cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic benefit of captopril in salt-loaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats is independent of hypotensive effect.

In the present study we examined whether the angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, would protect stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) from stroke and renal pathology over a 26-week period. In the control group of six untreated SHRSP fed Stroke-Prone Rodent Diet and 1% NaCl drinking solution, all animals developed severe hypertension and stroke by 16.1 weeks of age. In eight salt-loaded SHRSP treated with oral captopril (50 mg/kg/day) beginning at 8.4 weeks of age, systolic blood pressure was slightly but temporarily suppressed and then continued to rise; by 12 weeks of age systolic blood pressure reached levels of severe hypertension, 240 +/- 8 mm Hg, and did not differ from that of untreated SHRSP. No deaths or brain lesions were noted in captopril-treated SHRSP despite severe hypertension maintained through 26 weeks of age when the study ended. Captopril treatment prevented increases in urinary protein excretion (14 +/- 2 v 63 +/- 16 mg/day at 11.7 weeks of age, P less than .01) and the severe brain, renal, and cardiac vascular lesions observed in untreated SHRSP. When maintained on Stroke-Prone Rodent Diet and saline, plasma renin activity of untreated SHRSP surviving until 14.5 weeks of age was markedly increased (29.1 +/- 9.4 ng Ang I/mL/h) compared with either untreated SHRSP (9.2 +/- 2.5 ng Ang I/mL/h, P less than .01) or Wistar-Kyoto rats (3.5 +/- 1.0 ng Ang I/mL/h, P less than .01) maintained on standard diet and water.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Understanding and enhancing climate information use in water management

This paper expands our understanding of water manager's climate information (CI) use and of the effectiveness of interactive research efforts in improving use by quantitatively measuring usability both within and outside the interactive research model. Using a mixed method approach (i.e., interviews and surveys), data was collected across five states and hundreds of water managers to understand the production of CI by scientists at two Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISAs) employing an interactive approach and the use of that information by water managers in the corresponding RISA regions. This study finds that RISAs are effective in three important ways: first, in co-producing usable information and achieving a high rate of information use among RISA clients; second, in overcoming barriers to information use arising from negative perceptions about the usability and reliability of CI; and, finally, in fostering innovation. RISA information use is contingent on sustained scientist-client interaction and is enabled by users' willingness and capacity making RISAs most effective in reaching the largest, most capable users. These users and those who use CI from other sources do so as a strategy to manage risk. This research suggests areas for enhancing RISA CI uptake: structuring RISAs as consortia, cultivating relationships with knowledge brokers and capitalizing on existing knowledge networks, and increasing public education and outreach. Beyond the interactive research models, findings suggest CI uptake may be enhanced by building capabilities for long-term water planning at water systems and bolstering public science citizenship and climate literacy.
Evaluation of the 24-hour blood pressure effects of eprosartan in patients with systemic hypertension.

Abstract Background Eprosartan is a new nonphenyl angiotensin II receptor blocker, which has been approved for the treatment of hypertension. Although the drug has a relatively short plasma half-life of 5 to 9 h, clinical studies have suggested that its antihypertensive effect persists for 24 h. Methods We assessed both the changes in 24-h and trough blood pressure (BP) (last 4 h of the ambulatory BP while the patient was awake) of eprosartan at doses of 600 and 1200 mg once daily in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ambulatory BP was monitored at placebo baseline and after 8 weeks of double-blind therapy. Results Two hundred patients randomized in the study with 177 patients completing the trial. The 24-h change in BP from baseline was 0.2/0.1 ± 1.4/1.0 mm Hg, −7.9/−5.4 ± 1.0 mm Hg (P Conclusions These data demonstrate that eprosartan at doses of 600 or 1200 mg significantly reduced BP throughout an entire 24-h dosing period. There were no differences between the 600- and 1200-mg dose; thus, 600 mg once daily should be the only dose used in the treatment of hypertension with eprosartan.
REDUCTION IN FFLS: A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

In the last seven years, the U.S. has seen the number of federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) drop from over 275,000 in 1993 to approximately 93,000 today -- at least in part as the result of federal licensing requirements and fees instituted in 1993 and 1994. This essay comments on the work of Christopher Koper (see: doi 10.1111/j.1745-9133.2002.tb00082.x) who examined the intermediate outcome of these requlations.... Language: en
COMPENSATION AND REPARATION AS FORMS OF COMPENSATORY JUSTICE

Abstract: Compensation and reparation are two parts or forms of compensatory or corrective justice. This essay aims, first, to distinguish, define, and analyze these two forms as against distributive and penal justice; and, second, to provide a moral justification of a system or social practice of compensation and of reparation, drawing on the ideas of Aristotle, William Blackstone, Bernard Boxill, John Rawls, and James Sterba. Then, by applying the results of the analysis to the first genocide of the twentieth century, the Armenian genocide, it illustrates certain difficulties in realizing reparative justice when the wrongful injury is perpetrated by a sovereign state, and it emphasizes the paramount importance in such cases of the acknowledgment of wrong by the perpetrator.
Accelerating Corporate Performance: Stock Buybacks with Zip

Like many companies, Caravan International occasionally repurchases its shares in the open market. With a traditional stock repurchase program, Caravan and other companies sometimes are unable to maximize the financial reporting benefits of stock buybacks. However, the “Accelerated Share Repurchase” (ASR) agreement, recently introduced by the investment banking industry, allows companies to execute their treasury stock programs and take some of the uncertainty out of share repurchase transactions. This case provides a context for examining the specific benefits of these plans as well as the potential risks. It will help you understand earnings per share (EPS) calculations and the accounting for financial instruments used in ASRs. The case illustrates how managers sometimes structure transactions to take advantage of favorable accounting treatment, and thus achieve EPS targets.
On improving quality of video for H.263 over wireless CDMA networks

There is a great demand for wireless devices that allow users to freely roam and still access their on-line information. As wireless networking technologies continue to develop, the access to multimedia data such as video will continue to become more viable. Limited bandwidth is a problem when wireless devices are used for video transmission and limited power necessitates power efficient mechanisms. We propose a single retransmission based forward error correction (FEC) scheme that increases the video quality of the video, has efficient power consumption, and performs better in a highly dynamic wireless networks.
C60 And C70: Here’s Looking at you

In this paper we will describe the production, separation and characterization of the new all carbon molecules, C 60 and C 70 . High performance liquid chromatography HPLC is used to obtain purified samples of C 60 and C 70 , which are subsequently characterized by electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry, IR and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, NMR, ESR, scanning tunnelling microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and x-ray absorption fine structure measurements.
PepO, a CovRS‐controlled endopeptidase, disrupts Streptococcus pyogenes quorum sensing

Group A Streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes) is a human-restricted pathogen with a capacity to both colonize asymptomatically and cause illnesses ranging from pharyngitis to necrotizing fasciitis. An understanding of how and when GAS switches between genetic programs governing these different lifestyles has remained an enduring mystery and likely requires carefully tuned environmental sensors to activate and silence genetic schemes when appropriate. Herein, we describe the relationship between the Control of Virulence (CovRS, CsrRS) two-component system and the Rgg2/3 quorum-sensing pathway. We demonstrate that responses of CovRS to the stress signals Mg(2+) and a fragment of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 result in modulated activity of pheromone signaling of the Rgg2/3 pathway through a means of proteolysis of SHP peptide pheromones. This degradation is mediated by the cytoplasmic endopeptidase PepO, which is the first identified enzymatic silencer of an RRNPP-type quorum-sensing pathway. These results suggest that under conditions in which the virulence potential of GAS is elevated (i.e. enhanced virulence gene expression), cellular responses mediated by the Rgg2/3 pathway are abrogated and allow individuals to escape from group behavior. These results also indicate that Rgg2/3 signaling is instead functional during non-virulent GAS lifestyles.
Predaceous mites (Acari) associated with apple foliage in Maine.

Twenty species of predaceous mites were collected from apple foliage in Maine during a 2-year survey of commercial and abandoned orchards. Phytoseiids and stigmaeids comprised 97.3% of the total mites. The phytoseiid Amblyseius fallacis (Garman) was the predominant predaceous species in commercial orchards. Predaceous mites were collected in commercial orchards primarily in the latter part of the growing season following cessation of spraying. In abandoned orchards, the stigmaeid Agistemus fleschneri Summers was the most abundant predaceous mite, with the phytoseiids Phytoseius macropilis (Banks) and Typhlodromus pomi (Parrott) also frequently collected. In abandoned orchards, predaceous mites were collected throughout the season and were generally more abundant.
Algorithms for Cache Placement

The results of the preceding chapter show that the SCPP is very difficult to solve, even if only approximate solutions are required. We describe some approximation algorithms that can be used to give solutions to the problem, and decrease the gap between known solutions and nonapproximation results. We also consider practical heuristics to find good near-optimal solutions to the problem. We propose two general types of heuristics, based on complementary techniques, which can be used to give good starting solutions for the SCPP Oliveira et al. [2007].
Structure-function relationships in iron and manganese superoxide dismutases.

Using the complete sequences for MnSOD from Thermus thermophilus and for FeSOD from E. coli, structural models for both oxidized enzymes have been refined, the Mn protein to an R of 0.186 for all data between 10.0 and 1.8 A, and the Fe protein to an R of 0.22 for data between 10.0 and 2.5 A. The results of the refinements support the presence of a solvent as a fifth ligand to Mn(III) and Fe(III) and a coordination geometry that is close to trigonal bipyramidal. The putative substrate-entry channel is comprised of residues from both subunits of the dimer; several basic residues that are conserved may facilitate approach of O−2, while other conserved residues maintain interchain packing interactions. Analysis of the azide complex of Fe(III) dismutase suggests that during turnover O−2 binds to the metal at a sixth coordination site without displacing the solvent ligand. Because crystals reduced with dithionitc show no evidence for displacement of the protein ligands, the redox-linked proton acceptor (C. Bull...
Fat burn X: burning more than fat

A 50-year-old man presented with a 2-day history of bilateral lower extremity cramping and dark urine. The patient was found to have a creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevated of up to 2306 U/L, a serum uric acid of 9.7 mg/dL and 101 red blood cell9s per high-powered field on urinalysis. On questioning, the patient endorsed daily exercise with free weights. There were no changes in his regular exercise and medication regimen, no muscle trauma, no recent drug use and no illness. The patient did mention using a new fat burner known as ‘Fat Burn X’, which he had begun taking 2 days prior to the onset of his muscle cramps. The patient was given normal saline intravenous fluid resuscitation for 48 h with resultant normalisation of his CPK and creatinine, and was discharged with primary care follow-up.
Synthesis and micropatterning of photocatalytically reactive self-assembled monolayers covalently linked to Si(100) surfaces via a Si-C bond.

Selective generation of an amine-terminated self-assembled monolayer bound to silicon wafers via a silicon–carbon linkage was realized by photocatalytically reducing the corresponding azide-terminated, self-assembled monolayers (Az-SAMs). The Az-SAM was obtained by thermal deposition of 11-chloroundecene onto a hydrogen-terminated silicon wafer followed by nucleophilic substitution of the chloride with the azide ion in warm N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF). The presence of the terminal azide group on the SAM was confirmed by reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and by detecting the formation of a triazole upon reaction of the azide with an activated alkyne. The desired terminal amine groups were generated by photocatalytic reduction of the Az-SAM with cadmium selenide quantum dots (CdSe Qdots) using λ > 400 nm. Analysis of the reduced SAM by XPS gave results that were consistent with those obtained with an amine-terminated surface obtained by reducing...
Incorporating Sustainability into the Conceptual Design of Chemical Process-Reaction Routes Selection

Limited availability of natural resources and rising raw material cost, accompanied by growing societal and environmental concerns, urge the engineers to incorporate sustainability issues into the design of new chemical process and the retrofit of traditional process. Yet due to the multidimensional nature of sustainability, as economic, societal, and environmental issues need to be considered together, a structured sustainability assessment tool is needed to serve as the basis for any process design, analysis, improvement, and decision making. This paper presents a methodology to assist reaction pathway selection in light of sustainability. At this conceptual design stage, the sustainability performance of different potential reaction pathways is evaluated, which can not only help the designers improve the screening efficiency by eliminating inferior reaction alternatives systematically, but also identify the key areas for further improvement in future design, thus reducing the complexity and labor in th...
Presidents, Congress, and Courts: Partisan Passions in Motion

In a fascinating exchange of letters between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, Adams wrote words that fairly vibrated with alarm, "Elections, my dear sir, Elections to offices which are great objects of Ambition, I look at with terror."1 He unburdened himself of this opinion, rather startling for a man committed to representative government, after reading a copy of the new constitution for the United States that had just been sent from Philadelphia. Both men were on diplomatic missions in Europe, far from the fascinating developments taking place at home. The Constitution's provisions for the presidency drew their immediate attention. "A bad edition of a Polish king (they were elected for life)," Jefferson exclaimed. Adams chose to canvass their different reactions: "You are apprehensive the President when once chosen, will be chosen again and again as long as he lives. So much the better as it appears to me."2 Having grown to manhood as subjects of George II and George III, Adams and Jefferson could not wholly detach themselves from the referent of a king when they thought about the executive fashioned by the Constitution. However deficient hereditary monarchs might be in other ways, they had solved the transfer of power problem. "The King is dead; long live the King," crowds shouted when death delivered the throne to the heir apparent. Such considerations aroused Adams's fears; their absence marked Jefferson as the democratic iconoclast of his generation. Elections, as the crusty John Adams saw, were the solar plexus of representative government, fragile vessels for performing that political alchemy of turning power into authority. They also diffused lifeblood into democracies. Through them that chameleon sovereign, the people, expressed its will. The United States Constitution, with all its awkward compromises, achieved a certain clarity in the office of the president, the only officer chosen by the whole electorate and answerable to them in quadrennial elections. In crafting the mechanism for selecting a president the convention delegates plunged into another one of their balancing acts.
The Dynamic Voltage Restorer with Flywheel Energy Storage System

A dynamic voltage restorer(DVR)is developed with flywheel energy storage system(FESS).Compared with the traditional DVR topology,its topologic structure is simplifiesd by cancelling the special rectifier designed for charging the FESS.According to the structure features of the DVR with FESS and charging principle of FESS,a new self-charging technique is proposed.In the charging process,controller adjusts the phase of the load reference voltage automatically according to the operational conditions of the load and FESS.The state space model of the DVR with the FESS is established,the double vector control algorithm in dq synchronous reference frame is designed.Experiment results show the validity of the topology and self-charging technique.
Diagnosis on Critical-speed Vibration Fault for Gas-turbine Generator

Combined with the analysis and elimination process of the critical-speed vibration fault of a gas-turbine generator,the test and diagnosis method for inter-turn short circuit fault of generator rotor winding is introduced.The characteristics of generator critical-speed vibration caused by inter-turn short circuit fault of rotor winding are summarized
Intrinsic Spectral Analysis for Zero and High Resource Speech Recognition.

The constraints of the speech production apparatus imply that our vocalizations are approximately restricted to a lowdimensional manifold embedded in a high-dimensional space. Manifold learning algorithms provide a means to recover the approximate embedding from untranscribed data and enable use of the manifold’s intrinsic distance metric to characterize acoustic similarity for downstream automatic speech applications. In this paper, we consider a previously unevaluated nonlinear outof-sample extension for intrinsic spectral analysis (ISA), investigating its performance in both unsupervised and supervised tasks. In the zero resource regime, where the lack of transcribed resources forces us to rely solely on the phonetic salience of the acoustic features themselves, ISA provides substantial gains relative to canonical acoustic front-ends. When large amounts of transcribed speech for supervised acoustic model training are also available, we find that the data-driven intrinsic spectrogram matches the performance of and is complementary to these signal processing derived counterparts.
Differential effects of oligomycin on carotid chemoreceptor responses to O2 and CO2 in the cat

Effects of oligomycin on carotid chemoreceptor responses to O2 and CO2 were investigated using an in situ perfusion technique. Cats were anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated. To avo...
Transforming growth factor-beta 1 regulation of signal transduction in two renal epithelial cell lines

The present studies examine the effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on signal transduction pathways in two cultured renal epithelial cell lines. TGF-beta 1 promotes basal and agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in LLC-PK1 but not MDCK cell membranes. TGF-beta 1 stimulation of LLC-PK1 membrane adenylate cyclase activity occurs quickly and can be attenuated by pertussis toxin pretreatment. Both TGF-beta 1 and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) exert comparable effects on [3H]thymidine uptake in LLC-PK1 cells, suggesting that TGF-beta 1 regulation of adenylate cyclase activity potentially plays a role in mediating biological responses to TGF-beta 1. The activities of protein kinase C and phospholipase A are not affected by TGF-beta 1 in either LLC-PK1 or MDCK cells. Both TGF-beta 1 and epidermal growth factor (EGF) increase expression and induce the appearance of new forms of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in LLC-PK1 cells. These effects of TGF-beta 1...
Abstract A71: Metagenomic studies of bacterial agents in prostate cancer racial disparities

Prostate cancer is the most common type of noncutaneous cancer diagnosed in men in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. African American (AA) men are more likely to be diagnosed with and are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to white men. The reasons for this difference are complex. While socio-economic factors and access to care may have some influence, they cannot fully explain this disparity. There is evidence of genetic factors as well as environmental, diet, and lifestyle factors being important contributors to the higher rate of prostate cancer and prostate cancer deaths in AA men. Inflammation has emerged as a potential contributory factor in both the initiation and progression of prostate cancer. Furthermore, previous studies indicate that inflammation and the overexpression of genes involved in inflammatory pathways may be more prevalent in the prostates of AA men versus white men. We hypothesize that prostatic inflammation may contribute to the increase in prostate cancer mortality rates in AA men and that the stimulus for the overexpression of genes involved in inflammatory pathways may be infectious agents. Infections, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), can cause inflammation and, indeed, our previous studies have detected the presence of microorganisms in prostate tissue. Past infection with an STI as well as increased numbers of sexual partners are both associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. With the advent of “metagenomic” sequencing technologies (i.e., the determination of all microbial species present in a sample using next-generation sequencing), we are now able to fully determine the variety of microbial species present in a prostate tissue sample. As an initial strategy, we are currently utilizing 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing to comprehensively evaluate the presence of bacterial rRNA in post-surgical prostatectomy tissue specimens from both AA and white men. The results of these analyses will be compared to presence, type, and extent of inflammation in the corresponding surgical tissue specimen and we will be developing strategies to localize microorganism(s) of interest in prostate tissues. The results of our studies stand to provide a wealth of information regarding the prostate tumor microenvironment in AA men and will begin to allow for a mechanistic understanding of the role of inflammation and infections in this prostate cancer racial disparity. Citation Format: Corey M. Porter, Shu-Han Yu, Karen Sfanos. Metagenomic studies of bacterial agents in prostate cancer racial disparities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A71.
Epidemiologic Evidence in Toxic Torts

Abstract The use of epidemiologic methods and concepts to assess causation in toxic tort cases is reviewed in this chapter, with special attention paid to the methods used to address causality of diseases with long latencies between exposure and disease outcome. In particular, the potential impact of the use of molecular level (ie, genetic) epidemiologic evidence on causal evaluations is discussed. The judicial perspective of epidemiologic methods and information as a basis for assessing causation in toxic tort cases is described, as is the judiciary's evolving doctrine for dealing with epidemiologic evidence in US courts.
Effect of Template Reporting of Brain MRIs for Multiple Sclerosis on Report Thoroughness and Neurologist-Rated Quality: Results of a Prospective Quality Improvement Project

Abstract Purpose To assess the impact of structured reporting templates on the objective and subjective quality of radiology reports for brain MRIs in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods A HIPAA-compliant prospective quality improvement initiative was undertaken to develop and implement a 12-item structured reporting template for brain MRI examinations in patients with known or suspected MS based on published guidelines. Reports created 1 year before implementing the template served as the baseline. A random sample of 10 template and 10 non-template reports was sent to five neurologists outside the study institution with MS expertise, who reviewed the reports for comprehensiveness and quality. The number of MS-relevant elements in template and non-template reports were compared with unpaired t tests. Proportions were compared with χ 2 and Fisher exact tests. Results There were 63 reports in the pre-template period and 93 reports in the post-template period. Use of the template increased over time in the post-template period ( P = .04). All 12 MS-relevant findings were addressed more often and with less variability in template reports: (11.1 ± 0.7 findings versus 5.8 ± 2.2 findings in non-template reports, P P P = .01) compared with the non-template reports. Conclusion Template reporting of brain MRI examinations increases the rate at which MS-relevant findings are included in the report. Standardized reports are preferred by neurologists with MS expertise.
The Role of Age and Setting in Adolescents’ First Drinking Experience for Predicting College Problem Drinking

ABSTRACTObjective: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of longitudinally reporting age at first drink (AFD), and to test AFD and setting of first drink (SFD) as predictors of collegiate problem drinking. Participants: 338 first-year college students were interviewed multiple times during their first academic year, from May 2011 through August 2012. Methods: AFD, SFD, and problem drinking were measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) during the first year of college. Bivariate analysis and parsimonious multivariate linear regression model were conducted. Results: 62% of respondents were inconsistent in reporting AFD over time. Social SFD was the strongest independent predictor for higher AUDIT scores (b = 4.74, 95% confidence interval; 1.91, 7.57; p = .002). Conclusions: Findings suggest caution should be used in relying upon using AFD as a sole predictor of problem drinking. SFD may be a complementary measure to identify students at high risk of collegiat...
Fate of Anabolic Steroids in the Body

The use of anabolic steroids in an attempt to enhance athletic performance has become a widespread practice in both amateur and professional sports in recent years. The rationale for such use (or abuse) of these agents is based upon the growth-promoting and musculature-developing, or anabolic, effects of the naturally occurring steroid hormones known as androgens. These are the hormones that play an important part in the sexual development of males, that is, the production of various masculine traits. The physiologically most important of the naturally occurring androgens is the hormone testosterone, which is produced principally by the testes. The anabolic steroids used by athletes are various synthetic derivatives of testosterone, substances with longer durations of action and/or greater potencies than the physiological androgens. Some of these compounds have been synthesized with the goal of enhancing the anabolic effects of testosterone relative to its masculinizing actions. Since these synthetic preparations are not native or endogenous to the body, they are classified as exogenous substances or drugs.
Host Phenotype Prediction from Differentially Abundant Microbes Using RoDEO

Metagenomics is the study of metagenomes which are mixtures of genetic material from several organisms. Metagenomic sequencing is increasingly used in human and animal health, food safety, and environmental studies. In these high-dimensional (metagenomic) data, the phenotype of the host organism, e.g., human, may not be obvious to detect and then the ability to predict it becomes a powerful analytic tool. For example, consider predicting the disease status of an individual from their gut microbiome.
Analysis and Demonstration of an IIP3 Improvement Technique for Low-Power RF Low-Noise Amplifiers

This paper describes a linearization method to enhance the third-order distortion performance of a subthreshold common-source cascode low-noise amplifier (LNA) without extra power consumption by using passive components. An inductor between the gate of the cascode transistor and the power supply in combination with a digitally programmable capacitor between the gate and the drain of the cascode transistor enable to improve the third-order intermodulation intercept point (IIP3) of a subthreshold LNA. The theoretical mechanisms that underlie the linearity improvement are analyzed comprehensively under the consideration of the LNA’s input stage, cascode stage, reverse isolation, and stability. A 1.8-GHz LNA was designed and fabricated using 0.11- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS technology to prove the concept. Measurement results reveal that the linearized low-power LNA has a 14.8-dB voltage gain, a 3.7-dB noise figure, and a −3.7-dBm IIP3 with a power consumption of 0.336 mW.
Recovery of active cathode materials from lithium-ion batteries using froth flotation

Abstract An ability to separate battery electrode materials while preserving functional integrity is essential to close the loop of material use in lithium-ion batteries. However, a low-energy and low-cost separation system that selectively recovers electrode materials has not yet been established. In this study, froth flotation experiments were carried out with a variety of new and spent lithium-ion batteries using kerosene as the collector. The products were characterized using thermogravimetric and chemical analysis. It was found that over 90% of anode materials were floated in froth layers, while 10–30% of cathode materials were floated. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the presence of binders and conductive additives might be responsible for the partial floatability of the liberated cathode materials. Separability of mixed electrode materials was evaluated using a modified procedure based on release analysis. Results showed that the froth flotation process using kerosene as the collector produced a tailing product having cathode materials of higher purity than those obtained without kerosene. For spent lithium-ion batteries, a low purity of cathode materials in tailings might be improved by fine grinding, at which freshly liberated hydrophobic surfaces are exposed and consequently anode materials become floatable. The present result confirms that the froth flotation technique is a viable and versatile technique in producing high purity cathode materials from lithium-ion batteries.
High pT Jet Physics at CMS

We present CMS plans to search for physics beyond the standard model using high p T jets. The inclusive cross section as a function of jet p T is a first simple measure of QCD dijets which is sensitive to a 3 TeV contact interaction with only 10 pb −1 . With the dijet mass distribution we expect to be able to observe dijet resonances with large cross sections, such as a 2 TeV excited quark which produces a convincing signal with only 100 pb −1 . With the dijet ratio, a simple angular measurement, we expect to be able to discover a contact interaction scale Λ + of 4, 7 and 10 TeV for integrated luminosities of 10 pb −1 , 100 pb −1 , and 1 fb −1 respectively. Using the dijet ratio we can discover or confirm a dijet resonance, and eventually measure its spin. With 100 pb −1 a 2 TeV resonance with the production rate of an excited quark produces a convincing signal in the dijet ratio.
"We missed you": the absence that fails to make the heart grow fonder.

Absenteeism is a problem that costs business in general billions of dollars each year. No industry is immune from its impact, least of all health care. The control of absenteeism rests largely in the hands of the first-line supervisor who must demonstrate visible concern for absenteeism and who must faithfully apply the organization's policies in the correction and control of absenteeism. The keys to absence control are visible concern, reliable documentation, consistent policy application across the work group, and constant attention to employee needs and concerns.
Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in men and women in much of the developed world. However, advances in treatment of risk factors and prevention of disease have resulted in substantial declines in mortality. This chapter focuses on the primary and secondary CVD risk reduction strategies.
Permutation invariant polynomial neural network approach to fitting potential energy surfaces. IV. Coupled diabatic potential energy matrices.

A machine learning method is proposed for representing the elements of diabatic potential energy matrices (PEMs) with high fidelity. This is an extension of the so-called permutation invariant polynomial-neural network (PIP-NN) method for representing adiabatic potential energy surfaces. While for one-dimensional irreducible representations the diagonal elements of a diabatic PEM are invariant under exchange of identical nuclei in a molecular system, the off-diagonal elements require special symmetry consideration, particularly in the presence of a conical intersection. A multiplicative factor is introduced to take into consideration the particular symmetry properties while maintaining the PIP-NN framework. We demonstrate here that the extended PIP-NN approach is accurate in representing diabatic PEMs, as evidenced by small fitting errors and by the reproduction of absorption spectra and product branching ratios in both H2O(X/B) and NH3(X/A) non-adiabatic photodissociation.
Are There Benefits and Risks to Biosimilars from a Patient Perspective

Biosimilars are copies of biologic medications, which no longer are protected by patent, that are intended to be marketed at lower prices than their reference products to increase patient access to treatment. Because a biosimilar must have equivalent pharmacokinetic parameters and efficacy and comparable safety and immunogenicity with its reference product, the only significant difference between the two should be cost. Lower-priced biosimilars are intended to introduce market competition. The availability of biosimilars should yield savings for the health care system and improve treatment outcomes by expanding patient access to effective medications. However, patients should partake of these cost savings.
Carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract

Fifty-four cases of carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are reported. Thirty-two involved the appendix; nine, the small intestine; three, the ileocecal area; four, the colon; four, the rectum, and one each, the stomach and duodenum. In one patient, the site of origin was not established. The historic backgrounds, pathologic descriptions, incidences, ages of the patients, and locations of the lesions are presented. Methods for diagnosis and treatment, according to the location of the primary lesion, are proposed, and special emphasis is directed to resection of all regional metastases. Reference is made to the carcinoid syndrome, which occurs in the presence of widespread metastasis and involvement of the liver and circulating serotonin.
Krull's principal ideal theorem in non-Noetherian settings

Let P be a finitely generated ideal of a commutative ring R. Krull's principal ideal theorem states that if R is Noetherian and P is minimal over a principal ideal of R, then P has height at most one. Straightforward examples show that this assertion fails if R is not Noetherian. We consider what can be asserted in the non-Noetherian case in place of Krull's theorem.
Event-triggered communication and control of networked systems for multi-agent consensus

This article provides an introduction to event-triggered coordination for multi-agent average consensus. We provide a comprehensive account of the motivations behind the use of event-triggered strategies for consensus, the methods for algorithm synthesis, the technical challenges involved in establishing desirable properties of the resulting implementations, and their applications in distributed control. We pay special attention to the assumptions on the capabilities of the network agents and the resulting features of the algorithm execution, including the interconnection topology, the evaluation of triggers, and the role of imperfect information. The issues raised in our discussion transcend the specific consensus problem and are indeed characteristic of cooperative algorithms for networked systems that solve other coordination tasks. As our discussion progresses, we make these connections clear, highlighting general challenges and tools to address them widespread in the event-triggered control of networked systems.
A Hospitalist-Led Team to Manage Patient Boarding in the Emergency Department: Impact on Hospital Length of Stay and Cost

OBJECTIVES Admitted patients boarding in the emergency department (ED) while awaiting inpatient beds represent a bottleneck in patient flow. We sought to examine the impact on patient flow and potential for cost savings by an active management of boarded ED medical admissions by a hospitalist-led team, which included a hospitalist, an advanced practitioner, and a case manager. METHODS This was a retrospectively conducted analysis of a quality improvement pilot intervention implemented at a large tertiary center. We analyzed patients admitted under observation status between April 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016. We calculated the difference for length of stay (in hours) and direct cost between patients in the intervention group and a usual care group from a similar time period in the prior year matched on the all patients refined-diagnosis related groups (APR-DRG) and severity of illness (SOI) level. RESULTS One hundred seventy-five observation patients were managed by the hospitalist team during the 3-month pilot period. This group had an average hospital stay of 26.0 hours compared with 29.7 hours in the usual care group. Direct costs resulted in the following results: average cost for the intervention patient group $1452 (±$775) versus $2524 (±$894) group, for an average savings of $1072 (P < 0.001), with a total estimated direct cost savings of $187,660. CONCLUSIONS Active management of ED boarding patients by a hospitalist-led team is feasible and can lead to hospital cost savings and decrease in hospital stay. The findings from this pilot resulted in a decision to make the ED hospitalist-led team permanent in our institution. The evaluation of the program may help other hospitals to decide whether this intervention is worth pursuing in their own organization.
Integrating an Architectural Engineering Undergraduate Program with Building Information Modeling

Abstract The University of Texas at Austin’s (UT-Austin) Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering (CAEE) department has taken several steps toward improving the preparation of architectu...
Testimony of Gail Heriot Professor of Law, University of San Diego & Member, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Before the Appropriations Committee of the California Assembly on ACA-5 June 2, 2020

Abstract: In 1996, California voters adopted Proposition 209, which amended the state constitution. Its operative clause states: “The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.” In 2020, the California Assembly’s Committee on Appropriations considered ACA-5, a bill that, if passed and approved by the voters, will repeal Proposition 209. The Appropriations Committee has jurisdiction over only the effects of the bill on state finances. Testimony was thus limited to that issue. Professor Heriot’s testimony discusses those effects, which she believes will be very extensive, particularly in the area of public contracting.
Sexual division and the new mythology: Goethe and Schelling

The new mythology for which the German Romantic period called was not envisioned as antithetical to empiricism or experiential/experimental knowledge, but rather as emerging in dialogue with it to form a cultural foundation for such inquiry. Central to the mytho-scientific project were problematic theories of sexual division and generativity that established cultural baselines. This article examines the mythological investments of two influential thinkers of the period-Goethe and Schelling. It then analyzes Goethe's unique merger of mythological approaches to sex and generation with empirical observation in The Metamorphosis of Plants. It next traces Schelling's expansion of Goethe's theories of nature beyond their empirical justifications to develop a metaphysics of sexual differentiation. Finally, the article illuminates Goethe's final reply to the sexual dynamics of Naturphilosophie at the end of his life, through the analysis of a single poem, "Finding Again," in the collection God and World. Ultimately and in spite of its empirical commitments, Goethe's more flexible view of sexual correlations would lose ground to the powerful metaphysical mythology of sexual opposition as both scientific and cultural bedrock.
Presence of back arch in headlocks

Observation of an arched back while standing and walking is 1 criterion for assessing dairy cow lameness. Objectives of these projects were to evaluate back arch and its association with locomotion score (LS) and hoof lesions. On a single 200-cow farm, digital photographs were taken of cows with locomotion scores greater than 1 while stanchioned and walking, and analyzed for degree of back arch. One pen of cows was observed 5 times while stanchioned to evaluate "time in headlock" effect on presence of back arch. Angle of deviation from flat-back was not significantly associated with LS; however, there was a trend for cows with a score of greater than 2 to have back angles deviating from flat. The proportion of time a cow was observed with a back arch was greater for lame cows vs non-lame cows. In a second herd, back arch data were collected on 233 cows while stanchioned, and hoof lesion data were collected on 141 cows. Cows with a back arch were 2.1 times more likely to have a hoof lesion (P=0.04), and there were more cows with hoof lesions with increasing LS (P less than 0.0001). Back arch could be used as a screening test for lameness.
Melt Detection Over Greenland Using Smap Radiometer Observations

Microwave measurements have been previously used to detect melt events due to their sensitivity to the presence of liquid water in snow. Since NASA's SMAP mission offers a valuable set of low frequency radiometer measurements, SMAP measurements have been used as a tool to detect melt events. SMAP's L-band radiometer also covers virtually the entire Greenland ice sheet twice daily. The overpasses center on morning and evening hours as the satellite is on a 6AM/6PM equator-crossing orbit, and the spatial resolution of the instrument is about 40 km. In this paper, the response of L-band measurements to surface melting of the ice sheet from 2015 through 2019 melt seasons is investigated. It is shown that the Greenland ice sheet experienced an unusually strong melt event at the end of July 2019, which extended the melt area across much of dry snow zone of the ice sheet over a period of two days.
Generative adversarial network for early-stage design flexibility in topology optimization for additive manufacturing

Abstract Topology optimization has become a valuable design tool for structures to be fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM). However, during early stage design, parameters are frequently evolving, resulting in multiple similar TO runs. Especially when design for manufacturing principles expand the parameter space, this iterative process is computationally burdensome, and does not take advantage of redundant information in each study. We introduce a deep learning-based framework that learns latent similarities between runs in a training set to predict near optimal designs, enabling efficient wholistic understanding of the problem setup space, which includes both loading conditions and, for the first time in this study, manufacturing process configuration. Learning was achieved using a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) trained on a dataset of randomized boundary conditions, loadings, and AM build orientations, and the corresponding optimal structures obtained through overhang-filtered TO. cGAN predictions showed good agreement with true optima. For even greater accuracy, predictions can be post-processed by applying a small number of TO iterations. Manifold learning techniques were used to provide further insight, and we were able to conclude that the cGAN error generally increases with distance between the load and the boundary conditions or build plate. Interestingly, in 9% of test cases, the cGAN generated structures with compliances better than the corresponding TO-calculated structures, often by as much as 50 % with an average of 7.8 %. That some of these structures appeared qualitatively different in form suggests the potential value of the approach in other domains such as generative design, where a range of alternate near-optimal designs are used to guide the ideation process.
Tuning the electrochemical properties of nanostructured CoMoO4 and NiMoO4 via a facile sulfurization process for overall water splitting and supercapacitors

Abstract In contemporary society, there are many different ways that energy is used in daily life. From applications that require a high energy density to long-term storage in a stable manner, the requirements for energy usage are diverse. Therefore, the greater the number of uses a designed material exhibits, the more practical it may be for wide-scale manufacture. Two areas of particular interest for energy applications are fuel cells (to generate energy) and supercapacitors (to store energy). To provide cheaper and more durable alternatives for energy storage, electrodes containing CoMoO4, NiMoO4, CoMoS4, and NiMoS4 were synthesized. The electrodes were synthesized through a hydrothermal method using Ni-foam as the substrate then tested as electrocatalysts for water splitting and electrodes for supercapacitor. As an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction, NiMoS4 displayed the lowest overpotential of 148 mV with a Tafel slope of 159 mV/dec. On the other hand, CoMoS4 showed the lowest overpotential of 189 mV with a Tafel slope of 78 mV/dec among all four samples for oxygen evolution reactions. In terms of energy storage, the CoMoO4 had the highest specific capacitance of 2652 F/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g with an averaged charge retention of 91% and a Coulombic efficiency of 99% after 10,000 cycles.