cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isaiah 32 as Literature and Political Meditation

Isaiah 32 opens with a gorgeous paean to a future ideal ruler (w. 1-8), shifts to a lament for the despoiled nation (w. 9-14), and ends by anticipating national and royal restoration (w. 15-20). An analysis of the ways in which the constituent units individually and in combination use metaphor and argument to structure an audience's beliefs, emotions, and actions—in short, the text's rhetorical function ing—reveals a carefully wrought dialogue. This dialogue both sums up the rich reflection on kingship in the early Isaian tradition and sets the stage for the book's ultimate, though hard-won abandonment of human kingship in favor of Yhwh's. Far from being a heterogeneous assemblage of oracles, the three pieces fit together to posit a dialectical relationship between a view of monarchy that imagines it as the answer to all problems and one that envisages disaster for the nation. This disaster is brought on in part by royal malfeasance or neglect, allowing the reader or hearer to imagine the reinvigoration of the monarchy and thus the nation. Because an ideal cannot be realized in history, the focus on the ideal human ruler opens up the possibility of shifting kingly images primarily to Yhwh. Scholars at least since Bernhard Duhm ordinarily identify three units in Isaiah 32: w. 1-8, 9-14, and 15-20, with the first unit expressing hope for a revitalized monarchy and the rest of the chapter addressing concerns that such beatitude might not be realized.1 The relationship of the three units to one another and to their larger context is a subject of debate.
Low-Energy Acceleration of Binarized Convolutional Neural Networks Using a Spin Hall Effect Based Logic-in-Memory Architecture

Deep Learning (DL) offers the advantages of high accuracy performance at tasks such as image recognition, learning of complex intelligent behaviors, and large-scale information retrieval problems such as intelligent web search. To attain the benefits of DL, the high computational and energy-consumption demands imposed by the underlying processing, interconnect, and memory devices on which software-based DL executes can benefit substantially from innovative hardware implementations. Logic-in-Memory (LIM) architectures offer potential approaches to attaining such throughput goals within area and energy constraints starting with the lowest layers of the hardware stack. In this paper, we develop a Spintronic Logic-in-Memory (S-LIM) XNOR neural network (S-LIM XNN) which can perform binary convolution with reconfigurable in-memory logic without supplementing distinct logic circuits for computation within the memory module itself. Results indicate that the proposed S-LIM XNN designs achieve 1.2-fold energy reduction, 1.26-fold throughput increase, and 1.4-fold accuracy improvement compared to the state-of-the-art binarized convolutional neural network hardware. Design considerations, architectural approaches, and the impact of process variation on the proposed hybrid spin-CMOS design are identified and assessed, including comparisons and recommendations for future directions with respect to LIM approaches for neuromorphic computing.
Decolonizing the Cosmopolitan Geospatial Imaginary of the Anthropocene: Beyond Collapsed and Exclusionary Politics of Climate Change

This paper extends Tariq Jazeel’s argument on cosmopolitanism to the Anthropocene. Jazeel argues that cosmopolitanism should be thought of geospatially, as a geographic analysis reveals that cosmopolitanism cannot escape its own historically Western spatial imaginary, ultimately collapsing difference and universalizing humanity (77). In reaction against suggestions that cosmopolitanism is a more ethical and socially responsible approach to changing environments, I maintain instead that the Anthropocene already operates within a cosmopolitan geospatial imaginary, which not only collapses blame and responsibility in the face of global environmental crises but also silences and erases the historical contexts of exploitation and extraction that follow within north-south lines of coloniality. Therefore, a decolonization of the cosmopolitan geospatial imaginary of the Anthropocene requires, in order to situate continued coloniality in environmental geopolitics and international relations, looking at the frameworks of both the nation-state and cosmopolitanism. The sections follow a critique of this proposed dialectic working within systems of exclusionary politics of the nation-state and the collapsing politics of cosmopolitanism.
Brittle to quasibrittle transition in a compound fiber bundle.

The brittle to quasibrittle transition has been studied for a compound of two different kinds of fibrous materials, having distinct difference in their breaking strengths under the framework of the fiber bundle model. A random fiber bundle model has been devised with a bimodal distribution of the breaking strengths of the individual fibers. The bimodal distribution is assumed to consist of two symmetrically placed rectangular probability distributions of strengths $p$ and $1\ensuremath{-}p$, each of width $d$, and separated by a gap $2s$. Different properties of the transition have been studied varying these three parameters and using the well-known equal load-sharing dynamics. Our study exhibits a brittle to quasibrittle transition at the critical width ${d}_{c}(s,p)=p(1/2\ensuremath{-}s)/(1+p)$ confirmed by our numerical results.
A Survey of High- and Low-Energy Acetabular Fractures in Elderly Patients.

Introduction:Geriatric patients represent 14% of acetabular fractures and are the fastest growing subset of patients affected by this injury in the US. Treatment outcomes have been reported as infe...
From African American Vernacular English to African American Language: Rethinking the Study of Race and Language in African Americans’ Speech

African American Vernacular English (AAVE), one of the most studied dialects in American English, has undergone several changes in its label across the years. Its most recent designation, African A...
Expanding Undergraduate Exposure to Computer Science Subfields: Resources and Lessons from a Hands-on Computational Biology Workshop

Computational biology is an exciting and ever-widening interdisciplinary field. Expanding the participation of undergraduate students in this field will help to inspire and train the next generation of scientists necessary to support this growing area. However, students at smaller institutions, such as those focused on undergraduate education, may not have access to courses related to or even faculty interested in computational biology. Providing more opportunities for such undergraduate students to be exposed to computational biology, or other subfields within computer science, will be important for ensuring these students are included in the pipeline of scientists contributing to these diverse fields. To this end, we hosted a computational biology workshop that brought together undergraduate students from three different liberal arts colleges. The goal of the workshop was to provide an introduction to how computer science can be used to help answer important problems in biology. A diverse set of six faculty members from different institutions each created and taught a hands-on module as an introduction to a different area of computational biology at the workshop. We describe how we went about organizing this undergraduate workshop, summarize the workshop materials that are freely available, and discuss the outcomes and lessons learned from the workshop. We further propose that the workshop structure used is adaptable to other subfields of computer science. Workshop materials available at the workshop website: https://sites.google.com/carleton.edu/compbioworkshop2018/home.
Menu labeling, calories, and nutrient density: Evidence from chain restaurants

The Food and Drug Administration's menu labeling rule requires chain restaurants to prominently display calories, while leaving other nutritional information (e.g., fat, sodium, sugar) to the request of consumers. We use rich micronutrient data from 257 large chain brands and 24,076 menu items to examine whether calories are correlated with widely used "nutrient profile" scores that measure healthfulness based on nutrient density. We show that calories are indeed statistically significant predictors of nutrient density. However, as a substantive matter, the correlation is highly attenuated (partial R2 < 0.01). Our findings (a) suggest that the promise of calorie labeling to improve nutrient intake quality at restaurants is limited and (b) clarify the basis for transparency of nutrient composition beyond calories to promote healthy menu choices.
Recent cannabis use in HIV is associated with reduced inflammatory markers in CSF and blood

Objective To determine whether cannabis may reduce HIV-related persistent inflammation, we evaluated the relationship of cannabis use in people with HIV (PWH) to inflammatory cytokines in CSF and blood plasma. Methods We measured a panel of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-16, C-reactive protein [CRP], IL-6, interferon gamma-induced protein [IP]-10, soluble CD14, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type II [sTNFRII]) in CSF and blood plasma in PWH and HIV− individuals who did or did not use cannabis at various levels of exposure. Participants in this observational cohort were recruited from community sources and underwent lumbar puncture and phlebotomy. Cannabis use parameters were characterized by self-report based on a semistructured timeline follow-back interview. Cytokines were measured using commercially available immunoassays. Data were analyzed using factor analysis. Results Participants were 35 PWH and 21 HIV− individuals, mean (SD) age 45.4 (14.5) years, 41 cannabis ever users, and 15 never users. PWH and HIV− were not different in recency, cumulative months, grams, or density of cannabis use. A factor analysis using CSF biomarkers yielded a factor loading on CRP, IL-16, and sTNFRII that was significantly associated with recency of cannabis use (more recent use associated with lower factor 1 values, reflecting less inflammation; r = 0.331 [95% CI 0.0175, 0.586]). In particular, more recent cannabis use was related to lower IL-16 levels (r = 0.549 [0.282, 0.737]). Plasma biomarkers yielded a factor loading on sTNFRII and IP-10 that was associated with more recent cannabis use (more recent use related to less inflammation; r = 0.374 [0.0660, 0.617]). Conclusions Recent cannabis use was associated with lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers, both in CSF and blood, but in different patterns. These results are consistent with compartmentalization of immune effects of cannabis. The principal active components of cannabis are highly lipid soluble and sequestered in brain tissue; thus, our findings are consistent with specific anti-neuroinflammatory effects that may benefit HIV neurologic dysfunction.
Sugar not so sweet for training-enhanced fitness.

Diet and exercise are the two pillars of a healthful lifestyle for stemming the rising tide of metabolic disease. A new study in this issue reveals that the health benefits of diet and aerobic exercise are more interdependent than previously appreciated, thus reinforcing the importance of a holistic approach to maintaining a healthful lifestyle.
Extradural Spine Tumor Mimics

Unknown spinal lesions are commonly encountered either in the presence of symptoms or incidentally. In addition to tumors, the differential diagnosis should consider nonneoplastic spine tumor mimics, which may be differentiated based on history, physical, and imaging. Treatment strategies diverge considerably from neoplastic counterparts, and care is optimized by considering these entities. General classes include infectious, metabolic, degenerative, inflammatory, hemorrhagic, and other rare entities.
Deciding to participate in mental health court: Exploring participant perspectives

As the number of mental health courts (MHC) expands across the United States, so does the body of research demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing criminal recidivism. While there has been considerable research conducted on MHC operations, less is known about how individuals decide to participate in MHCs. Data from in-depth interviews with 26 MHC participants from two MHCs in the United States were analyzed using grounded dimensional and thematic analyses. Results suggest that individuals participated in MHC to avoid incarceration and obtain treatment. Participants understood the court to function in four distinct ways: 1) to help through service provision, 2) to structure a judicial agreement allowing MHCs to make treatment decisions in exchange for community living, 3) to protect people from risks within the criminal justice system, and 4) to reward participants for treatment adherence. Findings can be used to guide the need for policy and practice for those referring to MHCs.
Initial and subsequent 3-year cost after hospitalization for first acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage.

Abstract Aims To examine 1) the major drivers of index hospitalization and 3-year post-acute follow-up care, 2) cost for rehabilitation and homecare, and 3) indirect cost from lost productivity after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods Retrospective study of adults hospitalized with AIS (n = 811) and ICH (N = 145) between 2003 and 2014. Direct costs standardized to Medicare reimbursement rates were captured for hospitalization and 3-year follow-up or death. Adjusted cost estimates were assessed using generalized linear modeling with gamma distribution. Costs for rehabilitation, home healthcare, and lost productivity were assessed using sets of cost captured through literature review. Results Calculated as mean cost per person: hospitalization $18,154 for AIS and $24,077 for ICH; monthly 3-year aggregate $5138 for AIS and $8172 for ICH; 3-year inpatient rehabilitation $4185 for AIS and $4196 for ICH; homecare $19,728 for AIS and $14,487 for ICH; indirect cost from lost productivity $77,078 for AIS and $56,601 for ICH. Age Conclusions We provide estimates of direct and indirect costs incurred for acute and continuing post-acute care through a 3-year follow-up period after first-ever AIS and ICH with important comparisons for predictors between index hospitalization and 3-year post-stroke costs.
( Li 6 , d ) reaction on Ca 40

The $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}(^{6}\mathrm{Li},d)^{44}\mathrm{Ti}$ reaction was studied at $E(^{6}\mathrm{Li})=32$ MeV. Angular distributions for $^{44}\mathrm{Ti}$ levels up to 9-MeV excitation energy have been measured. They are compared with $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-transfer distorted-wave Born-approximation calculations to determine angular momentum transfers and relative strengths.[NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}(^{6}\mathrm{Li},d)$, $E=32$ MeV measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$, levels. $^{44}\mathrm{Ti}$ levels, ZR DWBA deduced $l$, ${J}_{f}$, $\ensuremath{\pi}$, $S$.]
Investopedia’s ‘What Is the Keynesian Multiplier?’ Needs to Be Completely Revised to Correct Its Many Errors of Omission and Commission

Investopedia’s “What is the Keynesian Multiplier “ is fundamentally flawed and needs to be completely rewritten in order to eliminate a number of errors of omission and commission concerning Richard Kahn and J M Keynes. First,Richard Kahn’s article ,published in 1931 in the Economic Journal,was derived from Keynes’s earlier work in his A Treatise on Probability ,1921(Brady,2004) and his May,1929(Kent,2007) arithmetic example ,which follows directly from the mathematical model presented in chapter 26 of the A Treatise on Probability on page 315 in footnote 1.The discussion in the General Theory on pp.122-123 of the theory of the multiplier follows directly from the A Treatise on Probability. Second,Investopedia’s article completely ignores the series of articles written by Keynes in 1937 and 1938 in England on war finance and unemployment, first discussed by Terence Hutchison in 1977,demonstrating that Keynes’s support for deficit finance was strictly limited to the occurrence of a severe recession or depression. Third, Investopedia’s article completely ignores the extensive 250 pages of correspondence in Volume 27 of the Collected Writings of John Maynard Keynes detailing Keynes’s explicit support for deficit finance for the support and maintenance of public infrastructure projects only which would pay for themselves overtime in the long run.The government budget would always be balanced..There would be a separate capital account budget devoted to public infrastructure spending that would have to be in balance in the long run. Only the capital account could be in deficit .Keynes’s clear cut disagreement with supporters of deficit financed tax cuts in England in 1942-1944 is explicit in these two hundred and fifty pages (CWJMK,pp.225-475). Fourth,the belief that M. Friedman showed that there were errors in the logical and mathematical construction of the multiplier has no support.M. Friedman never showed there were any mathematical and logical errors in the multiplier concept.
Review of: Murder in the Heartland

The above is a quote from the preface of the book Murder in the Heartland and it is the central theme of this book. Murder in the Heartland is an account of four unrelated homicides that occurred in mid-Missouri during the 1980s and 90s. Each case was chosen to illustrate the importance of teamwork between the various branches of law enforcement and the forensic sciences in solving a case of homicide, but also to illustrate the strengths of each discipline. Each case starts from the time that the body or bodies are reported missing and carries the case all the way through the end of the court trial.
Percutaneous Minimally Invasive (MIS) Guide Wire-less Self-Tapping Pedicle Screw Placement in the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine: Safety and Initial Clinical Experience: Technical Note.

Background Multiple methods for minimally invasive (MIS) thoracic and lumbar pedicle screw placement exist. The guide wire is almost universally used for most insertion techniques; however, its use is not without complication and potentially prolongs surgical procedures. Objective To evaluate the safety of percutaneous MIS guide wire-less pedicle screw placement in the thoracic and lumbar spine at a single institution over a 3-year experience. Methods Forty-one patients who underwent posterior instrumentation with 110 transpedicular MIS thoracic and lumbar screws by a single surgeon from 2011 to 2014 were analyzed. The mean age was 63 years at the time of surgery. Etiological diagnoses were adult spinal deformity, trauma, spondylosis/spondylolisthesis, and other spinal diseases. Pedicle screws were inserted with the use of a guide wire-free technique in which anatomy-specific entry sites and fluoroscopic landmarks were used to guide the surgeon. A square, sharp-tipped pedicle screw was carefully advanced under biplanar fluoroscopic image (anteroposterior and lateral) down the pedicle into the body. No tapping or any type of electromonitoring was performed. An independent spine surgeon using medical records and thoracic/lumbar computed tomography taken during the postoperative period reviewed all patients. Results The number of the screws inserted at each level was as follows: total, 110; thoracic, 30; and lumbar, 80. All screws were evaluated by computed tomography to assess screw position. Seven screws (6.3%) were inserted with moderate cortical perforation, including 3 screws (2.7%) that violated the medial wall. There were no neurological, vascular, or visceral complications with up to 3 years of follow-up. Conclusion The percutaneous MIS guide wire-less technique of lumbar and thoracic pedicle screw placement performed using a biplanar fluoroscopic guidance in a stepwise, consistent manner is an accurate, safe, and reproducible method of insertion to treat a variety of spinal disorders.
The Skin We Live In: Explorations of Body Modification, Sexuality, and Citizenship

In the past ten to fifteen years, feminist and queer theorists have taken a particular interest in the body as a topic for social theory. Much of this work has brought to the forefront the notion of the body as a site on which social, political, and cultural ideas are inscribed. The body is theorized as a cultural construct, and emphasis is placed on the body’s locatedness and differentiation and the relationship between identity and particular forms of embodiment. Amid all this theorizing, however, qualitative research about lived corporeality—how embodiment is experienced in the everyday world—is in short supply. This essay reviews three books—two ethnographic works on body modification and one deep analysis of theoretical and public debates about the question of sexual citizenship—that attempt to illuminate how competing discourses shape the subjective experiences of embodiment. These are timely books; sexual citizenship, or the question of who will and who will not be REVIEW ESSAY
Competition and Efficiency in International Food Supply Chains: Improving Food Security

1. Commodity Supply Shocks. 2. Supply Chain Distortions - Intervention, Subsidies, Protection. 3. Role of the Private Sector, Price, Competition and Government. 4. Government Intervention by Importing Countries. 5. The Rise and Fall of Commingled Commodity Handling. 6. Government Intervention Failures in Exporting Countries. 7. Hoarding. 8. Corruption in the Food Chain. 9. Food Aid Problems. 10. Importance of 'Trade' Markets and Merchants. 11. Post Deregulation Issues. 12. Food Supply Chain Efficiency.
Statistical applications of physically based hydrologic models to seasonal streamflow forecasts

[1] Despite advances in physically based hydrologic models and prediction systems, long-standing statistical methods remain a fundamental component in most operational forecasts of seasonal streamflow. We develop a hybrid framework that employs gridded observed precipitation and model-simulated snow water equivalent (SWE) data as predictors in regression equations adapted from an operational forecasting environment. We test the modified approach using the semidistributed variable infiltration capacity hydrologic model in a case study of California's Sacramento River, San Joaquin River, and Tulare Lake hydrologic regions. The approach employs a principal components regression methodology, adapted from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which leverages the ability of the distributed model to provide an added dimension to SWE predictors in a statistical framework. Hybrid forecasts based on data simulated at grid points acting as surrogates for ground-based observing stations are found to perform comparably to those based on their observed counterparts. When a larger selection of grid points are considered as potential predictors, hybrid forecasts achieve superior skill, with the largest benefits in watersheds that are poorly represented in terms of ground-based observations. Forecasts are also found to offer overall improvement over those officially issued by California's Department of Water Resources, although their specific performance in dry years is less consistent. The study demonstrates the utility of physically based models within an operational statistical framework, as well as the ability of the approach to identify locations with strong predictive skill for potential ground station implementation.
Ceramide Regulates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Akt Activity in Human Alveolar Macrophages

The phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase pathway is an important regulator of cell survival. In human alveolar macrophages, we found that LPS activates PI 3-kinase and its downstream effector, Akt. LPS exposure of alveolar macrophages also results in the generation of ceramide. Because ceramide exposure induces apoptosis in other cell types and the PI 3-kinase pathway is known to inhibit apoptosis, we determined the relationship between LPS-induced ceramide and PI 3-kinase activation in alveolar macrophages. We found that ceramide exposure activated PI 3-kinase and Akt. When we blocked LPS-induced ceramide with the inhibitor D609, we blocked LPS-induced PI 3-kinase and Akt activation. Evaluating cell survival after ceramide or LPS exposure, we found that blocking PI 3-kinase induced a significant increase in cell death. Because these effects of PI 3-kinase inhibition were more pronounced in ceramide- vs LPS-treated alveolar macrophages, we also evaluated NF-kappaB, which has also been linked to cell survival. We found that LPS, to a greater degree than ceramide, induced NF-kappaB translocation to the nucleus. As a composite, these studies suggest that the effects of ceramide exposure in alveolar macrophages may be very different from the effects described for other cell types. We believe that LPS induction of ceramide results in PI 3-kinase activation and represents a novel effector mechanism that promotes survival of human alveolar macrophages in the setting of pulmonary sepsis.
Surface interactions and conditioning techniques in tokamaks

Abstract It now appears that the removal of oxygen from the surfaces of a fusion device requires a carefully generated hydrogen plasma where chemical effects are allowed to dominate. Two critical parameters must be considered: (1) the plasma temperature, and (2) the plasma-wall sheath potential. Increasing either of these two beyond certain values reduces the rate at which oxygen is removed (in the form of H2O). For best results, the bulk outgassing must be reduced by baking the chamber at moderate temperatures as in other high vacuum applications. Oxygen applied to the surfaces results in a corresponding increase in the oxygen level in the plasma, while impurities in the filling gas do not normally play a significant role. Effective surface densities close to 1% of a monolayer have been obtained.
Effects of chitosan—a coagulating agent for food processing wastes—in the diets of rats on growth and liver and blood composition

Effects of feeding free chitosan to rats at graded levels up to 15 percent of the diet for eight weeks was investigated. Animals receiving diets containing 5 percent or less of chitosan grew well at comparable rates. Progressive growth reductions occurred when chitosan was increased to 10 and 15 percent of the diet and enlargement of liver and kidneys was observed only in animals receiving the highest level of dietary chitosan. Liver moisture, protein, lipid, ash, and nucleic acids; blood hemoglobin and packed cell volume; and serum total protein, albumin, ceruloplasmin and transferrin were determined. Values for these components of liver and blood were altered significantly in the animals receiving the highest level of chitosan when compared to control animals. However, in animals receiving 5 percent or less of dietary chitosan none of these measures of tissue composition was different from controls, except for liver protein concentration of rats fed the 5 percent of chitosan diet. Animal feeds containing coagulated by-products are not expected to contain over 0.2% chitosan in the total diet. No adverse effects have been observed at this level in rat feeding studies. Therefore the tolerance level for dietary chitosan appears to be well above the levels expected to be in animal feeds containing by-products recovered from food processing wastes by coagulation with chitosan.
A Case for Joint Network Coding and Power Control in Wireless Linear Networks

We investigate the power consumption and bandwidth usage for information exchange between two terminal nodes in a linear wireless ad hoc network. Specifically, we propose a joint network coding and adaptive power control (NCPC) scheme which regulates the transmission power to reduce the overall energy usage and to increase the bandwidth efficiency. Analysis and numerical results show that our proposed technique reduces power consumption while increasing the network throughput as compared with the existing transmission techniques.
Quantitative molecular-mixing measurements using digital processing of absorption images

Absorption imaging was used to measure the chemical product formed in a nonpremixed reacting turbulent water-jet. A collimated light-beam was absorbed by red phenolphthalein formed through a chemical reaction between neutral (pH 7) jet fluid and alkaline tank fluid. The integrated absorption was imaged on a CCD camera. Standard single-point absorption technique was thus extended to allow simultaneous measurement of absorption over a two-dimensional field. Digital image processing techniques were applied to obtain the time-average of the integrated chemical product. Product-concentration profiles in the natural jet were obtained using Abel inversion. The chemical product present six diameters downstream of the jet exit was increased 35 percent by the addition of two tabs.
A rationale for fusion economies based on inherent safety

A comparison of the direct capital costs of recent light-water-reactor fission plants and recent magnetic fusion designs indicates that cost reductions by innovation in both the fusion reactor and the fusion balance of the plant (nonreactor part) will be required for fusion direct costs to become competitive. Both future fusion and future fission designs would benefit from modularity, standardization, and inherent safety (passive afterheat removal without damage in loss-of-coolant and loss-of-flow accidents) to improve their utility and public acceptance and to reduce nonreactor balance-of-plant costs, indirect costs, and time-related costs. If this can be achieved, inherently safe fusion and fission designs should have comparable reactor enclosure power densities, of the order of 1 MWth/m3. With a reduction by a factor of about 2 in the fusion magnet and heating-system cost per watt, such fusion and fission designs should also have comparable direct and total capital costs per watt, provided the fusion plants can be modularly built in somewhat larger units (300 to 600 MWe) than some of the modular fission units (100 MWe). With the eventual fusion capital cost per watt thus attaining parity with fission some decades later than the development and deployment of second-generation fission plants, the economic incentive for switching growth to new fusion electric plants would derive from lower fuel-cycle costs (fuel startup, operating, processing, and waste-disposal costs). At the same time, there would also be strong economic incentives to build hybrid fusion plants to supply fissile fuel for the established fission plants,
Engineering peripheral nerve repair

Current approaches for treating peripheral nerve injury have resulted in promising, yet insufficient functional recovery compared to the clinical standard of care, autologous nerve grafts. In order to design a construct that can match the regenerative potential of the autograft, all facets of nerve tissue must be incorporated in a combinatorial therapy. Engineered biomaterial scaffolds in the future will have to promote enhanced regeneration and appropriate reinnervation by targeting the highly sensitive response of regenerating nerves to their surrounding microenvironment.
Dipeptide frequency/bias analysis identifies conserved sites of nonrandomness shared by cysteine-rich motifs.

This report describes the application of a simple computational tool, AAPAIR.TAB, for the systematic analysis of the cysteine-rich EGF, Sushi, and Laminin motif/sequence families at the two-amino acid level. Automated dipeptide frequency/bias analysis detects preferences in the distribution of amino acids in established protein families, by determining which "ordered dipeptides" occur most frequently in comprehensive motif-specific sequence data sets. Graphic display of the dipeptide frequency/bias data revealed family-specific preferences for certain dipeptides, but more importantly detected a shared preference for employment of the ordered dipeptides Gly-Tyr (GY) and Gly-Phe (GF) in all three protein families. The dipeptide Asn-Gly (NG) also exhibited high-frequency and bias in the EGF and Sushi motif families, whereas Asn-Thr (NT) was distinguished in the Laminin family. Evaluation of the distribution of dipeptides identified by frequency/bias analysis subsequently revealed the highly restricted localization of the G(F/Y) and N(G/T) sequence elements at two separate sites of extreme conservation in the consensus sequence of all three sequence families. The similar employment of the high-frequency/bias dipeptides in three distinct protein sequence families was further correlated with the concurrence of these shared molecular determinants at similar positions within the distinctive scaffolds of three structurally divergent, but similarly employed, motif modules.
The Prince and the Pauper? Discerning and Revealing the Real Impacts of Basel III and the Dodd Frank Act

Once upon a time, on the lovely and wonderful planet called Earth, two brothers were conceived as a means of addressing the devastating consequences which arose in the aftermath of the 2007 Financial Crisis. These brothers, both originally princes, highly admired upon their conception, are known as the Basel III framework and the Dodd Frank Act (hereinafter referred to as "Basel III" and "Dodd Frank"). Amongst other legislative intent, Basel III had been conceived – partly owing to the need to address capital, liquidity requirements, as well as leverage issues, risk management and macro financial stability. On the other hand Dodd Frank, it was hoped, would rectify amongst other issues, those issues attributed to lack of coverage of regulatory legislation – a flaw which was revealed following the demise of investment banks such as Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which had been equipped, so it was thought, to address the possible consequences of the "funding of bubbles," did not embrace the domain of investment banks.Whilst the legislative intents, character and nature of Basel III and Dodd Frank, to an extent, are capable of being discerned, and whilst both legislations are not exactly identical as is the case with the actual "Prince and Pauper," the uncertainty surrounding the impact which both legislations will generate over the years, as well as the revelation of the true nature, character and identity of both legislations is partly contributory to the derivation of the title of this paper/presentation. Furthermore, this paper aims to highlight the importance of the increased quest for the most suitable "Goldilocks Zone."Dedicated to "my real prince." Paper is partly based on actual story of "The Prince and the Pauper" as well as several papers by the author on Basel III and the Dodd Frank Act – particularly, the paper "Preparing for Basel IV (Whilst Commending Basel III): Why Liquidity Risks Still Present a Challenge to Regulators in Prudential Supervision (Part II) - see particularly concluding section). For information on the origins of the "Goldilocks Zone," please see F. Raghallaigh and M. Kennedy, "Banking Crises and Special Resolution Regimes,“ February 2011, Mazars Publications.
An image-based skeletal dosimetry model for the ICRP reference newborn—internal electron sources

In this study, a comprehensive electron dosimetry model of newborn skeletal tissues is presented. The model is constructed using the University of Florida newborn hybrid phantom of Lee et al (2007 Phys. Med. Biol. 52 3309–33), the newborn skeletal tissue model of Pafundi et al (2009 Phys. Med. Biol. 54 4497–531) and the EGSnrc-based Paired Image Radiation Transport code of Shah et al (2005 J. Nucl. Med. 46 344–53). Target tissues include the active bone marrow (surrogate tissue for hematopoietic stem cells), shallow marrow (surrogate tissue for osteoprogenitor cells) and unossified cartilage (surrogate tissue for chondrocytes). Monoenergetic electron emissions are considered over the energy range 1 keV to 10 MeV for the following source tissues: active marrow, trabecular bone (surfaces and volumes), cortical bone (surfaces and volumes) and cartilage. Transport results are reported as specific absorbed fractions according to the MIRD schema and are given as skeletal-averaged values in the paper with bone-specific values reported in both tabular and graphic format as electronic annexes (supplementary data). The method utilized in this work uniquely includes (1) explicit accounting for the finite size and shape of newborn ossification centers (spongiosa regions), (2) explicit accounting for active and shallow marrow dose from electron emissions in cortical bone as well as sites of unossified cartilage, (3) proper accounting of the distribution of trabecular and cortical volumes and surfaces in the newborn skeleton when considering mineral bone sources and (4) explicit consideration of the marrow cellularity changes for active marrow self-irradiation as applicable to radionuclide therapy of diseased marrow in the newborn child.
Impact of surface functionalization on bacterial cytotoxicity of single-walled carbon nanotubes.

The addition of surface functional groups to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is realized as an opportunity to achieve enhanced functionality in the intended application. At the same time, several functionalized SWNTs (fSWNTs), compared to SWNTs, have been shown to exhibit decreased cytotoxicity. Therefore, this unique class of emerging nanomaterials offers the potential enhancement of SWNT applications and potentially simultaneous reduction of their negative human health and environmental impacts depending on the specific functionalization. Here, the percent cell viability loss of Escherichia coli K12 resulting from the interaction with nine fSWNTs, n-propylamine, phenylhydrazine, hydroxyl, phenydicarboxy, phenyl, sulfonic acid, n-butyl, diphenylcyclopropyl, and hydrazine SWNT, is presented. The functional groups range in molecular size, chemical composition, and physicochemical properties. While physiochemical characteristics of the fSWNTs did not correlate, either singularly or in combination, wi...
Studies on the removal of alkyl benzene sulfonate by microorganisms

These experiments show that ABS can be adsorbed and desorbed from microbial cell surfaces. The adsorption equilibria between the free and adsorbed phases are primarily influenced by the pH of the system. The effects of ABS upon the biochemical activities of bacteria depended upon the amount of ABS adsorbed and the type of bacteria present. The behaviour of ABS is essentially the same whether in the presence of pure or mixed bacterial cultures. Two desorption experiments with soil from a reclaimed water spreading basin which has received sewage over a six month period showed that at least 82% of the ABS “loss” was recoverable from the soil. In all the experiments carried out in this study no evidence was obtained for the biochemical degradation of ABS.
Scripts for Actual First Date and Hanging-Out Encounters Among Young Heterosexual Hispanic Adults

This research presents two studies examining scripts for the actual initial romantic encounters of young heterosexual Hispanic adults in the Southeastern U.S. In Study 1, 242 Hispanic undergraduates were asked to describe their most recent first romantic encounter using a cognitive script methodology, and then to classify the encounter as being a date, hangout, hookup, one-night stand, or other type of encounter. Encounters were most frequently classified as a date, followed by hangouts; very few individuals indicated that their most recent encounter was a hookup or one-night stand. Dates were described as highly gender stereotypic, with men performing significantly more actions overall than women. The date script also included more gender-typed actions, was more structured, and was considered more ideal than a hangout. In Study 2, a checklist of 60 actions derived from Study 1 was used to assess the most recent initial romantic encounters of 217 Hispanic undergraduates. Dates were reported most frequently, followed by hangouts. Dates continued to be highly gender stereotyped with men being responsible for more actions than women, and the date script continued to include more gender-typed actions than the hangout. A date was also more structured and rated as more ideal and satisfying than a hangout. The predominance of and preference for dates, the most gender-typed way for young adults to get together romantically, was consistent with Hispanic cultural norms that support traditional gender roles.
Entropy generation in a heat pipe system

Abstract A thermodynamic model of conventional cylindrical heat pipes is developed based on the second law of thermodynamics. Entropy generation, an important parameter of the heat pipe performance, is caused by the temperature difference between the hot and cold reservoirs, the frictional losses in the working fluid flows, and the vapor temperature/pressure drop along the heat pipe. The ambient temperature in the condenser section and the convection heat transfer coefficient in the transport section can be adjusted to minimize entropy generation in the heat pipe system. A detailed parametric analysis is presented in which the effects of various heat pipe parameters on entropy generation are examined.
Impact of differential housing on humoral immunity following exposure to an acute stressor in rats.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of differential housing on humoral immunity following exposure to an acute stressor. Forty male Sprague-Dawley adult rats were randomly assigned to either a singly housed or group-housed (five rats/cage) condition. Approximately 2 weeks after the start of the study, all animals were immunized with 1 ml of a 10% suspension of sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in saline. After the injections, half of the animals from each housing condition were subjected to an acute stressor (forced swim, 60 min/day for 3–5 days). Animals exposed to the acute stressor displayed adrenal gland hypertrophy and reduced thymus and spleen weights compared to the unstressed (control) animals. Both behavioral stimuli (housing and forced swim) demonstrated no effect on antibody production to SRBC. However, singly housed animals showed an increase in lymphocyte percentage, and corticosterone and glucose levels regardless of subsequent exposure to acute stress. Within a treatment condition, there were no significant correlations between the immune and endocrine measures. It was concluded that reduced social contact (i.e., individual housing) with subsequent exposure to an acute stressor does not appear to inhibit immunological responsiveness to an antigen.
Vulnerability of the anterior commissure in moderate to severe pediatric traumatic brain injury

In relation to the adult brain, the immature brain might be more vulnerable to damage during and following traumatic brain injury, particularly in white-matter tracts. Given well-established evidence of corpus callosum atrophy, we hypothesized that anterior commissure volume (using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) in this structure would be decreased in children with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury relative to typically developing children. Second, given the purported role of the anterior commissure in interhemispheric axon conveyance between temporal lobes, we hypothesized that temporal lobe white matter, temporal lesion volume, and injury severity (Glasgow Coma Scale score) would be predictive of decreased anterior commissure cross-sectional volume in patients with traumatic brain injury. Finally, we wished to establish the relationship between the anterior commissure and the temporal stem, a major white-matter tract into the temporal lobes, using diffusion tensor imaging fiber-tracking maps for each patient. We also hypothesized that children with traumatic brain injury would exhibit decreased fractional anisotropy in relation to typically developing children in a fiber system including the anterior commissure and the temporal lobes. Decreased anterior commissure cross-sectional volume was observed in patients with traumatic brain injury, and, as predicted, anterior commissure and temporal white-matter volumes were positively related to each other and to higher Glasgow Coma Scale scores. Lesion volume was not independently predictive of anterior commissure volume in the overall model. Diffusion tensor imaging fractional anisotropy values differed between the groups for the temporal stem-anterior commissure system, with the traumatic brain injury group exhibiting decreased fractional anisotropy. The anterior commissure, like the corpus callosum, appears to be highly vulnerable to white-matter degenerative changes resulting from mechanisms such as the direct impact of trauma, progressive axonal injury as tissue in other brain regions atrophies, or myelin degeneration. This is the first systematic examination of anterior commissure atrophy following traumatic brain injury using in vivo quantitative MRI and diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking in pediatric subjects.
Differentiation of the substrates for analgesia and vocalizations elicited by midbrain stimulation in rats: refractory period estimates.

Abstract Stimulation of periaqueductal gray sites resulted in both increased latencies to escape heated water with a tail-flick and audible vocalizations. To determine whether these two responses were the result of stimulation of the same substrates, refractory periods were estimated by delivering paired-pulse trains of stimulation. Stimulation consisted of 10 or 20 s trains of single pulses or pulse pairs. The pulse pair frequency threshold for both behaviors was determined for intra-pulse (C-T) intervals of 0.4–10 ms. The ratio of single to double pulse frequency thresholds provided an indication of relative effectiveness of the paired-pulse stimulation. For analgesia, the paired-pulse effectiveness gradually increased between C-T intervals of 2.0 and 5.0 ms, after which asymptotic effectiveness values were obtained. Thus, the estimated refractory period for analgesia was 2.0–5.0 ms. The refractory period estimate for vocalizations was shorter. Effectiveness values increased with a C-T interval of 1.2 ms and reached asymptote with a C-T interval of 2.0 ms. These results suggest that different fibers with overlapping spatial distributions contribute to analgesia and vocalizations produced by midbrain stimulation.
Effect of phenytoin on maternal heart rate in A/J mice: Possible role in teratogenesis

Phenytoin (diphenylhydantion, Dilantin®, PHT), an anticonvulsant and antiarrhythmic drug, is teratogenic to A/J mice, producing an increased incidence of cleft lip with or without cleft palate [CL(P)] and cardiac defects. Although its mechanism of teratogenic action remains unclear, one possibility may involve uterine ischemia resulting from an exaggerated depressant effect on maternal cardiovascular function. To test this hypothesis, the heart rate response of susceptible A/J and resistant C57B1/6J mice was monitored following intraperitoneal injection of doses of PHT of known teratogenic potential. Heart rate (HR) was obtained electrocardiographically from unanesthetized, pregnant mice on day 10 of gestation via previously implanted subcutaneous electrodes. The HR of A/J mice was significantly depressed relative to vehicle-injected controls following doses of 40, 60, and 75 mg/kg, with the greatest effect occurring in the high-dose group. In C57B1/6J mice, the HR response of the group treated with 75 mg/kg was not different from that of the vehicle-treated controls. At the same dose level, the depression of HR of A/J mice was significantly greater in magnitude and duration than that of C57B1/6J mice. A proposed maternally mediated mechanism of CL(P) in A/J mice involving low placental/embryonic oxygen delivery is discussed. The results of the present study indicate the potential significance that changes in maternal physiology may have on embryonic development.