cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Favorable Neuromuscular and Cardiovascular Responses to 7 Days of Exercise With an Eccentric Overload in Elderly Women

The metabolic, cardiovascular, and neural cost of eccentric muscle contraction is less than that of concentric contraction, but the strength and neural adaptations in eccentric contractions are significantly greater following resistive exercise. We thus compared the short-term effects of exercise with an eccentric overload (n = 10) with those of exercise with a standard load distribution (n = 10) in ostensibly healthy sedentary elderly women (mean age 71.4). Subjects were tested for concentric and eccentric three-repetition maximum, maximal isokinetic eccentric and concentric and isometric force, and associated electromyographic activity of selected thigh muscles before and after 7 consecutive days of exercise training of the left knee extensors. The exercise program was designed so that the total weight lifted was similar between eccentric overload and standard groups, but the eccentric overload group exercised with an approximately 50% greater eccentric load. Control subjects did not exercise (n = 10). There was a 46% increase in the total weight lifted over 7 days. When all strength measures were combined, the eccentric overload group's strength gains were 1.8-fold greater than those of the standard group, and the cardiovascular stress in terms of heart rate, mean arterial pressure, rate pressure product, and perceived exertion was significantly lower. The increases in muscle strength were achieved by increased muscle activation, but the strength gains were independent of the changes in antagonistic muscle coactivity. Because the strength gains occurred after a short period of exercise at a relatively low intensity and cardiovascular demand, the prescription of exercise with an eccentric overload appears suitable for elders, individuals deconditioned as a result of an injury, and the chronically diseased.
Oscillations over basins of variable depth

Linear theory of directed fluid sheet is applied to basins of variable depth, with particular reference to a class of basin profiles whose equilibrium depth (along its width) varies in one direction only. By a method of asymptotic integration, a general solution is obtained which is relatively simple and accounts for the effect of vertical inertia. The solution is sinusoidal in time, periodic along the breadth direction and involves Bessel functions of the first order in the width direction. For two special basin profiles, detailed comparisons are made between the predictions of the asymptotic solution (i.e. the frequencies in the lowest modes of oscillations) with corresponding results obtained by other procedures.
Role of Erythrocytes and Serum in the Nutrition of Rickettsia quintana

Rickettsia quintana grew readily on blood-agar base when the following conditions and supplements were supplied: (i) aerobic conditions; (ii) increased CO(2) tension; (iii) crystalline hemoglobin or hemin, but not protoporphyrin; and (iv) a colloidal "detoxifying agent," such as starch or charcoal. Serum was not required nor did it enhance growth when all of the aforementioned components were supplied.
Lagrangian circulation on the Southeast US Continental Shelf: Implications for larval dispersal and retention

Lagrangian characterization of continental shelf circulation provides estimates of the retention and transport of particulate and dissolved substances. In this paper, we quantify the retentive characteristics of the Southeast US Continental Shelf by comparing observed and numerical (modeled) drifters released throughout 2000 and 2001. Agreement between the observed and computed drifter trajectories shows that retention on this shelf can be up to 2 months at any point during the year. These results have important implications for ecological and fisheries applications and indicate that the populations of marine organisms in this region might be relatively closed (i.e., with weak exchange) during some periods of the year.
Interpreting line drawings of curved objects

In this thesis, we study the problem of interpreting line drawings of scenes composed or opaque regular solid objects bounded by piecewise smooth surfaces with no markings or texture on them. It is assumed that the line drawing has been formed by orthographic projection of such a scene under general viewpoint, that the line drawing is error free, and that there are no lines due to shadows or specularities. Our definition implicitly excludes laminae, wires and the apices of cones. A major component of the interpretation of line drawings is line labelling. By line labelling we mean (a) classification of each image curve as corresponding to either a depth or orientation discontinuity in the scene, and (b) further subclassification of each kind of discontinuity. For a depth discontinuity we determine whether it is a limb--a locus of points on the surface where the line of sight is tangent to the surface--or an occluding edge--a tangent plane discontinuity of the surface. For an orientation discontinuity we determine whether it corresponds to a convex or concave edge. This thesis presents the first mathematically rigorous scheme for labelling line drawings of the class of scenes described. By analysing the projection of the neighborhoods of different kinds of points on a piecewise smooth surface, we are able to catalog all local labelling possibilities for the different types of junctions in a line drawing. An algorithm is developed which utilizes this catalog to determine all legal labellings of the line drawing. A local minimum complexity rule--at each vertex select those labellings which correspond to the minimum number of faces meeting at the vertex--is used in order to prune highly counter-intuitive interpretations. The labelling scheme was implemented and tested on a number of line drawings. The labellings obtained are few and by and large in accordance with human interpretations.
Intention and uncertainty at later stages of childbearing: the united states 1965 and 1970

While births may be dichotomous, fertility intentions are not inherently so. Intentions are predictions about the future and, as such, are couched in considerable uncertainty. Ignoring this uncertainty hides much of what could be learned from data on fertility intentions. This paper presents a model which allows analysis of the full range of intentions. After selecting a sample of women in the later stage of childbearing (e.g., those who intend fewer than two additional children) from the 1965and 1970 National Fertility Studies, it is shown that: (1) substantial portions of women at this stage of the reproductive life cycle were indeed uncertain of their parity-specific intention; (2) this certainty, like more firm intentions, varies by age and parity as the model predicts; and (3) there were significant shifts in the level of certainty between 1965 and 1970. Specifically, while intentions for third, fourth, and fifth births declined, more women “didn’t know” if they intended to have another child or not. Among those not intending another child, more seemed uncertain of this intention in 1970 than did comparable women in 1965. In contrast, those intending another child seemed more certain. These changes in intention and uncertainty indicate that the observed decline in intended parity was tentative. Post-1970 evidence suggests that this tentative decline has become an unequivocal one.
A Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Algorithm to Detect and Prevent Transmission of Adenoviral Conjunctivitis in Hospital Employees.

Purpose To devise and implement a practice algorithm that would enable rapid detection and appropriate furlough of hospital employees with adenoviral conjunctivitis in order to prevent healthcare-associated epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. Design Evaluation of an ongoing quality assurance/improvement initiative. Methods Employees of Johns Hopkins Hospital with signs and symptoms of adenoviral conjunctivitis underwent evaluation by nurse practitioners in Occupational Health and rapid diagnostic testing by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequencing was used to determine serotype when adenovirus was detected. Signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and disposition of employees with eye complaints as well as PCR and serotype results were recorded. Results Over a 36-month period approximately 18% of initial employee visits were due to unique, eye-related complaints. Viral conjunctivitis was suspected in 542 of 858 employees with eye complaints (62%); adenovirus was detected by PCR in 44 of 542 suspected viral conjunctivitis cases (8%) or 44 of 858 employees with any eye concern (5%). Fourteen of the 44 employees had adenoviral serotypes and clinical presentation consistent with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (type 37 [n = 6], 8 [n = 4], 4 [n = 3], 19 [n = 1]). Other serotypes found in individuals with less severe conjunctivitis were 3 (n = 5), 4 (n = 5), 56 (n = 4), 1 (n = 2), 42 (n = 1), and 7 (n = 1). No healthcare-associated adenoviral conjunctivitis outbreaks occurred after algorithm implementation, and fewer employees required furlough than had clinical diagnosis alone been used. Conclusions The algorithm is an effective infection prevention tool that minimizes productivity loss compared to clinical diagnosis and allows for determination of prevalence and serotype characterization of adenoviral conjunctivitis in hospital employees.
Earthworm Coelomocyte Immunity

The coelomic cavity of Lumbricus terrestris may be considered a hypothetical precursor of the vertebrate immune system. It is in contact with all organs, allowing communication with the coelomic fluid, and with coelomic cells, obviating a specialized lymphatic vascular system. The coelom is equipped with septa positioned perpendicularly to the flow of coelomic fluid, forming an efficient filtering organ, which together with the coelomic epithelial lining may be analogous to the vertebrate reticuloendothelial system. Earthworm coelomo- cytes respond to pathogenic organisms and effect tissue graft rejection, both reactions are characteristics of vertebrate lymphoid cells.
A/B Testing

A/B testing is when you take two competing designs for a page and measure which one has better results according to a single metric of success. It allows you to iteratively optimize a website but often will not offer insight into why a design performed better. A/B testing tools judge which variation has better results by comparing the conversion rate for each variation and calculating whether there is a statistically significant difference. As they collect more data from users viewing the pages, they get closer to the point where they can declare that there is a statistically significant difference in how many users took the relevant action on the page. These tools typically end a test when they reach 95% significance, but not every test will reach this point in a timely manner. You can stop a test with a lower level of certainty depending on your tolerance for risk.
NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOVIET UNION

After a relatively slow start in nuclear energy development compared with the Western industrial countries, the Soviet Union is now giving a high degree of priority to the construction of nuclear power stations, particularly in the European part of the USSR, which is short of fossil fuels. The current five-year plan (1976–80) calls for the addition of about 14,000 MW of nuclear power capacity, from 5,500 MW in 1975 to 19,400 MW in 1980, when nuclear power would account for nearly 7% of total generating capacity. More rapid rates of growth are envisaged for the 1980's. Nuclear stations under construction or projected in the European part of the USSR account for almost 40% of the total capacity additions envisaged for that part of the country. There is a trend toward the construction of large-capacity reactors (1,000 MW and 1,500 MW), clustered in stations with generating capacities of 4,000 to 6,000 MW.
Strategies that predict weight loss among overweight/obese young adults.

OBJECTIVES Understanding the characteristics of young adults who have difficulty achieving a healthy weight may help develop more effective interventions. METHODS Signal detection was conducted to identify subgroups of overweight/obese young adults more or less likely to lose weight (5% weight loss) over 6 months. Data were collected from a diverse sample involved in a randomized controlled behavioral weight loss intervention (N = 404). RESULTS Overall, 15% (N = 57) of participants achieved <5% weight loss. Change in self-monitoring weight, baseline score of gym attendance/participating in exercise classes, and change in eating less fat were the best predictors of weight loss. CONCLUSION These strategies may be particularly helpful to promote short-term weight loss in overweight/obese young adults.
Practice Guidelines for Management of Migraine

The literature (166 articles identified and reviewed) on the pharmacological treatment of the child with migraine headache was classified according to acute headache and preventive medications, and the results of drug trials were evaluated by Committees of the Child Neurology Society and American Academy of Neurology.
Adeno associated viral-mediated intraosseous labeling of bone marrow derived cells for CNS tracking

Inflammation, including microglial activation in the CNS, is an important hallmark in many neurodegenerative diseases. Microglial stimuli not only impact the brain microenvironment by production and release of cytokines and chemokines, but also influence the activity of bone marrow derived cells and blood born macrophage populations. In many diseases including brain disorders and spinal cord injury, researchers have tried to harbor the neuroprotective and repair properties of these subpopulations. Hematopoietic bone marrow derived cells (BMDCs) are of great interest, especially during gene therapy because certain hematopoietic cell subpopulations traffic to the sites of injury and inflammation. The aim of this study was to develop a method of labeling endogenous bone marrow derived cells through intraosseous impregnation of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) or lentivirus. We utilized rAAV serotype 9 (rAAV-9) or lentivirus for gene delivery of green florescence protein (GFP) to the mouse bone marrow cells. Flow cytometry showed that both viruses were able to efficiently transduce mouse bone marrow cells in vivo. However, the rAAV9-GFP viral construct transduced BMDCs more efficiently than the lentivirus (11.2% vs. 6.8%), as indicated by cellular GFP expression. We also demonstrate that GFP labeled cells correspond to bone marrow cells of myeloid origin using CD11b as a marker. Additionally, we characterized the ability of bone marrow derived, GFP labeled cells to extravasate into the brain parenchyma upon acute and subchronic neuroinflammatory stimuli in the mouse CNS. Viral mediated over expression of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) or intracranial injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) recruited GFP labeled BMDCs from the periphery into the brain parenchyma compared to vehicle treated mice. Altogether our findings demonstrate a useful method of labeling endogenous BMDCs via viral transduction and the ability to track subpopulations throughout the body following insult or injury. Alternatively, this method might find utility in delivering therapeutic genes for neuroinflammatory conditions.
The surface interactions of a near-neutral carbon nanoparticle tracer with calcite

A new class of nearly charge-neutral carbon-cored nanoparticle tracers are remarkably non-interactive with solid surfaces and could provide a valuable baseline for diverse hydrological and environmental studies of subsurface flow and particle transport. We investigate the causes of inertness by studying the interactions with calcite of a nanoparticle of this class synthesized from malic acid and ethanolamine (M-dots) dispersed in brine (NaCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2) solutions. None of the M-dots are retained in calcite sand-packed columns when dispersed in DI water. Dispersed in the NaCl and mixed brine solutions, 5.6 % of and 7.3 % of the M-dots are initially retained, but 65 and 13 % of these retained particles are subsequently released when the column is flushed with DI water. When dispersed in the CaCl2 and MgCl2 solutions, 65 and 54 % of the M-dots are initially retained, and 28 and 26 % subsequently released in the DI water flush. The M-dots have a small negative zeta potential in all solutions, but the calcite zeta potential changes from strongly negative to strongly positive across the solution series, and the particle retention tracks this change. Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) modeling of the force between a calcite probe and an M-dot coated surface shows that hydration forces repel the particles in the DI water, NaCl, and mixed solutions, but not in the CaCl2 and MgCl2 solutions. These results show that near-zero charge and strongly hydrophilic decoration are the causes of the remarkable inertness of carbon-cored nanoparticles, and also suggest that nanoparticles could be useful in solute-surface interaction studies.
Numerical Simulation on Free and Submerged Swirling Air Jets

Swirling jets has extensive application on engineering.FLUENT software is utilized to simulate free and submerged swirling gas jets' flow field in numerical simulation.From the computational results,some plots of velocity and pressure properties in different sections of swirling gas jets' flow field are drawn out.The reducing regulation of the center velocity is acquired.Further realizations of flow field's structure and shape are clearer.The computational results and experimental results agrees well through comparing.These conclusions can be applied on engineering field.
Current polarization impact on cross-polarization definitions for practical antenna elements

With the growing interest in polarization diversity in communications and radar systems, the use of Ludwig's second and third definitions have become controversial among scientists and antenna engineers. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to clarify some of the ambiguity and confusion caused by these definitions. A detailed comparison of Ludwig's 2nd and 3rd definitions of cross-polarization, as applied to linearly polarized antennas, was performed. The results show that, in the diagonal plane, Ludwig's 2nd definition leads to a lower cross-polarization level than the 3rd definition for x- or y-polarized current sources. For a Huygens source, by Ludwig's 3rd definition, the radiation pattern has a lower cross-polarization level than that obtained by Ludwig's 2nd definition.
Characterization of Dysregulated miRNA in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Ischemic Stroke Patients

Epigenetic modification may play an important role in pathophysiology of ischemic stroke (IS) risk. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which constitute one of the modes of epigenetic regulation, have been shown to be associated with a number of clinical disorders including IS. The purpose of this study was to investigate the miRNA profile in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of IS patients and compare it with stroke-free controls. Blood samples were obtained from 19 healthy age-gender-race matched individuals who served as controls to 20 IS patients. miRNA microarray analysis with RNA from PBMCs was performed and significantly dysregulated miRNAs common among IS patients were identified. We identified 117 miRNAs with linear fold values of at least ±1.5, of which, 29 were significantly altered (p value <0.05). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) indicated a role for the dysregulated miRNAs in conditions relevant to IS (e.g., organismal injury and abnormalities, hematological disease and immunological disease). Pro-inflammatory genes like STAT3, interleukin (IL) 12A, and IL12B were some of the highly predicted targets for the dysregulated miRNAs. Notably, we further identified three common and significantly upregulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-4656, -432, -503) and one downregulated miRNA (hsa-miR-874) among all IS patients. Molecular interactive network analysis revealed that the commonly dysregulated miRNAs share several targets with roles relevant to IS. Altogether, we report dysregulation of miRNAs in IS PBMCs and provide evidence for their involvement in the immune system alteration during IS pathophysiology.
Face Detection and Object Recognition for a Retinal Prosthesis

We describe the recent development of assistive computer vision algorithms for use with the Argus II retinal prosthesis system. While users of the prosthetic system can learn and adapt to the limited stimulation resolution, there exists great potential for computer vision algorithms to augment the experience and significantly increase the utility of the system for the user. To this end, our recent work has focused on helping with two different challenges encountered by the visually impaired: face detection and object recognition. In this paper, we describe algorithm implementations in both of these areas that make use of the retinal prosthesis for visual feedback to the user, and discuss the unique challenges faced in this domain.
Posttraumatic Growth After Cancer.

A n n e t t e L. S t a n t o n , J u l i e n n e E . B o w e r , a n d C a r is s a A . Low U n iv e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a , L os A n g e l e sReceiving a cancer diagnosis can be a frightening and unexpected event that challenges an individual’s core assumptions about the world and one’s sense of meaning, mastery, and self-esteem (Janoff-Bulman, 1992; Taylor, 1983). Although medical advances have bolstered survival rates for many cancers, cancer remains a life-threatening illness char­ acterized by fear and uncertainty about the future and accompanied by intrusive medical procedures and aversive treatment, pain and fatigue, changes in social roles and relation­ ships, and other disruptions. As a result, behavioral scientists historically have focused on the potential for negative psychosocial sequelae. Indeed, some cancer patients experience clinical levels of distress and dysfunction, including anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD) (Cordova et al., 1995; Derogatis et al., 1983; Moyer & Salovey, 1996). However, research suggests that severe affective disturbance is relatively rare and generally not enduring, as most patients resume normal mood and functioning within the year after medical treatment completion (e.g., Andersen, Anderson, & deProsse, 1989). Furthermore, some cancer patients report profound positive changes in themselves, their relationships, and other life domains after cancer.
Outcomes Following Three-Factor Inactive Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Versus Recombinant Activated Factor VII Administration During Cardiac Surgery

Objective To compare outcomes following inactive prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) or recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) administration during cardiac surgery. Design Retrospective propensity-matched analysis. Setting Academic tertiary-care center. Participants Patients undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass who received either rFVIIa or the inactive 3-factor PCC. Interventions Outcomes following intraoperative administration of rFVIIa (263) or factor IX complex (72) as rescue therapy to treat bleeding. Measurements and Main Results In the 24 hours after surgery, propensity-matched patients receiving PCC versus rFVIIa had significantly less chest tube outputs (median difference –464 mL, 95% confidence interval [CI] –819 mL to –110 mL), fresh frozen plasma transfusion rates (17% v 38%, p = 0.028), and platelet transfusion rates (26% v 49%, p = 0.027). There were no significant differences between propensity-matched groups in postoperative stroke, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, or intracardiac thrombus. Postoperative dialysis was significantly less likely in patients administered PCC versus rFVIIa following propensity matching (odds ratio = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.7). No significant difference in 30-day mortality in patients receiving PCC versus rFVIIa was present following propensity matching. Conclusions Use of rFVIIa versus inactive PCCs was significantly associated with renal failure requiring dialysis and increased postoperative bleeding and transfusions.
Multiple Realities and Other Interruptions of Pragmatic Everyday Life: A Dialectic

After his 1945 essay “On Multiple Realities” and by the time of his 1955 essay “Symbolism, Reality, and Society,” Schutz had changed his paradigm for considering multiple realities. Whereas he introduced the idea of communication only at the end of the earlier essay, communication and sign/symbol practices form the overarching framework for multiple realities. Schutz rehabilitates the individual who uses marks and indications, but also introduces into everyday life signs, though which one seeks to understand another and in which one discovers limits to pragmatic mastery since one can never understand another as others understand themselves. Signs foreshadow the symbols by which one reaches multiple realities beyond everyday life and by being located in everyday life serve to bridge the gap between everyday life and symbols. The pattern of multiple realities resisting the pragmatic mastery sought for in everyday life find parallels in the many ways in which Schutz’s concepts and writings exhibit the pragmatic agent reaching out from its 0-point to bring under its mastery what resists it and encountering, in a dialectical fashion, frequent interruptions of that mastery, for instance, in one’s use of tools, locomotion, typification deployment, or ethnocentrism.
Relevance for Learning and Motivation in Education

Questions of educational relevance have surfaced frequently among educators, philosophers, and social scientists for centuries. Recently motivation scientists have reinvigorated such questions and ...
Malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the oropharynx with strong TFE3 expression mimicking alveolar soft part sarcoma: a case report and review of the literature

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) in the head and neck region are rare, with 26 cases described in literature. These distinct mesenchymal tumors normally express both myoid and melanocytic markers. We here report an interesting and challenging case of malignant PEComa that showed transcription factor E3 (TFE3) protein expression and rearrangement, paucity of muscle and melanocytic marker expression, and morphologically mimicked alveolar soft part sarcoma. Awareness of this morphologic pitfall and recognition of TFE3 gene-rearranged PEComa, as a distinct subtype of PEComa, is essential to avoid misdiagnosis.
Differential investments and opportunities: How do neighborhood conditions moderate the relationship between perceived housing discrimination and social capital?

Abstract Though the adverse consequences of perceived housing discrimination have been documented, little is known about whether such experience undermines one's social capital in a neighborhood and even less is about whether and how this relationship is altered by neighborhood features. We proposed a framework that simultaneously considers within-individual and between-neighborhood processes. We applied multilevel structural equation models to data from Philadelphia (n = 9987) and found that (a) perceived housing discrimination was negatively associated with one's social capital even after other confounders were considered, (b) this negative association could be partly explained by the proliferated daily stress and anxiety mechanisms, (c) differential exposures to neighborhood social disadvantage accounted for the variation in social capital across neighborhoods, and (d) the adverse association between perceived housing discrimination and social capital could be attenuated by neighborhood stability. The findings suggested that appropriate interventions should buffer the negative association of perceived housing discrimination with social capital.
Pathophysiology of HCC

Histopathological features that lead to the initiation and progression of HCC are poorly understood. Tissue microenvironment plays a major role in this process. Interaction of a variety of cell types in the tumor stroma with extracellular matrix components lead to the acquisition of an abnormal phenotype that promotes tumor formation. It has also been demonstrated that hypoxia enhances progression, and metastasis of HCC. Activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, oxidative stress, and inflammation also play major roles in tumor progression. Furthermore, cells with ‘stem-like’ features, termed cancer stem cells, are also present in the liver during HCC that promote tumor growth.
Variable Parameter Structures in Technology Assessment and Land Use

All too often in systems science we become so fascinated by the mathematical niceties of abstract models that we loose sight of some of the real and, indeed, profoundly urgent practical systems problems that surround our everyday activities- systems problems that as yet have not or perhaps cannot be abstracted and refined into the well-behaved linear and bilinear forms we all enjoy so much. In many cases a mathematical model in any form is unattainable, yet we must deal with these problems too.
Teams: Design and Implementation

The decision to use work teams should be placed in the broader context of the organization’s competitive and manufacturing strategies. The overall premise is that, for work teams to be truly effective within the organization, they must be geared to provide capabilities or outcomes that are valued by the firm as a whole. In other words, teams should add value to the firm’s products and services in ways that are meaningful to the marketplace. This implies an outward-looking view of team design: teams should be empowered to take actions that, either directly or indirectly, support the organization’s sources of competitive advantage.
Sinus Hemodynamics Variation with Tilted Transcatheter Aortic Valve Deployments

Leaflet thrombosis is a complication associated with transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) replacement (TAVR) correlated with sinus flow stasis. Sinus hemodynamics are important because they dictate shear stress and washout necessary to avoid stasis on TAV leaflets. Sinus flow is controlled by TAV axial deployment position but little is known regarding TAV axis misalignment effect. This study aims to elucidate TAV angular misalignment with respect to aortic root axis effect on sinus flow stasis potentially leading to leaflet thrombosis. Sinus hemodynamics were assessed in vitro using particle-image velocimetry in three different angular misalignments with respect to aorta axis: untilted, tilted away from the sinus and tilted towards sinus. A 26 mm Edwards SAPIEN3 was implanted in a 3D printed model of an anatomically realistic aortic root. TAV hemodynamics, sinus vortex tracking, leaflet shear stress probability density functions, and sinus blood time to washout were calculated. While pressure gradients differed insignificantly, blood velocity and vorticity decreased significantly in both tilted cases sinuses. Shear stress probability near the leaflet decreases with tilt indicating stasis. TAV tilted away from the sinus is the most unfavorable scenario with poor washout. TAV axial misalignment adds to factors list that could influence leaflet thrombosis risk through modifying sinus hemodynamics and washout.
Weathering of aromatic engineering thermoplastics: Comparison of outdoor and xenon arc exposures

Abstract A series of 31 aromatic engineering thermoplastic formulations was exposed at outdoor sites in Florida, Arizona, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for 24 months as well as under modified ISO 4892-2 xenon arc accelerated weathering conditions. The series included black, white, and transparent formulations. Measured properties were color, gloss, haze, transmission, tensile strength and elongation, Charpy impact, and erosion. There was surprisingly little difference in weathering among the outdoor sites except for the effects of blowing sand and slower erosion at the KSA site. Xenon arc accelerated weathering run at high irradiance and using state of the art filters provided very good predictions of color shifts, transmission, Charpy impact mode (break/no break), and tensile elongation at break. Prediction of gloss loss was only fair, especially for black samples, and haze was poorly predicted on the transparent samples. This suggests the need for better simulating the effects of rain and wind in accelerated weathering cabinets. Tensile strength and Charpy impact strength generally exhibited little change and were not useful properties to differentiate material performance.
A simplified definition of diastolic function in sepsis, compared against standard definitions

Guidelines for grading diastolic dysfunction poorly categorize septic patients. We compared how well the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 2009 and 2016 definitions and a simplified definition categorized septic patients. We studied septic patients who received a transthoracic echocardiogram within 24 h of admission to an ICU. We categorized patients according to ASE 2009 and 2016 definitions and a definition using E/e’, a surrogate for left ventricular filling pressure. We assessed 28-day all-cause mortality and the presence of pre-existing diabetes, hypertension, or myocardial infarction. We tested for associations among diastolic grade, comorbidities, and outcomes using logistic regression. We studied 398 patients. Mortality was 23%. The simplified definition categorized more patients than ASE 2016 (78% vs. 71%, p = 0.035); both definitions categorized more patients than ASE 2009 (34%, p 9 and 7% had a severely abnormal E/e′ > 13. The ASE 2016 definition categorizes more septic patients than the ASE 2009 definition, but it does not categorize the diastolic function of a third of septic patients. ASE 2016 designates many patients with elevated E/e′ as normal. A simplified definition categorized patients with less ambiguity and is associated with relevant comorbidities.
Chemical composition of DNA-encoded libraries, past present and future

DNA-encoded libraries represent an exciting and powerful modality for high-throughput screening. In this article, we highlight recent important advances in this field and also suggest some important directions that would make the technology even more powerful.
Inhibition of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 14 Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Synergizes with Chemotherapeutic Agents in Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial malignant solid tumor in children, and drug resistance is a major reason for poor outcomes. Elevated proteasome activity plays an important role in neuroblastoma tumor development and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14), one of three deubiquitinases associated with the regulatory subunit of the proteasome, is emerging as a potential therapeutic target in multiple tumor types. However, the role of USP14 in neuroblastoma is yet to be elucidated. We found that USP14 inhibition in neuroblastoma via knockdown or a specific inhibitor such as b-AP15 suppressed cell proliferation by inducing cell apoptosis. Furthermore, b-AP15 significantly inhibited neuroblastoma tumor growth in NGP and SH-SY5Y xenograft mouse models. For combination treatment, b-AP15 plus conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin or VP-16 resulted in synergistic antitumor effects on neuroblastoma. Our study demonstrates that USP14 is required for cell viability and is a novel therapeutic target in neuroblastoma. Moreover, USP14 inhibition may add value in combination therapy due to its powerful synergistic effects in treating neuroblastoma.
Extended Space and Time in E-education

With the continuous development of e-learning environments, educational researchers strive to explain the key features of such contexts and find better ways to support diverse learners and instructors. The chapter begins with the review of an e-education model, which focuses on extended teaching and learning spaces in a virtual environment. Then, it discusses the recent studies on online learner competences, teachers’ understanding of instructional design strategies and pedagogical approaches to MOOCs and further analyses a spatiotemporal perspective in pursuit of refining the e-education model. The interconnectedness of space and time is emphasized in its critical role for successful online learning experiences. Implications for instructional design and suggestions for future research are presented in the conclusion.
THE ${\mathcal R}$- AND ${\mathcal L}$-ORDERS OF THE THOMPSON–HIGMAN MONOID Mk, 1 AND THEIR COMPLEXITY

We study the monoid generalization Mk, 1 of the Thompson–Higman groups, and we characterize the - and the -order of Mk, 1. Although Mk, 1 has only one nonzero -class and k-1 nonzero -classes, the - and the -order are complicated; in particular, is dense (even within an -class), and is dense (even within an -class). We study the computational complexity of the - and the -order. When inputs are given by words over a finite generating set of Mk, 1, the - and the -order decision problems are in P. However, over a "circuit-like" generating set the -order decision problem of Mk, 1 is -complete, whereas the -order decision problem is coNP-complete. Similarly, for acyclic circuits the surjectiveness problem is -complete, whereas the injectiveness problem is coNP-complete.
Student Code Trajectories in an Introductory Programming MOOC

In classrooms, instructors teaching students how to code have the ability to monitor progress and provide feedback through regular interaction. There is generally no analogous tracing of learning progression in programming MOOCs, hindering the ability of MOOC platforms to provide automated feedback at scale. We explore features for every certified student's history of code submissions to specific problems in a programming MOOC and measure similarity to sample solutions. We seek to understand whether students who succeed in the course reach solutions similar to these instructor-intended sample solutions, in terms of the concepts and mechanisms they contain. Furthermore, do students learn to conform to instructor expectations as the course progresses, and does prior experience have correlations with student behavior? We also explore what feature representations are sufficient for code submission history, since they are directly applicable to the development of automated tutors for progress tracking.
Identification of an experimental nonlinear energy sink device using the unscented Kalman filter

Abstract Nonlinear energy sink (NES) devices have recently been introduced as a means of passive structural control and have been shown to effectively dissipate energy from structural systems during extreme vibrations. Due to their essential geometric nonlinearities, time domain based methods are often applied for identifying their system parameters, which is a challenging task. The unscented Kalman filter (UKF) has been shown in numerical studies to be robust to highly nonlinear systems with noisy data and therefore presents a promising option for identification. In this study, the UKF is used to determine the model parameters of an experimental NES device whose behavior is governed by a geometric nonlinearity in its stiffness and a friction-based nonlinearity in its damping. The standard implementation of the UKF is compared with two implementation methods developed by the authors, which vary in their use of experimental responses to train the NES device model. The impact of choosing different prior distributions on the parameters is also analyzed through Latin hypercube sampling to enhance the quality of the identification for practical implementation, where the prior distribution on the parameters is often ill-defined. The identified models generated using one of the proposed UKF implementation methods is shown to provide a robust model of the NES, demonstrating that the UKF can be used for parameter identification with this class of devices.
On the low-temperature plasma discharge in methane/air diffusion flames

Abstract Interest in methane has grown recently because of its encouraging characteristics. However, methane comes with serious concerns regarding stability and flammability limitations. Some methods have been proposed to improve the ignition characteristics of methane in diffusion flame burners such as electrical fields, dielectric barrier discharge, and low-temperature plasma. In this study, an innovative single-element coaxial shear injector coupled with a high-voltage nanosecond pulse generator has been used to study the effects of low-temperature plasma (LTP) discharge on methane/air inverse diffusion flame at different plasma and flow conditions. The stability analysis focuses on the detachment conditions of the flame and how RNP discharge can delay this phenomenon, explaining the presence of an optimal operating point with the least applied energy. Comparing the lean blow-off limits for the cases with and without plasma discharge, it is shown that low-temperature plasma discharge enhances the flammability of the diffusion flame. The effect of LTP discharge on laminar flames is also discussed using chemiluminescence photography. It shows that the shape of the diffusion flame becomes more similar to premixed flame with more air entrainment and stability. Resultantly, it is shown that RNP discharge can improve the flame stability and ignition characteristics.
Security-aware Resource Brokering for Bioinformatics Workflows across Federated Multi-cloud Infrastructures

Data-intensive science applications often use federated multi-cloud infrastructures to support their compute-intensive processing needs. However, lack of knowledge about: a) individual domain's security policies, b) how that translates to application security assurance, and c) nature of performance and security trade-offs - can cause performance-security conflicts for applications and inefficient resource usage. In this paper, we propose a security-aware resource brokering middleware framework to allocate application resources by satisfying their performance and security requirements. The proposed middleware implements MCPS (Multi-Cloud Performance and Security) Broker that uses a common data model to represent applications' performance and security requirements. It performs a security-aware global scheduling to choose the optimal cloud domain, and a local scheduling to choose the optimal server within the chosen cloud domain. Using real SoyKB application workflows, we implement the proposed MCPS Broker in the GENI Cloud and demonstrate its utility through a NIST-guided risk assessment.
Tracking the Structural Evolution of 4-Aminobenzoic Acid in the Transition from Solution to the Gas Phase

Here, cryogenic ion mobility-mass spectrometry (cryo-IM-MS) is used to investigate intracluster proton transfer reactions of 4-aminobenzoic acid during the transition from solution to the gas phase...
More Than Words: Ossi di seppia, Opera, and the Miracle of Counter-Eloquence

This chapter examines the influence of opera on Eugenio Montale’s early poetry, in particular Ossi di seppia (1925). The operatic voices that echo throughout Montale’s works are an integral part of his philosophically oriented quest for a new poetic language. In his first book, Montale stated that he was obeying “a need for musical expression” and claimed to be the most “musical” poet of his generation, comparing himself to Pascoli and D’Annunzio. Montale’s musical ambition came to pervade his language of antagonism toward his predecessors. His poetic aspiration was to penetrate more fully into the essence of the phenomenal world than these predecessors had, and he saw music—in particular opera—as his means to accomplish this goal.
On Approximation of Copulas

One can hope to prove interesting properties of copulas by verifying them first for some class of “simple” copulas then invoking a limit process. The most commonly used limit for copulas is the uniform limit. However the uniform limit is not completely satisfactory in that, on the one hand, any copula can be approximated arbitrarily closely by invertible copulas and, on the other hand, the * operation of Darsow, Nguyen, and Olsen is not jointly continuous with respect to the uniform limit. We show that certain approximations of copulas lead naturally to a stronger convergence than uniform convergence and give a short proof of the associativity of * as an application.
Application of Virtual Reality Technology to Inspire Apparel Design

This project was a part of a larger study that evaluated the incorporation of technology in apparel design classrooms. VR technology provides a means to explore a variety of simulated experiences including art, travel, and cultural interactions. VR for this project enabled an experience similar to an educational field trip through the use of a computer, specifically, utilizing design apps to create a simulated environment that inspires apparel design. A journal, sketchbook, and photographs were ongoing course requirements and assisted in the documentation and reflection of the garment design and construction processes. The VR technology provided the opportunity to explore new experiences without leaving the classroom and this was personally helpful for design inspiration for this outfit. The outcome, a unisex ensemble, explored contrasts and combined femininity with masculinity, symmetrical with asymmetrical lines, and heritage with modernity.
An Affinity-Based, Cysteine-Specific ATP Analog for Kinase-Catalyzed Crosslinking

Kinases mediate cell signaling pathways by catalyzing protein phosphorylation. Irregularities in kinase activity are directly associated with disease conditions. Therefore, methods to identify substrates of a particular kinase are needed to understand signaling cascades in normal and diseased states. Photocrosslinking ATP analogs provide powerful tools to study kinases by covalently linking kinases with substrates. However, the involvement of UV light and nonspecific reactivity of current ATP-photocrosslinkers challenge kinase-substrate identification. We report here an affinity-based crosslinking ATP analog, ATP-methylacrylamide (ATP-MAc), that contains a cysteine-reactive acrylamide crosslinking group, which avoids the UV irradiation and non-specific reactivity of prior analogs. Using in vitro kinase assays, ATP-MAc acts as a kinase co-substrate and covalently crosslinks only kinases containing cysteines in the active site. ATP-MAc was also able to crosslink cellular proteins in lysates, documenting compatibility with cell-based studies.
Utilizing School-based, Professional Learning Communities to Enhance Physical Education Programs and Facilitate Systems Change (Part 2)

Systems change literacy includes the willingness and ability to engage in collective action within and among system components, guided by long-term plans and measured by short-term, achievable “sma...