cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of idiotypes on antibodies to galactan

Summary The correlation between the primary structure and the expression of idiotypy in the anti-galactane antibody system is extremely precise. Amino-acid residues, which are implicated in the expression of recurrent or private idiotopes, are localized in the CDR3 region of all hybridomas and of at least 2 out of 4 myeloma proteins. A single substitution in this region may, in some cases, suffice to abolish idiotope expression.
Airborne-radar stratigraphy and electrical structure of temperate firn: Bagley Ice Field, Alaska, U.S.A.

Helicopter-borne 135 MHz short-pulse radar profiles of the Bagley Ice Field, southern Alaska, U.S.A., have been analyzed to determine the nature of radio-wave propagation through crevassed, stratified, wet and draining firn. Diffractions characterize the firn horizons along the trunk, and reflections characterize those of overlying snow-fields. Dynamic stacking was used to form and determine firn depths, and unstacked diffraction analysis to determine firn-layer properties. Refractive indices range from 4.1 to 4.5 for the near-surface, from 1.7 to 2.1 at about 13-17 m depth along the main trunk, and to 2.6 to 58 m depth within a snowfield. Average trunk values correspond with volumetric water contents of about 0.09, which agree with values measured for other glaciers. The analysis of the airborne-recorded diffractions is confirmed by deriving the approximate refractive index of water from a supraglacial lake-bottom diffraction. The lack of snowfield diffractions suggests that crevassing and not firn structure caused the trunk diffractions. The reasonable values of the indices imply that the diffractions originated from single points or edges orthogonal to the profile transect, and they predict low interlayer transmission losses. The snowfield penetration suggests that several hundred meters might be penetrated in uncrevassed accumulation zones with improved system design.
Wireless, high-bandwidth recordings from non-human primate motor cortex using a scalable 16-Ch implantable microsystem

A multitude of neuroengineering challenges exist today in creating practical, chronic multichannel neural recording systems for primate research and human clinical application. Specifically, a) the persistent wired connections limit patient mobility from the recording system, b) the transfer of high bandwidth signals to external (even distant) electronics normally forces premature data reduction, and c) the chronic susceptibility to infection due to the percutaneous nature of the implants all severely hinder the success of neural prosthetic systems. Here we detail one approach to overcome these limitations: an entirely implantable, wirelessly communicating, integrated neural recording microsystem, dubbed the Brain Implantable Chip (BIC).
HTLV-1 Tax: centrosome amplification and cancer

During interphase, each cell contains a single centrosome that acts as a microtubule organizing center for cellular functions in interphase and in mitosis. Centrosome amplification during the S phase of the cell cycle is a tightly regulated process to ensure that each daughter cell receives the proper complement of the genome. The controls that ensure that centrosomes are duplicated exactly once in the cell cycle are not well understood. In solid tumors and hematological malignancies, centrosome abnormalities resulting in aneuploidy is observed in the majority of cancers. These phenotypes are also observed in cancers induced by viruses, including adult T cell lymphoma which is caused by the human T cell lymphotrophic virus Type 1 (HTLV-1). Several reports have indicated that the HTLV-1 transactivator, Tax, is directly responsible for the centrosomal abnormalities observed in ATL cells. A recent paper in Nature Cell Biology by Ching et al. has shed some new light into how Tax may be inducing centrosome abnormalities. The authors demonstrated that 30% of ATL cells contained more than two centrosomes and expression of Tax alone induced supernumerary centrosomes. A cellular coiled-coil protein, Tax1BP2, was shown to interact with Tax and disruption of this interaction led to failure of Tax to induce centrosome amplification. Additionally, down-regulation of Tax1BP2 led to centrosome amplification. These results suggest that Tax1BP2 may be an important block to centrosome re-duplication that is observed in normal cells. Presently, a specific cellular protein that prevents centrosome re-duplication has not been identified. This paper has provided further insight into how Tax induces centrosome abnormalities that lead to ATL. Lastly, additional work on Tax1BP2 will also provide insight into how the cell suppresses centrosome re-duplication during the cell cycle and the role that Tax1BP2 plays in this important cellular pathway.
Comparative evaluation of super high-resolution CT scan and virtual bronchoscopy for the detection of tracheobronchial malignancies.

Objectives Novel imaging modalities are currently available for the noninvasive evaluation of the tracheobronchial tree. This study was undertaken to compare the diagnostic potentials of conventional CT scanning, super high-resolution CT (SHR-CT) scanning, and virtual bronchoscopy (VB) directly with fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FB) for the detection of tracheobronchial neoplasms. Design Prospective observer study, in which 44 consecutive patients with thoracic malignancies were evaluated using several diagnostic imaging modalities. Images of the thorax were interpreted by individuals blind to the results of FB for the detection of endoluminal, obstructive, or mucosal lesions. Measurements and results Image acquisition and simulation of the tracheobronchial anatomy were created successfully in all patients. Thirty-two patients who underwent both SHR-CT scanning and VB had correlative FBs within 1 month. In all nine patients who had a normal anatomy, SHR-CT scanning and VB accurately correlated with the FB findings. However, CT scanning demonstrated two false-positive obstructive lesions in one patient. Twenty-three patients had a total of 35 abnormal FB findings. The sensitivities of SHR-CT scanning and VB for the detection of endoluminal, obstructive, and mucosal lesions were 90%, 100%, and 16%, respectively. The overall sensitivities and specificities of SHR-CT scanning and VB were 83% and 100%, respectively. In contrast, CT scanning had sensitivities of 50%, 72%, and 0% for the detection of endoluminal, obstructive, and mucosal lesions with an overall sensitivity and specificity of 59%, and 85%, respectively. There was no case in which conventional CT scanning was better at detecting lesions than either SHR-CT scanning or VB. Conclusions SHR-CT scanning and VB are accurate, noninvasive methods for identifying obstructions and endoluminal lesions within the respiratory tract. Thus, these novel imaging techniques are valuable as complementary modalities to FB, providing information that is useful for the detection and management of airway malignancies.
Harnessing the nonrepetitiveness in iterative learning control

In iterative learning control (ILC), it is usually assumed that the disturbances, uncertainties and the desired trajectories are invariant with respect to the iteration number or iteration-independent. In practice, this may not be true. How to accommodate the iteration-dependent disturbances, uncertainties and the desired trajectories is practically important for any successful application of ILC. In practice, it is observed that the baseline performance of ILC is limited mainly by the nonrepetitiveness factors. In this paper, by the proposed two methods, it is shown that one can harness or make use of the nonrepetitiveness in ILC to reduce the baseline errors. When the pattern of the nonrepetitiveness is known, an internal model principle (IMP) in the iteration domain can be applied. When the pattern of the nonrepetitiveness is unknown in advance, a disturbance observer in the iteration domain is proposed. It is noted that to harness the nonrepetitiveness in ILC, usually, the ILC updating law has to be high-order in the iteration direction. To facilitate our discussion, a supervector notion is adopted in a fairly general setting. Simulation examples are provided to illustrate the fact that nonrepetitiveness in ILC, if properly handled, can be harnessed to achieve a better performance previously not achievable.
Conjugated linoleic acid is a potent naturally occurring ligand and activator of PPARα

We have previously shown that a mixture of dietary conjugated derivatives of linoleic acid (conjugated linoleic acid, CLA) induces peroxisome proliferator-responsive enzymes and modulates hepatic lipid metabolism in vivo. The present studies demonstrate that CLA is a high affinity ligand and activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) and induces accumulation of PPAR-responsive mRNAs in a rat hepatoma cell line. Using a scintillation proximity assay (SPA), CLA isomers were shown to be ligands for human PPARalpha with a rank order of potency of (9Z,11E)>(10E,12Z)>(9E,11E)> furan-CLA (IC(50) values from 140 nm to 400 nm). Levels of acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), and cytochrome P450IVA1 (CYP4A1) mRNA were induced by CLA in FaO hepatoma cells. Even though linoleate and CLA were incorporated into lipids of hepatoma cells to the same extent, linoleate had little or no effect on ACO, CYP4A1, or L-FABP mRNA. In agreement with its binding potency, (9Z,11E)-CLA was the most efficacious PPARalpha activator in the mouse PPARalpha-GAL4(UAS)(5)-CAT reporter system. These data indicate that CLA is a ligand and activator of PPARalpha and its effects on lipid metabolism may be attributed to transcriptional events associated with this nuclear receptor. Also, (9Z,11E)-CLA is one of the most avid fatty acids yet described as a PPARalpha ligand.
An Inexpensive Aqueous Flow Battery for Large-Scale Electrical Energy Storage Based on Water-Soluble Organic Redox Couples

We introduce a novel Organic Redox Flow Battery (ORBAT), for Meeting the demanding requirements of cost, eco-friendliness, and durability for large-scale energy storage. ORBAT employs two different water-soluble organic redox couples on the positive and negative side of a flow battery. Redox couples such as quinones are particularly attractive for this application. No precious metal catalyst is needed because of the fast proton-coupled electron transfer processes. Furthermore, in acid media, the quinones exhibit good chemical stability. These properties render quinone-based redox couples very attractive for high-efficiency metal-free rechargeable batteries. We demonstrate the rechargeability of ORBAT with anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid or anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid on the negative side, and 1,2-dihydrobenzoquinone- 3,5-disulfonic acid on the positive side. The ORBAT cell uses a membrane-electrode assembly configuration similar to that used in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Such a battery can be charged and discharged multiple times at high faradaic efficiency without any noticeable degradation of performance. We show that solubility and mass transport properties of the reactants and products are paramount to achieving high current densities and high efficiency. The ORBAT configuration presents a unique opportunity for developing an inexpensive and sustainable metal-free rechargeable battery for large-scale electrical energy storage. (C) The Author(s) 2014. Published bymore » ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.orgilicenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. All rights reserved.« less
Substance use and Mental health correlates of nonadherence to antiretroviral medications in a sample of Patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Abstract Purpose Mental health and substance use problems are common among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and may impede adherence to antiretroviral regimens. This study investigated associations of antiretroviral medication nonadherence with specific types of psychiatric disorders and drug use, and varying levels of alcohol use. Methods Data were drawn from a survey of a national probability sample of 2267 (representing 181,557) adults enrolled in the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study. This study focused on 1910 patients who reported their antiretroviral medication adherence during the past week. Results Patients with depression (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3 to 2.3), generalized anxiety disorder (OR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2 to 5.0), or panic disorder (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.4 to 3.0) were more likely to be nonadherent than those without a psychiatric disorder. Nonadherence was also associated with use of cocaine (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.8), marijuana (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2 to 2.3), amphetamines (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2 to 4.2), or sedatives (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.0 to 2.4) in the previous month. Compared with patients who did not drink, those who were moderate (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.3 to 2.0), heavy (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.3 to 2.3), or frequent heavy (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.7 to 4.5) drinkers were more likely to be nonadherent. These associations could not be explained by demographic, clinical, and treatment factors. Conclusion These findings suggest the need for screening and treatment for mental health and substance use problems among HIV-positive patients to improve adherence to antiretroviral medications.
Can God Be Free? : Rowe's dilemma for theology

In his book, Can God Be Free?, William Rowe has argued that if God is unsurpassably good He cannot be free; if He is free, He cannot be unsurpassably good. After following the discussion of this topic through a number of historical figures, Rowe focuses on the recent and contemporary debate. A key claim of Rowe's is that, if there exists an endless series of better and better creatable worlds, then the existence of a morally perfect creator is impossible. I show that this argument is unsound, since a key premise can be proved false from propositions Rowe himself accepts.
Middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity: is it the standard of care for the diagnosis of fetal anemia?

Objective The aim of this work was to review the use of middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity (MCA PSV) for the diagnosis of fetal anemia. Methods With the use of a computerized database (MEDLINE), articles on the diagnosis of fetal anemia with ultrasonography were reviewed. Other pertinent references were obtained from the references cited in these articles. In addition, my own institution's clinical experience of the past 18 years was reviewed. Results Several ultrasonographic parameters have been used to diagnose noninvasive fetal anemia. On the basis of robust data, the MCA PSV is the best ultrasonographic parameter used in the management of fetuses at risk for anemia due to different causes. It is also superior to amniocentesis for the diagnosis of fetal anemia in cases of red cell alloimmunization. Conclusions Middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity is effective for diagnosis of noninvasive moderate and severe fetal anemia. This parameter should not yet be considered the global standard of care for diagnosis of fetal anemia because incorrect use by an inexperienced operator may cause more harm than good; however, if there is a reasonably close medical center with sonographers or sonologists trained to assess the MCA PSV, patients at risk for fetal anemia should be referred to this center.
Central role of the EGF receptor in neurometabolic aging.

A strong connection between neuronal and metabolic health has been revealed in recent years. It appears that both normal and pathophysiological aging, as well as neurodegenerative disorders, are all profoundly influenced by this “neurometabolic” interface, that is, communication between the brain and metabolic organs. An important aspect of this “neurometabolic” axis that needs to be investigated involves an elucidation of molecular factors that knit these two functional signaling domains, neuronal and metabolic, together. This paper attempts to identify and discuss a potential keystone signaling factor in this “neurometabolic” axis, that is, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The EGFR has been previously demonstrated to act as a signaling nexus for many ligand signaling modalities and cellular stressors, for example, radiation and oxidative radicals, linked to aging and degeneration. The EGFR is expressed in a wide variety of cells/tissues that pertain to the coordinated regulation of neurometabolic activity. EGFR signaling has been highlighted directly or indirectly in a spectrum of neurometabolic conditions, for example, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and cardiorespiratory function. Understanding the positioning of the EGFR within the neurometabolic domain will enhance our appreciation of the ability of this receptor system to underpin highly complex physiological paradigms such as aging and neurodegeneration.
A zebrafish model of lethal congenital contracture syndrome 1 reveals Gle1 function in spinal neural precursor survival and motor axon arborization

In humans, GLE1 is mutated in lethal congenital contracture syndrome 1 (LCCS1) leading to prenatal death of all affected fetuses. Although the molecular roles of Gle1 in nuclear mRNA export and translation have been documented, no animal models for this disease have been reported. To elucidate the function of Gle1 in vertebrate development, we used the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model system. gle1 mRNA is maternally deposited and widely expressed. Altering Gle1 using an insertional mutant or antisense morpholinos results in multiple defects, including immobility, small eyes, diminished pharyngeal arches, curved body axis, edema, underdeveloped intestine and cell death in the central nervous system. These phenotypes parallel those observed in LCCS1 human fetuses. Gle1 depletion also results in reduction of motoneurons and aberrant arborization of motor axons. Unexpectedly, the motoneuron deficiency results from apoptosis of neural precursors, not of differentiated motoneurons. Mosaic analyses further indicate that Gle1 activity is required extrinsically in the environment for normal motor axon arborization. Importantly, the zebrafish phenotypes caused by Gle1 deficiency are only rescued by expressing wild-type human GLE1 and not by the disease-linked FinMajor mutant form of GLE1. Together, our studies provide the first functional characterization of Gle1 in vertebrate development and reveal its essential role in actively dividing cells. We propose that defective GLE1 function in human LCCS1 results in both neurogenic and non-neurogenic defects linked to the apoptosis of proliferative organ precursors.
DESIGN OF SCALED DOWN MODELS FOR PREDICTING SHELL VIBRATION REPSONSE

The importance of employing scaled down models in designing advanced composite structures has been gaining momentum in recent years. This study investigates problems associated with the design of scaled down models for vibration response. Such study is important since it provides the necessary scaling laws, and the factors which affect the accuracy of the scale models. The employment of similitude theory to establish similarity among structural systems can save considerable expense and time, provided that the proper scaling laws are found and validated. In this study a number of parametric studies are performed. The limitations and acceptable intervals of all parameters and corresponding scale factors are investigated. Particular emphasis is placed on the case of free vibration of cross-ply cylindrical shells. Both complete and partial similarity are discussed. This analytical study indicates that distorted models with a different number of layers and geometries than those of the prototype can predict the behaviour of the prototype with good accuracy.
Synthesis and X-ray Crystal Structures of Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Complexes of the PCP-Type Chiral Tridentate Ligand (1R,1‘R)-1,3-Bis[1-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]benzene. Use in the Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of Methyl Isocyanoacetate and Aldehydes

Enantiomerically pure (1R,1‘R)-1,3-bis[1-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]benzene (4) has been obtained for the first time. The key step involves in situ tosylation of chiral (1S,1‘S)-dimethyl-1,3-benzenedimethanol (6) followed by nucleophilic attack with LiPPh2(BH3) to give [(1R,1‘R)-1,3-bis[1-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]benzene]−bisborane (7). The bisborane-protected phosphine can be easily handled and purified before deprotecting with HBF4·OMe2 to give the title compound. [(1R,1‘R)-2,6-bis[1-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phenyl]chloropalladium(II) (9) and the platinum(II) analogue (8) were synthesized through reaction of the chiral PCP-type ligand with PdCl2(PhCN)2 and [Pt2(μ-Cl)2(η3-CH2C(CH3)CH2)2], respectively, and their X-ray crystal structures were determined. Removal of chloride with AgOTf provided an active catalyst species for the asymmetric aldol reaction of methyl isocyanoacetate and aldehydes.
French Entrepreneurship During the Restoration: The Record of a Single Firm, the Anzin Mining Company *

In this paper, which examines the business operations of the Anzin Mining Company during the Restoration, the record of a single firm has been used to assess recent interpretations of the nature of French entrepreneurship in the nineteenth century. These interpretations portray French industry in its formative period developing around â€œsmall units, small volume, and small horizons.â€ â€œCautious management, obsolescent plants, and high profitsâ€ have been cited as main features which came to characterize the business operations of even the largest firms. It has been pointed out also that maximization of profits was not a fundamental aim of the French entrepreneur, nor did he indulge in the competitive business practices common to American industrial development. In France, security and continuity of the firm were as important to the entrepreneur as profits, and the acquired rights of the small or marginal firm were respected and preserved. The family character of most French enterprises has been emphasized in explanation of these phenomena. Close identification of family name and family honor widi business holdings prescribed a minimizing of risks in the family firm, as well as consideration for the welfare of other family enterprises. Finally, in order to allow these conditions to endure, French entrepreneurs favored a high protective tariff.
After Broadband: Results of a Study in Rural Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the U.S. but with the nation’s lowest population density, of only 1.2 persons per square mile. About 15 percent of the population are Alaska Natives, two-thirds of whom live in more than 200 remote villages. In 2012-13, a middle-mile project of optical fiber and terrestrial microwave extended broadband to 65 communities in Southwest Alaska. This paper reports results of the second phase of a research project on the impact of broadband in rural Alaska. The first phase was a “before broadband” study of a sample of rural households in Southwest Alaska, the results of which were presented at TPRC. In the “after broadband” study conducted in 2014 after broadband had been installed, interviews were conducted with a sample of businesses in the rural economic sectors including fisheries, aviation, tourism, banking, and retail services, and with nonprofit organizations including Native organizations and local and regional governments. Representatives of schools and libraries that had recently received broadband were also interviewed.The paper provides data on usage of rural broadband for activities including online banking, inventory management, back office support, marketing of rural products and services, and training of rural workers. It also identifies barriers to full utilization of broadband, and policy issues that need to be addressed to overcome these barriers.This research has relevance beyond Alaska because it is unusual to be able to collect data on a population before and after broadband was introduced, and because the findings are relevant for other isolated and Native American areas in the U.S. and for indigenous and remote populations in developing regions.
War crimes during the Persian Gulf War.

Evidence of violations of the 1949 Geneva Conventions by Iraq's military personnel during Desert Shield and Desert Storm are described and adverse effects on the Kuwaiti health care delivery system are discussed. New diplomatic and military initiatives that include education and accountability are needed to ensure better compliance with international conventions designed to protect victims of war. Language: en
Abstract T P28: Diagnostic Accuracy of Mobile Devices for Remote Acute Stroke Neuroimaging Interpretation

BACKGROUND: Advances in technology allow physicians’ access to radiological images remotely, virtually anytime, anywhere to streamline stroke management. OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of different mobile devices in interpretation of acute head CT for various ischemic stroke findings among various readers. METHODS: 20 selected acute stroke head CT were independently interpreted by 11 readers (7 Neurologists, 3 Neuroradiologists and 1 Radiologist) on 2 mobile devices, iPad® 2 (1024x768 pixels) and iPhone® 4 (960x640 pixels), and on the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) workstation (1280x1024 pixels). Both mobile devices used a FDA-cleared ResolutionMD software (ResMD® Calgary Scientific, Calgary, Canada). Primary outcome measures included: any acute ischemic sign (AIS), any non acute ischemic sign (NAIS), and any hyperdense middle cerebral artery (HMCA) sign. For each outcome intra-rater inter-device accuracy, using a rater specific gold standard, were evaluated and estimated % Sensitivity (Sen) and % Specificity (Spe) with 95% Agrest-Coull Confidence Intervals (CIs) were reported from frequency tables. RESULTS: Across all 11 readers, for AIS: Sen = 76 (68, 82) and Spe = 75 (64, 83) on iPhone; Sen = 76 (69, 83), Spe = 71 (60, 80) on iPad. For for NAIS: Sen = 80 (72, 86) and Spe = 77 (67, 84) on iPhone and Sen = 75 (67, 82) and Spe = 80 (71, 87) on iPad. For HMCA Sen = 53 (39, 67) Spe = 97 (93, 99) on iPhone and Sen = 62 (48, 75) and Spe = 95 (91, 98) on iPad. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study directly comparing the diagnostic accuracy of two different mobile devices for acute head CT ischemic stroke findings. Both iPhone and iPad have fair sensitivity for detection of AIS and NAIS, while poorer sensitivity for HMCA when read by readers from different specialties. Specificity was good to excellent for all 3 head CT ischemic stroke findings. iPhone and iPad have similarly good diagnostic accuracy for acute ischemic stroke head CT scan findings supporting their use for remote neuroimaging interpretation. Their validation in routine clinical practice needs to be confirmed in larger studies.
Analysis of Mold Filling in Lost Foam Casting of Aluminum: Method

This paper is the first in a two-part series on mold filling analysis for lost foam casting of aluminum. Part I describes the analysis method, assumptions, and governing equations, and Part II applies the analysis to a variety of pattern shapes that exhibit different aspects of mold filling behavior, many of which are unique to lost foam. Building on previously developed foam decomposition models, this paper (Part I) proposes companion representations for liquid metal flow and heat transfer that are suited to the special characteristics of the lost foam problem. The mold cavity is idealized as a shell-like region defined by a mid-surface together with a variable thickness. The viscosity of the liquid metal is neglected while the pressure in the metal is assumed to result from gravity alone. The transient mold temperatures, induced by contact with the molten metal, are assumed to penetrate only a short distance into the sand. Their spatial variation normal to the cavity surface is represented by a finite polynomial expansion with coefficients determined by a Galerkin method. A simple criterion is proposed for determining when foam decomposition switches between modes. The result is an analysis method that is not only compatible with the level of detail in the foam decomposition model, but also consistent with the typical part-to-part repeatability of mold filling in the lost foam process. Even for large, complex castings such as an automotive engine block, the analysis can be completed in less than an hour on a standard engineering workstation.
Reactive Force Field Studies of Large-Deformation of Hybrid Carbon Nanotube-Metal Nanowires

We use the ReaxFF reactive force field to model extreme tensile deformation of a (10,10) armchair carbon nanotube. The ReaxFF force field has been developed based on DFT quantum mechanical calculations without any empirical parameters (Duinet al., 2001). We report an analysis of the stress-strain relationship for the elastic and plastic regime, including a description of the microscopic fracture mechanisms. We find Young’s modulus to be around 1 TPa, close to experimental values. Our modeling yields a fracture tensile strain of approximately 30%, with a maximum tensile stress of approximately 300 GPa. Fracture of the CNT originates from formation of 5-7 Stone-Wales-like defects, leading to formation of micro-cracks. We also report preliminary results of straining hybrid CNTs embedding a nickel nanowire.
Integrating Identities: Ethnic and Academic Identities Among Diverse College Students

Background/ContextStudents of Color continue to be underrepresented at the undergraduate level. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of non-academic psychosocial factors for understandin...
Intra-industry momentum and product market competition around the world☆

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between product market competition and intra-industry momentum returns. Based on 12,982 firm observations from 19 developed markets for the period of 1990–2010, I find that buying winners and selling losers in competitive industries generates significantly higher momentum profits than that in concentrated industries. The higher the intensity of product market competition, the larger are the intra-industry momentum returns. The results are robust to sub-samples (periods) of the U.S., non-U.S. countries, the G7 countries, 1990–2000, and 2001–2010. I further employ the nearness of a stock's price to the 52-week high to determine past winners and losers and find stronger results. I also compare intra-industry momentum returns with Jegadeesh and Titman (1993) individual stock momentum and Moskowitz and Grinblatt (1999) inter-industry momentum strategies. My results suggest that intra-industry momentum strategy outperforms the latter two strategies in most cases. The overall results are consistent with the notion that severe product market competition induces managers to improve financial performance.
Preoperative Patient-Recorded Outcome Measures Predict Patient Discharge Location Following Unicondylar Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Advantages of unicondylar knee arthroplasty (UKA) over total knee arthroplasty include rapid recovery and shorter lengths of stay following surgery. Patients requiring extended postoperative care fail to recognize these benefits. Patient-reported outcome measures have proved useful in predicting outcomes following joint arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to identify and report preoperative patient-reported outcome measures and clinical variables that predict discharge to skilled nursing facilities following UKA. Methods A prospective cohort of 174 patients was used to collect 36-Item Short Form scores and objective clinical data. Univariate and multivariate analysis with backward elimination were conducted to find a predictive risk model. Results The predictive model reported (78.7% concordance, receiver operating characteristic curve c-statistic 0.719, P = .0016) demonstrates that risk factors for discharge to skilled nursing facilities are: older age (odds ratio 4.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.256-13.911, P = .019), bilateral UKA procedures (odds ratio 1.887; 95% CI 1.054-3.378, P = .0326) and lower patient-reported preoperative 36-Item Short Form physical function scores (odds ratio 0.968; CI 0.938-1, P = .0488). Conclusion The information presented here regarding possible patient disposition following UKA could aid informed decision-making regarding patients' short-term needs following surgery and help streamline preoperative planning.
Medication Compounding in the Provision of Drug Therapy

The geriatric patient population is growing. These patients naturally undergo physiological changes and may not be able to use some commercial drug products for their therapies. There is an increasing need for pharmacists to compound alternative dosage forms for these patients that meet their treatment needs. Pharmacists who work with geriatric patients need to be trained in providing compounding services, maintain a good compounding reference library, and develop good investigative skills to search for the information needed to prepare alternative, compounded dosage forms to meet the patient-specific needs of geriatric patients. This chapter is an overview of sources for compound training, reliable compounding resources that are available as references, and how to search these resources for alternative treatment options for geriatric patients.
The significance of African-centered social work for social work practice

In order to respond to concomitant factors that impact members of the extensive African Diasporic community, African-centered theory/Afrocentricity warrants elevation in the social work literature ...
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Inhibits BID Dependent-Apoptosis in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Exposed to Patulin

Patulin, a mycotoxin, which is a major contaminant in apple juices, has contributed immensely to the occurrence of liver diseases. Consumption of apple juice could over long period of time become harmful to the health of individuals with pre-existing liver disease. Probiotics are known for their role in patulin removal from aqueous media. In this study, we investigated the effects of a probiotic microorganism on patulin toxicity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells and established the protective effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG) as mediated by induction of BH3-interacting domain antagonist (BID) in response to patulin toxicity. After 24 hours of patulin exposure followed by 24 hours of treatment with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, cells proliferation decreased with increasing patulin exposure in samples without LGG pre-treatment, whereas with increasing concentration of patulin, cells were relatively rescued in LGG treated samples. It was further observed that pre-treatment of LGG with polysaccharide gums led to a decline in cell proliferation with increasing patulin exposure. Compare to the control, the expression of p53 upregulated moderator of apoptosis (PUMA) increased slightly by 7 % at 10µM patulin exposure in treatment and decreased by 30% in untreated cell. However, the expression of BID decreased by 26% in treatment compared to the control. We further established that the protective effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus was mediated by the inhibition of BID. Our findings suggest that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG could potentially function as a therapeutic agent to reverse the damaging effect of patulin on the liver of individuals with pre-existing liver disease.
Relationship of scattering phase shifts to special radiation force conditions for spheres in axisymmetric wave-fields

When investigating the radiation forces on spheres in complicated wave-fields, the interpretation of analytical results can be simplified by retaining the s-function notation and associated phase shifts imported into acoustics from quantum scattering theory. For situations in which dissipation is negligible, as taken to be the case in the present investigation, there is an additional simplification in that partial-wave phase shifts become real numbers that vanish when the partial-wave index becomes large and when the wave-number-sphere-radius product vanishes. By restricting attention to monopole and dipole phase shifts, transitions in the axial radiation force for axisymmetric wave-fields are found to be related to wave-field parameters for traveling and standing Bessel wave-fields by considering the ratio of the phase shifts. For traveling waves, the special force conditions concern negative forces while for standing waves, the special force conditions concern vanishing radiation forces. An intermediate step involves considering the functional dependence on phase shifts. An appendix gives an approximation for zero-force plane standing wave conditions. Connections with early investigations of acoustic levitation are mentioned and some complications associated with viscosity are briefly noted.
Characterization of Prompt Neutron Spectrum of the Missouri University of Science and Technology Reactor

Abstract An activation-foil method was used to obtain the energy spectrum of the prompt-neutron flux at the Missouri University of Science and Technology Reactor (MSTR). The foils were irradiated at the center of the reactor core (120 W configuration). The neutron spectrum was determined using the unfolding method implemented in the SAND-II code. Multiple foils of dysprosium, vanadium, indium, gold, aluminum, copper, cobalt, silver, nickel, and iron were placed at the source holder position and irradiated for 3 min each at 100 kW. The foil set cover energies from 0.025 eV to 7.2 MeV for a broad spectrum analysis. After irradiation, the sample was cooled using water until the dose rate reached a level that allowed safe handling. For each material, both bare and cadmium covers were used to obtain the thermal and epithermal neutron flux. The activity of each foil was determined by counting for 3 min with a high-purity germanium detector, and the results were used in SAND-II to obtain the neutron flux spectrum for the MSTR. Monte Carlo N -particle (MCNP) model was used to obtain the initial guess of the spectrum at the source holder position, which was used as input for SAND-II. The spectrum is unfolded using two different energy binning structures in the initial guess for SAND-II. As expected, the results provided highly thermal neutron spectra in source-holder environment, where water thermalizes most of the neutrons; 93% of the total flux at the source-holder position is no greater than 0.55 eV for the 120 W reactor-core configuration. The epithermal and fast neutrons were 6% and 1%, respectively at fast/epithermal energy boundary of 100 keV. A similar experiment and analysis in the past determined that 7%, 38% and 55% of the total flux at the source-holder position were respectively thermal, epithermal and fast for the 101 W configuration. Notwithstanding the difference between the two configurations, the current determination is an improvement to the characterization of the MSTR flux. This is because 7% thermal flux is unlikely in an environment primarily surrounded by water. The total neutron flux calculated by MCNP is 4.98 × 10 11 ± 1.72 × 10 10 n/cm 2 s. The flux determined through SAND-II is 4.79 × 10 11 ± 6.10 × 10 10 n/cm 2 s; a difference of 4%.
Adipose tissue: The dysfunctional adipocyte - a cancer cell's best friend.

The interactions of adipocytes with tumour cells have been extensively scrutinized. The adipocyte's mitogenic influence on tumour cells is attributed to several hormonal, growth factor and adipokine effects. A recent study has expanded our understanding of how adipocytes promote tumour progression by demonstrating that adipocytes actively catabolize the chemotherapeutic agent daunorubicin.
Improving Research and Experience Reports of Pre-College Computing Activities: A Gap Analysis

This paper provides a detailed examination of pre-college computing activities as reported in three Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) venues (2012-2016). Ninety-two articles describing informal learning activities were reviewed for 24 program elements (i.e., activity components, and student/instructor demographics). These 24 program elements were defined and shaped by a virtual focus group study and the articles themselves. Results indicate that the majority of authors adequately report age/grade levels of participants, number of participants, the type of activity, when the activity was offered, the tools/languages used in the activity, and whether the activity was required or elective. However, there is a deficiency in reporting many other important and foundational program elements, including contact hours of activity participants, clear learning objectives, the prior experience of participants (students and instructors), and many more. In conjunction with previous work, this paper provides recommendations to reduce these deficiencies. The Recommendations for Reporting Pre-College Computing Activities (Version 1.0) are presented to help researchers improve the quality of papers, set a standard of necessary data needed to replicate studies, and provide a basis for comparing activities and activity outcomes across multiple studies and experiences.
Prototyping a Web-of-Energy Architecture for Smart Integration of Sensor Networks in Smart Grids Domain

Sensor networks and the Internet of Things have driven the evolution of traditional electric power distribution networks towards a new paradigm referred to as Smart Grid. However, the different elements that compose the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) layer of a Smart Grid are usually conceived as isolated systems that typically result in rigid hardware architectures which are hard to interoperate, manage, and to adapt to new situations. If the Smart Grid paradigm has to be presented as a solution to the demand for distributed and intelligent energy management system, it is necessary to deploy innovative IT infrastructures to support these smart functions. One of the main issues of Smart Grids is the heterogeneity of communication protocols used by the smart sensor devices that integrate them. The use of the concept of the Web of Things is proposed in this work to tackle this problem. More specifically, the implementation of a Smart Grid’s Web of Things, coined as the Web of Energy is introduced. The purpose of this paper is to propose the usage of Web of Energy by means of the Actor Model paradigm to address the latent deployment and management limitations of Smart Grids. Smart Grid designers can use the Actor Model as a design model for an infrastructure that supports the intelligent functions demanded and is capable of grouping and converting the heterogeneity of traditional infrastructures into the homogeneity feature of the Web of Things. Conducted experimentations endorse the feasibility of this solution and encourage practitioners to point their efforts in this direction.
Community Leadership Development: Perspectives of Graduates of a Low-Income Leadership Development Program on Family Relations

Drawing mostly on qualitative data, this article explores how members of low-income communities experience and recognize changes in family relationships after participation in a community leadershi...
Biological and Biochemical Assays in Food Analysis

Several of the chapters presented in this volume on Modern Methods of Food Analysis use living systems to determine the presence or concentration of a desired constituent. Chapter 10 is Microbiological Assays by Dr. J.M. Jay and Chapter 11 is Sensory Analysis as an Analytical Laboratory Tool in Food Research by Professor R.M. Pangborn. Both of these chapters depend upon a living system for the analysis. In this chapter, the use of animals and single cell systems will be described. In addition, the use of certain types of molecules that have the ability to selectively bind and in some cases subsequently to catalyze a reaction will be discussed.
ADVANCED ORGANIZERS IN COMPUTER INSTRUCTION MANUALS: ARE THEY EFFECTIVE?

An important issue in writing computer instruction manuals is how to effectively present the semantic material. Research on instructional methods has suggested that advance organizers (e.g., metaphors) can be an effective tool in teaching certain types of material in some situations. In many cases, teaching computer skills satisfies these criteria. In our research, beginning programming students were trained on a programming concept. A session involved reading an instruction manual and entering lines of source code into an interactive system. One group was given a metaphorical advanced organizer prior to training. A control group read a passage on computer history prior to training. The groups did not differ on training task performance. However, the advanced organizer group did better overall on tests of near and far transfer, and did proportionately better on the far transfer test of their semantic knowledge. Factors relating to when to use an advanced organizer are discussed.
Generation of Context-Dependent Policies for Robot Rescue Decision-Making in Multi-Robot Teams

We propose a scalable, parallelizable policy synthesis framework intended for a robot presented with the decision of exploration or rescue, given some time-varying, stochastic mission conditions, referred to as context. We demonstrate the feasibility of such a solution using physics-based simulations to synthesize a policy in a computationally-efficient manner and exhibit superior performance with regards to the minimization of probability of mission failure when compared to two feasible baseline approaches. Furthermore, we present preliminary results that suggest our approach is robust to errors in the state estimation used to build mission context, which further supports the notion of real-world applicability.
Instrumented Fusion after Spinal Cord Tumor Resection

The indications for concomitant instrumented fusion after intradural spinal cord tumor resection is a topic that is not routinely covered when discussing the concepts of spinal biomechanics. While there is a fair amount of evidence supporting restoration or maintenance of the posterior tension band in the pediatric population after laminectomy, similar evidence is lacking in the adult population. Performing a laminectomy at 3+ levels or at a junctional level, >50% unilateral or bilateral facetectomy, C2 laminectomy, previous deformity (such as kyphosis in the cervical spine), persistence of deformity after 1 year of the original surgery, and operating on the “younger adult population” (33 +/− 4.2 years), appear to be the general indications for supplemental spinal fusion based on retrospective analyses of various case illustrations.
Interventional Oncology in Immuno-Oncology Part 2: Transcatheter Therapies

The use of transcatheter embolization in its various forms in interventional oncology has altered the treatment paradigms for multiple types of cancer. Though direct investigation of the immunologic effects of transcatheter treatments has been limited, research on radiation therapy can be extrapolated to better understand the potential effects of radioembolization and studies on the immune response to chemotherapy can potentially explain the immune response to hepatic artery infusion and chemoembolization. Utilization of newer systemic immunotherapies in combination with various transcatheter therapies also presents the potential for improving outcomes for multiple malignancies. This review will discuss the role of transcatheter therapies in stimulating an immune response as well as the potential these techniques have to enhance the effects of systemic immunotherapy.
A group-based, acceptance & commitment therapy intervention for chronic pain

As the effects of the opioid epidemic continue, the availability of interventions that address the emotional and psychological needs of people who suffer from chronic pain are increasingly necessar...