cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring the grafting density of nanoparticles in solution by analytical ultracentrifugation and total organic carbon analysis.

Many of the solution phase properties of nanoparticles, such as their colloidal stability and hydrodynamic diameter, are governed by the number of stabilizing groups bound to the particle surface (i.e., grafting density). Here, we show how two techniques, analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) and total organic carbon analysis (TOC), can be applied separately to the measurement of this parameter. AUC directly measures the density of nanoparticle–polymer conjugates while TOC provides the total carbon content of its aqueous dispersions. When these techniques are applied to model gold nanoparticles capped with thiolated poly(ethylene glycol), the measured grafting densities across a range of polymer chain lengths, polymer concentrations, and nanoparticle diameters agree to within 20%. Moreover, the measured grafting densities correlate well with the polymer content determined by thermogravimetric analysis of solid conjugate samples. Using these tools, we examine the particle core diameter, polymer chain length...
On the Adequacy of Shell Models for Predicting Stresses and Strains in Thick-Walled Tubes Subjected to Detonation Loading

This paper analyzes the adequacy of shell models for predicting stresses and strains in thick-walled tubes subjected to detonation loads. Of particular interest are the large axial strains which are produced at the inner and outer surfaces of the tube due to bending along the tube axis. First, comparisons between simple shell theory and a static finite element model are used to show that the axial strain varies proportionally with wall thickness and inversely with the square of the axial wavelength. For small wavelengths, this comparison demonstrates nonlinear behavior and a breakdown of the shell model. Second, a dynamic finite element model is used to evaluate the performance of transient shell equations. This comparison is used to quantify the error of the shell model with increasing wall thickness and show that shell models can be inaccurate near the load front where the axial curvature is high. Finally, the results of these analyses are used to show that the large axial strains which are sometimes observed in experiments cannot be attributed to through-wall bending and appear to be caused instead by non-ideal conditions present in the experiments.
Information theoretic analysis of plaque in MR imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and analysis have become one of the most important tools in medical research and clinical applications. To quantitatively evaluate the quality of MR images, some research work has been done previously. However, most of the research was only based on 2D spin echo images which can hardly be applied to atherosclerosis study. In this paper, we apply Shannon's information theory for optimal MR imaging and lesion index analysis. First, we review the information content (IC) which is used as a subjective criterion of image quality measurement in our work. Then we extend the existing spatial spectrum model to the 3D time-of-flight (ToF) imaging technique and find the optimal imaging resolution with which the maximum image information content can be obtained. A theoretical proof of its uniqueness is also given. At last, a lesion index system is proposed and developed for the blood vessel wall plaque analysis in our study. It is used to determine atherosclerotic lesion complexity and identify lesion changes over time. Some phantom and in vivo MR images are analyzed along with examples to demonstrate the performance.
Out-of-plane vertical torsion mirror for optical scanner and chopper applications

A novel surface-micromachined, out-of-plane vertical torsion mirror has been successfully demonstrated. An optical scan range of 40" and a resonant frequency of 0.5 kHz have been achieved. Its applications include optical scanners, switches, and on-chip optical choppers for monolithic micro-optical instruments.
Reproducibility of Probing Depth Measurements Using a Constant-Force Electronic Probe: Analysis of Inter- and Intraexaminer Variability

Background: Probing depth (PD) is a commonly used method to determine periodontal disease severity in both treating and evaluating disease progression. Agreement among examiners collecting data in scientific investigations is necessary to establish reliable criteria for determining levels of periodontal attachment loss. The objective of our study was to evaluate inter- and intraexaminer variability of PD measurements among study examiners using a constant force periodontal probe, and to compare the variability of tooth-mean and quadrant-mean. Methods: Three examiners, who had been previously trained and calibrated, performed measurements on 20 volunteers. Intraand interexaminer variability of sites was determined by means of standard error of measurement (SE). Data analysis included determination of error for both quadrant mean and tooth mean. Results: PD measurements for the quadrant-mean were used to calculate the intraexaminer variability, resulting in a mean (SD) value for an SE of 0.40 mm (± 0.02). I...
Essential tremor among children.

Objective. To characterize the clinical and therapeutic aspects of essential tremor (ET) among children. Background. ET, an autosomal dominant disorder, has been studied extensively among adults, but little is known regarding its occurrence, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis in pediatric populations. Often stigmatized as a disorder of the elderly, ET may be misdiagnosed among children. Previous studies of childhood-onset ET were limited by small sample sizes. Methods. Clinical data, including gender, age at onset, family history, associated disorders, and response to treatment, were collected for consecutive patients diagnosed with childhood-onset ET at the Movement Disorders Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine. Results. Of the 39 patients with ET, 29 (74.4%) were male. The mean age at onset was 8.8 ± 5.0 years, and the mean age at evaluation was 20.3 ± 14.4 years. A family history of tremor was noted for 79.5% of the patients. Eighteen (46.2%) had some neurologic comorbidity, such as dystonia, which was noted for 11 patients (28.2%). Only 24 of the patients (61.5%) were treated with a specific antitremor medication; 5 of the 12 patients treated with propranolol experienced improvement. Conclusions. Concomitant movement disorders, such as dystonia, are common among patients with childhood-onset ET, which supports the concept that ET is a heterogeneous disorder. Treatment strategies used for adult patients with ET seem to be effective also for children with ET, although controlled therapeutic trials in this population of patients with ET are lacking.
Equity and Sexual Satisfaction in Recently Married Couples

Abstract This study was designed to determine whether or not equity considerations are important in couples' sexual relations. To answer this question, 53 newlywed couples were interviewed about their sexual relationships. Two main hypotheses were tested: (a) Men and women who feel their relationships are equitable will be more content (less distressed) than people who feel either overbenefited or underbenefited. (b) Men and women who feel equitably treated will have more satisfying sexual relations than those who feel either underbenefited or overbenefited. Some support for both hypotheses was obtained. Specifically, couples in equitable relationships were more content with their relationships and with their lives in general than other couples. In addition, equitably treated men and women were more satisfied with their sexual relationships overall than were other couples. They felt most loving and close after sex and assumed their partner felt that way too. While equitable couples did not say they felt m...
Abstraction morphisms for world modelling in high autonomy systems

A model-based autonomous system uses a multiplicity of models at various control layers to support the predefined system objectives. These models differ in level of abstraction and in formalism. It is noted that concepts and tools are needed to organize the models into a coherent whole. The authors have developed abstraction mechanisms for mapping models of laboratory instruments into operational abstractions, and for mapping a task plan hierarchy into an isomorphic tree of model abstractions. In the present work, they discuss further efforts to develop abstraction mechanisms for systematic derivation of related models through the use of system morphisms. They describe an abstraction mechanism for abstracting spatial relations between the model of the external world and the internal world model used in an autonomous agent. They also show how such a mechanism supports world modeling coherence. Then they illustrate the integration of the world modeling approach and abstraction mechanisms in an autonomous multi-agent laboratory application. >
Storage processes in the Poisson approximation scheme

Discrete storage processes defined by sums of random variables on a Markov or a semi-Markov process are approximated by compound Poisson processes with continuous drift on increasing time intervals.
SNR Estimation in a Non-Coherent BFSK Receiver With a Carrier Frequency Offset

This correspondence deals with the problem of estimating average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a communication link employing binary frequency shift keying (BFSK) in the presence of a carrier frequency offset (CFO). The transmitted symbols are corrupted by Rayleigh fading and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). We treat the CFO as a nuisance parameter and estimate it using a data statistics based estimator. This estimate is then used to design a maximum likelihood (ML) estimator to get the estimates of SNR. We also derive the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) for the estimators and have shown the performance of both the data-aided and non-data-aided estimators.
Chairman's introduction for NAECON 2010

The 2010 IEEE National Aerospace Electronics Conference (NAECON) was held July 14–16, 2010 in Fairborn, Ohio. Approximately 100 papers, tutorials and keynotes were given in various areas of aerospace electronics including: cognitive systems, UAVs, bio-sensing, novel devices, smart textiles, smart antennas, flexible displays, RF reconfigurable microelectronics, radar, photonics, wireless communications, and wearable health-monitoring systems. New this year to NAECON was the Dr. Daniel William Repperger Outstanding Paper Award, to be given in memory of the late Dr. Repperger. A few of the highlights of the conference was a very significant and historical banquet speech entitled “The Dayton NCR WWII Codebreakers”, given by Deborah Anderson, daughter of Joseph Desch, who was the focus of the 2006 PBS documentary film The Dayton Codebreakers and our NAECON Grand Challenge - The Smart Vest, which had two teams competing.
System-of-Systems Architectural Considerations for Complex Environments and Evolving Requirements

Complex "system-of-systems" architectures are subject to a myriad of issues arising from the dynamic inter-operability these systems are intended to provide. Many of these issues can be addressed or avoided by considering the messaging interactions between system nodes prior to and during the construction of the component systems. Standardization of messages and interfaces is an ideal way to provide a consistent, vendor agnostic vehicle for interaction and interoperability of systems in this class of complex architectures.
GM-CSF knockout mice for preclinical testing of agents with antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium abscessus

antimicrobial agents againstM.abscessusrequires arelevant and reproducible animal model of chronic infection. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor knockout (GM-CSF KO) mice were used to develop a new animal model of chronic pulmonaryM.abscessusinfectionthatcan beused for preclinical efficacy testingof antimicrobial drugs. Methods:GM-CSFKOmicewereinfectedwithaclinicalisolate ofM.abscessusvia intrapulmonaryaerosoldelivery usingamicrosprayerdevice.Theclinicalcondition,histologyandcfuofM.abscessus-infectedGM-CSFKOmicewere evaluatedoveraperiodof4 months.Miceweretreatedwithazithromycin(100 mg/kg)byoralgavageandtheclinical condition, histology and bacterial burden was determined after 2 weeks of treatment. Results: We show that pulmonary infection of GM-CSF KO mice with M. abscessus results in a chronic pulmonary infection that lends itself to preclinical testing of new antimicrobial drugs against this bacterium. Azithromycin treatment of M. abscessus-infected GM-CSF KO mice resulted in a lower bacterial burden in the lungs and spleen, weight gain and significant improvement in lung pathology. Conclusions: Intrapulmonary aerosol infection of GM-CSF KO mice with M. abscessus is a useful animal model for studying pathogenesis as well as pre-clinical testing of new compounds against M. abscessus in acute or chronic phases of infection.
What We've Learned and How We've Used It: Learning Experiences from the Cohort of a High-Quality Principalship Program.

The effectiveness of leadership preparation programs has been contested for a number of years. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the identified components that exist within a “high-quality” principal preparation program through the lenses of the members of a principalship cohort at a university-based leadership development program. Qualitative data were collected via online survey. Social Justice theme and the cohort model were identified as most influential factors on leadership development. Findings from this study may assist educational administration departments, program directors, and researchers when evaluating the effectiveness of their graduate-level administrator preparation programs.
Nerve root injury severity differentially modulates spinal glial activation in a rat lumbar radiculopathy model: considerations for persistent pain

Nerve root deformation magnitude affects behavioral sensitivity and spinal cytokine expression in a lumbar radiculopathy model. Despite evidence suggesting spinal glia play a role in persistent pain, no study has examined the relationship between injury severity in painful radiculopathy and spinal glial activation. This study quantified local in vivo biomechanics for nerve root injury, describing effects on temporal glial activation. Sham rats had only nerve root exposure; ligation rats received a tight L5 nerve root ligation with silk suture. Using image analysis, the magnitude of nerve root compressive strain was calculated at the time of injury. Mechanical allodynia was assessed from days 1 to 14 following injury and spinal microglial and astrocytic expression were evaluated using immunohistochemistry on days 1, 3, 7, and 14. More severe ligations produced greater microglial activation, indicating injury severity modulates spinal microglial activation. However, astrocytic activation levels did not demonstrate any relationship with the degree of initial injury severity. While allodynia decreased slightly over time following injury, the temporal changes in mechanical allodynia were not significant. Microglial activation levels were maintained temporally, and in some cases increased over time; whereas, changes in astrocytic activation levels were not temporally or injury-related. While initial nerve root injury severity likely modulates spinal OX-42 (CR3/CD11b) expression, OX-42 staining does not directly correlate with nerve root injury-induced mechanical allodynia.
Designing DS-CDMA spreading sequences via a low-complexity deterministic approach

This paper presents a novel deterministic technique for the generation of DS-CDMA signature sequences with a wide range of correlation properties that is based on a trellis structure and a trellis-exploration algorithm. A low-complexity implementation of the algorithm is then derived by decomposing the calculation of the metric used to generate the codeset. This approach provides a fast method of generating binary or polyphase codes with no inherent constraints on code length or size of the codeset. In addition, the algorithm is iterative and provides increasingly better codes in terms of average mean-square aperiodic correlation properties as the number of iterations increases. The algorithm is shown to outperform existing complex-code design techniques and provides codes with similar correlation properties to well-known codesets while using significantly fewer unique phases
The indirect effects of climate variability on the reproductive dynamics and productivity of an avian predator in the arid Southwest

The deserts of the southwestern US are experiencing rapid warming, and climate models predict declining winter precipitation. The combined effects of higher air temperatures and drought are a reduction in productivity, which may importantly impact reproduction in consumers. Here, we investigate the effects of warming and drought on the reproductive timing and output in loggerhead shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus) in central New Mexico from 2007 to 2012. We found increases in air temperature of 3 °C during the breeding season (March-July) and highly variable winter and annual precipitation. With increasing spring temperatures, shrikes advanced nesting phenology by 20 days over 6 years, a much higher rate than is reported for any other bird species. During this period, the number of breeding pairs also increased from 25 to 37, and clutch size and the number offspring produced per successful nest did not vary. Nest success, however, was often very low and ranged from 11 to 46%. Although our models indicated that low nest success was driven by precipitation and temperature, it was mediated indirectly through increased predation rates during the hot and dry periods.
Female Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Do Not Prefer Mutant Longfin Males

ABSTRACT When we presented longfin and normal male zebrafish to females in an aquarium experiment, females did not spend more time adjacent to longfin than normal males and did not interact more with longfin than normal males. When we tested for effects of longfin mutants on male-male interactions by comparing aggressive interactions between two normal males to interactions between a normal male and a longfin mutant male, there was no difference in male-male aggression. These results suggest that neither male nor female zebrafish use fin size in evaluating male status.
Design Issues of Natural Reference Frame Current Regulators with Application to Four-leg Converters

Three-phase, four leg voltage source converters by virtue of the fourth leg connected to the neutral points of the wye-connected loads effectively handle the zero sequence currents and voltages occasioned by load impedance imbalances and/or nonlinearity of loads. This paper outlines a generalized carrier-based pulse-width modulation scheme for this converter which with a natural reference frame control scheme directly controlling the actual load currents ensure current regulation irrespectively of the nature of the load. The controller structure and design are discussed explicitly with attention paid to considerations leading to the selection of the controller parameters yielding satisfactory location of system poles and zeros. The proposed modulation and control schemes are effectively validated by computer simulation and experimental results for the converter operation in the linear and overmodulation regions
Battery power-aware encryption

Minimizing power consumption is crucial in battery power-limited secure wireless mobile networks. In this paper, we (a) introduce a hardware/software set-up to measure the battery power consumption of encryption algorithms through real-life experimentation, (b) based on the profiled data, propose mathematical models to capture the relationships between power consumption and security, and (c) formulate and solve security maximization subject to power constraints. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the gains that can be achieved in using solutions of the proposed security maximization problems subject to power constraints.
Measuring software screen complexity: Relating eye tracking, emotional valence, and subjective ratings.

Enterprise software pages, routinely used to conduct a variety of business-relevant tasks, must be clear and nonconfusing to experienced end users. A study was conducted to consider the impact of several page design factors (background gradient, font, and font size) on perceived ratings of page clarity, completion time, emotional valence (EV) from video, and several eye-tracking parameters. Twenty professional managers each completed 25 tasks on enterprise web pages designed with specific combinations of these factors. Highly rated pages had Tahoma and Larger fonts, compared to Calibri and Smaller fonts. The Gradient background did not influence ratings but did increase the search area and completion time. Although EV was not a sensitive measure across tasks, it was influenced by font differences in the first few seconds of page presentation. Overall, the use of background gradient was not supported, but both Tahoma and Larger fonts were supported for these enterprise pages.
In vitro neural injury model for optimization of tissue-engineered constructs

Stem cell transplantation is a promising approach for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, although the therapeutic benefits are limited by a high degree of donor cell death. Tissue engineering is a strategy to improve donor cell survival by providing structural and adhesive support. However, optimization prior to clinical implementation requires expensive and time-consuming in vivo studies. Accordingly, we have developed a three-dimensional (3-D) in vitro model of the injured host-transplant interface that can be used as a test bed for high-throughput evaluation of tissue-engineered strategies. The neuronal-astrocytic cocultures in 3-D were subjected to mechanical loading (inducing cell death and specific astrogliotic alterations) or to treatment with transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), inducing astrogliosis without affecting viability. Neural stem cells (NSCs) were then delivered to the cocultures. A sharp increase in the number of TUNEL(+) donor cells was observed in the injured cocultures compared to that in the TGF-beta1-treated and control cocultures, suggesting that factors related to mechanical injury, but not strictly astrogliosis, were detrimental to donor cell survival. We then utilized the mechanically injured cocultures to evaluate a methylcellulose-laminin (MC-LN) scaffold designed to reduce apoptosis. When NSCs were co-delivered with MC alone or MC-LN to the injured cocultures, the number of caspase(+) donor cells significantly decreased compared to that with vehicle delivery (medium). Collectively, these results demonstrate the utility of an in vitro model as a pre-animal test bed and support further investigation of a tissue-engineering approach for chaperoned NSC delivery targeted to improve donor cell survival in neural transplantation.
Three-dimensional real-time measurements of ultrasonic waves in transparent solids

A Doppler-shifted light-scattering technique, long used in velocimetry to yield 3-D flow information about liquids and gases, has been used for the first time to measure ultrasonic fields in solids. Unlike Bragg diffraction and interferometric methods previously used in solids, Doppler methods require no a priori assumptions about the sound field in order to obtain 3-D resolution. In addition, Doppler methods determine not refractive index changes but particle motion directly; thus the need to use the photoelastic constants of the medium to calculate strain data is eliminated.
Effects of salicylate on prophylactic counter-irritation.

SummaryThe effects of sodium salicylate on prophylactic counter-irritation, accomplished by irritating the opposite ankle 15 hours prior to the test ankle, were studied in rats. It was found that: (1) The capacities to inhibit edema by prophylactic counter-irritation and sodium salicylate were similar; (2) Sodium salicylate administered 1 hour prior to irritation of the test ankle did not increase the degree of inhibition produced by prophylactic counter-irritation; and (3) Sodium salicylate given 1 hour prior to the prophylactic counter-irritation caused the latter's anti-edema effect to be lost.
Illustrations of Fungi—XV

Pileus thin, fleshy, convex to expanded, irregular or depressed at times, gregarious, I-2.5 cm. broad; surface glabrous, subrugose, ochraceous to orange; margin inrolled at first, entire or repand; context thin, pallid, mild, at length faintly peppery; lamellae decurrent, distant, very narrow, often forking, but seldom anastomosing, concolorous or somewhat paler; spores ovoid, somewhat one-sided, smooth, hyaline with a faint yellowish tinge, 8-9 X 4-5 /A; stipe slender, cylindric, equal, glabrous, shining, slightly striate at times, concolorous, usually solid, 2-5 cm. long, 2-4 mm. thick. This tiny bright-colored species is known to occur on the ground in deciduous woods from Massachusetts to Alabama in the eastern United States and is reported from a few localities in the middle west. Lepiota procera (Scop.) Quel. PARASOL MUSHROOM
The enchanted empire: an essay review of El Sistema Orchestrating Venezuela's Youth by Geoffrey Baker

The ‘victims of magic', I think you'll agree, are those who change their mind because they are under the spell of pleasure or fear. (Socrates)It seems to me that everything that deceives does so by...
New Linear Partitioning Models Based on Experimental Water: Supercritical CO2 Partitioning Data of Selected Organic Compounds.

Partitioning coefficients of organic compounds between water and supercritical CO2 (sc-CO2) are necessary to assess the risk of migration of these chemicals from subsurface CO2 storage sites. Despite the large number of potential organic contaminants, the current data set of published water–sc-CO2 partitioning coefficients is very limited. Here, the partitioning coefficients of thiophene, pyrrole, and anisole were measured in situ over a range of temperatures and pressures using a novel pressurized batch-reactor system with dual spectroscopic detectors: a near-infrared spectrometer for measuring the organic analyte in the CO2 phase and a UV detector for quantifying the analyte in the aqueous phase. Our measured partitioning coefficients followed expected trends based on volatility and aqueous solubility. The partitioning coefficients and literature data were then used to update a published poly parameter linear free-energy relationship and to develop five new linear free-energy relationships for predictin...
Progressive Low-Grade Glioma: Assessment of Prognostic Importance of Histologic Reassessment and MRI Findings.

Background In patients with progressive low-grade glioma (LGG), the presence of new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enhancement is commonly used as an indicator of malignant degeneration, but its accuracy in this setting is uncertain. Objective We characterize the ability of new MRI enhancement to serve as a surrogate for histologic grade in patients with progressive LGG, and to explore the prognostic value of new MRI enhancement, pathologic grade, and extent of resection. Methods Patients at our institution with World Health Organization grade II glioma diagnosed between 1994 and 2010 and who underwent repeat biopsy or resection at progression were retrospectively reviewed (n = 108). The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of new MRI enhancement were characterized. A multivariable proportional hazards model was used to test associations with overall survival (OS), and Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to compare OS between patient subsets. Results The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of new MRI enhancement were 82%, 77%, 92%, and 57%, respectively. In patients without malignant degeneration, new MRI enhancement was associated with inferior median OS (92.5 months vs. not reached; P = 0.03). In patients with malignant degeneration, gross or near total resection was associated with improved median OS (58.8 vs. 28.8 months; P = 0.02). Conclusion In patients with progressive LGG, new MRI enhancement and pathologic grade were discordant in greater than 20% of cases. Pathologic confirmation of grade should therefore be attempted, when safe, to dictate management. Beyond functioning as a surrogate for pathologic grade, new MRI enhancement may predict for worse outcomes, a concept that merits prospective investigation.
Analysis of Application Effect of National Brucellosis Surveillance Program in Shanxi Province

[Objective]To select monitoring points in Shanxi Province according to national brucellosis surveillance program,and understand the infection status.[Methods]Based on the national program,with the actual situation of Shaanxi Province,the program was revised.Serological detection and pathogen isolation method on the basis of epidemiological investigation were applied.[Results]The average infection rate of Brucellosis was 7.01% from 2005—2008,the peak appeared in Yulin City.Epidemic strains were brucella melitensis biovar I and III.[Conclusion]Brucellosis epidemic shows upward tendency in Shanxi Province,it is necessary to improve the operability of the existing monitoring programs to make the monitoring data more scientific and reliable.
Steroid Content of the Peripheral and Adrenal Vein in Cushing’S Syndrome Due to Adrenocortical Adenoma and Carcinoma

AbstractSelective adrenal vein catheterization was done preoperatively in 11 patients with Cushing’s syndrome owing to either an adrenal adenoma (6) or an adrenal carcinoma (5). Peripheral and adrenal venous blood (tumor side) was analyzed for progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, delta-4-androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol. Comparisons were made of the ratios of precursors to products in the androgen and cortisol production pathways.In adrenal vein samples, cortisol levels were higher in the adenoma patients (p equals 0.06). These patients had a higher ratio of 17-hydroxyprogesterone to delta-4-androstenedione (p less than 0.04). The ratio of 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol was higher in the carcinoma patients (p less than 0.02).In the peripheral samples, the carcinoma patients had higher levels of testosterone and 11-deoxycortisol (p less than 0.02) and progesterone (p equals 0.05). The most striking differences were in the pe...
Effects of Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum on Crop Yield and Soil Properties in Kansas

Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum was recently approved for use in Kansas as a sulfur (S) fertilizer and as a soil amendment. Gypsum has been known as an effective product used in remediation of sodic soils, as the calcium (Ca) can exchange with sodium (Na) on the cations on clay particles. Marketing efforts have promoted the use of FGD gypsum on non-sodic soils as a means of improving soil health. Two 3-year study sites were established in Kansas in 2013, and no yield effects were observed for any of the site years. Treatment differences for grain quality and soil chemical properties had consistently greater sulfate-sulfur (SO4-S) with increasing FGD application rates. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) had instances where it was greater with increasing gypsum rates. There were no treatment differences for the selected soil physical and biological parameters. During this project, FGD gypsum did not cause changes in soil health at the two sites.
Das Modul Sys

Stellt verschieden systemnahe Routinen (Stoppuhr, Systemausstattung, Bildschirm-, Tastatur- und Drucker-Routinen) zur Verfugung.
Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Of Patients With Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome With Total Body Irradiation (TBI), Thiotepa and Fludarabine Or Cyclophosphamide Followed By T-Cell Depleted Grafts From Alternative Donors

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X-linked congenital immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by micro-thrombocytopenia, eczema, autoimmune syndromes and malignancies that are often fatal. Early hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) experience for patients with WAS from alternative donors was associated with poor outcome including a high rate of graft rejection. Since 1998 we have transplanted 13 patients with WAS with grafts from alternative donors. Specifically, 9 of these patients received T cell depleted transplants and are the focus of this abstract. Grafts were from matched unrelated donors (N=5) mismatched unrelated donors (N=2) mismatched related donors (N=2). Patient age at transplant ranged from 1.1-21.5 years (median 3.3). Cytoreduction included Hyperfractionated TBI with Thiotepa and Cyclophosphamide or Fludarabine (N=7) Busulfan with Melphalan and Fludarabine (N=1) Cyclophosphamide with Thiotepa and Fludarabine (N=1). Prior to 2002 no children under 24 months received TBI. Subsequently CNS shielding was used with TBI for patients under the age of 3. All patients received ATG for graft rejection prophylaxis. Six patients had previously undergone splenectomy. Stem cell grafts were Lectin/E rosette separated T cell depleted bone marrow (N=4) or Isolex/E rosette separated T-cell depleted PBSC (N=5). Eight patients engrafted with median neutrophil engraftment on day 12 (11 -16). One patient who received cytoreduction with Cyclophosphamide, Thiotepa and Fludarabine suffered primary graft failure, had autologous recovery and went on to receive a second transplant and is alive and well. All patients developed Grade I – II mucositis. One patient suffered an early toxic death after developing acute encephalopathy during cytoreduction with Busulfan (8mg/kg) Melphalan (140mg/m2) and Fludarabine (125mg/m2) and one other patient with a prior history of lymphoma had progression of lymphoma and early death post HSCT. One developed acute GvHD (Grade III GI). Three patients developed autoimmune disorders associated with mixed chimerism. All three patients had complete resolution of their autoimmune disease and two of these three patients reverted to full donor chimerism. With a post HSCT follow-up period of a median of 7.5 years (3-15 years) seven of these nine patients are alive and disease-free. In summary, T-cell depleted grafts appear to extend transplant as a treatment option for patients with WAS who are without matched related donors. Recent successful experience with T cell depletion following chemotherapy only regimens for other patient populations will provide a way to explore non-TBI based cytoreduction and T cell depletion as an approach for future patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
New Public Management and the Demise of Popular Sovereignty

The role of administrators in ensuring popular sovereignty is largely under-examined in the literature of political philosophy. Yet, alienation of citizens toward government can be linked directly to the exclusion of citizens from the administrative process. This paper examines the arguments of John Locke who characterized the administrator as a phantom in the political process and relegated popular sovereignty to the legislative process alone.
Adaptive Landscape Flattening Accelerates Sampling of Alchemical Space in Multisite λ Dynamics.

Multisite λ dynamics (MSλD) is a powerful emerging method in free energy calculation that allows prediction of relative free energies for a large set of compounds from very few simulations. Calculating free energy differences between substituents that constitute large volume or flexibility jumps in chemical space is difficult for free energy methods in general, and for MSλD in particular, due to large free energy barriers in alchemical space. This study demonstrates that a simple biasing potential can flatten these barriers and introduces an algorithm that determines system specific biasing potential coefficients. Two sources of error, deep traps at the end points and solvent disruption by hard-core potentials, are identified. Both scale with the size of the perturbed substituent and are removed by sharp biasing potentials and a new soft-core implementation, respectively. MSλD with landscape flattening is demonstrated on two sets of molecules: derivatives of the heat shock protein 90 inhibitor geldanamyci...
A monolithic “unibody” construction of structural assemblies through vacuum-assisted processing of agro-waste fibrous composites

Abstract This research explored the feasibility of using vacuum-assisted infusion process (VIP) and agricultural waste - based materials to in-situ build unitary (or “monolithic”) structural components and assemblies. Mechanical properties of the natural/synthetic hybrid fiber composite materials were studied. The experimental results show that in combination with a small amount of glass fiber, the nonwoven coconut coir fiber mats can be used as structural sheathing material to provide satisfactory strength and stiffness. In addition, five “unibody” light-frame composite shear panels sheathed with the coconut coir/fiberglass material and two plywood panels were fabricated; and three composite “I”-shape beams were prototyped using the vacuum infusion process. The structural behaviors of the composite shear panels and beams were tested and compared to those of conventional plywood constructions. The results indicate that structural members constructed through VIP have satisfactory stiffness and strength and they offer better structural integrity and energy dissipation over conventional constructions. The design and construction technique outlined in this paper provides a means to in-situ construct complex-shaped structural assemblies with minimal or no joint. The experimental data showed good agreement with results calculated through classical laminate theory (CLT).
Looking through Outdoor Advertising Images for Beauty in Argentina, Chile, Hungary, and Romania

ABSTRACTThis investigation expands scholarship on beauty and cross-cultural communication through the unique perspective of outdoor advertising. With a content analysis method 1,700 portrayals of men and women in outdoor advertisements, from four different cultures, including Argentina, Chile, Hungary, and Romania, were examined through a framework of advertising and consumer culture, globalization, and theories of beauty. The findings reveal differences across cultures and that beauty ideals are culture specific. Implications are important for practitioners in marketing communications to better understand subtle cultural variations in order to develop effective promotional programs required in the globalized economy.
Therapeutic immunization with a mixture of herpes simplex virus type 1 Glycoprotein D derived “asymptomatic” human CD8+ T cell epitopes decreases spontaneous ocular shedding in latently infected HLA transgenic rabbits: association with low frequency of local PD-1+TIM-3+CD8+ exhausted T cells (VAC4P.1114)

Most blinding ocular herpetic disease is due to reactivation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) from latency rather than to primary acute infection. No herpes simplex vaccine is currently available for use in humans. In this study, we used the HLA-A*02:01 transgenic (HLA Tg) rabbit model of ocular herpes to assess the therapeutic efficacy of a therapeutic vaccine based on HSV-1 gD epitopes that are mainly recognized by CD8 + T cells from “naturally” protected HLA-A*02:01 positive, HSV-1 seropositive healthy asymptomatic (ASYMP) individuals (who have never had clinical herpes disease). Three ASYMP CD8 + T cell epitopes (gD 53-61 , gD 70-78 and gD 278-286 ) were linked with a promiscuous CD4 + T-cell epitope (gD 287-317 ) to create 3 separate pairs of CD4-CD8 peptides, which were then each covalently coupled to an N e -palmitoyl-lysine moiety, a toll like receptor 2 (TLR-2) ligand. This resulted in the construction of 3 CD4-CD8 lipopeptide vaccines. Latently infected HLA-Tg rabbits were immunized with a mixture of these 3 ASYMP lipopeptide vaccines, delivered as eye drops in sterile PBS. The ASYMP therapeutic vaccination: ( i ) significantly reduced HSV-1 shedding detected in tears; ( ii ) boosted the number and function of local HSV-1-specific CD8 + T cells; and ( iii ) was associated with fewer exhausted HSV-1 gD-specific PD-1 + TIM-3 + CD8 + T-cells. The results underscore the potential of an ASYMP CD8 + T cell epitope-based therapeutic vaccine strategy against recurrent ocular herpes.
Regional Comparisons in England

To further assess the possibility of a legacy emanating from the regional identity of 300–400 years ago, it seems that an exploration of the rates of these same eight conditions in present-day England might be of interest. Presumably during the colonial era in England, the sites of origin of the four earliest groups of colonists to British North America had cultural features and regional identities that were significantly distinctive and varied enough to merit such consideration. The descriptions in the earlier chapters about their origin indicate that such differences were present.
Pathophysiology and management of VIPoma: a case study.

Purpose/objectives To review the pathophysiology and clinical treatment of VIPomas, neuroendocrine tumors that secrete vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and VIPoma syndrome. Data sources Published clinical treatments and case studies in the medical literature and case study data from a patient's medical record. Data synthesis VIPomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that cause a syndrome of life-threatening symptoms. Clinical management is complex, yet little information is available in the medical and nursing literature to guide the clinician. Conclusions Information about the pathophysiology and management of the disease may facilitate care of these patients. Implications for nursing practice A case study presentation provides an example of the care required by one patient with VIPoma. The nurse has an important role in assessing, educating, and caring for the patient with VIPoma. Interventions include managing complex fluid and electrolyte imbalances, chemotherapy administration and management of side effects, activity and rest alterations, safety issues, altered social roles, and educational needs regarding medications, central lines, and follow-up care.
PICOSECOND LASER INDUCED SHOCK-WAVE-PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS IN Al, C-Si, AND GaAs

Shock waves induced by an 8 psec, 1.06 um laser pulse in Al, by a 6 psec, 0.53 um laser pulse in C-Si and GaAs will be reported. The shock pressures were measured using an ultrafast transducer in contact with the sample. The largest pressure generated in Al reached about 9 Kbar at a laser fluence of about 4J/cm2. Shock pressure in C-Si and GaAs at different laser fluence of the 0.53 um laser pulse was measured.
Hydrogel sealants for wound repair in ophthalmic surgery

Each year, 15 million individuals worldwide seek treatment for the repair of ocular wounds. New hydrogel sealants – crosslinked polymer matrices that possess a large fraction of water by weight – have been successfully used to repair a variety of different types of trauma and surgically induced ocular wounds. This chapter recounts the recent advances in the development of hydrogel materials and the ongoing work to design the ideal ophthalmic sealant.
Inhibition of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by cobra venom factor.

Abstract A single dose of cobra venom factor, a known, potent depletor of serum complement, has recently been reported to be highly effective in inhibiting lung collagen deposition at 7 days after bleomycin treatment. The present study shows that this is associated with suppression of the bleomycin-induced increase in collagen synthesis, down to virtually normal levels. There is also a concomitant reduction in tissue free proline pool size. No significant effects are noted in noncollagenous protein synthetic rates. This inhibitory effect is not seen at 30 days after bleomycin and is correlated with a return to normal levels of serum complement hemolytic activity. These data suggest an important role for complementary activity in the lung's fibrotic response to bleomycin.
Opioid Peptides and Analgesia: Sites of Action

ABSTRACT Opiates act upon specific brainstem loci to elevate the nociceptive threshold and produce analgesia. An important mechanism in this effect is the activation of descending modulatory pathways. A direct spinal action of opiates has also been demonstrated. All of the effects are characterized by a highly specific pharmacology verifying a receptor-mediated effect. In spinal cord there is substantial evidence based on a detailed pharmacological analysis of the action of opiate alkaloids and peptides for the existence of two populations of opiate receptors associated with analgesia with pharmacological characteristics resembling the “μ” and “δ” receptors.
Vapor-Liquid Condensation on Cryogenic Surfaces

One of the major capital investments in any plant operated at cryogenic temperatures is heat transfer equipment. The optimum design of this equipment requires a detailed knowledge of the heat transfer characteristics of various cryogenic fluids and materials. Heat transfer to cryogenic fluids usually involves a change of phase, either boiling or condensation.
Multisourcing: Moving Beyond Outsourcing to Achieve Growth And Agility

Over the last decade, the number of services that can be outsourced has grown exponentially. Yet, research suggests that 50% of outsourcing contracts signed during the last three years will fail to meet expectations. Gartner sourcing experts Linda Cohen and Allie Young argue that this is because most organizations are utilizing ad-hoc approaches to outsourcing that are both shortsighted and ineffective. Based on extensive, multiyear research, this book unveils a new operational model--multisourcing--that seamlessly blends internally and externally delivered services not just to cut costs or gain efficiencies, but to maximize growth, agility, and bottom-line results. Through practical frameworks and illustrative company examples, the authors guide managers in creating a customized plan for managed multisourcing, including how to: assess their current sourcing strategy, strike the right types of sourcing deals, set up effective governance systems, select and evaluate service providers, and measure progress. A new approach to a timely business issue from leading experts in the field, Multisourcing presents a roadmap managers can follow to position their firms as tomorrow's industry leaders.
Being Good Pharisees: The Joy of Inauthentic Community

AbstractWhat does it mean to be a community in right relation with each other? That question, as well as a partial answer found in Taylor University’s Life Together Covenant, still bear the marks of Wesleyan evangelical convictions. Exploring those convictions shines light for us on why this question and Taylor’s covenant matter for Taylor University and, in their own unique ways, all Christian institutions of higher education. Addressing that question then comes through three points. First, we must never forget that Christianity is a social religion. Second, Christianity is social because its mission is to be a people, a nation called out of every nation, who are not like the other nations, for the sake of the nations. Finally, integral to Christian mission is to become what we have been made through baptism. In the end, righteousness cannot stem from mere human efforts as we endeavor to live out this mission. In contrast, we must depend upon the Holy Spirit to empower us to be the intentional community ...