cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deformation of liquid capsules enclosed by elastic membranes in simple shear flow: large deformations and the effect of fluid viscosities

The deformation of a liquid capsule enclosed by an elastic membrane in an infinite simple shear flow is studied numerically at vanishing Reynolds numbers using a boundary-element method. The surface of the capsule is discretized into quadratic triangular elements that form an evolving unstructured grid. The elastic membrane tensions are expressed in terms of the surface deformation gradient, which is evaluated from the position of the grid points. Compared to an earlier formulation that uses global curvilinear coordinates, the triangular-element formulation suppresses numerical instabilities due to uneven discretization and thus enables the study of large deformations and the investigation of the effect of fluid viscosities. Computations are performed for capsules with spherical, spheroidal, and discoidal unstressed shapes over an extended range of the dimensionless shear rate and for a broad range of the ratio of the internal to surrounding fluid viscosities. Results for small deformations of spherical capsules are in quantitative agreement with the predictions of perturbation theories. Results for large deformations of spherical capsules and deformations of non-spherical capsules are in qualitative agreement with experimental observations of synthetic capsules and red blood cells. We find that initially spherical capsules deform into steady elongated shapes whose aspect ratios increase with the magnitude of the shear rate. A critical shear rate above which capsules exhibit continuous elongation is not observed for any value of the viscosity ratio. This behaviour contrasts with that of liquid drops with uniform surface tension and with that of axisymmetric capsules subject to a stagnation-point flow. When the shear rate is sufficiently high and the viscosity ratio is sufficiently low, liquid drops exhibit continuous elongation leading to breakup. Axisymmetric capsules deform into thinning needles at sufficiently high rates of elongation, independent of the fluid viscosities. In the case of capsules in shear flow, large elastic tensions develop at large deformations and prevent continued elongation, stressing the importance of the vorticity of the incident flow. The long-time behaviour of deformed capsules depends strongly on the unstressed shape. Oblate capsules exhibit unsteady motions including oscillation about a mean configuration at low viscosity ratios and continuous rotation accompanied by periodic deformation at high viscosity ratios. The viscosity ratio at which the transition from oscillations to tumbling occurs decreases with the sphericity of the unstressed shape. Results on the effective rheological properties of dilute suspensions confirm a non-Newtonian shear-thinning behaviour.
El Niño and its relationship to changing background conditions in the tropical Pacific Ocean

[1] This paper addresses the question of whether the increased occurrence of central Pacific (CP) versus Eastern Pacific (EP) El Ninos is consistent with greenhouse gas forced changes in the background state of the tropical Pacific as inferred from global climate change models. Our analysis uses high-quality satellite and in situ ocean data combined with wind data from atmospheric reanalyses for the past 31 years (1980–2010). We find changes in background conditions that are opposite to those expected from greenhouse gas forcing in climate models and opposite to what is expected if changes in the background state are mediating more frequent occurrences of CP El Ninos. A plausible interpretation of these results is that the character of El Nino over the past 31 years has varied naturally and that these variations projected onto changes in the background state because of the asymmetric spatial structures of CP and EP El Ninos.
Optimal control of parallel server systems with many servers in heavy traffic

We consider a parallel server system that consists of several customer classes and server pools in parallel. We propose a simple robust control policy to minimize the total linear holding and reneging costs. We show that this policy is asymptotically optimal under the many-server heavy traffic regime for parallel server systems when the service times are only server pool dependent and exponentially distributed.
Predictive molecular classifiers in colorectal cancer

The introduction of predictive molecular markers has radically enhanced the identification of which patients may benefit from a given treatment. Despite recent controversies, KRAS mutation is currently the most recognized molecular predictive marker in colorectal cancer (CRC), predicting efficacy of anti–epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) antibodies. However, other relevant markers have been reported and claimed to identify patients that will benefit from anti-EGFR therapies. This group of markers includes BRAF mutations, PI3KCA mutations, and loss of PTEN expression. Similarly, molecular markers for cytotoxic agents' efficacy also may predict outcome in patients with CRC. This review aims to summarize the most important predictive molecular classifiers in patients with CRC and further discuss any inconsistent or conflicting findings for these molecular classifiers.
ABACUS: a technique for automated behavioral synthesis of approximate computing circuits

Many classes of applications, especially in the domains of signal and image processing, computer graphics, computer vision, and machine learning, are inherently tolerant to inaccuracies in their underlying computations. This tolerance can be exploited to design approximate circuits that perform within acceptable accuracies but have much lower power consumption and smaller area footprints (and often better run times) than their exact counterparts. In this paper, we propose a new class of automated synthesis methods for generating approximate circuits directly from behavioral-level descriptions. In contrast to previous methods that operate at the Boolean level or use custom modifications, our automated behavioral synthesis method enables a wider range of possible approximations and can operate on arbitrary designs. Our method first creates an abstract synthesis tree (AST) from the input behavioral description, and then applies variant operators to the AST using an iterative stochastic greedy approach to identify the optimal inexact designs in an efficient way. Our method is able to identify the optimal designs that represent the Pareto frontier trade-off between accuracy and power consumption. Our methodology is developed into a tool we call ABACUS, which we integrate with a standard ASIC experimental flow based on industrial tools. We validate our methods on three realistic Verilog-based benchmarks from three different domains --- signal processing, computer vision and machine learning. Our tool automatically discovers optimal designs, providing area and power savings of up to 50% while maintaining good accuracy.
Follow-up treatment for immediate denture patients.

Abstract The importance of a definite follow-up procedure for immediate dentures was discussed and the dangers of neglect were emphasized. A method of using autopolymer resin for immediate relining was outlined. This technique overcomes many deficiencies heretofore inherent in chairside techniques and provides a good completed restoration.
Epididymo-Orchitis following Intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guérin Therapy:

OBJECTIVE:To describe a case of epididymo-orchitis that developed four years after treatment with intravesical bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) and to review the incidence of this adverse effect.DATA SOURCES:Information about the patient was obtained from the medical chart. A MEDLINE search of English-language literature (from January 1976 to April 1999) was conducted.STUDY SELECTION:All case reports of BCG-related epididymo-orchitis were evaluated. Review articles describing complications of BCG therapy for bladder cancer and the prevention and treatment of these complications were reviewed.DATA EXTRACTION:Studies were evaluated for reports of BCG-related epididymo-orchitis and its treatment.DATA SYNTHESIS:Our case report is compared with others reported in the literature. The incidence of BCG-associated epididymo-orchitis is rare.CONCLUSIONS:Epididymo-orchitis should be considered as a late complication of BCG therapy for bladder cancer. Proper patient selection may help decrease the risk of complications...
THE PHARMACOLOGY OF LOCAL ANESTHETICS

The pharmacology of local anesthetics is an integration of the basic physiology of excitable cells and the mechanism by which local anesthetics are capable of interrupting conduction of neural messages. The common characteristics of the molecules with local anesthetic action have been identified and can explain the properties of the agents. These same chemical characteristics also explain toxicity of these agents and differences that exist between local anesthetics with similar structure.
Superconductivity on Single Crystals of Tl-Ca-Ba-Cu-O System

The investigation on the growth of single crystals of the Tl-Ca-Ba-Cu-0 superconducting system was carried out using the flux growth method. The crystal structure and superconducting properties of mm-sized single crystals were measured using X-ray diffraction and the SQUID magnetometer. The grown crystals are typically in platelet form ; 0.5 to 2.5 mm wide and about 0.2 mm thick. The crystals exhibit a mirror-like surface and some growth steps can be observed through a scanning electron microscope. The superconducting onset transition temperature of 108K to 118K was determined by DC magnetic susceptibility obtained for as-grown single crystals. The transition temperature has a tendency to increase as the amount of CaO-CuO in the starting nominal composition rises. According to the X-ray diffraction measurement, the c-axis of the grown crystals is 35.8A for those with Tc of 118K, and 29.3A for those with Tc of 108K.
Transient global amnesia in a collegiate baseball player with type I diabetes mellitus: a case report.

Objective: To present the case of a collegiate pitcher with type I diabetes mellitus who developed transient global amnesia and to characterize the acute onset of symptoms and clinical diagnosis of...
Fabrication of Complex Structures on Nonplanar Surfaces Through a Transfer Method

We report on a method to fabricate complex microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structures onto a flexible membrane. Three-dimensional and high-aspect-ratio MEMS structures were formed on a silicon-on-insulator wafer by deep reactive-ion etching and then were partially buried in a flexible polymer membrane. After being released from the silicon substrate, the flexible membrane with the complex structures could deform to curvilinear shapes and then could be transferred onto curvilinear surfaces. The effect of the structure and density of the pillars on the transferring procedure is studied. Potentially, this method could be utilized to transfer any MEMS structures and devices to any nonplanar surfaces, thus possessing great potential in MEMS devices.
Mechanisms of transcriptional modulation of the human anion exchanger SLC26A3 gene expression by IFN-γ

Two members of the SLC26 gene family, SLC26A3 or DRA (downregulated in adenoma) and SLC26A6 (putative anion transporter 1, PAT1), are known to play a major role in apical Cl−/OH− (HCO3−) exchange process in the human intestine. We have previously shown the inhibitory effects of IFN-γ (30 ng/ml, 24 h) on both SLC26A3 and A6 expression and promoter activity. We also demonstrated that the effects of IFN-γ on SLC26A6 gene expression were mediated via IRF-1 transcription factor. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the transcriptional modulation of SLC26A3 gene expression by IFN-γ in the intestine are not known. The present studies were, therefore, designed to elucidate the signaling mechanisms and transcription factor(s) involved in mediating the inhibitory effects of IFN-γ on DRA promoter (p-−1183/+114) activity. Deletion analysis indicated that the IFN-γ response element is located within the −1183 to −790 region, and sequence analysis of this region revealed the presence of potential γ-activated site (GAS), a binding site (−933/−925 bp) for signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 1 (STAT1). Mutations in the potential GAS element abrogated the inhibitory effects of IFN-γ. These studies provide evidence for the involvement of STAT1 in the inhibition of SLC26A3 gene expression by IFN-γ in the human intestine.
Disinfection of a probe used in ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.

7colony forming units (cfu) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the following 3 sites on the probe: the interior lumen of the biopsy needle guide, the outside surface of the biopsy needle guide, and the interior lumen of the ultrasound probe where the needle guide passes through the transducer. Each site was investigated separately. After inoculation, the probe was immersed in 2% glutaraldehyde for 20 minutes and then assessed for the level of microbial contamination. results. The results demonstrated that disinfection (ie, a reduction in bacterial load of greater than 7 log10 cfu) could be achieved if the needle guide was removed from the probe. However, if the needle guide was left in the probe channel during immersion in 2% glutaraldehyde, disinfection was not achieved (ie, the reduction was approximately 1 log10 cfu). conclusions. Recommendations for probe disinfection are provided and include disassembling the device and immersing the probe and the needle guide separately in a high-level disinfectant. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2007; 28:916-919
Proximal Determinants of Falls Risk Among Independent-Living Older Adults

The purpose of this investigation was to determine associations among race, education, and income and falls risk scores from the Comprehensive Falls Risk Screening Instrument (CFRSI). Participants (N = 626) were Black (n = 318) and White (n = 308) older adults (M age = 72.62, SD = 9.31). The CFRSI assessed history, physical functioning, medication, vision, and home environment, and produced an average total falls risk score. A 3 (Income) × 3 (Education) × 2 (Race) MANCOVA showed main effects for income and race. Univariate tests revealed that low-income participants had greater scores for history, physical functioning, and total falls risk than high income participants. Similarly, Black participants had greater scores on history, physical functioning, medication, and total falls risk than White participants. Low income and Black race were associated with greater falls risk, and professionals should consider these disparities when designing community-based falls prevention programs. Language: en
Do Decentralized Community Treatment Plants Provide Better Water? Evidence from Andhra Pradesh

Highly advanced, community-level drinking water treatment facilities are increasingly seen as water supply solutions in locations where piped in-house water systems are nonexistent or unreliable. These systems utilize combined technologies, such as advanced filtration plus ultraviolet disinfection or reverse osmosis, which are known to be highly effective for the removal of pathogens and other water contaminants. Yet there is a paucity of rigorous evidence on whether the community-level treatment model delivers water quality, health, or other benefits to households that source water from them. This paper utilizes a quasi-experimental approach that combines construction of counterfactual groups of villages and households and a difference-in-difference methodology to examine such impacts. We find low rates of sourcing water from the facilities (~10%), and little evidence of benefits among households living in villages receiving a community water system (CWS). Particularly among users of the CWS, we also observe short-term increases in the number of drinking water sources used and in monthly expenses on drinking water combined with decreases in in-house water treatment, and higher reported rates of diarrheal diseases among children. In the longer term, as the CWS model spread throughout the region, we observe that most of the differences between households in treated and control communities fade away. These findings suggest that caution and additional scrutiny is warranted before concluding that such systems provide safer water to households in communities facing drinking water quality problems.
Federal Secrecy after September 11 and the Future of the Information Society - Social Theory Meets Social Policy: Culture, Identity and Public Information Policy

Notwithstanding recent events that might be thought to create an atmosphere especially hospitable for increases in federal government secrecy, government initiatives favoring of the withholding of information have been accompanied by other moves in the direction of greater openness. In his introduction to a symposium on Federal Secrecy After September 11 and the Future of the Information Society, Professor Shane suggests that the politics of post-September 11 information policy debates may be complicated, in part, by social developments that are affecting the non-instrumental cultural values Americans associate with access to information. Specifically, information and communications technologies are enabling and sustaining an unprecedented degree of active participation for ordinary individuals in the creation of culture and of social meaning, and thus fostering conditions opposed to the assumptions about authority, categorical coherence, and the susceptibility of information to isolation that have historically made government secrecy seem both legitimate and practicable. These developments do not mean that openness will or should in principle prevail over secrecy in all debates regarding public information policy. But they render the political terrain for proponents of secrecy rougher to the extent that these social changes make secrecy regimes seem more alien and unnatural in the information society.
Percutaneous Common Carotid Artery Access for Pediatric Interventional Cardiac Catheterization

Background— Surgical cutdown for access to the common carotid artery provides a more direct route for certain pediatric cardiac interventions and avoids femoral artery injury in small infants. The safety of percutaneous carotid access (PCA) in children is unknown. Methods and Results— Retrospective review of PCA at Texas Children’s Hospital and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. From July 2006 to November 2014, 42 patients underwent 47 attempts at catheterization via PCA. Median (range) age was 20 days (0 days–2.9 years) and weight was 3.2 kg (1.1–12.2). Two patients had failed PCA with no sequelae. Of the 45 catheterizations with successful PCA and sheath placement, 44 interventions were performed, the most common being stenting or stent redilation of the ductus arteriosus, balloon aortic valvuloplasty, and stenting or angioplasty of Blalock–Taussig shunts. After sheath withdrawal, hemostasis was achieved with manual compression, with no need for surgical control of bleeding. Follow-up carotid imaging was performed in all. Acutely, 3 patients developed carotid thrombosis with resolution in 1 and mild residual narrowing in 2 after anticoagulation therapy. At follow-up, 40 of 42 patients (95%) had a normal carotid artery, with 2 instances of mild stenosis. There were no neurological sequelae attributable to PCA. Conclusions— PCA is safe even in small infants, and hemostasis can be achieved without surgical repair, with a carotid patency rate superior to published data after surgical cutdown. Surgical cutdown is not routinely required for pediatric cardiac catheterization via the carotid artery.
Being in “Bad” Company: Power Dependence and Status in Adolescent Susceptibility to Peer Influence

Theories of susceptibility to peer influence have centered on the idea that lower status adolescents are likely to adopt the behaviors of high status adolescents. While status is important, social exchange theorists have shown the value of analyzing exchange relations between actors to understand differences in power. To build on status-based theories of peer influence, this study analyzes power dependence relations in three adolescent friendship groups. Analyzing adolescent interaction as social exchange showed how being in a group with balanced power relations insulated adolescents from peer influence, even when some peers were delinquent or low academic achievers. In contrast, adolescents in groups with unbalanced power relations were particularly susceptible to peer influence. This study presents an additional way to analyze the peer influence process and illustrates the importance of applying social psychological theory to cases of micro inequality, particularly in the context of small groups.
Virulence enhancement of Candida albicans by antibiotics and cortisone.

Summary1. Terramycin has the same virulence enhancing effect on Candida albicans as aureomycin. Other antibiotics failed to show this effect. 2. Terramycin due to its stability acts after standing or boiling while aureomycin, which is not stable on standing and is heat labile, does not. This parallels their antibiotic activities. 3. Only the intraperitoneal injection of either drug and fungus is effective in producing a fatal infection. All other routes of administration and combination were negative. 4. Intravenous injection of drug and fungus indicates a protective effect. 5. Cortisone administered shortly before and after infection with Candida albicans produces a generalized fatal infection. 6. Lowered resistance of the animal to infection is considered as the cause of “virulence enhancement.”
Small Angle Neutron Scattering and Small Angle X-Ray Scattering from Bulk Microporous Silica

The microstructure of low-density porous silica precursor (unsintered) bodies was studied as a function of starting chemistry. The ratio of colloidal silica sol to potassium silicate is known to have a marked effect on the size distribution of pores in this material, which in turn have a major impact on the resultant physical properties of the sintered product. In the present research, the sizes and the size distributions of particles underlying the pore microstructure was investigated, and it was found that the lower the amount of colloidal silica, the greater the size distribution of particle aggregates.
HLA genotyping in the clinical laboratory: comparison of next‐generation sequencing methods

Implementation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping by next-generation sequencing (NGS) in the clinical lab brings new challenges to the laboratories performing this testing. With the advent of commercially available HLA-NGS typing kits, labs must make numerous decisions concerning capital equipment and address labor considerations. Therefore, careful and unbiased evaluation of available methods is imperative. In this report, we compared our in-house developed HLA NGS typing with two commercially available kits from Illumina and Omixon using 10 International Histocompatibility Working Group (IHWG) and 36 clinical samples. Although all three methods employ long range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and have been developed on the Illumina MiSeq platform, the methodologies for library preparation show significant variations. There was 100% typing concordance between all three methods at the first field when a HLA type could be assigned. Overall, HLA typing by NGS using in-house or commercially available methods is now feasible in clinical laboratories. However, technical variables such as hands-on time and indexing strategies are sufficiently different among these approaches to impact the workflow of the clinical laboratory.
21 – Global Terrestrial Productivity and Carbon Balance

Publisher Summary Changes in terrestrial ecosystems, independent of land-use change, have led to an increased accumulation of carbon on land. The factors responsible for this accumulation are assumed to be carbon dioxide fertilization, the mobilization of nitrogen through human activities, and changes in climate. All these factors, including land-use change, are expected to change dramatically in the future, and the net effect on global productivity is difficult to predict. The approach taken in this chapter suggests the importance of different factors in exploring temporal and spatial variations in carbon flux as revealed by analyses of the global carbon cycle. The emphasis of this analysis is on net changes in carbon storage. The changes are not the same as net ecosystem productivity (NEP) because they include the fate of carbon harvested from forests. Changes in carbon storage and in NEP are better known globally than the changes in net primary productivity (NPP), especially for much of the world's managed lands. Monitoring NPP is critical for determining the sustainability of current and future uses of land. This chapter emphasizes on changes in carbon storage, which are not equivalent to net ecosystem productivity (NEP). Changes in carbon storage are equal to the sum of NEP plus changes in wood products. Harvests increase the amount of carbon held in wood products; decay decreases the amount. This chapter provides an insight into predicting the future productivity of the globe.
Managing Biases in Product Development Teams: A Tale of Two Rocks:

The management of product development teams is a challenging task, especially when success hinges on the ability to guide technical and nontechnical personnel through an effective decision-making p...
Anatomic Assessment of K-Wire Trajectory for Transverse Percutaneous Fixation of Small Finger Metacarpal Fractures: A Cadaveric Study.

Background The purpose of this cadaveric study is to evaluate the trajectory of percutaneous transverse Kirschner wire (K-wire) placement for fifth metacarpal fractures relative to the sagittal profile of the fifth metacarpal in order to develop a targeting strategy for the treatment of fifth metacarpal fractures. Methods Using 12 unmatched fresh human upper limbs, we evaluated the trajectory of percutaneous transverse K-wire placement relative to the sagittal profile of the fifth metacarpal in order to develop a targeting strategy for treatment of fifth metacarpal fractures. The midpoint of the small and ring finger metacarpals in the sagittal plane was identified at 3 points. At each point, a K-wire was inserted from the small finger metacarpal into the midpoint of the ring finger metacarpal ("center-center" position). Results The angle of the transverse K-wire relative to the table needed to achieve a center-center position averaged 20.8°, 18.9°, and 16.7° for the proximal diaphysis, middiaphysis, and the collateral recess, respectively. Approximately 80% of transversely placed K-wires obtained purchase in the long finger metacarpal. Conclusions These results can serve as a guide to help surgeons in the accurate placement of percutaneous K-wires for small finger metacarpal fractures and may aid in surgeon training.
Effect of surface roughness on van der Waals and Casimir-Polder/Casimir attraction energies

Abstract A theoretical model is devised to assess effects of surface roughness on dispersion interactions between macroscopic bodies, bounded by self-affine fractal surfaces and separated by a vacuum gap. The rough-surface profiles are described statistically by the saturation values of surface width and the correlation lengths; i.e., in terms of experimentally measurable quantities. The model devised takes into account the separation distance-dependent nature of dispersive interactions. The case of non-retarded van der Waals interactions, known to operate at smaller separation distances between the bodies, and that of retarded attractions, operative at larger separation length-scales, are treated separately in this work. Analytical formulae for the roughness corrections are deduced for the two aforementioned types of attractions. The model is employed to compute roughness corrections to interactions between an extended body, bounded by a self-affine surface, and: a) a point-like adherent; and b) a planar half-space. Furthermore, the roughness-induced corrections to dispersive interaction energies between half-spaces, both bounded by self-affine surfaces, are obtained under assumption that the corresponding surface profiles are not correlated. The predictions of the model are compared with some previously reported theoretical studies and available experimental data on the theme of dispersive adhesion between macroscopic bodies.
Teaching Critical Thinking in Graduate Medical Education: Lessons Learned in Diagnostic Radiology

The 2014 Institute of Medicine report, Graduate Medical Education that Meets the Nation’s Health Needs, challenged the current graduate medical training process and encouraged new opportunities to redefine the fundamental skills and abilities of the physician workforce. This workforce should be skilled in critically evaluating the current systems to improve care delivery and health. To meet these goals, current challenges, motivations, and educational models at the medical school and graduate medical education levels related to formal training in nonclinical aspects of medicine, especially critical thinking, are reviewed. Our diagnostic radiology training program is presented as a “case study” to frame the review.
Genomic Resource Projects

The vast amount of genomic data being produced by the research community is becoming readily accessible to biomedical researchers and clinicians to apply to their cancer(s) of interest. The major cancer genome projects, among others, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project (PCGP) are contributing to this genomic data goldmine by sequencing hundreds to thousands of cancer genomes and supplementing these data with analyses such as gene expression and methylation. In addition to the raw data that are being made available through large data warehouses, “Data Portals” are becoming the norm for accessing and analyzing these data by third parties. We describe key features of some of these portals and other tools for the analysis of next-generation sequencing and other genomic data.
Holistically evaluating the environmental impacts in modern computing systems

There is mounting evidence that manufacturing energy and environmental costs are a growing factor in the overall energy footprint of computing systems. The quantification of these impacts requires the evaluation of both the manufacturing and use phase energy/environmental costs of major integrated circuit (IC) components, including processing units, memory, and storage. In particular, expansions of memory and cache can potentially increase manufacturing costs beyond what can be recovered through use phase advantages for reasonable usage patterns. With this holistic view of sustainability in mind, we provide evaluations of the environmental impacts of memory and cache options for Parsec and SPEC multi-program workloads. Using indifference point analysis, we determine which architectural decisions are the most sustainable in the context of these workloads for various usage scenarios. Through a form of break even analysis, we show the impact of upgrading to a new technology node. Our analysis of current processor trends indicates that upgrading may require upwards of 10 years of service time to break even, and that designing systems with smaller cache and main memory sizes may provide an overall positive environmental trend without dramatically reducing performance.
Coping strategies used by LGB older adults in facing and anticipating health challenges: A narrative analysis

Given that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults face notable health disparities compared to their heterosexual counterparts, there is a need for understanding how LGB adults cope with health challenges in late life. The current study analyzes narratives from nine LGB adults age 65 and older living in an urban area in the Southeast U.S. Participants spoke of coping strategies related to health promotion behaviors, shifting perspectives of health and body, trusting in spirituality for comfort, and accepting the end of life. We discuss implications for social services professionals who work with older LGB adults and for future research.
Disability in US medical education: Disparities, programmes and future directions:

As of 2010, 19% of the US population lives with a disability, and with the average lifespan of persons with disability increasing, this number is expected to rise. This has prompted the identificat...
"WE DON'T TALK ABOUT UNDOCUMENTED STATUS…WE TALK ABOUT HELPING CHILDREN": HOW SCHOOL LEADERS SHAPE SCHOOL CLIMATE FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS

The racial/ethnic tensions, policies, and practices in society can be mirrored in spaces and institutions like schools. In schools, sociopolitical discourses can be reproduced and protected in institutional policies. One way K-12 [i] leaders can initiate change and limit marginalization is by creating a school environment that accepts and integrates students regardless of legal status.. This study investigate how K-12 school leaders influence the school climate to enhance receptiveness for undocumented students, and the children of undocumented immigrants. Study findings come from a CTA of nine school leaders in K-12 schools in two urban districts in Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border. Findings demonstrate that leaders acted to increase student performance, sense of belonging at school, and to enhance student integration and participation in school as paths to a welcoming school climate. Their talk revealed they used practices and strategies to reduce barriers between home and schooling cultures.
“Just a bunch of therapy”: challenging the dismissive

ABSTRACTThe author reflects on the legacy of Leland H. Roloff as a resource for challenging the dismissive speech act that a given performance is “just a bunch of therapy.” He offers three consequences of this dismissive.
Spore Production and Dispersal in Two Temperate Fern Species, With an Overview of the Evolution of Spore Production in Ferns

The presence of a nutritionally independent gametophyte generation of spore-producing land plants, including those of ferns, has often been cited as an important factor in explaining their broader geographic distribution at the level of species and genera relative to that of seed plants. Dispersing spores widely and successfully is critical to establishing populations–both in terms of production and dispersal distance–yet literature with direct observation of these variables is scant. We double the number of studies directly observing dispersal in fern species by conducting spore trap experiments on Adiantum pedatum and Deparia acrostichoides, which grow together at a site in southeastern Ohio, U. S. A. In interpreting these results, we summarize the literature on spore production in ferns and examine the contribution of phylogenetic history to the variation in spore production across ferns. We corroborate findings that the vast majority of spores produced are dispersed within 2 m of the parent plant. Additionally, spore production in ferns varies widely between species but shows some phylogenetic conservatism and is correlated to frond area. We conclude that gametophyte (and sporophyte) establishment over distances greater than 3 m is governed by rare spore dispersal, but the sheer number of spores produced increases the probability of this event occurring and the establishment of sporophytes is likely dependent upon gametophytic traits. In ferns as a whole, differences in spore production are related to differences in frond area, but may also be related to overcoming genetic complications involved in long-distance dispersal.
Laser Shearographic Testing of Foam Insulation on Cryogenic Fuel Tanks

The Centaur is a high-energy rocket used as a second stage to the Atlas launch vehicle. The Centaur is cryogenically fueled, using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, and requires insulation to prevent fuel boiloff prior to launch. The original insulation system used on Centaur is a set of fiberglass honeycomb panels, which are jettisoned after launch. These panels are still used on the Atlas I version of Atlas/Centaur.
Ferromanganese material and energy balances calculation of electrical resistance of mix

Abstract For an energy balance to be meaningful, the material balance must be accurate; however, available data on analyses of ores are sketchy, so composition of the ignition loss item is estimated to obtain an analytical total of 100%. Data on furnace size and operation for a 13,000 kVA furnace is used. The energy balance indicates that the heat contents of hot gases rising from the zone where Mn3O4 is reduced to metal at circa 1700 K can only supply about a third of the heat needed to bring the descending solids to that temperature. However, coke occupies about 50% of the charge volume, so current flowing through it will also supply heat to the charge. A method to calculate the resistance of the charge is shown, in which it is assumed that current flows from the electrode to the hearth in concentric hemi-spherical shells. Resistivity of the charge is obtained from several sources, and a value of 0.075 ohm-m is selected as reasonable, and results in 15% of the energy being released in the mix. Resistance of the arc zone can now be calculated knowing total resistance of the furnace and that of the electrode. The results can be used to explain many of the recipes given for prevention of eruptions at the 1980 international electric furnace conference symposium on this topic.
Aberrant parasympathetic reactivity to acute psychosocial stress in male patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Abstract Autonomic dysfunction represents a core domain of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SCZ), with aberrant physiologic arousal underlying maladaptive social and cognitive behaviors. Antagonistic parasympathetic and sympathetic systems support autonomic flexibility to appropriately regulate arousal and respond to environmental challenges, which can be modeled using physiologic measures. SCZ patients consistently show heightened basal stress, however, their parasympathetic reactivity to an acute psychosocial stressor is poorly understood. Heart period (HP-arousal), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA-parasympathetic vagal activity), and their relationship were measured in SCZ patients (n = 19) and healthy controls (n = 20) at baseline and during psychosocial stress exposure. Parasympathetic vagal control of arousal, reflected in RSA-HP coupling, was assessed for the first time in SCZ. Patients demonstrated blunted physiologic reactivity (less change in heart period and respiratory sinus arrhythmia), a unique increase in respiratory sinus arrhythmia relative to baseline during recovery, and elevated arousal was associated with poor cognitive performance and greater positive symptoms. Arousal regulation was tightly controlled by parasympathetic activity in controls only, indicated by a strong association between changes in heart period and respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Results are the first to demonstrate maladaptive, inefficient parasympathetic arousal regulation (RSA-HP decoupling) in reaction to psychosocial stress in SCZ, representing an autonomic profile incompatible with appropriate social and emotional functioning.
Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation in East Asia

This chapter focuses on apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation processes among nations in East Asia. First, instances of apologies and forgiveness in the region are reviewed. Political, economic, sociological, and psychological factors relevant to apology and forgiveness are considered. Then, we consider qualitative responses from East Asians to items concerning apology and reconciliation in the Personal and Institutional Rights to Aggression and Peace Survey. The results indicate that the majority of East Asians in the sample believed that an apology is helpful in promoting reconciliation following various forms of international aggression such as invasion and occupation. Participants also commented, however, that the success of an apology is contingent on factors such as the sincerity of the apology, recognition of wrongdoing, effort to repair damaged relationships, and the development of mutual understanding and respect. Challenges and issues that East Asians face in the reconciliation process, such as social identity, secondhand victimization, and group-serving bias, are discussed.
Cytogenetic Observations in Vitamin B12 and Folate Deficiency

Direct marrow cytogenetic preparations were examined in 14 cases of anemia associated with deficiency in vitamin B12 and/or folate. Seven cases showed distinct alterations in chromosome structure consisting of increased chromosome breakage, incomplete chromosome contraction and centromere spreading. These abnormalities were not present after vitamin replacement and were generally less distinct in cases with major medical complications or with only mild megaloblastic changes. No distinct aberrations in chromosome number or karyotype were found. The cytogenetic changes observed seem compatible with current concepts of megaloblastic cell division and with the role of folate and vitamin B12 in DNA metabolism.
Bethanechol in Tracheomalacia: Two Case Series and a Review of the Literature

Objective: To determine the impact of bethanechol on respiratory outcomes in children with tracheomalacia, we present 2 independent retrospective studies conducted at different institutions with si...
A morphometric analysis of developmental instability in children born with unilateral cleft lip and palate

Unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) is a congenital deformity that occurs due to inadequate merging of the nasal and maxillary prominences during fetal development. Randomly distributed bilateral asymmetries known as fluctuating asymmetry (FA) occur in normally symmetric organisms when evolved mechanisms of developmental stability or equilibrium are disturbed by genetic, environmental, or unknown factors. Here, we hypothesize that facial skeleton FA will be increased in a sample of individuals born with UCLP (n = 24) relative to sex- and age-matched controls (n = 24). To test this hypothesis, 23 anatomical landmarks were measured on individual anonymized cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) images in children and adolescents (7-17 years). For each individual, 81 pairs of linear distances were used to estimate FAs across the face. To explore sample variation and statistical differences, a principal components analysis and Euclidean Distance Matrix Analysis multivariate bootstrap approach were carried out. Samples show some separation in multivariate space with 44.44% of FA differences being significantly different. The magnitude of FA was larger in the UCLP sample for every significant measurement. The magnitude of significant FA is highest near regions derived from the maxillary and nasal prominences, such as the nasal aperture. These results are useful for medical and dental practitioners when developing treatment options for children and adolescents with UCLP. Clin. Anat. 32:206-211, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Big Data and Analytics as Strategies to Generate Public Value in Smart Cities: Proposing an Integrative Framework

What is the path to smarter cities that can make data-driven decisions? In a context where data have been vastly advertised as a solution to many problems, the application of big data analytics (BDA) in government is a trending topic. As a topic and potential strategy, data is on the agenda of researchers and policy-makers worldwide, based on the hope that the use of data and technology could enable better quality of life in communities and cities. This chapter analyzes the potential of BDA for local governments, particularly in the context of smart city initiatives. The chapter also proposes an integrative framework to better understand all the components of these concepts and their interrelationships. The overall goal is to discuss what it means to cities to use data in practice, what challenges could be anticipated, and how some of those challenges could be mitigated. This will also contribute to a better explanation of the role of information sharing, integration, and collaboration in BDA and its potential to generate public value in smart city initiatives.
HIV Detection via a Carbon Nanotube RNA Sensor

Viral illnesses remain a significant concern in global health. Rapid and quantitative early detection of viral oligonucleotides without the need for purification, amplification, or labeling would be valuable in guiding successful treatment strategies. Single-walled carbon nanotube-based sensors recently demonstrated optical detection of small, free oligonucleotides in biofluids and in vivo, although proteins diminished sensitivity. Here, we discovered an unexpected phenomenon wherein the carbon nanotube optical response to nucleic acids can be enhanced by denatured proteins. Mechanistic studies found that hydrophobic patches of the denatured protein chain interact with the freed nanotube surface after hybridization, resulting in enhanced shifting of the nanotube emission. We employed this mechanism to detect an intact HIV in serum, resulting in specific responses within minutes. This work portends a route toward point-of-care optical detection of viruses or other nucleic acid-based analytes.
Advanced modeling of DERs and UPFC devices with Sparse Tableau Formulation for ACOPF

Abstract Distributed energy resources (DERs) are projected to be significant contributors in electric power grid modernization efforts. Yet many distribution and transmission system operators are concerned about potential reliability and security impacts of high penetration of DERs, and cite the need of greater visibility and controllability of decision variables associated with these DERs. Tractable modeling of DERs in AC optimal power flow (ACOPF) is one of the barriers to their integration into the existing operation, planning and market paradigm. Similarly, as more intermittent renewable resources are deployed, power flow control becomes more valuable, and accurate representation of Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices in ACOPF will likely grow in importance. This paper focuses on the detailed representation of substations with the high penetration of DERs, and on the Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) FACTS devices, in OPF. To this end, a novel Sparse Tableau Formulation (STF) for ACOPF is used to accurately model such features as substation reconfiguration to accommodate DERs, and to represent decision variables appropriate to the voltage source converters within UPFCs. Numerical studies are provided to demonstrate the impacts of detailed DER and UPFC representations on optimal operation, and the computational efficiency.