cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Axis I disorders are common in people with severe borderline personality disorder, but decrease with time.

Zanarini MC, Frankenburg FR, Hennen J, et al . Axis I comorbidity in patients with borderline personality disorder: 6-year follow-up and prediction of time to remission. Am J Psychiatry 2004;161:2108–14. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Q What is the prevalence of axis I comorbidities in people with severe borderline personality disorders and how do they affect prognosis? ### ![Graphic][5] Design: Prospective cohort study. ### ![Graphic][6] Setting: McLean Hospital, MA, USA; enrolment 1992–1995. ### ![Graphic][7] Population: 362 adult inpatients (female 77%; Caucasian 87%; age 18–35 years (mean 27 years)) with DSM-III-R and Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB-R) diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) (n = 290) or other axis II disorder (n = 72). Exclusions: non-English speaking; IQ <70; current or prior schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar I disorder, or an organic condition causing psychiatric symptoms. ### ![Graphic][8] Assessment: Three semistructured interviews at baseline and 2 year intervals to assess participants for borderline personality, axis I, and axis II disorders (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Axis I disorders; DIB-R; Diagnostic Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders). Random effects regression models were used to analyse prevalence of 20 axis I disorders. Discrete time to event modelling methods were used to calculate hazard … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAmerican%2BJournal%2Bof%2BPsychiatry%26rft.stitle%253DAm.%2BJ.%2BPsychiatry%26rft.issn%253D0002-953X%26rft.aulast%253DZanarini%26rft.auinit1%253DM.%2BC.%26rft.volume%253D161%26rft.issue%253D11%26rft.spage%253D2108%26rft.epage%253D2114%26rft.atitle%253DAxis%2BI%2BComorbidity%2Bin%2BPatients%2BWith%2BBorderline%2BPersonality%2BDisorder%253A%2B6-Year%2BFollow-Up%2Band%2BPrediction%2Bof%2BTime%2Bto%2BRemission%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1176%252Fappi.ajp.161.11.2108%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F15514413%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1176/appi.ajp.161.11.2108&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=15514413&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmental%2F8%2F2%2F50.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000224768400024&link_type=ISI [5]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [6]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [7]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [8]: /embed/inline-graphic-4.gif
Electrodeless Electrohydrodynamic Drop-on-Demand Encapsulation of Drugs into Porous Polymer Films for Fabrication of Personalized Dosage Units

Abstract: Noncontact drop-on-demand (DOD) dosing is a promising strategy for manufacturing of personalized dosage units. However, current DOD methods developed for printing chemically and thermally stable, low-viscosity inks are of limited use for pharmaceuticals due to fundamentally different functional requirements. To overcome their deficiency, we developed a novel electrohydrodynamic (EHD) DOD ( Appl, Phys, Lett. 97, 233501, 2010) that operates on fluids of up to 30 Pa·s in viscosity over a wide range of droplet sizes and provides a precise control over the droplet volume. We now evaluate the EHD DOD as a method for fabrication of dosage units by printing drug solutions on porous polymer films prepared by freeze-drying. Experiments were carried out on ibuprofen and griseofulvin, as model poorly water-soluble drugs, polyethylene glycol 400, as a drug carrier, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose films. The similarities between drug release profiles from different dosage units were assessed by model-independent difference, f 1 , and similarity, f 2 , factors. The results presented show that EHD DOD offers a powerful tool for the evolving field of small-scale pharmaceutical technologies for tailoring medicines to individual patient's needs by printing a vast array of predefined amounts of therapeutics arranged in a specific pattern on a porous film. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association
The Prognostic Importance of Frailty in Cancer Survivors.

Objectives To quantify the prognostic importance of prefrailty and frailty in a population-based sample of cancer survivors. Design The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey mortality-linked prospective cohort study. Setting Eighty-nine survey locations across the United States. Participants Population-based sample of older adults (average age 72.2) with a self-reported diagnosis of non-skin-related cancer (N = 416). Measurements The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Frailty components included low weight for height, slow walking, weakness, exhaustion, and low physical activity. Participants with none of the five criteria were classified as nonfrail, those with one or two as prefrail, and those with three or more as frail. Results The prevalence of prefrailty was 37.3% and of frailty was 9.1%. During a median follow-up of 11.2 years, 319 (76.7%) participants died. Median survival was 13.9 years for participants classified as nonfrail, 9.5 years for those classified as prefrail, and 2.5 years for those classified as frail. Cancer survivors classified as prefrail (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.28–2.65, P = .001) or frail (HR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.34–5.81, P = .006) had a higher risk of premature mortality than those classified as nonfrail. Conclusion Prefrailty and frailty are prevalent clinical syndromes that may confer greater risk of premature mortality in older adult cancer survivors. Identifying frail cancer survivors and targeting interventions for them may be a strategy to improve survival after cancer.
Operation Tomodachi - Doing Our Utmost to Help a Friend in Need: Navy Lawyers Support U.S. Relief Operations in Response to the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

On March 11, 2011, Japan suffered a 9.0-magnitude earthquake, one of the worst in a century. The earthquake triggered destructive tsunami waves of more than 30 feet that struck the coastal areas of Northeast Japan, in some cases traveling up to six miles inland. The tsunami damaged the Fukushima civilian nuclear power plant, crippling its primary and secondary electrical systems, and severely damaging its critical cooling capability. Within hours, the U.S. military initiated crisis response actions in support of the Japanese government in an operation the allies called 'Tomodachi,' the Japanese word for friend. U.S. military units conducted search and rescue operations and transported emergency response teams, equipment and relief supplies to hundreds of thousands of displaced people in affected remote Japanese communities, and provided emergent medical care to injured people. In the days thereafter, other forms of U.S. military support followed to assist the Government of Japan and other relief agencies with a variety of highly-trained support personnel for humanitarian assistance operations.Throughout Operation Tomodachi, U.S. forces followed three lines of operation: Foreign humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, Foreign consequence management, Voluntary departure and planning of the potential ordered departure of DoD personnel, their dependents, American citizens and designated foreign nationals. Each of these lines of operation generated its own sets of legal challenges and solutions.
Book Review: William A. Schabas, An Introduction to the International Criminal Court (2004)

This article reviews the book William A. Schabas, An Introduction to the International Criminal Court (2004).
Rheology of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)–Clay Nanocomposite Hydrogels

We used molecular dynamics simulations and experiments to study the rheology of polymer–clay nanocomposite hydrogels. The molecular dynamics simulations studied the formation of physical cross-linked networks as a function of the clay concentration. Simulations showed that while the local structure changed from isolated polymer–clay clusters to a percolating network with increasing clay concentration the networks were only able to sustain stress at concentrations of roughly 1.5 times the percolation transition. Experiments using poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA)–clay nanocomposites at different clay concentrations were compared with simulation results. Experiments showed a transition from viscous to gel like behavior at a clay concentration of 15.24g/L, in good agreement with simulations. The modulus, G′ and G″, prior to yield was observed to increase exponentially with clay concentration and G′ at yield could be fitted to the modified Mooney’s equation.
Electrodeposited copper foams as substrates for thin film silicon electrodes

Abstract Although a significant amount of effort has been put into investigating elemental silicon as a lithium-ion battery anode material, limited progress has occurred in translating these results to create a long lived electrode. Several electrode level solutions have been reported including utilizing Si nanowires, thin films, and nanoparticle assemblies, where the physical diffusion distances are kept very short. For thin film based electrodes, the benefits of the simplified structure of the electrode are countered by the low surface area and low silicon loadings. In this study we have utilized electrodeposition techniques to deposit silicon films on a porous copper substrate. This greatly increases the electrode surface area and loadings while maintaining the advantages of a thin film electrode. Using 3d-silicon electrodes without a binder or conductive matrix, stable capacities of ~ 1000 mAh/g have been achieved. In general, electrodes with lower loadings of active silicon ( 2 ) displayed better rate capability than electrodes with higher loadings (> 2.5 mg/cm 2 ).
Quaternion applications

This intermediate-level tutorial provides an introduction to the visualization of quaternions and recent developments concerning quaternion applications to computer graphics and scientific visualization. We begin by covering the fundamental nature of quaternions, explaining where they become important in computer graphics, and describing the basic tools needed to apply them. We then pursue several recent topics for which quaternions are relevant and note updated approaches to selected graphics and visualization applications.
Unusual maintenance of X chromosome inactivation predisposes female lymphocytes for increased expression from the inactive X

Females have a greater immunological advantage than men, yet they are more prone to autoimmune disorders. The basis for this sex bias lies in the X chromosome, which contains many immunity-related genes. Female mammals use X chromosome inactivation (XCI) to generate a transcriptionally silent inactive X chromosome (Xi) enriched with heterochromatic modifications and XIST/Xist RNA, which equalizes gene expression between the sexes. Here, we examine the maintenance of XCI in lymphocytes from females in mice and humans. Strikingly, we find that mature naive T and B cells have dispersed patterns of XIST/Xist RNA, and they lack the typical heterochromatic modifications of the Xi. In vitro activation of lymphocytes triggers the return of XIST/Xist RNA transcripts and some chromatin marks (H3K27me3, ubiquitin-H2A) to the Xi. Single-cell RNA FISH analysis of female T cells revealed that the X-linked immunity genes CD40LG and CXCR3 are biallelically expressed in some cells. Using knockout and knockdown approaches, we find that Xist RNA-binding proteins, YY1 and hnRNPU, are critical for recruitment of XIST/Xist RNA back to the Xi. Furthermore, we examined B cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disorder with a strong female bias, and observed different XIST RNA localization patterns, evidence of biallelic expression of immunity-related genes, and increased transcription of these genes. We propose that the Xi in female lymphocytes is predisposed to become partially reactivated and to overexpress immunity-related genes, providing the first mechanistic evidence to our knowledge for the enhanced immunity of females and their increased susceptibility for autoimmunity.
The Sustainable University: Progress and Prospects:

Stephen Sterling, Larch Maxey, Heather Luna (Eds), Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, Abingdon, Oxon, and New York, 2012, 332 pages, $118.60 (hard cover), $116.00 USD kindle. ISBN: 978-0-415-62774-0...
Who will bankroll the next big idea

The article discusses funding for technology development. The author argues that potentially life-changing technologies, such as personalized drugs, lack support and discusses ways to change this. Topics include the lack of funding and effort in the path from laboratory to marketplace, the cost of developing the iPhone assistant, Siri, the legacy of big corporate laboratories in supporting research and development (R&D), and the role of private-public partnerships.
Theoretical analysis of reactivity patterns in Diels-Alder reactions of cyclopentadiene, cyclohexadiene, and cycloheptadiene with symmetrical and unsymmetrical dienophiles.

The Diels–Alder reactions of cyclopentadiene, cyclohexadiene, and cycloheptadiene with a series of dienophiles were studied with quantum mechanical calculations (M06-2X density functional theory) and analyzed with the distortion/interaction model. The poor reactivities of cyclohexadiene and cycloheptadiene with dienophiles that give relatively synchronous transition states result from the substantial distortion required to achieve a transition state involving the formation of two bonds of the diene simultaneously. However, highly asynchronous or stepwise reactions result in less distortion of the diene and less differences in reactivities of different dienes. The transition state geometry of cyclopentadiene is less distorted in the asynchronous reaction with 1,1-dicyanoethylene compared to that with cis- and trans-1,2-dicyanoethylenes, which react through synchronous transition states.
Hematin : effects on hemostasis

Extensive studies performed over the past 6 years have shown that a degradation product of hematin produces a unique coagulopathy, characterized by thrombocytopenia with platelet degranulation, alteration in the function of numerous clotting and fibrinolytic proteins, and reversible changes in endothelial cells. With the use of degraded hematin, it can be demonstrated that platelet aggregation is stimulated, that platelet adhesion to endothelial cells is enhanced, that the dissociation of factor VIII: C from von Willebrand factor is inhibited, and that the binding of the factor VII/von Willebrand factor complex to platelets is impaired. Even freshly reconstituted solutions of sorbitol-stabilized hematin affect hemostasis and induce thrombophlebitis, presumably because of in vivo degradation of the hematin. Recently, a new formulation of hematin, heme arginate, has been shown to be extraordinarily stable and to have virtually no effects on coagulation. This review compares and summarizes the effects of these various hematin compounds on hemostasis.
Media Realities: Visual Competence in Social Context

AbstractRelationships between classes of visual messages and “reality” differ, with consequent differences in the social rules for interpretation. Advertising presents an idealized world, often a fantasy world; news presents itself as a window on the “real world.” Problems of comprehension and awareness of artifice and intentionality thus vary according to message class. Visual competence is the ability to classify and interpret messages according to visual conventions and social rules for each class. Research with elementary school children indicates that the formalism of advertising images and real-life experience as consumers facilitate visual analysis and recognition of messageness, but do not teach awareness of the embedded ideological functions of advertising. Conversely, the realism of news images and lack of real-life experiences against which to compare them disarm visual analysis; the viewing contex of news images tends to be the real world, albeit a “real world” often composed primarily of news...
Developmental Coordination Disorder and ADHD

The prevalence, comorbidity, and outcome of “developmental coordination disorder (DCD)” were studied in 7-10 year-old children at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Sahlgren University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden.
Bioengineered Bioartificial Ventricles

The focus of this chapter is on ventricle tissue engineering. The field of ventricle tissue engineering is a very new and progressive area of research within the broader field of tissue and organ fabrication. Recent advances in tissue engineering have spurred researchers into developing strategies for organ fabrication and ventricle engineering is one such example. There have been significant advancements in heart muscle engineering; however, the same progress has not been repeated with complex organ and/or organ structures, like left ventricles. We begin this chapter by describing left ventricle structure, function and anatomy, including geometrical characteristics and structure of the tricuspid and bicuspid valves. We then describe one pediatric condition, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a congenital disorder which results in patients that have an underdeveloped left ventricle at the time of birth; BAVs have the potential to provide a novel treatment modality for HLHS patients. Next, we present current trends in pediatric heart transplantation, as related to HLHS. We next move onto specific topics related to ventricle tissue engineering and fabrication of BAVs. We start by providing specific design requirements that need to be satisfied in order to fabricate functional BAVs. Next, we describe the process to fabricate BAVs, including cell sourcing, biomaterial development and bioreactor design. In the next section, we present current state of the art in ventricle tissue engineering and discuss published models of BAVs. We then describe the potential applications of BAVs as a treatment modality for pediatric patients with HLHS. Finally, we end this chapter by presenting a case study in ventricle tissue engineering.
Prime Time for PRIMES

“In God we trust, all others bring data.” This pithy quote from Edwards Deming, 1 of the fathers of quality improvement (QI), speaks to the centrality of data and measurement in QI. Early on hospitalists realized that QI in the hospital setting was key to their value proposition and return on investment strategy. However, pediatric hospitalists have long complained about the dearth of nationally recognized inpatient measures, especially ones that drive improvement for patients, create value for the health care system, and are under their control. The predominant pediatric quality collaborative, Solutions for Patient Safety, focuses primarily on patient safety issues, many of which are more pertinent to other specialists (eg, ventilator-associated pneumonia, surgical site infections, obstetrical adverse events),1 and the primary quality metric, readmissions, is controversial in pediatrics.2 Pediatric hospitalists saw the Joint Commission’s Children’s Asthma Care measures as unlikely to improve care secondary to near universal compliance (administering β-agonists and steroids to patients hospitalized for asthma) or lacking evidence and construct validity (providing an asthma action plan). Recognizing the need for a robust set of QI metrics in the pediatric emergency department (ED) and inpatient settings, Mangione-Smith et al3 endeavored to develop and field test a set of process of care quality indicators, …
A neural model of valuation and information virality.

Information sharing is an integral part of human interaction that serves to build social relationships and affects attitudes and behaviors in individuals and large groups. We present a unifying neurocognitive framework of mechanisms underlying information sharing at scale (virality). We argue that expectations regarding self-related and social consequences of sharing (e.g., in the form of potential for self-enhancement or social approval) are integrated into a domain-general value signal that encodes the value of sharing a piece of information. This value signal translates into population-level virality. In two studies (n = 41 and 39 participants), we tested these hypotheses using functional neuroimaging. Neural activity in response to 80 New York Times articles was observed in theory-driven regions of interest associated with value, self, and social cognitions. This activity then was linked to objectively logged population-level data encompassing n = 117,611 internet shares of the articles. In both studies, activity in neural regions associated with self-related and social cognition was indirectly related to population-level sharing through increased neural activation in the brain9s value system. Neural activity further predicted population-level outcomes over and above the variance explained by article characteristics and commonly used self-report measures of sharing intentions. This parsimonious framework may help advance theory, improve predictive models, and inform new approaches to effective intervention. More broadly, these data shed light on the core functions of sharing—to express ourselves in positive ways and to strengthen our social bonds.
Injuries to the Forefoot

Complete workup of forefoot injuries (Fig. 55.1) includes evaluation of open vs. closed injury neurovascular compromise, compartment assessment, high vs. low energy, intraarticular vs. extra-articular, impaction at joint surface, and associated injuries.
Green Banking Practices of Selected Private Sector Banks in Sri Lanka

It has been generally observed that there is an empirical gap with regard to green banking practices of selected private sector banks (Private Bank-I, Private Bank-II, Private Bank-III, and Bank-IV) in Sri Lanka. In general, the selected private sector banks have many green banking practices and also promoting green banking culture among the employees. However, this area of research is not explored very well in Sri Lanka. Therefore, in order to fulfil this empirical gap, this study was conducted. The objective of this study is to identify and explore the green banking practices of selected private banks in Sri Lanka. In order to achieve this objective, data were collected from the secondary sources, mainly from the last two years annual reports of the selected banks and content analysis was applied. The findings of this study revealed that private sector banks are practicing several green banking practices (67) in Sri Lanka.
Thoughts on two recent decades of studying race and racism

In 1995, my article ‘“Critical” Mixed-Race Theory?’ was published in Social Identities. That was also the year in which my monographs Bad Faith and Antiblack Racism and Fanon and the Crisis of Euro...
A Case of Myoclonus–Dystonia Responding to Low-frequency Pallidal Stimulation

Background: High frequency pallidal stimulation has been shown to improve various types of dystonia, including myoclonus-dystonia. Case Report: We report a case of epsilon sarcoglycan mutation-negative myoclonus-dystonia (MD) with response to low frequency bilateral pallidal stimulation. Discussion: Low frequency pallidal stimulation provides an effective means of treating various dystonias, regardless of genetic status, as in our case, as it provides increased programming options with less adverse effects.
Interferometry with Null Optics for Testing Aspherical Surfaces at 1nm Accuracy

This paper describes null interferometry at 1nm accuracy for testing aspherical surfaces of sub-mm deviation from the best fitting sphere. We have developed the two kinds of null compensators. The one was the null lens composed of almost “perfect” spherical surfaces and homogeneous glass. The other was the zone plate manufactured through the lithography process. The measurement results using these null compensators were compared with the results by the ultra-precision CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine). These three measurements differed only by an amount of 1.6nm rms. This result proved the accuracy of our null interferometry was almost 1nm rms.
Towards a vision-based targeting system for counter unmanned aerial systems (CUAS)

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are rapidly increasing in popularity. Despite attempts at regulation, stopping small, Class 1 (typically hobby-grade) UAVs from entering protected or sensitive airspace is an unsolved problem. Many companies and researchers offer a piece of a solution, but as of this writing, there is no publicly available, feasible, end-to-end solution. Ultimately, what is needed is a sensor-based system that autonomously detects, tracks, and neutralizes/disables an incoming UAV. However, such a system is currently not available, so as development toward that goal continues, a temporary solution is required. Augmenting the skill, dexterity, and processing power of human pilots with inexpensive cameras and computer vision algorithms can offer such a solution. The foundations of a framework for a system that uses computer vision to target and ultimately destroy a target in mid-air is introduced. The proposed solution utilizes a light-weight, inexpensive UAV with an on-board camera. The detection and tracking is performed in real-time on a companion computer mounted to the frame of the vehicle, with ROS as the primary communication infrastructure. Initial simulations provide insight into the feasibility of using computer vision with a monocular camera to offer reliable assistance to the pilot.
Section Editorial – Ponder This: Taking Educated Action with and in Science

Janis, a 13-year-old African-American, is speaking about her participation in a community-based program focused on investigating energy issues in her community. She refers to herself as a Community Science Expert [CSE] because of what she knows about science and her community. To Janis and her peers, CSEs are “committed,” “ready to learn,” “willing to take on big problems to help your community,” “take educated action” and are “make-a-difference experts.”
Demonstration of specific insulin binding to cytosolic proteins in H35 hepatoma cells, rat liver and skeletal muscle

We previously demonstrated that internalized insulin enters the cytoplasm before accumulating in nuclei of H35 rat hepatoma cells. This finding raises the possibility that insulin may interact with cytosolic proteins in addition to insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE). In the present study, cytosol from H35 hepatoma cells, rat liver or muscle was incubated with A14- or B26-125I-insulin at 4 degrees C for 5-120 min in the absence or presence of 25 micrograms/ml unlabelled insulin. 125I-insulin was cross-linked to cytosolic proteins by disuccinimidyl suberate and analysed by reducing or non-reducing SDS/PAGE and autoradiography. Our results demonstrate the presence of both tissue-specific and common cytosolic proteins which specifically bind insulin. In muscle cytosol, only two proteins of 27 and 110 kDa were specifically labelled with B26-125I-insulin. Seven major bands, of 27, 45, 55, 60, 76, 82 and 110 kDa, were labelled in rat liver cytosol. Detection of cytosolic insulin-binding proteins in H35-cell cytosol was dependent on cell-culture conditions. Labelling in cytosol from serum-deprived cells was decreased or absent compared with cytosol prepared from serum-fed or serum-deprived cells treated with 100 ng/ml insulin for 1 h before preparation of the cytosol, in which six bands, of 32, 41, 45, 55, 82 and 110 kDa, were specifically labelled with B26-125I-insulin. This result suggests that the concentration or binding activity of some cytosolic insulin-binding proteins is rapidly regulated. Labelling of both rat liver and H35 cytosolic insulin-binding proteins was time-dependent, and decreased or disappeared at 120 min in parallel with the degradation of labelled insulin. Fewer bands were specifically labelled with A14-125I-insulin than with B26-125I-insulin. The number of labelled bands observed under reducing and non-reducing conditions was not different in any of the cytosols. The 110 kDa band in all cytosols was identified as IDE by Western-blot analysis; the other proteins did not react with anti-IDE antibody and remain unidentified. 1,10-Phenanthroline (2 mM) increased IDE labelling, but decreased the labelling of 82 and 27 kDa bands. The marked difference in the number of cytosolic insulin-binding proteins in muscle and either H35 cells or liver suggests both that the labelling is specific and that these proteins serve a function and may be involved in some heretofore unknown mechanism of the signalling pathway by which insulin regulates cell growth or differentiation.
Deep Vein Thrombosis: What to Do

Conditions which increase bleeding risk: intracranial/intraspinal bleeding; gastrointestinal bleeding; known bleeding diathesis; recent history of major surgery, trauma, or obstetrical delivery (for anticoagulants and thrombolytics)
A New Triaxial Apparatus Imposing Nonuniform Shearing for Deep Learning of Soil Behavior

Soil behavior is commonly characterized based on laboratory tests with imposed or assumed uniform stress and strain distribution within a given soil specimen for convenient data reduction. This uniformity assumption limits the interpretation of each test to a single stress-strain path, and therefore, extensive laboratory testing is required to represent field soil behavior under a broad range of loading paths. This article presents the development of a modified, next-generation, triaxial device (NG-TX) to generate multiple loading paths in a single test that can be interpreted using an evolutionary deep-learning inverse analysis. This device inherits all features of a conventional triaxial test and adds lateral restraint clamps to increase nonuniformity in specimen deformation, combined with a digital photogrammetry system to measure the 3-D deformed shape of the specimen. The design of the restraint clamps was optimized using numerical simulations, which showed that the sheared specimen includes shear modes that cannot currently be mobilized with available testing devices. By coupling SelfSim, a deep-learning algorithm, with the modified triaxial device (NG-TX), the shear behavior of Ottawa sand was extracted. The SelfSim-extracted Neural Network material models were able to successfully capture the global behavior of each test and extract the nonuniform stress-strain behavior from within the specimens. The interpreted stress paths cover broad portions of stress space that current laboratory tests cannot cover. The stress-strain behavior is interpreted in terms of the mobilized secant friction angle using 2-D and 3-D failure criteria. The mobilized secant friction angle interpretation shows better agreement with empirically developed envelopes when computed along the octahedral plane accounting for the influence of intermediate principal stress.
DNA-protein cross-link repair: what do we know now?

When a protein is covalently and irreversibly bound to DNA (i.e., a DNA–protein cross-link [DPC]), it may obstruct any DNA-based transaction, such as transcription and replication. DPC formation is very common in cells, as it can arise from endogenous factors, such as aldehyde produced during cell metabolism, or exogenous sources like ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light, and chemotherapeutic agents. DPCs are composed of DNA, protein, and their cross-linked bonds, each of which can be targeted by different repair pathways. Many studies have demonstrated that nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination can act on DNA molecules and execute nuclease-dependent DPC repair. Enzymes that have evolved to deal specifically with DPC, such as tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterases 1 and 2, can directly reverse cross-linked bonds and release DPC from DNA. The newly identified proteolysis pathway, which employs the proteases Wss1 and SprT-like domain at the N-terminus (SPRTN), can directly hydrolyze the proteins in DPCs, thus offering a new venue for DPC repair in cells. A deep understanding of the mechanisms of each pathway and the interplay among them may provide new guidance for targeting DPC repair as a therapeutic strategy for cancer. Here, we summarize the progress in DPC repair field and describe how cells may employ these different repair pathways for efficient repair of DPCs.
The Los Alamos FEL photoinjector drive laser

Abstract The drive-laser system of the photoelectric injector for the Los Alamos free-electron laser (FEL) is described. The bright electron beams required for high-performance FELs demand stringent specifications on the drive-laser output levels, beam quality, and stability. The laser system generates 7–15 ps (FWHM) Gaussian pulses of 527 nm light at a repetition rate of 21.67 MHz. These “micropulses” are contained within a “macropulse” envelope less than 200 μs long, which is emitted from the drive laser at a rate of 1 Hz. Micropulse energies as large as 12 μJ are obtained. The design specification, laser architecture, and operating performance following the most recent round of upgrades are presented.
Analysis of Trace Element Concentrations and Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Muscle Tissue of the Atlantic Sharpnose Shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Metals occur naturally in the environment; however, anthropogenic practices have greatly increased metal concentrations in waterways, sediments, and biota. Metals pose health risks to marine organisms and have been associated with oxidative stress, which can lead to protein denaturation, DNA mutations, and cellular apoptosis. Sharks are important species ecologically, recreationally, and commercially. Because they occupy a high trophic level, assessing muscle tissue metal concentrations in sharks may reflect metal transfer in marine food webs. In this study, concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, selenium, silver, and zinc were measured in the muscle of Rhizoprionodon terraenovae (Atlantic sharpnose shark) from 12 sites along the coast of the southeastern United States. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) also were examined in the muscle tissue of R. terraenovae. A total of 165 samples were analyzed, and differences in trace element bioaccumulation and enzyme activity were observed across sites. R. terraenovae samples collected from South Florida and South Carolina had the highest cumulative trace element concentrations whereas those collected from North Carolina and Alabama had the lowest cumulative concentrations. Trace element concentrations in shark muscle tissue were significantly correlated to antioxidant enzyme activity, particularly with glutathione peroxidase, suggesting that this enzyme may serve as a non-lethal, biomarker of metal exposure in R. terraenovae. This is one of the most extensive studies providing reference levels of trace elements and oxidative stress enzymes in a single elasmobranch species within the U.S.
Swelling of U-Mo Monolithic Fuel: Developing a Predictive Swelling Correlation under Research Reactor Conditions

Abstract Understanding swelling behavior in monolithic, uranium-molybdenum, plate-type fuel is necessary to qualify the fuel for reactor use and for the conversion of high performance research reactors from highly enriched to low-enriched uranium. Multiple mechanisms influence plate dimensional stability, including solid and gaseous fission-product induced swelling, irradiation-assisted creep, fuel-phase transformation, and interaction-layer formation. Separating these phenomena remains a challenge, and current models do not appear to adequately predict experimental results at higher fission densities where it is most critical. To mitigate the mechanistic uncertainty, post-irradiation profilometry is used to increase the number of data points available over a range of in-reactor irradiation experiments conducted at the Advanced Test Reactor, and to provide a statistical precedent for a swelling-behavior model. This work establishes a predictive swelling correlation as a function of fission density, with associated confidence and prediction bounds, by analyzing more than 18,000 thickness data points collected on 74 irradiated U-10Mo monolithic fuel test plates over a range of irradiation conditions.
Transportation analysis and related design optimization of the Fermilab high-beta 650 MHz cryomodule

The Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II) at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) will create a new and vastly improved accelerator, which will be the source of high-energy particles for the experiments taking place at FNAL. The new linear accelerator (LINAC) contains several types of cryomodules, which are individual particle accelerators. The last cryomodule in the LINAC will be the High-Beta 650 (HB650), which will operate at 650 MHz. Each module is approximately 15 meters in length and 1.5 meters wide, weighs 13 tonnes, and shares many design features with three of the other cryomodules. The HB650 consists of two primary sections, the outer vacuum vessel and the components that reside within it, which will be cooled to cryogenic temperatures – the cold mass. Once assembly is complete at FNAL, it will be transported to one of three places: another location at FNAL, another national laboratory within the continental United States, or to a scientific partner in Europe. Any excitation the module experiences, such as going over rough roads when on a semitrailer, can create high stresses in components and cause failure if severe enough. Additionally, any delicate components with low resonant frequencies that match the excitation spectrum could achieve resonance, potentially causing a fatigue failure by repeated flexing. To ensure the successful transportation of the HB650, a transport analysis utilizing ANSYS simulation software has been performed on major subassemblies, as well as analysis of the subassemblies as a combined system. The optimization of components, design of support structures, and overall increasing of the lowest resonant frequencies have resulted in a cryomodule that will be better equipped to handle transportation and any large impact loads that come with it.
The Stupendous US Record Gets Suppressed

In America, free marketeers may sometimes win elections. But they are not winning U.S. history. American history is no longer a history of opportunity. In recent years, the consensus regarding the American past has slipped leftward, and then leftward again. No longer is American history a story of opportunity, or of military or domestic triumph. America’s has become, rather, a story of wrongs, racial and social. Today, any historical figure who failed at any time to support abolition, or, worse, took the Confederate side in the Civil War, must be expunged from history. Wrongs must be righted, and equality of result enforced. The equality campaign spills over into a less obvious field, one that might otherwise provide a useful check upon the non-empirical claims of the humanities: economics. In a discipline that once showcased the power of markets, an axiom is taking hold: equal incomes lead to general prosperity, and point toward utopia. Teachers, book club presidents, and especially professors withhold any evidence to the contrary. Universities lead the shift, and the population follows. Today, millennials, those born between 1982 and 2000, outnumber baby boomers by the millions, and polls suggest that they support redistribution specifically, and government action generally, more than their predecessors. A 2014 Reason/Rupe poll found 48 percent of millennials agreeing that government should “do more” to solve problems, whereas 37 percent said that government was doing “too many things.” A full 58 percent of the youngest of millennials, those 18-24 when surveyed, held a “positive” view of socialism, in dramatic contrast with their parents: only 23 percent of those aged 55 to 64 viewed socialism positively.
Associations of sleep quality and burnout in clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: Clinicians have faced unprecedented challenges in care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increases in patient volume/acuity, alongside fears of COVID-19 exposure. Increased burnout rates are associated with chronic health condition risk and adverse organizational outcomes. It remains unclear whether sleep is associated to burnout in clinicians treating COVID-19 patients. Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed via email across 3 hospital listserves from September to November, 2020. Clinicians delivering direct care to COVID-19 patients were eligible. Clinician burnout was measured using a single item from AHRQ's Mini-Z survey. We assessed sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Binary logistic regressions were used to determine the relationship between PSQI global score (global sleep quality) and burnout, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, gender, length of time employed, whether clinical role changed during COVID-19, and anxiety. In a separate model, we investigated the association between burnout and independent PSQI subcomponents: 1) sleep duration (“Hours of sleep per night”), and 2) subjective sleep quality (“How would you rate your sleep quality overall”) entered together, with the above covariates. Results: The final sample included 315 clinicians, predominantly nurses (57% White, 15% Hispanic/Latino, 89% female). Burnout symptoms were reported by 61.6%, and poor global sleep quality (PSQI global score >5) in 84.4% of participants. Poor global sleep quality (PSQI global score >5 vs. ≤5) was significantly associated with the presence of burnout symptoms (OR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.20-5.28, p=0.015). In the secondary model, self-reported sleep quality (rating of fairly or very bad vs. rating of fairly or very good) was significantly associated with burnout (OR: 4.13, 95% CI: 2.33-7.32, p<0.05), whereas short sleep duration (<6 h vs. ≥6 h) was not (OR: 0.726, 95% CI: 0.41-1.30, p=0.28). Conclusion: Poor sleep quality is common and associated with increased burnout in clinicians delivering care to COVID-19 patients. Interestingly, sleep quality appears to be more strongly related to burnout than sleep duration. Increased evidence about the negative implications of poor sleep and burnout are emerging. Interdisciplinary efforts aimed at promoting effective sleep quality in clinicians during this pandemic may lead to improvements in long-term clinician physical and psychological health.
First-Dose mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Allergic Reactions: Limited Role for Excipient Skin Testing.

Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that a severe or immediate allergic reaction to the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is a contraindication for the second dose. Objective To assess outcomes associated with excipient skin testing after a reported allergic reaction to the first dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Methods We identified a consecutive sample of patients with reported allergic reactions after the first dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine who underwent allergy assessment with skin testing to polyethylene glycol (PEG) and, when appropriate, polysorbate 80. Skin testing results in conjunction with clinical phenotyping of the first-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine reaction guided second-dose vaccination recommendation. Second-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine reactions were assessed. Results Eighty patients with reported first-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine allergic reactions (n = 65; 81% immediate onset) underwent excipient skin testing. Of those, 14 (18%) had positive skin tests to PEG (n = 5) and/or polysorbate 80 (n = 12). Skin testing result did not affect tolerance of the second dose in patients with immediate or delayed reactions. Of the 70 patients who received the second mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose (88%), 62 had either no reaction or a mild reaction managed with antihistamines (89%), but 2 patients required epinephrine treatment. Three patients with positive PEG-3350 intradermal (methylprednisolone) testing tolerated second-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Refresh Tears caused nonspecific skin irritation. Conclusions Most individuals with a reported allergic reaction to the first dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of skin test result, received the second dose safely. More data are needed on the value of skin prick testing to PEG (MiraLAX) in evaluating patients with mRNA COVID-19 vaccine anaphylaxis. Refresh Tears should not be used for skin testing.
Bacterial aggregation assisted by anionic surfactant and calcium ions

We identify factors leading to aggregation of bacteria in the presence of a surfactant using absorbance and microscopy. Two marine bacteria, Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus SP17 and Halomonas titanicae Bead 10BA, formed aggregates of a broad size distribution in synthetic sea water in the presence of an anionic surfactant, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS). Both DOSS at high concentrations and calcium ions were necessary for aggregate formation, but DOSS micelles were not required for aggregation. Addition of proteinase K but not DNase1 eliminated aggregate formation over two hours. Finally, swimming motility also enhanced aggregate formation.
Marketing and Development in the Transition Economies of Southeast Asia: Policy Explication, Assessment, and Implications

Geopolitical events have forced many countries in Southeast Asia to transform from centrally planned to market-oriented economies. The authors review the literature and introduce a model to help ex...
Online and For-Profit Graduate Education

Abstract Anew model of graduate education has emergedin recent years, one that is completely or predominately online and typically for-profit. In this model, educational opportunities are delivered worldwide without regard to time constraints or location. Supporters of this new form of virtual, for-profit graduate education abound, as do those who question the delivery of graduate schooling through this medium. Librarians working in more traditional contexts need to be aware of this major trend in distance-delivered graduate education simply because many of these new educational providers are creating new and often innovative approaches to library-resource access. Indeed, this new model often redefines the role of librarians who serve such graduate learning and teaching environments. This article explores some of the issues surrounding library and technical service support for virtual and for-profit graduate education through a focus on models of good practice.
Orientation matters: Patch anisotropy controls discharge competence and hydroperiod in a patterned peatland

[1] Identifying the mechanisms that drive development of self-organized patterned landscapes is essential for guiding ecosystem management and restoration. In this work, we modeled flow through real and geostatistically simulated landscapes to test the hypothesis that feedbacks between patch anisotropy and hydroperiod may be sufficient to explain development of the flow-parallel ridge-slough mosaic of the Everglades (Florida, USA). Results show patch anisotropy to be a strong predictor of hydroperiod, with ecologically significant increases in flooding duration (>40 days/year) in isotropic landscapes compared with areas of the Everglades with the best-conserved anisotropic patterning. Notably, hydroperiod differences among landscapes were largest in dry years, suggesting that low flow periods may be most influential in landscape pattern development, contrary to alternative models of pattern formation. This study demonstrates the potential for coupled feedbacks between landscape geometry and hydrology to drive anisotropic pattern formation via inundation frequency without requiring velocity-driven erosion and redistribution of particulates.