cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relating Diffusion Couple Experiment Results to Observed As-Fabricated Microstructures in Low-Enriched U-10wt.% Mo Monolithic Fuel Plates

Monolithic fuel system with U – 10 wt.% Mo (U10Mo) fuel alloy has been developed for the Materials Management and Minimization reactor conversion program to replace highly-enriched fuels in research and test reactors with low-enriched fuels. Interdiffusion and phase transformations in the system constituents, i.e., U10Mo fuel, AA6061 cladding, and Zr diffusion barrier, have been investigated using fuel plates fabricated via rolling and hot-isostatic pressing. Diffusion couples, utilizing the constituents of the fuel system were also carried out to help understand the findings from fuel plates based on phase equilibria and diffusion kinetics. Findings from both fuel plates and diffusion couples can provide a comprehensive knowledge to assess, model, and predict the performance of monolithic low-enriched fuel system from fabrication to irradiation. This paper summarizes the experimental results reported from characterization of the fuel plates and diffusion couples with emphasis on interactions at the fuel-cladding, fuel-diffusion barrier, cladding-diffusion barrier, and cladding-cladding interfaces. Constituent phases and relevant diffusion kinetics are compared and contrasted, taking into account differences in thermodynamics and kinetics variables such as pressure, temperature, and cooling rate.
Integrated Moral Conviction Theory of Student Cheating: An Empirical Test.

In this article, we develop an integrated moral conviction theory of student cheating by integrating moral conviction with (a) the dual-process model of Hunt–Vitell’s theory that gives primacy to individual ethical philosophies when moral judgments are made and (b) the social cognitive conceptualization that gives primacy to moral identity. We found empirical support for our proposed model in a study with 311 business students where moral conviction predicted student moral disengagement and subsequent unethical decision making related to academic dishonesty not only directly but also indirectly through ethical philosophy and moral identity. Based on these results, we derive specific implications for teaching and learning practice.
Experimental investigation of initial deployment of inflatable structures for sealing of rail tunnels

Abstract Large-scale inflatable structures have become a viable alternative for sealing segments of large-diameter conduits or rail transit tunnel sections for preventing propagation of flooding, noxious gasses or smoke. In such applications, the inflatable structure is prepared for placement, either permanently or temporally, and maintained ready for deployment, inflation, and pressurization when needed. The sealing effectiveness depends on the ability of the inflatable structure to self-deploy and fit, without human intervention, to the intricacies of the perimeter of the conduit being sealed. This work presents results of experimental work performed for the evaluation of initial deployment and inflation of a prototype inflatable structure installed in a rail transit tunnel segment for containment of flooding. Folding and packing procedures necessary to prepare and install a full-scale inflatable in the tunnel segment are described. Methods for evaluation of conformity and degree of contact of the membrane with the tunnel section are implemented as well. Test results indicate that a successful distribution of the membrane material over the tunnel perimeter is achieved by a combination of gradual unrolling and controlled membrane release. The membrane distribution during the initial unfolding and inflation, the shape of transitions at corners and angles in the tunnel perimeter; the oversizing of membrane material in the hoop perimeter of the inflatable, as well as the surface texture of the membrane, were identified as main factors that affect the level of conformity and degree contact between the inflatable structure and the tunnel perimeter.
The History of Acetal Homopolymer

The Du Pont Company offered the first commercial acetal homopolymer, a high molecular weight polymer with a molecular structure of repeating carbon-oxygen links, under the trademark Delrin® acetal resin in January 1960. The commercialization of Delrin® followed 10 years of chemical research and development stimulated by work with pure monomeric formaldehyde and an improved polyformaldehyde made by polymerization in a nonsolvent.
Endocrine Therapy Initiation among Older Women with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.

Background. Although treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is controversial, national guidelines recommend considering endocrine therapy for women with estrogen receptor- (ER-) positive DCIS or those undergoing breast conserving surgery (BCS) without radiation. We evaluated uptake and predictors of endocrine therapy use among older women with DCIS. Methods. In the SEER-Medicare database, we identified women aged 65
Correlation of the coercive field and reduced layer thickness in piezoelectric RAINBOW ceramics

RAINBOWs are a relatively new type of high-displacement, piezoelectric actuator produced by selectively removing oxygen from one side of a lead-containing ceramic using a high-temperature chemical reduction process. This process yields devices which contain a piezoelectric layer and a metallic layer (i.e., the reduced layer). In this study, piezoelectric RAINBOW actuators with reduced layer-to-total-thickness ratios ranging from 0.05 to 0.8 were produced from five soft-piezoelectric formulations. The ferroelectric hysteresis properties of each specimen were then measured while taking the total thickness of the device to be ferroelectric. Because of this assumption and the metallic nature of the reduced layer, the resulting coercive field measurements were found to correlate strongly with the thickness of the piezoelectric portion of each device. A simple, non-destructive method for estimating the reduced layer thickness in RAINBOW ceramics was devised based on this relationship.
Hierarchical recognition of amino acid co-germinants during Clostridioides difficile spore germination

Bile acids are an important signal for germination of Clostridioides difficile spores; however, the bile acid signal alone is not sufficient. Amino acids, such as glycine, are another signal necessary for germination by C. difficile spores. Prior studies on the amino acid signal required for germination have shown that there is a preference for the amino acid used as a signal for germination. Previously we found that d-alanine can function as a co-germinant for C. difficile spores at 37 °C but not at 25 °C. Here, we tested the ability of other amino acids to act as co-germinants with taurocholate (TA) at 37 °C and found that many amino acids previously categorized as non-co-germinants are co-germinants at 37 °C. Based on the EC50 values calculated for two different strains, we found that C. difficile spores recognize different amino acids with varying efficiencies. Using this data, we ranked the amino acids based on their effect on germination and found that in addition to d-alanine, other D-forms of amino acids are also used by C. difficile spores as co-germinants. Among the different types of amino acids, ones with branched chains such as valine, leucine, and isoleucine are the poorest co-germinants. However, glycine is still the most effective amino acid signal for both strains. Our results suggest that the yet-to-be-identified amino acid germinant receptor is highly promiscuous.
Concatenated finite geometry and finite field LDPC codes

This paper presents two types of concatenated finite-geometry and finite-field LDPC codes which have the distinct features of both finite geometry and finite field LDPC codes, such as large minimum distances, no small trapping sets, fast decoding convergence, capable of correcting both random errors and bursts of erasures, flexibility in code construction, cyclic and quasi-cyclic structures. It is shown that these concatenated codes are globally coupled LDPC codes and they perform well over the AWGN and binary erasure channels with a two-phase iterative decoding scheme.
Multivariate directed connectivity analysis (MDCA) enables decoding of directed interactions in neural and social networks

Many scientific fields currently face the daunting task of studying the dynamics of complex networks. For example, while we know that the rich mental phenomena of humans and other animals are mediated by complex systems of neural circuits in the brain, the mechanistic links between these biological networks and the functions that they mediate are poorly understood. Here we present a novel class of methods, termed multivariate directed connectivity analysis, to investigate network dynamics via patterns of directed interactions between network nodes. We validate these methods using simulated data and apply them to three real-world datasets, two neuroscientific and one investigating the 2016 US presidential candidates' influence on the social media service Twitter. We find that these methods enable novel understanding of how information processing is distributed across networks. The methods are generally applicable to the study of dynamic information networks in biological, computational, and other fields of research.
Towards generating textual summaries of graphs.

For people who use text-based web browsers, graphs, diagrams, and pictures are inaccessible. Yet, such diagrams are quite prominent in documents commonly found on the web. In this work we describe a method for rendering important aspects of a line graph as plain text. Our method relies heavily on research in natural language generation and is motivated by an analysis of human-written descriptions of line graphs. In this paper we concentrate on determining which aspects of the line graph to include in a summary.
Abstract B73: Pleiotrophin drives a pro-malignant macrophage phenotype in preclinical models of breast cancer

Tumor-associated macrophages promote progression to malignancy, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy in breast and pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, macrophage recruitment in tumors correlates with a worse prognosis in breast cancer patients. The phenotype of tumor associated macrophages is influenced by many factors, including the cytokine milieu within the tumor. We have identified a population of macrophages in genetic models of breast cancer that express Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (Vegfr2). Using flow cytometry and immunohistochemical analyses, we found that this population is enriched for markers associated with macrophages that promote angiogenesis, immune suppression, and metastasis. In vitro, we identified the heparin-binding peptide, pleiotrophin (PTN), as a candidate cytokine that induces Vegfr2 and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression by macrophages. Additionally, we found that PTN-stimulated macrophages can greatly increase cancer cell migration in vitro. In the MMTV-PyMT transgenic murine model of breast cancer, we observed that expression of PTN correlates with levels of Vegfr2+ macrophages and progression to malignancy. Crizotinib, an inhibitor of the pleiotrophin receptor, Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase, reduced anti-inflammatory and Vegfr2+ macrophages in vivo. This decrease was concomitant with a significant reduction in pulmonary metastasis. This finding was corroborated by the use of 3B10, a neutralizing pleiotrophin monoclonal antibody. The potential impact of this work includes identifying a novel biomarker of promalignant macrophages, a therapeutic strategy to target them, and developing a deeper understanding of the function of macrophages in metastasis. Citation Format: Noah Sorrelle, Kristi D. Lynn, Adrian TA Dominguez, Eric Berens, Jason E. Toombs, Anton Wellstein, Rolf A. Brekken. Pleiotrophin drives a pro-malignant macrophage phenotype in preclinical models of breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2017 Oct 1-4; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2018;6(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B73.
First-Year, Nontraditional Student Retention at Four-Year Institutions: How Predictors of Attrition Vary Across Time:

This study examined the longitudinal persistence behavior of first-time, nontraditionally aged students at four-year institutions by leveraging the 2004 to 2009 Beginning Postsecondary Student data...
An Integrated Approach for Educating the Marine Forces Reserve Inspector-Instructor Cadre

This paper describes the application of a systems engineering approach to combine live instruction, web-based learning, and scenario methodologies into a unique curriculum design. This innovative instructional design serves a large, greatly distributed organization with a high turnover rate, which demands an adaptive program. By following a systems engineering model, the authors outline the evolution of an integrated system to educate the Marine Forces Reserve Inspector-Instructor cadre who minister the Marine credo and expertise to reserve units. These active duty professionals often have no, or limited experience with Marine Reservists or policies. An annual orientation conference was the lone organizational education event that prepared new cadre before reporting to their assigned units. The Marine Forces Reserve leadership judged the preparation of I-I cadre as insufficient for the challenges that can emerge in a reserve assignment. For the past four years, the Naval Postgraduate School and the Marine Reserves have seamlessly fused online education, formal lectures, and scenario techniques as a sustained transfer of information and knowledge that cadre can reference throughout their tenure with reserve units. The systems engineering process that brought these different techniques together presents a formula for creating new instructional designs for similar audiences and conditions.
Development of Substrate Degradation Enzyme Therapy for Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA Murine Model.

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA) is caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS). Conventional enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is approved for MPS IVA. However, the fact that the infused enzyme cannot penetrate avascular lesions in cartilage leads to minimal impact on the bone lesion. Moreover, short half-life, high cost, instability, and narrow optimal pH range remain unmet challenges in ERT. Thermostable keratanase, endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, has a unique character of a wide optimal pH range of pH 5.0–7.0. We hypothesized that this endoglycosidase degrades keratan sulfate (KS) polymer in circulating blood and, therefore, ameliorates the accumulation of KS in multiple tissues. We propose a novel approach, Substrate Degradation Enzyme Therapy (SDET), to treat bone lesion of MPS IVA. We assessed the effect of thermostable keratanase on blood KS level and bone pathology using Galns knock-out MPS IVA mice. After a single administration of 2 U/kg (= 0.2 mg/kg) of the enzyme at 8 weeks of age via intravenous injection, the level of serum KS was significantly decreased to normal range level, and this suppression was maintained for at least 4 weeks. We administered 2 U/kg of the enzyme to MPS IVA mice every fourth week for 12 weeks (total of 3 times) at newborns or 8 weeks of age. After a third injection, serum mono-sulfated KS levels were kept low for 4 weeks, similar to that in control mice, and at 12 weeks, bone pathology was markedly improved when SDET started at newborns, compared with untreated MPS IVA mice. Overall, thermostable keratanase reduces the level of KS in blood and provides a positive impact on cartilage lesions, demonstrating that SDET is a novel therapeutic approach to MPS IVA.
Evaluation of potential sources of sauger Sander canadensis for reintroduction into Lake Erie

Abstract Sauger (Sander canadensis) supported recreational and commercial fisheries in Lake Erie until the fishery collapsed in the early-1950s, with extirpation of sauger occurring soon after. Previous attempts to rebuild populations via stocking programs were unsuccessful, and the reasons for lack of success are unclear. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife is re-examining the feasibility of reintroducing sauger because the current fish community and habitat conditions appear more suitable for sauger survival and proliferation. Selecting potential sources for reintroduction programs requires consideration of several factors. Donor and recipient ecosystems and life histories should be similar, the source population should have sufficient genetic diversity to withstand losses in diversity associated with hatchery practices, and the source and donor populations should have similar genetic diversity metrics and should be accessible while broodstock is developed. A review of the literature and a genetic analysis of historical sauger collections from Lake Erie and contemporary samples from possible donor populations in five different watersheds was performed to evaluate potential candidate sources for a re-introduction program. We compared genetic diversity, life history parameters, and ecosystem conditions of historical Lake Erie sauger to contemporary sauger populations from the Ohio River (Bellville, Meldahl, and New Cumberland pools), Missouri River, Ottawa River, Lake of the Woods, and Lake Winnebago. While life history and ecological conditions were similar across populations, there was genetic differentiation among potential donor sources and historical collections of sauger from Lake Erie, with contemporary populations from the Ohio River being most like historic Lake Erie sauger.
Fiber-based instrument for simultaneous exogenous fluorescence and endogenous fluorescence lifetime imaging of engineered vascular tissue (Conference Presentation)

Endogenous and exogenous fluorescence imaging have shown great values for monitoring and studying all kind of biological processes including vascular tissue regeneration and disease progression. In this study, we present a fiber-based optical imaging instrument that is able to simultaneously acquire endogenous and exogenous fluorescence images from tissue samples using a reflective optical chopper wheel to temporally interleave the two modalities. The functionality of the system was demonstrated by imaging native tissue constructs seeded with cells labeled with different dyes. The cellular regions were clearly resolved in both modalities, providing an exogenous and in-situ validation for endogenous fluorescence lifetime images.
The North Carolina State University Rabbit Radar: Build a Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave Radar in a Day [Application Notes]

i»?We present the design and hand fabrication of a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar that teaches practicing engineers and students the fundamentals of radar theory, microwave systems, and component design. The fabrication can be done by hand-cutting simple shapes of foil with a knife or by cutting more complex shapes of foil with a 2D cutter from a hobby store [1]. We provide a brief overview of the theory of operation for the FMCW system and each component used. We then describe the design procedure for each component along with experimental results from the fabricated components. The frequency of operation was chosen to be 925 MHz, or around 1 GHz. This decision was made for multiple reasons. First, the frequency is within an Industry, Science, and Medicine (ISM) band. Second, this enabled easy fabrication of microwave transmission-line circuits (m/4 is roughly 40 mm) and reasonably easy hand-soldering of discrete components for termination and amplifier biasing. Operation at the 2.4-GHz ISM band for non-North American applications is a simple shift of frequency in the design targets, but the theory remains the same.
Frequency and Power Measurements on the Harmonic Recirculating Planar Magnetron

The harmonic recirculating planar magnetron (HRPM) is a frequency-agile, multispectral HPM source. The HRPM implements an $L$ -band oscillator (LBO) and an $S$ -band oscillator (SBO) near 1 and 2 GHz, respectively. The novel coaxial-all-cavity-extraction (CACE) method was implemented to extract power from the SBO. The two oscillators demonstrated harmonic frequency locking, where the SBO frequency locked to the LBO second harmonic frequency. The two oscillators are concluded to operate as a damped, driven, harmonic oscillator system. In the locked state, the LBO acts as the driving oscillator, the SBO acts as the driven oscillator, and the coupling mechanism between the two oscillators is the harmonic content in the electron spokes as they propagate directly from the LBO to the adjacent SBO. The two primary variables studied in this system are the LBO harmonic frequency and the SBO quality factor, $Q$ . In isolated SBO experiments, the dominant operating state of the magnetron was the $5\pi $ /6 mode. However, when operated in tandem with the LBO, the SBO was forced to operate in the $\pi $ -mode. Output powers in HRPM experiments generated SBO powers of 9.5 ± 1.4 MW at high $Q$ , 19 ± 6 MW at moderate $Q$ , and 28 ± 9 MW at low $Q$ . Output powers in the isolated SBO configuration were not significantly different from the HRPM. By experimentally manipulating the hub drift direction and altering the evolution of harmonic content received by the SBO, the locked state was significantly diminished, suggesting that the beam spokes play a crucial role.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Driven Wireless Body Area Networks: Challenges and Directions

Significant growth of internet applications in recent years has raised a lot of challenges to networks. One of the important applications is smart and connected health (SCH), which utilizes sensing, communication networks and artificial intelligent (AI) techniques to offer healthcare services to the users. In SCH applications, Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) consisting of a group of Lightweight and wearable devices designed for use within the proximity of the human body, is a key infrastructure. In this short paper, we discussed the possibility of exploring AI techniques for WBANs to improve network performance and enhance health services. In addition, we present the literature review of AI driven networks for SCH, its related challenges and future directions.
Synaptopodin Is Dispensable for Normal Podocyte Homeostasis but Is Protective in the Context of Acute Podocyte Injury.

Background Synaptopodin (Synpo) is an actin-associated protein in podocytes and dendritic spines. Many functions in regulating the actin cytoskeleton via RhoA and other pathways have been ascribed to Synpo, yet no pathogenic mutations in the SYNPO gene have been discovered in patients. Naturally occurring Synpo isoforms are known (Synpo-short and -long), and a novel truncated version (Synpo-T) is upregulated in podocytes from Synpo mutant mice. Synpo-T maintains some Synpo functions, which may prevent a podocyte phenotype from emerging in unchallenged mutant mice. Methods Novel mouse models were generated to further investigate the functions of Synpo. In one, CRISPR/Cas9 deleted most of the Synpo gene, preventing production of any detectable Synpo protein. Two other mutant strains made truncated versions of the protein. Adriamycin injections were used to challenge the mice, and Synpo functions were investigated in primary cultured podocytes. Results Mice that could not make detectable Synpo (Synpo -/- ) did not develop any kidney abnormalities up to 12 months of age. However, Synpo -/- mice were more susceptible to Adriamycin nephropathy. In cultured primary podocytes from mutant mice, the absence of Synpo caused loss of stress fibers, increased the number and size of focal adhesions, and impaired cell migration. Furthermore, loss of Synpo led to decreased RhoA activity and increased Rac1 activation. Conclusions In contrast to previous findings, podocytes can function normally in vivo in the absence of any Synpo isoform. Synpo plays a protective role in the context of podocyte injury through its involvement in actin reorganization and focal adhesion dynamics.
A Structural Model of the Endogenous Human BAF Complex Informs Disease Mechanisms

Summary Mammalian SWI/SNF complexes are ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes that regulate genomic architecture. Here, we present a structural model of the endogenously purified human canonical BAF complex bound to the nucleosome, generated using cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM), cross-linking mass spectrometry, and homology modeling. BAF complexes bilaterally engage the nucleosome H2A/H2B acidic patch regions through the SMARCB1 C-terminal α-helix and the SMARCA4/2 C-terminal SnAc/post-SnAc regions, with disease-associated mutations in either causing attenuated chromatin remodeling activities. Further, we define changes in BAF complex architecture upon nucleosome engagement and compare the structural model of endogenous BAF to those of related SWI/SNF-family complexes. Finally, we assign and experimentally interrogate cancer-associated hot-spot mutations localizing within the endogenous human BAF complex, identifying those that disrupt BAF subunit-subunit and subunit-nucleosome interfaces in the nucleosome-bound conformation. Taken together, this integrative structural approach provides important biophysical foundations for understanding the mechanisms of BAF complex function in normal and disease states.
Basic Cardiovascular Anatomy

Comprehensive knowledge of the basic anatomy of the heart and great vessels is critical in understanding the pathological conditions of patients who come to surgery. Through this knowledge, the proposed surgical procedure can be more clearly understood. The cardiac anesthesia provider must correlate surgical anatomy with the planned surgical procedures. With this understanding, results of the intraoperative transesophageal echocardiographic examination will be more readily communicated with the surgeon.
A Robust Context-Based Deep Learning Approach for Highly Imbalanced Hyperspectral Classification.

Hyperspectral imaging is an area of active research with many applications in remote sensing, mineral exploration, and environmental monitoring. Deep learning and, in particular, convolution-based approaches are the current state-of-the-art classification models. However, in the presence of noisy hyperspectral datasets, these deep convolutional neural networks underperform. In this paper, we proposed a feature augmentation approach to increase noise resistance in imbalanced hyperspectral classification. Our method calculates context-based features, and it uses a deep convolutional neuronet (DCN). We tested our proposed approach on the Pavia datasets and compared three models, DCN, PCA + DCN, and our context-based DCN, using the original datasets and the datasets plus noise. Our experimental results show that DCN and PCA + DCN perform well on the original datasets but not on the noisy datasets. Our robust context-based DCN was able to outperform others in the presence of noise and was able to maintain a comparable classification accuracy on clean hyperspectral images.
CE: Monitoring Adult Patients for Intolerance to Gastric Tube Feedings.

ABSTRACT: Gastric tube feeding is a common and valuable intervention for patients in a variety of care settings. While tube feeding can save the lives of patients for whom oral feeding isn't possible, intolerance to tube feeding is a potential complication. This article discusses risk factors for feeding intolerance; the assessment of signs and symptoms of feeding intolerance; the various means of assessing gastric emptying, including the practice of monitoring gastric residual volume (GRV); the controversy surrounding GRV monitoring in assessing feeding tolerance; and the special considerations for monitoring feeding tolerance in acutely and critically ill adults with coronavirus disease 2019. The author, a nurse researcher with extensive experience in the area of enteral feeding, briefly summarizes recommendations and guidelines for enteral feeding published by national and international health care organizations between 2015 and 2020, and offers her perspective on best nursing practices for monitoring food tolerance in adults.
Morality and Institutional Detail in the Law of Torts: Reflections on Goldberg’s and Zipursky’s Recognizing Wrongs

In their brilliant and thought-provoking book Recognizing Wrongs, John Goldberg and Benjamin Zipursky offer a vindicatory interpretation of the law of torts. As part of this, they offer a justification for what they call the “principle of civil recourse.” This is the principle that “a person who enjoys a certain kind of legal right, and whose right has been violated by another, is entitled to enlist the state’s aid in enforcing that right, or to make demands in response to its violation, as against the person who has violated it.” To defend the principle of civil recourse, Goldberg and Zipursky appeal to three values: equality, fairness, and individual sovereignty. In this essay, we make two critical points. First, we argue that Goldberg’s and Zipursky’s defense errs by omitting a justificatory appeal to our moral rights and duties as part of the normative foundation of the tort law. Second, we argue that Goldberg’s and Zipursky’s arguments do not explain certain institutional features of the tort law, including the fact that legal duties of redress emerge only at the conclusion of court cases and the fact that lawsuits are opted int.o by tort victims who must initiate these actions themselves. To retain what is philosophically valuable in Goldberg’s and Zipursky’s impressive defense of the principle of civil recourse, we conclude with a strategic suggestion on their behalf: they should split their defense of the principle of civil recourse into two parts, with the first part justifying the existence of some institution of civil recourse or other and the second part justifying specific details that this institution should have.
Penerapan Strategi Pembelajaran Berbasis Masalah dalam Pendidikan Agama Kristen di Era Disrupsi

The disruption era is a condition that is closely related to changes in the industrial world from the previous system. This era brings major changes in various fields of life because of the presence of technology that makes it easier and at the same time shifts the role of humans. The result is felt in all fields, including Christian religious education. Machines have replaced human tasks in a variety of actions that have caused humans to no longer be a resource that needs to be valued and employed. Responding to this problem, Christian Religious Education must be present as a means of growing faith and the character of Christ which can be a guide in facing and solving any problems in everyday life, including problems that arise in the era of disruption. This study aims to examine the relevance of problem-based learning strategies applied in Christian Religious Education learning as an answer to problems that occur in the era of disruption. The method used in revealing the relevance is descriptive qualitative. The results of the study indicate that the application of problem-based learning strategies in Christian Religious Education is relevant, effective, and efficient in responding to the challenges and needs in the era of disruption. This is because students will be equipped with soft skills so that they are able to solve problems creatively and innovatively but still adhere to the character of Christ.
Topological Lattice Defects by Groupoid Methods and Kasparov's KK-Theory

The bulk-boundary and a new bulk-defect correspondence principles are formulated using groupoid algebras. The new strategy relies on the observation that the groupoids of lattices with boundaries or defects display spaces of units with invariant accumulation manifolds, hence they can be naturally split into disjoint unions of open and closed invariant sub-sets. This leads to standard exact sequences of groupoid C*-algebras that can be used to associate a Kasparov element to a lattice defect and to formulate an extremely general bulk-defect correspondence principle. As an application, we establish a correspondence between topological defects of a 2-dimensional square lattice and Kasparov's group $KK1 (C*(Z^3),C)$. Numerical examples of non-trivial bulk-defect correspondences are supplied.
Positive definite functions of noncommuting contractions, Hua-Bellman matrices, and a new distance metric.

We study positive definite functions on noncommuting strict contractions. In particular, we study functions that induce positive definite Hua-Bellman matrices (i.e., matrices of the form $[\det(I-A_i^*A_j)^{-\alpha}]_{ij}$ where $A_i$ and $A_j$ are strict contractions and $\alpha\in\mathbb{C}$). We start by revisiting a 1959 work of \citeauthor{bellman1959} (R.~Bellman~\emph{Representation theorems and inequalities for Hermitian matrices}; Duke Mathematical J., 26(3), 1959) that studies Hua-Bellman matrices and claims a strengthening of \citeauthor{hua1955}'s representation theoretic results on their positive definiteness~(L.-K. Hua, \emph{Inequalities involving determinants}; Acta Mathematica Sinica, 5(1955), pp.~463--470). We uncover a critical error in Bellman's proof that has surprisingly escaped notice to date. We "fix" this error and provide conditions under which $\det(I-A^*B)^{-\alpha}$ is a positive definite function; our conditions correct Bellman's claim and subsume both Bellman's and Hua's prior results. Subsequently, we build on our result and introduce a new hyperbolic-like geometry on noncommuting contractions, and remark on its potential applications.
Dark Dyes–Bright Complexes: Fluorogenic Protein Labeling

Complexes formed between organic dyes and genetically encoded proteins combine the advantages of stable and tunable fluorescent molecules and targetable, biologically integrated labels. To overcome the challenges imposed by labeling with bright fluorescent dyes, a number of approaches now exploit chemical or environmental changes to control the properties of a bound dye, converting dyes from a weakly fluorescent state to a bright, easily detectable complex. Optimized, such approaches avoid the need for removal of unbound dyes, facilitate rapid and simple assays in cultured cells and enable hybrid labeling to function more robustly in living model organisms.
Failure Compensation for Nonlinear Systems

The adaptive actuator failure compensation problem has been addressed so far for linear systems with actuator failures characterized by inputs stuck at some values fixed or variant not influenced by control action. Both the failure patterns and the failure parameters including failure values and failure time are assumed unknown. However, most real-life systems are nonlinear dynamic systems, for example, aircraft flight control systems. Actuator failure compensation for nonlinear systems is an area of major interest. In the following chapters we further our research to several classes of nonlinear systems, whose dynamics can be transformed into some canonical forms that are subject to actuator failures. A key issue of direct adaptive control is the parametrization of the nonlinear system with actuator failures and the applied feedback control scheme for a given control objective under certain matching conditions. Based on a suitable parametrization, an adaptive scheme can be used to update the controller parameters for the case when the plant parameters and actuator failure parameters are both unknown.
Adolescent perception of peer success : A gendered perspective over time

Adolescent males and females (grades 6–12) (n = 552) were presented with nine brief vignettes from the Teen Apperception Scale, describing high-achieving hypothetical female (or male) peers, across nine domains: leadership, academics, athleticism (two), musicianship, art, popularity, humor, and multitalentedness. Teens rated likability, popularity, and attractiveness of vignette subjects in each domain. The sample was roughly evenly divided by gender (47% male and 53% female); students ranged in age from 11 to 18 years. The sample was ethnically diverse, and the socioeconomic status of the students' families ranged from lower middle to upper middle class. MANOVA analyses showed female vignette subjects to be rated significantly higher than male subjects by both genders and all grade groupings, at p < .0001 overall, and at values ranging from p < .05 to p < .0001 for six of nine subscales. Results are contrasted with those from highly similar studies 30 years ago, and used to reflect a possible shift in attitudes toward high achievement in women.
Maternofoetal transfer of gamma G immunoglobulins.

BRAMBELL has suggested that the mechanisms which underlie the transmission of antibodies and other plasma proteins from mother to foetus are similar to those which operate in the catabolism of these proteins1. This concept was supported by the observation that maternofoetal transfer of homologous and heterologous γG globulins in the rabbit decreased with the half lives of these proteins1; the species order of decreasing maternofoetal transmission2 arid decreasing half life3 in the rabbit was rabbit > man > ginea-pig > horse > bovine. In this study, the maternofoetal transfer of γG globulin was examined in the mouse, rat and guinea-pig.
Statistical Issues in Developmental Epidemiology and Developmental Disabilities Research: Confounding Variables, Small Sample Size, and Numerous Outcome Variables

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses three interrelated issues: confounding variables, small sample size, and numerous outcome variables. Propensity scores provide a new method for controlling for confounding variables. Permutation tests illustrate a new method for calculating exact p‐values, even when the sample size is very small. The multivariate permutation tests (MPTs) have been introduced as a method for simultaneously analyzing numerous outcome variables while controlling for Type I error. These methods are statistically powerful techniques and can be used by the typical developmental disability researcher. Use of these new methods can bypass some of the typical limitations inherent in developmental disability research, providing an opportunity to advance scientific knowledge in this field. The new statistical approaches are flexible, practical, and easy to perform using current computer technology and available software.
Analysis of Cascading Infrastructure Failures

This chapter considers networked infrastructures with large numbers of interacting components such as electric power transmission grids. Initial infrastructure failures due to an attack or accident become widespread catastrophes by a process of cascading failures. In cascading failures, the failures successively weaken the system and make further failures more likely. The emerging quantitative methods to process and interpret data produced by simulations of cascading failure are described. The cascading failure is modeled as a probabilistic branching process. Estimating the initial distribution of failures and the average propagation of failures can efficiently predict the probability distribution of the total failure size. This ongoing research aims to quantify the risk of rare, high-impact, large infrastructure disruptions so that this risk may be managed. Keywords: cascading failure; risk; quantitative methods; branching process; statistical; power law; heavy tail; probabilistic; simulation
Perceptions about behind-the-counter availability of pseudoephedrine.

Recent federal legislation has mandated pharmacies to move pseudoephedrine products behind the counter. [1][1]–[3][2] We undertook a qualitative study that explored perceptions about this new policy in hopes of identifying strategies to maximize its desired effect. Ninety participants completed a
Underserved Elderly Issues in the United States: Burdens of Oral and Medical Health Care

The elderly represent approximately 12.4% of the general population (2000 Census), yet their health care expenditure and consumption represent 14% of the total (2003). Although 10% of the elderly had no medical insurance in 2000, 78% had no dental insurance. Elderly Americans' burden of medical care overuse is worsened by their out-of-pocket expenses for oral health, because this is usually not a covered benefit. In underserved communities, the management of the oral health and dental care needs of older Americans approaches negligence.
Acute ethanol administration enhances plasma testosterone levels following gonadotropin stimulation in men

Plasma levels of LH, FSH, prolactin (PRL), and testosterone (T) were assessed in six normal men following administration of a pharmacologic dose of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) (500 μg iv over a one-min period) with concomitant oral administration of either ethanol (0.695 g/kg of body weight over a 15-min period) or ethanol placebo. p] Acute ethanol administration had no effect on the response of either LH or FSH to GnRH. PRL levels increased following GnRH and administration of both ethanol and ethanol placebo. Ethanol administration enhanced the T response to GnRH (p < 0.001 vs placebo). During the placebo condition, T levels did not rise significantly until 100 min after GnRH administration, at which time the mean increment over baseline was 101 ± 20 ng/dl (±SEM). In contrast, following ethanol intake, T levels were significantly elevated within 30 min after GnRH administration, at which time the mean increment over baseline was 187 ± 42 ng/dl. The mean T increments were 304 ± 62 and 472 ± 77 ng/dl, respectively, 60 and 105 min following GnRH and ethanol administration. p] The increase in T levels following acute ethanol intake and concomitant gonadotropin stimulation is in contrast to the well-documented effect of chronic ethanol intake on suppression of testosterone synthesis by testicular Leydig cells.
A Highly Scalable GALS Crossbar Using Token Ring Arbitration

With increases in die size and clock frequency, driving signals across dies is becoming increasingly more difficult. To reduce clock skew and power, the general trend is to use multiple clock domains on a single die, making both synchronous and asynchronous interclock domain communication possible. The 2005 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors states that asynchronous global signaling is required to handle multiple clock domains. According to the ITRS, the globally asynchronous, locally synchronous (GALS) methodology should address this problem. This methodology enables the use of a clocked design for smaller-scale functional units, and this has been the standard approach in industry. The GALS methodology also makes it possible to connect synchronous functional units using robust asynchronous interconnects. The efficient design of an asynchronous crossbar is one of the most promising implementations of the GALS methodology. In this article, we present a low-latency crossbar that uses a distributed arbitration mechanism in the form of token rings. We further improve the latency of this implementation by implementing asynchronous-to-synchronous and synchronous-to-asynchronous interface logic using bidirectional signals. These signals serve as requests and acknowledges, and they exhibit a very fast GasP-like implementation - although, unlike GasP, this implementation is not self-resetting.
Improved Gradient-Type Algorithms for Optimal Control Problems

Difficulties often arise when we apply the gradient type algorithms employing penalty functions to optimal control problems with variable final time or to problems for which the necessary conditions for optimality require a zero gradient at the final time. In this paper, we first introduce a new transformation method which transforms the variable final time problem into a fixed final time problem. Second, an improved gradient-type algorithm is developed to overcome the zero terminal gradient problem. It is shown that, by applying this transformation and improved algorithm to two examples, not only the variable final time and zero terminal gradient problems are solved and the control vector updated in the correct direction but the rate of convergence of the improved algorithm is faster than that of the traditional gradient-type algorithms.
Altered promoter recognition by mutant forms of the σ70 subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase

Abstract We have systematically assayed the in vivo promoter recognition properties of 13 mutations in rpoD , the gene that encodes the σ 70 subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme, using transcriptional fusions to 37 mutant and wild-type promoters. We found three classes of rpoD mutations: (1) mutations that suggest contacts between amino acid side-chains of σ 70 and specific bases in the promoter; (2) mutations that appear to affect either sequence independent contacts to promoter DNA or isomerization of the polymerase; and (3) mutations that have little or no effect on promoter recognition. Our results lead us to suggest that a sequence near the C terminus of σ 70 , which is similar to the helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif of phage and bacterial DNA binding proteins, is responsible for recognition of the −35 region, and that a sequence internal to σ 70 , in a region which is highly conserved among σ factors, recognizes the −10 region of the promoter. rpoD mutations that lie in the recognition helix of the proposed helix-turn-helix motif affect interactions with specific bases in the −35 region, while mutations in the upstream helix, which is thought to contact the phosphate backbone, have sequence-independent effects on promoter recognition.
Predicting cohesive failure in thermosets

Modeling of stresses in epoxies used as adhesives, coatings, or encapsulants in electronic packaging can guide an engineer to more robust designs and material selections. However, stresses by themselves allow evaluation of qualitative trends only. Quantitative assessment of design margins requires some knowledge of when stresses become excessive and failure is imminent. In this study, stresses were predicted accurately in a wide variety of tests, and the state of stress and strain was examined at the point of experimental failure to extract a single scalar metric that design engineers could use to correlate with the observed initiation of cracking. A value of the maximum principal strain of roughly 40% satisfactorily matched data encompassing different geometries, modes of deformation, and test temperature and is apparently linked to a physical mechanism of failure arising from “run-away” nonlinear viscoelasticity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Automotive vehicle control challenges in the 21st century

Abstract In 1996, 52 million vehicles were produced worldwide. By 2005, many predict that over 65 million will be produced because of the strengthening economies throughout the world and the individual's desire for personal mobility. The automobiles of the 1990s are at least 10 times cleaner and twice as fuel efficient as the vehicles of the 1970s. These advancements were due in large part to distributed microprocessor-based control systems. Furthermore, the resultant vehicles are safer, more comfortable, and more maneuverable. The environmental challenges of the 21st century will require advances of the same order of magnitude. In particular, next generation vehicles will be more “electrified” and designed by total systems approaches, involving new materials, alternative fuels, and new powertrains — all enabled by modern control systems and design techniques.
Blue-green algae and selection in rotifer populations

Observation in natural populations of the rotifer Asplanchna girodi suggested blue-green algae may have toxic effects on rotifers. The blue-greens Anabaena flos-aquae and Lyngbya sp. were isolated from a pond in Central Florida along with three electrophoretically identified genotypes of A. girodi. When tested Anabaena had marked effect on the reproductive rate of A. girodi and the effect was different among genotypes. Likewise, Lyngbya also depressed rotifer reproduction, but required an order of magnitude higher concentration to produce the same effects as Anabaena. The toxicity of these algae was corroborated by mouse bioassays. Results clearly show these blue-greens have the capacity to differentially reduce reproductive rates of rotifer genotypes. Because of this capability blue-greens could play an important role in the ecology of natural selection in rotifer populations.