cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bacterial decomposition of avian eggshell: A taphonomic experiment

Dinosaurs, like modern birds, produced enormous quantities of eggshell as part of the reproductive process. Sometimes this eggshell was fossilized but most commonly was destroyed by weathering. The degree to which bacteria may have contributed to this weathering process has not been explored. In this study, fresh glaucous-winged gull (Larus glaucescens) eggshell fragments were collected from the surface of a breeding colony in Washington, sterilized, and buried in sterile soil. The soil surrounding replicate experimental fragments was inoculated with a culture of one of five species of soil bacteria isolated from other eggshell fragments collected on the colony surface. Replicate control fragments received the same treatment minus the bacteria. Weekly changes in protein concentration and fragment mass, as well as in soil pH and calcium concentration, were measured for experimental and control fragments over 10 weeks. The presence of all five types of bacteria degraded the eggshell and produced corrosion patterns similar to those seen in naturally weathered eggshell. On the basis of the results we postulate that bacterial decomposition of the eggshell protein matrix produces organic acids, which, in turn, dissolve the CaCO3 of the shell. The dissolved CaCO3 and NH3 from protein degradation increase the pH of the surrounding sediment. These results and interpretations are discussed in view of dinosaur eggshell fossilization. This paper provides the first evidence that bacteria significantly impact eggshell preservation.
Effects of CM/GC Project Delivery on Managing Process Risk in Transportation Construction

AbstractTeams that deliver complex transportation construction projects need tools that manage risk and allow for successful delivery. Construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) project delivery is an alternative method that furnishes public agencies with an attractive option for delivering projects in a less adversarial and more constructive manner by involving the contractor during the design phase. This paper identifies the effects of CM/GC delivery on construction process risk. Owners, contractors, and design engineers with sizable CM/GC experience on transportation-related projects were surveyed to identify differences in the perception of CM/GC processes, especially compared to design-build and design-bid-build project delivery methods. The perceived benefits and disadvantages regarding quality, schedule, cost control, and collaboration/flexibility are discussed. The benefits include strategies for robust process risk management and successful project delivery, while the disadvantages expose ba...
Bench-to-bedside review: Toll-like receptors and their role in septic shock.

The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are essential transmembrane signaling receptors of the innate immune system that alert the host to the presence of a microbial invader. The recent discovery of the TLRs has rapidly expanded our knowledge of molecular events that initiate host–pathogen interactions. These functional attributes of the cellular receptors provide insights into the nature of pattern recognition receptors that activate the human antimicrobial defense systems. The fundamental significance of the TLRs in the generation of systemic inflammation and the pathogenesis of septic shock is reviewed. The potential clinical implications of therapeutic modulation of these recently characterized receptors of innate immunity are also discussed.
Choline deficiency: a cause of hepatic steatosis during parenteral nutrition that can be reversed with intravenous choline supplementation.

Patients receiving long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN) develop hepatic steatosis as a complication. Our previous studies have shown this to be caused, at least in part, by choline deficiency. We studied four patients (1 man, 3 women) aged 50 +/- 13 years who had low plasma-free choline concentrations 4.8 +/- 1.7 (normal, 11.4 +/- 3.7 nmol/mL). The patients had received TPN for 9.7 +/- 4.7 years. They received parenteral nutrition solutions containing choline chloride (1 to 4 g/d) for 6 weeks. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) was performed at baseline, biweekly during the choline supplementation, and 4 weeks after discontinuation of choline. During choline administration, the plasma-free choline concentration increased into the normal range within 1 week in all four patients and remained at or above the normal range for all 6 weeks, but decreased back to baseline when choline supplementation was discontinued. Hepatic steatosis resolved completely, as estimated by CT. Liver density increased from -14.2 +/- 22.3 Hounsfield units (HU) to 8.4 +/- 10.3 HU at week 2 (P = .002); 9.6 +/- 10.7 HU at week 4 and 13.1 +/- 7.3 HU at week 6, as determined by the liver-spleen CT number difference obtained by the subtraction of the average spleen CT number (in HU) from the average liver CT number. This improvement continued up to 4 weeks after choline supplementation (13.8 +/- 2.8 HU). Hepatic steatosis was shown to have recurred in one patient after 10 weeks of return to choline-free parenteral nutrition. The hepatic steatosis associated with parenteral nutrition can be ameliorated, and possibly prevented, with choline supplementation. Therefore, choline may be an essential nutrient for patients who require long-term parenteral nutrition.
Functional Non-Equivalence of α and β Hemes in Human Hemoglobins

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopy has been used to study the structure-function relationships in hemoglobins. By choosing appropriate mutant hemoglobins with single amino acid substitutions in the vicinity of the heme groups and in the α1β2 subunit interface and making use of Perutz’s atomic models of hemoglobin (Perutz, 1969; Bolton and Perutz, 1970), we have shown that NMR studies of hemoglobins can provide detailed and unique information about the heme environment, functional properties of the heme groups, and the subunit interactions during the ligand binding process (Davis et al., 1969a & 1969b; Ho et al., 1970b; Davis et al., 1970; Davis et al., 1971; Lindstrom et al., 1971; Lindstrom et al., 1972a & 1972b; Lindstrom and Ho, 1972).
Combination drug therapy for hyperlipidemia

Low-dose combination hypolipidemic therapy may be the best approach to achieve the stringent target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels recominended by the latest National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines in patients with multiple risk factors or existing coronary heart disease. Three randomized, double-blind clinical trials have investigated the efficacy and safety of low-dose fluvastatin, a new, wholly synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, in combination with bile acid sequestrants, fibric acid derivatives, and niacin, respectively. Low-dose fluvastatin coupled with low-dose cholestyramine proved to be significantly more effective than higher doses of either agent alone in reducing LDL-C levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia
Walter Kohn as Ph.D. Advisor

Much of life is luck. A member of the class of 1955 in Mechanical Engineering at MIT, I discovered that, because I had talked my way out of English and Chemistry, and worked hard, they would give me a Master’s degree for staying an extra semester. During those months, in addition to doing some forgettable research on the creep of metals, I took half a course on quantum mechanics — taught, as it turned out, by Sidney Drell — thinking that a slightly better understanding of Nature could not hurt a practicing engineer. It did more. Before leaving Cambridge, to return to India and find work, I applied to some graduate schools for admission in Physics and asked Drell for advice. He told me about a Harvard instructor named Walter Kohn who had recently gone to Carnegie Tech, and was doing interesting work in solid state physics. During the summer of 1956, as I contemplated jobs in which the salary was inversely proportional to the challenge, telegrams arrived offering me fellowships to Harvard and Carnegie. I accepted the latter, causing consternation among my American friends’ mothers.
Children With Arachnoid Cysts Who Sustain Blunt Head Trauma: Injury Mechanisms and Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Arachnoid cysts are abnormal intracranial fluid collections, and there is concern that these cysts may bleed or rupture following blunt head trauma. Our objectives were to determine the risk of cyst-related complications in a cohort of children with arachnoid cysts who were evaluated for head trauma. METHODS: We analyzed the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) head trauma public use dataset, which was the product of a study that enrolled children with blunt head trauma from June 2004 to September 2006. We identified children with arachnoid cysts on cranial computed tomography (CT) and described the patient demographics, mechanisms of injury, clinical presentations, CT evidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and clinical outcomes. Clinically-important TBI was defined as TBI leading to either: 1) death from TBI, 2) neurosurgical intervention, 3) intubation for > 24 hours for the TBI, or 4) hospitalization for 2 or more nights for the head injury in association with TBI on CT. RESULTS: Data were available for 43,399 children who sustained blunt head trauma, of whom 15,899 had cranial CT scans obtained of whom 68 (0.4%) had arachnoid cysts. Falls were the most common mechanisms of injury (47%) and 87% of children had either moderate or severe injury mechanisms. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores ranged from 6-15, with 61 (90%) having GCS scores of 15. Two of the children with arachnoid cysts had TBIs on CT, 1 of which was clinically-important. There were no identified cases of arachnoid cyst-related bleeding or complications. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of 68 children with arachnoid cysts who sustained head trauma, none demonstrated cyst-related bleeding or complications. This suggests the risk of arachnoid cyst-related complications in children following blunt head trauma is low and evaluation should align with existing clinical decision rules. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Language: en
Attenuation of β-Amyloid Deposition and Neurotoxicity by Chemogenetic Modulation of Neural Activity.

Aberrant neural hyperactivity has been observed in early stages of Alzheimer9s disease (AD) and may be a driving force in the progression of amyloid pathology. Evidence for this includes the findings that neural activity may modulate β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide secretion and experimental stimulation of neural activity can increase amyloid deposition. However, whether long-term attenuation of neural activity prevents the buildup of amyloid plaques and associated neural pathologies remains unknown. Using viral-mediated delivery of designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs), we show in two AD-like mouse models that chronic intermittent increases or reductions of activity have opposite effects on Aβ deposition. Neural activity reduction markedly decreases Aβ aggregation in regions containing axons or dendrites of DREADD-expressing neurons, suggesting the involvement of synaptic and nonsynaptic Aβ release mechanisms. Importantly, activity attenuation is associated with a reduction in axonal dystrophy and synaptic loss around amyloid plaques. Thus, modulation of neural activity could constitute a potential therapeutic strategy for ameliorating amyloid-induced pathology in AD. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A novel chemogenetic approach to upregulate and downregulate neuronal activity in Alzheimer9s disease (AD) mice was implemented. This led to the first demonstration that chronic intermittent attenuation of neuronal activity in vivo significantly reduces amyloid deposition. The study also demonstrates that modulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) release can occur at both axonal and dendritic fields, suggesting the involvement of synaptic and nonsynaptic Aβ release mechanisms. Activity reductions also led to attenuation of the synaptic pathology associated with amyloid plaques. Therefore, chronic attenuation of neuronal activity could constitute a novel therapeutic approach for AD.
Effects of Macroscopic Propagation and Multiple Molecular Orbitals on the High-Order Harmonic Generation of Aligned N\(_2\) and CO\(_2\) Molecules

As discussed in Sect. 1.4.2, high-order harmonic generation (HHG) has been employed to probe the electronic structure of molecules on an ultrafast time scale [80,81,119,143,180]
Student Perceptions of Business’ Social Responsiveness

This paper sketches selected results of empirical research of student attitudes on a host of social and marketing related issues, and evaluates the degree and direction of attitudinal changes by replicated research in 1972 and 1978. Both research results were analyzed to ascertain racial differentiation on the subjects and whether such differentiation increased or decreased during the six year period.
Borrelia burgdorferi CheD Promotes Various Functions in Chemotaxis and the Pathogenic Life Cycle of the Spirochete

ABSTRACT Borrelia burgdorferi possesses a sophisticated chemotaxis signaling system; however, the roles of the majority of the chemotaxis proteins in the infectious life cycle have not yet been demonstrated. Specifically, the role of CheD during host colonization has not been demonstrated in any bacterium. Here, we systematically characterized the B. burgdorferi CheD homolog using genetics and biochemical and mouse-tick-mouse infection cycle studies. Bacillus subtilis CheD plays an important role in chemotaxis by deamidation of methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein receptors (MCPs) and by increasing the receptor kinase activity or enhancing CheC phosphatase activity, thereby regulating the levels of the CheY response regulator. Our biochemical analysis indicates that B. burgdorferi CheD significantly enhances CheX phosphatase activity by specifically interacting with the phosphatase. Moreover, CheD specifically binds two of the six MCPs, indicating that CheD may also modulate the receptor proteins. Although the motility of the cheD mutant cells was indistinguishable from that of the wild-type cells, the mutant did exhibit reduced chemotaxis. Importantly, the mutant showed significantly reduced infectivity in C3H/HeN mice via needle inoculation. Mouse-tick-mouse infection assays indicated that CheD is dispensable for acquisition or transmission of spirochetes; however, the viability of cheD mutants in ticks is marginally reduced compared to that of the wild-type or complemented cheD spirochetes. These data suggest that CheD plays an important role in the chemotaxis and pathogenesis of B. burgdorferi. We propose potential connections between CheD, CheX, and MCPs and discuss how these interactions play critical roles during the infectious life cycle of the spirochete.
The Effect of Misuse of Child Restraint Systems in Accidents

Although child restraint systems (CRS) have improved the transportation of young children, approximately 85 percent of CRS are improperly used (National Safe Kids, 1999). This accident-based study ...
Use of Conceptual Questions With Prompt Feedback in Engineering Thermodynamics

An effective strategy to promote deep understanding in engineering thermodynamics is to increase the use of conceptual questions during lectures coupled with prompt assessment of student responses. A key is to collect responses from all students and provide prompt feedback explaining the correct response. It has been found that conceptual questions are more effective than numerical. Good questions explore if a quantity will increase, decrease or remain unchanged in response to a change in the system. In previous semesters, an instructor would pose conceptual questions during lecture and discuss with those students who participated with the instructor. Using an electronic collection system for student responses, all student responses can be collected and assesses. Results show that (1) it is rare that the entire class is correct even for the simplest of questions, (2) a nearly identical question can be repeated in a subsequent lecture and there will continue to be a incorrect responses, and (3) repeating questions throughout the semester is effective at addressing common conceptual misunderstandings and improving long-term student learning in engineering thermodynamics.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Micromechanics Models for Predicting the Elastic and Strength Behavior of Paper Materials

This paper presents a review of micromechanics models that have been used to predict the elastic and strength behavior of paper materials. The models discussed are based on a fiber network model that takes into account the properties of the fibers and the properties of the fiber-to-fiber bond. Elastic models are described for a range of paper density and basis weight ranging from tissue papers to paperboard materials. The effects of fiber curl for low density systems is discussed. Models for predicting both the initial modulus of the paper and the nonlinear elastic behavior for small finite strains is presented. Differences between tensile and compressive straining regimes are addressed. Limit load theory is discussed for predicting the strength of the network. Damage mechanics theory is employed to take into account hypothesized processes of fiber fracture and bond delaminations, and to relate the inelastic network micromechanics to the prediction of the strength of the material.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of Retinal Artery Occlusion

The optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) microvascular features of branch and central retinal artery occlusion are described and correlated with fluorescein angiographic and clinical findings. There may be differences in the distribution of reduced vascular perfusion/flow between the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses in retinal artery occlusive disease. The extent of macular ischemia and the status of flow in the radial peripapillary capillaries can be evaluated with OCTA. Overall, OCTA can be used to monitor changes in vascular flow during the clinical course of retinal artery occlusion.
Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HSP32) mRNA in skeletal muscle following contractions

The capacity of preexisting antioxidant pathways to handle oxidative stress during exercise may be complemented by the synthesis of inducible heat stress proteins (HSP). Our purpose was to determin...
Initial counseling of children with eating disorders and their families.

It can be challenging to work with adolescents and their parents when eating disorders are involved.
TH-EF-207A-05: Feasibility of Applying SMEIR Method On Small Animal 4D Cone Beam CT Imaging

Purpose: Small animal cone beam CT imaging has been widely used in preclinical research. Due to the higher respiratory rate and heat beats of small animals, motion blurring is inevitable and needs to be corrected in the reconstruction. Simultaneous motion estimation and image reconstruction (SMEIR) method, which uses projection images of all phases, proved to be effective in motion model estimation and able to reconstruct motion-compensated images. We demonstrate the application of SMEIR for small animal 4D cone beam CT imaging by computer simulations on a digital rat model. Methods: The small animal CBCT imaging system was simulated with the source-to-detector distance of 300 mm and the source-to-object distance of 200 mm. A sequence of rat phantom were generated with 0.4 mm3 voxel size. The respiratory cycle was taken as 1.0 second and the motions were simulated with a diaphragm motion of 2.4mm and an anterior-posterior expansion of 1.6 mm. The projection images were calculated using a ray-tracing method, and 4D-CBCT were reconstructed using SMEIR and FDK methods. The SMEIR method iterates over two alternating steps: 1) motion-compensated iterative image reconstruction by using projections from all respiration phases and 2) motion model estimation from projections directly through a 2D-3D deformable registration of the image obtained in the first step to projection images of other phases. Results: The images reconstructed using SMEIR method reproduced the features in the original phantom. Projections from the same phase were also reconstructed using FDK method. Compared with the FDK results, the images from SMEIR method substantially improve the image quality with minimum artifacts. Conclusion: We demonstrate that it is viable to apply SMEIR method to reconstruct small animal 4D-CBCT images.
Model-Based Inference for Completely Randomized Experiments

INTRODUCTION As discussed in Chapters 5 and 6, both Fisher's and Neyman's approaches for assessing treatment effects in completely randomized experiments viewed the potential outcomes as fixed quantities, some observed and some missing. The randomness in the observed outcomes was generated primarily through the assignment mechanism, and sometimes also through random sampling from a population. In this chapter, as in the preceding chapter on regression methods, we consider a different approach to inference, where the potential outcomes themselves are also viewed as random variables, even in the finite sample. Because all of the potential outcomes are considered random variables, any functions of them will also be random variables. This includes any causal estimand of interest – for example, the average treatment effect or the median causal effect. We begin by building a stochastic model for all potential outcomes that generally depends on some unknown parameters. Using the observed data to learn about these parameters, we stochastically draw the unknown parameters and use the postulated model to impute the missing potential outcomes given the observed data, and use this in turn to conduct inference for the estimand of interest. At some level, all methods for causal inference can be viewed as imputation methods, although some more explicitly than others. Because any causal estimand depends on missing potential outcomes, any estimate for such an estimand is, implicitly or explicitly, based on estimates of these missing potential outcomes. The discussion in the current chapter puts this imputation perspective front and center. Because the imputations and resulting inferences are especially straightforward from a Bayesian perspective, we primarily focus on the Bayesian approach, but we also discuss the implementation of frequentist approaches, as well as how the two differ. This model-based approach is very flexible compared to the Fisher's exact p-value approach, Neyman's repeated sampling approach, or regression methods. For instance, this method can easily accommodate a wide variety of estimands – we may be interested not only in average treatment effects but also in quantiles, or in measures of dispersion of the distributions of potential outcomes.
Dissoziation, Prädissoziation und Rekombination

Wie fruher erwahnt, schliest sich fur zweiatomige Molekule ein kontinuierlicher Bereich von Energieniveaus, der Dissoziation oder Rekombination entsprechend, an jede Serie von Schwingungsniveaus an (und tritt sogar fur solche Elektronenzustande auf, die keine diskreten Schwingungsniveaus haben). Dementsprechend beobachtet man kontinuierliche Absorptionsspektra, die sich in manchen Fallen an die Progressionen von diskreten Banden anschliesen. Die Kontinua sind nur darin beobachtbar, wenn beim Ubergang vom unteren zum oberen Zustand eine ziemlich grose Anderung des Gleichgewichtskernabstandes r e eintritt, weil dann das Franck-Condon-Maximum bei hohem v′ oder sogar im Kontinuum liegt (s. Abb. 36 und die dazu gehorende Diskussion).
The Elizabethan Country House Entertainment: Print, Performance, and Gender

This is the first full-length critical study of country house entertainment, a genre central to late Elizabethan politics. It shows how the short plays staged for the Queen at country estates like Kenilworth Castle and Elvetham shaped literary trends and intervened in political debates, including whether women made good politicians and what roles the church and local culture should play in definitions of England. In performance and print, country house entertainments facilitated political negotiations, rethought gender roles, and crafted regional and national identities. In its investigation of how the hosts used performances to negotiate local and national politics, the book also sheds light on how and why such entertainments enabled female performance and authorship at a time when English women did not write or perform commercial plays. Written in a lively and accessible style, this is fascinating reading for scholars and students of early modern literature, theatre, and women's history.
Focus on the Business Model Canvas

This chapter introduces the Business Model Canvas (BMC), an open-source, design-thinking tool. In step-by-step detail, each of the four quadrants of the sustainability lens is applied to the nine sections of the BMC, creating an array of 36 different angles and approaches for enterprises to imagine and realize sustainable development.
Genetic factors influencing aneuploidy frequency.

The presence of significant genetic or environmental risk factors for aneuploidy in the human population will almost certainly lead to heterogeneity of risk for aneuploidy among couples at risk. Such heterogeneity may be observed as a higher risk of aneuploidy among couples who have already had one aneuploid pregnancy than among those who have not. In the first section of this chapter I will discuss the existing data concerning the existence of “aneuploidy-prone” individuals or couples. I will then review a number of genetic factors which have been suggested to lead to an increased risk for human aneuploidy, examining the often conflicting evidence for such an association and possible mechanisms of action.
Juxtapapillary and circumpapillary choroidal melanoma: globe-sparing treatment outcomes with iodine-125 notched plaque brachytherapy

Managing juxtapapillary and circumpapillary choroidal melanoma with brachytherapy is challenging because of technical complications with accurate plaque placement and high radiation toxicity given tumor proximity to the optic nerve. We evaluated our center’s experience using ultrasound-guided, Iodine (I)-125 notched plaque brachytherapy for treating choroidal melanoma contiguous with (juxtapapillary) and at least partially surrounding the optic disc (circumpapillary). All cases of choroidal melanoma treated with I-125 notched plaque brachytherapy at our center from September 2003–December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients with ≥18 months of follow-up who had lesions contiguous with the optic disc (0 mm of separation) were included. The tumor apex prescription dose was 85 Gy. Outcomes evaluated included local control, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), visual acuity, and radiation toxicity. Thirty-four patients were included with a median follow-up of 44.1 months (range 18.2–129.0). AJCC T-category was T1 in 58.8%, T2 in 26.5%, and T3 in 14.7%. Median circumferential optic disc involvement was 50% (range 10%–100%). Eye retention was achieved in 94.1%. Actuarial 2- and 4-year rates of local recurrence were 3.1% and 7.6%, DMFS were 97.0% and 88.5%, CSS were 97.0% and 92.8%, and OS were 97.0% and 88.9%, respectively. In addition, 23.5% had visual acuity ≥20/200 at last follow-up. I-125 notched plaque brachytherapy provides high eye preservation rates with acceptable longer-term post-treatment visual outcomes. Based on our experience, choroidal melanoma directly contiguous with and partially encasing the optic disc may be effectively treated with this technique.
Size-dependence of the flow threshold in dense granular materials

The flow threshold in dense granular materials is typically modeled by local, stress-based criteria. However, grain-scale cooperativity leads to size effects that cannot be captured with local conditions. In a widely studied example, flows of thin layers of grains down an inclined surface exhibit a size effect whereby thinner layers require more tilt to flow. In this paper, we consider the question of whether the size-dependence of the flow threshold observed in inclined plane flow is configurationally general. Specifically, we consider three different examples of inhomogeneous flow – planar shear flow with gravity, annular shear flow, and vertical chute flow – using two-dimensional discrete-element method calculations and show that the flow threshold is indeed size-dependent in these flow configurations, displaying additional strengthening as the system size is reduced. We then show that the nonlocal granular fluidity model – a nonlocal continuum model for dense granular flow – is capable of quantitatively capturing the observed size-dependent strengthening in all three flow configurations.
Development of the First AIDS Drugs: AZT and Other Dideoxynueosides

On March 19, 1987, zidovudine (3′-azido-2′3′dideoxythymidine, azidothymidine, AZT) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first drug to treat acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The initial development of this drug was the result of a collaboration between scientists in the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Burroughs Wellcome Co., and Duke University. Before this, there was no effective treatment for this devastating disease, and the median survival of AIDS patients was measured in months. Since the development of AZT (Mitsuya et al. 1985; Yarchoan et al. 1986), 25 additional antiretroviral drugs have been approved to treat HIV/AIDS, and combination anti-HIV therapy has converted AIDS from a death sentence to a manageable chronic disease. Several years ago, it was recently estimated that advances in AIDS therapy have already saved over 3 million years of life in the United States alone (Walensky et al. 2006), and we continue to see new benefits from these agents in both the developed world and resource-challenged countries. As a consequence, the use of antiviral drugs to prevent HIV transmission was identified as the “2011 Breakthrough of the Year” by Science magazine (Cohen 2011). Looking back, the rapidity with which the initial AIDS drugs were introduced into the clinic (Table 1.1) (Mitsuya and Broder 1986, 1987; Mitsuya et al. 1985; Yarchoan and Broder 1987a; Yarchoan et al. 1986, 1988, 1989b) and their impact are even more remarkable in light of the skepticism and pessimism surrounding their initial developmental efforts and the fact that we still do not have an effective AIDS vaccine 28 years after the first isolation of the causative agent.
Monitoring of long-term prestress losses in prestressed concrete structures using fiber optic sensors

This study presents a method for on-site assessment of prestress losses in prestressed concrete structures. The study is motivated by the increased use of prestressed concrete, the importance of pr...
The shifted boundary method for embedded domain computations. Part II: Linear advection-diffusion and incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

Abstract We propose a new embedded finite element method for the linear advection–diffusion equation and the laminar and turbulent incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The proposed method belongs to the class of surrogate/approximate boundary algorithms and is based on the idea of shifting the location where boundary conditions are applied from the true to a surrogate boundary. Accordingly, boundary conditions, enforced weakly, are appropriately modified to preserve optimal error convergence rates. We include the full analysis of stability and convergence of the method in the linear advection–diffusion equation, and a battery of tests for the case of laminar and turbulent incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. We also discuss the conservation properties of the proposed method in all cases.
Agents in Space: Validating ABM-GIS Models

The purpose of this paper is to spatially validate an agent-based predictive analytics model of energy siting policy in a techno-social space. This allows us to simulate the multitude of human factors at each level (e.g. individual, county, region, and so on). Energy infrastructure siting is a complex and contentious process that can have major impacts on citizens, communities, and society as a whole. Furthermore, the process is sensitive to varying degrees of human input, of differing complexity, at multiple levels. When it comes to validating ABMs, the virtual cornucopia of techniques can easily confuse the modeler. As useful as historical data validation is, it seems to be underutilized, most likely due to the fact that it is hard to find data suitable data for many models. For the purpose of In-Site, historical data availability is excellent due to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) providing us with citizen and community based organization (CBO) preferences, and regulatory decisions being public. For the model, citizen and CBO preferences were decided by coding comments on the EIA procedure so as to allow for quantitative analysis, and then geocoding the locations of the commenters. The end results of this is that, we can literally overlay our simulation results with the actual, real world, results of the historical project. This will allow for a high degree of confidence in the validation procedure, as well as the ability to deal with the complexity of the networks of human interactions.
Computer Control in the Food Processing Plant

This chapter focuses on taking the computer into the processing plant for the control of processing operations on the plant floor.
Gifting Knowledge for Long Life

During nonemergency appointments at traditional sites of āyurvedic healthcare in Kerala, South India, classically trained Brāhmaṇa physicians and their patients seldom exchange anything of substance (whether medicinal or monetary). The physician-patient interface instead routinely involves an exchange of knowledge. Interactions between physicians and patients in these meetings evoke the highly theorized notion of the “Indian gift” and the question of prestation in South Indian societies. This article explores the nature of exchange in the supply and reception of healthcare among physicians and patients at traditional sites of āyurvedic treatment (that is, sites not affiliated with governmental or private hospitals or clinics) in contemporary Kerala. Drawing on classical treatises about the dharma of gifts (dānadharma) and the Sanskrit medical classics of Āyurveda, it examines reciprocity, ideal preconditions of givers and receivers of gifts, and the possibility of a “pure gift” in the appraisal and production of wellbeing.
Acid Trip: Zika Virus Goes Off-Pathway during pH-Triggered Membrane Fusion.

Single-virus measurements reveal unusual details of Zika and liposome fusion, suggesting an off-pathway mechanism.
Postwar Developments: The African 1947–1948

After World War II the publications in the African focused on the developments and achievements of Africans at home and abroad. This chapter examines the articles of the African postwar. The primary developments were political inclusion throughout Africa with the exception of Ethiopia. Ethiopian developments, due in part to the large numbers of blacks repatriating, consisted of aviation and education. In the United States, African-American businessmen and women were highlighted, Caribbean Nationhood was celebrated, and the women’s role in the home and family life section was highlighted.
Who Cares for Total Hip Arthroplasty Complications? Rates of Readmission to a Hospital Different From the Location of the Index Procedure.

INTRODUCTION While the number of total hip arthroplasties (THAs) performed increases, so is the number of postoperative readmissions, resulting in costly episodes of care that may disproportionately affect certain hospitals. This study examines the rates of readmission of patients to the same hospital at which they underwent index THA, compared with readmission to a different hospital. METHODS Data for all hospital discharges from 1995 to 2010 were obtained from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database. Patient outcomes, readmission data, demographic information, hospital teaching status, and location were analyzed. Regression modeling was used to evaluate the effect of hospital teaching status, location, and individual complications on the risk of readmission to the same hospital as opposed to a different hospital following the index procedure. RESULTS The overall postoperative readmission rate for specific defined complications or all-cause 30-day readmissions was 3.92%, with 75.17% readmitted to the same hospital. Following index THA at a nonacademic or academic hospital, 95.9% and 84.6% of patients were readmitted to the same type of hospital, respectively. Patients who had their index procedure at an academic hospital had lower odds for readmission to the same hospital (odds ratio, 0.734; P < 0.0001) compared with nonacademic centers. Hospitals in midsize towns had higher odds of readmission to the same hospital (odds ratio, 1.735; P = 0.0012) compared with those in large metropolitan areas. DISCUSSION Although more than 75% of patients with unplanned readmissions went to the same hospital as their index THA, academic and larger metropolitan hospitals had higher odds of postoperative readmissions to a different hospital.
Evaluation of reclaimed municipal solid waste incinerator sands in concrete

Abstract U.S. municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) ash is generally disposed of in landfills, due to the absence of approved avenues to repurpose the material through recycling. This work investigates the utilization of MSWI bottom ash sands in concrete that have been reclaimed from a recycling plant in Central Pennsylvania. Physical and chemical properties of the reclaimed sands are examined for suitability as a partial replacement for fine aggregates in concrete. The performance of raw incinerator ash vs. Reclaimed sands in concrete are compared through microstructure SEM analysis, shrinkage, compression strength, and hydrogen gas production due to metallic aluminum present in incinerator ash. It is found that reclaimed sands satisfy most ASTM requirements to be used as a lightweight concrete aggregate. Despite this, it is currently not recommend to use reclaimed sands in concrete due to the formation of empty holes in the cement matrix microstructure due to hydrogen gas production. These holes cause cracks in the concrete which leads to reduced structural capacity of the material. It is also not recommended that raw ash be used in concrete due to significant amounts of drying shrinkage, leaching concerns, and the unclean nature of the ash.
A new golden space age

Whether it's billionaires vying to build the biggest rocket or the US and China competing to return to the moon, space exploration is lifting off again, says Leah Crane
A comparative analysis of real-time power optimization for organic Rankine cycle waste heat recovery systems

Abstract Organic Rankine cycle waste heat recovery technology has been gaining more and more attention in recent years. Real-time power optimization is crucial to the system performance. Even though individual real-time optimization methods exist, literature rarely investigate comparison of different real-time power optimization methods. This paper first time compares three real-time implementable power optimization methods for an organic Rankine cycle waste heat recovery system. Three optimization methods include Proportional-Integral-Derivative rule-based method, nonlinear model predictive control and dynamic programming. In the Proportional-Integral-Derivative rule-based method, rule-based method defines the optimal working fluid vapor temperature trajectory and Proportional-Integral-Derivative controller manipulates the pump speed to follow that trajectory. In the nonlinear model predictive control method, reference vapor temperature is defined close to the saturation temperature and then the model predictive control minimizes the vapor temperature tracking error by controlling the pump speed. In the Dynamic Programming method, the net power produced by the organic Rankine cycle system is defined in the cost function, which is maximized by controlling the pump speed. A Random Forest machine learning model is utilized to extract the rules for Dynamic Programming and then implemented in real-time. All the three methods are implemented in the same experimentally validated plant model for the comparison analysis. The comparison results show that the Dynamic Programming Random Forest method has similar performance with nonlinear model predictive control method and outperforms the Proportional-Integral-Derivative rule-based method by 9.9% in net power production. Dynamic Programming Random Forest method can be an alternative to the nonlinear model predictive control for its low computation cost and high net power production.
P120 Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Who Are Picky Eaters May Consume More Ultra-Processed Foods than Non-Picky Eaters

Background Ultra-processed foods may induce high energy intake that leads to excess weight gain, which can be problematic for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as the prevalence of obesity is higher in this population than typically-developing children. Picky eating is also more common in children with ASD compared to typically-developing children, yet how picky eating is associated with types of food that children with ASD consume is unknown. Objective To examine associations between picky eating and food categories by NOVA classifications (unprocessed foods vs ultra-processed foods) among youth with ASD. Study Design, Setting, Participants A cross-sectional study conducted with 42 parents of children with ASD ages 2-17 years in Florida. Measurable Outcome/Analysis A food record and mealtime behavior survey were completed by a parent of each child. Foods were coded based on NOVA classifications, and percent energy from each food category was assessed using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) software. Parent-reported picky eating was assessed with a mealtime behavior survey. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed. Results Ultra-processed foods accounted for the majority of the children's energy intake (mean 62.6%). Picky eaters had greater percent energy intake from ultra-processed foods (P = .004, mean 68.7% vs 48.0%) and lower percent energy intake from unprocessed foods (P = .001, mean 23.4% vs 44.7%) compared to non-picky eaters. Among the picky eaters, 5 were also considered as binge eaters, which was associated with greater percent energy intake from ultra-processed foods (P = .032, 79.4% vs 60.0%) and lower percent energy intake from unprocessed foods (P = .041, 14.8% vs 32.1%) compared to those who were picky eaters but not binge eaters and non-picky eaters combined. Conclusions Among youth with ASD, picky eaters may selectively eat more ultra-processed foods. Nutrition education for children with ASD and their parents should address both picky eating behaviors and types of foods. If children have disordered eating behaviors such as binge eating, further intervention may be necessary.
Recovery from Internal Displacement in Northern Uganda

Northern Uganda has experienced violent conflict for more than fifteen years resulting in the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Displacement due to violence and the threat of violence peaked in 2005 where over 1,800,000 Ugandans were living in IDP camps. In 2006 a cease fire agreement was reached between the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army, the main perpetrator of violence. In the five years that followed nearly all of the displaced persons returned home. A growing body of research has emerged measuring the impact of displacement, however research on recovery from displacement is sparse. This paper will fill this gap by assessing the impact of returning home from displacement on household consumption, and household assets. Using the Living Standards Measurement Survey 2009/10, 2010/2011, and 2011/2012 coupled with the Ugandan National Panel Survey 2005/2006 allows for the difference in the growth of consumption to be estimated between returnee households and a comparison group of households constructed using propensity score matching.
Variability associated with mandibular buccal shelf area width and height in subjects with different growth pattern, sex, and growth status.

Introduction The primary objective of the study was to quantitatively analyze the width and height of the mandibular buccal shelf area (MBS) at 3 different potential locations for mini-implant placement. In addition, we aimed to compare and contrast the bone parameters of the MBS to study the correlation between different growth status (growing or nongrowing), facial types (hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent), and sex differences (male or female). Methods In this retrospective cone-beam computed tomography study, 678 subjects were included. They were divided into groups according to growth status, facial type, and sex. Scans were imported into the reconstruction program and were aligned in 3 different steps. Measurements were made at 6 different coronal sections: mandibular first molar distal root, second molar mesial root, and second molar distal root (bilaterally). The roots of mandibular molars were used as a reference to measure the width and the roof of the inferior alveolar canal to measure the height of the buccal shelf area. Intraobserver reliability was assessed by measuring the width and height of MBS in 20 randomly selected subjects. Results No significant difference (P > 0.05) was found in the width of MBS between males and females. MBS width increased, and height decreased (P Conclusions The optimal site for MBS mini-implant is the buccal region of the distal root of mandibular second molars. Hypodivergent patients have more width and less height of MBS compared with hyperdivergent patients. MBS mini-implants are not advised for growing patients because of proximity to developing roots.
Seasonality, Food Insecurity, and Clinical Depression in Post-Partum Women in a Rural Malawi Setting

We evaluate the association between food insecurity (FI) and clinical depression, and the modifying effects of seasonality on this association. Food insecurity is assessed from 175 post-partum women in the rural Ntcheu District of central Malawi using the USAID’s Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Clinical depression is measured using a validated Chichewa version of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). Interviews were conducted from October 2016 to June 2017 and spanned 5 months of the dry season (April–November) and the 4 months of rainy season (December–March). After adjusting for age and parity, participants who reported high FI (HFIAS score ≥ 9) had 4.6 (95%CI 1.8–11.4) times the odds of meeting the cut-off for clinical depression (SRQ score ≥ 8). The effect was greater during the dry season (OR 9.9; 95%CI 2.0–48.6), than in the rainy season (OR 2.6; 95%CI 0.8–8.3) though the interaction term was not statistically significant (p = 0.18) High FI is associated with diagnostic markers of clinical depression.
Terahertz Control of Plasmon Induced Opacity in Photoexcited Metamaterial on GaAs

Strong THz pulses instantly restore the sharp resonance of coupled plasmonic oscillators quenched by photoexcitation. The THz control of plasmon induced opacity is applicable to sensitive sensing and ultrafast switching in plasmonic devices.
Still Where, Not If, You’re Poor: International Baccalaureate Opportunities to Learn International-Mindedness and Proximity to U.S. Cities:

By matching International Baccalaureate (IB) and non-IB U.S. public schools based on state, grade span, and enrollment, we used recent public data to confirm relations among a hierarchy of school c...
Fostering Resilient Learners by Implementing Trauma-Informed and Socially Just Practices

Becoming trauma invested across P-12 educational systems has become exceedingly necessary over the past few years with much focus placed on the whole child and, more recently, a global pandemic and...