cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Looking for links: examining student responses in creative exercises for evidence of linking chemistry concepts

Assumptive Learning Theory values the active process of linking concepts to promote meaningful over rote learning. To promote meaningful learning, assessment practices that encourage the linking of concepts need to be developed and utilized. Creative Exercises (CEs) have the potential to encourage such links. CEs are an open-ended assessment technique where students are given a single prompt and are asked to describe as many statements as they can that are distinct, correct, and relevant to the prompt. This study describes a qualitative investigation into student responses to CEs for evidence of students linking concepts throughout the course and the nature of the linked concepts. The findings indicate considerable interconnections of content in student responses. Further, students’ efforts toward making connections revealed several misconceptions regarding their understanding of the limits of models. CEs are therefore proposed as a means to encourage students to link concepts and to inform instructors about the links made, both correctly and incorrectly. Finally, to determine the prevalence of the incorrect links, a novel assessment technique is proposed based on students' responses to CEs.
Varicocele in Adolescence

Easily detectable varicocele occurs in approximately 10 per cent of boys during puberty, usually on the left side. Discomfort is unusual, and this condi tion is often unrecognized by boys and their physicians. Even when aware of the scrotal mass, adolescent males may not seek consultation; therefore detection on routine examination provides the opportunity for reassurance and planning follow-up. Varicoceles may be associated with reduced testieutar volume and decreased semen quality. The favorable effects of spermatic vein ligation have been demonstrated in men with infertility. In the absence of prospective, con trolled studies concerning the optimal management of asymptomatic varicocele in adolescent, patients and parents may be made aware of possible subsequent infertility. At this time, adolescents with symptomatic or secondary varicocele should be considered for urologic management.
Relationships and Inflammation across the Lifespan: Social Developmental Pathways to Disease

There are well documented links between close relationships and physical health, such that those who have supportive close relationships have lower rates of morbidity and mortality compared to those who do not. Inflammation is one mechanism that may help to explain this link. Chronically high levels of inflammation predict disease. Across the lifespan, people who have supportive close relationships have lower levels of systemic inflammation compared to people who have cold, unsupportive, and conflict-ridden relationships. Not only are current relationships associated with inflammation, but past relationships are as well. In this article, we will first review the literature linking current close relationships across the lifespan to inflammation. We will then explore recent work showing troubled past relationships also have lasting consequences for people’s inflammatory levels. Finally, we will explore developmental pathways that may explain these findings.
A cost effective approach for developing substrate stable TiO2 nanotube arrays with tuned morphology: a comprehensive study on the role of H2O2 and anodization potential

A rapid growth rate of vertically grown and ‘substrate-stable’ titania (TiO2) nanotubes with self-organized nanotubular structures is realized in an electrolyte consisting of ethylene glycol (EG) and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) at various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). We have explored the possible growth of ordered TiO2 nanotubes in the electrolyte with four different concentrations of H2O2 (3, 5, 10 and 15 vol%) at six different applied potentials (30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 V), where self-organized TiO2 nanotube arrays with the maximum tube length of 28 μm have been attained within 3 h of anodization in the electrolyte containing 10 vol% H2O2 at 60 V. The porosity of the synthesized nanotube samples is found to vary with the concentration of H2O2 and the applied potential. The samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).
Effects of root temperature on iron stress responses

Pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) were transferred to all NO3 - N nutrient solution, lacking Fe, in tubes maintained in water baths held at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C with air temperature at 28°C day and 25°C night. Nutrient solution pH incresed initially at all temperatures as it did in plants having iron, but did so slightly more rapidly at 30° and least rapidly at 15°C. With the onset of iron stress, decreases in nutrient pH were most pronounced at 30°C, moderate at 25°C and not evident at 15, 20, and 35°C over 12 days. Riboflavin excretion from roots preceded pH decreases by several days, but amounts increased greatly with pH decreases. The maximum riboflavin from plants at 30°C root temperature exceeded that for plants at the lowest root temperature by more than 2000 fold. Root iron reduction increases were pronounced and moderate at root temperature of 30°C and 25°C, respectively, and negligible at other root temperatures. These reduction increases paralleled initial riboflavin excretion. Root and shoot fresh mass were maximal at 30°C root temperature and total mass exceeded that from plants at 15°C root temperature by about 2 fold, whereas the differential in secondary root mass was larger. Chlorosis was most pronounced at 25, 30, and 35°C root temperatures.
Gedankenexperiment for Fluctuation of Mass of a Graviton, Based on the Trace of a GR Stress Energy Tensor-Preplanckian Conditions Lead to Gaining of Graviton Mass, and Planckian Conditions Lead to Graviton Mass Shrinking to 10^-62 Grams

We will be looking at the energy of a graviton, based upon the Stress energy tensor, and from there ascertaining how fluctuations in early universe conditions impact the mass of a graviton. Physically the mass of the graviton would be shrinking right after Planck time and presumably it would be going to its equilibrium value of about 10^-62 grams, for its present day value. It, graviton mass, would increase up to the Plank time of about 10^-44 seconds.
Measurement of Perceived and Technical Quality of Care for Depression in Racially and Ethnically Diverse Groups

Measurement of patient satisfaction is now considered essential for providing patient centered care and is an important tool for addressing health care disparities. However, little is known about how ethnically and racially diverse (ERD) groups differ in how they perceive quality, and widely used instruments for measuring perceived quality give little attention to cultural elements of care. This study examined the relationship between the culturally determined beliefs and expectations of four ERD groups (African Americans, Latinos, Portuguese-speakers, and Haitians, total N = 160) and the technical quality of treatment for depression provided in four "culturally-specific" primary care clinics. Using data from the Experiences of Care and Health Outcomes survey, chart reviews and focus groups, the study addressed a set of questions related to the psychometric properties of perceived care measures and the technical quality of care. The groups differed in preferred cultural elements except all preferred inclusion of religion. They did not differ in overall perceived quality. Technical quality was higher for Portuguese and Haitians than for African Americans and Latinos. Implications of group differences for measuring quality are discussed.
High-Performance Dispenser Printed MA p-Type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 Flexible Thermoelectric Generators for Powering Wireless Sensor Networks

This work presents a novel method to synthesize p-type composite thermoelectric materials to print scalable thermoelectric generator (TEG) devices in a cost-effective way. A maximum ZT of 0.2 was achieved for mechanically alloyed (MA) p-type Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 (8 wt % extra Te additive)-epoxy composite films cured at 250 °C. A 50% increase in Seebeck coefficient as a result of adding 8 wt % extra Te in stoichiometric Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 contributed to the increase in ZT. To demonstrate cost-effective and scalable manufacturing, we fabricated a sixty element thermoelectric generator prototype with 5.0 mm × 600 μm × 120 μm printed dimensions on a custom designed polyimide substrate with thick metal contacts. The prototype TEG device produced a power output of 20.5 μW at 0.15 mA and 130 mV for a temperature difference of 20 K resulting in a device areal power density of 152 μW/cm2. This power is sufficient for low power applications such as wireless sensor network (WSN) devices.
Modulation of Interleukin 2 Activity by Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol after Stimulation with Concanavalin A, Phytohemagglutinin, or Anti-CD3 Antibody

The effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on lymphocyte proliferation and interleukin (IL) 2 activity was investigated using adult murine spleen cells stimulated with either the mitogens concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, or anti-CD3 antibody. THC was found to suppress mitogen-induced proliferation, but to enhance anti-CD3-antibody-induced proliferation. These results reflected THC-induced suppression of Ly2 cells following concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin stimulation and THC-induced enhancement of Ly2 cells following CD3 stimulation. The combination of THC and concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin resulted in suppressed IL-2 activity, whereas the combination of THC and anti-CD3 antibody resulted in enhanced IL-2 activity. This drug-related modulation of IL-2 activity corresponded to the changes in blastogenic activity as well as to variations in numbers of Tac positive cells. These results suggest that the dysregulation in immune responses following THC treatment, either suppression or enhancement, may relate to the effects of THC on IL-2 production.
Nuclear orientation thermometry

Low temperature nuclear orientation thermometry, in particular y-ray anisotrwpy therimometry, is discussed both from a theoretical and practical point of view. Detailed information is given on the most often used 7-ray anisotropy TMermnometers, along with a comprehensive descriptiom of the --ray anisotropy technique. The "Co in (hcp) cobalt single crystal F-ray anisotropy thermometer is discussed in considerable detail since it is used more frequently in comparison experiments with other primary thermomreters. Recent experimental results using --ray amisotropy thermometers are also reviewed.
Alternate Hosts of the Elm Spanworm Egg Parasitoid, Ooencyrtus ennomophagus,3

Ooencyrtus ennomophagus Yoshimoto, an important parasitoid of the elm spanworm, Ennomos subsignarius (Hiibner), was recovered from field-collected eggs of the eastern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum (F.), but the incidence of parasitism was low. Only eggs collected before embryonation occurred produced O. ennomophagus adults. In the laboratory, O. ennomophagus parasitized unembryonated eggs of the eastern tent caterpillar which had the spumaline removed. O. ennomophagus isolated from field-collected eastern tent caterpillar eggs readily attacked unembryonated eggs of the elm spanworm. O. ennomophagus also developed in unembryonated eggs of the fall cankerworm, Alsophila pometaria (Harris), but rarely developed in embryonated eggs of the eastern tent caterpillar and not at all in unembryonated or embryonated eggs of the gypsy moth, Porthetria dispar (L.). Neither O. clisiocampae (Ashmead) nor O. kuwanai (Howard) parasitized eggs of the elm spanworm.
Contender pressure versus resource dispersion as predictors of territory size of coyotes (Canis latrans)

Many studies have proposed resource dispersion as the main determinant of territory size in coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823), but few have considered contender pressure as an alternative hypothesis. We tested for differences in rates of intra-territorial visitation, movement, and extra-territorial excursions between two populations of coyotes with large differences in territory sizes. We collected fine-scale (15 min) movement data of coyotes in southeastern Texas and south-central Idaho. Both populations were active for similar lengths of each day, but coyotes in Idaho had territories 10× larger, moved 2× faster, traveled 2× farther daily, and made extra-territorial excursions 3× less. Even with increased movement rates, coyotes in Idaho traversed territories slower than coyotes in Texas as predicted by the contender pressure hypothesis. We propose that in regions with high resource abundance, territory size of coyotes is determined by contender pressure and an inability to defend larger areas. Conversely, in low-resource areas, territory sizes are determined more by prey abundance and dispersion because intrusion rates are reduced given the lower density of conspecifics. Resume : Plusieurs etudes ont suggere que la dispersion des ressources est le principal facteur determinant de la taille des territoires chez les coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823), mais peu d’entre elles ont considere la pression exercee par les concurrents comme hypothese de rechange. Nous avons recherche des differences dans les taux de visites a l’interieur des territoires, dans les deplacements et dans les excursions a l’exterieur des territoires entre deux populations qui presentent d’importantes differences dans la taille de leurs territoires. Nous avons recolte des donnees a echelle fine (15 min) sur les deplacements des coyotes dans le sud-est du Texas et le centre-sud de l’Idaho. Les deux populations sont actives pendant des periodes semblables tous les jours, mais les coyotes d’Idaho ont des territoires 10× plus grands, se deplacent 2× plus rapidement, parcourent des distances 2× plus grandes chaque jour et font 3x moins d’excursions extraterritoriales. Meme avec leurs taux de deplacement plus eleves, les coyotes d’Idaho traversent leurs territoires plus lentement que les coyotes du Texas, comme le veut l’hypothese de la pression des concurrents. Nous croyons que, dans les regions de forte abondance des ressources, la taille des territoires des coyotes est determinee par la pression des concurrents et par leur incapacite de defendre des surfaces plus grandes. A l’inverse, dans les zones de ressources faibles, la taille des territoires est determinee plus par l’abondance des proies et la dispersion puisque les taux d’intrusion sont reduits, etant donne la plus faible densite des
Detection of early "significant" antibody responses in paired sera by the use of an automated bovine parainfluenza-3 hemagglutination-inhibition system.

An automated bovine parainfluenza-3 hemagglutination-inhibition system was used to detect small increases (15–20%) in specific antibody titer between paired bovine sera collected three days apart. Automated and manual parainfluenza-3 hemagglutination-inhibition test procedures were compared as methods for the serologic diagnosis of parainfluenza-3 infection. Fifteen daily serum specimens from each of three animals were analyzed as various possible manual-test and automated-test serum pairs. With the sera from two of the animals, considered to be parainfluenza-3 hemagglutination-inhibition-positive, the manual microtiter test procedure made 18 (69%) false negative diagnoses when using the standard manual-test criteria for “evidence of infection.” When a 20% titer increase between three-day serum pairs was considered “serologically significant,” the automated system made three (17%) false-negative diagnoses. At a 15% “serologically significant” increase, no false-negative diagnosis was made. The utilization of automated serology for the routine diagnosis of disease should permit treatment and control measures to be initiated early, thereby reducing losses due to infectious disease.
The political and economic determinants of health and health care in rural America.

In our daily debates on health problems and possible solutions for this United States of ours, we tend to overlook that, however urban our society may be, 26 percent of our population, or not less than 55 million Americans, con? tinue to live in the rural areas. In this paper, I will examine the health conditions of rural America, with emphasis on the rural poor, and the reasons, as I perceive them, for those con? ditions. Let me begin, then, with a brief sketch of the health conditions of rural America, starting with an analysis of infant mortality, one fairly good indicator of the health conditions among people in the rural areas. Figure I shows the infant mortality rate for the 10 highest-income urban states, the 10 lowest-income rural states, the three poorest rural states, and the rural counties of West Virginia. The infant mortality rate in the poorest rural areas, such as the rural counties of West Virginia, is double that in the highest-income urban states; i.e., the probability of an infant dying during his first year of life is twice as great in the poorest rural than in the wealthiest urban states. Moreover, the gap be
Investigation on Current Situation of Self-sustaining Water Source Quality in Xinjiang Military Region

Objective To know the hygienic status of self-sustaining water supply in Xinjiang Military Region,and to provide a scientific basis for improving water quality.Methods With the cross-sectional study,the water samples were collected and tested with the related standard methods according to the Military Hygienic Standard for Drinking Water under Wartime Conditions(GJB651-89).Results Among the 128 self-sustaining water sources,the main type of water supply was central water supply,accounting for 60.1%(77/128).There were 52 water sources with adequate water supply,accounting for 40.6%.The hygienic conditions of centralized water supply were better than those of non-central water supply.Only 4% of the water sources had water disinfection facilities.The results of the general evaluation showed that 14.8% of the water sources were good,56.3% were the common part,and 28.9% were the worst part.Conclusions The drinking water quality in Xinjiang Military Region is still at lower level and should be improved.The results suggest that it is necessary to strengthen the water source management,enhance the prevention and control measures for the available water sources,strictly implement the disinfection of drinking water,and reinforce the improvement and management of water quality.
Toward “metalloMOFzymes”: Metal–Organic Frameworks with Single-Site Metal Catalysts for Small-Molecule Transformations

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are being increasingly studied as scaffolds and supports for catalysis. The solid-state structures of MOFs, combined with their high porosity, suggest that MOFs may possess advantages shared by both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts, with few of the shortcomings of either. Herein, efforts to create single-site catalytic metal centers appended to the organic ligand struts of MOFs will be discussed. Reactions important for advanced energy applications, such as H2 production and CO2 reduction, will be highlighted. Examining how these active sites can be introduced, their performance, and their existing limitations should provide direction for design of the next generation of MOF-based catalysts for energy-relevant, small-molecule transformations. Finally, the introduction of second-sphere interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding via squaramide groups) as a possible route to enhancing the activity of these metal centers is reported.
American Accountants and their Contributions to Accounting Thought, 1900–1930

This book, published by Routledge is a re-printing of a doctoral thesis completed by John J. Kahle in 1956. The thesis which profiles 26 American accounting theorists, is a useful, albeit limited, ...
The use KPI's to determine the waste in production process

In theory and practice of management is well-known Lean approach about forms of waste from production processes (Muda) and the method VSM (Value Stream Map), one of the most effective methods for determining the activities generating value within industrial companies. It is also obvious concern of the specialists for performance measurement regardless of purview of the organizations. The literature review has shown that the link between performance indicators and the objectives of the companies is researched in detail. However, the correlation between indicators and the forms of waste that generate deviations from the setpoints is rather nature practical and it depends on the talent and managerial skills of those directing production processes. The paper presents the results of a applied study, performed by the authors, through which it was has sought to will create a system of performance indicators specific to manufacturing activity that to be a useful tool to quantify the losses and to determining ways to improve default losses.
AHA Moments of Science and Mathematics Pre-Service Teachers.

ABSTRACTThis research study explored pre-service teachers' (PST) reflections of their student teaching experiences through AHA moments. Participants included 37 pre-service teachers enrolled in mathematics and science student teaching seminars. Qualitative methods were used to analyze PSTs' written and verbal responses to questions regarding AHA experiences. Four themes emerged related to PSTs' AHA moments: a greater awareness of PSTs' identity as teachers, the importance of knowing their students, the realization of inconsistencies in their own and their students' beliefs, and the importance of anticipating students' misconceptions. The potential for using an AHA moment assignment, as presented here, appears to support reflection among PSTs; however, it is not clear these PSTs used judgments and analysis, both integral elements of the reflective process.
Normal Pressure Glaucoma

In 1857, the German ophthalmologist von Graefe described glaucomatous optic disc excavation with a “normal” intraocular pressure (IOP) by digital palpation. He called this “amaurosis and nerve head excavation.” At that time and for many decades following, open-angle glaucoma with a “normal” IOP was considered a rarity. In 1980, Levene, in a landmark paper, reviewed the definitions and known literature about this entity, which he called “low-tension glaucoma” (LTG). He outlined six historical definitions for LTG – one descriptive only and five both causal and descriptive.
What Makes a Dog Adoptable? An Eye-Tracking Investigation.

ABSTRACTHumans readily attribute personality and behavioral traits to dogs, and these attributions influence decisions about adoption. This study focused on how these attributions could be influenced by breed and pose by using pictures of four breeds (Doberman Pinscher, Golden Retriever, pit bull, and Rottweiler) in 4 poses (dog sitting alone, sitting with a human, standing alone, and walking on a leash with a human). Participants rated each picture on friendliness, aggressiveness, and adoptability. Eye-tracking technology identified which specific features were represented in each picture to determine whether they had any effect on the judgments. Although the Golden Retriever was seen as most adoptable, pose differences had many significant effects that could be useful for increasing the adoptability of all breeds. Data also revealed facial areas that attracted more attention (e.g., faster time to first fixation and longer fixation duration), particularly when the dog was alone. Focus on these areas coul...
Religionist Rebels & the Sovereignty of the Divine

Existing categorizations of rebel groups have difficulty classifying some of today's most vexing rebels–those, such as the Islamic State, that reject the Westphalian state system and depend on an a...
The Value of (Corrupt) Lobbying

Does corporate lobbying simply add value by allowing firms to communicate expert information to policy makers, or does it also add value by facilitating potentially illegal quid pro quo arrangements, where lawmakers receive private benefits in exchange for favorable policy decisions? Using the corruption scandal involving the top Washington D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff as an exogenous negative shock to the ability of firms to lobby, we examine whether lobbying and illegal lobbying practices in particular, affect the market value of firms. The results suggest that firms that lobby more experience a significant decrease in market value following the guilty plea by Mr. Abramoff to bribery and corruption. A firm that spent $100,000 more on lobbying prior to the event year experiences an average decrease of $1.4 million in value in a 3-day event window around the guilty plea. To examine whether lobbying adds value by corrupting policy makers, we use corporate social responsibility reputation rankings to capture a firm’s propensity to engage in corrupt practices, and find that lobbying related losses are larger for firms with a poor reputation for social responsibility. We also find that follow-up legislation aimed at curbing corrupt lobbying practices significantly reduces the value of firms that lobby. For example, a firm that spent $100,000 more on lobbying prior to the event year, experiences an average decrease of $0.84 million in value in a 3-day event window around the passage of the anti-corruption law. We find that the negative association between lobbying and firm value around these events occurs for all firms that lobby regardless of their connections to either political party. Our results indicate that lobbying creates shareholder value, and that part of this value can be attributed to corrupt lobbying practices.
Synthetic Gene Network with Positive Feedback Loop Amplifies Cellulase Gene Expression in Neurospora crassa

Second-generation or lignocellulosic biofuels are a tangible source of renewable energy, which is critical to combat climate change by reducing the carbon footprint. Filamentous fungi secrete cellulose-degrading enzymes called cellulases, which are used for production of lignocellulosic biofuels. However, inefficient production of cellulases is a major obstacle for industrial-scale production of second-generation biofuels. We used computational simulations to design and implement synthetic positive feedback loops to increase gene expression of a key transcription factor, CLR-2, that activates a large number of cellulases in a filamentous fungus, Neurospora crassa. Overexpression of CLR-2 reveals previously unappreciated roles of CLR-2 in lignocellulosic gene network, which enabled simultaneous induction of approximately 50% of 78 lignocellulosic degradation-related genes in our engineered Neurospora strains. This engineering results in dramatically increased cellulase activity due to cooperative orchestra...
The SNAP Challenge: Communicating Food Security Capabilities through Anti-Hunger Advocacy

This research brief reports preliminary findings related to the SNAP Challenge (SC), an anti-hunger initiative in which participants purchase their household groceries using the average food stamp budget benefit for one week. By simulating a SNAP budget, SC participants encounter food insecurity directly, recognizing how the food they are able to consume connects to income, nutrition needs, and other factors that contribute to quality of life, all of which can be considered capabilities of food security. Linking the experience of food hardship to conditions of poverty can address not only immediate food needs but also the interconnected material opportunities and disparities that constitute food (in)security. In this way, I suggest, a capability approach to food security can better align anti-hunger advocacy and food system policy. This initial study supports ongoing research related to anti-hunger advocacy communication, food security discourse, and capability-based approaches to food system reform. See the press release for this article.
Identifying Key Factors for Implementation and Maintenance of Green Stormwater Infrastructure

AbstractConstruction and maintenance can have major implications on the long-term functioning of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) facilities. The GSI facilities investigated were bioretention,...
Expression of Gre2p improves tolerance of engineered xylose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae to glycolaldehyde under xylose metabolism

Engineered S. cerevisiae employing the xylose reductase pathway enables efficient xylose valorization to fuels and chemicals. However, toxicity of thermochemically pretreated biomass hydrolysate on S. cerevisiae is one of the key technical challenges to upgrade biomass-derived sugars including xylose and glucose into high-value products. We investigated the effect of glycolaldehyde, one of the biomass-derived highly toxic aldehyde compounds, and its combinatorial inhibitory effect with other major fermentation inhibitors commonly found in plant hydrolysate such as methylglyoxal, 5-HMF, furfural, vanillin, and acetic acid on engineered xylose-fermenting S. cerevisiae in xylose and/or glucose media. We elucidated that glycolaldehyde and methylglyoxal are the key inhibitory short-aliphatic aldehydes on engineered xylose-fermenting S. cerevisiae in xylose-containing medium. Indeed, the degree of toxicity of these tested fermentation inhibitors varies with the sole carbon source of the medium. We demonstrate that genome integration of an extra copy of autologous GRE2 with its native promotor substantially improved the toxic tolerance of engineered xylose-fermenting S. cerevisiae to major inhibitory compounds including glycolaldehyde in the xylose-containing medium, and xylose-rich, lignocellulosic hydrolysate derived from Miscanthus giganteus, and concurrently improved the ethanol fermentation profile. Outcomes of this study will aid the development of next-generation robust S. cerevisiae strains for efficient fermentation of hexose and pentose sugars found in biomass hydrolysate.
Historical and Current Practices in the Management of Fossa Navicularis Strictures.

Fossa navicularis strictures represent a surgically challenging disease process that requires detailed preoperative planning and an understanding of each patient’s goals in order to achieve a satisfactory long-term outcome. This review summarizes the various approaches used in the management of fossa navicularis strictures over the past several decades. In addition to existing evidence to support open flap- and graft-based reconstruction, recent studies suggest a potential role for limited open repair via a transurethral approach. Open repair of fossa navicularis strictures has become the standard of care with high success rates using local skin flaps or tissue grafts. There remains a very limited role for minimally invasive techniques in definitive management of this disease.
Local Governance and Access to Urban Services: Conclusions and Policy Implications

Studies in this volume show that inclusive, participatory and sustainable urban service delivery and access require a set of policy and program responses: It is essential to distribute resources equitably to urban local governments and strengthen their planning and management capacity in order to enable them to perform their responsibilities. Institutional arrangements should be restructured to promote collaborative governance and stock-taking of functional gaps and overlaps among multiple agencies and departments located within a city. Participatory mechanisms should be provided for the engagement of civil society, local governments, citizen groups and other stakeholders in local decision-making processes. The need is for greater use of widely recognized instruments of accountability and transparency including participatory budgeting and right to information. One of the challenges of urban policy implementation is political and social inclusion and engagement of marginalized communities including women, youth, migrants, ethnic minorities and the urban poor in the structures and processes of local governance including access to urban land and housing through revised land use regulations, effective land density and mixed use, and housing finance and land titles reforms. Cities have been laboratories of experimentation, innovations and good practices to improve service delivery and access. Recent surveys have highlighted a number of innovations and good practices in cities in terms of their content, rationale and impact on urban residents. These need to be replicated. Information and communication technology (ICT) should be used to enhance quality, performance and interactivity of urban services; to reduce costs and resource consumption; and to improve contact between citizens and government. Finally, peri-urbanization is a critical issue in access to services for the urban poor. It requires an integrated planning and coordination of urban areas.
The Phasor FLIM Method Reveals a Link Between a Change in Energy Metabolism and mHtt protein spread in Healthy Mammalian Cells when Co-cultured with Huntington Diseased Cells.

Huntington Disease (HD) is a late-onset autosomal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the aggregations of mutant Huntingtin proteins (mHTT). A glutamine stretch (PolyQ) at the N-terminal of the Huntingtin protein is generated by the abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in exon 1 of the HTT gene. While the resulting polyQ aggregates are the predominate feature of HD , the intercellular spread of the expanded protein and the effect upon this transfer inside healthy cells have not yet fully understood. Here, we have employed the phasor Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) method to measure NADH fluorescence lifetime change after the internalization of the PolyQ protein. Based on our analysis, we have found a significant decrease in the fraction of bound NADH in both cytoplasmic and nucleus regions when cells are co-cultured or when healthy cells uptake the supernatant containing polyQ proteins and aggregates. Overall, our FLIM study combined with confocal fluorescence imaging visualizes the absorption of the mutant Htt protein aggregates which results in a distinct NADH fluorescence lifetime between control cells and acceptor cells. These studies show, for the first time, the influence of how neighboring cells expressing the expanded Htt protein can regulate energy metabolism in healthy cells.
Not Reinventing the Wheel: Adapting Treatment Foster Care Oregon to Public Mental Health

Intervention adaptations expand the availability of evidence-based treatments across clinical settings and demographically different populations. These adaptations utilize systematic strategies to preserve core components of an intervention. Intervention adaptations made from one public system to another (e.g., juvenile justice to mental health) reduce the need to invent a new intervention. In this column, the authors discuss the adaptation of Treatment Foster Care Oregon, an evidence-based program for treating youths with serious emotional and behavioral disturbance, to Michigan's public mental health system. Challenges encountered in this adaptation and solutions are presented.
Optical Losses in Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells due to Back Reflectors

We have used a new numerical model and here present initial results on how texturing and backreflectors affect the maximum achievable short-circuit current densities in amorphous silicon solar cells.
Experimental investigation on surface roughness of electroless Ni–B–TiO2 nanocomposite coatings

Magnesium and its alloys like AZ91 are used for various automotive, military and aviation applications. Nanocomposite coatings on AZ91 show significant improvement in the surface properties like wear resistance, hardness and corrosion properties. Electroless coatings have unique physicochemical and mechanical properties, for which they are being used increasingly. Most applications of the electroless coatings are based on their wear and corrosion resistance. However, the characteristic like luminescence has a great potential in defence and aerospace applications. In this research, surface roughness of AZ91 magnesium alloy due to nanocomposite coating processes of ENi–B–TiO2 is experimentally investigated. It has been observed that as concentration of second-phase (TiO2) particles increases, the surface roughness of coatings also increases.
Mobile Applications in Clinical and Perioperative Care for Anesthesia: Narrative Review.

Background: The increasing use of smartphones by providers and patients alike demonstrates that digital health utilizing mobile applications has the potential to transform perioperative care and education in anesthesia. Objective: This literature review describes the current scope of the use of mobile applications in anesthesiology. Methods: Literature was searched using PubMed, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov for articles published from January 1, 2010, through April 1, 2020. Only English language studies were included. Articles were included if they examined the use of a mobile health application in the setting of anesthesia or the perioperative (immediate preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative) period. Studies were excluded if they explored video interventions or did not examine the feasibility or efficacy of the mobile app. Results: We included 29 articles, and three areas of clinical functionality were identified: patient-centered care (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative), systems-based improvement, and medical education. Several studies demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of mobile apps in these areas, but many are only tested for efficacy in simulated environments or with small patient samples Conclusions: Mobile health applications show promise in improving communication between anesthesiologists, improving workflow efficiency, enhancing medical education, and reducing hospital costs. However, there is a need for validation and improvement before full implementation by the provider, patients, and hospital systems. Future studies are needed to demonstrate meaningful health outcomes to create guidelines and recommendations specific to the application of mobile technology to health care.
Preisfestsetzung durch Algorithmen

In jungster Zeit ist eine neue technische Entwicklung zum Gegenstand wettbewerbsrechtlicher Diskussion geworden: die automatisierte Preisfestsetzung durch Algorithmen. Die Breite an literarischer Diskussion ist beachtlich und zahlreiche Wettbewerbsbehorden haben sich dem Thema gewidmet. Im Mittelpunkt der Diskussion stehen dabei die Fragen moglicher wettbewerbsbeschrankender Auswirkungen des Einsatzes von Algorithmen sowie der Zurechnung und Verantwortlichkeit der Unternehmen. Der folgende Beitrag geht diesen Fragen mit dem Schwerpunkt darauf nach, ob allfallige wettbewerbsbeschrankende Auswirkungen des Einsatzes von Algorithmen durch das geltende Wettbewerbsrecht erfasst werden konnen. Ebenfalls diskutiert wird die Frage, wie algorithmische Preisfestsetzung im lauterkeitsrechtlichen Kontext zu beurteilen ist, was grundsatzliche Fragen der Privatautonomie tangiert.
Up-regulation of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, in asthmatics on maintenance inhaled corticosteroids.

The first step in SARS-CoV-2 infection is binding of the virus to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the airway epithelium. Asthma affects over 300 million people world-wide, many of whom may encounter SARS-CoV-2. Epidemiologic data suggests that asthmatics who get infected may be at increased risk of more severe disease. Our objective was to assess whether maintenance inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), a major treatment for asthma, is associated with airway ACE2 expression in asthmatics. Large airway epithelium (LAE) of asthmatics treated with maintenance ICS (ICS+), asthmatics not treated with ICS (ICS−), and healthy controls (controls) was analyzed for expression of ACE2 and other coronavirus infection-related genes using microarrays. As a group, there was no difference in LAE ACE2 expression in all asthmatics vs controls. In contrast, subgroup analysis demonstrated that LAE ACE2 expression was higher in asthmatics ICS+ compared to ICS‾ and ACE2 expression was higher in male ICS+ compared to female ICS+ and ICS‾ of either sex. ACE2 expression did not correlate with serum IgE, absolute eosinophil level, or change in FEV1 in response to bronchodilators in either ICS− or ICS+. Airway ACE2 expression is increased in asthmatics on long-term treatment with ICS, an observation that should be taken into consideration when assessing the use of inhaled corticosteroids during the pandemic.
The Biology and Physiopharmacology Of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Endotoxins And Their Role In Immunoregulation - An Introductory Preview

The topic of the immunobiology and immunopharmacology of bacterial endotoxins has attracted the attention of many biomedical investigators, including immunologists, microbiologists and biochemists, as well as physiologists, pharmacologists and clinical practitioners of medicine. This has occurred mainly because of the realization that these important bacterial components affect many normal physiologic events and metabolic reaction of a host, including the immune system. Endotoxins have been studied for many decades in terms of their chemistry and chemical reactivity. Although constituting a diverse group of distinct chemical moieties on the bacterial cell surface, as indicated in the preface, bacterial endotoxins may have different effects on different target organs and cells. This volume provides a focus for presentation of pertinent newer findings concerning the immunologic and pharmacologic effects of endotoxins and to interrelate these effects with physiologic and immunologic alterations which may occur, both in disease states as well as in specific situations in which endotoxins may be used for therapy, especially in viral and cancer pathology.
Green Chemistry Applied to Corrosion and Scale Inhibitors

Numerous breakthroughs in environmental protection and pollution prevention have been realized in recent years by both industry and academia through the application of green chemistry principles. Green chemistry, or pollution prevention at the molecular level, is chemistry designed to reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous materials associated with the manufacture and application of chemicals. The application of the green chemistry principles to the areas of corrosion and scale inhibitors has resulted in the reduction/elimination of many of the more toxic inhibitors and the development of newer, more environmentally friendly ones.
An Intron Transcriptional Enhancer Element Regulates IL-4 Gene Locus Accessibility in Mast Cells

The cell type-specific expression of a gene is dependent on developmentally regulated modifications in chromatin structure that allow accessibility of basal and inducible transcription factors. In this study, we demonstrate that a cis -acting element in the second intron of the murine IL-4 gene has a dual function in regulating transcription in mast cells as well as chromatin accessibility of the IL-4 gene locus through its influence on the methylation state of the gene. Previous studies have shown that mast cell-restricted transcription factors GATA-1/2 and PU.1 associate with the intron element and regulate its activity. In this study, we use DNase I footprinting and mutational analyses to identify two additional sites that contribute to the element’s ability to enhance transcription. One of these sites associates preferentially with STAT5a and STAT5b. We also demonstrate that deletion of the element or mutation of the GATA binding site in the context of a stably integrated IL-4 genomic construct prevents maintenance of a demethylated locus in IL-4-producing mast cells. These data indicate that, analogous to Ig and TCR intron regulatory elements, the intron enhancer has an essential role in maintaining developmentally regulated demethylation at the IL-4 gene locus. In addition, they indicate that members of the GATA family of transcription factors likely play an important role in these processes.
Clitoral variability compared with penile variability supports nonadaptation of female orgasm.

Humans appear relatively unique among animals in that both males and females can experience orgasm as a result of sexual intercourse. However, orgasm during intercourse occurs much less reliably and consistly for females than for males (Lloyd 2005). The significance of this marked sex difference in sexual function is unexplained and of importance to understanding the evolution of female orgasm. The recent revival of the byproduct account of female orgasm (Lloyd 2005), in which the trait is nonadaptive but collateral to selection on the male orgasm, has evoked much debate (Barash 2005; Judson 2005; Zuk 2006). The byproduct account contends that female orgasm arose as the result of shared embryological processes shaped by selection on the male capacity for orgasm thus implying no direct selection on the female form of the trait. The argument is analogous to the presence of male nipples which result from males and females sharing a common embryology and selection for functional nipples in females. The primary evidence that female orgasm is unlikely an adaptation is its high variability in contrast to the almost certainty of male orgasm, suggesting that the female form has been under little selective pressure compared with strong selection for the male form. If this is the case, then one would expect that the genital structures primarily responsible for triggering orgasm in women, the clitoris (Narjani 1924; Masters and Johnson 1966), and in men, the penis, would demonstrate a similar difference in variability to that seen in the occurrence of orgasm. We thus present a comparison in variability of aspects of male and female genital structures that supports differential selection on genitalia and thus likely differential selection on male and female orgasm.
The Evaluation of Radiation Transport Forward-Adjoint Flux Integrals Using Monte Carlo Correlated Coupling Methods

Radiation transport integrals containing both forward and adjoint fluxes are amenable to solution by the method of correlated coupling. Existing methods for surface integral coupling of forward and adjoint histories have been extended to volumetric coupling. Within the context of standard Monte Carlo usage, these integral solutions are exact, and the application to perturbation analysis requires no approximation. Coupled forward-adjoint history pairs are initiated at points selected uniformly in the perturbed volume. The energy and angular dependence of each history is dictated by the difference operator of the forward and adjoint transport equations, one equation for the perturbed system and one for the unperturbed system. The volume integral is accumulated as these history pairs score in the respective source or response regions. Some simple systems are analyzed showing that the new method gives comparable results, and a lower variance, as for existing methods. A review of current correlated coupling methodology is given, and suggestions for further study are outlined.
Cramer-Rao bounds for two-dimensional deterministic modal analysis

The purpose of the paper is to develop and explore the Cramer-Rao (CR) bounds for the two-dimensional modal analysis problem. The model employed is deterministic and involves a single snapshot of the data. The bounded parameters include the noise variance, moduli and phases of the signal amplitudes, and the moduli and phases of the 2D modes (poles). The asymptotic behavior of the bounds in the special case of undamped modes is explored. Finally, the bounds for the 2D model are shown to be less than or equal to those for the multitrial 1D model. >
High quality enhanced waveform interpolative coding at 2.8 kbps

This paper presents a high quality enhanced waveform interpolative (EWI) speech coder at 2.8 kbps. The system incorporates novel features such as: dual-predictive analysis-by-synthesis (AbS) quantization of the slowly evolving waveform (SEW), efficient parametrization of the rapidly evolving waveform (REW) magnitude, and AbS vector quantization (VQ) of the REW parameter. Subjective tests indicate that its quality exceeds that of G.723.1 at 5.3 kbps, and it is slightly better than that of G.723.1 at 6.3 kbps.