cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An anaerobe from the mouth cavity of man and rabbits morphologically suggesting B. pneumosintes

One of us (W. L. H.) reported in 1919 the isolation of a minute anaerobe out of material from the mouth of five consecutive persons not suffering from influenza, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.The material was cultured on cooked meat and other media, and the bacterium attracted attention because of the abundance of gas it produced in cooked meat medium, but more particularly on account of its small size and the chance of its being confused in direct smears and mixed cultures with B. influenzae. It was thought at the time to be closely related to the Staphylococcus parvulus of Veillon and Zuber, but the descriptions of this gram negative anaerobe are too meager to permit complete identification. An anaerobe, which we considered to be the same, was reported at the meeting of the Association of Pathologists and Bacteriologists in May, 1922, as “A very small anaerobe giving gas in tissue.” The site of infection in the neck of this patient was in direct communication with the mouth cavity, and it may well have been an...
Experimental Pneumococcal Meningitis I: A Rabbit Model

SummaryA model of experimental pneumococcal meningitis in rabbits is described. Animals were infected by intravenous inoculation of 107 cfu of type III pneumococci immediately after withdrawal of 0.5 ml of CSF from the basal cistern. Pneumococcal meningitis, defined as CSF pleocytosis, positive cultures of the CSF, and clinical findings indicative of CNS infection 24 hr after inoculation, occurred in 54.5% of rabbits infected in this way. A higher proportion of animals, 83.9% developed meningitis if 0.5 ml of a 0.125% suspension of sterile mucin was injected into the cistern at the time of the initial tap (P = 0.025,×2). All but 2 of 54 animals with meningitis died spontaneously; the duration of survival of animals which did not receive mucin was 64.0 ± 20.8 hr (mean ± S.D.) while the animals receiving mucin survived 80.2 ± 20.1 hr (P < .001, t test). Mucin did not otherwise alter the clinical course of animals with meningitis, and the CNS pathology was indistinguishable within the two groups, and gross a...
Resilience analysis for complex supply chain systems using Bayesian betworks

The concept of engineering resilience has received a prevalent attention from academia as well as industry because it contributes a new means of thinking about how to withstand against disruptions and recover properly. Although the concept of resilience was scholarly explored in diverse disciplines, there are only few which focus on how to quantitatively measure the engineering resilience. This paper is dedicated to explore the gap between quantitative and qualitative assessment of engineering resilience in the domain of designing complex engineered systems in industrial applications. A conceptual framework is first proposed for modeling engineering resilience, and then Bayesian network is employed as a quantitative tool for the modeling and analysis of engineering resilience for complex systems. An industrial-based case study of supply chain is further studied to demonstrate the proposed approach. The proposed resilience quantification and analysis approach using Bayesian networks would empower system designers to have a better grasp of the weakness and strength of their own systems against system disruptions induced by adverse failure events.
Correlation between infiltration and metastasis of leukemia cells and adhesion molecules expression

Objective Acute leukemia (AL) is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of death in children The AL cells often infiltrate to the central nervous system and other extramedulary organs and cause the relapse of this disease The study here aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of some adhesion molecules to be involved in the infiltration process Methods The adhesion molecule CD 49d , the subunit of very late antigen 4 (VLA 4) expressed in AL cells, was detected by immune fluorescence staining (IFS) and flow cytometry (FCM) Human umbilical vein endothelia cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro The ligands, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM 1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM 1) expressed in HUVECs both before and after stimulating with the supernatant of cultured AL cells or TNF α, were examined by ELISA and FCM Adhesion rates between AL cells and HUVECs were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method Blocking adhesion rates with different monoclonal antibodies and their combination were tested also by MTT Results The CD 49d expression levels in ALL group and ANLL group with infiltration were 96 48%±5 54% and 95 21%±5 17%, respectively, which was significantly higher than those in non infiltration group and control group ( P 0 01) There was no VCAM 1 expression in HUVECs at the beginning of TNF α stimulation, then the expression increased and reached to the peak level in 12 h (A=0 6) The VCAM 1 expression was paralleled with the adhesion rates between the AL cells and HUVECs Both of them was up to the peak levels after HUVECs were stimulated by TNF α in 12 h The adhesion rate of ANLL cell was 28 6% and the ALL cell was 30 2%, both increased 3 times than that in the un stimulating cells The anti CD 49d or/and anti VCAM 1 monoclonal antibodies markedly reduced the adhesion rates between AL cells and HUVECs (30%～45%) The blocking adhesion rate with all four monoclonal antibodies was 50% Conclusion The capacity of infiltration and metastasis of AL cell might relate to the level of adhesion molecule CD 49d expression in the AL cell The more severe infiltration, the higher expression of CD 49d The adhesion process between AL cell and HUVEC was induced mainly by the adhesion molecule VLA 4 and the ligand VCAM 1 The application of anti CD 49d or/and anti VCAM 1 monoclonal antibodies or other drugs would be helpful to prevent the infiltration and metastasis of AL cells
The cost-effectiveness of treatment of age-related macular degeneration: a review.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease of the retina, most often seen among people over the age of 50. The disease is typically manifested by the loss of central vision and as such represents a major threat to the quality of life to those suffering with it. This report reviewed the evidence concerning the economic impact of macular degeneration in the developed world, examining reports on direct and indirect medical costs, as well as those that have attempted to estimate non- health care costs. It also aimed to review reports of the cost-effectiveness of treatment of the disease, examining nutritional supplements, photodynamic therapy, and anti-VEGF treatments.
TU-D-BRC-03: Future EPID Technology and Applications

There has been increased deployment of gantry-mounted linacs with onboard kilovoltage x-ray imagers. Despite this trend, most clinics still employ beam's-eye-view (BEV) imaging using flat panel electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) as a highly useful means of verifying geometric localization pre- and post-delivery. In recent years, there has been increased interest in the use of EPIDs for a variety of clinical and investigational applications ranging from megavoltage cone-beam CT, in vivo dosimetry, patient-specific QA to real-time target localization for dynamic MLC-based tumor tracking. In conjunction, there are several innovative EPID designs currently under investigation that hold great promise in bringing novel imaging and image-guidance applications into clinical practice. This symposium is aimed at clinical and research-oriented medical physicists who want to learn more about current and future megavoltage imaging technology and applications. In this symposium, we will examine the (i) interesting applications that make use of current EPID technology such as volumetric 4D image-based models, real-time position estimation for dynamic MLC tracking, etc., (ii) clinical applications such as in vivo EPID dosimetry and (iii) innovative high-performance EPID designs and exciting future applications, including designs based on thick segmented scintillators, hybrid kV/MV imagers using segmented strip scintillators, and energy-resolving EPIDs based on multilayer imagers and poly-Silicon active matrix flat panel imagers. Learning Objectives – In this symposium, the attendees will learn 1.Novel applications using currently available EPIDs 2.Use of EPIDs to perform in vivo dosimetry 3.Novel designs using high-efficiency, energy resolving EPIDs and future applications of megavoltage imaging J. Rottmann, Varian Medical SystemsP. Greer, Research Grant Funding from Radiation Oncology Institute (Grant ROI2013-912), 2013–2014
Post-Discharge Treatment Engagement Among Patients with an Opioid-Use Disorder.

Abstract Introduction Opioid misuse is a growing public health problem, and estimates show a 150% increase in opioid-related hospital stays over the last two decades. This study examined factors associated with substance use treatment engagement following a hospitalization for opioid use disorder or overdose. Methods This study analyzed the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters (CCAE) database for 2010 through 2014 to study post-hospitalization substance use disorder (SUD) treatment of individuals aged 18–64 who had an inpatient admission for an opioid-use disorder or opioid overdose. Engagement in post-discharge SUD treatment was defined as having at least two unique outpatient visits within 30 days of a hospitalization. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) with a binomial link were used to determine the factors associated with SUD treatment engagement. Results Only 17% of patients engaged in SUD treatment within 30 days of hospital discharge. A behavioral health outpatient visit prior to the SUD admission increased the odds of engaging in SUD treatment by 1.34 (CI: 1.25–1.45), an antidepressant prescription drug fill prior to the SUD admission increased the odds by 1.14 (CI: 1.07–1.21), a benzodiazepine fill prior to the SUD admission increased the odds by 1.14 (CI: 1.07–1.21), a principal diagnosis for an SUD at index admission increased the odds by 2.13 (CI: 1.97–2.30), an alcohol-related disorder diagnosis at index admission increased the odds by 3.13 (CI: 2.87–3.42), and an additional SUD diagnosis at the index admission increased the odds by 2.72 (CI: 2.48–2.98). Conclusions We found low rates of SUD treatment engagement following hospitalizations for opioid use disorders and overdoses. Patients with prior engagements with behavioral health providers were more likely to engage in follow-up care; therefore, providers may need to focus additional efforts on patients admitted to the hospital with opioid-use disorders who do not have an existing provider relationship.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and binge drinking in the reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces

ABSTRACTObjectives: We documented the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and binge drinking in U.S. Reserve and National Guard (Reserve Component [RC]) personnel for each service and branch by rank, gender, and deployment status. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of RC personnel (n = 2,003). We used weighted descriptive statistics to examine the prevalence of PTSD, depression, and binge drinking. Results: The prevalence of PTSD was 6.7%, depression was 6.8%, and binge drinking was 11.5%. The prevalence of having one or more mental health problems investigated in this study was 19.8%. The prevalence of binge drinking was higher for enlisted men (14.8%) than enlisted women (2.6%). Having one or more mental health problems was nearly twice as high for enlisted men (23.4%) vs. enlisted women (12.9%). For deployed personnel, the prevalence of PTSD or having one or more mental health problems was approximately twice that of never-...
Medical student attitudes toward kidney physiology and nephrology: a qualitative study.

AbstractInterest in nephrology among trainees is waning in the USA. Early perceptions and attitudes to subject matter can be linked to the quality of pre-clinical curricula. We wanted to explore these attitudes in the setting of modern curriculum redesign. We utilized Q methodology to understand first-year medical student attitudes after an innovative kidney physiology curriculum redesign that focuses on blending multiple learning methods. First-year medical students were invited to take a Q sort survey at the conclusion of a kidney physiology course. Students prioritized statements related to their understanding of kidney physiology, learning preferences, preferred course characteristics, perceived clinical relevance of kidney physiology, and interest in nephrology as a career. Factor analysis was performed to identify different student viewpoints. At the conclusion of our modified course, all students (n = 108) were invited to take the survey and 44 (41%) Q sorts were returned. Two dominant viewpoints w...
Juxtaposing Dreams and Loss: The Lived Experience of Homeownership and Foreclosure

Symbolically and historically, the attributes associated with homeownership are positive; however, in light of the 2006 housing crash and subsequent 2008 financial crisis, scholars and laypeople continue to reassess the sacred position homeownership holds in U.S. culture and the market economy. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study explored the meanings that five former homeowners associate with the lived experience of foreclosure. The findings reveal a juxtaposition that intersects the hopes and dreams of homeownership with the grief and loss of foreclosure. This polarizing experience uncovers the need for innovative policy and practice interventions. A discussion of implications for social work policy and practice include strengthening the bridge of micro- and macro-level interventions and addressing hopes, dreams, disenfranchised grief, and loss in the context of homeownership and foreclosure.
Leisure travel outcomes and life satisfaction: An integrative look

Abstract The goal of this study is to investigate the integral relationships among leisure travel outcomes, life satisfaction domains, and overall life satisfaction. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses of young Chinese leisure travel outcomes, this study grounded its conceptual framework in the theory of social production function as providing heuristics. Young Chinese overall life satisfaction was found to be enhanced through three universal goals – physical satisfaction improved by leisure-travel-based comfort, novelty and escape stimulations, social satisfaction boosted by improved social recognition and affection through travel, and satisfaction in career development which proved to be the people’s unique universal goal resulting from travel. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed, providing suggestions to researchers, policymakers and tourism product developers.
Reason analysis and precautionary measures of abnormal power factor

Aiming to decrease power loss, it is common to install reactive compensation devices to improve power factor and decrease the loss. As a result of that reactive compensation devices will work in overcompensation state(which means the energy meter works in IV quadrant), problems like increasing wire loss and decreasing voltage may do harm to the safety and stable operation of electrical devices. This thesis combined cases of exceptionally low power factor caused by over compensation, and did analysis on its harm and countermeasure in detail, so that the objection of loss decrease and energy saving would be reached and social economic benefit would be increased.
A ladder transistor-clamped multilevel inverter with high-voltage variation

In this paper, a new ladder transistor clamped multilevel inverter topology is proposed with the aim of reducing the number of transistor, while maintaining the bidirectional-controlled current flow capability of the transistor-clamped topologies. The basic structural features of the topology are presented along with their operational purpose. The merits of the new topology with respect to other topologies in the low-voltage and high-voltage operations are discussed. In addition, the semi-modular characteristics of the structure are discussed in regard to the scalability of the topology. Finally, the validity of the structure is demonstrated using simulation results for different voltage variations of the topology and a three-phase structure.
A Toolkit of Engineered Recombinational Balancers in C. elegans

Dejima and colleagues report using CRISPR/Cas9 to generate a new collection of greatly improved balancer chromosomes in the standard laboratory nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, using methods previously reported by the same laboratory, expanding the set of C. elegans balancers to cover nearly 90% of coding genes.
Arya: Operating System Support for Securely Augmenting Reality

Augmented reality (AR) applications capture sensor input from a user’s surroundings and overlay virtual output on their perception of the world, enabling new, immersive experiences. However, this technology raises serious security and privacy risks such as malicious or buggy AR output.
Drug metabolism in early infancy: opioids as an illustration.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Drug dosing in infants frequently depends on body weight as a crude indicator for maturation. Fentanyl (metabolized by Cytochrome P450 3A4) and morphine (glucuronidated by UDP...
Seeing through heavily polluted satellite imagery using QUAC

Extremely thick haze caused by air pollution is observed in many satellite images of the earth, and in particular over eastern China. Standard image display software typically provides satisfactory visualization of the ground through automated or user-driven scaling to enhance contrast; however, it does not perform well with these highly polluted scenes, where the haze is spatially non-uniform. Furthermore, estimation of surface reflectance using standard atmospheric correction software is highly problematic under these conditions due to very low visible transmission of the haze coupled with lack of knowledge of its optical properties, which may not conform to the haze or aerosol models in the software. In this paper we show that a version of the empirical Quick Atmospheric Correction (QUAC) algorithm, adapted for spatially dependent scattering, produces visually satisfying imagery of the entire ground in multispectral satellite scenes containing thick haze, and that the output reflectance spectra appear to be realistic enough for performing basic surface classification. The QUAC algorithm is applicable to multispectral and hyperspectral imagery with any number of wavelength bands, including true color (RGB) imagery, and does not require radiometrically calibrated data.
LPM: Layered Policy Management for Software-Defined Networks

Software-Defined Networking SDN as an emerging paradigm in networking divides the network architecture into three distinct layers such as application, control, and data layers. The multi-layered network architecture in SDN tremendously helps manage and control network traffic flows but each layer heavily relies on complex network policies. Managing and enforcing these network policies require dedicated cautions since combining multiple network modules in an SDN application not only becomes a non-trivial job, but also requires considerable efforts to identify dependencies within a module and between modules. In addition, multi-tenant SDN applications make network management tasks more difficult since there may exist unexpected interferences between traffic flows. In order to accommodate such complex network dynamics in SDN, we propose a novel policy management framework for SDN, called layered policy management LPM. We also articulate challenges for each layer in terms of policy management and describe appropriate resolution strategies. In addition, we present a proof-of-concept implementation and demonstrate the feasibility of our approach with an SDN-based simulated network.
Systems Other than Cold Atoms

Although the bulk of this thesis concentrates on cold atomic gases, I have also worked in other areas of condensed matter physics. In graduate school, this has largely been in low temperature fluids and solids. The following chapters discuss some results I’ve obtained on these systems: collisional properties of nearly-degenerate spin-polarized hydrogen adsorbed on helium films (Chap. 16), anomalous behavior of atomic hydrogen defects in molecular hydrogen quantum solids (Chap. 17), and a possible scenario for supersolidity, inspired by experiments on solid hydrogen and helium (Chap. 18).
Endocrine effects of adjuvant chemotherapy in premenopausal women: suggestions for the future.

Controversy continues to exist concerning the reason for an apparently greater therapeutic effect of postoperative chemotherapy in premenopausal Stage 2 patients as compared with postmenopausal patients (Brincker et al. 1987). The two major reasons suggested for the apparent difference have been a lower dose delivery in postmenopausal patients (Bonadonna and Valagussa 1981) and a drug-induced ovarian ablation in premenopausal patients (Pouquier 1978). The dosing hypothesis is not fully supported by other trials such as that of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), wherein the results for postmenopausal patients were similar to those of the initial Milan experience (Tormey et al. 1986). Similary, the differences observed in premenopausal patients with postoperative oophorectomy did not always provide a significant effect or appear to be as great as has been observed with postoperative chemotherapy (Cole 1975; Fisher 1971; Meakin 1986). This chapter examines this controversy further and develops a hypothesis to explain the apparently greater therapeutic impact of chemotherapy among Stage 2 premenopausal patients. The hypothesis suggests a treatment approach which could be tested in future premenopausal adjuvant trials.
Developmental Pharmacokinetics and Age-Appropriate Dosing Design of Milrinone in Neonates and Infants with Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery.

Milrinone is used for the prevention of low cardiac output syndrome in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery. Milrinone is mainly eliminated by the kidneys; however, there is limited information on milrinone pharmacokinetics in infants who have acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to develop a milrinone population pharmacokinetic model in neonates and infants with or without AKI. The developed milrinone pharmacokinetic model was utilized for a Monte Carlo simulation analysis to identify age-appropriate dosing regimens in neonates and infants. Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed with a total of 1088 serum milrinone concentrations obtained from 92 infants as part of a prospective clinical study in neonates and infants following cardiac surgery (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01966237). AKI stages were determined based on the Kidney Injury Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guideline within the first three postoperative days. A two-compartment model was found to adequately describe the pharmacokinetic data. Allometrically scaled body weight, AKI stages, and maturation function were identified as significant predictors of milrinone clearance. The proposed dosing regimens for milrinone continuous infusions were determined based on a target concentration attainment of simulated steady-state concentration and covered three age groups across 0–12 months of age for each AKI stage. This study provides a milrinone population pharmacokinetic model in neonates and infants and captures the developmental changes in clearance. Age-appropriate dosing regimens were determined based on the simulation analysis with the developed pharmacokinetic model. The findings will facilitate model-informed precision dosing of milrinone in infants with or without AKI.
Revisiting the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS): The Anxiety of Female English Language Learners in Saudi Arabia

With the increase in globalization, the study of English has become common in Saudi Arabia, but students’ experiences of foreign language anxiety (FLA) have been underexamined. Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries are culturally distinct from the Western world, where the most popular assessments of FLA were developed. Through a qualitative and then quantitative study, the current research examined the suitability of the most popular existing FLA questionnaire, the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), for use with students of English in Saudi Arabia. In Study 1, Arab women studying in an English preparatory program at an English medium college in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, responded to a single-item, open-ended questionnaire prompting them to list the situations in which they experience anxiety while trying to learn English. A new questionnaire drawing on the women’s responses and the FLCAS and incorporating new items pertinent to the context was then created. In Study 2, the AFLAQ questionnaire was administered to a new sample of Arab women studying in the English medium college, and their responses were analyzed to determine whether the situations described were actually common causes of anxiety, and to identify the most common causes of anxiety. The new questionnaire, called the Arabic Foreign Language Anxiety Questionnaire (AFLAQ), presents a modified version of the FLCAS that was designed to identify and understand specifically what the female Arab students studying in Saudi Arabia experience. A particular emphasis on concerns about self-presentation and embarrassment is fundamental to the AFLAQ due to the importance of honor and respect in Saudi Arabian culture, a concern that does not play as significant of a role in the FLCAS or in Western culture.
Simplified Design of a Pulsed Optically-Pumped (POP) Atomic Clock

The Rb atomic frequency standard (RAFS) is the workhorse of atomic timekeeping in space, and a possible next-generation GNSS manifestation is the pulsed-optically-pumped (POP) clock. For space applications, size, weight, and power (SWaP) considerations are critical, as is reliability. Here, we discuss three simplifications in POP-clock design that have the potential to result in lower overall SWaP and greater POP-clock reliability: (1) use of a VCSEL laser in place of a DBR or DFB laser, (2) use of a single laser pulse for both optical pumping and probing, and (3) use of a single vapor-cell for both the clock's atomic signal and laser-frequency locking. We also present preliminary results from a Cesium POP-clock testbed, which will allow us to test atomic parameters related to POP-clock design.
Rebuilding a Data Management Team to Improve Program Efficiency and Clinical Compliance

Introduction Prior to October 2017, our data management team was housed in a separate hospital department that operated from a different site on campus. This made it challenging for the two data managers to ask questions of BMT staff and providers, develop relationships, or understand the transplant process and its accreditation. Furthermore, because none of the leadership in the external department had BMT experience, the data managers were not properly trained, nor was their work sufficiently monitored and audited. To compound these problems, the BMT program was growing rapidly and increasing its transplant numbers by approximately 10-15% each year, thus increasing the CIBMTR reporting burden. These circumstances led to the failure of the 2017 CIBMTR audit, which prompted a complete restructuring of the data management team. Objective Establish an adequately staffed data management team with a team supervisor, implement formal data management training, develop an internal audit process, and collaborate with program leadership and the quality manager to ensure compliance with all CIBMTR requirements and FACT standards. Methods In response to the failed audit, the data managers transferred from the outside department to work directly in the BMT clinic and a data team supervisor was hired. The data supervisor collaborated with the program quality manager to develop a process for monthly internal data management audits. In addition, they created a formal training manual and competency checklist for the data manager role. The program now conducts extensive on-board training for data managers and ongoing weekly Q&A sessions to review results of internal audits, new/revised CIBMTR forms, or provide training, etc. To help with some of the more challenging CIBMTR fields, the team developed several physician worksheets, as well as a reference packet with response criteria and disease status guidelines from the CIBMTR Manual. Utilizing findings from CIBMTR and FACT, internal audits, and the results of CIBMTR's Best Practices Survey, the data supervisor and quality manager worked with the BMT medical director and nurse manager to request an additional data manager position. Working together, we successfully demonstrated the connection between CIBMTR compliance and FACT accreditation, including the potential negative impacts on our hospital if we did not appropriately staff and support our data management team. Results The changes we have made have led to consistently low error rates in internal data management audits. For the 6-month period from March 2019-August 2019, our cumulative critical field error rate was 1.79%, down from 5.3% in our 2017 CIBMTR audit. Conclusion Through a synergistic effort, the data supervisor and quality manager utilized the findings from our failed CIBMTR audit and its potential impact on FACT accreditation to expand and significantly improve our data management team.
A machine leaning approach for abdominal aortic aneurysm severity assessment using geometric, biomechanical, and patient-specific historical clinical features

Recent studies monitoring severity of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) suggested that reliance on only the maximum transverse diameter ( D max ) may be insufficient to predict AAA rupture risk. Moreover, geometric indices, biomechanical parameters, material properties, and patient-specific historical data affect AAA morphology, indicating the need for an integrative approach that incorporates all factors for more accurate estimation of AAA severity. We implemented a machine learning algorithm using 45 features extracted from 66 patients. The model was generated using the J48 decision tree algorithm with the aim of maximizing model accuracy. Three different feature sets were used to assess the prediction rate: i) using D max as a single-feature set, ii) using a set of all features, and, lastly iii) using a feature set selected via the BestFirst feature selection algorithm. Our results indicate that BestFirst feature selection yielded the highest prediction accuracy. These results indicate that a combination of several specific parameters that comprehensively capture AAA behavior may enable a suitable assessment of AAA severity, suggesting the potential benefit of machine learning for this application.
Uncertain Lambert Problem: A Probabilistic Approach

A complete solution to the uncertain Lambert problem is considered in this paper. While the deterministic Lambert problem considers the two point boundary value problem of the two body problem with a fixed transfer time, its uncertain counterpart is shown to be related to the propagation of uncertainty from a set of initial conditions. In contrast to the linearized solutions of the uncertain Lambert problem associated with a particular solution, our paper outlines a numerical process to characterize the non-Gaussian uncertainty associated with all solutions. Applications of solutions to the uncertain Lambert problem are detailed using representative examples.
What the CJEU’s Hungarian Cases Mean for Digital Taxes

Last week, the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rendered its judgment in two much-anticipated cases—Tesco-Global and Vodafone –that involve challenges to Hungarian turnover tax. Americans have closely watched these cases for what they may reveal about prospects for success of challenges U.S.-parented companies might bring against a growing set of European digital taxes. Both Hungarian cases involved challenges to the same “special tax,” a tax on net turnover from retail and digital advertising. Under Hungary's graduated special tax, all the businesses in zero bracket were Hungarian-owned, and all (or nearly all ) the companies in the highest bracket were foreign-owned. These cases were closely watched because if the CJEU had ruled that the Hungarian special tax discriminated in violation of the fundamental freedoms, it would imply that digital taxes would suffer the same fate. On the other hand, wins for Hungary would imply that challenges to digital taxes would be unsuccessful. Hungary won both cases, which does not bode well for digital-tax challenges. This article discusses the implications of the Hungarian cases for potential challenges to European digital taxes, and in particular for cases based on the argument I made with Leopoldo Parada in 2018 that unilateral digital taxes may violate the fundamental freedoms as discriminatory taxes because they disproportionately affect foreign companies. I conclude that, although the Hungarian cases could be criticized for being thinly reasoned and departing from precedent, and although digital taxes are distinguishable, Tesco-Global and Vodafone overwhelmingly signal that the CJEU will not be receptive to digital-tax challenges.
Cutting Edge: STAT1-Mediated Epigenetic Control of Rsad2 Promotes Clonal Expansion of Antiviral NK Cells

NK cells represent a cellular component of innate immunity but possess features of adaptive immunity, including clonal expansion and establishment of long-lived memory following infection. During mouse CMV (MCMV) infection, we observed Rsad2 (which encodes Viperin) to be among the most highly induced IFN stimulatory genes in activated NK cells, correlating with increased chromatin accessibility at the Rsad2 gene locus. Furthermore, in NK cells stimulated with IFN-α, the promoter region of Rsad2 was enriched for STAT1 binding and the permissive histone mark H3K4me3. IFN-αR- and STAT1-deficient NK cells showed an impairment of Rsad2 induction and chromatin accessibility during MCMV infection. Finally, Rsad2-deficient NK cells were defective in clonal expansion and memory formation following exposure to MCMV, in part because of greater apoptosis. Thus, our study reveals a critical mechanism of STAT1-mediated epigenetic control of Rsad2 to promote the adaptive behavior of NK cells during viral infection.
Environmental Factors in Renal Disease

The kidneys are particularly susceptible to injury by a variety of toxins and chemicals from the workplace and ambient environment. Chemicals with nephrotoxic potential include chlorinated hydrocarbons, various organic solvents, metals, and some drugs, including antibiotics and analgesic agents. Many of these substances, like the well-known effects of ethylene glycols, produce acute tubular necrosis. Others, like the hydrocarbon solvents, have been shown to produce an immune complex glomerulonephritis mediated by antiglomerular or antitubular basement membrane antibodies. Other mechanisms for injury of the kidney by toxins include anoxic from vascular effects and impairment of prostaglandin synthesis.
Reported Sexual-offense Incidents in the United States: Arrest Disparities between Women and Men.

This study examined the effect of an offender’s sex (male/female) on whether sexual-offense incidents reported to law enforcement culminated in an arrest. Two hypotheses, chivalry and evil woman, a...
A Novel 7-Level X-Boost Active Neutral Point Clamped Inverter

This paper proposes a new seven-level X-Boost Active Neutral Point Clamped (7LX-BANPC) converter for renewable energy applications. It is a hybrid configuration that is formed by connecting a conventional ANPC with novel X-switches to enable it to boost the voltage and produce seven voltage levels. The proposed topology is capable of producing 7 voltage levels with a lower number of both semiconductor switches and passive elements compared to existing 7-level inverters. The proposed topology requires only one dc-power supply to boost the voltage to 1.5 times the input dc-link voltage. It consists of eight switches and three capacitors. A unique, cross-coupled switching configuration is presented to achieve extra voltage boosting. The theory of operation for the proposed topology is presented. In addition, simulations and experimental results are presented which validate the operating principles of the proposed topology.
Reconstruction Of Missing Information In Satellite Imagery Using STS-CNN

Reconstruction of missing information in any satellite imagery is very important. Without correct information it is very difficult to identify the area in remote sensing images. In general, there are three different types of noises in satellite imagery such as dead pixels and thick cloud cover. The Failure in Instruments such as Aqua MODIS BAND-6 instrument and ETM+ SLC (Scan Line Corrector)-off condition will lead to missing of information. The existing model consists of Double weighted low rank model Algorithm which is a time taking and less efficient model. In this paper, reconstruction of information in satellite image got done using STS-CNN (Spatial-Temporal-Spectral Convolution Neural Network), which is very efficient and uses faster network for reconstruction of information in satellite imagery.
Ship Topside Integration and Electromagnetic Interference Control

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is rapidly becoming one of the major contributors to mission degradation in the U.S. Fleet today. Topside design and integration efforts have been used to reduce EMI, but this is not the total solution to the problem. A program of total ship and system EMI control must be implemented that will span battle groups and be effective during joint operations before optimum combat system effectiveness can be realised. This paper gives examples of some of the major EMI problems in the fleet today. It discusses both intraship and intership EMI problems, how these problems arose, and how they might have been prevented through the use of techniques such as frequency management, equipment design, better element placement and improved cable shielding. It describes the current topside design process, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) improvements being made and traces the history of EMC requirements and their application to date. It also describes a developing program for managing ship topside arrangement configuration. The authors project where the challenges lie for future topside and EM engineering designers and describe how the equipment acquisition process must improve in order to meet the challenge of effective EMI control.
Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Bifurcation Induced Passive Bandgap Reconfiguration

This paper presents a theoretical analysis and experimental validation of passively reconfigurable bandgaps in a 1D chain of oscillators. Nonlinearities in the system result in a morphing of the bandgap structure when the excitation amplitude passes a certain threshold. Specifically, an asymmetric bistability is used to achieve amplitude dependent filtering through passive bandgap reconfiguration. The experimental system consists of a 1D chain of axially aligned pendulums arranged in dimer unit cells with nearest neighbor coupling. Repulsive magnets are used to induce bistability in the pendulums. Comparisons between experiments and theory show good agreement.
A Social Metamorphosis: Constructing Drug Addicts From the Poor

The worthiness of welfare recipients has long been questioned. However, their stereotypic depictions have changed throughout the decades. In 1996, The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) authorized drug testing welfare recipients and denial of benefits for testing positive. The subsequent proliferation of drug testing policy proposals in states across the United States raises questions regarding the portrayal of the drug testing target population. We examined state legislators’ public discourse, proponent and opponent, in the welfare drug testing debate, to assess the social construction of welfare recipients. Proponent discursive statements outnumbered opponent statements nearly 5:1. Proponent discourse was overtly derogatory toward and disparaging of welfare recipients. Opponent discourse was generally more sympathetic and supportive of the target population. However, not all opponents were against welfare drug testing in principle or practice. The analysis demonstra...
CHANGING FRAMES: ENGAGING MULTIPLE IDENTITIES IN CULTURAL CONFLICTS

Border cultures, like Gloria Anzaldua’s Chicano community, provide a unique opportunity to examine the amalgam of two distinct cultures. While attempting to validate both Mexican and U.S. national identities, it is essential to examine the importance of individual and group identities. The article uses a sociological approach to examine the conflict between cultures. How can the people of these two nations create a shared identity? How can cultural intelligence1 improve international relations?
Type Classes are Signatures of Abstract Types

We present an extension of Haskell’s type class concept in which a type class is identified with the signature of an abstract type As shown by Mitchell and Plotkin, abstract types can be expressed using existential quantification. Unlike in Mitchell and Plotkin’s work, an abstract type does not come with one — and only one — implementation. Rather, any concrete type can be declared to be an implementation by a clause that corresponds to an instance declaration in Haskell. We introduce F-bounded existential quantification, where an abstract type has the form: $$\exists \alpha .C(\alpha ).\tau (\alpha ).$$ Here, C(α) is a set of constraints that restricts the range of the bound variable α, and τ(α) is a type constructed from α. The expression reads “some type τ(α), where α is some arbitrary fixed type satisfying constraints C(α)”. The constraint set C corresponds to a type class. Just like a type class, it contains declarations for overloaded identifiers as well as conformity clauses that declare one abstract type to be more specific than another.
Genomic structure and expression of uncoupling protein 2 genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) belongs to the superfamily of mitochondrial anion carriers that dissociate the respiratory chain from ATP synthesis. It has been determined that UCP2 plays a role in several physiological processes such as energy expenditure, body weight control and fatty acid metabolism in several vertebrate species. We report the first characterization of UCP2 s in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Two UCP2 genes were identified in the rainbow trout genome, UCP2A and UCP2B. These genes are 93% similar in their predicted amino acid sequences and display the same genomic structure as other vertebrates (8 exons and 7 introns) spanning 4.2 kb and 3.2 kb, respectively. UCP2A and UCP2B were widely expressed in all tissues of the study with a predominant level in macrophage-rich tissues and reproductive organs. In fry muscle we observed an increase in UCP2B expression in response to fasting and a decrease after refeeding in agreement with previous studies in human, mouse, rat, and marsupials. The converse expression pattern was observed for UCP2A mRNA which decreased during fasting, suggesting different metabolic roles for UCP2A and UCP2B in rainbow trout muscle. Phylogenetic analysis including other genes from the UCP core family located rainbow trout UCP2A and UCP2B with their orthologs and suggested an early divergence of vertebrate UCPs from a common ancestor gene. We characterized two UCP2 genes in rainbow trout with similar genomic structures, amino acid sequences and distribution profiles. These genes appeared to be differentially regulated in response to fasting and refeeding in fry muscle. The genomic organization and phylogeny analysis support the hypothesis of a common ancestry between the vertebrate UCPs.
Partial trisomy 21: A fifty‐year follow‐up visit

We describe a clinical encounter with family members that carry a balanced translocation involving chromosomes 15 and 21 roughly 50 years after the proband was diagnosed with partial trisomy 21 due to an unbalanced translocation. We discuss how these chromosomal rearrangements have impacted the lives of these individuals, and how they responded to revisiting their diagnoses after using updated cytogenetic techniques including high resolution chromosome banding and array comparative genomic hybridization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Concept of Market Components and the Spatial Organization of Periodic Markets

This paper develops the concept of market components and discusses the potential advantages of such a concept for studying different market systems including periodic and permanent markets. The assignment algorithm and the bottleneck assignment algorithm are modified and used to test this concept; the data employed are for periodic market systems in Southern Morocco.
Lung Abscess Secondary to Vibrio Fetus, Malabsorption Syndrome and Acquired Agammaglobulinemia

A patient who had severe acquired hypogammaglobulinemia, carcinoma in situ of the stomach, malabsorption syndrome, prolonged Vibrio fetus bacteremia, recurrent thrombophlebitis and lung abscess is presented. We discuss the association of impaired antibody production and infection with an organism requiring cellular immunity for protection.
The Choreography of HIV-1 Proteolytic Processing and Virion Assembly

HIV-1 has been the target of intensive research at the molecular and biochemical levels for >25 years. Collectively, this work has led to a detailed understanding of viral replication and the development of 24 approved drugs that have five different targets on various viral proteins and one cellular target (CCR5). Although most drugs target viral enzymatic activities, our detailed knowledge of so much of the viral life cycle is leading us into other types of inhibitors that can block or disrupt protein-protein interactions. Viruses have compact genomes and employ a strategy of using a small number of proteins that can form repeating structures to enclose space (i.e. condensing the viral genome inside of a protein shell), thus minimizing the need for a large protein coding capacity. This creates a relatively small number of critical protein-protein interactions that are essential for viral replication. For HIV-1, the Gag protein has the role of a polyprotein precursor that contains all of the structural proteins of the virion: matrix, capsid, spacer peptide 1, nucleocapsid, spacer peptide 2, and p6 (which contains protein-binding domains that interact with host proteins during budding). Similarly, the Gag-Pro-Pol precursor encodes most of the Gag protein but now includes the viral enzymes: protease, reverse transcriptase (with its associated RNase H activity), and integrase. Gag and Gag-Pro-Pol are the substrates of the viral protease, which is responsible for cleaving these precursors into their mature and fully active forms (see Fig. 1A).
Book Review: Social Work in a Sustainable World by Nancy L. Mary

Book Review: Social Work in a Sustainable World, by Nancy L. Mary. Lyceum Books, Inc., 2008. ISBN: 13 978-1933478197