cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enabling Seamless Wireless Power Delivery in Dynamic Environments

Effective means of delivering wireless power to volumes of spaces will enable users the freedom and mobility to seamlessly power and recharge their devices in an unencumbered fashion. This has particular importance for consumer electronic, medical, and industrial applications, where usage models focus on unstructured and dynamic environments. However, existing wireless power technology falls short of this vision. Inductive charging solutions are limited to near-contact distances and require a docking station or precise placement for effective operation. Far-field wireless power techniques allow much greater range, but require complicated tracking systems to maintain a line-of-sight connection for high-efficiency power delivery to mobile applications. Recent work using magnetically coupled resonators (MCRs) for wireless power delivery has shown a promising intersection between range (on the order of a meter), efficiency (over 80%), and delivered power (up to tens of watts). However, unpredictable loads rapidly change system operating points, and changes in position disrupt system efficiency, which affects the ultimate usability of these systems. Dynamic adaptation to these changes in operating conditions and power transfer range is a critical capability in developing a fully functional and versatile wireless power solution. This paper provides an overview of methods used to adapt to variations in range, orientation, and load using both wideband and fixed-frequency techniques.
Structural characterization of the released polysaccharide of desiccation-tolerant Nostoc commune DRH-1.

The structure of the viscous extracellular polysaccharide (glycan) of desiccation-tolerant Nostoc commune DRH-1 was determined through chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. The polysaccharide is novel in that it possesses a 1-4-linked xylogalactoglucan backbone with d-ribofuranose and 3-O-[(R)-1-carboxyethyl]-d-glucuronic acid (nosturonic acid) pendant groups. The presence of d-ribose and nosturonic acid as peripheral groups is unusual, and their potential roles in modulating the rheological properties of the glycan are discussed. Nosturonic acid was present in the glycans of N. commune from diverse geographic locations, suggesting that this uronic acid is an integral component of this cosmopolitan anhydrophile.
"The child is father of the man" (William Wordsworth, 1802).

The occurrence of atherosclerosis at an early age has long been the subject of curiosity and wonder. Isn't it remarkable that 65 of 140 combat soldiers who died as a result of injuries sustained in World War I had increased coronary atherosclerotic plaques at a mean age of 27.7 years ([1][1])? How
The effects of revealed information on catastrophe loss projection models' characterization of risk: damage vulnerability evidence from florida

We examine whether the risk characterization estimated by catastrophic loss projection models is sensitive to the revelation of new information regarding risk type. We use commercial loss projection models from two widely employed modeling firms to estimate the expected hurricane losses of Florida Atlantic University's building stock, both including and excluding secondary information regarding hurricane mitigation features that influence damage vulnerability. We then compare the results of the models without and with this revealed information and find that the revelation of additional, secondary information influences modeled losses for the windstorm-exposed university building stock, primarily evidenced by meaningful percent differences in the loss exceedance output indicated after secondary modifiers are incorporated in the analysis. Secondary risk characteristics for the data set studied appear to have substantially greater impact on probable maximum loss estimates than on average annual loss estimates. While it may be intuitively expected for catastrophe models to indicate that secondary risk characteristics hold value for reducing modeled losses, the finding that the primary value of secondary risk characteristics is in reduction of losses in the "tail" (low probability, high severity) events is less intuitive, and therefore especially interesting. Further, we address the benefit-cost tradeoffs that commercial entities must consider when deciding whether to undergo the data collection necessary to include secondary information in modeling. Although we assert the long-term benefit-cost tradeoff is positive for virtually every entity, we acknowledge short-term disincentives to such an effort.
Ann Taylor Stores Corporation - Deferred Taxes

Students are presented with the income-taxes footnote from Ann Taylor Stores Corporation's 2004 Annual Report and are asked to respond to several questions regarding information in the footnote. Questions center around what can be inferred about income-tax expense, deferred-tax expense, and deferred-tax assets and liabilities from the footnote.
VirusTAP: Viral Genome-Targeted Assembly Pipeline

Although next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology provides a comprehensive means with which to identify potential pathogens from clinical specimens, simple and user-friendly bioinformatics pipelines are expected to obtain the entire viral genome sequence, subsequently providing traceability, based on extensive molecular phylogenetic analyses. We have developed a web-based integrated NGS analysis tool for the viral genome (virus genome-targeted assembly pipeline: VirusTAP), which includes extensive sequence subtraction of host- or bacteria-related NGS reads prior to de novo assembly, leading to the prompt and accurate assembly of viral genome sequences from metagenomic NGS reads. The VirusTAP web site is at https://gph.niid.go.jp/cgi-bin/virustap/index.cgi/.
The First Americans: A brief history of race

“There are no races, only clines” F. B. Livingston (1962) “The biological concept of race … has no basis in science.” A. Goodman (1998) “Slightly over half of all biological/physical anthropologists today believe in the traditional view that human races are biologically valid and real. Furthermore, they tend to see nothing wrong in defining and naming the different populations of Homo sapiens .” G. W. Gill (2000) THE FOUNDATIONS OF RACE Higher primates, including humans, appear to have the capacity for identifying those who are part of a group and those who are not (Goodall et al ., 1996) – in other words, detecting who are a part of “us” and who are a part of “them.” Most cultures have strong notions about who are “us” and what defines “them.” These markers of “us” vs. “them” are primarily based on dress, custom, and language. Here, I focus on European views that (arguably) have had the greatest impact on how western cultures view worldwide human variation, especially that seen among the native peoples of the Americas. Roman scholar Plinius, also known as “Pliny the Elder” (AD 62–113), produced one of the earliest classifications of humans into subgroups. Following Aristotelian tradition, Pliny divided the world's people into the civilized peoples (classical Greeks and Romans), the barbarians (those tribal peoples outside the immediate Greco-Roman sphere of influence), and the monstrous (deviants from the classical human form, including the Cyclops, dog-faced people, giants, and dwarfs).
Dialysis Event Surveillance Report: National Healthcare Safety Network data summary, January 2007 through April 2011

A total of 24,092 adverse events in hemodialysis outpatients during January 2007 through April 2011 were reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network. Of 2,656 bloodstream infections, 67.3% were in patients with central venous catheters. For all events, rates associated with central venous catheters were higher than for other vascular access types.
Nucleation And Growth Rates in Isothermal Crystallization Op Amorphous Si50Ge50 Films

Isothermal crystallization behavior of as-deposited thin amorphous Si50Ge50 films (~1000A-thick) at 580°C has been investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystal counting method was employed in order to obtain directly the two-dimensional steady-state crystal nucleation rate of 3.9×l03 #/cm2sec (equivalent volumetric nucleation rate of 3.4×108 #/cm3sec). The modified two-dimensional Johnson-Mehl-Avrami analysis, in which the growth rate of the crystals was the only adjustable parameter, and in which the time-dependent nucleation rate and the size effect associated with the onset of the observation are considered, was developed in order to extract the crystal growth rate of 16.5 A/sec. When compared to the crystallization of a-Si films, these nucleation and growth rates confirm the observation that it is possible to achieve significantly faster crystallization at lower temperatures while producing substantially better microstructures (i.e., > 5 µm grain-sized poly-Si50Ge50 obtained within two hours at 580°C vs. 1–2µm grain-sized poly-Si obtained in about > 10 hours at 600°C).
Human leukemic polyribosomes.

SummaryRibosomes were prepared from normal human granulocytes, acute and chronic leukemias and rat liver. These preparations were analyzed for polyribosome (PRS) profile by means of sucrose density gradient centrifugation. None of the leukemic cell preparations had as high a proportion of PRS as did rat liver. Normal granulocytes and chronic granulocytic leukemic (CGL) cells had a greater fraction of PRS than did acute granulocytic (AGL) or chronic lymphocytic leukemic (CLL) cells. Most of the AGL and CLL particles were ribosomal subunits, monomer s, and dimers. With 30′ of uridine-3H labeling of all types of leukemic cells, the highest specific activity was in the subunits and PRS regions with low specific activity in the monomer-dimer regions. The data suggests that the monomers and dimers are not intermediates for the formation of PRS.
Active Jamming Technique for Millimeter Wave

According to the characteristics of the millimeter wave radar,the possibility to conduct active jamming towards millimeter wave radar is discussed.Several methods and techniques concerning active jamming are presented.Furthermore,the sticking points of the key techniques in millimeter wave active jamming design are introduced,and the solutions are also proposed.
Assessment of myocardial function and its clinical value in healthy children using Doppler tissue imaging

Objective To determine the normal range of Doppler tissue imaging(DTI)indexes of left ventrical regional wall motion in healthy children,and to assess the influence of age on myocardial function.Methods Two hundred and twenty eight consec- utive children aged from 0 to 15 years were enrolled in the study,DTI parameters of 18 segmental wall motion,including peak systolic velocity(Vsm),peak early diastohc velocity(Ve),peak late diastolic velocity(Va),Ve/Va,time to peak systolic velocity index(Tqs/ Tc),quick ejection time index(Tqe/Tc),isovolumic systolic time index(Tid/Tc),isovolumic diastolic time index(Tis/Tc)and mitral flow E/A ratio were assessed.Results Some DTI indexes in systolic and early-diastolic period(Vsm,Ve,Ve/Va)increased with ad- vancing age,left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVEDD),Time of cardiac cycle(Tc),and age showed positive correlations(P0.05)with them.Whereas DTI index in late diastolic period(Va)and some DTI time indexes(Tis/Tc,Tqe/Tc,Tqs/Tc)decreased gradually,and showed negative correlations(P0.05)with age,LVEDD and T c,respectively.There was significantly positive correla- tion(r=0.41,P0.05)between mitral inflow E/A ratio and the corresponding DTI Ve/Va ratio at the mitral annuli.Conclusion This study demonstrates the important clinical effects of cardiac growth and age on DTI indexes in neonates and children.It is necessary to consider the effects of age when evaluating myocardial function of children.
Effect of particulates on virus survival in seawater.

man pathogenic viruses whose fate in these waters is still incompletely understood. Outbreaks of infectious hepatitis have been traced to the consumption of shellfish taken from polluted marine waters,1 but epidem iological methods have not yet been de veloped enough for us to gain a complete understanding of the true extent of the transmission of viral disease by marine waters. This lack of information has placed additional emphasis on acquiring more fundamental knowledge about the fate of viruses in the marine environment.
PCV 10 introduction in National Immunization Program of Nepal

Abstract Nepal adopted immunization program as expanded program on Immunization in 1977 and it is considered a successful program in Nepal for its role in the reduction of infant and under-five mortality in the country. Pneumonia is a major killer of children and Streptococcus pneumoniae is the common cause of it. Based on the studies done in Nepal covering the existing serotypes, National Committee on immunization practice recommended PCV 10 for its immunization program and it was rolled out in phase-wise manner to all over the country after its introduction in January 2015. The schedule of PCV 10 in the routine National Immunization Program of Nepal is 2p + 1 at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 9 months of age. Immunogenicity and impact study are ongoing and it is too early to comment on the further efficacy of this vaccine.
Creative Role-Playing: The Duchess of Malfi

In his second tragedy, Webster again portrays a remarkable woman with a talent for self-dramatisation. Now though, he eliminates the confusing opaqueness of the ‘white devil’ and makes the tragic predicament of the Duchess — one not undercut by mocking scepticism — the clear centre of the play. The result is a finely focused, coherent drama. Role-playing, too, is here less an attempt to construct an identity than an integral part of character. Webster endows the Duchess with a sense of style that does not engulf her rich individuality but enables her to define it more fully. Nor is bravado or a splendid facade a substitute for moral awareness, as so often with Vittoria; the Duchess’s flair for ceremony is one important part of her sensitive and heroic response to her tragic predicament. Bosola, the other self-conscious ‘actor’ in the play, resorts to more obvious disguises. Yet his masks are less instruments of deceit than agents of self-discovery, demonstrating how adopted personae can engage with underlying forces in the psyche to reorient the total character. While role-playing consolidates the Duchess’s conflicting impulses, it serves to redefine Bosola’s moral identity.
Eco-labelling of marine recreation services: the case of Blue Flag price premium in Croatia

ABSTRACTEco-labels or eco-certifications communicate to the public and tourists that a business is employing one or more environmentally friendly practices. A successful label provides incentives for industry to participate by allowing for further product differentiation, leading to increased price premia. This paper examines whether the Blue Flag eco-label has a positive influence on prices of tourism services associated with marinas and beaches in coastal Croatia. For this purpose, panel data regression models are employed, and they explicitly address endogeneity of the eco-label variable arising from selection of firms adopting the label. Treatment effects and instrumental variables specifications are estimated, and results suggest positive impacts of the Blue Flag label on marina slip rental, sailboat charter, and hotel services, with price premia ranging between 18% and 72%. These results may be of use to businesses, governmental, and non-governmental organisations interested in pursuing such certifi...
Trouble on the Exchanges — Does the United States Owe Billions to Health Insurers?

On September 9, 2016, the Obama administration offered to open settlement negotiations with health insurers that have sued the United States to recover billions of dollars that they claim they are owed under a program of the Affordable Care Act.
Myeloperoxidase Is Required for the Combined Apoptotic Effects of Arsenic Trioxide with Ascorbic Acid or Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate in Myeloid Leukemia Cells.

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is a drug used world-wide that selectively causes the death of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells by novel mechanisms and induces complete clinical remission in 90% of patients without significant toxicity. The outstanding success of As2O3 therapy in relapsed APL patients has not been replicated by an equivalent success in other types of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We have studied As2O3 mechanism(s) of action and identified agents to use in combination to improve the use of As2O3 as a treatment for other types of AML. As2O3 produces higher levels of H2O2 and apoptosis in APL NB4 cells than in other AML cells at therapeutic concentrations of 1-2 uM. As2O3 does not induce apoptosis in HL-60 cells but is synergistic with ascorbic acid (AA) or epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Both AA and EGCG produce H2O2 which is augmented by the addition of As2O3. Apoptosis induction by As2O3 in combination with AA or EGCG is inhibited by catalase and the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a major neutrophil enzyme, augments H2O2-induced apoptosis by converting it into more potent reactive oxygen species. HL-60, NB4, SKNO-1 and PLB985 cells which express high level of MPO, but not U937 and K562 cells without expression of MPO, are responsive to As2O3 plus AA or EGCG-induced apoptosis. HP-100 cells, a subclone of HL-60 cells without MPO expression, are resistant to both combination treatments. MPO stable transfection sensitizes K562 cells to apoptosis following treatment with As2O3 and AA or EGCG. NADPH oxidase is an enzyme complex which generates O2− and H2O2 in neutrophils. In APL NB4 cells, As2O3 induces expression of NADPH oxidase members and is thought to participate in H2O2 production required for As2O3 response. X-CGD cells, a subclone of PLB-985 with targeted disruption of the gp91phox gene (Zhen et al, PNAS 90:9832, 1993) and loss of NADPH oxidase activity but with high levels of MPO activity, are responsive to treatment with As2O3 and AA or EGCG. These results suggest that AA and EGCG enhance As2O3-induced apoptosis through a synergistic production of H2O2 which is independent NADPH oxidase activation in non-APL AML cells. MPO augments the apoptotic effect of H2O2 produced by As2O3 plus AA or EGCG and it could be used as a marker to predict the sensitivity of AML cells to both combination treatments.
Li7La3Zr2O12 electrolyte stability in air and fabrication of a Li/Li7La3Zr2O12/Cu0.1V2O5 solid-state battery

Abstract The stability of Al-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 in air was studied in this paper. It was found that Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO) was unstable in humid air. Water vapor strongly affected its stability relative to composition, mechanical integrity, ionic conductivity and cell performance. X-ray diffraction studies of the surface of a one-year-old sample showed formation of La(OH) 3 and Li(OH)·H 2 O impurity phases, indicating the decomposition of Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 . The mechanical strength of the pellet was low, and it easily crumbled. Facile H + /Li + ion exchange in the electrolyte was confirmed by measuring the pH of an LLZO powder/water suspension. SEM observations show the reaction with water vapor initially occurs at the grain boundaries. AC impedance measurements showed the overall conductivity decayed after the pellet was stored in air for one week. Protecting a Cu 0.1 V 2 O 5 /Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 /Li all-solid-state battery from humidity significantly improved the cell performance at room temperature.
Gas sorption and non-Darcy flow in shale reservoirs

Gas sorption and non-Darcy flow are two important issues for shale gas reservoirs. The sorption consists of dissolution and adsorption. Dissolved gas and adsorbed gas are different. The former is dissolved in the shale matrix, while the latter is concentrated near the solid walls of pores. In this paper, the Langmuir equation is used to describe adsorption and Henry’s law is used to describe dissolution. The K coefficient in Henry’s law of 0.052 mmol/(MPa g TOC) is obtained by matching experimental data. The amount of dissolved gas increases linearly when pressure increases. Using only the Langmuir equation without considering dissolution can lead to a significant underestimation of the amount of sorbed gas in shales. For non-Darcy gas flow, the apparent permeability model for free gas is established by combining slip flow and Knudsen flow. For adsorbed gas, the surface diffusion effect is also considered in this model. The surface diffusion coefficient is suggested to be of the same scale as the gas self-diffusion coefficient, and the corresponding effective permeability is derived. When $$\frac{1}{p}$$ increases, $$\frac{{k_{\text{app}} }}{{k_{\text{D}} }}$$ increases, but the relationship is not linear as the Klinkenberg effect suggests. The effect of adsorption on the gas flow is significant in nanopores ( $$r \le 2\;{\text{nm}}$$ ). Adsorption increases apparent permeability in shales at low pressures and decreases it at high pressures.
Effects of Normal Metal Features on Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensors

In transition-edge sensors (TESs), the addition of normal metal stripes on top of the superconducting bilayer, perpendicular to the current direction, is known to globally alter the sensitivity of the resistance R to changes in temperature T and current I. Here, we describe measurements of the dependence of the TES current on magnetic field B, bath temperature and voltage bias in devices with various numbers of stripes. We show that the normal metal features have a profound effect on the appearance of localized regions of very large $$(T/R)\,\hbox {d}R/\hbox {d}T$$ . We associate this with changes in the current distribution and corresponding changes in the oscillatory pattern of I(B). $$140~\upmu \hbox {m}$$ TESs with no stripes are found to have a relatively smooth resistive transition and sufficiently low noise that the measured energy resolution is 1.6 eV for X-rays of 1.5 keV. The predicted energy resolution at 6 keV is better than 2 eV, once the heat capacity is optimized for these higher energies.
Nonlinear Characterization of a Kilowatt-class Amplifier Based on Laser Gain Competition

The scalability of dual wavelength laser gain competition for the design of beam combinable, high power fiber amplifiers is analyzed by characterizing the nonlinear phase accumulated due to self and cross-phase modulation.
538. Integrase Inhibitor-Based HAART Is Associated with Greater BMI Gains in Blacks, Hispanics, and Women

Background While older protease inhibitors (PI) were more likely to lead to isolated central fat accumulation, progressive increases in generalized obesity in HIV-infected patients following HAART initiation have been observed with most modern regimens, with greater increases in body mass index (BMI) reported in women and with integrase inhibitors (INSTI) use. We sought to analyze changes in BMI following initiation of HAART in a large urban HIV clinic and identify predictors of BMI changes.
Recurrent corneal erosion: a comprehensive review.

Purpose To comprehensively review the literature regarding recurrent corneal erosion (RCE) and to present treatment options and recommendations for management. Overview RCE usually presents with sharp, unilateral pain upon awakening, in an eye with an underlying basement membrane dystrophy, prior ocular trauma, stromal dystrophy or degeneration, or prior surgery for refractive errors, cataracts, or corneal transplantation. Making the correct diagnosis requires a careful slit-lamp examination of both eyes coupled with a high degree of suspicion. Several treatments are commonly used for RCE but new therapies have been introduced recently. Conservative treatment consists of antibiotic and preservative-free lubricating drops, with topical cycloplegics and oral analgesics to control pain. Patients who are unresponsive to these therapies may benefit from therapeutic bandage contact lenses (BCL). Newer therapies include oral matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors, blood-derived eye drops, amniotic membrane graft application, and judicious application of topical corticosteroids. Once the epithelium is healed, a course of hypertonic saline solution and/or ointment can be used. Surgical procedures may be performed in patients who fail conservative therapy. Punctal occlusion with plugs increases the tear film volume. Epithelial debridement with diamond burr polishing (DBP), anterior stromal puncture (ASP), or alcohol delamination should be considered in selected patients. DBP can be used for patients with basement membrane dystrophies and is the preferred treatment overall due to a low recurrence rate. ASP can be used for erosions outside the central visual axis. Excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy is an attractive option in eyes with central RCE since it precisely removes tissue while preserving corneal transparency. In patients with RCE who are also candidates for refractive surgery, photorefractive keratectomy can be considered. Summary Newly introduced therapies for RCE enable therapy to be individualized and lower the recurrence rate.
Determining efficient helical IMRT modulation factor from the MLC leaf-open time distribution on precision treatment planning system.

Purpose Since the modulation factor (MF) impacts both plan quality and delivery efficiency in tomotherapy Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) treatment planning, the purpose of this study was to demonstrate a technique in determining an efficient MF from the Multileaf Collimator (MLC) leaf-open time (LOT) distribution of a tomotherapy treatment delivery plan. Methods Eight clinical plans of varying complexity were optimized with the highest allowed MF on the Accuracy Precision treatment planning system. Using a central limit theorem argument a range of reduced MFs were then determined from the first two moments of the LOT distribution. A step down approach was used to calculate the reduced-MF plans and plan comparison tools available on the Precision treatment planning system were used to evaluate dose differences with the reference plan. Results A reduced-MF plan that balanced delivery time and dosimetric quality was found from the set of five MFs determined from the LOT distribution of the reference plan. The reduced-MF plan showed good agreement with the reference plan (target and critical organ dose-volume region of interest dose differences were within 1% and 2% of prescription dose, respectively). Discussion Plan evaluation and acceptance criteria can vary depending on individual clinical expectations and dosimetric quality trade-offs. With the scheme presented in this paper a planner should be able to efficiently generate a high-quality plan with efficient delivery time without knowing a good MF beforehand. Conclusion A methodology for deriving a reduced MF from the LOT distribution of a high MF treatment plan using the central limit theorem has been presented. A scheme for finding a reduced MF from a set of MFs that results in a plan balanced in both dosimetric quality and treatment delivery efficiency has also been presented.
Bioengineering of a single long noncoding RNA molecule that carries multiple small RNAs

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), regulate target gene expression and can be used as tools for understanding biological processes and identifying new therapeutic targets. Currently, ncRNA molecules for research and therapeutic use are limited to ncRNA mimics made by chemical synthesis. We have recently established a high-yield and cost-effective method of producing bioengineered or biologic ncRNA agents (BERAs) through bacterial fermentation, which is based on a stable tRNA/pre-miR-34a carrier (~ 180 nt) that accommodates target small RNAs. Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to heterogeneously express longer ncRNAs (e.g., > 260 nt), and it is unknown if single BERA may carry multiple small RNAs. To address this issue, we hypothesized that an additional human pre-miR-34a could be attached to the tRNA/pre-miR-34a scaffold to offer a new tRNA/pre-miR-34a/pre-miR-34a carrier (~ 296 nt) for the accommodation of multiple small RNAs. We thus designed ten different combinatorial BERAs (CO-BERAs) that include different combinations of miRNAs, siRNAs, and antagomirs. Our data showed that all target CO-BERAs were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli at high levels, greater than 40% in total bacterial RNAs. Furthermore, recombinant CO-BERAs were purified to a high degree of homogeneity by fast protein liquid chromatography methods. In addition, CO-BERAs exhibited strong anti-proliferative activities against a variety of human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. These results support the production of long ncRNA molecules carrying different warhead small RNAs for multi-targeting which may open avenues for developing new biologic RNAs as experimental, diagnostic, and therapeutic tools.
Normal Anatomy of the Uterine Cervix

This first chapter in the uterine cervix section illustrates and describes normal uterine cervix anatomy and histology. The uterine cervix is the most distal part of the uterus; its name implies the neck or neck-like part. Its size ranges from 2 to 3 cm in length, and it ends in the isthmus or lower uterine segment most proximally. It is composed of the ectocervix and the endocervix.
Uniform Exponential Stability Result for the Rigid-Body Attitude Tracking Control Problem

Uniform exponential stability (UES) is proved for the rigid-body attitude control problem using a proportional-derivative (PD) controller with feedforward terms associated with the desired attitude...
Prediction of Remaining Useful Life of an End Mill Using ANSYS

Remaining useful life (RUL) is the amount of time remaining for a mechanical component to perform its functional capabilities before failure. There are several prognostics prediction methodologies and techniques available to determine the RUL of mechanical components. In this paper, we are applying a combination of analytical and model-based approaches to generate a tool life prediction equation for a two-flute end mill. We performed static and dynamic analysis on a two-flute end mill in ANSYS Workbench with and without crack. With the tool life results that are obtained from fatigue loading for an end mill with crack, we generated design of experiments by various techniques like Central Composite Design, Optimal Space Filling Design, Box–Behnken Design, Sparse Grid Initialization, and Latin Hypercube Design. We modeled tool life equation for the experimental data using regression techniques.
A mindful yoga intervention for children with severe asthma: A pilot study.

Abstract Introduction Children with severe asthma may benefit from non-pharmacological approaches to symptom management, yet little is known regarding the impact of mind-body approaches such as mindful yoga in this population. This pilot study examined the tolerability, feasibility, acceptability and immediate effects of a mindful yoga intervention in children with severe asthma. Method Fifteen children ages 7–11 with severe asthma participated in a single mindful yoga session, followed by semi-structured interviews with the child and caregiver. Vital signs and pulmonary function tests were collected pre- and post-intervention. Results All children reported positive experiences and caregivers were generally supportive of their participation. One child experienced self-limited bronchoconstriction with asthma symptoms. There was no significant change in lung function or vital signs after the mindful yoga session. Discussion Our results warrant additional larger studies to evaluate the safety and benefits of mindful yoga in children with severe asthma.
Research status and applications of nature-inspired algorithms for agri-food production

Nature-inspired algorithms have been developed with biological mimicking. Machine learning algorithms from artificial neurons and artificial neural networks have been developed to mimic the human brain with synthetic neurons. This research can be traced back to the 1940s and has been expanded to agri-food problem solving in the last three decades. Now, the research and applications have entered the stage of deep learning with more layers and neurons that have complex connections to extract deep features of the target. In this paper, the developments of artificial neural networks and deep learning algorithms are presented and discussed in conjunction with their biological connections for agri-food applications. The related independent studies previously conducted by the author are summarized with the newly conducted being presented. At the same time, the algorithms motivated by recent bionics studies are compared and discussed for their potentials for agri-food production. Keywords: nature-inspired algorithm, agri-food production, machine learning, deep learning, artificial neural networks, artificial intelligence DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20201304.5501 Citation: Huang Y B. Research status and applications of nature-inspired algorithms for agri-food production. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2020; 13(4): 1–9.
Quantifying risk factors for ischemic colitis: A nationwide, retrospective cohort study.

Despite identifying numerous factors associated with colonic ischemia, the relative risk has been variable and not thoroughly evaluated. Hence, we aimed to quantify the risk of diseases and medications associated with ischemic colitis (IC). A population-based retrospective analysis in International Business Machines (IBM) Explorys (1999–2018), a pooled, de-identified database of 57 million patients in the USA, was performed. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated between IC and other diseases/medications. IC patients were also stratified by age to assess trends of IC in different age groups. A total of 1560 patients had IC in the database. Hyperlipidemia had the highest association with IC (OR 15.3), consistent with prior reports of atherosclerosis being a major risk factor for IC. Hypertension, congestive heart failure, constipation, prior abdominal surgery, and atrial fibrillation all conferred odds greater than 10, which is consistent with prior reports. Novel findings of our study include that beta blockers (OR 9.6) and pro-inflammatory disease states such as vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and malignancy all increase the risk of IC. Early identification of IC is critical for minimizing morbidity and mortality. Epidemiologic information could be integrated with current clinical algorithms to more rapidly identify patients at risk.
Structure-function correlation and personalized 3D printed tablets using a quality by design (QbD) approach.

Abstract The current investigation aimed to manufacture and evaluate the structure–function relationship of various 3D printed tablets by conjugating hot-melt extrusion (HME) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) based additive manufacturing (AM) technique. Design of experiments (DoE) and formulation optimization studies were performed by using the Box-Behnken design based on the effect of the design parameters and responses which included drug loading, mechanical properties, and in vitro drug release performance. Key parameters such as shell thickness, infill density, and layer height were selected as independent variables. The tablet's weights (as a function of drug loading), hardness tested at 0° and 45° set-up, the amount of drug released by 180 min, and the average drug release rate were measured as responses. The reproducibility of the printing process was also studied by repeating the mid-point of the DoE data set multiple times (n = 3). A series of evaluation and characterization studies, including DSC, XRD, PLM revealed the amorphous solid-state conversion of the crystalline drug, whereas texture analysis showed robust mechanical properties of developed filaments. All FDM compatible filaments with IBU in amorphous states were successfully utilized to manufacture and evaluate 15 batches of tablets. The shell thickness and infill densities were significant (p-value
Long-term video-EEG monitoring and interictal epileptiform abnormalities.

Abstract In the appropriate clinical setting, the presence of interictal epileptiform abnormalities (IEAs) on EEG supports the diagnosis of epilepsy. However, the absence of epileptiform abnormalities on EEG cannot exclude a diagnosis of epilepsy. The goal of our study is to determine the prevalence of IEAs in patients with confirmed epilepsy, determined by having at least one epileptic seizure recorded during video-EEG monitoring. In addition, we aimed to analyze the time to recording IEAs and seizures in correlation with patient age, duration of epilepsy, and seizure focus localization. We retrospectively evaluate EEG data for all patients admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit over a 2-year period. Of the 151 patients included, 129 (86%) patients had IEAs and 22 (14%) patients had no IEAs. Age and duration of epilepsy were not independent predictors of whether IEAs were present on EEG. The duration of EEG monitoring and time to first seizure did not influence IEA detection. In patients with IEAs, the mean time to the first IEA was 1.57 days. By day 5, IEAs were observed in 95% of the patients who had IEAs present on EEG (82% of total patients). The majority (75%) of patients also had their first seizure by day 5. We concluded that five days of EEG recording is optimal to detect IEAs and seizures, and that more prolonged recording has a low yield. Failure to detect IEAs should be interpreted with caution, and is not useful for diagnostic purposes.
The Antimicrobial Peptide Gad-1 Clears Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms under Cystic Fibrosis Conditions

Bacterial infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are an emerging health issue and lead to a premature death. CF is a hereditary disease that creates a thick mucus in the lungs that is prone to bacterial biofilm formation, specifically Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. These biofilms are very difficult to treat because many of them have antibiotic resistance that is worsened by the presence of extracellular DNA (eDNA). eDNA helps to stabilize biofilms and can bind antimicrobial compounds to lessen their effects. The metallo-antimicrobial peptide Gaduscidin-1 (Gad-1) eradicates established P. aeruginosa biofilms through a combination of modes of action that includes nuclease activity that can cleave eDNA in biofilms. In addition, Gad-1 exhibits synergistic activity when used with the antibiotics kanamycin and ciprofloxacin, thus making Gad-1 a new lead compound for the potential treatment of bacterial biofilms in CF patients.
Covalent Bonding-Based Adhesion Method for Rigidly Coupling Metal Nanocrystals to Metal and Metal Oxide Surfaces

The major challenges of developing a robust strain coupling between nanocrystals and a strain medium are addressed by employing a simple self-assembly-based adhesion process that relies on the form...
Comment on "comparative analysis of triple-negative breast cancer transcriptomics of Kenyan, African American and Caucasian women" by Saleh et al.

• Alterations to the somatic genome lead to a tumor. • Different germ line genomes influence the formation of the tumor and its response to therapeutics. • Germ line genetics can play a role in breast cancer. • Race is an imperfect measure of germ line genetics. • Black women have a higher incidence of triple negative breast cancer.
Conformal prediction for dynamic time-series.

We develop a general framework constructing distribution-free prediction intervals for dynamic time series. We show that our intervals asymptotically attain valid conditional and marginal coverages for a broad class of predictions functions and time series. We also show that our interval width converges to that of the oracle prediction interval asymptotically. Moreover, we introduce a computationally efficient algorithm called \verb|EnbPI| that wraps around ensemble predictors, which is closely related to conformal prediction (CP) but does not require data exchangeability. \verb|EnbPI| avoids data-splitting and is computationally efficient by avoiding retraining and thus scalable to sequentially producing prediction intervals. We perform extensive simulation and real-data analyses to demonstrate its effectiveness compared with existing methods.
Electra and Lady Macbeth

The relationship between the two genders has generated an enormous amount of literature from, at least, the Greeks (Lysistrata [Aristophanes circa 400 b.c.]) through Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet; Macbeth circa 1600) to U.S. popular culture (Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (Gray, 1994), You Just Don’t Understand (Tannen, 1990). This chapter attempts to analyze how one facet of the otherwise multidimensional, multifascinating, multifaceted relationship between men and women may impact on fatherhood.
Measuring the information expressed by neural discharge patterns

Various measures have been used to assess how well single neurons represent information. Modeling discharge patterns as stochastic point processes, we determine how well certain measure accomplish this task. We show that the information theoretic measure—capacity—can do a poor job. The mean-squared error measure more accurately describes the fidelity to which sensory signals can be extracted. Calculation of fundamental bounds on mean-squared error show that time-varying signals must have bandwidths orders of magnitude less than the average discharge rate (under a Poisson model) if accurate signal representations are to result. This result indicates that neural ensembles must be considered to understand information encoding by neurons.
Fourth Amendment Future: Remote Computer Searches and the Use of Virtual Force

This article examines the Fourth Amendment implications of two tactics that may become part of law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and otherwise control criminal activity. The first is the use of certain types of software, most notably Trojan horse programs, to conduct surreptitious, remote searches of computers and computer media. The other tactic is the use of “virtual force,” e.g., using Distributed Denial of Service and other attacks to shut down or otherwise disable websites that host offending content and/or activities.
MRI surveillance following treatment of extremity soft tissue sarcoma.

Background and Objectives Local recurrence (LR) following limb-sparing surgery and radiation therapy (RT) for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is rare. The current study investigates the utility of surveillance nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detection of asymptomatic LRs. Methods The study cohort consisted of 168 adult patients with extremity STS treated with limb-sparing surgery and RT with curative intent between October 2001 and January 2011. Follow-up surveillance MRIs and history and physical examinations were performed per the NCCN guidelines with additional MRIs as clinically indicated. The method of LR detection and MRI number and indication were determined. Results After a median follow-up of 4.7 years (range: 0.6–10.5) 11 (6.5%; 11/168) patients developed LRs. Five hundred two MRIs were obtained, 429 (85.5%; 429/502) for surveillance and 73 (14.5%; 73/502) as clinically indicated. One hundred fourteen patients underwent ≥1 surveillance MRI. The median surveillance MRI interval was 6.4 months (range 1.4–68.9). Surveillance MRI detected an asymptomatic LR in 1 (0.9%; 1/114) patient with a complex reconstruction. Conclusions Surveillance MRI infrequently detects asymptomatic LRs following limb-sparing surgery and RT for extremity STS and should be limited to patients whose primary tumor sites are not easily assessed by history and physical examination. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:593–596. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Survival Of Helium-3 in Stars

If the observed abundance of 3He is to be used - in concert with the predictions of Primordial Nucleosynthesis - to bound from below the universal density of nucleons, the survival of 3He in the material processed through stars must be estimated. The results of detailed stellar evolution calculations which follow the destruction of 3He are outlined. The survival of 3He as a function of stellar mass, composition and mass loss is presented as are estimates of the primordial abundances of D and 3He; the cosmological consequences are summarized.
Web Information Personalization: Challenges and Approaches

As the number of web pages increases dramatically, the problem of the information overload becomes more severe when browsing and searching the WWW. To alleviate this problem, personalization becomes a popular remedy to customize the Web environment towards a user’s preference. To date, recommendation systems and personalized web search systems are the most successful examples of Web personalization. By focusing on these two types of systems, this paper reviews the challenges and the corresponding approaches proposed in the past ten years.
Comparison of Indirect Hemagglutination and Immunodiffusion Tests for Detecting Type II Leukosis (Marek's) Infection in S- and K-Line Chickens

The indirect hemagglutination and immunodiffusion tests were compared for detection of antigen and antibody to JM strain of leukosis virus infection between S- and K-line chickens. The indirect hemagglutination test was more sensitive than the immunodiffusion test for detecting the smallest amount of viral antigen and corresponding antibody in the plasma of infected chickens. The Cornell S-line had higher levels of antigen and antibody as compared with the Cornell K-line during the 20-week experimental period.
Purification and characterization of a high-molecular-weight outer membrane protein of Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis

Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis is an important bacterial cause of otitis media in children and lower respiratory tract infections in adults. In this study, we describe the presence of a novel high-molecular-weight outer membrane protein (HMW-OMP). This protein varies from 350 to 720 kDa in apparent molecular mass among strains by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The protein was detected on SDS-PAGE in 13 of 14 strains tested. We developed a monoclonal antibody and polyclonal antisera to this protein. In immunoblot assays, the protein was present in all 14 strains tested. The immunoblot assays suggest that the protein has at least one epitope that is conserved among strains. A purification method using anion-exchange chromatography is described. Treatment of outer membrane preparations and purified protein by heat and reducing agents did not change the apparent molecular mass of the HMW-OMP. Formic acid treatment of outer membrane preparations and purified HMW-OMP produced a single band with an apparent molecular mass of 120 to 140 kDa. We postulate that this may be the monomer of an oligomeric protein. The HMW-OMP, which varies in molecular mass among strains and is antigenically conserved, will be studied further to determine its role in the human immune response and may be useful as a marker in studying strain acquisition in patients.
Evaluation of Thyroid Bed Nodules on Ultrasonography after Total Thyroidectomy: Risk for Loco-Regional Recurrence of Thyroid Cancer

Objectives: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer who underwent total thyroidectomy to examine the correlation
Micromotor‐Based Biomimetic Carbon Dioxide Sequestration: Towards Mobile Microscrubbers

We describe a mobile CO2 scrubbing platform that offers a greatly accelerated biomimetic sequestration based on a self-propelled carbonic anhydrase (CA) functionalized micromotor. The CO2 hydration capability of CA is coupled with the rapid movement of catalytic micromotors, and along with the corresponding fluid dynamics, results in a highly efficient mobile CO2 scrubbing microsystem. The continuous movement of CA and enhanced mass transport of the CO2 substrate lead to significant improvements in the sequestration efficiency and speed over stationary immobilized or free CA platforms. This system is a promising approach to rapid and enhanced CO2 sequestration platforms for addressing growing concerns over the buildup of greenhouse gas.