cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The fate of β-hexabromocyclododecane in female C57BL/6 mice

1,2,5,6,9,10-Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is a high production volume cycloaliphatic used as an additive flame retardant primarily in polystyrene foam building materials. HBCD mixtures contain three major stereoisomers, alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ), at a typical ratio of 1.2:0.6:8.2. The toxicokinetic properties of the α and γ isomers differ. For instance, α-HBCD has greater bioavailability and potential for accumulation in mice than γ-HBCD. The present study reports comparative kinetics data for β-HBCD needed to support toxicological evaluations of HBCD mixtures. Results indicated that a single oral dose of 3mg/kg of [(14)C]-labeled β-HBCD was absorbed rapidly (≥ 85% total dose) in the female C57BL/6 mouse. The C max for β-HBCD-derived radioactivity in tissues, except adipose, was observed 3h following gavage. Approximately 90% of the administered dose was excreted in urine and feces within 24h, primarily as β-HBCD-derived metabolites. A portion of the dose (circa 9%) was excreted in feces as γ-HBCD. Oral administration of 30 or 100mg/kg of β-HBCD resulted initially in slower rates of [(14)C] elimination; however, cumulative excretion data were similar across the dosing range 4 days postdosing. Residual concentrations of [(14)C] in tissues were highest in adipose and liver. β-HBCD-derived radioactivity accumulated in most tissues following four consecutive daily oral doses of 3mg/kg. The extent of metabolism and excretion of β-HBCD in female C57BL/6 mice was similar to that for γ-HBCD. The potential for accumulation of β-HBCD-derived material in most tissues appeared to be less than for α-HBCD.
A Real Options Model to Evaluate Investments in Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

Transformative technologies such as Photovoltaic (PV) system have promising features for substantial reductions in carbon emissions and environmental footprints of the building sector. Nevertheless, investment in PV systems requires substantial implementation costs followed by a long period of recovering the invested capital through savings in electricity bills. An appropriate investment valuation method is needed to conduct tradeoff analysis between electricity saving benefits and implementation costs, and find the proper investment values of PV systems. Currently, the valuation of investments in PV systems are made based on the conventional methods, such as payback period, return on investment (ROI) and net present value (NPV) (Muldavin 2010; Prindle and de Fontaine 2009). However, these methods have considerable limitations for the proper valuation of the investments in PV systems for buildings. The existing methods do not address two major issues that impact the value of such investments: uncertainty and timing. We present new approach towards the valuation of investments in PV system for buildings that challenges the theoretical foundation of current investment valuation methods. We utilize the Real Options Theory to overcome the limitations of existing investment valuation methods. We propose a novel investment valuation model that accounts for changes in the implementation costs of PV systems as well as uncertainty about their respective electricity saving benefits. This investment valuation model can be used to find the optimal time for implementing PV systems for buildings, as well as the financial value of properly-timed investments in PV systems.
Technology versus Tradition: Communication in the Iranian Revolution

Analysis of the “conflict between the official culture of the government … and the traditional culture of the masses rooted in Iranian national and religious traditions.”
Failure To Cleave Murine Leukemia Virus Envelope Protein Does Not Preclude Its Incorporation in Virions and Productive Virus-Receptor Interaction

It is thought that complete cleavage of retroviral envelope protein into mature surface protein (SU) and transmembrane protein (TM) is critical for its assembly into virions and the formation of infectious virus particles. Here we report the identification of highly infectious, cleavage-deficient envelope mutant proteins. Substitution of aspartate for lysine 104, arginines 124 and 126, or arginines 223 and 225 strongly suppressed cleavage of the envelope precursor and yet allowed efficient incorporation of precursor molecules as the predominant species in virions that were almost as infectious as the wild-type virus. These results indicate that cleavage of the envelope precursor into mature SU and TM is not necessary for assembly into virions. Moreover, they call into question how many mature envelope protein subunits are required to complete virus entry, suggesting that a very few molecules suffice. The failure of host cell proteases to cleave these mutant proteins, whose substitutions are distal to the actual site of cleavage, suggests that the envelope precursor is misfolded, sequestering the cleavage site. In agreement with this, all cleavage mutant proteins exhibited significant losses of receptor binding, suggesting that these residues play roles in proper envelope protein folding. We also identified a charged residue, arginine 102, whose substitution suppressed envelope cleavage and allowed precursor incorporation but resulted in virions that were virtually noninfectious and that exhibited the greatest reduction in receptor binding. Placement of these cleavage mutations into envelope proteins of targeted retroviral vectors for human gene therapy may prevent loss of the modified surface proteins from virions, improving their infectivity and storage hardiness.
Infrared spectroscopy studies of the cyclic anhydride as the intermediate for the ester crosslinking of cotton cellulose by polycarboxylic acids. I. Identification of the cyclic anhydride intermediate

The mechanism of esterification of cotton cellulose by a polycarboxylic acid was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The infrared spectroscopic data indicate that a polycarboxylic acid esterifies with cotton cellulose through the formation of an acid anhydride intermediate. A five-member cyclic anhydride intermediate was identified in the cotton fabric treated with poly(maleic acid). The five-member cyclic anhydride is a reactive intermediate and readily esterifies when reaction sites are available. We also found that those polycarboxylic acids, which form five-member cyclic anhydride intermediates, crosslink cotton cellulose more effectively than those polycarboxylic acids which form six-member cyclic anhydride intermediates. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Modeling Polyethylene Wear Acceleration Due to Femoral Head Dislocation Damage

Scratching, scraping, and metal transfer to femoral heads commonly accompany acetabular shell contact during dislocation and closed reduction maneuvers. While head damage conceptually leads to accelerated wear, reports on this subject are mainly anecdotal, and differ widely on the potency of such effect. Towards better understanding this relationship, a physically validated finite element (FE) model was used to compute polyethylene wear acceleration propensity of specific head damage patterns on thirteen retrievals. These FE models estimated wear increases averaging half an order of magnitude when compared to simulations for undamaged heads. There was no correlation between the number of dislocations sustained and wear acceleration. These results underscore the importance of implant-gentle closed reduction, and heightened wear monitoring of successfully reduced dislocation patients.
Predictors for Surgery in Shoulder Instability: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using the FEDS System.

Background:Shoulder instability is a common cause of pain and dysfunction in young, active patients. While studies have analyzed risk factors for recurrent instability and failure after instability surgery, few have examined which variables are associated with initial surgery in this patient population.Purpose:To identify variables that may be associated with surgical intervention in patients with shoulder instability in the context of the FEDS (frequency, etiology, direction, severity) classification, a system that may be useful in the surgical treatment of shoulder instability patients.Study Design:Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2.Methods:A database of patients treated for shoulder instability from 3 separate institutions from 2005 to 2010 was generated using International Classification of Diseases–9th Revision data. Data were collected via retrospective review. Injury data were categorized according to the FEDS system. Data were analyzed for significance, with the primary outcome of surg...
The Earned Income Tax Credit as an Incentive to Report: Engaging the Informal Economy through Tax Policy

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides financial assistance to low-income workers through a refundable tax credit. The EITC, which has received strong bipartisan support since its introduction in 1975, now represents the nation's largest anti-poverty program for non-elderly individuals. In this Note, I contend that the EITC's historical development failed to account for (and prior scholarly analysis of its impact on labor supply decisions have ignored) the important role of informal employment in the lives of the working poor. This Note presents the first analysis of the financial impact of government transfer and tax programs on the decision to report informal income?income that, were it reported, would be otherwise legal. As the Note's analysis reveals, while drastic changes in both tax and transfer programs may be necessary to provide financial incentives for many households with children to report informal income, more targeted changes to the EITC could provide strong incentives for childless informal workers to report. The Note argues that the benefits to both individuals and society, financial and otherwise, of tax reporting by low-income individuals engaged in informal work merits reconsideration of the EITC's overall structure and administration. Administrative and policy innovations, described in the Note, are also necessary to maximize reporting compliance.
Translating the neuroscience of physical activity to education

Abstract Over the past two decades, a body of research has emerged that suggests that physical activity has beneficial effects on the brain's structure and function. During the same period, concern has mounted over high rates of childhood obesity. Considering that schools have been called on to both improve academic achievement and childhood obesity rates, it is surprising that schools have not exploited research on physical activity's cognitive effects. However, a closer examination of the literature reveals major gaps in knowledge that hinder neuroscientific findings from being readily translated into practice. Here, we provide an overview of research on physical activity's cognitive effects. We then identify the most pressing gaps in knowledge and make suggestions for how they can be addressed.
Diagnostic specificity of sucrose hemolysis test for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

The diagnostic specificity of the various modifications of the sucrose hemolysis test for PNH was examined in detail. In whole blood screening tests the greatest specificity was achieved using citrated or oxalated blood and room temperature incubation (23°). Defibrinated whole blood should not be used since "false positive" hemolysis may occur in blood disorders other than PNH. Mechanisms were suggested for this phenomenon. The validity of the confirmatory sucrose hemolysis test employing normal serum was further reported. Because of the clear, colorless character of serum-sucrose mixtures, an insignificant degree of hemolysis (i.e., less than 5%) is more readily visible than in other PNH hemolytic tests employing undiluted serum. Definitive instructions and criteria for interpretation were given for both the whole blood screening test and the confirmatory sucrose hemolysis test.
Out of The Shadow of Vasari: Towards A New Model of The ‘Artist’ in Colonial Latin America

Within shifts affecting colonial studies, a ‘life-work model’ employed in colonial art history has been left unexamined. Developed by a contemporary of Michelangelo, Giorgio Vasari (Italy, 1511–1574), this methodology was grounded in particular European social conditions that allowed the creation of the ‘artist’ whose ‘artwork’ was the inalienable product of a single mind and hand. Following the art historical paths laid by Vasari in the viceroyalties leads to dead ends: indigenous artists who efface their individuality; painters who exist with little social or historical context; and artworks whose conservation denies finding the traces of the hands that made them. Because artworks were and are the connective tissue of complex social networks, reconfiguring concepts of ‘artist’ and ‘artwork’ and recasting them in accordance with social practices within Latin America, gains us purchase on how colonial subjects, in their engagement with their material worlds, came to be constructed.Resemblance to European ...
Atomic Layer Growth of SiO2 on Si(100) Using the Sequential Deposition of SiCl4 and H2O

This study explored the surface chemistry and the promise of the binary reaction scheme: (A) Si-OH+SiCl4 → Si-Cl + HCl (B) Si-Cl + H2O → Si-OH + HCl for controlled SiO2 film deposition. In this binary ABAB… sequence, each surface reaction may be self-terminating and ABAB… repetitive cycles may produce layer-by-layer controlled deposition. Using this approach, the growth of SiO2 thin films on Si(100) with atomic layer control was achieved at 600 K with pressures in the 1 to 50 Torr range. The experiments were performed in a small high pressure cell situated in a UHV chamber. This design couples CVD conditions for film growth with a UHV environment for surface analysis using laser-induced thermal desorption (LITD), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The controlled layer-by-layer deposition of SiO2 on Si(100) was demonstrated and optimized using these techniques. A stoichiometric and chlorine-free SiO2 film was also produced as revealed by TPD and AES analysis. SiO2 growth rates of approximately 1 ML of oxygen per AB cycle were obtained at 600 K. These studies demonstrate the methodology of using the combined UHV/high pressure experimental apparatus for optimizing a binary reaction CVD process.
Fusang: The Enlightenment Story of the Chinese Discovery of America

In 1761 the French scholar and Sinologue Joseph de Guignes announced that "Chinese vessels made the voyage to America many centuries before Christopher Columbus." From the Chinese books in the Bibliotheque du Roi and new missionary reports from Beijing, he concluded that the mythical land of Fusang described by a medieval Buddhist monk could be nowhere other than the west coast of North America, only recently charted by European navigators. Philippe Buache, premier geographe du roi, agreed. At the height of the French Enlightenment, the indigenous geographical tradition of China could be used to further the progress of universal science, providing evidence about issues from the mapping of the Pacific Rim to the organization of the continents. Furthermore, the story of Fusang explained the origins of American peoples, showing that the inhabitants of the New World had arrived there from the Old and contributing to a diffusionist account of the development of civilization in space and time.
Simply-Fed Four-Arm Spiral-Helix Antenna

An ultra-wideband four-arm spiral-helix antenna with simple beamformer is developed to have simultaneously good performance in time and frequency. Two microstrip feeds printed on the opposite side of the spiral with impedance following Klopfenstein taper are employed to eliminate the need for 180 ° hybrids used in conventional beamformers. Ferrite beads placed around the coaxial cables connected between the ground and microstrip are utilized to choke unbalanced currents and prevent shorting the spiral aperture to the ground. Helix is used to improve the low-frequency performance and allow easy attachment of resistive loading to the ground plane. A metallic inset is placed inside the cavity to eliminate the destructive pattern interference and improve the high-frequency gain. To achieve low dispersion, the spiral is loosely wrapped. Simultaneously good time and frequency domain performance from 0.5 GHz to 3 GHz with VSWR<;2, nominal gain and radiation efficiency of 6 dBic and 80%, respectively, broadside axial ratio below 1.8 dB and fidelity factor of 93% over wide field of view are demonstrated in simulations and experiments.
Variable responses of human microbiomes to dietary supplementation with resistant starch

The fermentation of dietary fiber to various organic acids is a beneficial function provided by the microbiota in the human large intestine. In particular, butyric acid contributes to host health by facilitating maintenance of epithelial integrity, regulating inflammation, and influencing gene expression in colonocytes. We sought to increase the concentration of butyrate in 20 healthy young adults through dietary supplementation with resistant starch (unmodified potato starch—resistant starch (RS) type 2). Fecal samples were collected from individuals to characterize butyrate concentration via liquid chromatography and composition of the microbiota via surveys of 16S rRNA-encoding gene sequences from the Illumina MiSeq platform. Random Forest and LEfSe analyses were used to associate responses in butyrate production to features of the microbiota. RS supplementation increased fecal butyrate concentrations in this cohort from 8 to 12 mmol/kg wet feces, but responses varied widely between individuals. Individuals could be categorized into three groups based upon butyrate concentrations before and during RS: enhanced, high, and low (n = 11, 3, and 6, respectively). Fecal butyrate increased by 67 % in the enhanced group (from 9 to 15 mmol/kg), while it remained ≥11 mmol/kg in the high group and ≤8 mmol/kg in the low group. Microbiota analyses revealed that the relative abundance of RS-degrading organisms—Bifidobacterium adolescentis or Ruminococcus bromii—increased from ~2 to 9 % in the enhanced and high groups, but remained at ~1.5 % in the low group. The lack of increase in RS-degrading bacteria in the low group may explain why there was no increase in fecal butyrate in response to RS. The microbiota of individuals in the high group were characterized by an elevated abundance of the butyrogenic microbe Eubacterium rectale (~6 % in high vs. 3 % in enhanced and low groups) throughout the study. We document the heterogeneous responses in butyrate concentrations upon RS supplementation and identify characteristic of the microbiota that appear to underlie this variation. This study complements and extends other studies that call for personalized approaches to manage beneficial functions provided by gut microbiomes.
Economic Development: The External Debt and Financial Crises

Scope of the Chapter Chapter 15 mentioned that the less-developed countries’ (LDCs’) persistent deficit on the balance on goods, services, and income through the 1980s and 1990s, together with a decline in loans at bankers’ standards in the mid- to late 1990s, contributed to a continuing LDC debt crisis. The debt crisis for Latin America and other middle income borrowers, primarily owed to commercial lenders, was of a different nature from that of sub-Saharan Africa, who owed its debts primarily to bilateral government and multilateral lenders. Nongovernmental organizations put pressure on the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and developed country (DC) donors to relieve, write-down, or forgive the debts of the highly indebted poor countries (HIPCs), largely from Africa. Although the 2007–9 global recession affected both DCs and LDCs, the debts for LDCs were probably more burdensome. The most fundamental change in the international economic system in the 1990s was the incredible rise in international capital mobility, with about two trillion dollars crossing borders daily (You 2002:216), from which middle-income countries (MICs) received massive capital inflows. Global foreign-exchange transactions rose from a mere $15 billion per day in 1973 to $60 billion in 1983, exploding to $900 billion in 1992 and $4 trillion in 2007, and continuing to increase in the years after that. Thus, the worldwide ratio of foreign-exchange transactions to world trade was 9:1 in 1973, 12:1 in 1983, 90:1 in 1992, and 360:1 in 2010. In 2010, the global gross national product (GNP) was $200 billion, exports were $60 billion, and foreign-exchange transactions were $75 trillion daily , far in excess of the foreign-exchange reserves of the world's central banks, $300 trillion, which is inadequate to cope with sudden shifts in the direction of global currency flows (Nayyar 1997:3–4 updated). Not surprisingly, financial crises occurred in Mexico (1994); Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, and East Asia generally (1997–9); Brazil and Russia (1998); and Argentina (2001–3), following capital-account liberalization and substantial increases in capital inflows.
16.—Square Integrable Solutions of Perturbed Linear Differential Equations

This paper is concerned with solutions of the ordinary differential equation where ℒ is a real formally self-adjoint, linear differential expression of order 2n , and the perturbed term f satisfies for some σ∈[0, 1]. Here λ(·) is locally integrable on [0,∞). In particular it is shown, under circumstances detailed in the text, that (*) possesses solutions in the Hilbert function space L 2 (0,∞).
Imaging in Drug Development

New, more efficient drug discovery paradigms could fundamentally allow evaluation of a greater number of targets, many of which today have only preclinical face validity, and prevent late-stage testing and extensive human exposure to molecules that have no chance of clinical success. Stopping work on targets and mechanisms that show little early evidence of significant biological benefit allows clinical development resources and energy to be focused on the best candidates and the best-validated hypotheses. Thus, the use of biomarkers has the promise to reinvigorate the drug discovery process through improved success rates that help bring useful medicines to patients sooner. This chapter covers the promise and challenges of using imaging biomarkers in drug development with examples from oncology, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, bone biology, and central nervous system disorders.
The Prefaces and the Introduction

THE A EDITION PREFACE: THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN REASON In the first edition Preface Kant explains why a critique of human reason – the power to know – is necessary. At Avii he says it is the nature of reason to ask questions it cannot answer. Although he gives no examples, these questions are the basis of traditional metaphysical disputes Kant examines in the Transcendental Dialectic: is the universe finite or infinite in space and time? Is matter infinitely divisible or composed of simple parts? Do humans have free will or are we determined by causes outside our control? And does the existence of the universe presuppose a necessarily existent being? We can see how these questions arise in our everyday thinking. Consider the principle underlying scientific investigation: “Every event has a cause.” We “naturally” ask: what caused the earthquake? What causes the earth to revolve around the sun? What caused the universe? But if these questions arise naturally, then what is the problem? In the Dialectic, Kant describes how, in trying to explain reality, reason ends up in a dilemma: either the explanatory chain continues forever, or it must end somewhere. The temptation is to find a stopping place, to invent an “absolute” to end the series. Examples of such “absolutes” are God as the cause of the universe, and freely acting souls as the causes of human actions. The problem with such answers is that they cannot be verified by experience.
Superresolution Algorithm Applied to Optimal Linear Filter Design

Minimum weighted norm superresolution imaging is used to design superresolution filters. The performance of the non-iterative design algorithm is evaluated and compared with exiting methods to compute superresolution filters.
Surgical treatment of intracranial arteriovenous malformations with an analysis of cost-effectiveness

Decision making with cerebral AVMs is one of the most difficult aspects of neurosurgical practice. A diversity of factors, such as the size and location of the AVM; the patient's age, medical, and neurologic condition; and his occupation, hobbies, and expectations, as well as his psychological makeup, must be considered. In addition, a thorough understanding of the natural history is necessary. There is no possible substitution for individual case-by-case analysis since every AVM and every patient is different. Currently, we have excellent information about the natural history of cerebral AVMs. It appears that they bleed at a rate of 3 to 4% per year whether they have bled before or not. The risk of rehemorrhage after a hemorrhage is only slightly higher during the first year (6%), and after that it is the same as for AVMs that have not bled. The serious morbidity associated with each hemorrhage is about 30% and the mortality about 12.5%. Modern surgical results indicate that all but the very large cerebral AVMs and those AVMs that involve critical deep structures, such as the internal capsule and the brainstem, can be excised with satisfactory results. For grade I to IV AVMs (Spetzler and Martin grading system (51)) a combined morbidity and mortality rate of less than 10% can generally be expected. The surgery of grade V AVMs is accompanied by very substantial morbidity and generally should not be recommended, except for patients who have a significant pre-operative deficit or who have had multiple hemorrhages or a gradually progressing deficit. There are many different causes of morbidity accompanying surgical excision of cerebral AVMs. Of these, probably the most important is faulty surgical judgment, although technical problems do arise frequently, even for the most experienced surgeons. Pre-operative embolization is a significant source of morbidity and mortality, and it should be used only when it is expected that the combined morbidity and mortality of embolization and surgery is less than the risk for surgery alone. Surgical excision of "operable" cerebral AVMs, preceded by embolization in selected cases, is highly cost-effective when compared to observation alone or to a policy of surgery for large- and medium-sized lesions and radiosurgery for small (< 3 cm) lesions. This conclusion assumes that an experienced team performs the surgery and embolization, as well as the selection of patients for surgery with or without embolization. Operable small (< 3 cm) AVMs should be treated by surgical excision; when compared to radiosurgery or observation alone, surgical excision is highly cost-effective and very efficacious in prolonging quality-life expectancy. This conclusion assumes that an experienced cerebrovascular surgeon makes the judgment of operability (selection for surgery) and then performs the operation.
Dynamics of Oscillating Turbulent Liquid Sheets

Recently, oscillating high-speed slab jets, or liquid sheets, have been proposed for shielding the first walls of inertial fusion energy (IFE) reactor chambers from damaging X-rays, neutrons and ions. The near-field dynamics of obliquely oscillating turbulent liquid sheets were investigated in scaled experiments. Results are presented for sheets at Reynolds numbers up to 37000 oscillated along various directions at frequencies from 0 to 11 Hz and amplitudes up to half the nozzle thickness (0.5δ). Data on maximum trajectories of oscillating sheets and growth rates of stationary sheets are presented for distances up to 90δ downstream of the nozzle exit. A model for predicting the maximum trajectory is presented. The bulk of the experimental data are in reasonable agreement with this model. These results can be used to provide design guidelines for thick liquid protection.
E/Tablets to collect research-quality, patient-reported data

6609 Introduction: Programmed wireless notebook computers (e-tablets) can collect review of systems (ROS) data at point of care. Patients complete surveys in the clinic waiting area; a report is ge...
Hashtag Activism and Why #BlackLivesMatter In (and To) the Classroom

This paper considers #blacklivesmatter an important part of current discussions of race and social justice. It explores the ways in which Twitter users (and students) are developing a globally-connected voice to not only build awareness and solidarity, but also challenge the framing of issues relating to #blacklivesmatter and the ways blacks are represented by a variety of political actors, including the mainstream media. The paper identifies two trends in teaching #blacklivesmatter and its relevance to the classroom: historicizing the “new” civil rights movement and the use of testimony and discussion as a new praxis. The authors conclude that students must be reminded of their ability to influence their own lives by using their personal stories and seizing their voice.
In search for the Holy Grail of cough guidelines.

Cough of all types and duration (acute and chronic), a common reason for acute presentations to medical practitioners, is a burden of disease across the pediatric (1,2) and adult (3) ages and across countries (4). A recent study in children found that parents sought multiple consultations (~75% had seen a doctor >5 times) for their child’s cough prior to appropriate management (5). In an attempt to improve the management of cough, the concept of using a guideline for cough was first initiated by Dr. Irwin in the 1990s (6). Now, there are many guidelines on the management of cough in children and adults (7). Those accustomed to evidence based medicine are cognisant of the relative paucity of studies to inform these evidence-based guidelines on the management of chronic cough. This was highlighted by some but not all of these guidelines and now confirmed through the analyses undertaken by Jiang and colleagues (7), the first study to compare the different cough guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) tool. While the analyses were done well, it included studies from a decade ago and during this period, major changes in the field of guideline development and evaluation has occurred.
Optimization of process parameters in micro-EDM of Ti-6Al-4V based on full factorial design

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the micro-electro-discharge machining (micro-EDM) process parameters on the machining performance parameters, in order to understand the behavior of each process parameter as well as to find out their optimal values. This research was conducted through a series of experiments using full factorial design. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were employed to analyze the findings and to determine the significance of each process parameters on the response variables. The process parameters included in this study were voltage, capacitance, electrode rotational speed, and the electrode coating. Voltage and capacitance were studied separately as well as in combination in terms of the discharge energy. The response variables were consisted of machining time, tool wear, crater size, and surface micro-hardness. The findings indicated that the increase in voltage had a decreasing effect on the machining time, while it increased the crater size. The increase in capacitance resulted in decreased machining time and the tool wear, while it had an increasing effect on the surface micro-hardness. It was found that the effects of titanium nitride (TN) coating and the electrode rotational speed were not statistically significant. There was slight improvement of machining time and accuracy for increasing electrode rotational speed due to improved flushing condition, but very high electrode rotational speed was found to be unsuitable for machining accuracy. The overcut of the micro-holes was found to increase gradually with the increase of voltage and capacitance due to increase in spark gap and discharge duration, respectively. The voltage and the capacitance were found to be the two major parameters influencing the micro-EDM performance. Assuming that the importance and the weight of all response variables had been identical, the optimal process parameters for improved micro-EDM of Ti-6Al-4V were found to be TN-coated electrode, 60 V, 4700 pF, and 3000 rpm.
Mitochondrial disorders: The need for precision ultrastructural analysis in clinical diagnosis

Mitochondrial disorders are becoming clinically more prominent, as it becomes clear that mitochondrial disorders of genetic origin are more prevalent than once was believed. All but the most severe...
«La escuela de Celestina» de Salas Barbadillo o la herencia interrumpida

Little has been written on La escuela de Celestina y el hidalgo presumido (1620), one of the few comedies penned by Alonso Jeronimo de Salas Barbadillo. In this essay I read this piece as part of a tradition of parodies of the famous academic exercises known as gallos and vejamenes, so frequent in the universities of the time. Through humorous inversion, Salas leads us to formulate new questions on the role of high culture, on the nature of true knowledge and, ultimately, on the transmission of specific literary myths —a transmission that is here interrupted by the rewriting of the Celestinesque character
From the Children’s Oncology Group: Evidence-Based Recommendations for PEG-Asparaginase Nurse Monitoring, Hypersensitivity Reaction Management, and Patient/Family Education:

PEG-aspariginase is a backbone chemotherapy agent in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and in some non-Hodgkin lymphoma therapies. Nurses lack standardized guidelines for monitoring patients receiving PEG-asparaginase and for educating patients/families about hypersensitivity reaction risks. An electronic search of 6 databases using publication years 2000-2015 and multiple professional organizations and clinical resources was conducted. Evidence sources were reviewed for topic applicability. Each of the final 23 sources was appraised by 2 team members. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system was used to assign a quality and strength rating for each recommendation. Multiple recommendations were developed: 4 relating to nurse monitoring of patients during and after drug administration, 8 guiding hypersensitivity reaction management, and 4 concerning patient/family educational content. These strong recommendations were based on moderate, low, or very-low-quality evidence. Several recommendations relied on generalized drug hypersensitivity guidelines. Additional research is needed to safely guide PEG-asparaginase monitoring, hypersensitivity reaction management, and patient/family education. Nurses administering PEG-asparaginase play a critical role in the early identification and management of hypersensitivity reactions.
Supply Chain Disruptions Preparedness Measures Using a Dynamic Model

Supply chain risk management has recently seen extensive research efforts, but questions such as “How should a firm plan for each type of disruption?” and “What are the strategies and the total cost incurred by the firm if a disruption occurs?” continue to deserve attention. This chapter analyzes different disruption cases by considering the impacts of disruptions at a supplier, a firm’s warehouse, and at the firm’s production facility. The firm can prepare for each type of disruption by buying from an alternate supplier, holding more inventory, or holding inventory at a different warehouse. The Wagner-Whitin model is used to solve the optimal ordering strategy for each type of disruption. Since the type of disruption is uncertain, we assign probabilities for each disruption and use the Wagner-Whitin model to find the order policy that minimizes the firm’s expected cost.
Arbiters of effectiveness and efficiency: the frames and strategies of management consulting firms in US higher education reform

ABSTRACTA growing number of public colleges and universities in the United States have hired management consulting firms to help develop strategies aimed at increasing institutional effectiveness and efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to explore the frames and strategies of consultants in US public higher education reform efforts. Drawing upon a range of documentary evidence, the paper examines four consulting firms (Accenture, Bain & Company, Deloitte and McKinsey & Company) and their perspectives on higher education reform. The paper analyses the consultative process with two public universities and two state higher education systems to determine possible avenues by which consultants exert influence. Through reference to theory on academic capitalism and new institutionalism, the paper reveals the ways in which consultants circulate crisis narratives and diffuse private sector management ideas among public colleges and universities that are seeking both financial solvency and legitimacy.
The Effect of Psychomotor Performance, Cerebral and Arterial Blood Saturation Between African-American and Caucasian Males Before, During and After Normobaric Hypoxic Exercise

To further elucidate physiological and cognitive performance differences between African-American (AA) and Caucasian individuals (CAU) before, during or after hypoxic and normoxic exercise. Twelve college aged (18-25) apparently healthy African-American (six volunteers) and Caucasian (six subjects) males took part in two trials consisting of normobaric normoxia and normobaric hypoxia (12% oxygen). Each subject cycled at 50% of their altitude adjusted VO2max (-26% of normoxia VO2max) for one hour after a two-hour baseline. Subjects were monitored for cerebral and arterial O2 saturation, as well as the Trail Making Test A and B (TMT) psychomotor performance. Arterial saturation proved to be significantly higher in AA (86.0±4.7) compared to CAU (79.5±4.8) during the first 60 minutes of exposure to hypoxia at rest (p=0.039), but not during exercise. However, cerebral oxygenation to the left frontal lobe was decreased near the conclusion and in 30 minutes after normoxic exercise. TMT B data revealed that CAU (79±12.7) had faster scores than the AA subjects (98±25.1) at all time points and was significantly different at the 115-minute time point of the hypoxic trial (p=0.024). The data suggests that before, during and after normobaric normoxia and hypoxia trial there is a differential response between AA and CAU in regards to arterial and cerebral oxygenation, as well as psychomotor tests.
Atomic force microscopy study revealed velocity-dependence and nonlinearity of nanoscale poroelasticity of eukaryotic cells.

Abstract Intracellular network deformation of the cell plays an important role in cellular shape formation. Recent studies suggest that cell reshaping and deformation due to external forces involve cellular volume, pore size, elasticity, and intracellular filaments polymerization degree change. This cell behavior can be described by poroelastic models due to the porous structure of the cytoplasm. In this study, the nanoscale poroelasticity of human mammary basal/claudin low carcinoma cell (MDA-MB-231) was investigated using indentation-based atomic force microscopy. The effects of cell deformation (i.e., indentation) velocity and depth on the poroelasticity of MDA-MB-231 cells were studied. Specifically, the cell poroelastic behavior (i.e., the diffusion coefficient) was quantified at different indenting velocities (0.2, 2, 10, 20, 100, 200 μm/s) and indentation depths (635, 965, and 1313 nm) by fitting the force-relaxation curves using a poroelastic model. Cell treated with cytoskeleton inhibitors (latrunculin B, blebbistatin, and nocodazole) were measured to investigate the effect of the cytoskeletal components on the cell poroelasticity. It was found that in general the MDA-MB-231 cells behaved less poroelastic (i.e., with lower diffusion coefficient) at higher indenting velocities due to the local stiffening up and dramatic pore size reduction caused by faster force load, and the cytoplasm is nonlinear in terms of poroelasticity. The poroelastic relaxation was more pronounced when the local cytoplasm porous structure was stretched by higher indentation. Furthermore, inhibition of cytoskeletal components resulted in pronounced poroelastic relaxation when compared with the control, and affected the nonlinearity of cell poroelasticity at different depth range inside of the cell. The comparison between the diffusion coefficient variation and the Young's modulus change under each indentation/treatment condition suggested that the cytoplasm porous geometry is more dominant than the cell Young's modulus in terms of affecting cell poroelasticity.
Image Guided Volume Selective Spectroscopy: A Comparison of Techniques for In-Vivo 31P NMR Spectroscopy of Human Brain

This chapter describes methods which have been routinely applied over the last decade to obtain spatially localized 31P spectra of human brain. The Topical Magnetic Resonance (TMR) method found widespread use in some of the early in-vivo studies of human brain, and several examples are presented. The Image Selected In-vivo Spectroscopy (ISIS) method has been developed more recently, and is fully described together with advantages, disadvantages and modifications of this technique.
Effect of Spatial Smoothing on Task fMRI ICA and Functional Connectivity

Spatial smoothing is a widely used preprocessing step in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data analysis. In this work, we report on the spatial smoothing effect on task-evoked fMRI brain functional mapping and functional connectivity. Initially, we decomposed the task fMRI data into a collection of components or networks by independent component analysis (ICA). The designed task paradigm helps identify task-modulated ICA components (highly correlated with the task stimuli). For the ICA-extracted primary task component, we then measured the task activation volume at the task response foci. We used the task timecourse (designed) as a reference to order the ICA components according to the task correlations of the ICA timecourses. With the re-ordered ICA components, we calculated the inter-component function connectivity (FC) matrix (correlations among the ICA timecourses). By repeating the spatial smoothing of fMRI data with a Gaussian smoothing kernel with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of {1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35} mm, we measured the spatial smoothing effects. Our results show spatial smoothing reveals the following effects: (1) It decreases the task extraction performance of single-subject ICA more than that of multi-subject ICA; (2) It increases the task volume of multi-subject ICA more than that of single-subject ICA; (3) It strengthens the functional connectivity of single-subject ICA more than that of multi-subject ICA; and (4) It impacts the positive-negative imbalance of single-subject ICA more than that of multi-subject ICA. Our experimental results suggest a 2~3 voxel FWHM spatial smoothing for single-subject ICA in achieving an optimal balance of functional connectivity, and a wide range (2~5 voxels) of FWHM for multi-subject ICA.
Neighborhood inequality in the prevalence of reported and substantiated child maltreatment

Abstract Background Prior research documents spatial concentration in the incidence of child maltreatment reported to and confirmed by Child Protective Services (CPS), but without estimates of the prevalence of such reports, the extent of CPS contact in different communities is unknown. Objective To estimate the prevalence of CPS reports during early childhood and substantiated investigations during childhood for children living in different types of neighborhoods. Participants and setting Children who experienced CPS reports and substantiated investigations in Connecticut. Methods This study uses synthetic cohort life tables to estimate the cumulative risk of CPS reports before age five and substantiated CPS investigations before age 18, by neighborhood poverty rate and neighborhood racial composition. Results The analysis reveals substantial stratification in the prevalence of CPS contact by the demographic characteristics of children’s residential neighborhoods. For example, while 7% of children in low-poverty neighborhoods (under 10% poor) experience a substantiated CPS investigation at some point during childhood at 2014 and 2015 rates, this risk more than doubles to 17% for their peers in moderate-poverty neighborhoods (10–20% poor) and more than triples to 26% for their peers in high-poverty neighborhoods (over 20% poor). Similar trends emerge when examining CPS reports in early childhood as well as when comparing neighborhoods with different proportions of White residents. Conclusions CPS reports and substantiated investigations are a widespread and disproportionately experienced life event for children in poor neighborhoods and children in non-White neighborhoods.
Travel to a high volume hospital to undergo resection of gallbladder cancer: does it impact quality of care and long-term outcomes?

Abstract Background The relationship of volume and travel distance to patient outcomes after resection of gallbladder cancer (GBC) remains poorly defined. Methods The 2004–2015 National Cancer Database was used to identify GBC resection patients and examine the impact of travel distance, hospital volume and both on overall survival (OS) and quality of care indicators. Results Among 10,174 patients undergoing surgery for GBC, the majority of patients were Caucasian (N = 8,175, 80%) and had a Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score of 0 (N = 6,785, 67%). On unadjusted survival analysis increasing travel distance and hospital volume were associated with improved OS (both p Conclusions Both increasing travel distance and hospital volume were associated with improved OS; however, adjusted models demonstrated that the impact of travel distance was mediated through hospital volume.