Flags, Tags, and Custom Queues

Clemson Libraries have been using ILLiad for more than a decade. Upon recently hosting representatives from OCLC for eventual Tipasa migration, we learned that we currently use flags the way we will need to use tags in the future. As Tipasa will not offer an option for custom queues, which are a major part of our workflow, we will need to adapt tags for use in place of custom queues. This poster will outline our current plan for transforming our workflows after migration

T CELLS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF SPONTANEOUS AUTOIMMUNE PERIPHERAL POLYNEUROPATHY

The immune system defends the body from pathogens, and its function is essential for life. Adaptive immunity protects the host through specific targeting and elimination of pathogens and toxins. However, due to the stochastic nature of adaptive immune cell antigen specificity, cells that attack the host are inadvertently generated. Autoimmunity, or immune attack against the host, causes severe morbidity and mortality in the population. Furthermore, treatments of autoimmune diseases often have limited efficacy and serious side-effects. To develop better treatments for autoimmunity, the underlying pathogenesis must be understood. For my thesis, I studied a mouse model of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) to understand the mechanisms behind disease. CIDP is a debilitating condition caused by autoimmune demyelination of peripheral nerves. In my studies, I researched the role of T lymphocytes, the immunosuppressive cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10), and other immune cells and markers in NOD.AireGW/+ mice that develop spontaneous autoimmune peripheral polyneuropathy (SAPP) that resembles CIDP. I demonstrated that T cells are required for SAPP, and that IL-10 paradoxically exacerbates SAPP. I delineated a novel mechanism in which IL-10-induced STAT3 increases S1pr1 expression and CD4+ T cell migration to accelerate T cell-mediated destruction of peripheral nerves. My results suggest the increased IL-10 expression observed in CIDP patients may be a marker of disease activity and progression rather than immunosuppression.Doctor of Philosoph

Lubricant base stock-surface interaction

Superior performance is by far the most desirable aspect of any Spark Ignition (SI) engine that is designed for competition use. This is closely followed by a predictable life expectancy of the unit. A major aspect that can seriously affect both performance and longevity of the unit are the frictional losses and wear of the reciprocating components within the engine. One of the major areas where frictional losses and excessive wear that can reduce performance at an alarming rate is the first compression ring/cylinder liner interface. This investigation uses lateral force microscopy to determine the congruity of matching individual base stock components to liner material/substrate combinations

Senses of Sen: Reflections on Amartya Sen’s Ideas of Justice

This review essay explores how Amartya Sen’s recent book, The Idea of Justice, is relevant and important for the development and assessment of transnational theories and applications to transnational justice and legal education programs. The essay captures a trans-jural dialogue of multinational scholars and teachers, discussing Sen’s contributions to moral justice theory (criticizing programs for “transcendental institutionalism” (like Rawlsian theory) and instead focusing on “comparative broadening” including empirical, relative, and comparative assessments of programs to ameliorate injustice in the world in its comparative concreteness (as in Indian social justice theory and Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments and related work). The authors are professors in the transnational legal education program, the Center for Transnational Legal Studies, sponsored by over 25 different law schools, located in London. They teach courses in a wide variety of subjects, including comparative legal theory, constitutional law, business and legal ethics, moral and legal philosophy, international and comparative law, capital markets and business law, emergency powers, international dispute resolution and a variety of other common and civil law subjects

Characterisation of automotive bore material and coatings using atomic force microscopy [Abstract]

Characterisation of automotive bore material and coatings using atomic force microscopy [Abstract

Asperity level frictional interactions of cylinder bore materials and lubricant composition

Parasitic frictional losses in internal combustion engines of race vehicles adversely affect their performance. A significant proportion of these losses occur within the piston-cylinder system. This paper presents a study of the compatibility of cylinder bore surface materials with typical lubricant base constituent stock (Poly Alpha Olefin (PAO) and Polyolester (POE)) as well as a fully formulated lubricant. Nanoscale boundary friction is measured using lateral force microscopy. The effect of material properties, nanoscale roughness and lubricant species upon underlying mechanisms of generated friction is presented. Advanced cylinder materials and coatings and lubricant molecular species used for high performance engines are investigated, an integrated approach not hitherto reported in literature

Access to Contraceptive Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perceptions of Choose Well Hospital Partners

Introduction: Contraceptive decision-making is individual in nature and access to high-quality contraceptive care, including counseling and the full range of contraceptive methods, can help individuals achieve their personal reproductive goals and prevent unintended pregnancy. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted provision and utilization of contraceptive counseling and contraceptive methods. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods, such as the contraceptive implant and intrauterine devices (IUDs), were particularly affected by the pandemic because they require placement by a health care provider in a clinical setting. Choose Well (CW), an ongoing statewide contraceptive access initiative in South Carolina, launched in 2017 and continues through 2022. CW aims to implement best practices of contraceptive care via training and funding for IUD and implant methods. This study examined the perceptions of access to contraceptive counseling and implant and IUD methods during the pandemic in 2020 among CW hospital partners. Methods: Data were collected in 2021 via key informant interviews with partners (n=9) at CW implementing hospitals to assess perceptions of CW activities in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A semi-structured interview guide was used, and interviews were recorded, transcribed, and consensus coded. A codebook was developed based on the interview guide. Data from select questions of interest related to perceived access to contraceptive counseling, access to LARC methods, and the impact of the pandemic on contraceptive care services were analyzed for this study. Coding was conducted with NVivo software version 1.6.1. Results: Findings show that there was continued provision of contraceptive services during COVID-19 at CW partner hospitals, including an increase in access to contraceptive counseling and LARCs in 2020. The most prevalent facilitator for increased access to contraceptive counseling and LARCs at CW partner hospitals was having key personnel available such as physicians and Obstetrics (OB) navigators. Expanded access to outpatient sites was also noted as a facilitator of contraceptive counseling. Advertising and wide-spread patient education, buy-in and engagement from staff were additional facilitators for the increased access to LARCs. Considering the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients wanting to quickly leave the hospital and challenges with staffing contributed to an overall decline in access in some hospital locations. Challenges with staffing included not being able to receive training and nurses being overworked and overburdened. Conclusion: While COVID-19 has posed challenges to contraceptive care service provision, most individuals perceived an increase in access to contraceptive counseling and LARCs at CW partner hospitals. Hospital partners have continued to provide contraceptive services during COVID-19. The findings suggest the success of the CW initiative in increasing access to contraceptive services, particularly during COVID-19 through key facilitators. Staffing positions such as OB Navigators should be funded and maintained to increase access to contraceptive care services in hospital inpatient settings. Coordinating care between hospital inpatient and outpatient settings is similarly important for widespread patient education about contraceptive care services

The management of hepatobiliary cystadenomas: lessons learned

AbstractBackgroundMucinous cystic neoplasms of the liver (hepatobiliary cystadenomas) are rare neoplastic lesions. Such cysts are often incorrectly diagnosed and managed, and carry a risk of malignancy. The objective of this study was to review the surgical experience with these lesions over 15 years.MethodsA retrospective chart review identified consecutive patients undergoing surgery for liver cystadenomas from 1997–2011. Clinical data were collected and summarized.ResultsThirteen patients (mean age 51 years, 12/13 females) with cysts 4.6–18.1cm were identified. Most cysts were located in the left lobe/centrally (11/12) and had septations (8/13). Mural nodularity was infrequent (3/13). Nine patients had liver resection/enucleation, whereas four had unroofing. Frozen section analysis had a high false‐negative rate (4/6). All patients had cystadenomas, of which two had foci of invasive carcinoma (cystadenocarcinoma) within mural nodules. There was no 90‐day mortality. All but one patient (myocardial infarction) were alive at a median follow‐up of 23.1 months. No patient with unroofing has developed malignancy to date.ConclusionsNon‐invasive hepatobiliary cystadenomas present as large central/left‐sided cysts in young or middle‐aged women. Associated malignancy was relatively uncommon and found within mural nodules. Intra‐operative frozen section analysis was ineffective at ruling out cystadenomas. Complete excision is recommended, but close follow‐up might be considered in patients with a prohibitive technical or medical risk, in the absence of nodularity on high‐quality imaging

Asperity level tribological investigation of automotive bore material and coatings

Choosing in-cylinder surfaces is complex. A well-chosen surface has low friction and wear. Conversely, poor oversight often leads to premature failure through wear and scuffing. Typically cylinder bore surfaces are selected experientially. This paper demonstrates the use of Atomic Force Microscopy in LFM mode, characterising typical cylinder bore materials and coatings. The approach uses integrated LFM with continuum contact mechanics. It evaluates the real contact area and effective elastic modulus of the surface, including the effect of any reactive surface film. Surface energy and shear strength, as well as the coefficient of friction in nanoscale interactions are also determined. These properties are measured for 6 cylinder bore materials, including for composite Nickel-Silicon Carbide and DLC, used for high performance engines

Pancreatic cancer and predictors of survival: comparing the CA 19-9/bilirubin ratio with the McGill Brisbane Symptom Score

AbstractIntroductionFew tools predict survival from pancreatic cancer (PAC). The McGill Brisbane Symptom Score (MBSS) based on symptoms at presentation (weight loss, pain, jaundice and smoking) was recently validated. The present study compares the ability of four strategies to predict 9-month survival: MBSS, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) alone, CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio and a combination of MBSS and the CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio.MethodologyA retrospective review of 133 patients diagnosed with PAC between 2005 and 2011 was performed. Survival was determined from the Quebec civil registry. Blood CA 19-9 and bilirubin values were collected (n = 52) at the time of diagnosis. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine a cutoff for optimal test characteristics of CA 19-9 and CA19-9-to-total bilirubin ratio in predicting survival at 9 months. Predictive characteristics were then calculated for the four strategies.ResultsOf the four strategies, the one with the greatest negative predictive value was the MBSS: negative predictive value (NPV) was 90.2% (76.9–97.3%) and the positive likelihood ratio (LR) was the greatest. The ability of CA 19-9 levels alone, at baseline, to predict survival was low. For the CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio, the test characteristics improved but remained non-significant. The best performing strategy according to likelihood ratios was the combined MBSS and CA19-9 to the bilirubin ratio.ConclusionCA19-9 levels and the CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio are poor predictors of survival for PAC, whereas the MBSS is a far better predictor, confirming its clinical value. By adding the CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio to the MBSS the predictive characteristics improved