cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Welfare Reform at Ten: Integration, Exclusion, and Immigration Federalism

This chapter reviews the state of play of the chief constitutional question posed by he Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 - whether federally authorized, state-imposed discrimination against legal permanent residents violates the Equal Protection Clause - in light of legislative developments and judicial opinions since 1996. Second, it places the state debate about immigrant access to public benefits in the broader context of the struggles over immigrant integration and exclusion at the state and local level, including some examination of the constitutional issues raised by the scope of state and local immigration regulation of the undocumented.
Resource-use efficiency in production of groundnut in Rajasthan: an economic analysis

Groundnut is known as king of vegetable oilseed in India. It is regarded as poor man's almonds since it contains about 25 per cent protein, 45 per cent edible oil and 26 per cent carbohydrates besides other essential nutrients. The present investigation was carried out to study the resource-use efficiency aspects of groundnut crop. Among the all factors of production seed, fertilizers, irrigation and human labour observed as key factors in production of groundnut with 78 per cent R2 value showed that the factors involved in production have great role in increasing the production of groundnut. The key factors such as seed with coefficient 0.35, fertilizers 0.23, irrigation 0.36 and human labour 0.62 indicated increases on these variables have great scope in increasing the production. The coefficients of these inputs indicated that as rupee one spent (unit) on seed, fertilizer, irrigation and human labour in production of groundnut crop would add about Rs.141, Rs. 41, Rs. 632 and Rs.40 to the value of marginal productivity in groundnut crop. Thus, investment on these input considerable amount add a value of marginal productivity in groundnut crop in the study area.
FATIGUE DAMAGE AND SHAKEDOWN IN METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE LAMINATES

SUMMARY Fatigue failure of metal matrix composite laminates is often preceded by a substantial loss of stiffness associated with cyclic plastic straining and subsequent low-cycle fatigue crack growth in the matrix. Experimental observations suggest that two principal crack patterns are involved; these are related here to the deformation modes predicted by the bimodal plasticity theory of fibrous composites. The relation is utilized in modelling the damage process such that matrix crack growth is regarded as a shakedown mechanism leading to a saturation damage state. For a given program of variable cyclic loading, evaluation of the saturation state is formulated as a non-linear optimization problem, where the total damage in a laminate is minimized subject to non-linear constraints derived from the ply yield criterion, hardening rule, and physically motivated bounds on the damage parameters. Effective elastic stiffness reduction and local stress redistribution predicted by the optimization procedure are co...
Chest Leads in Normal Children.

ConclusionPositive T-waves at, or within the apex, which are abnormal findings in adults, are normal in children.
Scaling labor markets: An Approach to Segmentation Research

Theoretical analyses of labor market segmentation have traditionally emphasized discrete aspects of this structure (e.g., primary and secondary markets). In contrast, the literature on the segmentation of firms and industries has moved from discrete, unidimensional views of economic sectors (e.g., core or periphery) to continuous, multidimensional conceptualizations. Following this shift, we argue that labor market segments should also be seen as the result of multidimensional phenomena. To illustrate our contention, we use centroid scaling to analyze a 79 by 79 mobility matrix for intercollegiate athletic personnel. The results show the complexity of this labor market and suggest that, at the national level, market segments are continua in a multidimensional structure.
City Planning and Energy Use

City planning is a future-oriented activity that shapes land use and the built environment by means of designs, regulations, and persuasion. The scope of city planning includes a range of interdependent decisions at the nexus of the private and public spheres: transportation and utility infrastructure investments, allowable land uses, and the locations and characteristics of housing, retail stores, offices, schools, hospitals, factories, and even energy-producing facilities. Although planners rarely focus explicitly on energy issues, planning decisions influence energy use and production in profound, long-lasting ways. City planning in rapidly growing regions such as Asia and Africa is a more technocratic activity than it is in slow-growing North America and Europe where procedural elements predominate, but many aspects of practice are common across the world. This article focuses mostly on the US case.
Effect of Weekly Iron or Vitamin A Supplementation on Improving Iron Status of Preschoolers.

To investigate the effect of weekly iron or vitamin A(VA) supplementation on the iron and vitamin A status of preschoolers in suburb Chongqing.183 children aged 2～6 years who were iron deficient anemia(IDA) or vitamin A deficiency(VAD) were randomly divided into three groups, and were arranged to receive 60mg iron/week or 50,000IU VA capsule/week or 10mg vitamin B_1/week for 4 weeks.The iron,serium VA,SF and sTfR were measured after 4 weeks.4 weeks after supplementation, Hb increased significantly in all groups by 8.8g/L,10.8g/L,7.2g/L, respectively (P0.001), but there were no difference between the groups (P0.05); Serium retinol was increased significantly in vitamin A and VitaminB_1 supplement groups by 0.137μmol/L and 0.103μmol/L(P0.001), while the increase of serium retinol in iron supplementation group was not significant.(P0.05). Serum ferritin (SF) were decreased significantly in all groups , and serum transferrin receptors (sTfR) were increased significantly in all groups after supplementation. [Conclusions]Weekly supplementation of VA capsule has the same effect on the increase of Hb concentration with the weekly supplementation of iron. VAD influenced the transportation of iron to tissues and depressed erythropoiesis, resulting in the increase of serum ferritin levels and the loss of sTfR's reaction to tissue iron deficiency. Therefore in the region where IDA and VAD exist at the same time, VA supplementation is one of the good methods to improve the iron and VA nutritional status.
Florivory and pollinator visitation: a cautionary tale

Florivory, or damage to flowers by herbivores, can make flowers less attractive to pollinators, potentially resulting in reduced plant fitness. However, not many studies have combined observations with experiments to assess the causal link between florivory and pollination. We conducted field observations at eight sites in northern California, combined with field experiments that involved artificial floral damage, to study the effect of florivory on pollination in the hummingbird-pollinated sticky monkeyflower, Mimulus aurantiacus. We used two indicators of pollinator visitation, stigma closure and the presence of microorganisms in floral nectar. The field observations revealed that stigma closure was less frequent in damaged flowers than in intact flowers. In the experiments, however, floral damage did not decrease stigma closure or microbial detection in nectar. Instead, neighbouring flowers were similar for both indicators. These results suggest that the observed negative association between florivory and pollination is not causal and that the location of flowers is more important to pollinator visitation than florivory in these populations of M. aurantiacus.
Design and Implementation of Grid-Connected Converter for Lithium Battery Energy Storage System

To achieve bi-directional power exchange be-tween lithium battery energy storage system and power grid,the grid-connected converter is the key component to imple-ment grid-connection of lithium battery energy storage system.A design scheme of grid-connected converter for lithium bat-tery energy storage system is proposed.In the designed grid-connected converter,the Semikron integrated intelligent power,SKIIP) module is used as main power switch that is connected to power grid via LCL filter;an open hierarchical control structure is applied to the control system of the con-verter.Based on the design scheme,a prototype of grid-connected converter is developed and the testing results of the prototype show that different charging modes of lithium battery energy storage system can be implemented and the parameters of the prototype can meet the requirements of grid-connection,thus the feasibility of the proposed design scheme is verified.
Construction of a database of medically important mollusk on parasite germplasm resources in Fujian province

Objective To study the germplasm classification of medical mollusk in Fujian...Method Specimens were systematically collected,classified,described,preserved and database was established...Result Totally 15 species (752 specimens),meeting the systematical requirements of medical biology studies,were collected...Conclusion The resource sharing platform of complete database and permanent preservation of specimens on medical mollusc species distribution is established in Fujian.
Percent Body Fat Is More Predictive of Function After Total Joint Arthroplasty Than Body Mass Index.

Background: Obesity has an important impact on the future of total joint arthroplasty; however, the definition and influence of obesity on surgical risks and outcomes remain controversial. Our hypothesis was that percent body fat was better than body mass index (BMI) at identifying clinical risks and patient-reported functional outcomes following arthroplasty. Methods: Clinical and functional outcomes were collected prospectively in 215 patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (115 patients) or total hip arthroplasty (100 patients) at a mean time of twenty-four months (range, twelve to forty months). Clinical data included patient demographic characteristics, preoperative evaluation including measurements of BMI and percent body fat, intraoperative records, hospital course or events, and postoperative outpatient follow-up. Patient-reported outcomes were obtained through a series of questionnaires: a surgical satisfaction survey; the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scale; the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) for total knee arthroplasty; and the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) for total hip arthroplasty. Multivariable regression models were used to identify significant body mass predictors of outcomes (p < 0.05). Results: Higher percent body fat predicted occurrence of any medical or surgical complication (odds ratio per one standard deviation increase, 1.58 [95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 2.40]; p = 0.033). Percent body fat was also a predictor of the UCLA activity score (risk ratio, 0.92 [95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.98]; p = 0.013) and pain scores (risk ratio, 1.18 [95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.36]; p = 0.017), and it trended toward significance for the surgical satisfaction score (odds ratio, 1.96 [95% confidence interval, 0.93 to 4.15]; p = 0.078), whereas BMI was not predictive of these functional outcomes. Additionally, with regard to surgical procedure-specific outcome scores, percent body fat was predictive of outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (KOOS pain, p = 0.015, and KOOS activities of daily living, p = 0.002), but not for those after total hip arthroplasty. Conclusions: Percent body fat should be considered when predicting clinical and functional outcomes at two years following total joint arthroplasty. Percent body fat may help surgeons to improve risk stratifications, to project patient-reported functional outcomes, and to better educate obese patients with regard to postoperative expectations prior to undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The Solitary Non-Functioning Thyroid Nodule and the Efficacy of Diagnostic Ultrasound Examination: A Review of One Hundred (100) Cases

In the usual course of events, a nonfunctioning thyroid nodule is first given a trial of medical therapy to assess the response, often deduced by repeat physical examinations as well as occasional repeat isotope scintogranhy. The nodule which fails to respond to medical management within a predetermined time, invariably is referred to the surgeon for exploration. Even the most fluctuant of nodules, to palpation, are not referred for percutaneous puncture with aspiration.
Safety outcomes of female sterilization by salpingectomy and tubal occlusion.

Abstract Objective Compare immediate and short-term complications and surgical times among women having laparoscopic salpingectomy or tubal occlusion for female sterilization. Study design We used billing data to identify women having laparoscopic sterilization at our training institution between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2015. We performed a retrospective chart review to extract demographic information, surgical times and complications within 30 days, including unscheduled clinic or emergency room visits. We categorized complications as immediate (prior to discharge) and short-term (within 30 days after the procedure). Surgeries including additional procedures other than IUD removal were considered mixed operations. Mixed operations and unilateral sterilization procedures were only included in safety evaluations. Results The 149 procedures included 81 salpingectomies (including 18 mixed operations and 2 unilateral salpingectomies) and 68 tubal occlusions (including 8 mixed operations). All procedures involved Obstetrics and Gynecology residents. Salpingectomy and occlusion procedures had similar immediate (2.5% vs. 2.9%, p=1.0) and short-term (4.9% vs. 14.7%, p=.051) complication rates. Surgical time averaged 6 min longer for salpingectomies than occlusion procedures (44 vs. 38 min, respectively, p=.018). Average surgical times were shorter with more experienced (3rd/4th year) residents than less experienced (1st/2nd year) residents for both salpingectomy (32±18 min vs. 46±13 min, respectively, p=.124) and occlusion procedures (32±13 min vs. 41±12 min, respectively, p=.026). Conclusion Salpingectomy for female sterilization takes slightly longer to complete than tubal occlusion procedures without evidence that it increases complications. Implications statement Laparoscopic salpingectomy is a safe alternative to tubal occlusion with only a small increase in surgical time. Because salpingectomy offers higher efficacy and more ovarian cancer protection than occlusion procedures, salpingectomy should be an option offered to women seeking laparoscopic sterilization.
Characteristics of Carbon Nanotubes for Nanoelectronic Device Applications

Carbon has the incredible ability to combine with itself in varied proportions to form molecules of distinctly disparate physical structures. The evolution of modern organic chemistry began with the growing interest amongst scientists to experiment with carbon clusters formed during synthesis of carbon compounds. These studies on carbon-related compounds began with the support of rigid understanding of a common form of carbon–graphite. Carbon molecule C60 which was discovered in trace amounts in the carbon clusters was a soccer-shaped fullerene molecule which had 60 carbon atoms arranged in a way that each atom was placed at a vertex of a truncated icosahedron [1]. The discovery of Kratschmer et al. to produce C60 in bulk served as a platform for extensive study on carbon-related molecules by scientists, chemists, and material science experts all over the world.
Norms, Attitudes, and Preferences: Responses to a Survey of Teens about Sexually Transmitted Infection and Pregnancy Prevention.

Abstract Study Objective To assess the values and beliefs regarding sexual behavior, sexual decision-making, and reproductive health learning preferences among teens in Hawaii. Design Survey regarding teens' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about sexual behaviors and preferences for learning about reproductive health. Setting University of Hawaii Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology clinics in Honolulu, Hawaii. Participants Female patients and their male or female companions ages 14-19 years. Interventions A 30-question anonymous survey. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome was to describe the norms, attitudes, beliefs, and preferences of teens in this setting with regard to sexual health and sexual health education. For this, we provide a description of response frequencies and a comparison of mean scores across demographic characteristics. Results We analyzed a total of 100 surveys. Teens endorsed more values and norms protective against sexually transmitted infection than those protective against pregnancy. Younger teens expressed more protective values as a result of the influence of perceived parental values, whereas older teens expressed less protective values on the basis of the influence of peers. Respondents expressed comfort talking with their clinician about sexual health, and also expressed a slight preference that their clinicians initiate these conversations. Conclusion The influence of parental values and peer norms on sexual behavior must be taken into consideration when designing interventions to address adolescent sexual health. Additionally, teens' greater concern about the consequences of sexually transmitted infection could be leveraged by clinicians to initiate broader conversations about sexual health, and a variety of modalities, including online resources and in-person conversations, should be used to meet the diversity of preferences expressed by teens across demographic groups.
Melphalan and Dexamethasone Is an Effective Therapy for Primary Systemic Amyloidosis.

Abstract Background: Primary systemic amyloidosis (AL) is an incurable plasma cell disorder with a poor survival, especially in patients (pts) with multiple organ involvement. For pts with limited organ involvement, high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell (SCT) support is an effective approach. However, the toxicity of SCT limits its widespread use. Melphalan and dexamethasone has been previously shown to be effective in pts ineligible for SCT. Methods: We reviewed our experience with melphalan and dexamethasone for treatment of AL. Eighty one pts were treated between 2001 and 2003; median age at start of therapy was 63 years (range, 38–80) and 56 pts (69%) were males. Among these, 46 pts (57%) had 2 or more major organs (cardiac, renal, hepatic) involved. Intravenous melphalan (IV) was used in 45 pts (56%), 32 (40%) received oral melphalan (PO) and the rest received cycles of both. The most common doses were 16 mg/m2 for IV administration (every 4–6 weeks) and 0.22 mg/kg for PO administration (every 4 weeks). Dexamethasone was usually given at a dose of 40 mg for the first 4 days of each cycle. Results: Patients received a median of 5 cycles (range; 1–17). At the time of analysis, 53 (65%) pts were alive with a median follow up of 10.8 months (range, 1.4–47.1).The estimated median overall survival (OS) was 25.6 months for the entire group, with the number or type of organs involved not impacting survival. Hematological response (HR) was defined by a 50% reduction in either serum M-spike, urine M-spike, or the absolute difference between the involved and uninvolved immunoglobulin free light chains. A HR was observed in 43 pts (67%) of the 64 pts measurable for HR by conventional criteria. Achievement of HR was associated with a superior OS with a median post-therapy OS that was not reached, while non-responders had a median OS of 11.1 months (p Conclusion: Treatment with melphalan and dexamethasone is effective and a significant survival advantage is achieved in patients with a hematological response. FLC and BNP response can help identify patients that are likely to benefit from this therapy. Download : Download high-res image (69KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure Download : Download high-res image (72KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure
Taste assessment in normal weight and overweight individuals with co-occurring Binge Eating Disorder

Abstract Background Taste perception influences food choice, and may contribute to both weight status and disordered eating. Relatively little work has attempted to disentangle contributions of weight status and Binge Eating Disorder (BED) to human taste perception. We predicted weight status and BED would interact, showing difference in taste perception from non-eating disorder matched groups. Methods The four study groups included: normal weight BED (NW BED), normal weight healthy controls (NW HC), overweight BED (OW BED), and overweight healthy controls (OW HC) ( N = 60). Groups were matched for age (±5 years), ethnicity, and weight status. Participants were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, the Eating Disorder Examination Version 16.0, and the NIH Toolbox Gustatory Assessment with additional taste solutions and taste stimulus delivered with edible taste strips. Results Interactions were found between weight status and diagnosis on measures of regional taste intensity for quinine hydrochloride (CI 95% [44.61, 56.31], p = 0.018), sucrose (CI 95% [46.79, 56.45], p = 0.003), and 6- n -propylthiouracil (CI 95% [25.557, 39.269], p = 0.015). OW BED participants perceived these taste stimuli significantly less intensely than OW HC and NW BED. Whole mouth taste intensity tests at suprathreshold amounts did not reveal group differences. All four groups reported similar hedonic response to taste stimuli. Edible taste strips had medium to large significant correlations with NIH Gustatory Assessment taste stimuli. Conclusions There were significant differences in the taste perception of OW BED relative to the other three groups. These findings may provide partial explanation as to why previous studies correlating taste and weight status have mixed results. Replication in larger samples assessed longitudinally is needed to extend this work.
Screening for aggressive prostate cancer: A single-center experience using the 4Kscore and multiparametric MRI for the detection of Gleason 7 or higher prostate cancer.

84Background: While non-invasive biomarkers and multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) are routinely used for prostate cancer detection, few studies have assessed their performance together. We evaluated the performance of mpMRI and the 4Kscore for the detection of significant prostate cancer. Methods: We identified a consecutive series of men who underwent an mpMRI and 4Kscore for evaluation of prostate cancer at the University of Miami. We selected those who underwent a biopsy of the prostate. The primary outcome was the presence of Gleason 7 or higher cancer on biopsy. The 4Kscore was modeled as a continuous variable, but also categorized into low ( 20) risk scores. The mpMRI was categorized as being either negative or positive for a suspicion of cancer. We used logistic regression and Decision Curve Analysis to report the discrimination and clinical utility of using mpMRI and the 4Kscore for prostate cancer detection. Finally, we modeled the probability of harboring...
Acyl Carrier Protein Cyanylation Delivers a Ketoacyl Synthase–Carrier Protein Cross-Link

Acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) are central hubs in polyketide and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways, but the fast motions of the ACP’s phosphopantetheine (Ppant) arm make its conformational dynamics difficult to capture using traditional spectroscopic approaches. Here we report that converting the terminal thiol of Escherichia coli ACP’s Ppant arm into a thiocyanate activates this site to form a selective cross-link with the active site cysteine of its partner ketoacyl synthase (FabF). The reaction releases a cyanide anion, which can be detected by infrared spectroscopy. This represents a practical and generalizable method for obtaining and visualizing ACP–protein complexes relevant to biocatalysis and will be valuable in future structural and engineering studies.
Opening Up Communication: Assessing Open Access Practices in the Communication Studies Discipline

INTRODUCTION Open access (OA) citation effect studies have looked at a number of disciplines but not yet the field of communication studies. This study researched how communication studies fare with the open access citation effect, as well as whether researchers follow their journal deposit policies. METHOD The study tracked 920 articles published in 2011 and 2012 from 10 journals and then searched for citations and an OA version using the program Publish or Perish. Deposit policies of each of the journals were gathered from SHERPA/RoMEO and used to evaluate OA versions. RESULTS From the sample, 42 percent had OA versions available. Of those OA articles, 363 appeared to violate publisher deposit policies by depositing the version of record, but the study failed to identify post-print versions for 87 percent of the total sample for the journals that allowed it. All articles with an OA version had a median of 17 citations, compared to only nine citations for non-OA articles. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION The citation averages, which are statistically significant, show a positive correlation between OA and the number of citations. The study also shows communication studies researchers are taking part in open access but perhaps without the full understanding of their publisher’s policies.
Self-improving indoor localization by profiling outdoor movement on smartphones

Smartphones are equipped with many low-cost sensors. As a result, opportunities open for smartphones to serve as a platform for many challenging ubiquitous applications, including indoor localization. By employing accelerometers on smartphones, dead reckoning is an intuitive and common approach to generate a user's indoor motion trace. Nevertheless, dead reckoning often deviates from the ground truth due to noise in the sensing data. We propose iLoom, an indoor localization approach that benefits by transferring learning from tracking outdoor motions to the indoor environment. Via sensing data on a smartphone, iLoom constructs two datasets: relatively accurate outdoor motions from GPS and less accurate indoor motions from accelerometers. Then, iLoom leverages an Acceleration Range Box to improve a user's acceleration value used for computing dead reckoning. After using a transfer learning algorithm to the two datasets, iLoom boosts the Acceleration Range Box to achieve better indoor localization results. In addition, iLoom exploits indoor GPS exception cases and pedometer to further improve dead reckoning. Through case studies on 15 volunteers for the indoor and outdoor scenarios, we show iLoom is a non-infrastructure and low-training complexity indoor positioning approach that achieved a localization accuracy of 0.28∼0.51m in multiple scenarios.
Antenatal HIV Testing in Sub-Saharan Africa During the Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals: A Systematic Review Using the PEN-3 Cultural Model:

This study systematically explored the barriers and facilitators to routine antenatal HIV testing from the perspective of pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa during the implementation period of the Millennium Development Goals. Articles published between 2000 and 2015 were selected after reviewing the title, abstract, and references. Twenty-seven studies published in 11 African countries were eligible for the current study and reviewed. The most common barriers identified include communication with male partners, patient convenience and accessibility, health system and health-care provider issues, fear of disclosure, HIV-related stigma, the burden of other responsibilities at home, and the perception of antenatal care as a "woman's job." Routine testing among pregnant women is crucial for the eradication of infant and child HIV infections. Further understanding the interplay of social and cultural factors, particularly the role of women in intimate relationships and the influence of men on antenatal care seeking behaviors, is necessary to continue the work of the Millennium Development Goals.
Muscle Activity during Dryland Swimming while Wearing a Triathlon Wetsuit

Background: Triathletes typically wear a wetsuit during the swim portion of an event, but it is not clear if muscle activity is influenced by wearing a wetsuit. Purpose: To investigate if shoulder muscle activity was influenced by wearing a full-sleeve wetsuit vs. no wetsuit during dryland swimming. Methods: Participants (n=10 males; 179.1±13.2 cm; 91.2±7.25 kg; 45.6±10.5 years) completed two dry land swimming conditions on a swim ergometer: No Wetsuit (NW) and with Wetsuit (W). Electromyography (EMG) of four upper extremity muscles was recorded (Noraxon telemetry EMG, 500 Hz) during each condition: Trapezius (TRAP), Triceps (TRI), Anterior Deltoid (AD) and Posterior Deltoid (PD). Each condition lasted 90 seconds with data collected during the last 60 seconds. Resistance setting was self-selected and remained constant for both conditions. Stroke rate was controlled at 60 strokes per minute by having participants match a metronome. Average (AVG) and Root Mean Square (RMS) EMG were calculated over 45 seconds and each were compared between conditions using a paired t-test (α=0.05) for each muscle. Results: PD and AD AVG and RMS EMG were each greater (on average 40.0% and 66.8% greater, respectively) during W vs. NW (p 0.05). Conclusion: The greater PD and AD muscle activity while wearing a wetsuit might affect swimming performance and /or stroke technique on long distance event.
Multifunctional nanocluster composed of gold nanorod and upconversion nanoparticle for simultaneous imaging and treatment (Conference Presentation)

Upconverting nanophosphors (UCNPs) absorb two or more photons at 980nm and emit a higher energy photon in the visible range. UCNPs provide distinct advantages as biological imaging agents in that they have no autofluorescence, don’t photobleach, are capable of deep tissue imaging, exhibit no blinking, and are physically robust. Through surface modifications with an amphiphilic polymer, we can not only functionalize UCNPs for targeted imaging, but also tether them to plasmonic nanoparticles such as gold nanorods (AuNRs) for enhanced upconversion and multifunctionality. We developed a process to construct UCNP-AuNR nanoclusters using polyethylene glycol. The UCNP-AuNR nanocluster is further modified with an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (aEGFR), allowing specific binding to bladder cancer cells that highly express epidermal growth factor receptor. Once the nanoclusters bind to the cell membrane we can (1) perform targeted and high contrast imaging of the bladder cancer cells and (2) utilize localized surface plasmon of AuNRs to selectively kill the cells in situ upon detection by UCNP fluorescence. Successful conjugation and integrity of the UCNP-AuNR nanoclusters were confirmed via electron microscopy. Then, through a combination of brighftield, confocal upconversion fluorescence, and infrared darkfield microscopy we demonstrate selective binding and high-contrast upconversion imaging of the bladder cancer cells. Finally, through a series of in vitro studies, we demonstrate two different methods of cell killing. First, with a continuous wave laser, we demonstrate effective thermal ablation of cells. Second, with a femtosecond pulse laser, we demonstrate optoporation of the cell membrane that allows increased uptake of drugs.
The Microbiological Challenge in Space

It is the purpose of this paper to crystallize, within the allotted time, the possible potential position of the microbiologist on that team of scientists and engineers who are currently applying their several disciplines in meeting the challenges represented by today’s astronautical frontier. As nautical became prefixed with astro-, so biology, zoology, botony, and microbiology can be expected to grow into the new experimental and applied areas which are connoted in the prefix astro-. Astromicrobiology, like any of the other new areas so created, will seem a little uncomfortable at first. This concept in microbiology may be subject to criticism, but evaluated it must be. The evaluation best comes from the microbiologist himself. It may be recalled that at the symposium of May 14–17, 1958, on “Possible Uses of Earth Satellites for Life Sciences Experiments,” the biologist considering satellite uses was cautioned. My own notes on this read, “Biologists not yet ready to go into orbit. Keep your feet on the ground.” From this memo we can abstract and build on the idea “not yet ready.” What the state of readiness is, for the microbiologist in particular, represents an early challenge. What he does with his own state of readiness once he has determined it represents a portion of the opportunities associated with the expanding effort and must be his own decision. Opportunities here, however, do father a continuing host of additional challenges.
EAE: History, Clinical Signs, and Disease Course

EAE is a useful animal model of autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. In this chapter we discuss the history of EAE, including the original description of the model and the subsequent major developments, and then describe the usual clinical signs and disease course.
Theory of Electron Collisions in Partially Ionized Gases

The emphasis in this Institute will be on plasmas created from molecular gases. This is appropriate, since most stable gases are made up of molecules. The additional degrees of freedom provided by the nuclear motion greatly increase the variety of collision processes and the loss of spherical symmetry makes collision theory much more difficult.1-4 Only recently have the available computational facilities been adequate to permit reliable quantitative calculations to be made. In the lectures and subsequent seminars many of these calculations will be discussed. We will also review some of the approximation techniques and theoretical models that are useful in the interpretation of experimental results.
Poisson Models for Subprogram Defect Analyses

For Ada systems, the hierarchy of subprograms compose a layered virtual machine within an object-based framework. Poisson analyses are proposed for the identification of the determinants of defects in these subprograms. Software complexity (measured during design or implementation) as well as characteristics of the software development environment influence the number of defects identified during the testing phase. The Poisson models are calibrated on the basis of measures extracted from the code of Ada projects and data from software change reports. One of the models is used to estimate defects at the subprogram and project levels for the calibration data, and these estimates are then compared to the actual defects. To demonstrate cross-language applicability, defect predictions are made at the subsystem level for a project coded in the C programming language and compared to the actual subsystem defects. Notable results from the analysis are that extensively modified reused subprograms (>25% changed) have substantially more defects than new code of otherwise comparable characteristics and that software development environment volatility (as measured by non-defect changes per thousand source lines of code) is a strong determinant of subprogram defects.
Computation of Losses, Resistance and Inductance

The finite element solution gives the potential at the nodes. This information by itself is usually of little interest in machinery analysis. We use this information to compute useful quantities such as flux density (see Chapter 1). Using the finite element solution to find useful quantities is called postprocessing. In this chapter we will see how to use the field solution to find eddy current loss, resistance and inductance. Slot leakage inductance will be found as an example.
A phase IIB pre-surgical trial of oral tamoxifen (TAM) versus transdermal 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) in women with DCIS of the breast.

TPS1595Background: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is diagnosed in 60,000 women annually in the US. TAM is proven to reduce risk of local recurrence and new primary breast cancer in women with estr...
Effects of Watermelon Powder and l-arginine Supplementation on Azoxymethane-Induced Colon Carcinogenesis in Rats.

Diets high in fruits and vegetables may help prevent colorectal cancer (CRC). Watermelon consumption may reduce CRC risk due to its concentration of l-citrulline and its role in endothelial...
International Management and the Cultural Context

To manage a business organization effectively, it is essential to understand people’s values and assumptions, which are shaped by their cultures. Cultural norms and values are not universal, although there are some similarities. Among these similarities are a desire to be helpful, respect for authority and power, and the tendency toward comfort. But even those concepts and values that at first glance appear to be universal show vast differences on closer scrutiny.
The Use of Acoustic Emission to Detect Fines for Wood Based Composites, Part Two: Use on Flakes

Oriented strand board (OSB) is commonly used for structural applications. Manufacturers of OSB want to minimize the presence of small particles or “fines” in the panels because fines increase the consumption of resins, leading to an increase in the weight of the board. Fines are produced when either a refiner or chipper blade becomes dull, or when the wood raw material becomes excessively dry. By accurately monitoring the presence of fines, manufacturers can help control their percentage within a product. Acoustic emission (AE) is an elastic or plastic wave generated when a surface is deformed or has an external force exerted on it. This research shows the feasibility of using AE to monitor the presence and percentage of fines in flakes. The study follows up on previous research conducted years ago by Lemaster (1994). The study also shows the effect of the flake geometry and flake moisture on the AE signal.
Determination of Lipophilic Marine Biotoxins in Shellfish by Online Turbulent Flow Chromatography Coupled to Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A novel method based on online turbulent flow chromatography (TFC) combined with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) has been established for simultaneous quantitative determination of 11 lipophilic marine toxins (OA, DTX1, DTX2, YTX, hYTX, AZA1, AZA2, AZA3, PTX2, SPX1, and GYM) in shellfish. Sample preparation, including extraction with 75% methanol aqueous solution, centrifugation, and filtration, was followed by online cleanup using TFC. The total run time was within 15.5 min, including online purification, chromatographic separation, and re-equilibration of the TFC system. Various experimental parameters including extraction, purification, separation, and detection were optimized separately in this study. The developed method was validated, and good performance characteristics were obtained. The linear regression coefficients (R2) of matrix-match calibration standard curves established for quantification were higher than 0.9945. The limits of detection and quantification of this method ranged between 0.5 and 4.0, and 1.5 and 10.0 µg/kg, respectively. The average recoveries of spiked target compounds with different concentrations ranged from 80.1 to 113.8%, the intra- and inter-day precision were lower than 12.7% and 14.9%, respectively. The matrix effects were in the range of 76.1–115.9%. The method accuracy was also confirmed with certified reference materials. The results indicate that the developed method has great potential for the routine laboratory analysis or emergency detection of lipophilic marine toxins in shellfish.
Analytic non-adiabatic derivative coupling terms for spin-orbit MRCI wavefunctions. I. Formalism

Analytic gradients of electronic eigenvalues require one calculation per nuclear geometry, compared to at least 3n + 1 calculations for finite difference methods, where n is the number of nuclei. Analytic nonadiabatic derivative coupling terms (DCTs), which are calculated in a similar fashion, are used to remove nondiagonal contributions to the kinetic energy operator, leading to more accurate nuclear dynamics calculations than those that employ the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, i.e., that assume off-diagonal contributions are zero. The current methods and underpinnings for calculating both of these quantities, gradients and DCTs, for the State-Averaged MultiReference Configuration Interaction with Singles and Doubles (MRCI-SD) wavefunctions in COLUMBUS are reviewed. Before this work, these methods were not available for wavefunctions of a relativistic MRCI-SD Hamiltonian. Calculation of these terms is critical in successfully modeling the dynamics of systems that depend on transitions between potential energy surfaces split by the spin-orbit operator, such as diode-pumped alkali lasers. A formalism for calculating the transition density matrices and analytic derivative coupling terms for such systems is presented.
Decision analysis for secondline maintenance treatment of platinum sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer: a review

Most women with ovarian cancer experience disease relapse, presenting numerous treatment challenges for clinicians. Maintenance therapy in the relapsed setting aims to extend the time taken for a cancer to progress, thus delaying the need for additional treatments. Four therapies are currently approved in the USA for secondline maintenance treatment of platinum sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer: one antivascular endothelial growth factor agent (bevacizumab) and three poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (olaparib, niraparib, and rucaparib). In addition to efficacy, maintenance therapies must have a good tolerability profile and no significant detrimental impact on quality of life, as patients who receive maintenance are generally free from cancer related symptoms. Data from key bevacizumab trials (OCEANS, NCT00434642; GOG-0213, NCT00565851; MITO16B, NCT01802749) and PARP inhibitor trials (Study 19, NCT00753545; SOLO2, NCT01874353; NOVA, NCT01847274; ARIEL3, NCT01968213) indicate that bevacizumab and the PARP inhibitors are effective in patients with platinum sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer but differ in their tolerability profiles. In addition, the efficacy of PARP inhibitors is dependent on the presence of homologous recombination repair deficiency, with patients with the deficiency experiencing greater responses from treatment compared with those who are homologous recombination repair proficient. Allowing for caveats of cross trial comparisons, we advise that clinicians account for the following points when choosing whether and when to administer a secondline maintenance treatment for a specific patient: presence of a homologous recombination repair deficient tumor; the patient's baseline characteristics, such as platelet count and blood pressure; mode of administration of therapy; and consideration of future treatment options for thirdline and later therapy.
Temperature distribution inside a double-cladding optical fiber laser or amplifier

The temperature distribution inside a double-cladding optical fiber laser or amplifier is examined in detail. Traditionally, the quantum defect in the core is taken to be the main source of heating in an active optical fiber. However, contributions from the parasitic absorption of the signal and the pump may also play an important role, especially for low quantum defect or radiation-balanced lasers and amplifiers. The contributions to the heating in both the core and the inner-cladding are considered and analyzed in general terms in this paper. In particular, it is shown that if the maximum tolerable surface temperature of the fiber relative to the ambient is taken to be 300°C to avoid damaging the fiber’s outer polymer cladding, the core temperature rises only in the range of 0°C–5°C relative to the inner-cladding for an air-cooled fiber. However, for a water-cooled fiber, the core temperature can be higher than the inner-cladding by as much as 50°C, potentially changing a single-mode core to multimode due to the thermo-optic effect.
Assessment of Patient Experiences in Otolaryngology Virtual Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study evaluates the patient experience during virtual otolaryngology clinic visits implemented during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patient satisfaction surveys were queried from January 1, 2020, to May 1, 2020, for both telehealth and in-person visits. A descriptive analysis of the question responses was performed. There were 195 virtual and 4013 in-person visits with surveys completed in this time period. Ratings related to provider-patient communication were poor for virtual visits. Telehealth has become the new norm for most health care providers in the United States. This study demonstrates some of the initial shortcomings of telehealth in an otolaryngology practice and identifies challenges with interpersonal communication that may need to be addressed as telehealth becomes increasingly prevalent.
Student Outcomes in Online Courses: When Does Class Size Matter?

This quantitative study investigated the relationship between class size and student outcomes (final grades and DFW rates) in online higher education courses offered by a large, 4 year public institution in the United States. The following class size cut-off points were used: 8-15 vs. 16 or more students, 8-30 vs. 31 or more students, 8-40 vs. 41 or more students, and 8-50 vs. 51 or more students. Course level data included average final grades and DFW rates for 391 online undergraduate courses taught during the years 2017 and 2018. Significant results suggest that students earned higher grades in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) and upper-division courses when online courses included 30 or fewer students. This suggests that it may be beneficial to limit certain kinds of courses to 30 students or fewer, as 30 students may be a tipping point where the benefits of smaller online classes wear off.
A Method of Low Voltage Topology Identification

In order to improve the success rate and efficiency of automatic identification of low-voltage distribution topology, this paper proposes a record-based topology identification method. The topology recognition is divided into consumer-transformer relation recognition and hierarchical recognition. High-speed power line carrier (HPLC) automatic networking was used to obtain and judge the equipment information to generate the consumer-transformer relationship in the low voltage area. The topology terminal unit and low-voltage equipment with topology recognition function generate records through specific topology signal exchanging information. Then, the intelligent distribution transformer terminal unit summarizes these records and combines the relationship between power consumers and transformer to generate the hierarchical relationship. This topology identification method has the advantages of simple control logic, fast identification speed and high identification accuracy, which can provide the important basic data for real-time fault location, power line loss analysis and area capacity estimation and other advanced applications of low-voltage distribution.