cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-Dimensional Neutronics Analysis of the U.S. Blanket Design for ITER

Detailed three-dimensional neutronics analysis has been performed for ITER with the U.S. solid breeder blanket utilizing sintered product materials for both the breeder and multiplier. The overall ...
Directional Antenna Based Distributed Blind Rendezvous in Cognitive Radio Ad-Hoc Networks

Cognitive radio emerges as a promising technology to improve the utilization of the allocated spectrum. In a cognitive radio network, secondary users (SUs) need to sense the spectrum to obtain currently available channels and have to vacate the occupied channels when primary users (PUs) return. In cognitive radio networks, establishing a communication link between two SUs through a common available channel is defined as the channel rendezvous problem. Channel hopping is a widely used method to solve the channel rendezvous problem under which two SUs hop according to a designed channel hopping sequence until they meet on a common available channel. Existing works on the rendezvous problem focus on designing the channel hopping schemes based on omni-directional antennas. However, omni-directional antennas can cause interference to the PUs within the entire transmission range of a SU. In this paper, we consider the rendezvous problem if SUs are equipped with directional antennas which can generate interference to less PUs. We address the sector rendezvous problem for the first time and analyze the indexing problem and the different sector number problem which make the sector rendezvous problem different from the channel rendezvous problem. We propose fully distributed sector rendezvous schemes for each SU that can guarantee a successful sector rendezvous and channel rendezvous simultaneously within a bounded time. Our proposed schemes can execute in a distributed way without information exchange between SUs, which is very practical. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper on designing fully distributed rendezvous schemes for SUs equipped with directional antennas.
A two-pronged weapon in the fight against fibrosis. Focus on “Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling promotes epithelial differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and repairs bleomycin-induced lung injury”

pulmonary fibrosis was first described in the 1930s, and while its etiology has become somewhat more clear in recent years, the disease remains virtually untreatable ([1][1], [5][2]). The etiology of pulmonary fibrosis has stirred considerable debate over the years. Initially, pulmonary fibrosis was
Experience with high-dose gadolinium MR imaging in the evaluation of brain metastases.

PURPOSE To assess the effectiveness and safety of higher doses of gadoteridol in the MR evaluation of patients with brain metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-one patients with a clinical suspicion of brain metastases were studied prospectively with gadoteridol, a new, nonionic, low-osmolality contrast agent. Each patient received an initial injection of 0.1 mmol/kg and an additional dose of 0.2 mmol/kg 30 minutes later. Images were obtained before, immediately after, and 10 and 20 minutes after the initial dose. Images also were acquired immediately after the additional dose of gadoteridol. RESULTS No adverse effects were attributed to the injection of gadoteridol. Four patients9 examinations were excluded from analysis because of machine malfunction (two patients) and excessive motion artifact (two patients). Four patients had no detectable metastases. After the additional dose of gadoteridol, there was a marked qualitative improvement in lesion conspicuity and detection. The conspicuity of 80 of 81 lesions was increased in the high-dose studies, and 46 new lesions were detected in 19 of 27 patients. Quantitative image analysis demonstrated a significant increase in normalized mean lesion contrast between the initial-dose and high-dose studies (35 lesions identified in 13 patients, P less than .0001). The additional information gained by high-dose examinations contributed to a potential modification of the treatment in 10 of 27 patients. High-dose examinations increased flow-related artifact in the posterior fossa in 12 of 27 patients. CONCLUSION Based on our preliminary results, high-dose gadolinium-enhanced MR examinations may have advantages over 0.1 mmol/kg examinations in detecting early and/or small metastases. This may be significant in the management of patients with cerebral metastases.
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in thymic lymphomagenesis in Atm-/- mice

AACR Centennial Conference: Translational Cancer Medicine-- July 20-23, 2008; Monterey, CA A34 The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in thymic lymphomagenesis in Atm-/- mice Loss of ATM function leads to the human disease Ataxia Telengiectasia (A-T). One of the major characteristics of A-T is predisposition to lymphoid malignancies. In normal individuals, inactivation of the Atm gene or its gene product, ATM, is also associated with sporadic lymphoid tumors. Apparently, ATM plays a critical role in controlling the development of such tumors, although the mechanisms are still not clear. ATM, in addition to its role in DNA repair, regulates cellular redox status and cell cycling. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), from either endogenous or environmental sources, is termed oxidative stress, leading to DNA damage, genomic instability, cell death and cancer. We have previously demonstrated that during thymic development levels of ROS, DNA synthesis, and the oncoprotein c-Myc are all increased in Atm -/- thymocytes. We hypothesize that the increase in ROS levels contributes to the elevation of DNA synthesis and the increased levels of c-Myc in these cells, because treatment with antioxidants attenuates all three. In this study, we have attempted to determine how ATM/ROS regulate thymocyte development. The evolutionarily conserved checkpoint protein kinase, mTOR, controls proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival of cells by regulating protein synthesis. Because c-Myc is critical for thymocyte development, we reasoned that mTOR, as a controller of c-Myc, may play an important role in regulating this process. Using 3H-TdR incorporation into DNA, we found that mTOR inhibition by its specific inhibitor rapamycin suppresses thymocyte DNA synthesis both, in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that the mTOR signaling is essential for thymocyte proliferation. In Atm-/- mice, we showed that the downstream molecule of mTOR, 4E-BP1, is highly phosphorylated in their thymocytes, and that mTOR target proteins, c-Myc and cyclin D1, are coordinately increased. These results suggest that ATM may regulate thymocyte development by counteracting mTOR signaling. We further showed that rapamycin attenuates elevation of phospho-4E-BP1 and cyclin D1 in Atm-/- thymocytes, and prevents thymic lymphomagenesis in the animals. Interestingly, H2O2 regulates 4EBP1, S6K and eIF4G phosphorylation in Atm+/+ and Atm-/- thymocytes. Our findings are the first to show the mTOR pathway participates in controlling thymocyte development. We are also the first to show that the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin prevents thymic lymphomagenesis in Atm -/- mice, whose thymocyte development is abnormal. These findings, identifying the mTOR signaling as potential therapeutic targets for treatment of thymic lymphoma in A-T patients, may also shed light on targeting the mTOR pathway as treatment for other cancers.
Toward Fast Mapping for Robot Adjective Learning

Fast mapping is a phenomenon by which children learn the meanings of novel adjectives after a very small number of exposures when the new word is contrasted with a known word. The present study was a preliminary test of whether machine learners could use such contrasts in unconstrained speech to learn adjective meanings and categories. Six decision tree-based learning methods were evaluated that use contrasting examples in order to work toward an adjective fast-mapping system for machine learners. Subjects tended to compare objects using adjectives of the same category, implying that such contrasts may be a useful source of data about adjective meaning, though none of the learning algorithms showed strong advantages over any other.
Eye-tracking technology, visual preference surveys, and urban design: preliminary evidence of an effective methodology

AbstractUrban planners and designers use visual preference surveys to gather public opinion on potential designs for developments. Using eye-tracking technology, we administered a visual preference survey to a convenience sample to evaluate quantitatively the ways in which individuals process and rank images used in public settings for urban planning. We combined both a subjective qualitative analysis with quantitative evaluation of the eye-tracking data. The analysis largely confirms that various new urbanist components of the images, namely people, pedestrian features, and greenery, lead to higher rankings. Images with cars and parking receive negative rankings. Buildings, which are a key component of architectural design, had mixed results. The analysis demonstrates the efficacy of visual preference surveys. We show a way for transportation and urban planners to extract greater value from visual preference surveys, consistent with efforts to increase pedestrian activity while reducing motor vehicle tra...
Radiation Cystitis: Acute and Chronic

Radiotherapy (RT) is a standard treatment option and an essential component of multimodal organ sparing treatment for various malignancies in the pelvis including cancers of the prostate, uterine cervix, rectum, and urinary bladder. Malignancies originating in these organs constitute up to 18% of all cancers. Due to its anatomic location, the urinary bladder is frequently exposed to radiation during treatment for pelvic cancers giving rise to a variety of urinary adverse effects. The acute effects of radiation on urothelium are characterized by mucosal edema, hyperemia, and inflammation. Acute lower urinary tract symptoms due to radiation can be irritative or obstructive. Irritative symptoms include urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria, and nocturia. Obstructive symptoms include weak urinary stream, hesitancy, and incomplete bladder emptying or complete bladder obstruction. Late damage is irreversible and is characterized by epithelial denudation, and ulceration with focal hyperplasia and fibrosis. In contrast to acute toxicity, late manifestations tend to be chronic and irreversible. Patients with a severely contracted bladder present with debilitating urinary frequency and incontinence. Another chronic manifestation of pelvic RT is late recurrent hematuria or hemorrhagic cystitis, defined as acute or insidious diffuse vesical bleeding that can sometimes be life threatening. A variety of scoring systems have been developed to assess the severity of bladder damage from radiation injury.
Modality and Propositional Attitudes

This book shows that the semantic analysis of modal notions of possibility and necessity can be used to enhance our understanding of the interpretation of reports of belief or emotional state. It introduces intuitive notation and terminology to express ideas in modern theories of modal interpretation that are normally represented in complex logical formulas, effectively updates the 1960s-era link between possible worlds and the semantics of propositional attitude ascriptions, and reconciles two disparate views of the role of events in semantic interpretation, that of Donald Davidson and that of David Lewis. It reduces a host of variable behaviors of propositional attitude ascription to an intuitive and precise distinction between ascriptions that merely express a commitment to propositional content versus ones that attribute a mental state to the holder of the propositional attitude. This leads to an explanation of the nature and effects of the language disorder of fluent aphasia.
Ocean Thermal Energy Converters

The most plentiful renewable energy source on the planet is solar radiation. Harvesting this energy is difficult because of its dilute and erratic nature. Large collecting areas and large storage capacities are needed. These two requirements are satisfied by the tropical oceans. Oceans cover 71% of Earth's surface. In the tropics, they absorb sunlight, and the top layers heat up to some 25°C. Warm surface waters from the equatorial belt flow poleward, melting both the Arctic and the Antarctic ice. The resulting cold waters return to the equator at great depth, completing a huge planetary thermosyphon. Two basic configurations have been proposed for ocean thermal energy converters (OTECs)—those using hydraulic turbines and those using vapor turbines. The first uses the temperature difference between the surface and bottom waters to create a hydraulic head that drives a conventional water turbine. The advantages of this proposal include the absence of heat exchangers. It is easier to find warm surface water than sufficiently cool abyssal waters, which are not readily available in continental shelf regions. This limits the possible sitings of ocean thermal energy converters.
Biologically Inspired Dynamic Optical Materials

Biological light manipulation strategies provide inspiration for the creation of tunable, stimuli-responsive optical materials. This talk is focused on bio-inspired photonic structures, including mechano-sensitive, color-tunable photonic fibers and reconfigurable fluid micro-lenses. Article not available.
Gasification Slag and the Mechanisms by Which Phosphorous Additions Reduce Slag Wear and Corrosion in High Cr2O3 Refractories

Gasification is a high-temperature/high-pressure process that converts carbonaceous materials such as coal and/or petcoke into CO and H2, feedstock materials used in power generation and chemical production. Gasification is considered an important technology because of its high process efficiency and the ability to capture environmental pollutants such as CO2, SO3 and Hg. Ash impurities in the carbon feedstock materials melt and coalesce during gasification (1325-1575 °C), becoming slag that attaches to and flows down the gasifier sidewall, corroding and eroding the high Cr2O3 refractory liner used to protect the gasification chamber. Phosphate additions to high Cr2O3 refractory have been found to alter slag/refractory interactions and dramatically reduce refractory wear by the following mechanisms: a) spinel formation, b) slag chemistry changes, c) two phase liquid formation, and d) oxidation state changes. The mechanisms and how they work together to impact material wear/corrosion will be discussed.
Lesion distribution among 281 patients with sporadic neuralgic amyotrophy.

Introduction The muscles commonly affected by neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) are well known, but the location of the responsible lesions is less clear (plexus versus extraplexus). Methods We report the lesion locations in 281 NA patients as determined by extensive electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing. Results Our 281 patients had 322 bouts of NA, 57 of which were bilateral, for a total of 379 assessable events. A single nerve was involved in 174 (46%), and 205 (54%) were multifocal. EDX testing identified 703 individual lesions: 699 neuropathies and 4 supraclavicular radiculoplexus lesions. Conclusions The frequency of nerve involvement reflects the motor predilection of NA. Involvement of pure motor nerves exceeded that of predominantly motor nerves, both of which far exceeded involvement of more evenly mixed sensorimotor nerves. Cutaneous sensory nerves were least commonly involved. Because of the common C5-C6 innervation, NA often mimics an upper plexus lesion. Extraplexus nerve involvement far exceeded plexus involvement. Distal motor branch involvement explains the severe single-muscle wasting and weakness often observed. Muscle Nerve 55: 858-861, 2017.
School Resources in Teaching Science to Diverse Student Groups: An Intervention’s Effect on Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions

Elementary school teachers’ perceptions of school resources (i.e., material, human, and social) for teaching science to diverse student groups were examined across three school districts from one state. As part of a 3-year curricular and professional development intervention, we examined the effect on teachers’ perceptions after their first year of participation. The study involved 103 fifth-grade teachers from 33 schools participating in the intervention and 116 teachers from 33 control schools. The teachers completed a survey at the beginning and end of the school year. As a result of the intervention, teachers in the treatment group reported more positive perceptions of school resources than teachers in the control group.
Aridity increases below-ground niche breadth in grass communities

Aridity is an important environmental filter in the assembly of plant communities worldwide. The extent to which root traits mediate responses to aridity, and how they are coordinated with leaf traits, remains unclear. Here, we measured variation in root tissue density (RTD), specific root length (SRL), specific leaf area (SLA), and seed size within and among thirty perennial grass communities distributed along an aridity gradient spanning 190–540 mm of climatic water deficit (potential minus actual evapotranspiration). We tested the hypotheses that traits exhibited coordinated variation (1) among species, as well as (2) among communities varying in aridity, and (3) functional diversity within communities declines with increasing aridity, consistent with the “stress-dominance” hypothesis. Across communities, SLA and RTD exhibited a coordinated response to aridity, shifting toward more conservative (lower SLA, higher RTD) functional strategies with increasing aridity. The response of SRL to aridity was more idiosyncratic and was independent of variation in SLA and RTD. Contrary to the stress-dominance hypothesis, the diversity of SRL values within communities increased with aridity, while none of the other traits exhibited significant diversity responses. These results are consistent with other studies that have found SRL to be independent of an SLA–RTD axis of functional variation and suggest that the dynamic nature of soil moisture in arid environments may facilitate a wider array of resource capture strategies associated with variation in SRL.
Asphalt thermal cracking analyser (ATCA)

The Asphalt Thermal Cracking Analyser (ATCA) is a device that can simultaneously test two asphalt mixture beams while undergoing selected thermal history. The first beam is unrestrained and thus the change of its length with temperature can be used to obtain glass transition temperature (Tg) and coefficients of thermal expansion or contraction. The second beam is restrained at the ends and can be used to measure the thermal stress build-up as a function of time and temperature. The measures of length change and stress in beams can be used to get a comprehensive evaluation of the low temperature performance including change in strain, stress as a function of time and temperature.
Association Between Perceived Discrimination and Emergency Department Use Among Safety-Net Patients in the Southwestern United States.

OBJECTIVES Patients' perceptions of how they are treated in their interactions with the healthcare system represent important and valid measures of healthcare quality that may influence health utilization, outcomes, and costs. Perceived discrimination or the sense of being treated unfairly is an important patient perception known to adversely affect health, but the relation of such perceptions to health-seeking behaviors related to low-acuity emergency department (ED) use is unclear. The objectives of this exploratory study were to describe the prevalence and nature of perceived discrimination or perceived unfair treatment (PD/PUT), and to examine the association of PD/PUT with healthcare utilization among adult safety-net patients in the southwestern United States who sought ED treatment for low-acuity conditions. METHODS Cross-sectional survey data were collected via self-administered questionnaires completed by adult safety-net patients who were uninsured or covered by Medicaid and who sought ED treatment for low-acuity conditions (N = 310). We used descriptive statistics to describe PD/PUT in the healthcare experiences reported by study participants. We used logistic regression to examine the association between PD/PUT and participants' likelihood to seek health care from ED and non-ED settings. RESULTS Thirty-eight percent of study participants reported PD/PUT, most frequently attributed to insurance status (being uninsured or covered by Medicaid). Participants who reported PD/PUT in their ability to access medical care or to obtain health insurance were significantly more likely to be frequent (vs nonfrequent) ED users (odds ratio [OR] 3.80, P < 0.001) and to use multiple (vs 1) EDs (OR 3.79, P < 0.001) during a 12-month period. Participants who reported PD/PUT while receiving medical care were more likely to have received care in ED and non-ED settings, as compared with EDs only (OR 2.02, P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of this sample of adult safety-net patients in the Southwest reported experiencing PD/PUT in their healthcare interactions and most frequently attributed such perceptions to their insurance status. Although this study does not establish a causal link between PD/PUT and utilization of care in specific settings, it highlights the need to better understand the underlying causes of PD/PUT across multiple delivery settings and to clarify the extent to which such experiences may influence patients' healthcare-seeking behaviors. Federal and state policies that aim to maintain or expand health insurance coverage for safety-net populations should consider the role of health insurance status in driving perceptions of being discriminated against or treated unfairly.
Hepatitis C Infection Patterns at a Tertiary Care Center in New York: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction In the United States, 2.7 to 3.9 million patients are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) with 3,500 new cases reported yearly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HCV was the underlying or contributing cause of death of 19,659 patients in 2014. These facts underscore the need for a better understanding of the scope of this disease. Our epidemiologic study aimed at analyzing the pattern of occurrence of HCV infection at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) by evaluating the characteristics of newly infected patients with hepatitis C in 2014. The identified features served to better distinguish the targets for preventive health care in our particular population. Methodology A cross-sectional study of all newly diagnosed patients with HCV infections in the year 2014 presenting to SIUH was conducted using International Classification of Disease-9 codes (ICD-9) for hepatitis C. We included all patients with a positive HCV antibody confirmed by polymerase chain reaction testing. Patients were divided into groups according to age to simulate the age groups in the 2013 - 2014 Hepatitis B and C Annual Report of the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene published in 2016 (abbreviated to 2014 NYCDOH Report, hereafter). Gender and HCV genotypes were also collected. We compared disease frequency between age groups, gender, and genotype with the results of the 2014 NYCDOH Report. Results A total of 378 newly diagnosed HCV cases were identified; 60.05% were men, and 39.95% were women. The rate of infection with genotype 1a was the highest (36. 5%) followed by 1b (25.9%). In women, genotype 1b was predominant (13.76%) versus genotype 1a as the most common in men. The mean age was 54 years for men and 57 years for women. Most cases fell into the 60 to 69-year age group (32.28%), followed by the 50 to 59-year age group (31.48%). More so, all patients 80 years and older were exclusively women. Conclusions We found most new HCV infections at SIUH were diagnosed in patients aged 60 to 69 years, and the 2014 NYC DOH Report indicates most new HCV infections occur in patients aged 40 to 59 years. Also, all HCV infections detected in patients older than 80 years of age were found in women. These findings provide a better understanding of the patient demographics for appropriate HCV screening policies. Increased awareness and strict adherence to screening policies in baby boomers and high-risk populations are paramount in order to diagnose HCV infection early, offer therapy, and prevent HCV-related mortality and morbidity.
Being left at the altar: A content analysis of the Ports of Houston and Galveston merger case that never happened

Abstract Previous literature has focused on the economic drivers of efficiency to enhance port cooperation. This paper examines under which conditions port cooperation is successful or unsuccessful through a management lens using Axelrod's theory of the evolution of cooperation. Using content analysis methodology, we explore the case of the year 2001 failed merger of the Ports of Houston and Port of Galveston which continues to plague business between these two ports. We find that port characteristics drive port cooperation not merely economic efficiency. The characteristics that enhance cooperation include direct competition between the potential cooperating ports, similar size of each and economic rationality in the decision making to merge rather than political or social drivers. Further, we see that non-cooperation or a failed merger is not necessarily a bad result for each port. The failure may force each port to behave more strategically, which can enhance performance. In the case of the Ports of Houston and Port of Galveston, the failed merger serves as a wake-up call to differentiate the mix of customers served.
A Time-Delayed Information-Theoretic Approach to the Reverse Engineering of Gene Regulatory Networks Using Apache Spark

Elucidating gene regulatory networks (GRNs) is crucial to understand the inner workings of the cell and the complexity of gene interactions. To date, numerous algorithms have been developed to infer or reconstruct gene regulatory networks from expression data. However, as the number of identified genes increases and the complexity of their interactions is uncovered, networks and their regulatory mechanisms become cumbersome to test. Furthermore, prodding through experimental results requires an enormous amount of computation, resulting in slow data processing. Therefore, new approaches are needed to expeditiously analyze copious amounts of experimental data resulting from cellular GRNs. To meet this need, cloud computing is promising as reported in the literature. Here we present a new algorithm for reverse engineering (inferring) gene regulatory networks on a computer cluster in a cloud environment. The algorithm, implemented in Apache Spark, employs an information-theoretic approach to infer GRNs from time-series gene expression data. Experimental results show that our Spark program is much faster than an existing tool while achieving the same prediction accuracy.
Institutional Bioeconomics and the Division of Labor: Reflections on Yarbrough & Yarbrough

The New Institutional Economics might have significant interactions with the economics of non-human societies. Some possibilities are considered in connection with the ideas of Yarbrough and Yarbrough on human soieties. First, the need for enforcement may be less when the organisms in question treat one another as resources. Second, theories of the division of labor that have been developed in biology are applicable to human societies. There may be some interesting alternatives to traditional sociobiology as well.
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS OF ALLOMETRY USING MORPHOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS

ABSTACT For many years, the bivariate allometric equation has yielded insights about size and shape. Multivariate generalizations of the bivariate allometric equation are provided by the principal components or factors derived from a covariance matrix of the logarithms of the original measurements. A single set of multivariate data may contain one or more sources of allometry. If the sample is from one population, maximum-likelihood or generalized least-squares factor analysis is proposed as a first step because significance tests aid in determination of the number of allometric factors in the data. If numerous factors are required, there are only slight differences between the factors and principal components. For samples obtained from mixed populations, only principal components are recommended. The growth of the Silurian echinoderm Stephanocrinus angulatus is outlined as a case study.
The rationale and requirements for the development of boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumors.

The dismal clinical results in the treatment ofglioblastoma multiforme despite aggressive surgery, conventional radiotherapy, andchemotherapy, either alone or in combination has ledto the development of alternative therapeutic modalities. Amongthese is boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Thisbinary system is based upon two key requirements:(1) the development and use of neutron beamsfrom nuclear reactors or other sources with thecapability for delivering high fluxes of thermal neutronsat depths sufficient to reach all tumor foci,and (2) the development and synthesis of boroncompounds that can penetrate the normal blood-brain barrier,selectively target neoplastic cells, and persist therein forsuitable periods of time prior to irradiation. Theearlier clinical failures with BNCT related directly tothe lack of tissue penetration by neutron beamsand to boron compounds that showed little specificityfor and low retention by tumor cells, whileattaining high concentrations in blood. Progress has beenmade both in neutron beam and compound development,but it remains to be determined whether theseare sufficient to improve therapeutic outcomes by BNCTin comparison with current therapeutic regimens for thetreatment of malignant gliomas.
In vitro chemosensitivity assay based on the concept of total tumor cell kill.

Attempts to develop in vitro assays to predict in vivo response to antineoplastic therapy in patients date back more than 40 years for radiotherapy and more than 25 years for chemotherapy (Von Hoff and Weisenthal 1980; Weisenthal 1981; Weisenthal and Lippman, to be published). More than 2,500 individual clinical correlations between assay results and results of therapy have been published. The combined average of the accuracy of “true positive” results of these tests is 66%, while the “true negative” accuracy average is 90%. The published data do not indicate that any one type of approach to in vitro chemosensitivity testing has superior validity over all other approaches.
A Model for Ultrasound Transmission Through Graphite Composite Plates Containing Delaminations

The propagation of elastic waves through materials and their interactions with flaws are fundamental phenomena underlying many nondestructive evaluation techniques. Over the past decade, considerable research has led to a good understanding of these phenomena for isotropic materials. For example, it is now possible to predict the absolute signals that will be observed when flaws of simple shapes, e.g., circular cracks or spherical pores, are examined in an immersion test through planar or cylindrically curved surfaces [1]. These models have now been used to successfully predict the probability of detection (POD) [2], an important figure of merit of a practical inspection, and it has been suggested that this capability will find important applications in a) the validation of existing NDE techniques, b) the design of new NDE techniques, or c) the consideration of inspectablility in part design [3,4].
Early increase in blood supply (EIBS) is associated with tumor risk in the Azoxymethane model of colon cancer

The present study aimed to investigate the role of blood supply in early tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer. We leveraged the renin angiotensin system (RAS) to alter colonic blood supply and determine the effect on tumor initiation and progression. To test the effect of blood supply on tumorigenesis, 53 male A/J mice were randomly assigned to one of three RAS modulation groups and one of two AOM treatments. The RAS modulation groups were I) water (RAS-unmodulated) as a control group, II) angiotensin-II and III) the angiotensin receptor blocker, Losartan. The mice in each group were then randomly split into either the saline control condition or the AOM-treated condition in which tumors were induced with a standard protocol of serial azoxymethane (AOM) injections. To monitor microvascular changes in the rectal mucosa during the study, we used confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) with FITC-Dextran for in-vivo imaging of vessels and polarization-gated spectroscopy (PGS) to quantify rectal hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) and blood vessel radius (BVR). At 12 weeks post-AOM injections and before tumor formation, CLE images revealed many traditional hallmarks of angiogenesis including vessel dilation, loss of co-planarity, irregularity, and vessel sprouting in the pericryptal capillaries of the rectal mucosa in AOM-Water tumor bearing mice. PGS measurements at the same time-point showed increased rectal [Hb] and decreased BVR. At later time points, CLE images showed pronounced angiogenic features including irregular networks throughout the colon. Notably, the AOM-Losartan mice had significantly lower tumor multiplicity and did not exhibit the same angiogenic features observed with CLE, or the increase in [Hb] or decrease in BVR measured with PGS. The AOM-AngII mice did not have any significant trends. In-vivo PGS measurements of rectal colonic blood supply as well as CLE imaging revealed angiogenic disruptions to the capillary network prior to tumor formation. Losartan demonstrated an effective way to mitigate the changes to blood supply during tumorigenesis and reduce tumor multiplicity. These effects can be used in future studies to understand the early vessel changes observed.
RpoN and the Nps and Npa two-component regulatory system control pilE transcription in commensal Neisseria

Over 20 genes are involved in the biogenesis and function of the Neisseria Type IV pilus (Tfp). In the pathogenic species, RpoD and the integration host factor (IHF) protein regulate expression of pilE, encoding the Tfp structural subunit. We previously reported that in commensal species, pilE transcription is regulated by RpoN, IHF, and activator Npa. Npa has many hallmarks of response regulators in two-component regulatory systems, leading us to search for its response regulator partner. We report that Npa partners with sensor kinase Nps to control pilE transcription. Among the genes involved in Tfp biogenesis and function, only pilE is controlled by RpoN and Npa/Nps. We summarize our findings in a model, and discuss the implications of the differential regulation of pilE the context of Neisseria Tfp biogenesis.
Earthworm: Automated Decomposition Suggestions

Functional decomposition is the process of breaking a larger problem into smaller subproblems so that each component implements only a single task. Although functional decomposition is integral to computer science, it is of ten overlooked in introductory computer science education due to the challenges of teaching and assessing it given limited resources. Earthworm is a tool that leverages static analysis techniques to generate suggestions on how to improve the decomposition of Python programs. Each suggestion includes the lines of code that can be refactored into a new function, the arguments that must be passed to this function and the variables returned from the function. The tool is intended to be used in introductory computer science courses to help students develop decomposition skills.
Abstract 238: Biological Role and Therapeutic Potential of Nitric Oxide Signaling in Aortic Valve Stenosis: Insights From Genetic Modulation of DDAH1

The balance between local asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) activity is a major determinant of local nitric oxide synthase activity. Pr...
Stratified random sampling for dependent inputs in Monte Carlo simulations from computer experiments

Abstract A new approach of obtaining stratified random samples from statistically dependent random variables is described. The proposed method can be used to obtain samples from the input space of a computer forward model in estimating the expectation of a given function of the corresponding output variables. The advantage of the proposed method over the existing methods is that it preserves the exact form of the joint distribution of the input variables. The asymptotic distribution of the new estimator is derived. Asymptotically, the variance of the estimator using the proposed method is smaller than that obtained using the simple random sampling, with the degree of variance reduction depending on the degree of additivity in the function being integrated. This technique is applied to a practical example related to the performance of the river flood inundation model.
Development of an Improved Route for the Synthesis of an Abemaciclib Intermediate

A new synthesis for an intermediate of abemaciclib is described. Keys to this route are the use of inexpensive starting materials, biphasic amine alkylation for mild C–N bond formation, anhydrous c...
Endoscopic Suturing Results in High Technical and Clinical Success Rates for a Variety of Gastrointestinal Pathologies.

We report our institution’s experience with endoscopic suturing and hypothesize that it has high technical and clinical success. This is a retrospective review of patients who underwent a procedure with the endoscopic suturing system between April 2010 and March 2019. Definitions of technical and clinical success were established for each application. Overall technical and clinical success in 151 procedures was 97.4% and 74.2%, respectively. Endoscopic suturing was used 24 times to treat leaks or fistulas, with a clinical success rate of 55.6%. The clinical success of stent fixations (11) was 72.7%. Intentional mucosal and submucosal defects were closed 20 times with a clinical success of 83.3%. Iatrogenic perforations (9) were repaired with a clinical success of 87.5%. Marginal ulcers were oversewn (5), with an 80% clinical success rate. Diverticulopexy in the esophagus was clinically successful in two patients. Endoscopic suturing was used in endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty in 10 patients and endoscopic gastrojejunostomy revision in 70 patients; weight loss was observed in both groups at up to 2 and 5 years, respectively. Endoscopic suturing was used successfully in numerous situations spanning the gastrointestinal tract with high rates of technical and clinical success.
ADMET polymerization in affordable, commercially available, high boiling solvents

Acyclic diene metathesis polymerization is a powerful technique for creating polymers with precise placement of functional groups. However, due to the need to use high vacuum or other methods to remove the volatile ethylene byproduct and drive the reaction forward, traditional solvents are not feasible. Here we demonstrate the use of three cheap, commercially available solvents as a medium for ADMET polymerizations: propylene carbonate, diethyl phthalate, and dioctyl phthalate. We have shown that by using these solvents, we can increase the molecular weights of ADMET-synthesized polyethylene by over 450% as compared to the bulk polymerization as well as reduce polymerization times from 72 h down to 24 and polymerize challenging, solid monomers.
Long‐term research avoids spurious and misleading trends in sustainability attributes of no‐till

Agricultural management recommendations based on short-term studies can produce findings inconsistent with long-term reality. Here, we test the long-term environmental sustainability and profitability of continuous no-till agriculture on yield, soil water availability, and N2 O fluxes. Using a moving window approach, we investigate the development and stability of several attributes of continuous no-till as compared to conventional till agriculture over a 29-year period at a site in the upper Midwest, US. Over a decade is needed to detect the consistent effects of no-till. Both crop yield and soil water availability required 15 years or longer to generate patterns consistent with 29-year trends. Only marginal trends for N2 O fluxes appeared in this period. Relative profitability analysis suggests that after initial implementation, 86% of periods between 10 and 29 years recuperated the initial expense of no-till implementation, with the probability of higher relative profit increasing with longevity. Importantly, statistically significant but misleading short-term trends appeared in more than 20% of the periods examined. Results underscore the importance of decadal and longer studies for revealing consistent dynamics and emergent outcomes of no-till agriculture, shown to be beneficial in the long term.
Acuity Matters: INTERMACS Profile for Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients Implanted via Sternal-Sparing Approach

Purpose Patient acuity as assessed by INTERMACS profile is significantly correlated to postoperative outcomes for patients undergoing LVAD implantation via median sternotomy. The prognostic utility of INTERMACS profile for the sternal-sparing (SS) approach has yet to be determined. Methods This retrospective, single center study included consecutive patients implanted with a fully magnetically levitated LVAD via the SS approach between February 2018 through June 2019. Patients were compared based on preoperative INTERMACS profile: higher risk (HR) profiles one and two versus lower risk (LR) profiles three or higher. The primary outcome was six-month survival free from disabling stroke or pump exchange. Results Of the 97 total patients implanted via the SS technique, 40 (41%) were HR and 57 (59%) were LR. Besides INTERMACS profile, baseline patient characteristics were similar between cohorts including age (p=0.558), gender (p>0.999) and etiology of heart failure (p=0.224). Postoperatively, the LR cohort had fewer complications and were more likely to be discharged to home (Table 1). Time in the ICU and overall postoperative hospital length of stay were significantly shorter for the LR cohort. Primary outcome was achieved in 96.5% LR vs 82.5% HR cohorts (p=0.015). Conclusion Preoperative INTERMACS profile is correlated with postoperative outcomes for the sternal-sparing approach. Lower risk patients who undergo sternal-sparing implantation demonstrate low rates of complications with excellent mid-term survival. Further research is needed to define the optimal timing of LVAD implantation.
Thinking about the guy on the other side of the screen: contemporary rhetorical strategies for creating and maintaining an audience

Adult entertainer Asa Akira uses contemporary rhetorical strategies to create and maintain an audience for her (pornographic) performances. This article presents a narrative rhetorical analysis of ...
Metabolic physiology of the freshwater planaria Girardia dorotocephela and Schmidtea mediterranea: reproductive mode, specific dynamic action, and temperature.

Planarians are widely used animal models for studies in regeneration, developmental biology, neurobiology, and behavior. However, surprisingly little is known about other aspects of their basic biology, even though such information might help validate these flatworms as a general animal model. We hypothesized that planaria, although dependent on simple diffusion of O2 across the integument for O2 uptake, would nonetheless show changes in oxygen consumption (Vo2) associated with reproductive mode (sexual or asexual), feeding (specific dynamic action; SDA), temperature (Q10 values), and photoperiod typical of those responses of more complex invertebrates. In the current experiments, routine Vo2 was measured over the range of 13-28°C in Schmidtea mediterranea and Girardia dorotocephala. At the long-term maintenance temperature of 18°C, routine Vo2 was ~13 µL O2·g-1·h-1 in the two asexual strains, but approximately twice as high (27 µL O2·g-1·h-1) in the sexual strain of S. mediterranea, suggesting a metabolic cost for sexual reproduction. Metabolic temperature sensitivity, measured by Q10, was about one to three for all three groups. All three groups showed a large (~2- to 3-fold) increase in Vo2 within a day following feeding, suggesting a large SDA effect. Starvation, causing "degrowth" in some planaria, resulted in a loss of one-third of body mass in sexual S. mediterranea but no body mass loss in either asexual strains. Collectively, these data indicate that, while being a relatively simple flatworm with no dedicated respiratory or circulatory system, their metabolic physiological responses are quite similar to those shown by more complex invertebrates and vertebrates, contributing to their validation as an animal model.
Characterizing adaptive behavior of the wrist during lateral force perturbations

Combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with models of neuromotor adaptation is useful for identifying the function of different neuromotor control centers in the brain. Current models of neuromotor adaptation to force perturbations have been studied primarily in whole-arm reaching tasks that are ill-suited for MRI. We have previously developed the MR-SoftWrist, an fMRI-compatible wrist robot, to study motor control during wrist adaptation. Because the wrist joint has intrinsic dynamics dominated by stiffness, it is unclear if these models will apply to the wrist. Here, we characterize adaptation of the wrist to lateral forces to determine if established adaptation models are valid for wrist pointing. We recruited thirteen subjects to perform our task using the MR-SoftWrist. Our task included a clockwise (CW) – counterclockwise (CCW) – error clamp schedule and an alternating CW-CCW force field schedule. To determine applicability of previous models, we fit three candidate models – a single-state, two-state, and context dependent multi-state model – to behavioral data. Our results indicate that features of sensorimotor adaptation reported in the literature are present in the wrist, including spontaneous recovery, and anterograde and retrograde interference between the learning of two oppositely directed force fields. A two-state model best fit our behavioral data. Under this model, adaptation was dominated by a fast learning state with minor engagement of a slow learning state. Finally, all adaptation models tested showed a consistent over-estimation of performance error, suggesting that the control of the wrist relies not only on internal models but likely other mechanisms, like impedance control, to reject perturbations.
Information presentation and firm response: Evidence from fertility clinics

Abstract Behavioral economists have documented the existence of information-processing biases in consumer behavior, yet relatively few studies have examined firms’ responses to information presentation in public reporting. This paper investigates how fertility clinics in the U.S. respond to an exogenous change in the reporting format of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Success Rates reports, which disclose clinic-specific quality information to the public. We find that a new format that highlights the “singleton-birth rate” quality dimension is associated with a lower number of embryos transferred by fertility clinics, and this effect is stronger among clinics facing local competition. This finding implies that properly presenting quality information in public reporting is important to ensure quality improvement.
Strategies for Intercalation and Exfoliation of PP/Clay Nanocomposites (2006-01-0132)

This research investigated the intercalation and exfoliation behaviors of polypropylene (PP)/clay nanocomposites. Different samples were prepared by melt blending with various combinations of PP, maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP-g-MAn), and nano-clay. The effects of key processing variables such as the mixing time, mixing temperature and screw rpm were investigated from the thermodynamic and kinetic point of view. The morphology was determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Effective strategies for controlling intercalation and exfoliation of PP/clay nanocomposites are proposed and evaluated.