences were maintained 6 months later in self-monitoring of blood glucose (d = 0.42), visual spatial working memory (d = 0.76), family conflict (d = 0.50), and HbA1c (d = 0.44). Conclusions Results showing sustained effects on self-monitoring of blood glucose and HbA1c support moving forward with a larger trial to test this innovative web-delivered and multicomponent intervention. ClinicalTrials.gov Number (NCT01722643).
Is Tamsulosin Linked to Dementia in the Elderly

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) result from age-related changes in detrusor function and prostatic growth that are driven by alterations in the ratio of circulating androgens and estrogens. Alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers are commonly used to treat LUTS because they influence urethral tone and intra-urethral pressure. Molecular cloning studies have identified three α1-adrenergic receptor subtypes (α1A, α1B, and α1D). The α1A subtype is predominant in the human prostate but is also present in many parts of the brain that direct cognitive function. Tamsulosin is the most widely used α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist with 12.6 million prescriptions filled in 2010 alone. When compared to the other common types of α1-adrenergic receptor antagonists (i.e., terazosin, doxazosin, and alfuzosin), tamsulosin is 10- to 38-fold more selective for the α1A versus the α1B subtype. Duan et al. have recently shown that men taking tamsulosin have a higher risk of developing dementia when compared to men taking other α-adrenergic antagonists or no α-adrenergic antagonists at all (HR 1.17; 95% CI 1.14–1.21). Based upon this retrospective analysis, we believe that tamsulosin, because of its unique affinity for α1A-adrenergic receptors, may increase the risk of developing dementia when used for an extended period of time. If these findings are confirmed, they carry significant public health implications for an aging society.
Role of behavioral factors in strategic alliances

The number of strategic alliances formed between organizations has increased dramatically and are projected to continue increasing over the next few years. Behavioral and cultural factors play a major role in the success (or failure) of a strategic alliance between partners, but many managers pay little attention to this aspect while in the process of negotiations. This paper highlights a number of human and organizational culture issues, which played a major role in the process of developing a strategic alliance between a major telecommunications organization and several retail electricity organizations. A framework for strategic alliance was developed for this new market situation, which helped the organizations involved understand the future informational requirements and dependence of the partners on one another.
Molecular Response to Osmotic Shock

The cellular responses of cultured mammalian cells and non-mammalian organisms to changes in osmolarity are discussed. A number of common themes including activation of protein kinase cascades can be observed in a diverse group of organisms. A combination of physiological and transcriptional studies has been performed to identify regulatory factors and proteins that play a causal role in the cellular responses to osmotic changes. These factors may serve as targets for cellular engineering strategies to improve the productivity of cultured mammalian cells, particularly in response to osmotic shock
Foxwoods: Turning Data into Insights in the Hospitality Industry

This case describes how an IT director identified an opportunity and implemented an innovative business solution designed to enable line managers and executives to convert data to information to insights. The case also details how the company partnered with an emerging technology start-up, Netezza.
Identification of a surrogate to validate irradiation processing of selected spices

Abstract Onion powder and talc were inoculated with one of three groups of Salmonella enterica or a putative surrogate, Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354, and the radiation sensitivity of S. enterica was compared to E. faecium. For both inoculated onion powder and inoculated talc, D10-values were greater for E. faecium than any of the three groups of S. enterica. The survival of E. faecium in irradiated talc was used to estimate the potential survival of S. enterica in irradiated spices. Onion powder, dried oregano, whole cumin seeds or peppercorns were mixed with talc inoculated with either S. enterica (previously associated with a foodborne disease outbreak) or E. faecium and irradiated. The D10-values were calculated for each bacterial group and compared between E. faecium and S. enterica within each spice. For each spice, the D10-value for E. faecium was either not statistically different from (P
Pair-bonding, fatherhood, and the role of testosterone: A meta-analytic review.

Abstract Males of many species must allocate limited energy budgets between mating and parenting effort. The Challenge Hypothesis provides a framework for understanding these life-history trade-offs via the disparate roles of testosterone (T) in aggression, sexual behavior, and parenting. It predicts that males pursuing mating opportunities have higher T than males pursuing paternal strategies, and in humans, many studies indeed report that men who are fathers and/or pair-bonded have lower T than childless and/or unpaired men. However, the magnitude of these effects, and the influence of methodological variation on effect sizes, have not been quantitatively assessed. We meta-analyzed 114 effects from 66 published and unpublished studies covering four predictions inspired by the Challenge Hypothesis. We confirm that pair-bonded men have lower T than single men, and fathers have lower T than childless men. Furthermore, men more oriented toward pair-bonding or offspring investment had lower T. We discuss the practical meaningfulness of the effect sizes we estimate in relation to known factors (e.g., aging, geographic population) that influence men’s T concentrations.
MULTI-VESSEL CORONARY ARTERY SPASM: CHALLENGING CASE STUDY

Coronary artery spasm (CAS) is a well documented but poorly understood but has been rarely been reported with arrhythmic cardiac arrest. Such cases are very rare making it difficult to find treatment modalities when it does occur. This is a case study of one such rare occurrence and the treatment
Vulvar endometriosis in the setting of a traumatic neuroma

Endometriosis is a rare documented source of vulvar pain. Extra-pelvic endometriosis and traumatic neuromas have been reported in individual cases as a source of pain in procedure-related scars fol...
Implementation strategies for interventions to improve the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by primary care clinicians: protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction There is a considerable implementation gap in managing early stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) in primary care despite the high prevalence and risk for increased morbidity and mortality associated with CKD. This systematic review aims to synthesise the evidence of efficacy of implementation interventions aimed at primary care practitioners (PCPs) to improve CKD identification and management. We further aim to describe the interventions’ behavioural change components. Methods and analysis We will conduct a systematic review of studies from 2000 to October 2017 that evaluate implementation interventions targeting PCPs and which include at least one clinically meaningful CKD outcome. We will search several electronic data bases and conduct reference mining of related systematic reviews and publications. An interdisciplinary team will independently and in duplicate, screen publications, extract data and assess the risk of bias. Clinical outcomes will include all clinically meaningful medical management outcomes relevant to CKD management in primary care such as blood pressure, chronic heart disease and diabetes target achievements. Quantitative evidence synthesis will be performed, where possible. Planned subgroup analyses include by (1) study design, (2) length of follow-up, (3) type of intervention, (4) type of implementation strategy, (5) whether a behavioural or implementation theory was used to guide study, (6) baseline CKD severity, (7) patient minority status, (8) study location and (9) academic setting or not. Ethics and dissemination Approval by research ethics board is not required since the review will only include published and publicly accessible data. Review findings will inform a future trial of an intervention to promote uptake of CKD diagnosis and treatment guidelines in our primary care setting and the development of complementary tools to support its successful adoption and implementation. We will publish our findings in a peer-reviewed journal and develop accessible summaries of the results. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018102441.
Teaching accelerated nursing students' self-care: A pilot project.

Aim A benchmark of 4 has been determined for the reduction of self-reported stress by nursing students' status post 5 weeks of holistic educational activities and interventions provided by a nurse educator. Design Provision 5 in the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements emphasizes the duty of the nurse to not only promote the health and safety of others, but to self as well (ANA, 2015, Code of ethics with interpretive statements, http://Nursebooks.org). A self-care for nurses' pilot project was trialled with 25 accelerated nursing students over the course of 5 weeks. Holistic education programmes were facilitated by a nurse educator uninvolved in providing clinical or classroom education to the students. Methods The Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) guidelines are used in this pilot project as a framework to explore standardization of education of nursing students about self-care in nursing programmes and to promote positive health behaviours and student nurses' insight into how nurses' self-care can have an impact on patient outcomes. The self-care pilot project introduced the importance of self-care for the pre-licensure nursing student by teaching healthy eating, physical exercise, the value of sleep, use of positive affirmations and aromatherapy to a cohort of accelerated nursing students over the course of 5 weeks. The Star Model of Knowledge Transformation was the theoretical framework for the pilot study. Two questionnaires were used by the principal investigator to obtain participant data, the Project Participant Questionnaire and the Final-Year Group Questionnaire. Results On completion of the self-care for nurses' pilot, the nursing students reported a reduction in stress and an increased ability to cope with stress after exposure to different holistic stress reduction strategies. An average benchmark of 4.36 was achieved indicating that the nursing students' self-care had improved status post the interactive teaching intervention.Self-care taught to pre-licensure nursing students by nurse educators can enhance their self-awareness of the importance of stress reduction and care of themselves while enduring the academic rigour and simultaneous clinical practicum experiences in nursing programmes.Applying self-care behaviours to reduction of stress for nursing students may be of benefit to of students as they transition from the pre-licensure to graduate nurse roles. Hence, teaching health behaviours that are self-protective and contribute to maintaining safe clinical environments for nurses and the patients in their care.
Contemplative and Centering Prayer1

Centering prayer was developed to make accessible the rich Christian contemplative prayer tradition to young North American spiritual seekers. In the fifty years since its development it has become...
Selective menus practical, this small hospital finds

(1964). Selective menus practical, this small hospital finds. Hospital Topics: Vol. 42, No. 9, pp. 62-64.
Reviving Legislative Avenues for Gerrymandering Reform with a Flexible, Automated Tool

After seeking a “manageable standard” to apply to claims of partisan gerrymandering for over three decades, the Supreme Court has finally given up the chase, ruling that such claims are nonjusticiable. What is to be done? An extended history of successful congressional action suggests that the legislative pathway is more practical than often believed. Statutory requirements also make it possible to consider a broader suite of districting objectives. This paper presents a flexible new software and a framework for evaluating the practical implications of explicit objectives. I apply this approach to the conditions last required by Congress, generating equipopulous, contiguous, and compact districts. Among these conditions, the formal definition of compactness has proven contentious. Does it matter? I contrast the representation of the political parties and of racial and ethnic minorities under plans optimized according to 18 different definitions of compactness. On these grounds, the definitions are markedly consistent. These methods may be extended to alternative districting objectives and criteria.
The political significance of fragile masculinity

Recent research in gender psychology finds that males are expected to actively earn and maintain their status as ‘real men’ or risk losing this valued group status. The precariousness of manhood can create anxiety among males who feel that they are failing to meet cultural standards of masculinity—a state we term fragile masculinity. Although research has identified a variety of strategies that men adopt in order to restore their threatened status as ‘real men’, few studies have examined compensatory attitudes and behaviors in the political realm. We review recent evidence suggesting a link between fragile masculinity and aggressive political stances as well as support for the party (Republicans) that tends to endorse such stances. Overall, the evidence, though currently limited, suggests that fragile masculinity is crucial to fully understanding men’s political attitudes and behaviors.
COGNITIVE DECLINE IN OLDER INDIVIDUALS WITH TYPE-2 DIABETES

Introduction Diabetes, especially T2D, is a common disease among the elderly and according to the American Diabetes Association over 26% of Americans over the age of 65 are affected by some form of diabetes. Many studies have linked T2D to cognitive impairment (CI) and increased risk for AD, and some of these reports indicate that non-amnestic (rather than amnestic) CI is the more prominent deficit. The Rotterdam study was one of the first large studies to implicate T2D as a risk factor for dementia. They found an association between T2D and dementia, especially in those diabetics taking insulin. Investigators have since tried to characterize how T2D impacts cognitive function, sometimes with conflicting messages. Data now point toward seeing T2D as a risk factor for cognitive decline, but perhaps through mechanisms distinct from those that produce AD. In particular, higher glucose levels have been tied to risk for dementia, regardless of diabetes diagnosis, but a Phase III study of Rosiglitazone in subjects with mild-to-moderate AD showed no evidence for beneficial treatment effect on cognition or global function Despite all the data on pathogenic ties between T2D and cognition, the cognitive and biomarker profiles of those with T2D, and how these may or may not overlap with AD, have not yet been clearly defined. Simultaneous and comprehensive assessment of a panel of variables offers the opportunity to explore relationships between CI and T2D. Molecular diagnosis provides insight into underlying pathology and enables us to consider potential interactions amongst them. Our goal through this study is to address these unanswered questions in older individuals with T2D and non-diabetic participants without dementia, collecting cognitive data and biomarkers related to T2D, insulin resistance, inflammation, and AD and vascular neuropathology. Methods Control (non-diabetic participants without dementia) and test subjects (older individuals with T2D) are being recruited and enrolled from the clinical core. Cognitive data, along with blood tests, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and neuroimaging data is collected and will be compared in the two populations. Results Preliminary results show that older patients being treated in a specialized diabetes clinic have a high degree of undiagnosed cognitive disorders. However, the cognitive profile in patients with diabetes was different from those with typical amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) of the Alzheimer type. These diabetic patients performed better in all memory tests compared to subjects with aMCI, but they demonstrated cognitive deficits in a wide range of non-memory areas, which are often not (or only mildly) affected in AD. Conclusions Ongoing study This research was funded by: Mount Sinai ADRC
Banach Algebras Over Valued Fields

Abstract By “Gelfand theory” here is meant the study of the consequences of topologizing the maximal ideals of a Banach algebra. The theory is most rich when the underlying field is that of the complex numbers. If the underlying field is 3R or some other valued field, a theory can still be developed however and that is discussed here. First the Gelfand theory for complex Banach algebras is reviewed briefly; then the analogous theory for the case when the field carries a non-archimedean real-valued valuation is presented. In the course of the latter discussion, a Stone-Weierstrass theorem is needed. In the last part of the paper some versions of the Stone-Weierstrass theorem which hold in algebras of continuous functions over fields with nonarchi - medean valuation are discussed.
Use of Standing Orders for Vaccination Among Pediatricians

OBJECTIVES: Standing orders are an effective way to increase vaccination rates, yet little is known about how pediatricians use this strategy for childhood immunizations. We assessed current use of, barriers to using, and factors associated with use of standing orders for vaccination among pediatricians. METHODS: Internet and mail survey from June 2017 to September 2017 among a nationally representative sample of pediatricians. In the principal component analysis of barrier items, we identified 2 factors: physician responsibility and concerns about office processes. A multivariable analysis that included barrier scales and physician and/or practice characteristics was used to identify factors associated with use of standing orders. RESULTS: The response rate was 79% (372 of 471); 59% of respondents reported using standing orders. The most commonly identified barriers among nonusers were concern that patients may mistakenly receive the wrong vaccine (68%), concern that patients prefer to speak with the physician about a vaccine before receiving it (62%), and belief that it is important for the physician to be the person who recommends a vaccine to patients (57%). These 3 items also made up the physician responsibility barrier factor. Respondents with higher physician responsibility scores were less likely to use standing orders (risk ratio: 0.59 [95% confidence interval: 0.53–0.66] per point increase). System-level decision-making about vaccines, suburban or rural location, and lower concerns about office processes scores were each associated with use of standing orders in the bivariate, but not the multivariable, analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Among pediatricians, use of standing orders for vaccination is far from universal. Interventions to increase use of standing orders should address physicians’ attitudinal barriers as well as organizational factors.
Using dramatizations to teach cell signaling enhances learning and improves students' confidence in the concept.

Certain physiology concepts can be difficult for students to understand, and new strategies need to be implemented to teach these concepts. Cell signaling is a core concept in physiology and is pre...
The Gendered Dimensions of Torture: Rape and Other Forms of Gender-Based Violence As Torture Under International Law

Through decades of concerted grassroots organizing and creative lawyering, women’s and gender justice activists achieved the international recognition that gender-based violence is not just a “private” matter, but is, in fact, violence that can rise to the level of torture in certain cases. As states and other actors continue to resist this development by rejecting their due diligence obligations, it is vital that human rights advocates understand the history and theories underlying this critical gain. This chapter focuses on the development of the legal determination that rape specifically can rise to the level of torture, as it has the most developed legal history, and thus provides a useful means for understanding the struggle to eliminate gender-based violence. Alongside case analysis and theory, the chapter presents the women’s rights movement history, its subsequent deepening to include LGBTI persons, and the successes that these movements achieved at the international level.
Prevotella histicola Protects From Arthritis by Expansion of Allobaculum and Augmenting Butyrate Production in Humanized Mice.

Bacterial therapeutics are the emergent alternatives in treating autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA]. P. histicola MCI 001 is one such therapeutic bacterium that has been proven to treat autoimmune diseases such as RA and multiple sclerosis [MS] in animal models. The present study characterized P. histicola MCI 001 isolated from a human duodenal biopsy, and evaluated its impact on the gut microbial and metabolic profile in a longitudinal study using the collagen-induced arthritis model in HLA-DQ8.AEo transgenic mice. P. histicola MCI 001 though closely related to the type strain of P. histicola, DSM 19854, differed in utilizing glycerol. In culture, P. histicola MCI 001 produced vitamins such as biotin and folate, and was involved in digesting complex carbohydrates and production of acetate. Colonization study showed that duodenum was the predominant niche for the gavaged MCI 001. A longitudinal follow-up of gut microbial profile in arthritic mice treated with MCI 001 suggested that dysbiosis caused due to arthritis was partially restored to the profile of naive mice after treatment. A taxon-level analysis suggested an expansion of intestinal genus Allobaculum in MCI001 treated arthritic mice. Eubiosis achieved post treatment with P. histicola MCI 001 was also reflected in the increased production of short-chain fatty acids [SCFAs]. Present study suggests that the treatment with P. histicola MCI 001 leads to an expansion of Allobaculum by increasing the availability of simple carbohydrates and acetate. Restoration of microbial profile and metabolites like butyrate induce immune and gut homeostasis.
The Care-coordination Approach to Learning Lupus Self-Management: a patient navigator intervention for systemic lupus inpatients.

Objective The Care-coordination Approach to Learning Lupus Self-Management (CALLS) study was designed to improve SLE disease self-management. This study aims to assess the benefits of the intervention compared with existing lupus care. Methods Participants were randomly assigned to participate in 12-weekly phone sessions with the patient navigator that included structured educational content, care coordination and patient-centred support services, or a usual care control condition. Validated measures of health literacy, self-efficacy, patient activation and disease activity were collected. We used least squares means and linear mixed-effects regression models for each outcome variable to assess the changes in outcome, from baseline to postintervention and to estimate the difference in these changes between the intervention and control group. Results Thirty participants were enrolled and 14 were randomised to the treatment group. For perceived lupus self-efficacy, there was a significant increase in mean score for the intervention group, but not for the control group. With regard to disease activity, the experimental group experienced a slight decrease in mean flare score in the previous 3 months, whereas the control group experienced a slight increase, but this finding did not reach statistical significance. Trends were similar in self-reported global disease activity, but none of the findings were significant. Health literacy and patient activation measure scores remained largely unchanged throughout the study for the two groups. Conclusion These findings suggest that the CALLS intervention may work to improve aspects of SLE disease self-management. Future research will be needed to validate these findings long-term. Trial registration number NCT04400240.
High transmittance n-type tin-oxysulfide Sn(OxS2-x) heterojunction layer grown from surfactant mediated chemical bath deposition for thin film solar cells

Abstract Highly transparent n-type polycrystalline SnS2 and Sn(OxS2-x) thin films were deposited by a modified chemical bath deposition technique using an ionic surfactant t-Octylphenoxy polyethoxy ethanol (abbreviated Tx) activator. X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) analysis of the films shows the presence of Sn3d5/2 (486.65 eV) and S2p3/2 (161.7 eV) XPS lines signifying the Sn4+-S2− bonding confirming single phase SnS2 film formation with the addition of 3.2 − 5.8 × 10 3 c m − 1 in the 900–400 nm range of the Sn(OxS2-x) films is highly suitable for application as an n-type heterojunction layer in thin film solar cells.
TDP-43 activates microglia through NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome

Transactive response DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is a multifunctional nucleic acid binding protein present in ubiquitinated inclusions in tissues of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and fronto-temporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The ALS-associated mutations in the glycine-rich C-terminal domain of TDP-43 established a causal link between TDP-43 and disease, and conferred both loss- and gain-of-function properties in neurons. Since it has not been established whether these intra-neuronal changes are sufficient to cause ALS or whether non-cell autonomous neuronal-glial signaling could be involved, we investigated the extracellular effects of TDP-43 proteins on microglial activation and motoneuron toxicity. Wild-type, truncated 25kD C-terminal fragments, or mutant forms of TDP-43 all activated microglia and upregulated NOX2, TNF-α, and IL-1β, with WT forms being significantly less effective in activating microglia. This response to TDP-43 was mediated by its interaction with the microglial surface CD14 receptor and subsequent stimulation of the NF-κB and AP-1 pathways, as well as the intracellular inflammasome. At the cell surface, CD14 blocking antibodies suppressed microglial NF-κB activation and proinflammatory cytokine production mediated by TDP-43. Intracellularly, the NLRP3 inflammasome was induced and functional caspase-1 was produced augmenting the release of mature IL-1β. Further, TDP-43-mediated activation of microglia caused a proinflammatory cascade that was toxic to motoneurons. In the absence of microglia, TDP-43 was not toxic to motoneurons. The ability of TDP-43 to promote CD14-mediated activation of microglial NF-κB and AP-1 pathways, as well as the NLRP3 inflammasome, suggests the involvement of a non-cell autonomous proinflammatory signaling that enhances motoneuron injury, and may offer novel therapeutic targets in ALS.
AMPA receptors jump the synaptic cleft

Satake et al. show that glutamate release in the cerebellum causes heterosynaptic depression of GABA release and that AMPA receptors act presynaptically to mediate this phenomenon.
Enterotoxigenicity of Staphylococcus aureus Cultures Isolated from Acute Cases of Bovine Mastitis

To determine whether staphylococci causing bovine mastitis are potential causes of human intoxications, 142 cultures identified as etiological agents of acute cases and 18 cultures causing chronic cases of staphylococcal mastitis were obtained from investigators in the United States and Canada, examined microscopically, and tested for carbohydrate utilization, terminal pH, catalase, coagulase, egg yolk hydrolysis, gelatin hydrolysis, cytochrome oxidase, urease production, nitrate reduction, micrococcal nuclease, phage type, and enterotoxin production. Three cultures were not confirmed as Staphylococcus aureus. Of the 157 S. aureus cultures, 23 produced staphylococcal enterotoxins. Although a direct relationship between staphylococcal mastitis and outbreaks of staphylococcal food poisoning was not proved, results indicated that staphylococcal infections of the bovine mammary gland represent a significant reservoir of enterotoxigenic strains of S. aureus.
Calibrated chronograms, fossils, outgroup relationships, and root priors: re‐examining the historical biogeography of Geraniales

We re-examined the recent study by Palazzesi et al., (2012) published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (107: 67–85), that presented the historical diversification of Geraniales using BEAST analysis of the plastid spacer trnL–F and of the non-coding nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS). Their study presented a set of new fossils within the order, generated a chronogram for Geraniales and other rosid orders using fossil-based priors on five nodes, demonstrated an Eocene radiation of Geraniales (and other rosid orders), and argued for more recent (Pliocene–Pleistocene) and climate-linked diversification of genera in the five recognized families relative to previous studies. As a result of very young ages for the crown of Geraniales and other rosid orders, unusual relationships of Geraniales to other rosids, and apparent nucleotide substitution saturation of the two gene regions, we conducted a broad series of BEAST analyses that incorporated additional rosid fossil priors, used more accepted rosid ordinal topologies, or altered the placement of one fossil Geraniales prior. Our results indicate that their ages are 20–50% too young owing to a combination of (1) strong nucleotide saturation of the DNA regions starting at 65 Mya, (2) lack of a root (rosid stem) or other rosid ordinal stem fossil-based priors, (3) the inability of the two DNA regions (with alignment issues) to obtain a monophyletic Geraniales as well as reasonable relationships of Geraniales to other rosid orders, and (4) apparent issues with the nodal placement of a Pelargonium fossil. The Geraniales crown is much older (Campanian of the Cretaceous; 86 Mya), the posterior age distribution on all but two fossil nodes are well older than the priors, the placement of a Pelargonium-like fossil is more likely at the crown rather than the stem, but their models of diversification within several clades linked to climatic and orogeny appear supported. We discuss a number of the inherent issues of relaxed-clock dating and outline some ‘best practice’ approaches for such studies. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113, 29–49.
Pelvic neurilemmoma: Report of a case, electron microscopic studies, and review of the literature

Abstract A case history of a woman with a pelvic, presacral neurilemmoma is presented. In addition to the classical histological appearance, the tumor showed peculiar membranous spheroids on electron microscopy. The literature of pelvic neurilemmoma is reviewed, and the characteristic features of this tumor are summarized.
Petrologic Constraints on the Tectonic Evolution of the Llano Uplift

Tectonic models for the Proterozoic evolution of the Llano Uplift must account for a polymetamorphic history dominated by two kinematically distinct events. Early dynamothermal metamorphism took place at moderate to high pressures and decreased in intensity from southwest to northeast across the uplift. Late largely static metamorphism at lower pressures resulted from a thermal event linked to regionally widespread emplacement of granitic intrusions at relatively shallow levels in the crust.