cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increasing Inferential Leverage in the Comparative Method: Placebo Tests in Small-n Research

We delineate the underlying homogeneity assumption, procedural variants, and implications of the comparative method and distinguish this from Mill’s method of difference. We demonstrate that additional units can provide “placebo” tests for the comparative method even if the scope of inference is limited to the two units under comparison. Moreover, such tests may be available even when these units are the most similar pair of units on the control variables with differing values of the independent variable. Small-n analyses using this method should therefore, at a minimum, clearly define the dependent, independent, and control variables so they may be measured for additional units, and specify how the control variables are weighted in defining similarity between units. When these tasks are too difficult, process tracing of a single unit may be a more appropriate method. We illustrate these points with applications to two studies.
Phlyctochytrium Aureliae Parasitized by Rhizophydium Chytriophagum

(1945). Phlyctochytrium Aureliae Parasitized by Rhizophydium Chytriophagum. Mycologia: Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 109-119.
Heme Oxygenase in Neonatal Lung Injury and Repair

Abstract Significance: Premature and sick neonates are often exposed to high concentrations of oxygen, which results in lung injury and long-term adverse consequences. Nevertheless, neonates are more tolerant to hyperoxia than are adults. This may be, in part, explained by the high lung content of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), the rate-limiting enzyme in the degradation of heme and an important stress protein. The abundance of HO-1 dictates its cytoprotective and deleterious effects. Interestingly, in response to hyperoxia, lung HO-1 mRNA is not further up-regulated in neonates, suggesting that lung HO-1 gene expression is tightly regulated so as to optimize cytoprotection when faced with an oxidative stress such as hyperoxia. Recent Advances: In addition to the lack of induction of HO-1 mRNA, neonatal lung HO-1 protein is observed in the nucleus in neonatal mice exposed to hyperoxia but not in adults, which is further evidence for the developmental regulation of HO-1. Nuclear HO-1 had unique properties indepe...
Integration by Fiat?: The Institutional Context of European Judicial Decisions and Questions About Judicial 'Activism'

There is no shortage of accounts of the European transnational courts as 'heroic' defenders of human rights, imposing progressive norms on unwilling national governments. However, American constitutional development has abandoned this view of the US Supreme Court, situating it instead as a political institution subject to institutional constraints. Using literature from this field, I argue that 'heroic' conceptions of the European courts are similarly misplaced. Using doctrine and political data, I argue that the European Court of Justice and European Court of Human Rights are merely enforcing popular, majoritarian norms.
Indicator groups and effective seasons on the coast: Zooarchaeology of fish in the lower Suwannee region of Florida

Abstract Recent assessments of subsistence procurement in coastal areas of the southeastern United States accentuate the continuity of fish resources through time. Seasonality and habitat inferences based on archaeological fish assemblages, however, are deemed ineffective measures due to the absence of fishes with marked seasonal or habitat characteristics. I argue that archaeological fish assemblages provide useful indications of procurement conditions when 1) present-day fish data provide a framework for analysis and 2) alternatives to conventional seasonal categories are considered. Fish species are arranged into indicator groups based on common characteristics, which allows for seasonal pattern recognition that may not be evident in analyses of individual taxa. Broad-scale astronomically based seasons do not encompass the variations of local environmental processes or human practices on archaeological fish assemblages. Further, localized seasons cannot be explored in absence of local habitats. The effective seasons, habitats, and indicator groups presented herein provide a localized framework by which to consider coastal fishing practices, sedentism, and mobility. Effective seasons and habitats are described that may have been relevant to coastal fishers of the lower Suwannee region of Florida. Indicator groups, derived from these categories, are used to examine fish assemblages with AMS assays between 2630 and 2290 BCE. Results suggest that past peoples incorporated both sedentary and mobile practices; people collected fish from multiple habitats throughout the year, which included traveling several kilometers to the coast to procure specific fish resources.
Identification of a Paralog-Specific Notch1 Intracellular Domain Degron.

Upon Notch pathway activation, the receptor is cleaved to release the Notch intracellular domain (NICD), which translocates to the nucleus to activate gene transcription. Using Xenopus egg extracts, we have identified a Notch1-specific destruction signal (N1-Box). We show that mutations in the N1-Box inhibit NICD1 degradation and that the N1-Box is transferable for the promotion of degradation of heterologous proteins in Xenopus egg extracts and in cultured human cells. Mutation of the N1-Box enhances Notch1 activity in cultured human cells and zebrafish embryos. Human cancer mutations within the N1-Box enhance Notch1 signaling in transgenic zebrafish, highlighting the physiological relevance of this destruction signal. We find that binding of the Notch nuclear factor, CSL, to the N1-Box blocks NICD1 turnover. Our studies reveal a mechanism by which degradation of NICD1 is regulated by the N1-Box to minimize stochastic flux and to establish a threshold for Notch1 pathway activation.
Embedded Mathematics in Chemistry: A Case Study of Students' Attitudes and Mastery.

There are many factors that shape students’ attitudes toward science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This exploratory study of high school students examined the effect of enriching chemistry with math on chemistry students’ attitudes toward math and careers involving math. To measure student attitudes, a survey was administered before and after the 18-week chemistry class; results from the chemistry class were compared to survey results from students in an elective science class that did not emphasize mathematics. At the end of the 18-week period, only the chemistry students exhibited more positive views toward their abilities in mathematics and careers that involve mathematics, as compared to their views at the outset of the course. To ensure that chemistry mastery was not hindered by the additional emphasis on math, and that mastery on state end-of-course examinations reflected knowledge acquired during the math-intensive chemistry class, a chemistry progress test was administered at the start and end of the term. This exploratory study suggests that emphasizing mathematical approaches in chemistry may positively influence attitudes toward math in general, as well as foster mastery of chemistry content.
Comments on “Thermodynamics of cis,cis-muconic acid solubility in various polar solvents at low temperature range”

Abstract New light is shed on results published by Scelfo, Pirone, and Russo in “Thermodynamics of cis,cis-muconic acid solubility in various polar solvents at low temperature range”. We show that under the conditions described in their article, cis,cis-muconic acid isomerizes to cis,trans-muconic acid within minutes. This isomerization can be easily overlooked as both isomers present similar retention times during liquid chromatography analysis. Yet, the consequences are significant as the cis,trans isomer is five times more soluble at room temperature under acidic conditions than cis,cis-muconic acid. pH should also be measured and taken into account as this parameter dramatically influences the species in solution, hence the solubility limit.
Comprehensive Analysis of a Novel Ketoreductase for Pentangular Polyphenol Biosynthesis

Arixanthomycins are pentangular polyphenols (PP) with potent antiproliferative activities that were discovered through the heterologous expression of environmental DNA-derived gene clusters. The biosynthesis of arixanthomycin and other PPs is unusual because it requires several novel type II polyketide synthase (PKS) enzymes for its complete maturation. Most type II PKSs contain a ketoreductase (KR) that mediates the C7–C12 first ring cyclization and C-9 reduction. In contrast, based on previous studies of product analysis and genome mining, the arixanthomycin (ARX) gene cluster harbors a C-11 reducing KR (ARX 27), a C9–C14 first-ring aromatase/cyclase (ARX 19), and an unprecedented C-17 and C-19 reducing KR (ARX 21). While bioinformatics is useful for predicting novel enzymes, the functions of ARX 19, ARX 21, and ARX 27 have yet to be confirmed. Further, the structural features that predispose the ARX biosynthetic enzymes to process atypical poly-β-ketone scaffolds remain unknown. We report the crystal s...
SMART (Simulation of MAritime Radiological Threats)

SMART (Simulation of MAritime Radiological Threats) is a package created for simplyfing the process of modeling the performance of detector systems for identifying special nuclear materials (SNM). It consists of a library of spectra, including evaluation benchmarks produced for these SNMs as well as naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), a graphical front end system for setting up simulations with GEANT4 or MCNPX, and analysis tools for retrieving spectra plots from the detector, as well as imaging for Compton and Coded Mask spectrometers.
Effect of Gold Nanoparticle Size and Coating on Labeling Monocytes for CT Tracking.

With advances in cell therapies, interest in cell tracking techniques to monitor the migration, localization, and viability of these cells continues to grow. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a cornerstone of medical imaging but has been limited in cell tracking applications due to its low sensitivity toward contrast media. In this study, we investigate the role of size and surface functionality of gold nanoparticles for monocyte uptake to optimize the labeling of these cells for tracking in CT. We synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNP) that range from 15 to 150 nm in diameter and examined several capping ligands, generating 44 distinct AuNP formulations. In vitro cytotoxicity and uptake experiments were performed with the RAW 264.7 monocyte cell line. The majority of formulations at each size were found to be biocompatible, with only certain 150 nm PEG functionalized particles reducing viability at high concentrations. High uptake of AuNP was found using small capping ligands with distal carboxylic acids ...
Food Deserts and Real-Estate-Led Social Policy

Since the early 2000s in the United States, food deserts-neighborhoods in which households have limited geographic access to full-service supermarkets or grocery stores- have become conceptually central in public policy research on food security. Analyzing this phenomenon from a 'policy mobility' perspective, this article traces the food desert's emergence in policy discourse, locating it within an entrepreneurial social policy paradigm that privileges real estate development over direct economic relief. In the context of property-led anti-poverty efforts, the identification and mapping of food deserts catalyzes a logic that leads to subsidy to grocery store development in low-income areas (or 'fresh food financing'), while at the same time officials are cutting programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), which directly supplements household food budgets. The article contributes to widening critical discussion of the food desert paradigm and the policy interventions with which it is associated. It calls on urban researchers and practitioners to reframe discussions of food access and nutrition around the shortage of basic income and a need for higher wage floors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Protein-Based Inheritance: Epigenetics beyond the Chromosome

Epigenetics refers to changes in phenotype that are not rooted in DNA sequence. This phenomenon has largely been studied in the context of chromatin modification. Yet many epigenetic traits are instead linked to self-perpetuating changes in the individual or collective activity of proteins. Most such proteins are prions (e.g., [PSI+], [URE3], [SWI+], [MOT3+], [MPH1+], [LSB+], and [GAR+]), which have the capacity to adopt at least one conformation that self-templates over long biological timescales. This allows them to serve as protein-based epigenetic elements that are readily broadcast through mitosis and meiosis. In some circumstances, self-templating can fuel disease, but it also permits access to multiple activity states from the same polypeptide and transmission of that information across generations. Ensuing phenotypic changes allow genetically identical cells to express diverse and frequently adaptive phenotypes. Although long thought to be rare, protein-based epigenetic inheritance has now been uncovered in all domains of life.
Fracture mechanics – An interpretive technical history

Abstract In this paper, the historical context of the development of what is now known as ‘Fracture Mechanics’ is selectively developed. We start from the safety and economic motivations, and review the essential efforts, over the centuries, to develop the ability to predict fracture and those factors leading up to final catastrophic events. The experimental and analytical quantitative aspects, and their interdependence, are emphasized. It is shown how these efforts were integrated to define the field we now know as Fracture Mechanics. The paper concludes with some thoughts on unmet needs and new directions.
Teacher Perceptions and Preferences for 5 School Breakfast Program Models.

Abstract Objective Identify differences in teacher perceptions of benefits, challenges, and preferences to different School Breakfast Program (SBP) service models. Design A cross-sectional study design was used and an electronic survey was distributed to teachers throughout the state of Utah. Setting Kindergarten through 12th-grade schools throughout Utah. Participants A convenience sample of 369 kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in Utah. Variables Measured Demographics, benefits and challenges, and teacher preference for SBP models in Utah. Analysis Frequencies and multiple comparison analysis tests were performed. A level of significance of Results Traditional breakfast was the most preferred model, with a mean score of 2.8; Breakfast in the Classroom was the least preferred model by teachers, with a mean of −1.3 (scale used = −5 to 0 to 5). Children not going hungry was the greatest benefit (95.4%; n = 352) to SBP and food waste was the greatest challenge (45.8%; n = 168). Conclusions and Implications Teachers prefer traditional SBP model over BIC and other nontraditional models. Increased awareness and education regarding benefits and challenges of SBP models may increase teacher preference for nontraditional SBP models, especially BIC.
Unpacking Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Prenatal Care Use: The Role of Individual-, Household-, and Area-Level Characteristics.

Abstract Objective: To identify the contributions of individual-, household-, and area-level characteristics to disparities in the use of prenatal care (PNC). Methods: This study used individual-level data from the 2001 Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort linked to county-level U.S. Census data (N ≈ 5,200). I used nonlinear regression decomposition to quantify the contributions of several groups of factors—maternal health and pregnancy characteristics, preconception health behaviors, insurance coverage, PNC location, socioeconomic status (SES), and the social/economic and healthcare environments—to PNC disparities. Results: Relative to whites, blacks and Hispanics were less likely to initiate first-trimester PNC and to have adequate PNC. The models explained 61.20%–79.90% and 52.15%–79.09% of the disparities in PNC initiation and adequacy, respectively. The most important factor was SES, which explained 50.68%–79.92% of the black-white gap and 37.50%–49.51% of the Hispanic-white gap in PNC use...
Influence of [alpha]-ketoisocaproate on growth, carcass composition and protein metabolism in cattle and sheep

Two experiments were conducted to determine if o(-ketoisocaproate (KIC), which is thought to be a regulating factor of metabolism, would influence lamb growth, feed conversion and nutrient deposition. In the first experiment (Exp. 1), daily intraperitoneal injections of a Na-KIC solution (-.11 g NaKIC/(kg body weight-d)) increased lamb growth 11% (p F .001). Daily feed intake was reduced 10% when KIC was fed with CGM but was not changed when fed with SBM (diet X KIC probability of > F .04). Oral administration of KIC increased wool growth irrespective of the diet fed (19% increase, p F :05). These data indicate that KIC influences lamb metabolism such that parenteral administration improves daily gain and feed conversion and
Heat Transfer Measurements in a Motored Engine Using Speckle Interferometry

Gas-side temperature profile measurement in engines may provide valuable information regarding surface heat transfer as well as information on other fluid characteristics such as boundary layer thickness. Due to the typical cyclic variation of fluid variables in engines, profile measurement must be accomplished essentially instantaneously. This paper describes the use of speckle interferometry for acquiring such data. The advantages and disadvantages of the method are briefly described with respect to current spectroscopic and other interferometric techniques. The method has been applied to measure temperature profiles normal to the cylinder head in a motored two-cycle engine.
The Affordable Care Act and Competition: Antidote or Placebo?

In the run-up to its enactment, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) elicited howls of protest from opponents who claimed the federal government was, “taking over,” the American healthcare system, “micromanaging,” medicine, and generally exposing the nation to the bete noire of, “socialized medicine.” Hyperbole, misrepresentation and chauvinism aside, these sound bites suffer from a deeper flaw: They mischaracterize the fundamental thrust of the new law. Though the law establishes significant new regulatory authority, this is neither a new development (indeed it can be faulted for preserving pre-existing regulatory regimes) nor does it impair market competition. To the contrary, much of the law aims at improving conditions conducive to effective competition. However, it is far from clear that market competition will work out as scripted by theorists and proponents of the new law. Myriad market imperfections still complicate market interactions and regulation needs to be carefully tailored to assure effective implementation and minimize unintended consequences. Of even greater concern are the problematic market structures that pervade provider and payer markets. Concentration, embedded practices and professional norms may cause markets to operate suboptimally even if reform is implemented smoothly. Further, the ACA’s effectiveness in achieving its goals depends on the executive branch maintaining a steady hand in countless regulatory determinations required under the new law. This article surveys some of the misconceptions about health reform and the challenges it confronts in realizing proponents’ goals.
Online lazy updates for portfolio selection with transaction costs

A major challenge for stochastic optimization is the cost of updating model parameters especially when the number of parameters is large. Updating parameters frequently can prove to be computationally or monetarily expensive. In this paper, we introduce an efficient primal-dual based online algorithm that performs lazy updates to the parameter vector and show that its performance is competitive with reasonable strategies which have the benefit of hindsight. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm in the online portfolio selection domain where a trader has to pay proportional transaction costs every time his portfolio is updated. Our Online Lazy Updates (OLU) algorithm takes into account the transaction costs while computing an optimal portfolio which results in sparse updates to the portfolio vector. We successfully establish the robustness and scalability of our lazy portfolio selection algorithm with extensive theoretical and experimental results on two real-world datasets.
Social control and social contract in networking

Networks can be understood as organizational control strategies. As an example, we present two case studies of team-based networking strategies associated with the Total Quality Management movement in the United States. TQM's implied social contract requires some form of power sharing. In practice TQM team organization can also become another form of labor intensification. Similarly, TQM appeals to democratic values by emphasizing participation, communication, cooperation and team work. Such claims can also serve to legitimize major organizational changes, some of which follow familiar Taylorist patterns. Two cases illustrate how the technical components of communications systems help redefine control systems in TQM-based work rerganization experiments. In the manufacturing setting, communications took the form of web-and-hub networks, centralizing off-site engineering control of production workers. In the design and engineering workplace, peer-to-peer communications implemented by self-managed teams reduced intellectual ‘slack time’. In both cases the communications systems provided means to intensify labor.
Vascular changes accompanying dysmetabolism in rabbits.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes vascular changes accompanying dysmetabolism in rabbits. The chapter describes an experiment in which 47 metabolically normal and 59 dysmetabolic rabbits were fed a diet containing 1% cholesterol and were sacrificed from 2 weeks to 12 months after the initiation of cholesterol feeding. Blood lipid determinations were carried out at regular intervals before the animals were sacrificed. The hearts, coronary arteries, aortas, kidneys, and brains were examined grossly and by light and electron microscopy in an attempt to ascertain any quantitative or qualitative differences between the metabolically normal and the subdiabetic rabbits. Endothelial cholesterol clefts were seen in capillaries and arterioles after more than 6 months of cholesterol feeding. They were somewhat more numerous in subdiabetic animals. The subdiabetic state was found to increase substantially the severity and extent of lesions in the myocardium and in the distal coronary artery branches but not in the aortas or in the proximal portions of the coronary artery system.
Estimating the joint distribution of rate parameters across multiple reactions in the absence of experimental data

Abstract A procedure for determining the joint uncertainty of Arrhenius parameters across multiple combustion reactions of interest is demonstrated. This approach is capable of constructing the joint distribution of the Arrhenius parameters arising from the uncertain measurements performed in specific target experiments without having direct access to the underlying experimental data. The method involves constructing an ensemble of hypothetical data sets with summary statistics consistent with the available information reported by the experimentalists, followed by a fitting procedure that learns the structure of the joint parameter density across reactions using this consistent hypothetical data as evidence. The procedure is formalized in a Bayesian statistical framework, employing maximum-entropy and approximate Bayesian computation methods and utilizing efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques to explore data and parameter spaces in a nested algorithm. We demonstrate the application of the method in the context of experiments designed to measure the rates of selected chain reactions in the H2-O2 system and highlight the utility of this approach for revealing the critical correlations between the parameters within a single reaction and across reactions, as well as for maximizing consistency when utilizing rate parameter information in predictive combustion modeling of systems of interest.
A Structured Review Instrument Improves the Quality of Orthopaedic Journal Club.

Objective We asked the following questions: 1. Does the use of an structured review instrument (SRI) at journal club increase presentation quality, as measured objectively by a standardized evaluation rubric? 2. Does SRI use increase the time required to prepare for journal club? 3. Does SRI use positively impact presenter perceptions about confidence while presenting, satisfaction, and journal club effectiveness, as measured by postparticipation surveys? Design A prospective study was designed in which a grading rubric was developed to evaluate journal club presentations. The rubric was applied to 24 presentations at journal clubs prior to introduction of the SRI. An SRI was developed and distributed to journal club participants, who were instructed to use it to prepare for journal club. The grading rubric was then used to assess 25 post-SRI presentations and scores were compared between the pre- and post-SRI groups. Presentations occurred at either trauma, pediatrics, or spine subspecialty journal clubs. Participants were also surveyed regarding time requirements for preparation, perceptions of confidence while presenting, satisfaction, and perceptions of overall club effectiveness. Setting A single academic center with an orthopaedic surgery residency program. Participants Resident physicians in the department of orthopaedic surgery. Results Mean presentation scores increased from 14.0 ± 5.9 (mean ± standard deviation) to 24.4 ± 5.2 after introduction of the SRI (p Conclusions The use of a structured review instrument to guide presentations at orthopaedic journal club increased presentation quality, and there was no difference in preparation time. There were trends toward improved presenter confidence, satisfaction, and perception of journal club effectiveness. SRI utilization at orthopaedic journal club may be an effective method for increasing the quality of journal club presentations. Future work should examine the relationship between presentation quality and overall club effectiveness.
710 V Breakdown Voltage in Field Plated Ga203 MOSFET

FJ-Gallium oxide (Ga203) is an increasingly attractive choice for next generation power electronics applications due to its high Baliga's figure of merit (BFoM) and mature bulk substrate growth technologies. Recent experiments have shown its great potential as the next generation power semiconductor. There have been reports on MOSFETs with breakdown of750 V[l], large on current densities exceeding 1.5 A/mm [2], and enhancement mode operation by interface state modulation [3]. In order to increase the breakdown voltage of Ga203 MOSFETs, the electric field needs to be reduced in the gate oxide and air near the gate-drain region; breakdown could occur in these regions before the intrinsic Ga203 breakdown in the channel. In this report, we design a composite ALD/PECVD field plate to increase the breakdown voltage of Ga203 MOSFETs achieving a maximum breakdown voltage of 710 V. The comparison between field plate and non-field plate devices suggest breakdown outside the channel and field plate oxide region, indicating the channel is still far from breakdown condition.
Advanced Qualification Training: A Study Of Implementation of Crm into Airline Training

The emphasis in training pilots on today's aircraft is placed on preparing the crew to interact with each other and to recognize any problem that may occur long before such a problem becomes a flight hazard. The training that is necessary to do this is called Crew Resource Management (CRM). Although CRM has been used by the airlines for about the past ten years, no integrated training among the airlines has been formulated until recently. Recent pressure from outside sources has prompted the FAA to initiate action to formalize CRM training in the airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) established Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 58, which created the Advanced Qualification Program (AQP) (Federal Aviation Administration, 1990). This allowed the airlines to develop their own training program which incorporates CRM and Line Operational Simulations (LOS). LOS utilizes simulator training using a typical operational passenger flight scenario, in a controlled training environment. It is designed to improve cockpit/cabin communication and coordination skills, and pilot decisionmaking skills (Federal Aviation Administration, 1995).
Population pharmacokinetics of low dose suramin as a chemosensitizer in pet dogs with naturally occurring tumors

2003 Suramin is an inhibitor of multiple growth factors including fibroblast growth factors. Our preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies showed that suramin reversed FGF-induced chemoresistance in a narrow therapeutic range from ∼ 10-50 μM, with antagonism at higher concentrations. Suramin is currently under investigation in a Phase II trial as a chemosensitizer in human non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with standard chemotherapy (paclitaxel plus carboplatin). A separate phase I/II trial evaluates the effectiveness of low dose suramin in pet dogs with naturally occurring tumors. The present study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of suramin in dogs, in order to identify the target suramin dose, in combination with chemotherapy. Eighteen dogs with late stage carcinoma, hemangiopericytoma, hemangiosarcoma or lymphoma were treated with suramin in combination with doxorubicin, receiving a total of 53 courses. Suramin was given at a fixed dose of 6.75 mg/kg as a 20-min infusion, and doxorubicin was given 3 hr later as 20-30 min infusion at a dose of 30 mg/m2 (or 1 mg/kg for body weight below 15 kg). The suramin pharmacokinetic data were analyzed using a nonlinear mixed-effect model (NONMEM) with a one-compartment model. The physiological parameters evaluated were age, body weight, body surface area (BSA), and gender. PBPK analysis of data obtained from 13 patients who received more than one treatment showed significant correlations between suramin clearance (CL) and BSA, CL and body weight, and volume of distribution (V) and BSA. Incorporation of the remaining covariates into the model did not significantly improve the model performance. These results led to a BSA-based suramin dose calculation method for individual patients, thereby eliminating the need of real-time pharmacokinetic monitoring for the use of low dose suramin as a chemosensitizer. Supported by R01CA 91457 and R01CA78577, NCI, NIH.
Nonlinear characterization of silica and chalcogenide microresonators

Microresonators offer an attractive combination of high quality factors and small optical mode volume. They have emerged as a unique platform for the study of fundamental physics and for applications ranging from exquisite sensors to miniature optical combs. Characterizing the linear and nonlinear properties of a microresonator is the first step toward new applications. Here, we present a novel in situ method to measure the nonlinear refractive index and absorption coefficient in microresonators. Laser-scanned transmission spectra are fitted by a comprehensive theoretical model that includes the thermo-optic effect, Kerr effect, and back-coupling of counter-propagating modes. The effectiveness of our technique is demonstrated by evaluating the nonlinear indices and optical absorption of silica and chalcogenide (As2S3) microspheres at 1.55 μm. Significantly, our method also quantifies important parameters including the quality factor, thermal relaxation time, and back-coupling coefficient at the same time. Our findings provide a powerful new approach for characterization of microresonators and optical materials and pave the way for new opportunities in the area.
Nudge Users to Healthier Decisions: A Design Approach to Encounter Misinformation in Health Forums

Health websites have increasingly become one of the main sources of health information for people around the world. Although health-seekers potentially benefit from these sources, misinformation in health forums significantly misleads people. We hypothesize that nudging users to think critically about the information might be an effective approach to encounter with effects of misinformation on their’ health. To this end, we applied elaboration-likelihood-model (ELM) in web design to explore how central and peripheral cues influence on information evaluation and eye-movement data. The results show that providing central cues such as trusted links and discussion threads encourage the participants to look at the information with more critical thinking compared to the peripheral cues such as number of stars and likes. Similarly, fixation duration and time spent in each scenario confirmed that users engaged in higher level of cognitive processing and critical thinking when central cues are dominated ELM initiators.
1.5-Million Q-Factor Vacuum-Packaged Birdbath Resonator Gyroscope (BRG)

We report a vacuum-packaged fused-silica (FS) micro birdbath shell resonator gyroscope (BRG) with near-navigation-grade in-run (evaluation duration $ day) bias stability of 0.0103 deg/h (at room temperature without temperature stabilization). The BRG utilizes a 5mm diameter birdbath (BB) resonator with $n=2$ wineglass mode $f=10.5436\ \mathrm{kHz}$ and original frequency split $(\Delta f)=6\ \text{Hz}$ :. The BRG is encapsulated in an LCC package and has an excellent $Q$ (1.54 million) and decay time constant $(r=46\ \mathrm{s})$ after near mode matching. The performance is believed to be limited by the noise from readout-and-control circuitry. The bias stability of this device is among the best reported values for micro-scale vibratory gyroscopes today.
Capacitor Voltage Balancing for Neutral Point Clamped Dual Active Bridge Converters

A capacitor voltage balancing method is proposed for a full-bridge neutral point diode clamped (NPC) dual-active bridge (DAB) converter. In existing literature, capacitor voltage balancing is achieved by actively selecting between the small voltage vectors, i.e., connecting either the upper or the lower capacitor on the dc bus to the transformer winding, on the basis of measured voltage mismatch. These balancing methods are dependent on the direction of power flow through the DAB converter. In this work, we propose a voltage balancing controller, which is independent of power flow direction and does not require adjustments of active voltage vectors through the modulator. Irrespective of the direction of transformer current, by dynamically shifting the switching instants of the inner switch pairs in the two NPC legs during the free-wheeling/zero voltage vector time, either of the two capacitors can be selectively charged without introducing any offsets in the voltage-second seen by the transformer. A simple bidirectional phase-shift modulator is designed to facilitate voltage balancing irrespective of power flow direction or mode of operation. The proposed method is highly and universally effective under any converter operating condition and was verified and demonstrated through analysis, simulation, and hardware experiments using a laboratory prototype.
Aspergillus fumigatus Protease Alkaline Protease 1 (Alp1): A New Therapeutic Target for Fungal Asthma

We review three recent findings that have fundamentally altered our understanding of causative mechanisms underlying fungal-related asthma. These mechanisms may be partially independent of host inflammatory processes but are strongly dependent upon the actions of Alp1 on lung structural cells. They entail (i) bronchial epithelial sensing of Alp1; (ii) Alp1-induced airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction; (iii) Alp1-induced airflow obstruction. Collectively, these mechanisms point to Alp1 as a new target for intervention in fungal asthma.
Learn Regex: A Novel Tool for Learning Regular Expressions

Despite the importance of regular expressions (RE), the topic is often given scant attention. This work-in-progress describes Learn Regex (LR), a web-based app designed to teach RE. In a gamified atmosphere with a comic book aesthetic that is deliberately inclusive, learners will be able to master RE in a manner that leverages key insights into how students best learn.
The use of combined endoscopy in a UK paediatric aerodigestive program

Introduction: The aerodigestive program at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, UK is a multi-disciplinary approach focused on the interplay between airway, lung and digestive disorders in complex children, involving collaboration between physicians in both clinic and theatre settings. Objective: To assess the indications and outcomes of combined endoscopies in assessment of children with aerodigestive disorders. Methods: A convenience sample of 79 children referred in the last 3 years to our service for investigation who were assessed with microlaryngealtracheobronchoscopy (MLTB), flexible bronchoscopy and oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD) in various combinations depending on the indication. Data was collected from theatre notes and was analysed retrospectively. Indications and outcomes were categorised and quantified. Results: 14 (18%) patients were assessed with joint scopes to assess the risk of aspiration resulting from neurodisability. 16 (20%) patients were investigated due to dysphagia/choking episodes/cyanotic episodes. Chronic cough was the most common indication in 30 (38%), 19 patients to rule out concomitant gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and in another 11 patients to rule out an airway anomaly. 15 (19%) patients were referred due to suspicion of an obstructive breathing pattern (OSA/stridor). 37/79 (47%) patients had positive findings on more than one scope. Of the patients that had all 3 procedures, 6/20 patients had positive findings on all 3 scopes. Conclusion: In our experience combining endoscopic procedures after an MDT discussion can identify help clarify and identify multiple co-existing pathologies without patients having to undergo multiple general anaesthetics.
Measuring the Economic Costs of Terrorism

The paper surveys the various economic costs associated with terrorism. Particularly important is the distinction between the direct and the indirect costs. While many terrorist attacks cause substantial amounts of property damage and create casualties, most of the costs associated with terrorism involve the indirect costs. Although terrorism can reduce a nation’s overall growth rate, the costs of terrorism are concentrated in a few key sectors. In particular, the transportation and tourism sectors, the financial markets, and the amount of foreign direct investment in a country are especially responsive to terrorist attacks. The costs of possible chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) attacks are difficult to estimate precisely. However, some attack modes are more likely than others. A radiological attack in New York City could have direct costs of roughly the same magnitude as the 9/11 attacks.
Force correcting atom centred potentials for generalised gradient approximated density functional theory: Approaching hybrid functional accuracy for geometries and harmonic frequencies in small chlorofluorocarbons

Generalised gradient approximated (GGA) density functional theory (DFT) typically overestimates polarisability and bond-lengths, and underestimates force constants of covalent bonds. To overcome this problem we show that one can use empirical force correcting atom centred potentials (FCACPs), parametrised for every nuclear species. Parameters are obtained through minimisation of a penalty functional that explicitly encodes hybrid DFT forces and static polarisabilities of reference molecules. For hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine and carbon the respective reference molecules consist of H2, F2, Cl2 and CH4. The transferability of this approach is assessed for harmonic frequencies in a small set of chlorofluorocarbon molecules. Numerical evidence, gathered for CF4, CCl4, CCl3F, CCl2F2, CClF3, ClF, HF, HCl, CFH3, CF2H2, CF3H, CHCl3, CH2Cl2 and CH3Cl indicates that the GGA+FCACP level of theory yields harmonic frequencies that are significantly more consistent with hybrid DFT values, as well as slightly reduced mol...
Reliability and critical differences for an implementation of the coordinate response measure in speech-shaped noise

This study established test-retest reliability and critical differences for an implementation of the coordinate response measure (CRM) for the purpose of detecting significant changes in task performance. In normal-hearing adults, speech stimuli were presented monaurally at 50 dB sound pressure level in speech-shaped noise at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of –12, –9, and –6 dB. Two runs were obtained. Intrasubject and intersubject variability were examined. Performance increased significantly with increasing SNR and in the second run. High variability was observed at each SNR. Critical differences indicated that only large changes in performance would be significant for the CRM as implemented in this study.
Interfacial Response and Structural Adaptation of Structured Polyelectrolyte Thin Films

Ionizable block copolymers with distinctive block characteristics display the diversity crucial for the design of macromolecules for targeted applications. In contrast to van der Waals copolymers, ...
Association of Neighborhood Gun Violence With Mental Health-Related Pediatric Emergency Department Utilization.

Importance Many children and adolescents in the United States are exposed to neighborhood gun violence. Associations between violence exposure and children’s short-term mental health are not well understood. Objective To examine the association between neighborhood gun violence and subsequent mental health–related pediatric emergency department (ED) utilization. Design, Setting, and Participants This location-based cross-sectional study included 128 683 ED encounters for children aged 0 to 19 years living in 12 zip codes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who presented to an urban academic pediatric ED from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018. Children were included if they (1) had 1 or more ED visits in the 60 days before or after a neighborhood shooting and (2) lived within a quarter-mile radius of the location where this shooting occurred. Analysis began August 2020 and ended May 2021. Exposure Neighborhood violence exposure, as measured by whether a patient resided near 1 or more episodes of police-reported gun violence. Main Outcomes and Measures ED encounters for a mental health–related chief complaint or primary diagnosis. Results A total of 2629 people were shot in the study area between 2014 and 2018, and 54 341 children living nearby had 1 or more ED visits within 60 days of a shooting. The majority of these children were Black (45 946 [84.5%]) and were insured by Medicaid (42 480 [78.1%]). After adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, median household income by zip code, and insurance, children residing within one-eighth of a mile (2-3 blocks) of a shooting had greater odds of mental health–related ED presentations in the subsequent 14 days (adjusted odds ratio, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.20-2.88]), 30 days (adjusted odds ratio, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.11-2.03]), and 60 days (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.06-1.72]). Conclusions and Relevance Exposure to neighborhood gun violence is associated with an increase in children’s acute mental health symptoms. City health departments and pediatric health care systems should work together to provide community-based support for children and families exposed to violence and trauma-informed care for the subset of these children who subsequently present to the ED. Policies aimed at reducing children’s exposure to neighborhood gun violence and mitigating the mental symptoms associated with gun violence exposure must be a public health priority.
A call for research on immigrant and refugee youth amidst the global rise in xenophobia and nationalism

Abstract This article describes global shifts in migration and population demography and the simultaneous increase in nationalism and xenophobia. The literature lays out a need for more research examining how young people from immigrant or refugee backgrounds are being affected by contemporary trends in nationalism and xenophobia across diverse national contexts. This article concludes with an overview of five papers addressing the topic in the special section.
Problems: Transmission Line Parameters

In this chapter, the problems concerning with transmission line parameters are presented. The subjects include the Geometrical Mean Distance (GMD) and Geometrical Mean Radius (GMR) of conductors and the inductance and capacitance of single-phase and three-phase transmission lines bundled with a variety of arrangements. In this chapter, the problems are categorized in different levels based on their difficulty levels (easy, normal, and hard) and calculation amounts (small, normal, and large). Additionally, the problems are ordered from the easiest problem with the smallest computations to the most difficult problems with the largest calculations.
The Death Penalty: Is It Fixable?

There is growing support in theis country for a moratorium on the death penalty until the problems associated with it have been "fixed." This article argues that the death penalty cannot be "fixed," primarily because there is too much racism and because of the inevitability of mistakes. The author believes that the moratorium movement will legitimize the death penalty and make its ultimate abolition difficult. Rather, the author believes that those concerned with the manner in which the death penalty is adminstered should work only towards its abolition.
Field Testing of Test Items and Tasks

No matter how carefully they are crafted, test items and tasks need to be tried out and evaluated before they are used on operational tests (i.e., before they “count”). One reason such trials are necessary is to ensure that items and tasks function as intended (e.g., for items, the difficulty levels are appropriate and there is no apparent bias; for subjectively scored tasks, inter-rater agreement is acceptably high). However, field testing is also essential for establishing the statistical properties that are used in the selection of items for test assembly (and the generation of multiple forms of the same test) and in the formulas applied for scoring. Furthermore, information obtained through field testing crucially supports multiple aspects of test development and validation, as well as related activities such as norming, standard setting, and linking (e.g., equating and calibration). To do all of this, test developers need good data—data they can “trust.” This means that items and tasks have to be tried out under conditions that resemble “real” testing conditions as closely as possible, ideally with examinees who are strongly representative of the target population and similarly motivated, all of which are matters that pose significant challenges to test developers. This chapter begins with definitions of field testing and related terms and then provides a general overview of what is learned by trying out items and tasks in the various stages of test development. Next is a section that explains how field-testing data are used to establish norms (frequencies for score ranges for various subgroups) and cut points (passing scores). That presentation is followed by an examination of special concerns with large-scale testing programs. The latter section includes a discussion of standalone and embedded field test designs and an explanation of how the choice of field testing methods is related to both the intended use of the information and the characteristics of the testing program under consideration. The chapter concludes with a summary of the ways in which sound field-testing practices are crucial for high stakes testing programs and their associated “validity arguments.” Keywords: Assessment evaluation; Assessment methods; Ethics