cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impaired control of respiration in iron-deficient muscle mitochondria.

Dietary iron deficiency (ID) decreases iron-containing proteins and hence respiratory capacity of skeletal muscle mitochondria (SMM), but noniron components are much less affected. Using a hexokinase plus glucose ATP-utilizing system, we studied control of respiration in isolated SMM from rats of variable iron status: ID, ID 3 days after intraperitoneal treatment with iron dextran, and control. We found that sensitivity of respiratory control (e.g., ATP/ADP at a given oxygen consumption) was positively related to state 3 respiratory capacity. Titration studies with carboxyatractyloside, a noncompetitive inhibitor of adenine nucleotide translocase (AdNT), revealed that AdNT concentration was unaffected by iron status. However, the turnover number of AdNT was markedly reduced by ID and improved with iron treatment. We conclude that in ID SMM, decreased maximal respiratory capacity is paralleled by impaired sensitivity to putative controllers of oxidative phosphorylation at any respiratory rate, despite normal levels of AdNT. A second study was designed to determine possible consequences of impaired sensitivity of respiratory control on motor unit recruitment during exercise. ID and normal rats were subjected to a program of walking treadmill exercise. Although exercise failed to induce any changes in oxidative enzyme levels in control rat, ID animals and exhibited substantial mitochondrial enzyme adaptation in hindlimb skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the most consistent enzymatic changes were observed to occur in fast glycolytic muscle fibers. These results suggest marked alterations in the pattern of muscle fiber recruitment during mild exercise in ID rodents and support the hypothesis that sensitivity of respiratory control in SMM is an important determinant of motor unit recruitment during aerobic exercise.
A New Micromechanics Model for Predicting Effective Thermal Conductivity of Heterogeneous Materials

The focus of this paper is to develop a new micromechanics model to predict the effective conductivities and local field distribution of heterogeneous materials. Since heat conduction is mathematical analogous to electrostatics, magnetostatics, and diffusion, we used the heat conduction problem to illustrate the construction of a micromechanics model which can be equivalently used to predict effective dielectrics, magnetics, and diffusion properties of heterogeneous materials. Starting from a variational statement of the conduction problem of the heterogenous continuum, we formulate the micromechanics model as a constrained minimization problem using the variational asymptotic method. To handle realistic microstructures in applications, we implement this new model using the finite element method. For validation, several examples are used to compare with existing models and demonstrate the application and accuracy of the new model and the companion code.
Locating microseismic events: A physical modeling comparison using P and S waves in surface and borehole data

Summary This research investigates some fundamental aspects of microseismic event location: surface versus borehole receivers, P versus S waves and traveltime versus amplitude. We developed a ray tracing and diffraction stack procedure to undertake locations and their evaluation. The algorithm is developed in a MATLAB environment and tested on physical modeling data from the Allied Geophysical Laboratories (AGL) at the University of Houston. This research provides an overview of the physical modeling procedure using ultrasonic sources and receivers, describes and assesses the hypocenter algorithm, and illustrates the results. Data was acquired with 3-C ultrasonic transducers on a model that was built by joining both Plexiglas and aluminum blocks. The location algorithm uses a grid search technique to find source coordinates. For every possible point source, three attributes (traveltime residual, stacked amplitude and amplitude/traveltime ratio) of every potential point source in a grid area are calculated. Then the location can be found by either choosing the point that yields a minimum traveltime residual or maximum stacked amplitude or maximum amplitude/traveltime ratio. To increase the speed of the algorithm, a collapsing grid search method is implemented and GPU computing is used. Six different scenarios are tested on the physical model; the most accurate approach was the using P-wave first arrivals with all receivers. Location uncertainty increases when downhole receivers are left out for both P and S-waves. At least 3 receivers are needed for the method to locate an
Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki Activity Against Larvae of Helicoverpa zea and Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Cotton

Effectiveness of Bacillus thuringiensis (Javelin WG) against first instars of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Heliothis virescens (F.) was studied in the laboratory on cotton terminals and in the field on cotton. In the laboratory, percentage mortality of both species increased significantly as the B. thuringiensis rate increased. Mortalities of H. virescens were significantly higher than H. zea at 0.56 and 1.12 kg/ha rates of B. thuringiensis at 4 and 7 d after treatment. LD50s were 2-, 2.5-, and 1.6-fold higher for H. zea than for H. virescens at 4 and 7 d and pupation, respectively. Most mortality (60-91% in H. zea and 76–98% in H. virescens ) occurred by 4 d after treatment. Mortalities at the 8.96 kg/ha B. thuringiensis rate were similar to cypermethrin at 0.05 kg(AI)/ha in H. virescens for all dates and for 7 d and pupation in H. zea . In the field, survival in both species generally decreased as B. thuringiensis rate increased. Survival was significantly higher in H. zea than in H. virescens at 1.12 and 2.24 kg/ha rates of B. thuringiensis at 3 and 7 dafter treatment.
A TRIPLE-CONTINUUM NUMERICAL WELL TESTING MODEL FOR A NATURALLY FRACTURED VUGGY RESERVOIR

Triple media numerical well testing model for fracture-vug type reservoir is set up based on the conceptual and mathematical models of multiple media flowing through porous media.The model is the extended one from common triple media model,it can well reflect the heterogeneous characteristic of fracture-vug type reservoirs and can be used to deal with the influence of faults and the boundary in reservoirs and allows inconstant change of deliverability.Finite difference method based on integral is used to solve,well testing response curve of triple media reservoir is obtained,the law flowing through porous media is analyzed,the different permeable property of triple media makes two plats on semi-logarithm curve and two concave on derivative curve.The well testing response of laminated heterogeneous geological model,linear fault model,inconstant deliverability model and composite model is calculated respectively.The certain fractures and vugs of fracture-vug type reservoirs can be taken into consideration in the numerical well testing model,so as to be extended to dual-phase flow well testing for fracture-vug type reservoirs.
A Review of “The Librarian As Information Consultant: Transforming Reference For The Information Age”

In the introduction, Murphy uses her personal experience at Ohio State University Libraries and the literature to outline the argument “that reference librarians must reposition themselves as libra...
Molecular Structure and Dynamics of Ionic Liquids in a Rigid-Rod Polyanion-Based Ion Gel

The recent fabrication of liquid crystalline ion gels featuring rigid-rod polyanions aligned within room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) opens up exciting new avenues for engineering ion conducting materials. These gels exhibit an unusual combination of properties including high ionic conductivity, distinct transport anisotropy, and widely tunable elastic modulus. Using molecular simulations, we study the structure and dynamics of the ions in an ion gel consisting of rigid-rod polyanions and [C2mim][TfO] RTILs. We show that the ion distribution in the interstitial space between polymer rods exhibits the hallmarks of the RTIL structure near charged surfaces; i.e., cations (C2mim+) and anions (TfO–) form alternating layers around the polymer rods and the charge on the rod is overscreened by the ionic layer surrounding it. The distinct ordering of ions suggests the formation of a long-range “electrostatic network” in the ion gel, which may contribute to its mechanical cohesion and high modulus. The dynamic...
Farm to Sensory Lab: Taste of Blueberry Fruit by Children and Adults

The average American child eats fewer fruits than recommended. Although taste is the primary motivator for food intake among children, little research has systematically measured children's liking of fruit and determined whether their preferences differ from adults. We phenotyped 49 children and their mothers to determine: (1) their liking of the taste of 3 blueberry cultivars (“Arcadia,” “Keecrisp,” and “Kestrel”) from 2 harvests for which total soluble solids were determined using a handheld Brix refractometer; (2) the association between liking and blueberry sugar content; and (3) the most preferred level of fructose, one of the primary sugars in blueberry fruit. Multiple methods, identical for all participants, assessed which cultivar they liked best. Dietary intake, determined via 24‐h dietary recall, revealed most children (73%) and adults (92%) did not meet dietary guidelines for fruit intake. We found that during the 1st harvest, Keecrisp was sweeter by 4° Brix than either Arcadia or Kestrel and was the cultivar most preferred by both children and adults. For the 2nd harvest, mothers liked each of the cultivars equally, but children preferred Arcadia, which was 2° Brix sweeter than the other 2 cultivars. Like other sugars, children's most preferred concentration of fructose was significantly higher than that of adults. In sum, children appear to be more sensitive to smaller variations in sweetness than are adults. Identifying drivers of fruit preference and assessing children's liking for whole fruits are important steps in developing strategies to increase fruit consumption among children. Although taste is the primary motivator for food intake among children, little research has systematically measured children's liking of fruit and determined whether their preferences differ from adults. In this farm‐to‐sensory‐lab study, we used multiple methods to assess liking for the taste of 3 blueberry cultivars picked during the beginning of the Florida blueberry season. We found that children prefer higher levels of fructose and appear to be more sensitive to small changes in the sugar content of blueberry fruit than did adults. These findings provide insight into the child consumer and highlights the potential for consumer‐driven breeding to produce fruit accepted by young children.
Species comparison of the physical properties of loblolly and slash pine wood and bark

Composition of the southern pine forest is now predominated by two species, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.), owing to fire suppression activities, natural regeneration on abandoned agricultural lands, and extensive planting. Comparison of the wood and bark physical properties of these pines is of interest in terms of the yields of usable biomass and, for the bark, its ecological functionality on a living tree. Trees from a species comparison study were used to generate wood and bark property data, on a whole-tree basis, and for stem disks collected at breast height. Models were constructed to explain the effect of relative height on wood and bark properties. When comparing the whole-tree data, slash pine wood (0.523 versus 0.498) and bark (0.368 versus 0.311) specific gravity values were higher, both offset by lower moisture contents; slash pine also produced a higher percentage of bark on a dry-mass basis (17% versus 12.5%). Unlike wood properties, bark properties ...
Humoral immune responses during asthma and influenza co-morbidity in mice.

Abstract Humoral immunity serve dual functions of direct pathogen neutralization and enhancement of leukocyte function. Antibody classes are determined by antigen triggers, and the resulting antibodies can contribute to disease pathogenesis and host defense. Although asthma and influenza are immunologically distinct diseases, since we have found that allergic asthma exacerbation promotes antiviral host responses to influenza A virus, we hypothesized that humoral immunity may contribute to allergic host protection during influenza. C57BL/6J mice sensitized and challenged with Aspergillus fumigatus (or not) were infected with pandemic influenza A/CA/04/2009 virus. Negative control groups included naive mice, and mice with only ‘asthma’ or influenza. Concentrations of antibodies were quantified by ELISA, and in situ localization of IgA- and IgE-positive cells in the lungs was determined by immunohistochemistry. The number and phenotype of B cells in spleens and mediastinal lymph nodes were determined by flow cytometry at predetermined timepoints after virus infection until viral clearance. Mucosal and systemic antibodies remained elevated in mice with asthma and influenza with prominent production of IgE and IgA compared to influenza-only controls. B cell expansion was prominent in the mediastinal lymph nodes of allergic mice during influenza where most cells produced IgG1 and IgA. Although allergy-skewed B cell responses dominated in mice with allergic airways inflammation during influenza virus infection, virus-specific antibodies were also induced. Future studies are required to identify the mechanisms involved with B cell activation and function in allergic hosts facing respiratory viral infections.
Mutually Tangent Spheres in n-Space

SummaryIn this note we prove that the points of tangency of n + 1 mutually tangent spheres in n-dimensional space lie on a generalized sphere. Coxeter's observation that for each of five mutually tangent spheres there is a sphere passing through the six points of mutual contact of the remaining four is a corollary of this result in the n = 3 case.
Dangers for Principals and Students When Conducting Investigations of Sexting in Schools

ABSTRACTCell phones and the use of social media have changed the environment in schools, and principals recognize all too well that new technology is almost always accompanied by new ways to misuse or abuse that technology. The addition of a camera to cell phones has unfortunately been accompanied with the serious problem of “sexting” by youth who send nude or semi-nude images to others through social media. Although many initial acts of “sexting” may be consensual, such images may still be illegal, and the potential for forwarding the images to others is very high. Principals are responsible for investigating all acts of “sexting” that they become aware of, and these investigations carry unique risks and dangers for principals due to the potential of the discovery of images of child pornography. This article outlines the major dangers principals must be aware of as they conduct sexting investigations in their schools, and also discusses the dangers of sexting for students. Recommendations for minimizing ...
Farnesoid X receptor signaling activates the hepatic X-box binding protein 1 pathway in vitro and in mice.

Bile acids are endogenous ligands of the nuclear receptor, farnesoid X receptor (FXR), and pharmacological FXR modulators are under development for the treatment of several liver disorders. The inositol-requiring enzyme 1α/X-box binding protein 1 (IRE1α/XBP1) pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR) is a protective cellular signaling pathway activated in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We investigated the role of FXR signaling in activation of the hepatic XBP1 pathway. Mice were treated with deoxycholic acid (DCA), cholestyramine, GW4064, or underwent bile duct ligation (BDL), and hepatic UPR activation was measured. Huh7-Ntcp and HepG2 cells were treated with FXR agonists, inhibitor, small interfering RNA (siRNA), or small heterodimer partner (SHP) siRNA to determine the mechanisms of IRE1α/XBP1 pathway activation. DCA feeding and BDL increased and cholestyramine decreased expression of hepatic XBP1 spliced (XBP1s). XBP1 pathway activation increased in Huh7-Ntcp and HepG2 cells treated with bile acids, 6α-ethyl-chenodeoxycholic acid (6-ECDCA) or GW4064. This effect decreased with FXR knockdown and treatment with the FXR inhibitor guggulsterone. FXR agonists increased XBP1 splicing and phosphorylated IRE1α (p-IRE1α) expression. Overexpression of SHP similarly increased XBP1 splicing, XBP1s, and p-IRE1α protein expression. SHP knockdown attenuated FXR agonist-induced XBP1s and p-IRE1α protein expression. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays demonstrate a physical interaction between overexpressed green fluorescent protein (GFP)-SHP and FLAG-IRE1α in HEK293T cells. Mice treated with GW4064 had increased, and FXR and SHP null mice had decreased, basal Xbp1s gene expression. Conclusion FXR signaling activates the IRE1α/XBP1 pathway in vivo and in vitro. FXR pathway activation increases XBP1 splicing and enhances p-IRE1α expression. These effects are mediated, at least in part, by SHP. IRE1α/XBP1 pathway activation by bile acids and pharmacological FXR agonists may be protective during liver injury and may have therapeutic implications for liver diseases. (Hepatology 2018;68:304-316).
SCbench: a benchmark design suite for systemC verification and validation

SystemC has become a de-facto standard hardware modelling language in the semiconductor industry, enabling early exploration of design spaces and verification at a higher level of abstraction. It is both important and necessary for researchers to evaluate their new verification approaches and algorithms quantitatively. This paper presents SCBench, a comprehensive suite of benchmark designs for SystemC verification and validation. SCBench consists of 38 well-written representative behavior-level SystemC designs, which have been selected carefully from various application domains, such as CPU architecture, security, network, and artificial intelligence. The benchmark covers most core features of SystemC language. SCBench is freely available online to all researchers.
Interaction Between Design and Control In Heat-Integrated Distillation Synthesis

Abstract Heat integration between distillation columns produces economic benefits by reducing utility costs but simultaneously affects controllability by creating more interaction between the columns. This paper applies a systematic procedure for analyzing the interaction between design and control to the synthesis of distillation columns separating a binary mixture, with the flowsheet unknown a priori but including the possibility of heat integration. The procedure incorporates both steady-state economic and open-loop controllability measures into a multiobjective mixed-integer nonlinear (MINLP) optimization problem. Solution of the optimization problem produces a nonconvex non-inferior solution set with the explicit economic and control trade-offs between different configurationsl alternatives involving a single column and a double-effect configuration.
Line edge roughness reduction for 7nm metals

Line edge roughness (LER) reduction is critical during the patterning process definition and development, as the critical dimension (CD) and pitch scale in advanced semiconductor technology nodes. In this paper, we will focus on a 7nm self-aligned double patterning (SADP) process for use in back end of line (BEOL). Specifically, we will investigate LER from various lithography options and how LER changes through downstream processes, including mandrel etch, spacer deposition, hard mask open, dielectric etch and wet clean. We characterized LER as a function of several mandrel etch parameters such as O2 flow rate, over etch rate percentage and polymer deposition rates. We also characterized LER response to dielectric etch parameters and found that while some etch processes may smooth high frequency LER, there are additional cases where the final etch and wet-clean increased LER and line wiggling. Overall, we observed that lithography is the primary source of LER and we have the opportunity to reduce LER by both design and process optimization. In this paper we focused on characterization of a standard logic cell with varied CD and pitch. We looked through various designs, retargeting as well as both negative tone developer (NTD) and positive tone developer (PTD) resists for the LER reduction. We also analyzed the image log slope (ILS) of each corresponding edge and the process windows of the resist candidates. We concluded that ILS improvement and resist selection are the primary knobs to reduce LER. With optimization, we can achieve LER close to the process assumption targets for 7nm technology node. Further LER reduction techniques are definitely needed in both 7nm and future nodes even with migration from 193nm to EUV lithography.
Quantization of the gamma function

A class of weight functions for the upper half-plane is introduced which admit a generalization of Fourier analysis. A weighted Hardy space for the upper half-plane is considered, as well as related Hilbert spaces of entire functions. Both the Hardy space and the spaces of entire functions admit dissipative imaginary shifts. The dissipative property implies that the weight function has an analytic extension to a half-plane which contains the upper half-plane and that the ratio of the shifted function to the given function has nonnegative real part in the half-plane. These conditions are satisfied when the weight function is a constant, in which case the Hilbert spaces of entire functions are the Paley-Wiener spaces of Fourier analysis. The simplest nontrivial examples of such weight functions are constructed from the gamma function. The associated Hilbert spaces of entire functions appear in the theory of the Hankel transformation. The spaces have been called Sonine spaces by James and Virginia Rovnyak because they are related to properties of the Hankel transformation, which were discovered in 1880 by N. Sonine. His contributions are often taken as motivation for the Riemann hypothesis because entire functions appear which are related to zeta functions and for which an analogue of the Riemann hypothesis is true. This feature persists in all the Hilbert spaces of entire functions associated with the present generalization of the gamma function. The generalization is seen as a variation on the classical theme of quantization in special function theory.
Experimental Methods for High-Temperature Aerospace Structures

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the experimental methods for high-temperature aerospace structures. It places the emphasis on airframe and spacecraft structures. The development of thermal structural test capabilities after World War II was strongly motivated by problems disclosed by the early supersonic flights. Although the WW II German V-2 rocket development program has been documented extensively, the fact that these missiles ushered in the modern era of supersonic flight has not always been emphasized. Among the most widely conducted tests are tensile/compression tests using universal testing machines. These tests are used frequently to characterize material behavior over a range of loads with controlled temperature and strain rates. The X-15 was a high-speed, high altitude research vehicle used by NASA to investigate the basic aspects of hypersonic flight. The X-15 horizontal stabilizer provided both pitch and roll control for the vehicle. The stabilizer was of conventional semimonocoque construction. Control feedback was provided by thermocouples at particular locations on the stabilizer. The stabilizer was instrumented with 132 thermocouples for both laboratory and flight tests. The chapter presents the basic features of thermal structural testing including test approaches and typical results. Many different kinds of experiments are reviewed to demonstrate the diversity of thermal structural phenomena. It provides a general discussion of thermal structural test techniques including heating and cooling, instrumentation, and thermal-structural boundary conditions.
Pacifica Radio e a radiodifusão comunitária nos Estados Unidos

A Pacifica Radio Network serviu como modelo para a radiodifusao comunitaria, introduzindo o patrocinio pelo ouvinte, o guia de programacao e importantes tecnicas de arrecadacao de recursos. Este artigo oferece uma leitura critica da historia da Pacifica Foundation, baseada na teoria social de Max Weber e de Anthony Giddens. No decorrer da segunda metade do seculo XX, as crises na Pacifica Radio Network foram reportadas ao redor do mundo. Quais sao as principais causas dessas tensoes? E o que elas podem nos dizer sobre a producao e distribuicao de midia radical orientada para uma comunidade?
ABM Clinical Protocol #29: Iron, Zinc, and Vitamin D Supplementation During Breastfeeding

A central goal of The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is the development of clinical protocols, free from commercial interest or influence, for managing common medical problems that may impact breastfeeding success. These protocols serve only as guidelines for the care of breastfeeding mothers and infants and do not delineate an exclusive course of treatment or serve as standards of medical care. Variations in treatment may be appropriate according to the needs of an individual patient.
Skin Conductance as an In Situ Marker for the Degree of Concentration in a First Person Shooting Training Game: Some Preliminary Findings

It is known that varying degrees of concentration could lead to the change of body property such as skin conductance level. Through our experiments in the present study, assuming concentration related to skin conductance level, we use skin conductance variety detected using a compact and wearable galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor to investigate the possible link between the degree of concentration and the level of skin conductance for college students involving one of the most favored daily activities-game playing. In our experiment, four adults (four men) completed a specific mode of web-based game requiring a certain degree of concentration. Mixed results had been obtained. Preliminary results revealed that when players are concentrated (exhibited by relatively low level of skin conductance value), their performance tends to be better. Our results also showed that such pattern might vary as a function of both internal and external factors; no conclusive results can be obtained on whether skin conductance can be used a reliable in situ marker for the degree of concentration. Despite these, our study serves as a preliminary yet promising one down the research path.
Dispositions for Inclusive Literacy: Fostering an Equitable and Empowering Education for Academically Diverse Learners

This article offers teacher educators’ practical methods for, and shares findings from a study of, developing teacher candidate dispositions for inclusive literacy. Based on the extensive teacher disposition literature, the authors discern that dispositions for inclusive literacy include the belief that all students have valid ways of being literate; the value of inclusive literacy experiences for all students; and an attitude that all students should be participants in meaningful literacy experiences. Using a within-site case study approach, qualitative thematic analysis of three assignments used in a literacy teaching methods course suggest that it is possible to shift narrow dispositions to broader and more inclusive conceptualizations that support struggling readers and students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Conclusions suggest that dispositional development toward inclusive literacy can support teacher candidates’ implementation of inclusive literacy practices; thus, fostering an equitable and empowering education for academically diverse learners.
Effect of lithium codopant concentration on the luminescence properties of (Lu0.75Y0.25)3Al5O12: Pr3+ single crystals: Before and after air annealing

Abstract In this paper, we present the photoluminescence and scintillation performance of Pr3+ doped (Lu0.75Y0.25)3Al5O12 single crystals as a function of Li+ concentration. Lithium concentration had no effect on the optical properties of LuYAG: Pr single crystal scintillators regardless of concentration. On the other hand, scintillation light yield increased by as much as 94% with the incorporation of lithium as a codopant, and the energy resolution at 662 keV was improved to 4.1%, which is an outstanding energy resolution for an oxide single crystal scintillator. Lithium codoping slightly lengthened the fast component of the scintillation decay time, and slightly decreased the contribution from the slow component. Additionally, the samples were annealed in air and scintillation properties were compared before and after this annealing treatment. The change in scintillation properties is explained through the analysis of thermoluminescence glow curves.
Trends in Contracting and Common Ownership Between Hospice Agencies and Nursing Homes.

Background In recent years, policymakers have paid particular attention to the emergence of a robust for-profit hospice sector and increased hospice use by nursing home residents. Previous research has explored financial incentives for nursing home-hospice use, but there has been limited research on nursing home-hospice partnerships and none on the extent of nursing home-hospice common ownership. Objective To describe trends in nursing home-hospice contracting and common ownership and to identify potential tradeoffs in care provided by nursing homes and hospice agencies that share common ownership. Research design Retrospective cohort study of nursing home-hospice patients between 2005 and 2015. Results Between 2005 and 2015, the number of hospice agencies and nursing homes with common ownership grew substantially, now representing almost 1-in-5 providers in each sector. Relative to individuals using hospice in nursing homes without common ownership, adjusted analyses found that individuals receiving hospice from a commonly owned agency had a greater likelihood of having stays of 90 days or more [odds ratio (OR)=1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.10], having a stay resulting in a live discharge (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11), and having at least 1 registered nurse/licensed practical nurse visit during the last 3 days of life (OR=1.17; 95% CI, 1.05-1.29); these individuals also had a lower mean visit hours per day (-0.07; P=0.003). Conclusions Common ownership between hospice agencies and nursing homes is an emerging trend that reflects a broader push toward consolidation in the health care sector. Our analyses highlight potential concerns relevant to Medicare payment policy and are a first step toward improving our understanding of these trends and their implications.
Serum electrolyte dynamics in multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Aim High-dose melphalan followed by autologous haematopoietic cell transplantation remains the standard-of-care therapy for multiple myeloma (MM). Gastrointestinal toxicity concomitant with electrolyte derangement is a primary cause of morbidity from transplant. Here, we assessed the dynamics of electrolyte imbalances and its role in hematologic counts and engraftment. Ω Patients and Methods One hundred and eighteen MM patients that received transplant were studied. Results Engraftment speed (ES) was calculated as the period between the first rise in the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and full engraftment defined as the first of three consecutive days with ANC > 500 × 106 /L. The defined median ES was 2 days (range 0-5 days) and 40 patients had ES ≤2 days. Engraftment occurred at a median of 10 days. The median time-to-nadir for phosphorus and potassium was 10 and 4.28 days, respectively. The drop in phosphorus and potassium serum level was statistically greater in patients with an ES ≤2 days compared to patients with ES ≥2 days. Magnesium level were not significantly affected and there was no significant difference between the drop in serum phosphorus and potassium based on severity of nausea or oral mucositis. Conclusion Our results indicate that there is a significant correlation between the magnitude of drop in potassium and phosphorous levels and a steep rise in neutrophil counts around the engraftment period following stem cell transplant. These events indicate a "genesis syndrome" characterized by a rapid, massive transfer of electrolytes into proliferating cells as has been previously described after HCT for certain high-grade lymphomas and leukemias.
Evaluating the generality and social acceptability of early friendship skills

The development of prosocial skills is considered pivotal to childhood development. The friendship unit of the Preschool Life Skills program teaches early prosocial skills likely to facilitate socially desirable behaviors in young children; however, the friendship unit is the most understudied unit and has produced modest, inconsistent outcomes across children. The current study aimed to evaluate procedures necessary to (a) teach friendship skills to 4 children, with and without developmental disabilities, in an applied context and (b) promote the use of these skills with a same-aged peer. Teaching 5 friendship skills in a 1-to-1 format with the addition of tangible reinforcement, if necessary, was efficacious at increasing the children's friendship skills with an adult. Additional tactics were necessary to promote prosociality with a peer. We discuss refinements to the teaching procedures and additional considerations to improve the social acceptability and durability of prosocial skills.
Bovine gastrointestinal surgery

There is an oft quoted premise that cattle are more resistant to surgical infection than horses. It is my firm belief based on observation of abdominal surgery in both species, that this statement has no merit. In fact, the belief of this concept may be dangerous, because it may give the erroneous impression that one can achieve consistently favorable results regardless of the quality of surgical technique used. Two statements need to be remembered. First, the healthy peritoneum, regardless of species, is very forgiving. Second, surgical infections in cattle whether in the form of peritonitis or body wall infections, can be serious and fatal.
I Provoke Therefore I Am: Cross-Border Mediatizations of Femen’s “Sextremist” Protest

This article analyzes the (re)mediations of one of the pivotal protest events of the topless female activist group Femen in Ukraine, Russia, France, and The Netherlands. We examine how the cutting down of a crucifix in downtown Kiev in 2012 by Femen became an image event and put the group on the map globally, promoting a new style of affective female activism. Providing a slightly revised version of Bruno Latour’s Actor-Network Theory, we propose to study image events through rupture-connection-transformation processes. We examine how this image event of Femen traversed political, cultural, and ideological borders, creating a swarm of contrasting responses and transformations. Through close audio and visual analysis of networked digital artifacts, we argue that Femen ignites debates around taboo topics, creates new divisions, and bridges old divides.
Optimal Inventory Policies under Taxation

Corporate income tax (CIT), as an important economic instrument in most jurisdictions, constitutes a significant portion of financial costs in business operations. It is known that the structure of tax function, accounting method and loss carryover policy have significant impacts on a firm's operational strategies, which, however, has received little attention in operations management literature. In this paper, we study the effects of taxation on optimal inventory policies under accrual accounting. More specifically, we consider a risk-neutral firm managing a single-item periodic-review inventory system. We formulate the problem as a cyclic stochastic dynamic program with multiple accounting periods, each of which consists of multiple ordering periods. We first show that the optimal inventory policy can be characterized by an income-dependent base-stock policy in both the setting with proportional tax and loss carryforward and the setting with general progressive tax and no loss carryforward. We show that tax function convexity and loss carryforward may introduce conflicting incentives into the decision making: the formal drives risk-averse decision while the latter induces risk-seeking behavior. In particular, we further identify two intertemporal effects of taxation, namely, the intra-accounting-period effect and the inter-accounting-period effect, on optimal inventory decisions, both inducing smaller basestock levels due to the tax function convexity. Our numerical study further examines the effects of various characteristics of taxation on the optimal policies and shows that ignoring taxation in inventory decisions may result in significant losses when the degree of tax function convexity and demand uncertainty are sufficiently high, which reinforces the value of tax considerations in inventory management.
Assessing the impact of autonomy and overconfidence in UAV first-person view training.

Abstract With the rapid rise in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military and civil first-person applications like infrastructure inspection, there is an increased need for skilled UAV operators. However, research on effective training of UAV pilots has not kept pace with the demand. How much autonomy should be onboard, how much training, and how much control humans should have are still points of debate. To help fill this gap, this paper examines how different training programs and levels of control autonomy affect training outcomes for people operating a UAV in inspection tasks with high onboard autonomy. Results revealed a cost-benefit trade space in that those top performers with both lower-level teleoperation and higher-level supervisory control training could achieve the best performance, but with higher variability, as compare to those who received just supervisory control training. Another important finding was that those trainees who were overconfident were more likely to spend too much time micro-controlling the UAV, and also 15 times more likely to crash. Given that commercial UAV licensing is expected to significantly increase in the next few years, these results suggest more work is needed to determine how to mitigate overconfidence bias both through training and design.
Bias in education disability accommodations

Abstract For students with disabilities, educational success often depends on accommodations. We study accommodation decision-making by implementing a large-scale survey experiment with staff who work in disability services at U.S. colleges. We find evidence of disability specific bias – against those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as opposed to a vision impairment. This bias appears in respondents’ attitudes toward students and their expectations about which students will receive accommodations. We offer evidence that perceptions of work ethic underlie the disability bias. Our exploration into racial bias arrives at a nuanced picture – we find evidence of racial bias, but it is concentrated only among staff who report not having taken a racial bias training course. This could reflect an impact of such courses or differences between those who do and do not choose to take a course. We conclude with a discussion of possible steps to minimize bias and move towards a more equitable allocation of disability services.
Two-Color Laser Induced Electron Emission

Ultrafast electron emission is important to free electron lasers (FELs), laser acceleration of relativistic electrons and electron sources. It is also important to the development of novel vacuum nanoelectronics [1]–[3]. Two-color laser pulses have been used to produce ultrafast electron emission from a metal nanotip, showing great control of the dynamics and distribution of electrons [4]. We present an analytical model for ultrafast electron emission from a metal-vacuum interface due to two-color laser fields, by solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation [5]. Our exact solutions are valid for arbitrary fundamental and harmonic laser frequencies, laser intensities, phase difference between the two-color lasers, metal work function and Fermi level. The results are in a good agreement with the experiments [4]. Different electron emission mechanisms such as multiphoton absorption or emission, optical field emission and single-photon induced over-barrier emission are revealed in a single formulation.
LTE-based Pervasive Sensing Across Indoor and Outdoor

Besides the communication function, wireless signals are recently exploited for sensing purposes, enabling diverse applications. However, designing a wireless sensing system that provides truly pervasive coverage at city or even national scale and at the same time does not affect ongoing data communication is still challenging. In this work, we propose to involve the pervasive LTE signals into the ecosystem of wireless sensing. Although LTE sensing solves the coverage issue and does not compromise the communication function, it brings unique challenges. Due to the long distance between LTE base stations and terminals, the LTE signal interacts with diverse objects during the propagation process which causes severe interference in sensing. We enable LTE sensing by designing delicate signal processing schemes to combat against the severe interference. We demonstrate the advantages of LTE sensing using two typical applications, indoor respiration sensing and outdoor traffic monitoring. Extensive experiments show that the proposed system can achieve highly accurate respiration sensing with the blind spot and orientation-sensitive issues greatly mitigated. For traffic monitoring, the error of car speed estimation is lower than 2 mph, as good as commercial devices on the market.
Shared decision making: why do patients choose ureteroscopy?

To evaluate patient’s characteristics that affects their decision on the management of asymptomatic renal calculi, and to determine the impact of anesthetic on the selection of shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). A survey was distributed to 100 patients in our multi-disciplinary stone clinic. The patients were given a hypothetical scenario of an asymptomatic 8 mm lower pole stone and descriptions for managements options including active surveillance (annual radiography, 40 % chance of growth >10 mm within 4 years, 20 % chance of passage), SWL under conscious sedation (65 % success rate), and URS (90 % success rate, with stent placement for 1 week). Patients were asked what was the most important variable impacting the choice of treatment. Patients preferred SWL (45 %) over URS (32 %) and active surveillance (23 %). Patients with a previous experience with URS were more likely to choose it again (p = 0.0433). Decisions were driven primarily by success rate (52 %), followed by risk of complications (29 %), postoperative pain (7 %) and others (12 %). Patients choosing URS had the highest magnitude of history of pain (p = 0.03) and were more likely to prioritize success (78 %) and less likely to prioritize surgical risk (13 %) or anticipated pain after surgery (0 %) (p = 0.01). Most (85 %) of the patients would rely on the physician’s recommendation for the treatment modality. Patients place differing value on risk versus success. As they rely heavily on the physician’s recommendation, it is important that their urologist determine whether risk or success is of highest priority for them to facilitate a shared medical decision.
Water-Hammer Analysis of Distribution Systems

Complex networks containing multiple pumping stations, reservoirs, zones separated by pressure reducers, and outlets to local grids, are analyzed for steady-state conditions and for transient conditions. For 32K digital computer storage several thousand pipes may be handled for steady-state calculations and several hundred pipes for transient calculations. All solutions are junction oriented satisfying continuity at each junction together with the appropriate steady-state resistance equations or the algebraic water-hammer equations. An indexing system is used which describes the relation of each junction to its adjacent pipes and junctions. For steady-state, heads are assumed at each junction and linearized adjustments to heads are made at each junction, in turn, for many times, until all head and flow relations are satisfied to the required accuracy. Transient heads and flows are calculated at each junction, starting at time zero with steady-state conditions and repeated at each junction for fixed time increments. A computer program (Michigan Algorithmic Decoder) is presented, as well as examples of a valve closing rapidly and a pipe rupture.
Development of Murine Allergic Asthma Is Dependent Upon B7-2 Costimulation

Allergic asthma is thought to be mediated by CD4+ T lymphocytes producing the Th2-associated cytokines, IL-4, and IL-5. Recently, the costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2, which are expressed on the surface of APC, have been suggested to influence the development of Th1 vs Th2 immune responses. We examined the in vivo role of these costimulatory molecules in the pathogenesis of Th2-mediated allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in a murine model of asthma. In this model, OVA-sensitized A/J mice develop significant increases in airway responsiveness, pulmonary eosinophilia, and pulmonary Th2 cytokine expression following aspiration challenge with OVA as compared with PBS-control animals. Strikingly, administration of anti-B7-2 mAb to OVA-treated mice abolished allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, pulmonary eosinophilia, and elevations in serum IgG1 and IgE levels. Anti-B7-2 treatment of OVA-treated mice reduced both total lung IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid IL-4 and IL-5 protein levels, with no significant changes in IFN-gamma message or protein levels. In contrast, treatment with anti-B7-1 mAbs had no effect on allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, IgE production, or cytokine production, however, it significantly suppressed pulmonary eosinophilia. We conclude that B7-2 provides the necessary costimulatory signal required for the development of in vivo allergic responses to inhaled allergen exposure.
Psychiatry and Bioethics: An Exploration of the Relationship

Psychiatrists have been extensively involved in ethics in the general hospital over the past two decades and have functioned in that area in a variety of roles. The basis for psychiatry's strong interest in bioethics can be understood as related to three factors: familiarity with many of the clinical problems that lead to bioethics consultation, the frequent importance of psychiatric aspects of ethics, and the observation that psychiatrists already possess many of the clinical skills necessary for doing ethics work. The particular value of training psychiatrists to serve as ethics consultants, in addition to the importance of their continuing role on hospital ethics committees, is discussed.