cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen plasma source ion implantation for corrosion protection of aluminum 6061-T4

It is established that nitridation of aluminum (Al) 6061-T4 by plasma source ion implantation (PSII) can dramatically enhance the pitting corrosion resistance of this alloy in marine environments (i.e., chlorine-ion-bearing aqueous solutions or humid atmospheres). Corrosion tests and microstructure analyses establish that the mechanism for successful passivation against chloride-induced pitting corrosion involves the formation of a multilayered microstructure, including the presence of a continuous layer of aluminum-nitride (AlN). Important process variables are the implantation voltage and the nitrogen dose (or total implantation time), as these two variables establish the implanted nitrogen concentration. Too high or too low an implanted nitrogen concentration will not yield the continuous AlN layer required for good corrosion resistance. PSII is attractive for this application as it provides for uniform, conformal implantation of irregularly shaped objects without masking, beam rastering, or object rotation.
Distributed maximum a posteriori probability estimation of dynamic systems with wireless sensor networks

This paper develops a framework for the estimation of a time-varying random signal using a wireless sensor network. Given a continuous time model, sensors collect noisy observations and produce local estimates according to the discrete-time equivalent system defined by the sampling period of observations. Estimation is performed using a maximum a posteriori probability estimator (MAP) within a given window of interest. To mediate the incorporation of information from other sensors we introduce Lagrange multipliers to penalize the disagreement between neighboring estimates. We show that the resulting distributed (D-)MAP algorithm is able to track dynamical signals with a small error. This error is characterized in terms of problem constants and vanishes with the sampling time as long as the log-likelihood function satisfies a smoothness condition.
Early Pharmacological Treatment of Delirium May Reduce Physical Restraint Use A Retrospective Study

Introduction: Evidence surrounding pharmacological treatment of delirium is limited. The negative impact of physical restraints on patient outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU), however, is well published. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether initiating pharmacologic delirium treatment within 24 hours of a positive screen reduces the number of days in physical restraints and improves patient outcomes compared with delayed or no treatment. Methods: Patients from a mixed ICU with a documented positive delirium score using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist were retrospectively grouped based on having received pharmacologic treatment within 24 hours of the first positive screen or not. Primary end points were number of days spent in physical restraints and time to extubation after delirium onset. Secondary end points included hospital and ICU length of stay (LOS) and survival to discharge. Results: Two hundred intubated patients were either pharmacologically treated (n = 98) o...
Techniques for Consecutive TEM and Atom Probe Tomography Analysis of Nanowires

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Published Research - Department of Chemistry at DigitalCommons@University ofNebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications -- Chemistry Department by an authorized administrator ofDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. For more information, please contactproyster@unl.edu.
The effects of sodium bicarbonate administered nasogastrically on plasma volume, electrolytes and blood gases in resting quarter horses

SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a single dose (1000 mg/kg of body weight) of sodium bicarbonate (NaHC0 3 ) on plasma volume, pH, HC0 3 concentration, and serum Na, Cl, K, and Ca levels. Eight Quarter Horse mares, ranging in age from 5 to 15 years, were paired into four groups and used in a four-period crossover experiment. Each pair of horses was randomly assigned each week to one of four treatments: H 2 0 only (A), NaHC0 3 with H 2 0 (B), no NaHC0 3 with no H 2 0 (C), and NaHC0 3 without H 2 0 (D). Plasma volumes were determined by using an Evan's Blue Dye dilution technique. Mean plasma volume was 16.01, and no significant difference (p > 0.05) was found between treatments. Blood gases and pH were determined before and six hours after NaHC03 administration. Analysis of variance found that treatments B and D significantly (p > 0.01) affected levels of pH, pC02, P0 2 , HC0 3 , Na, Cl, Ca and K compared to both treatments A and C.
If the song sounds the same check for static: a reply to Walker and Frimer

The ‘care challenge’ is shown to be both broader and more successful than Walker and Frimer's (this issue, pp. 53–68) critique allows. The main philosophical and psychological tenets of the care challenge foreshadowed the direction of twenty‐first century moral psychology.
Evolutionary rescue by beneficial mutations in environments that change in space and time.

A factor that may limit the ability of many populations to adapt to changing conditions is the rate at which beneficial mutations can become established. We study the probability that mutations become established in changing environments by extending the classic theory for branching processes. When environments change in time, under quite general conditions, the establishment probability is approximately twice the ‘effective selection coefficient’, whose value is an average that gives most weight to a mutant's fitness in the generations immediately after it appears. When fitness varies along a gradient in a continuous habitat, increased dispersal generally decreases the chance a mutation establishes because mutations move out of areas where they are most adapted. When there is a patch of favourable habitat that moves in time, there is a maximum speed of movement above which mutations cannot become established, regardless of when and where they first appear. This critical speed limit, which is proportional to the mutation's maximum selective advantage, represents an absolute constraint on the potential of locally adapted mutations to contribute to evolutionary rescue.
Proximity-induced ferromagnetism in graphene revealed by the anomalous Hall effect.

Placing graphene on an insulating magnetic substrate can make the material ferromagnetic without disturbing its exceptional conductivity.
Comparison of Risk Factors for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Invasive Breast Cancer

Background Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) accounts for approximately 12% of newly diagnosed breast cancers. Knowledge of the factors that predict who will be diagnosed with DCIS is very limited. Purpose The goal of this study was to determine risk factors associated with DCIS and whether these risk factors are similar to those associated with invasive breast cancer. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 39,542 women aged 30 years and older who underwent a screening mammographic examination at the University of California San Francisco Mobile Mammography Screening Program from April 1985 through September 1995. A breast cancer risk profile and clinical history were obtained for each woman. Follow-up after abnormal mammography was performed to determine the presence of DCIS or invasive breast cancer by contacting the women's physicians and by linkage to the regional Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry. Multivariate analysis was performed by the use of polytomous logistic regression. Two-sided statistical tests were used to determine P values. Results Among women aged 30-49 years, a family history of breast cancer (i.e., at least one affected first degree relative) was associated with an increased risk of DCIS (Odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-4.9) and body mass index greater than or equal to 25 kg/m2 was associated with a decreased risk of DCIS (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2 to 0.9). For each of these factors, there was a trend in the same direction bordering on statistical significance for invasive cancer (ORs = 1.7 [95% CI = 0.9-3.4] and 0.6 [95% CI = 0.3-1.1], respectively). Report of a palpable mass was associated with an increased risk of invasive cancer among women aged 30-49 years (OR = 12.0; 95% CI = 7.1-20.0); there was a trend in the same direction for DCIS (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 0.8-5.1), but the association was much stronger for invasive disease than for DCIS (OR = 6.0; 95% CI = 2.1-18.0; P = .001). Among women aged 50 years and older, family history of breast cancer and nulliparity or age at birth of first child of 30 years or older increased the risk of both DCIS (ORs = 2.2 [95% CI = 1.0-4.2] and 2.3 [95% CI = 1.3-3.8], respectively) and invasive breast cancer (ORs = 1.5 [95% CI = 1.0-2.2] and 1.6 [95% CI = 1.2-2.1], respectively). Report of a palpable mass was not associated with an increased risk of DCIS among women 50 years and older, but it was strongly associated with an increased risk of invasive cancer (OR = 9.3; 95% CI = 6.0-14.0). Increasing age was associated with an increased risk of both DCIS and invasive cancer among women aged 30-49 years, but the association was stronger for invasive disease; a trend in the same direction bordering on statistical significance was observed for women aged 50 years and older. Conclusion Risk factors for DCIS are similar to those for invasive breast cancer. Implications More research is needed to better understand the malignant potential of DCIS lesions and factors that predict which lesions will become invasive breast cancer if left untreated.
Design of Parasitic and Process-Variation Aware Nano-CMOS RF Circuits: A VCO Case Study

This paper proposes a novel flow for parasitic and process-variation aware design of radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs). A nano-CMOS current-starved voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit has been designed using this flow as a case study. The oscillation frequency is considered as the objective optimization function with the area overhead as constraint. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations have been carried out on the parasitic extracted netlist of the VCO to study the effect of process variation on the oscillation frequency. In the design cycle, a performance degradation of 43.5% is observed when the parasitic extracted netlist is subjected to worst-case process variation. The proposed design flow could bring the oscillation frequency within 4.5% of the target, leading to convergence of the complete design in only one design iteration. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper presents the first work focussed on a current starved VCO in which the combined effect of parasitics and process variations has been considered.
CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR A FUSION DEVELOPMENT FACILITY

Parameters and physics and technology performance of the Fusion Development Facility (FDF), a 13-MA volume neutron source and fusion materials and component test facility are described and plasma and nuclear technology development requirements summarized. The programmatic means by which the mostly not-yet-available 'critical technologies' need for FDF can be realized by 2015, when high-performance operation could first commence, are suggested. Given the timely availability of these critical enabling technologies', an iterative 15-year test and development program for attaining reactor-qualified materials and technologies then becomes possible.
Immunologic aspects of bone transplantation. A rationale for future studies.

Abstract This article presents the hypothesis that bone, like other soft tissue, is rejected in an immunologic fashion. However, because bone is mineralized, it presents unique aspects that are also dealt with by the immune system. The article goes on to review the immunologic considerations of bone allograft reactivity.
Synthetic aperture radar scene segmentation using fractal processing

A standard goal of ATR algorithms has been to quantify and model the background clutter in order to better understand its interaction with the embedded targets. In this paper, local fractal dimension estimation techniques are applied along with the necessary preprocessing unique to the fractal processing of high-speckle SAR imagery. >
Evaluation of fusion in a PEEK cage after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is the gold standard treatment for cervical spondylosis but there is a lack of consensus in the literature regarding which type of bone graft is superior: autograft or allograft. The purpose of this study is to evaluate fusion after ACDF using a stand-alone intervertebral cage packed with autologous cervical bone shavings acquired during the procedure. Twenty patients that underwent single-level ACDF from 2011 to 2014 using a stand-alone polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage were recruited. Patients were evaluated for evidence of bone fusion by plain films and CT scan. Fusion was primarily assessed by grading the level of trabecular bridging bone across the bone-graft interface. Odom’s criteria were used to assess clinical outcome. All interbody disc spaces achieved successful fusion at follow-up. A total of 80% (16/20) of patients had radiographic evidence of trabecular bone present both within and around the cage. The other 20% exhibited bridging bone within the cage but had evidence of minor radiolucent gaps and lack of bridging bone completely surrounding the cage. Eighty percent of patients reported excellent/good clinical outcomes. ACDF using a PEEK stand-alone cage with autograft bone shavings has a high rate of fusion and avoids potential complications of classic autograft harvesting and decreased allograft fusion rates.
The Rivalry of Intolerances in Race Relations

much his admirers might wish to have his deeds recalled. When the symbolic and utilitarian functions of war memorials are compatible with reference to a common system of values, the memorial serves to strengthen these values and thereby contributes to the solidarity of the society. In the case of an incompatibility, however, the inconsistent values embodied in the war memorial are dysfunctional for the integration of the group. Thus, if the activities of "dance palaces" are as important as national patriotism, that is, if this is implied by some war memorial which places them together so that they seem to be merged, then the actual values of the society, which do not hold the former to be compatible with the latter, are being called into question. The consequence is a reduction in the integration of the group. These, then, are some of the general relations between the different functions of war memorials. Obviously no single highly concrete statement can be made about their application in all societies or all sub-communities of a single society. Since the symbolic functions of war memorials take their significance from the cultural values of a society, and since, further, the compatibility of the symbolic, the esthetic, and the utilitarian functions also derives from these values, any particular war memorial can only be considered appropriate or not in terms of the values of a particular society or particular sub-community of that society. Keeping these general relations in view, each particular group must choose a suitable memorial for itself. Since values vary among societies, appropriate war memorials will always, as they have done in the past and still do, take different concrete forms. Owing to the difficulty of suitably combining the several possible component functions, excellent war memorials can only be constructed by the most careful consideration of these functions and their relations in the atmosphere of a particular set of social values.
Experiment and Computational Analysis of Self-Healing in an Aluminum Alloy

The development of self-healing metals is a novel idea that has not been explored in great detail yet. The concept of self-healing described in this paper consists of incorporating a low temperature melting alloy imbedded within a higher temperature alloy to create a self healing composite (SHC). When the SHC is damaged or cracked, heat may be applied to the affected area whereupon the low melting alloy will melt and flow into the crack healing the damage and sealing the crack. This study consists of theoretical analysis and design of self-healing in aluminum alloy matrix. The experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics of a self-healing were designed by the authors, the design consists in an aluminum alloy matrix reinforced with microtubes of alumina (Al2O3) that are filled with a low melting point solder alloy. The objective of the study reported here was to find the influence and efficiency of a low melting solder alloy in healing an aluminum matrix. To check this effect a crack was created in the metal surface, piercing the microtube(s) filled with solder, and then the SHC was heated above the melting point of the solder alloy to melt and examine the flow of molten solder alloy into the crack. NOMENCLATURE
Disarming the Snake Goddess: A Reconsideration of the Faience Figurines from the Temple Repositories at Knossos

The two reconstituted faience figurines from the Temple Repositories at Knossos were restored by Sir Arthur Evans as epitomes of elite women of the Neopalatial period and objects of an indigenous palatial cult of the Snake Goddess. They have appeared as such in the literature for the past century. This article reassesses the accuracy of Evans’s characterization by examining only the original fragments—a head, two torsos and the remnants of a flounced skirt—to determine whether the coiffures, clothing, and gestures have parallels in Cretan art. This process reveals that the figures do not have close parallels, for the most part, within the Cretan tradition. Furthermore, there are no Cretan iconographic sources for the images of the women as participants in the cult of the Snake Goddess, whether as goddesses or as priestesses. Rather, the craftsmen who created them employed motifs from the Syrian artistic tradition most likely relying on the representations of the goddess opening her skirt and the renderings of Syrian goddesses with cylindrical crowns, straight hair, and robes with thick edges. The elites who ordered the production of the figurines did so within the context of the construction of the Middle Minoan III palace at Knossos. At a time of heightened interaction with the late Middle Bronze Age monarchies of the Levant, the elites at Knossos emulated Syrian iconography as an assertion of their access to exotic knowledge and control of trade. When the Middle Minoan III palace was destroyed, the figurines were deposited in the Temple Repositories, and their iconography was buried with them. There is no trace of them in subsequent Neopalatial art.
Nonlinear Stability Analysis of JJ160/41-K Type Oil Derrick

JJ160/41-K type oil derrick was widely used in Daqing oil field.On the basis of structure analysis,it is confirmed that instability problem for this type derrick belongs to extreme-point instability.Extreme-point instability has strongly nonlinear characteristics;effects of geometric and material nonlinearities to structure load capacity must be considered in structure analysis.Using software ANSYS build up the structure finite element analysis model,constitutive relations of materials adopted linear strengthen elastic-plastic model.By linear buckling and nonlinear stability analysis,the structure critical load factor obtained,respectively,are 4.21 and 2.44,the results show that nonlinear stability analysis can more accurately evaluate the structure's load capacity limit.Nonlinear analysis method is more closed to practical structure and very necessary in evaluating the structure load capacity.
Public Health Service Act, Section 340B340B Drug Discount Program: Compliance Risks Associated With Contract Pharmacy Arrangements

The 1980’s was marked by rapid escalation in health care costs. In 1989, Medicaid State Agencies paid more than $3.6 billion for prescription drugs. In an attempt to reduce the federal deficit, Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA 90), which created the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP). Prior to the creation of the MDRP, pharmaceutical manufacturers could voluntarily offer state Medicaid program discounts on prescription drugs purchased by Medicaid patients. The passage of OBRA 90 made it mandatory for pharmaceutical manufacturers to offer discounts to the government if they wanted to sell their products to these patients. In 1992, Congress realized that there was an imbalance with the discounts offered to other agencies of the federal government, so they created the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (VHCA). Title VI of the VHCA amends the Federal veterans’ benefits law to require agreements between The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Department (HHS) and pharmaceutical manufacturers to limit the purchase price of drugs procured by the VA and certain other Federal agencies. Section 602 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 established the 340B Program in section 340B of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act). Congress meant for the savings from 340B-purchased drugs “to enable covered entities to stretch scarce Federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.” The congressional record states the intent of the program was to extend Medicaid drug discounts to the most vulnerable of patients of safety net health care organizations, those who are mostly, “medically uninsured, on marginal incomes and have no other sources to turn to for preventive and primary care services.” The executive purpose was that additional program resources would be generated if drug acquisition costs were lowered, but revenue from grants or health insurance reimbursements were maintained or not reduced as much as the 340B discounts or rebates. The 340B program does not make a particular patient category eligible for the program; rather, the program makes safety-net providers eligible for the program because of their dedication to serving the low-income and most vulnerable patients.
Hysteresis model of longitudinally loaded cable for cable driven robots and identification of the parameters

In this paper, we propose model of longitudinally loaded cable based on the Bouc-Wen hysteresis model and within the framework of the Duhem operator. By optimizing the 9 hysteresis model parameters with a genetic algorithm, the proposed model is shown to be capable of representing quasi-static response of two different diameter cables, 0.61 mm (thin) and 1.19 mm (thick), used for the RAVEN II surgical robotic surgery platform. The construction of the cable is 7 strands with 19 individual wires per strand. Furthermore, it is shown that the dynamic response of the cables are captured by adding a linear damping term. The hysteresis model and linear damper with the optimized parameters accurately models a longitudinal vibration test result in terms of frequency, steady state stretch, and logarithmic decrement. Energy dissipation due solely to the hysteresis term is approximately calculated to be 57 and 71% of the total energy loss for the thin and thick cables respectively. The proposed model may be used for cables with different contraction and diameter and can be applied for control of cable driven robots in which cables are stretched longitudinally without large excitation of other modes.
Immunologic responses to human papillomavirus infection

The immune mechanisms following papillomavirus infections are barely characterized. However, the association of serum antibodies to HPV proteins with HPV-related diseases is now well-established. Antibodies to some early viral proteins but also to virus capsids (as measured by using VLPs) are found in a significant proportion of patients with benign and malignant HPV-related diseases. A small number of patients, however, are devoid of detectable antibodies. It is not clear whether the missing immune response is of any biologic significance for the patient or merely reflects differences in antigen presentation during the course of infection. Clearly, the relatively low sensitivity of serologic assays renders them unsuitable for diagnostic purposes. However, certain combinations of assays may reach a higher predictive value, and hence a particular disease may be diagnosed by a pattern of positive (and negative?) reactions. The humoral immune response in patients with subclinical infections is less well characterized, but such studies are currently being performed in different laboratories.
Frequency of Childhood Mitochondrial Myopathies

The frequency of mitochondrial diseases among patients with childhood encephalopathies and myopathies in a defined population of Northern Finland was investigated at the University of Oulu, Finland.
Diversity-multiplexing tradeoff of the dynamic decode and forward protocol on a MIMO half-duplex relay channel

We compute the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) curve for a three node multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) half-duplex (HD) relay network, operating in the dynamic decode-and-forward (DDF) [1] mode. We consider the case where the source and the destination have n antennas each and the single relay node has m antennas. Denoting such a channel as a (n, m)-relay channel, we provide an analytical characterization of the DMT curve for certain simple configurations such as (n, 1), (1, m) and (2, 2). We employ a numerical method to compute the DMT for more general channel configurations. Interestingly, for low multiplexing gains the achievable diversity orders of the HD-DDF protocol coincides with the diversity orders achieved by the full-duplex decode-and-forward (FDDF) protocol analyzed in [2]. In fact, the HD-DDF and FDDF protocols achieve the same diversity orders for all integer multiplexing gains. Thus, the half duplex constraint does not significantly affect the achievable DMT for the DF protocol when the source and the destination have the same number of antennas.
Ludwig W. Kahn,Literatur und Glaubenskrise: Sprache und Literatur 7. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer, 1964. Pp. 200

(1967). Ludwig W. Kahn, Literatur und Glaubenskrise. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 70-72.
Jacked up and unjust: Pacific Islander teens confront violent legacies

In their book, Drs Irwin and Umemoto profile Pacific Islander teens growing up in Hawai‘i. Their research, conducted over a nine-year period, uncovers important transactions between youths and thei...
Engineering Cyanobacterial Cell Morphology for Enhanced Recovery and Processing of Biomass

Cyanobacteria are emerging as alternative crop species for the production of fuels, chemicals, and biomass. Yet, the success of these microbes depends upon the development of cost-effective technologies that permit scaled cultivation and cell harvesting. Here, we investigate the feasibility of engineering cell morphology in order to improve biomass recovery and decrease energetic costs associated with lysing cyanobacterial cells. Specifically, we modify the levels of Min system proteins in Synechococcus elongatus sp. PCC 7942. The Min system has established functions in controlling cell division by regulating assembly of FtsZ, a tubulin-like protein required to define the bacterial division plane. We show that altering expression of two FtsZ-regulatory proteins, MinC and Cdv3, permits control over cell morphology by disrupting FtsZ localization and cell division, without preventing continued cell growth. By varying the expression of these proteins, we can tune the length of cyanobacterial cells across a broad dynamic range: anywhere from a ∼20% increased length relative to wildtype to near-millimeter lengths. Highly elongated cells exhibit increased rates of sedimentation under low centrifugal forces or by gravity-assisted settling. Furthermore, hyperelongated cells are also more susceptible to lysis through the application of mild physical stress. Collectively, these results demonstrate a novel approach towards decreasing harvesting and processing costs associated with mass cyanobacterial cultivation through altering morphology at the cellular level. Importance: We show that the cell length of a model cyanobacterial species can be programmed through the rational manipulation of expression of protein factors that suppress cell division. In some instances, we are able to increase the size of these cells to near millimeter lengths through this approach. The resulting elongated cells have favorable properties with regard to cell harvesting and lysis. Furthermore cells treated in this manner continue to grow rapidly at time scales similar to those of uninduced controls. To our knowledge, this is the first reported example of engineering the cell morphology of cyanobacteria or algae to make them more compatible with downstream processing steps that present economic barriers to their use as alternative crop species. Therefore, our results are a promising proof-of-principle for the use of morphology engineering to increase the cost-effectiveness of mass cultivation of cyanobacteria for various sustainability initiatives.
Impact of Shrub Willow ( Salix spp.) as a Potential Bioenergy Feedstock on Water Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The development of shrub willow as a bioenergy feedstock contributes to renewable energy portfolios in many countries with temperate climates and marginal croplands. As willow is developed commercially in the US Northeast, there is a need to better understand its impact on water quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to alternative land uses (e.g., corn, hay). We measured the impact of cultivated willow of various ages (2 and 5 years) and management strategies (fertilized vs. unfertilized) compared to corn and hay on water table depth, soil water NO3 − and PO4 3− concentrations, and N2O, CH4, and CO2 fluxes at the soil-atmosphere interface during a drier than normal year in heavy clay soils with marginal agricultural value in upstate New York, USA. Soil water concentrations resulted in higher PO4 3− in willow and higher NO3 − in corn and hay, although willow is unlikely to negatively impact water quality with respect to phosphorus due to shorter periods of hydrologic connectivity in willow and hay than in corn. Gas fluxes varied spatially and temporally with hot moments of CH4 and N2O in corn and hay and seasonally variable CO2 in willow. While CH4 did not vary between fields, N2O was higher in corn and hay, and CO2 in willow, resulting in no net difference between CO2 equivalent (CH4, CO2, and N2O) emissions between fields. Converting marginal cropland on clay soils from corn or hay to willow left overall GHG emissions unaffected, slightly increased PO4 3−, and decreased NO3 − concentrations in soil water.
Grazers, pathogens and shelf-shading enhance phytoplankton species richness more and reduce productivity less when environments are less dynamic: A theoretical study

Abstract Human activities, such as reservoir construction, can result in hydraulically less dynamic systems and cause downstream systems to shift from sudden resource supply transitions to gradual. In this research, how such human activities might influence phytoplankton is further explored theoretically. Building on previous modeling results, new findings suggest that preferential grazing, pathogens, self-shading, and all these combined interact differentially with the mode of resource loading (sudden and gradual transitions) to shape phytoplankton assemblage characteristics. Most notably, phytoplankton species richness was much greater in scenarios that considered pathogen effects, self-shading effects, and combined preferential grazing, pathogen and shelf-shading effects when resource supply transitions were gradual compared to when they were sudden, i.e., 2.7-fold increase, 2.4-fold increase and 1.7-fold increase, respectively. Furthermore, reduced productivity with the additions of preferential grazing, pathogens, self-shading, and all these combined was lessened when resource supply transitions were gradual. Smaller differences to phytoplankton species evenness, overyielding, species interactions, niche breadth, and resource drawdown were also observed when comparing scenarios with sudden and gradual resource supply transitions. The nuanced details of preferential grazing, pathogens and shelf-shading uncovered here underscore the fundamental principle framed in the philosophy of Okham's Razor. How much complexity must we account for to understand how plankton systems will respond to altered land use in watersheds, and associated changed hydrology and nutrient loading? In this cursory effort, with simplistic additions of preferential grazing, pathogens and self-shading, findings highlight the need to explore empirically the effects of impoundment construction on downstream estuarine ecosystems.
A theoretical model to determine the capacity performance of shape-specific electrodes

Abstract A theory is proposed to explain and predict the electrochemical process during reaction between lithium ions and electrode materials. In the model, the process of reaction is proceeded into two steps, surface adsorption and diffusion of lithium ions. The surface adsorption is an instantaneous process for lithium ions to adsorb onto the surface sites of active materials. The diffusion of lithium ions into particles is determined by the charge-discharge condition. A formula to determine the maximum specific capacity of active materials at different charging rates (C-rates) is derived. The maximum specific capacity is correlated to characteristic parameters of materials and cycling – such as size, aspect ratio, surface area, and C-rate. Analysis indicates that larger particle size or greater aspect ratio of active materials and faster C-rates can reduce maximum specific capacity. This suggests that reducing particle size of active materials and slowing the charge-discharge speed can provide enhanced electrochemical performance of a battery cell. Furthermore, the model is validated by published experimental results. This model brings new understanding in quantification of electrochemical kinetics and capacity performance. It enables development of design strategies for novel electrodes and future generation of energy storage devices.
Outcome of Mismatch Repair-Deficient Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The Mayo Clinic Experience.

BACKGROUND Deficiencies in the DNA mismatch repair system cause errors during DNA replication, which in turn give rise to microsatellite instability (MSI). The impact of MSI on survival in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is unclear. This cohort study aims to investigate the prognostic and predictive value of MSI in mCRC prior to the immune therapy era. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 75 MSI-high (MSI-H) mCRC patients (pts) and 75 matched (age, gender, disease sidedness, metachronous/synchronous) microsatellite-stable (MSS) mCRC pts were identified from 1,268 mCRC pts who had MSI/mismatch repair test results at Mayo Clinic Rochester between January 1992 and July 2016. A retrospective review was conducted by using data from electronic medical records. Statistical analyses utilized the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS The MSS group was well matched to the MSI-H group based on age, gender, location, and chronicity of metastatic disease. MSI-H mCRC pts had earlier disease recurrence (median time from initial diagnosis to metastatic disease diagnosis, MSI-H group 12.9 vs. MSS group 20.9 months, p = .034). Median overall survival (OS) was 28.1 and 37.4 months for MSI-H and MSS pts, respectively (p = .99). In total, 94.7% of MSI-H pts and 98.7% of MSS pts had fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for metastatic disease, and there was no difference in OS between these two groups (32.3 vs. 37.4 months, p = .91). Forty-three MSI-H and thirty-nine MSS pts had metastasectomy and/or ablation of metastases (p = .51) with longer median OS compared with pts without metastasectomy (MSI-H: 82.0 vs. 13.9, p < .001; MSS: 69.9 vs. 19.7, p < .001). Age <65 years, BRAF wild type, and metastasectomy were associated with better OS in univariate analysis. Only metastasectomy remained statistically significant in multivariate analysis (p < .001). CONCLUSION In mCRC, patients with MSI-H tumors have similar, but numerically shorter, median overall survival compared with those with MSS tumors. In both groups, metastasectomy and ablation of metastatic disease should be considered to optimize OS. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This study clearly demonstrated the survival benefits that aggressive metastasectomy provides in selected microsatellite instability-high metastatic colorectal cancer patients. This could be meaningful practice-changing information that has been long awaited.
Simulation of the mechanical behavior of random fiber networks with different microstructure

Filamentous protein networks are broadly encountered in biological systems such as cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix. Many numerical studies have been conducted to better understand the fundamental mechanisms behind the striking mechanical properties of these networks. In most of these previous numerical models, the Mikado algorithm has been used to represent the network microstructure. Here, a different algorithm is used to create random fiber networks in order to investigate possible roles of architecture on the elastic behavior of filamentous networks. In particular, random fibrous structures are generated from the growth of individual fibers from random nucleation points. We use computer simulations to determine the mechanical behavior of these networks in terms of their model parameters. The findings are presented and discussed along with the response of Mikado fiber networks. We demonstrate that these alternative networks and Mikado networks show a qualitatively similar response. Nevertheless, the overall elasticity of Mikado networks is stiffer compared to that of the networks created using the alternative algorithm. We describe the effective elasticity of both network types as a function of their line density and of the material properties of the filaments. We also characterize the ratio of bending and axial energy and discuss the behavior of these networks in terms of their fiber density distribution and coordination number.
The DevOps Paradigm with Cloud Data Analytics for Green Business Applications

This paper reviews the emergence of the DevOps (development and operations) paradigm in the industry and the influence it has along with cloud based data management and analytics in the greening of business applications. It considers the geoscience domain as an example discussing usefulness in a GIS (geographic information system). Similar claims can be applied to other domains. Investigating the emergence of DevOps technologies and examining the dramatic shift in IT towards cloud and hybrid models for data analytics, the paper paints a picture of systems that have the ability to green their impact on society. It also addresses concerns from a privacy and security perspective and concludes with open issues for further research.
Energy flow in the Lake Mendota ecosystem

In previous chapters, quantitative data on various components of the Lake Mendota ecosystem have been presented. In the present chapter, these data are summarized and incorporated into a tentative model of energy relationships. In order to place all data on the same scale, values have been converted to grams of carbon per m3 of lake surface. It is assumed that a gram of organic carbon is equivalent to 17.5 Kcal of energy (see Chapter 5).
Analysis of Circulating Tumor DNA and Clinical Correlates in Patients with Esophageal, Gastroesophageal Junction, and Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric adenocarcinoma (herein gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas) are associated with poor prognosis and limited systemic treatment options. To further understand the genomic landscape of gastroesophageal cancers and its clinical correlations, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from patients’ plasma was evaluated using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Experimental Design: We analyzed genomic alterations of 55 patients (mostly advanced disease; 9, surgically resectable) with gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas using clinical-grade NGS performed on plasma-derived ctDNA (54–73 gene panel). The test detects single-nucleotide variants, as well as copy number amplifications, fusions, and indels in selected genes. Results: Seventy-six percent of patients (42/55) had ≥1 genomic alteration [including variants of unknown significance (VUS)] and 69.1% (38/55) had ≥1 characterized alteration (excluding VUSs). The median number of alterations per patient was 2 (range, 0–15). TP53 (50.9%, 28/55), PIK3CA (16.4%, 9/55), ERBB2 (14.5%, 8/55), and KRAS (14.5%, 8/55) genes were most frequently affected characterized alterations. Thirty-one patients also had tissue NGS. Concordance between tissue and ctDNA ranged from 61.3% (TP53 alterations) to 87.1% (KRAS alterations). ERBB2 alterations were significantly associated with poor overall survival (HR, 14.06; 95% confidence interval, 2.44–81.03; P = 0.003 multivariate analysis). Among patients with ≥1 alteration, no 2 patients had identical molecular portfolios. All patients with ≥1 characterized alteration had theoretically targetable alterations by an FDA-approved agent (on- or off-label). Illustrative case treated with cognate agent is presented. Conclusions: Evaluation of ctDNA by NGS among patients with gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma is feasible. Patients harbored heterogeneous patterns of genomics, with most having alterations that are potentially pharmacologically tractable. Clin Cancer Res; 24(24); 1–9. ©2018 AACR.
Tracking movements: Black activism, aerial surveillance, and transparency optics:

This article examines the 2015 Baltimore uprisings that emerged in the wake of Freddie Gray’s death and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) covert aerial surveillance of the protesters. It ...
An experimental study to characterize a surface treated with a novel laser surface texturing technique: Water repellency and reduced ice adhesion

Abstract An experimental study was conducted to characterize the laser-textured surfaces fabricated by using a novel nanosecond Laser-based High-throughput Surface Nanostructuring (nHSN) method. While the two-step nHSN approach (i.e., water-confined nanosecond laser texturing and chemical immersion treatment) in producing superhydrophobicity over metal surfaces is described in great details, a throughput analysis of different laser-based surface texturing methods is also performed in the term of Specific Laser Scanning Time (SLST). It is found that the nHSN process significantly increases the processing rate from hundreds of minutes per square inch to seconds in comparison to the existing ultrashort laser-based surface texturing techniques. In order to examine the performance of the novel nHSN-treated surfaces in the term of “water-/ice-repellency”, a series of experiments were performed in the present study to not only characterize the surface structures and wettability of the nHSN-treated aluminum surfaces, but also evaluate the effects of the nHSN treatment on the dynamics of water droplet during the impacting process (i.e., spreading, receding, and rebounding), as well as their capability in reducing ice adhesion strength. It is found that, while the untreated bare aluminum surface and the only laser-textured aluminum surface are hydrophilic with the static contact angle being smaller than 90° and the contact angle hysteresis being larger than 90°, the nHSN-treated surfaces appear to be superhydrophobic with a significantly larger static contact angle (i.e., ~170°) and a much smaller contact angle hysteresis (i.e., ~20°). The superhydrophobicity of the nHSN surfaces is further promoted to “ice-repellency” by the complete droplet rebounding phenomenon in the dynamic water droplet impacting process and the reduced ice adhesion strength.
Effect of Oral Contraceptives on Lactation

The use of oral contraceptive agents (OCAs) has been steadily increasing since their introduction in the 1960’s. For women in industrialized countries this has been considered a generally safe method to avoid unplanned pregnancies. It should be recognized, however, that during these years the hormone levels used in OCAs have been decreasing. This has partially been due to some alarming reports of side-effects from the hormonal treatment and partially due to further research showing a high degree of contraceptive effect at levels lower than those originally used. Therefore, studies on the long-term effects of OCAs, besides the intended contraceptive effect, have been limited; the dosages and combinations of hormones have frequently changed1.
Predicting Fatigue Life of Miter Gate Anchorages with Stochastic Modeling and Limited Sensor Data

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) maintains a large inventory of lock and dam structures along inland waterways in the US. Miter gates are key components of lock systems and therefore the ability to assess the fatigue life of miter gates is critical to direct maintenance operations and prevent costly disruptions to commercial traffic. Miter gates are supported by steel anchorages, which transfer the gate overturning reaction to the concrete lock wall. Many anchorages have been in service for 80 to 90 years and may be approaching the end of their fatigue life. However, their condition is unknown because they are embedded in concrete. We present a new method that addresses four major challenges for predicting fatigue life of miter gate anchorages: (1) estimating loads on the anchorage; (2) computing stress ranges in the anchorage based on those loads, accounting for steel-concrete interaction; (3) estimating the number of load cycles on the anchorage; and (4) incorporating uncertainty and the ability to update estimates based on inspection data. The goal of this method is to predict anchorage fatigue life without strain gage data. It is prohibitively expensive to install instrumentation on every anchor in the USACE inventory, and therefore the limited available instrumentation is used to verify the proposed methodology. Using this framework, fatigue life estimates are made using S-N curves. Ultimately, the deterministic fatigue life predictions will be incorporated in a stochastic model that accounts for uncertainties in loading and modeling assumptions.
An Overview of Insect Residue Accretion and Mitigation Strategies on Aerodynamic Surfaces

Research in the utilization of laminar flow technologies on aircraft to improve fuel efficiency (and hence be more environmentally friendly) has been ongoing since the conclusion of World War II. A persistent issue with regard to the maintenance of laminar flow, however, is insect residue accretion. The residues are recurrent, distributed randomly across the surface, and have the potential to exceed heights that can result in a premature transition to turbulent flow. Numerous approaches have been explored over the decades, with success being seen in a research setting. In general, implementation of these approaches in the commercial sector has not been realized. These approaches are briefly discussed herein, along with a general description of the relevant insect characteristics and a discussion of why the reduction of insect accretion on aircraft is such a challenging problem.