cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On functors and contentives in children's imitations of word strings

Young children (mean age 3 years, 11 months) were asked to repeat word strings presented from tape. The strings varied in length from three to five words; in sentencehood in that some were well-formed sentences, some were anomalous, and some were syntactically deviant; and in word types in that some strings contained all real words, some contained real function words plus nonsense items, and some contained real content words plus nonsense items. The results of this experimentation suggest that children's differential imitation of contentives and functors is accounted for by an “identify and retain contentives” strategy and that the principal criteria for the classification “contentive” are phonological form and semantic function.
Models of Madness: Science and Soul

The historical interplay between psychiatry and religion is placed in a contemporary context here. In their zeal to embrace new discoveries and technologies in neurophysiology, modern psychiatrists are losing sight of spiritual and cultural dimensions. From a biological perspective, there is confusion about what constitutes a cause, a concomitant, or a consequence of mental illness. Computer metaphors are being used to explain mental illness. This article examines such trends and questions whether, in the decade of the brain, psychiatry is in danger of losing its soul.
Dissolution of rising helium bubbles in a soda-lime-silica glassmelt

The dissolution of helium bubbles that rise inside a soda-lime-silica glassmelt was studied experimentally at several temperatures for a wide range of bubble sizes. The bubbles dissolved at an increasing rate until they reached a constant size that corresponded to a very small fraction of their initial volume. Mathematical models for both a stationary and a rising bubble were written, with a suitable interfacial boundary condition, and solved by the method of finite differences. Experimental data for bubbles small enough to be considered stationary were used, with the equations for a stationary bubble, to estimate the relevant physical parameters through a least-squares fitting technique. The same values of the parameters were used in the rising bubble model, which accurately predicted the behavior of all of the bubbles. The experiments reveal an initial period of slow dissolution that cannot be described adequately by existing models, which assume instantaneous equilibrium in gas concentration at the interface. An empirical fit of this initial behavior permitted the description of the entire dissolution process.
Hypereosinophilic syndrome human eosinophil degranulation induced by soluble and particulate stimuli.

Summary. Eosinophil degranulation induced by the calcium ionophore A23187 and opsonized zymosan particles was examined ultrastructurally in peripheral blood cells obtained from patients with the hypereosinophilic syndrome. Unstimulated hypereosinophilic syndrome eosinophils contained altered, vacuolated cytoplasmic granules and large cytoplasmic crystalloid structures not seen in normal cells. By morphometric analysis of transmission electron micrographs, the hypereosinophilic syndrome eosinophils contained a larger percentage of smaller sized cytoplasmic granules than normal cells. The hypereosinophilic syndrome eosinophils, however, were capable of undergoing noncytotoxic degranulation after stimulation with either A23187 or opsonized zymosan. Hypereosinophilic syndrome eosinophil degranulation was characterized by fusion of the perigranular membranes of adjacent cytoplasmic granules and vesiculation of the fused granules. Granule contents were released intracellularly into vacuoles after ionophore stimulation and into phagosomes containing the ingested zymosan particles. Noncytotoxic extracellular release of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) was also observed after cell stimulation by either A23187 or zymosan. The capacity of hypereosinophilic syndrome eosinophils to degranulate after appropriate stimulation with release of toxic granule constituents such as EPO and other basic proteins may be important in the tissue injury observed in this syndrome.
Collaborative Conflicts: Teens Performing Aggression and Intimacy in a French Cité

This article shows that emergent meanings of impoliteness and insult in interaction are central to communicative exchanges among French adolescents of Algerian descent living in a cite, or low-income housing project. In the speech event “parental name calling” nonpolite interactions are routinely interpreted as politic or appropriate by adolescents. Yet these performances of conflict are not without risk. The potential slippage between ritual and personal insult is always present in parental name calling, an ambiguity that allows adolescents to achieve two seemingly contradictory but highly valued interactional goals: the vindication of a parent's “respect” and illicit, disrespectful play. [conflict, collaboration, names, adolescence, immigration, North Africa, France]
Ultrastructure of the sensory palps of Tetranchyroderma papii (Gastrotricha, Macrodasyida)

The sensory palps of the macrodasyoid gastrotrichTetranchyroderma papii contain processes from two types of cell: 22–23 bipolar primary sensory cells and two to three support cells. In the proximal region of the palp each sensory cell contains a short ciliary segment with a basal body and from this ciliary segment a longer distal segment lacking axonemal microtubules extends through the major part of the length of the palp. Each support cell process bears microvilli and contains a conspicuous bundle of microtubules running the entire length of the process. The cell bodies of both cell types are situated in the epidermis of the head region. The palps are interpreted as having a chemosensory function. They are considered to be homologous to the posterior cephalic sensory organ ofTurbanella cornuta, but not the head tentacles ofChordodasys antennatus or nematode amphids.
Remote estimates of physical and acoustic sediment properties in the South China Sea using chirp sonar data and the biot model

A chirp sonar acquires sea-bed reflection data in the South China Sea, generates imagery of the sediment layering, and estimates sediment properties along the acoustic propagation paths selected for the Asian Sea International Acoustics Experiment (ASIAEX). Normal incidence reflection data, collected by the chirp sonar, are processed with an inversion technique based on the Biot model. The inputs for the inversion are reflection coefficient and attenuation rolloff measurements extracted from chirp sonar reflection data. The inversion provides the acoustic and physical properties of the sediments for the top layer of the sea bed. Porosity, predicted by the inversion, agrees with directly measured porosity. Estimates of porosity, mean grain size, permeability, fast wave velocity, and attenuation (in decibels/meter) are given for the uppermost sediment layer along each of the acoustic propagation lines.
Microstructural Developments During Implantation of Metals

The chemical and microstructural changes caused by the direct implantation of solutes into metals are examined. The particular case involving Al+-ion implantation into nickel is treated in detail. Chemical composition profiles measured using Auger spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering, and average near-surface chemical composition measured using an analytical electron microscope, are compared with model calculations. The microstructures that develop during implantation are investigated using transmission electron microscopy. For low fluences implanted near room temperature, these microstructures contain dislocations and dislocation loops. Dislocation loops, dislocations, and voids result from implantations at temperatures near 500°C. Higher fluences at these elevated temperatures produce precipitates when the composition of implanted solute lies in a two-phase region of the phase diagram. Implanted concentrations corresponding to intermetallic compounds produce continuous layers of these compounds. Room temperature, as compared to elevated temperature, implantation may produce the same phases at the appropriate concentrations, e.g. β’-NiAl, or different phases, depending on the relative stability of the phases involved.
Finite elements for an optimal control problem governed by a parabolic equation

A stationary variational formulation of the necessary conditions for optimality is derived for an optimal control problem governed by a parabolic equation and mixed boundary conditions. Then a mixed finite element model with elements in space and time is utilized to solve a simple numerical example whose analytical and finite difference solutions are given elsewhere. Numerical results show that the proposed method with C° continuity elements constitutes a powerful numerical technique for solution of optimal control problems of distributed parameter systems.
Structure and formation of ribosome crystals in hypothermic chick embryo cells.

Abstract The structure of hypothermic ribosome crystals in chick embryo cells was studied by thin-section electron microscopy. Analysis of both serial sections and tilted sections has revealed that the sheet-like crystal, of the p 4 plane group, occurs in but one form relative to its surface characteristics. Each ribosome in the crystal therefore shows the same geometric relationship to others in the crystal and to the dense and light matrices bounding the sheet. Variation of cooling rates before fixation produces specific differences in crystal morphology without altering the basic surface lattice. Under conditions of very slow cooling, the large sheet thus produced always curls about a specific axis until its free edges fuse together, forming a complete cylindrical surface. These cylinders frequently aggregate into parallel arrays. At intermediate cooling rates, interphase cells form small curved sheets; mitotic cells, however, form stacks of sheets. The sheets in these stacks alternate successively in polarity, that is, in the direction faced by the dense surface. Rapid cooling of embryos explanted from their eggs yields no crystals in interphase cells, but stacked crystals occur in mitotic cells. This indicates that crystallization within interphase cells must be preceded by the release of ribosomes from polyribosomes during gradual cooling. Free ribosomes occur naturally, however, in mitotic cells, and form stacked sheets under rapid cooling. This stack of sheets is frequently quite tightly compressed, in which case the unit cells of the p 4 surface lattice become aligned along axes normal to the surfaces of the sheets, thereby producing a three-dimensional crystal of the p 422 configuration.
Controlling the crossing angle in the SSC

The colliding beams in the SSC (Superconducting Super Collider) must cross at a small angle, so that when the bunches pass each other away from the interaction point (IP), they are sufficiently separated to avoid disruptive beam beam forces. However, the crossing angle is so small that the adjacent quadrupoles must be common to both beams. Only after passing through four common quadrupoles on each side of the IP are the beams split by vertical dipoles into separate beamlines. In order to make the closed orbits of the two beams cross at a definite angle at the IP (within a range up to 150 mu rad), a series of correction dipoles is placed in the insertions. If these dipoles are excited in such a way as to control the closed orbits alone, the dispersion will be mismatched, reaching values of up to 50 cm in the arcs. This mismatch is due to the closed-orbit displacements in the interaction region quadrupoles, causing them to act as bending magnets. Therefore, the closed orbit and dispersion must be matched simultaneously. Solutions to this problem are presented. >
Growth Phase-Dependent Regulation of the Extracytoplasmic Stress Factor, σE, by Guanosine 3′,5′-Bispyrophosphate (ppGpp)

The sigma subunit of procaryotic RNA polymerases is responsible for specific promoter recognition and transcription initiation. In addition to the major sigma factor, σ70, in Escherichia coli, which directs most of the transcription in the cell, bacteria possess multiple, alternative sigma factors that direct RNA polymerase to distinct sets of promoters in response to environmental signals. By activating an alternative sigma factor, gene expression can be rapidly reprogrammed to meet the needs of the cell as the environment changes. Sigma factors are subject to multiple levels of regulation that control their levels and activities. The alternative sigma factor σE in Escherichia coli is induced in response to extracytoplasmic stress. Here we demonstrate that σE can also respond to signals other than extracytoplasmic stress. σE activity increases in a growth phase-dependent manner as a culture enters stationary phase. The signaling pathway that activates σE during entry into stationary phase is dependent upon the alarmone guanosine 3′,5′-bispyrophosphate (ppGpp) and is distinct from the pathway that signals extracytoplasmic stress. ppGpp is the first cytoplasmic factor shown to control σE activity, demonstrating that σE can respond to internal signals as well as signals originating in the cell envelope. ppGpp is a general signal of starvation stress and is also required for activation of the σS and σ54 alternative sigma factors upon entry into stationary phase, suggesting that this is a key mechanism by which alternative sigma factors can be activated in concert to provide a coordinated response to nutritional stress.
Performance evaluation of array processors for detecting Gaussian acoustic signals

Performance of detecting "noise-like" under-water acoustic signals are measured by probability of false alarm (P FA ) and probability of detection (P D ). Analytical expressions for P FA and P D are derived in terms of the eigenvalues of the covariance matrices of the received data under both hypotheses. Applications of this method to linear arrays with equal or unequal spacing and non-linear arrays are shown. As an example the optimal array performance for detecting Gaussian signals in both directional and independent Gaussian noises are evaluated and compared with that of a conventional beamformer envelope detector.
Survey of patients' knowledge of nosocomial infections

A survey of discharged patients revealed that 62% of respondents were aware of therisk of nosocomial infection before they received the survey. Of the respondents 12.4% said they had suffered from a nosocomial infection; 70% were concerned about their risk of acquiring a nosocomial infection in the future; 83% believed nosocomial infections were preventable; 69% said the risk of acquiring a nosocomial infection was never explained to them during hospitalization; and 62% were dissatisfied with the information that hospitals and the medical community provided concerning the risk of nosocomial infections. Fifty-seven percent were willing to pay an extra $7.14 mean per diem charge to enhance the hospital's infection control program if this payment would lower their risk of infection. This survey suggests that the subset of responding patients want to know more about the risk of nosocomial infections, and they are willing to pay for more resources to be channeled into effective infection control programs.
Improving the quality of randomized field experiments: Tricks of the trade

Most evaluators of social programs have little training or experience in designing or conducting field experiments. The goal of this chapter is to describe strategies that could be used to improve the design, implementation, and analysis of randomized field experiments.
High-througput and low-cost nanophotonic based diagnostics technologies

We present a high-throughput label-free protein microarray technology using large-area plasmonic nanohole arrays. Our detection principle is based on multi-spectral on-chip imaging enabling quantitative, realtime and high-throughput detection. We use low-cost and large area nanofabrication methods for manufacturing of plasmonic nanostructures with high optical qualities. Our system could become a powerful tool for biomedical sciences and pharmacology.
A cooperative clustering protocol for energy constrained networks

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology is known to improve energy efficiency in energy-constrained wireless networks, such as wireless sensor networks (WSN). Although in WSNs, a node is often equipped with a single antenna, nodes can be clustered into virtual antenna arrays that can act as virtual MIMO (VMIMO) nodes. In this paper, we propose a distributed cooperative clustering protocol (CCP) that aims at conserving energy and prolonging network lifetime by taking advantage of VMIMO communications. In contrast to previously proposed protocols, CCP fully exploits the diversity gain of the VMIMO technique by optimally selecting the cooperating nodes (CNs) within a cluster and balancing their energy consumption. We first formulate the problem of optimal CN selection at the transmit and receive clusters as a nonlinear binary program, and show the problem is NP-hard. Aiming at minimizing the imbalance in the residual energy at various nodes, we reduce the problem into two sub-problems: finding the optimal number of CNs (ONC) in a cluster and the CN assignment problem. To analytically address the ONC problem, we analyze the energy efficiency of two existing VMIMO methods: distributed Space Time Block Code (DSTBC) and distributed Vertical-Bell Laboratories-Layered-Space-Time (DVBLAST). The second sub-problem is addressed by assigning CNs to nodes with stronger residual energy. To make CCP scalable to large WSNs, we propose a multi-hop energy-balanced routing mechanism for clustered WSNs with a novel cost metric. Our routing method is also applicable to other clustering protocols (e.g., CMIMO, MIMO-LEACH). Extensive simulations are used to validate our analysis.
Detecting feigned neuropsychological impairment with the Seashore rhythm test

Sixty undergraduate subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups and completed the Seashore Rhythm Test (SRT) as part of an investigation regarding simulated neuropsychological impairment. A sophisticated simulator group was instructed to feign impairment and was provided information regarding traumatic brain injury (TBI) sequelae. A naive simulator group was instructed to feign impairment, but was given no such information. A control group was instructed to perform optimally. Additionally, SRT scores for 20 TBI subjects who completed neuropsychological evaluations were analyzed. Mean SRT scores for the sophisticated and naive simulators did not differ but were significantly lower when compared to control subjects and TBI subjects. A discriminate function analysis cutting score correctly classified 79% of subjects, while classification rates obtained with two previously investigated cutting scores were 64% and 72%. Implications of using these cutting scores are discussed. The findings indicate the SRT is a useful indicator of feigned neurological impairment.
Graceful Quality Degradation for Video Decoding Systems Through Priority Scheduling and Processor Power Adaptation

Voltage/frequency configurable processors can provide significant energy savings in video decoding systems due to their ability to dynamically adapting the frequency and voltage according to time-varying workloads. In this paper, we propose a joint voltage scaling and priority scheduling algorithm that decodes jobs in order of their importance (quality impact), such that by setting the processor to various power levels and decoding only the most important jobs, different quality and energy tradeoffs can be achieved. We demonstrate that our algorithm performs well in practical decoding scenarios, where reducing the power to 25% of the original power can lead to quality degradations of less than 1.0 dB PSNR.
Digital processing of ionospheric electron content data

Ionospheric electron content data contain periodicities that are produced by a diversity of sources including hydromagnetic waves, gravity waves, and lunar tides. Often these periodicities are masked by the strong daily variation in the data. Digital filtering can be used to isolate the weaker components. The filtered data can then be further processed to provide estimates of the source properties. In addition, homomorphic filtering may be used to identify nonlinear interactions in the ionosphere.
Employment at will: the doctrine and its implications for human resource practices in the hospitality industry.

The purpose of this paper is to outline the history and the definition of the employment-at-will doctrine and to discuss the implications of this doctrine for the hospitality industry. Many of the documents in the employment process could be used as evidence in a lawsuit regarding employee termination if these documents are not carefully written. A survey of restaurant employee handbooks indicated that they contained information that 1) was contractual in nature and 2) did not contain an employment-at-will disclaimer.
Alterations in molecular pathways in the retina of early experimental glaucoma eyes

Glaucoma is a multifactorial, neurodegenerative disease. The molecular mechanisms that underlie the pathophysiological changes in glaucomatous eyes, especially at the early stage of the disease, are poorly understood. Here, we report the findings from a quantitative proteomic analysis of retinas from experimental glaucoma (EG) eyes. An early stage of EG was modeled on unilateral eyes of five nonhuman primates (NHP) by laser treatment-induced elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). Retinal proteins were extracted from individual EG eyes and their contralateral control eyes of the same animals, respectively, and analyzed by quantitative mass spectrometry (MS). As a result, a total, 475 retinal proteins were confidently identified and quantified. Results of bioinformatic analysis of proteins that showed an increase in the EG eyes suggested changes in apoptosis, DNA damage, immune response, cytoskeleton rearrangement and cell adhesion processes. Interestingly, hemoglobin subunit alpha (HBA) and Ras related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) were among the increased proteins. Results of molecular modeling of HBA- and Rac1-associated signaling network implicated the involvement of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway in the EG, through which Rac1 may exert a regulatory role on HBA. This is the first observation of this potentially novel signaling network in the NHP retina and in EG. Results of Western blot analyses for Rac1, HBA and a selected MAPK pathway protein indicated synergistic changes in all three proteins in the EG eyes. Further, results of hierarchical cluster analysis of proteomes of control eyes revealed a clear age-proteome relationship, and such relationship appeared disrupted in the EG eyes. In conclusion, our results suggested an increased presence of a potentially novel signaling network at the early stage of glaucoma, and age might be one of the determinant factors in retinal proteomic characteristics under normal conditions.
Mathematical Modeling of Sediment Deposition in Reservoirs

When a dam is constructed across a river basin to form a reservoir the velocity of the flow in the reservoir is reduced and the sediment transported by the river is deposited. These deposits accumulate to form deltas. Estimation of the amount and location of the sediment deposits is required for engineers in the design of dams. A mathematical model is developed for prediction of the delta formation in the reservoir by considering the river-reservoir system as a whole. The river is modeled by a single channel assuming one-dimensional flow phenomena are predominant, whereas a compound stream model approach is used to simulate the main river and the flood plains in the reservoir. The jet theory is incorporated in the mathematical model and the resulting flow field is used to route the sediment through the reservoir. The simulated bed profiles generated by the mathematical model compare well with measured data.
Studies on the Tropisternus mexicanus Complex (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) I. The Biology of the Races and their Genetic Crosses

A comparison of the various stages in the life cycle of three members of the Tropisternus mexicanus (Castelnau) complex revealed no significant differences in the durations of the instars in the different races. Egg production rates and overall survival rates were also very similar. Genetic crosses between the three races proved possible, and the evidence from these crosses indicates that the three should retain their current taxonomic position as subspecies of T. mexicanus. The three races appear to be closely related physiologically, although a beginning of divergence is suggested between T. m. mexicanus and T. m. viridis Young and Spangler.
Anatomical Changes in Middle Ear and Cochlea of the Rat Following Stimulation with High Intensity Sound

SummaryRats were exposed to sound of 200–220 cps at an intensity of 130–135 db for 2, 12 or 48 hours. A marked increase in secretion of corticosterone was observed after 2 or 48 hours, and a marked decrease after 12 hours. Significant anatomical changes were not observed in the middle ears or cochleas of any of the animals. The data suggest that the changes in secretion rate of corticosterone do not depend on anatomical changes in the rat cochleas.
Mechanical Properties of Solution-Processed Small-Molecule Semiconductor Films.

Advantages of semiconducting small molecules—as opposed to semiconducting polymers—include synthetic simplicity, monodispersity, low cost, and ease of purification. One purported disadvantage of small-molecule films is reduced mechanical robustness. This paper measures the tensile modulus and crack-onset strain for pure films of the high-performance solution-processable small-molecule donors 7,7′-[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-silolo[3,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl]bis[6-fluoro-4-(5′-hexyl-[2,2′-bithiophen]-5-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole] (DTS(FBTTh2)2), 2,5-di(2-ethylhexyl)-3,6-bis(5″-n-hexyl-[2,2′,5′,2″]terthiophen-5-yl)-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione (SMDPPEH), and 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-pentacene), the acceptor 5,5′-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyldi-2,1-ethenediyl)bis[2-hexyl-1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione] (HPI-BT), blends of DTS(FBTTh2)2 and SMDPPEH with [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) and with HPI-BT, and bulk heterojunction films processed with the additi...
ProxyPrint: Supporting Crafting Practice through Physical Computational Proxies

Advances in digital fabrication (DF) technologies are making it easier to produce high-fidelity replicas of digital designs. However, this push-to-print paradigm limits the creative opportunities that arise from the process of "working through a material" which involves risk, uncertainty, and serendipitous discovery. We investigate how DF artifacts can function as static intermediary tools, which we term proxies, to support crafting practice. We focus on the wire-wrapping process where physical wire is bent into complex shapes and build DF fixtures to aid with construction and fabrication. We explore how these proxies can be generated to provide users with different levels-of-assistance and evaluate how these proxies affect the making process. We show that our proxies affect quality and speed and yield different making experiences between novice and expert craftspeople. We derive design principles to inform future proxy design and discuss how approaches such as ProxyPrint that are designed aware of the medium can create more engaging making tools that can embed tacit knowledge, encourage creativity, and sustain crafting practice.
Teaching Soil Color Determination Using an Inexpensive Color Sensor

As new technologies are introduced to soil science it is important to determine the potential and preference for such innovations among users. The Nix Pro color sensor, an inexpensive mobile color sensor, was tested by college students for its ability to determine soil color in comparison with the use of a traditional Munsell color chart. Sixty-four Clemson University students from various fields of study (forestry, wildlife biology, and environmental and natural resources) had a hands-on experience with the Nix Pro color sensor and the Munsell color chart during FNR 2040: Soil Information Systems course taught in the fall of 2015. Students completed a laboratory exercise to determine soil color using the two methods of color determination (Munsell color chart and Nix Pro). Students then filled out a survey providing answers to 15 questions related to their previous experience with soil color analysis, the ease of use of the two color analysis methods, and which method of color analysis they preferred. Eighty-three percent of the students preferred to use the Nix Pro color sensor over the Munsell color chart, 76% judged the Nix Pro to be less subjective to environmental conditions, and 91% believed the Nix Pro to be less subjective to user sensitivities. Student responses to survey questions regarding use of the Nix Pro color sensor were positive overall, indicating that there is great potential in using the new color sensor in teaching soil science. Impact Statement We taught students in an introductory-level soil science course different methods of color analysis. A questionnaire provided after the lab exercise showed that 83.1% of the students preferred the Nix Pro color sensor over the Munsell color chart. The average student found the Nix Pro color sensor very easy to use, and many students reported that they enjoyed the laboratory experience. The overall results of the questionnaire indicate that the Nix Pro is a valuable teaching device and that students are receptive to learning the importance of soil color analysis and its methods.
Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution under Acidic Aqueous Conditions and Mechanistic Studies of a Highly Stable Molecular Catalyst.

Electrocatalytic activity of a water-soluble nickel complex, [Ni(DHMPE)2]2+ (DHMPE = 2-bis(di(hydroxymethyl)phosphino)ethane), for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at pH 1 is reported. The catalyst functions at a rate of ∼103 s–1 (kobs) with high Faradaic efficiency. Quantification of the complex before and after 18+ hours of electrolysis reveals negligible decomposition under catalytic conditions. Although highly acidic conditions are common in electrolytic cells, this is a rare example of a homogeneous catalyst for HER that functions with high stability at low pH. The stability of the compound and proposed catalytic intermediates enabled detailed mechanistic studies. The thermodynamic parameters governing electron and proton transfer were used to determine the appropriate reductants and acids to access the catalytic cycle in a stepwise fashion, permitting direct spectroscopic identification of intermediates. These studies support a mechanism for proton reduction that proceeds through two-electron r...
Aberration production using a high-resolution liquid-crystal spatial light modulator

Phase-only liquid-crystal spatial light modulators can provide a powerful means of wavefront control. With high resolution and diffractive (modulo 27r) operation, they can accurately represent phase maps with a large dynamic range. Because of this, they are an excellent means of producing electrically controllable, dynamic, and repeatable aberrations. However, proper calibration is critical in achieving accurate phase maps. Consequently, several calibration methods from previous literature were considered. With simplicity and accuracy in mind, we selected one method for each type of necessary calibration and augmented one of the methods with a new step. Then using our preferred calibration methods, we evaluated the performance of the spatial light modulator in the laboratory. We studied various phase maps using interferometry and atmospheric aberrations using a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. All of these measurements show good agreement with theoretical expectations.
A Library of Thermoresponsive, Coacervate-Forming Biodegradable Polyesters

We report on a new class of thermoresponsive biodegradable polyesters (TR-PE) inspired by polyacrylamides and elastin-like proteins (ELPs). The polyesters display reversible phase transition with tunable cloud point temperatures (Tcp) in aqueous solution as evidenced by UV–vis spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and DLS measurements. These polyesters form coacervate droplets above their lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The Tcp of the polyesters is influenced by the solutes such as urea, SDS, and NaCl. The Tcp of the copolymers shows a linear correlation with the composition of the polyesters indicating the ability to tune the phase change temperature. We also show that such thermoresponsive coacervates are capable of encapsulating small molecules such as Nile Red. Furthermore, the polyesters are hydrolytically degradable.
Complications and Outcomes Associated With Surgical Management of Renal Cell Carcinoma Involving the Liver: A Matched Cohort Study.

Objective To assess the safety and utility of more aggressive surgical resection of renal cell carcinoma involving the liver at the time of nephrectomy. Materials and Methods We identified 34 cases at our institution where patients underwent simultaneous nephrectomy and hepatic resection for direct hepatic invasion (n = 17) or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (n = 21). Perioperative outcomes and complication rates were compared with a matched referent cohort (n = 68) undergoing simultaneous nephrectomy and resection of non-hepatic locally invasive or metastatic disease. Results Of the 34 cases, 17 (50%) patients underwent hepatic resection for pT4 liver involvement and 21 (62%) patients underwent simultaneous nephrectomy and hepatic metastasectomy. Deep vein thrombosis occurred more frequently following hepatic resection (15% vs 1%, P = .02); however, no significant differences were noted in Clavien grade 3-4 complications (12% vs 3%, P = .10) or perioperative mortality (3% vs 0%, P = .67). Two-year cancer-specific and overall survival for patients undergoing hepatic resection and non-hepatic resection were 40% and 29% (hazard ratio: 0.72, P = .2) and 40% and 28% (hazard ratio: 0.80, P = .30), respectively. Conclusion In carefully selected patients, hepatic resection at the time of nephrectomy is associated with a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis and may be associated with a trend toward an increased risk of short-term Clavien IV complications; however, perioperative and overall mortality are comparable with those in matched patients undergoing surgical resection of locally advanced or metastatic disease involving non-hepatic organs.
Effects of Microstructure and Bond Quality on the Ultrasonic Evaluation of Dissimilar Metal Friction Welds

During the last several years we have been investigating ultrasonic techniques for evaluating the quality of solid state weld interfaces [1,2]. Promising results have been obtained on a variety of different solid state welds by extracting features from the ultrasonic waveforms and applying pattern recognition algorithms to separate acceptable from unacceptable welds. In general, the primary difficulty in evaluating solid state interfaces is separating the influence of microstructural variations (volumetric) from the effects of interface defects (planar). To better understand the influence of microstructure on our assessment of solid state welds, we have ultrasonically and destructively analyzed steel-to-aluminum friction welds of varying weld quality and microstructure. A matrix of samples was prepared to produce microstructural variations in the aluminum. Since the steel’s microstructure was unaffected by our friction weld process, acoustic energy sent from the steel side was primarily influenced by the bondline. Thus, we could monitor the influence of the microstructure and bond quality from the aluminum side and the bondline alone from the steel side. First, ultrasonic data from the steel side of our friction welds were processed with feature extraction and pattern recognition techniques as in our previous studies to determine solid state bond quality. Then data from the aluminum side were processed the same way and the classification results were compared to the results obtained from the steel side. The discrepancies in the classification results were caused the microstructure variation in the aluminum.
Sources of Science Teaching Self-Efficacy for Preservice Elementary Teachers in Science Content Courses

Self-efficacy beliefs play a major role in determining teachers’ science teaching practices and have been a topic of great interest in the area of preservice science teacher education. This qualitative study investigated factors that influenced preservice elementary teachers’ science teaching self-efficacy beliefs in a physical science content course. The primary data sources included Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument-B (STEBI-B) responses, two semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and artifacts. Analysis of STEBI-B data was used to select 18 participants with varying levels of self-efficacy beliefs: low, medium, and high. Four categories representing course-related factors contributing towards participants’ science teaching self-efficacy beliefs were found: (1) enhanced science conceptual understandings, (2) active learning experiences, (3) teaching strategies, and (4) instructor as a role model. While some course elements such as hands-on learning experiences and inquiry-based teaching strategies seemed to impact all groups positively, the low-group participants were particularly benefited from the ways in which science concepts were presented and the pace at which learning progressed. One implication from this study is that science educators could include elements within science content courses to potentially support preservice teachers with varied initial levels of science teaching self-efficacy.
Geochemical evidence for a Ganderian arc/back-arc remnant in the Nashoba Terrane, SE New England, USA

New geochemical data including Sm/Nd isotopic data show evidence for an early Paleozoic arc/back-arc complex in the Nashoba terrane of southeastern New England. The Nashoba terrane lies between rocks of Ganderian affinity to the northwest and Avalonian affinity to the southeast. It consists of early Paleozoic mafic to felsic metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks that were intruded by intermediate to felsic plutons and metamorphosed to upper amphibolite facies conditions in the mid-Paleozoic. Major and trace element geochemical data indicate that the early Paleozoic igneous rocks contain a mix of arc, MORB, and alkaline signatures, and that the terrane formed as a primitive volcanic arc/back-arc complex built on thinned continental crust. Amphibolites have +4 to +7.5eNd(500) values consistent with formation in a primitive volcanic arc with minimal crustal contamination. Intermediate and felsic gneisses have eNd(500) values between +1.2 and –0.75 indicating a mixture of juvenile arc magmas and an evolved (likely basement) source. Depleted mantle model ages of 1.2 to 1.6 Ga point to a Mesoproterozoic or older age for this source. Metasedimentary rocks yielded –6 to –8.3 eNd(500) values and 1.6 to 1.8 Ga model ages, indicating an isotopically evolved source (or sources) that included Paleoproterozoic or older material. The eNd(500) values and model ages of the intermediate and felsic and metasedimentary rocks indicate that the basement to the Nashoba terrane is Ganderian rather than Avalonian. The Nashoba terrane therefore represents a Ganderian arc/back-arc complex similar to the Cambrian Penobscot arc/back-arc seen in Maritime Canada and Newfoundland, and particularly in the Annidale and New River terranes of southern New Brunswick. This correlation has not previously been recognized in southeastern New England. The Ganderian affinity of the Nashoba terrane also extends Ganderia farther SE in New England than previously established and indicates that the Nashoba terrane did not originate as a separate oceanic arc/back-arc complex or microcontinent.
Abstract A67: Elucidating the impact of zoledronic acid on the bone microenvironment: Implications for breast cancer

Abstracts: AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; November 30-December 3, 2015; Austin, TX Bisphosphonates, such as zoledronic acid (ZOL), are bone microenvironment modulators that work primarily by inhibiting the activity of bone resorbing osteoclasts and have demonstrated ability to reduce breast cancer risk and recurrence in the bone in clinical trials. Previous work in our laboratory has demonstrated the ability of tumor-derived factors (osteopontin) to activate pro-tumorigenic bone marrow hematopoietic cells, which subsequently promote tumor outgrowth. The aim of this current study is to determine whether ZOL inhibits the impact of such tumor-derived paracrine factors on the bone microenvironment, thus reducing metastatic outgrowth in the bone. A human bone-tropic breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231 BO2) was introduced into NU/J mice via intracardiac (IC) and intratibial (IT) injections 72 hours after treating the mice with ZOL. Cell seeding was assessed at 24 hours by CM-DiL staining, and subsequent tumor outgrowth was monitored weekly by bioluminescence. One ZOL pre-dose was sufficient to decrease both tumor cell seeding (via IC) and colonization (via IT) relative to the robust tumor outgrowth observed in mice treated with vehicle control. Additionally, subcutaneous ad-mixtures of MDA-MB-231 BO2 cells with bone marrow cells from ZOL-treated mice demonstrated a decreased incidence of tumor formation relative to control bone marrow cells, indicating that the tumor inhibitory effect of ZOL occurs via modulations to the bone marrow hematopoietic microenvironment. A second MDA-MB-231 bone-tropic cell line similar to the BO2 line, but with higher expression levels of CXCL1, G-CSF, GM-CSF and IL8, was not inhibited by ZOL in the IC and IT bone metastasis models. These results implicate the role of certain tumor-derived paracrine factors in mediating resistance to ZOL treatment. These findings are important for elucidating the therapeutic potential of bisphosphonates for treating at-risk patients in the adjuvant setting before they develop incurable metastatic disease. Citation Format: Jessalyn M. Ubellacker, Sandra S. McAllister. Elucidating the impact of zoledronic acid on the bone microenvironment: Implications for breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; 2015 Nov 30-Dec 3; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A67.
Primary Care Emergency Preparedness Network, New York City, 2015: Comparison of Member and Nonmember Sites

Objectives. To assess whether Primary Care Emergency Preparedness Network member sites reported indicators of preparedness for public health emergencies compared with nonmember sites. The network—a collaboration between government and New York City primary care associations—offers technical assistance to primary care sites to improve disaster preparedness and response.Methods. In 2015, we administered an online questionnaire to sites regarding facility characteristics and preparedness indicators. We estimated differences between members and nonmembers with natural logarithm–linked binomial models. Open-ended assessments identified preparedness gaps.Results. One hundred seven sites completed the survey (23.3% response rate); 47 (43.9%) were nonmembers and 60 (56.1%) were members. Members were more likely to have completed hazard vulnerability analysis (risk ratio [RR] = 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28, 2.93), to have identified essential services for continuity of operations (RR = 1.39; 95% CI = ...
Energetics of Glutamate Binding to an Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor.

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) are ligand-gated ion channels that are responsible for the majority of excitatory transmission at the synaptic cleft. Mechanically speaking, agonist binding to the ligand binding domain (LBD) activates the receptor by triggering a conformational change that is transmitted to the transmembrane region, opening the ion channel pore. We use fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the binding process in the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor, an iGluR subtype. The string method with swarms of trajectories was applied to calculate the possible pathways glutamate traverses during ligand binding. Residues peripheral to the binding cleft are found to metastably bind the ligand prior to ligand entry into the binding pocket. Umbrella sampling simulations were performed to compute the free energy barriers along the binding pathways. The calculated free energy profiles demonstrate that metastable interactions contribute sub...
Hepatitis D diagnostics:Utilization and testing in the United States.

Abstract Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection may accompany acute or chronic hepatitis B virus infection. While HDV infection in the United States is thought to be uncommon, there are limited data regarding frequency of testing, and prevalence of HDV antibody and HDV RNA. We evaluated the use of HDV antibody testing using electronic medical record (EMR) data. Among 1007 HBsAg positive patients, only 121 had been tested for HDV antibody. Testing was performed primarily by gastroenterologists/hepatologists and limited testing was performed in identifiable high risk groups including those with HBV/HIV coinfection. Overall, HDV antibody was detected in 3.3% (95% C.I. = 0.9%–8.2%) An HDV RNA assay was developed and validated and 138 HBV or HBV/HIV coinfected patients were tested. The prevalence of HDV among the HBV/HIV coinfected subjects was 2.2% (95% C.I. = 0–5.3%). In a U.S. Midwestern population of HBV infected patients, HDV testing is under-employed. Overall prevalence exceeds 2% whether testing by antibody or HDV RNA and more comprehensive HDV surveillance may be indicated.
Re-thinking Integration as Reciprocal and Spatialized Process

In this article, the authors contribute to the ongoing discussions of integration by articulating a theoretical framework that attends to the complex and dynamic relationship between immigrant and non-immigrant populations as they interact within and with the spaces that have come to known as ―new destinations.‖ The proposal is based on the re-conceptualization of integration that, first, defines it as necessarily distinct from assimilation, second, engages and is informed by an analysis of space as dynamic, contested, and racialized and third, focuses on re-spatialization as an opportunity for re-politicization. The authors ‗posit that integration must involve substantive inclusion of both immigrant and non-immigrant populations (in their heterogeneity) in the public sphere.
Coagulation Enzymes Review and Review of Hemostasis: Putting It All Together

Hemostasis is a well-coordinated interplay of cells and biochemical substrates which can quickly respond to vascular injury and form a local thrombus to stop hemorrhage. In addition, this prothrombotic response is balanced by endogenous antithrombotic elements to prevent excessive thrombus generation and to clear a clot once bleeding is controlled and tissue healing progresses. This first part of this chapter reviews the major biochemical mediators involved in thrombus formation (coagulation factors) and prevention and dissolution of thrombi (antithrombotic factors).