cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infrared Spectroscopy and Surface Chemistry of β-Ga2O3 Nanoribbons

The structure and surface chemistry of crystalline β-Ga2O3 nanoribbons (NRs), deposited in a thin layer on various metallic and dielectric substrates (mainly on Au), have been characterized using vibrational spectroscopy. The results have been analyzed with the aid of a previous ab initio theoretical model for the β-Ga2O3 surface structure. Raman spectra and normal-incidence infrared (IR) transmission data show little if any difference from corresponding results for bulk single crystals. For a layer formed on a metallic substrate, IR reflection−absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) shows longitudinal-optic (LO) modes that are red-shifted by ∼37 cm-1 relative to those of a bulk crystal. Evidence is also seen for a bonding interaction at the Ga2O3/Au interface following heating in room air. Polarization-modulated IRRAS has been used to study the adsorption of pyridine under steady-state conditions in ambient pressures as high as ∼5 Torr. The characteristic ν19b and ν8a modes of adsorbed pyridine exhibit little or...
Analyzing the Public Opinion of DC Residents Toward Obama's Social Innovations and Civic Participation Initiative on Education

In 2009, President Barack Obama launched the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation (SICP) as an extension of the Domestic Policy Council designed to strategize new way to implement programs to address social issues throughout the United States. The primary purpose of SICP is to recognize and cultivate innovative solutions to social problems through the programs and initiatives of social sector organizations (non-profits and foundations). Within this framework, such a program would be beneficial for critical areas such as education. But in order for public programs to be effective, public support is vital to their success. The following research analyzes the public perception of SCIP in relation to education. The methodological approach is quantitative, using survey data of 100 DC residents’ perceptions of using social innovation ideas to improve education.
Gender and hormonal regulation of growth

Puberty is the transitional period between childhood and adulthood when substantial growth, sexual maturation, and reproductive capacity is attained. The onset of puberty is triggered by the combined action of the somatotropic (GH-IGF-I) and gonadotropic (GnRH-LH/FSH-sex steroid) hormone axes, the latter of which stimulates the former to produce the pubertal growth spurt. Studies of GH secretion in boys and girls, in Turner's syndrome, in hypogonadal girls, and in androgen-deficient boys have revealed estrogen-dependent mechanisms controlling GH production, age-dependent response to and control of GH, and gender-dependent differences in response to GH therapy. The interplay between the somatotropic and gonadotropic hormone axes during puberty has profound implications on the treatment of adolescent patients in need of hormone replacement therapy for growth deficiency or hypogonadism.
Surgical outcomes research--a new paradigm for clinical research?

Objective To define outcomes research in terms of a paradigm, grouping six existing research methodologies. Background Although outcomes research is becoming an increasingly popular area in clinical research, an accepted definition is difficult to find. The term 'outcomes research' is often used in the context of a research methodology. Methods Topics in dinical research which have been termed 'outcomes research' are discussed including: databases, quality of life studies, effectiveness studies, economic evaluations, small-area rate variation analysis and volume outcome studies, as well as practice guideline development. Results Outcomes research is not a research methodology in its own right, but a paradigm which groups existing methodologies, providing a structured approach to evaluating the outcomes which are most important to patients, society and those who pay for health care.
Water quality changes at an Outstanding Florida Water: influence of stochastic events and climate variability

ABSTRACTCanfield DE Jr, Hoyer MV, Bachmann RW, Bigham Stevens D, Ruiz-Bernard I. 2016. Water quality changes at an Outstanding Florida Water: influence of stochastic events and climate variability. Lake Reserv Manage. 32:297–313.The Santa Fe Lake System (SFS) is an Outstanding Florida Water system in northern peninsular Florida and receives special protection from governmental agencies to prevent impairment of water quality from anthropogenic activities. Since 1986, periods of sudden nutrient increases and declines have occurred along with changes in water clarity documented within a 28-year monthly database. Changes were linked to stochastic events such as an influx of gulls in 1986, the adjacent 5100-ha Dairy Road forest fire in 2007, 3 Category 3 hurricanes that struck Florida in 2004, and droughts. However, increasing trends at SFS were also observed for the yearly measured minimum water chemistry values, as were synchronous changes in these baseline conditions at other nearby lakes, suggesting the la...
Rapid Growth of Crystalline Mn5O8 by Self-Limited Multilayer Deposition using Mn(EtCp)2 and O3.

This work investigates the use of ozone as a post-treatment of ALD-grown MnO and as a coreactant with bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)manganese (Mn(EtCp)2) in ALD-like film growth. In situ quartz crystal microbalance measurements are used to monitor the mass changes during growth, which are coupled with ex situ materials characterization following deposition to evaluate the resulting film composition and structure. We determined that during O3 post-treatment of ALD-grown MnO, O3 oxidizes the near-surface region corresponding to a conversion of 22 A of the MnO film to MnO2. Following oxidation by O3, exposure of Mn(EtCp)2 results in mass gains of over 300 ng/cm(2), which exceeds the expected mass gain for reaction of the Mn(EtCp)2 precursor with surface hydroxyls by over four times. We attribute this high mass gain to adsorbed Mn(EtCp)2 shedding its EtCp ligands at the surface and releasing Mn(II) ions which subsequently diffuse into the bulk film and partially reduce the oxidized film back to MnO. These Mn(EtCp)2 and O3 reactions are combined in sequential steps with (a) Mn(EtCp)2 reacting at the surface of an O-rich layer, shedding its two EtCp ligands and freeing Mn(II) to diffuse into the film followed by (b) O3 oxidizing the film surface and withdrawing Mn from the subsurface to create an O-rich layer. This deposition process results in self-limiting multilayer deposition of crystalline Mn5O8 films with a density of 4.7 g/cm(3) and an anomalously high growth rate of 5.7 A/cycle. Mn5O8 is a metastable phase of manganese oxide which possesses an intermediate composition between the alternating MnO and MnO2 compositions of the near-surface during the Mn(EtCp)2 and O3 exposures.
Novel Role of Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors in the Management of End-Stage Heart Failure

In advanced heart failure (HF), chronic inotropic therapy with intravenous milrinone, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, is used as a bridge to advanced management that includes transplantation, ventricular assist device implantation, or palliation. This is especially true when repeated attempts to wean off inotropic support result in symptomatic hypotension, worsened symptoms, and/or progressive organ dysfunction. Unfortunately, patients in this clinical predicament are considered hemodynamically labile and may escape the benefits of guideline-directed HF therapy. In this scenario, chronic milrinone infusion may be beneficial as a bridge to introduction of evidence based HF therapy. However, this strategy is not well studied, and in general, chronic inotropic infusion is discouraged due to potential cardiotoxicity that accelerates disease progression and proarrhythmic effects that increase sudden death. Alternatively, chronic inotropic support with milrinone infusion is a unique opportunity in advanced HF. This review discusses evidence that long-term intravenous milrinone support may allow introduction of beta blocker (BB) therapy. When used together, milrinone does not attenuate the clinical benefits of BB therapy while BB mitigates cardiotoxic effects of milrinone. In addition, BB therapy decreases the risk of adverse arrhythmias associated with milrinone. We propose that advanced HF patients who are intolerant to BB therapy may benefit from a trial of intravenous milrinone as a bridge to BB initiation. The discussed clinical scenarios demonstrate that concomitant treatment with milrinone infusion and BB therapy does not adversely impact standard HF therapy and may improve left ventricular function and morbidity associated with advanced HF.
Effects of Ethanol on Brain Extracellular Matrix: Implications for Alcohol Use Disorder

The brain extracellular matrix (ECM) occupies the space between cells and is involved in cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion. However, in addition to providing structural support to brain tissue, the ECM activates cell signaling and controls synaptic transmission. The expression and activity of brain ECM components are regulated by alcohol exposure. This review will discuss what is currently known about the effects of alcohol on the activity and expression of brain ECM components. An interpretation of how these changes might promote alcohol use disorder (AUD) will be also provided. Ethanol (EtOH) exposure decreases levels of structural proteins involved in the interstitial matrix and basement membrane, with a concomitant increase in proteolytic enzymes that degrade these components. In contrast, EtOH exposure generally increases perineuronal net components. Because the ECM has been shown to regulate both synaptic plasticity and behavioral responses to drugs of abuse, regulation of the brain ECM by alcohol may be relevant to the development of alcoholism. Although investigation of the function of brain ECM in alcohol abuse is still in early stages, a greater understanding of the interplay between ECM and alcohol might lead to novel therapeutic strategies for treating AUD.
Bargaining Over the Fair Trade-Off Between Secrecy and Throughput in OFDM Communications

The problem of ensuring the secrecy of a communication while simultaneously maintaining sufficient throughput is a fundamental challenge facing secret communication. One of the challenges for such problems is that the optimal solution for one of objective might be not optimal for the other (e.g., an increase in secrecy might yield a decrease in throughput). Thus, there is a need for finding a trade-off solution for these objectives. In this paper, we consider a two-step approach to solve such problems and illustrate it for orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing-style communications. In the first step , we use the $\alpha $ -fairness criteria for formulating the tradeoff between objectives. A generalized water-filling equation for this tradeoff problem is solved. This equation includes, as a limit case, the classical case for secret communication with secrecy capacity as payoff. In the second step , we aim to find the best $\alpha $ -fair strategy, and show that Jain’s fairness can potentially lead to an unbalanced tradeoff between the two objectives. We arrive at a more balanced tradeoff by means of bargaining over the continuum of $\alpha $ -fair solutions. Both the Nash and Kalai–Smorodinsky bargaining solutions for fulfillment of both objectives are found, and the algorithms for finding the bargaining solutions are derived.
Optimized NLFM pulse compression waveforms for high-sensitivity radar observations

In order to provide adequate sensitivity in low-power radar systems, pulse compression has been used for decades in military applications, and more recently, weather radar. Due to the distributed nature and relatively low return power of hydrometeors, power efficiency of pulse compression waveforms is of great importance. The Advanced Radar Research Center at the University of Oklahoma has been developing novel waveform design techniques for weather radar platforms which provide excellent sidelobe performance while maintaining operational processing gains as high as 0.95 due to limited use of amplitude modulation. While directly applicable to weather observations, such waveforms are capable of lowering price points on all types of radar systems, ranging from military uses and aircraft detection to SAR applications. These waveforms have been implemented on the Advanced Radar Research Center's PX-1000 transportable, solid-state, polarimetric X-band weather radar, which operates at 100 Watts on each channel. Due to the very low peak transmit power, as well as a fully customizable waveform implementation and real-time signal processing architecture, PX-1000 serves as an excellent testbed for waveform research and development. An overview of the technical design method for optimized nonlinear waveforms is presented in detail, with comparisons to other popular nonlinear and heavily-windowed techniques. A description of implementation in a real system (PX-1000) is presented, including the need for, and implementation of, system-specific pre-distortion. A preliminary exploration of recent progress on Doppler tolerance correction for distributed weather targets is shown. Finally, data from the 20 May 2013 Moore, Oklahoma EF-5 tornado are shown, with a discussion of the technical implementation of optimized waveforms on PX-1000, including blind-range mitigation, multi-lag calculation of polarization moments, and the assumptions required for using current-generation pulse compression techniques in observations of extreme weather.
PENGARUH MOTIVASI DAN KOMITMEN ORGANISASI TERHADAP KINERJA PEGAWAI

Abstract - The success of the performance of an employee in a field of work is determined by several factors such as motivation and organizational commitment. The purpose of this study was deternine the effect of work motivesion and organisasional commitment to employee performance. This research was conducted at PT Challenger Tangerang which has a population of 62 employees. The sampling technique used in this study are saturated sampling, all members of the population used as a sample. Statistical analysis with the aid of SPSS version 21 , that there is significant influence between the variables of work motivation and organizational commitment to employee performance variables. The study produced empirical evidence that motivation and organizational commitment affect performance. So the motivation and organizational commitment is very important to note for improving employee performance. Key word: Job motivation, organisasional commitment, performance employe e Abstrak - Keberhasilan kinerja seorang karyawan dalam suatu bidang pekerjaan di tentukan oleh beberapa faktor seperti motivasi kerja dan komitmen organisasi.Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh motivasi dan komitmen organisasi terhadap kinerja pegawai.Metode yang digunakan adalah penelitian penjelasan ( exsplanatory research ) dengan teknik analisis Regresi Linier Berganda. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada PT Challenger Tangerang yang mempunyai populasi 62 pegawai.Teknik sampling yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah sampling jenuh, semua anggota populasi digunakan sebagai sampel.Dari analisis stastistik dengan bantuan spss versi 21, bahwa terdapat pengaruh yang signifikan antara variabel motivasi kerja dan komitmen organisasional terhadap variabel kinerja karyawan. Penelitian ini menghasilkan bukti empiris bahwa motivasi dan komitmen organisasi berpengaruh pada kinerja. Sehingga motivasi dan komitmen organisasi adalah hal yang sangat penting diperhatikan untuk meningkatkan kinerja pegawai Kata kunci : Motivasi kerja, komitmen organisasi, kinerja karyawan
Spectral Analysis and the FFT

It has long been known that an arbitrary time signal can be thought of as the superposition of many sinusoidal components. This is the basis of Fourier (or spectral) analysis. In wave analysis, the time domain for the disturbance is from minus infinity to plus infinity and thus the components have a continuous distribution (known as the continuous Fourier transform). However, the numerical evaluation of the transform requires discretizing the distribution in some manner, and the one chosen here is by way of the discrete Fourier transform (DFT.) This has two advantages. First, many of the ideas and methods of time series analysis [33] can be borrowed and used for the present purposes. Second, it allows the use of the very efficient fast Fourier transform (FFT) computer algorithm.
Verbal Working Memory in Older Adults: The Roles of Phonological Capacities and Processing Speed.

Purpose This study examined the potential roles of phonological sensitivity and processing speed in age-related declines of verbal working memory. Method Twenty younger and 25 older adults with age...
Comments on ``Regional Impacts of Irrigation in Mexico and the Southwestern United States on Hydrometeorological Fields in the North American Monsoon Region''

AbstractFor their investigation of the impact of irrigated agriculture on hydrometeorological fields in the North American monsoon (NAM) region, Mahalov et al. used the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model to simulate weather over the NAM region in the summer periods of 2000 and 2012, with and without irrigation applied to the regional croplands. Unfortunately, while the authors found that irrigated agriculture may indeed influence summer precipitation, the magnitude, location, and seasonality of their irrigation inputs were substantially inaccurate because of 1) the assumption that pixels classified as “irrigated cropland” are irrigated during the summer and 2) an outdated land cover map that misrepresents known agricultural districts. The combined effects of these errors are 1) an overestimation of irrigated croplands by a factor of 3–10 along the coast of the Gulf of California and by a factor of 1.5 near the Colorado River delta and 2) a large underestimation of irrigation by a factor of 7–10 ...
Toxicokinetics of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Abstract Studies were conducted to determine the distribution and elimination of imidacloprid (IMI) in rainbow trout. Animals were injected with a low (47.6 μg/kg), medium (117.5 μg/kg) or high (232.7 μg/kg) dose directly into the bloodstream and allowed to depurate. The fish were then sampled to characterize the loss of IMI from plasma and its appearance in expired water (all dose groups) and urine (medium dose only). In vitro biotransformation of IMI was evaluated using trout liver S9 fractions. Mean total clearance (CLT) values determined by non-compartmental analysis of plasma time-course data were 21.8, 27.0 and 19.5 mL/h/kg for the low, medium and high dose groups, respectively. Estimated half-lives for the same groups were 67.0, 68.4 and 68.1 h, while fitted values for the steady-state volume of distribution (VSS) were 1.72, 2.23 and 1.81 L/kg. Branchial elimination rates were much lower than expected, suggesting that IMI is highly bound in blood. Renal clearance rates were greater than measured rates of branchial clearance (60% of CLT in the medium dose group), possibly indicating a role for renal membrane transporters. There was no evidence for hepatic biotransformation of IMI. Collectively, these findings suggest that IMI would accumulate in trout in continuous waterborne exposures.
A new ornithomimosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Trinity Group of Arkansas

Whereas ornithomimosaurs (ostrich-mimic dinosaurs) are well known from Asia during the Early Cretaceous, they are less well known from this time in North America. Represented by a single specimen c...
The New Paradigm of the Feminine Mystique: The Authentic Woman's Perspective

This article examines the many wayward turns taken by various factions of feminism and offers a new paradigm. Section I covers background; Section II explains a realistic alternative; Section III discusses genuine universalism (rather than a gender-based apartheid) where men and women live together happily and like it. The article concludes with an authentic discussion of what most women really want.
What memory representation is acquired during nonword speech production learning? The influence of stimulus features and training modality on nonword encoding

The purpose of this research was to investigate memory representations related to speech processing. Psycholinguistic and speech motor control theorists have hypothesized a variety of fundamental m...
Crime, Culpability and Moral Luck: Comment on Alexander, Ferzan and Morse

Crime and Culpability, by Larry Alexander, Kimberly Kessler Ferzan (with Stephen Morse) is a visionary work of moral and legal philosophy. Nonetheless, it is fundamentally morally misguided. In seeking to free criminal law from what the authors take to be the distorting influence of outcome luck, they arrive at a position that is overly exculpatory. It fails to hold actors liable for the harms they cause when they have taken less care they should.I argue, first, that the authors’ attempt to strip criminal law of outcome luck is incoherent in its own terms, and that any attempt to follow through on their program would require a much more severe loss of accountability than the authors acknowledge. I then argue that outcome luck is pervasive in our moral lives, and that, given the choice of (a) not being able to hold agents accountable for much, or (b) holding them accountable for the results of their choices, including outcomes that result in part from moral luck, the right choice is (b). I wrap up with a concluding observation about the implausible moral psychology that underlies the authors’ view of culpable action.
KETOROLAC : A PARENTERAL NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUG

Ketorolac tromethamine is a pyrrolo-pyrrole nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) with potent analgesic effects when administered intramuscularly for the treatment of acute pain. Ketorolac is well absorbed and has a rapid onset of action. Maximum plasma concentrations are achieved in 45-50 minutes and peak analgesic effects in about one to two hours following intramuscular injection. Ketorolac is more than 99 percent bound to plasma proteins and has a mean apparent volume of distribution of 0.11-0.25 L/kg. About 91 percent of a dose is excreted in urine, mostly as inactive metabolites, and approximately 6 percent is eliminated in feces. The elimination half-life, approximately four to six hours, increases in elderly patients and those with renal impairment. Its analgesic effectiveness was similar or superior to that of morphine, meperidine, or pentazocine in single-dose studies of patients with postoperative pain or renal colic and greater than that of placebo in patients with chronic cancer pain. The adverse effects are generally mild to moderate, self-limiting, and similar to those seen with other prostaglandin inhibitors. Ketorolac has a reversible inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. It can cause dose-related gastric ulcerations, even when administered parenterally. Ketorolac is a promising parenteral alternative to oral NSAIDs and a nonnarcotic alternative to opioid analgesics. Additional multiple-dose studies are needed to more clearly define its place in therapy.
1946: A Turning Point in the Growth of Scholarly Publishing

After the war ended, the U.S. was the global center of higher education and the military and financial power in the world. This chapter outlines the G.I. Bill’s impact on higher education and scholarly publishing, which was monumental: enrollments surged, libraries expanded, and there was a pressing need to provide more scholarly books and journals for faculty, students, and libraries here and abroad. Dynamic managerial and marketing strategies were created, setting the state for growth. Truman signed the Atomic Energy Act creating the Atomic Energy Commission that impacted research for decades.
Analyzing Error Perception and Recognition Among Professional Communication Practitioners and Academics

We investigated the perception and recognition of errors in a population of practitioners and academics in professional and technical communication. Specifically, we measured 303 participants’ both...
Impact of turbulence models and shape parameterization on robust aerodynamic shape optimization

The objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of two commonly used turbulence models with three different shape parameterization techniques in Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations...
Nanoparticle-mediated transformation expands horizon of organism engineering

Our ability to engineer organisms will unlock new discoveries in how cellular processes work and enable new advances in biotechnology. However, many organisms are recalcitrant to these methods. Here, we describe a new nanoparticle-based method of transformation which can be used to transform bacteria, plants, algae and diatoms.
Microbiological safety of popular recreation swimming sites in Central California

The objective of the study was to assess the microbiological safety of popular recreational swimming sites in Central California. Water samples were collected from eleven monitoring sites across the lower reaches of two watersheds for two consecutive swimming seasons (2012–2013), and levels of indicator and pathogenic microorganisms were determined. Data on ambient weather and water chemistry were collected for analyzing their associations with microorganisms in water. All water samples were positive for indicator E. coli with mean concentrations per site ranging from 3.07 to 216.11 MPN/100 ml in 2012 and 13.4 to 226.97 MPN/100 ml in 2013. Mean E. coli concentrations in 27% and 36% samplings sites exceeded the EPA 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria recommended mean concentration of ≤ 126 CFU/100 ml of E. coli, in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in all water samples from all sampling sites, with an overall prevalence of 50% and mean concentrations of 0.08 oocysts/l in 2012 and 0.19 oocysts/l in 2013. Giardia spp. cysts were detected at eight sites, with an overall prevalence of 28.8% and mean concentration of 0.2 cysts/l in both years. The majority of the detected Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and Giardia spp. cysts appeared damaged under microscopy. E. coli O157:H7 was detected in 9% of water samples, with positive samples limited to three sites. Salmonella spp. were detected in all but one site across the two years, with mean concentrations of 0.94 MPN/l in 2012 and 1.85 MPN/l in 2013. Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst concentrations were negatively associated with 30-day mean wind speed and cumulative precipitation and dissolved oxygen in water. Giardia spp. cyst concentrations were positively associated with turbidity and pH of water and negatively associated with E. coli concentrations and 24-h mean air temperature. Salmonella spp. concentrations were positively associated with 30-day mean air temperature. The occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 was positively associated with previous 30-day cumulative precipitation.
Research and Application of Calculating Method of the Coal Quantity into Furnace for Thermal Power Unit

The coal quantity into furnace is an important Parameter of the unit equipped with double-inlet and double-outlet mill, the accurate calculation of coal quantity into furnace is related to the control effect and adjustment ability of the unit. Base on the analysis of the coal mill mechanism and a large number of practical tests, a new soft measurement of coal quantity into the furnace was obtained. This method is applied to unit control and the calculation of coal quantity into the furnace becomes more accurate. It avoids the large fluctuation of unit parameters caused by the large deviation of coal quantity into furnace. It also improves response and adjustment ability of the unit. This method is a good reference for the same type unit.
A computational model explains and predicts substantia nigra pars reticulata responses to pallidal and striatal inputs

Abstract As a rodent basal ganglia (BG) output nucleus, the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) is well positioned to impact behavior. SNr neurons receive GABAergic inputs from the striatum (direct pathway) and globus pallidus (GPe, indirect pathway). Dominant theories of action selection rely on these pathways’ inhibitory actions. Yet, experimental results on SNr responses to these inputs are limited and include excitatory effects. Our study combines experimental and computational work to characterize, explain, and make predictions about these pathways. We observe diverse SNr responses to stimulation of SNr-projecting striatal and GPe neurons, including biphasic and excitatory effects, which our modeling shows can be explained by intracellular chloride processing. Our work predicts that ongoing GPe activity could tune the SNr operating mode, including its responses in decision-making scenarios, and GPe output may modulate synchrony and low-frequency oscillations of SNr neurons, which we confirm using optogenetic stimulation of GPe terminals within the SNr.
New molecular insights into the pathogenesis of lipoblastomas: clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular analysis in pediatric cases

Summary Lipoblastomas can occasionally require further molecular confirmation when occurring outside of the usual age groups or demonstrating unusual morphology. We reviewed 28 lipoblastomas with 16 controls. Lipoblastomas were subdivided into myxoid (n = 7), classic (n = 9), or lipoma-like (n = 12) subtypes. PLAG1 immunohistochemistry, PLAG1 fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and targeted RNA sequencing were performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Karyotypes were available in a subset of lipoblastomas (n = 9). Gene rearrangements were identified in 17/25 (68%) lipoblastomas, including PLAG1 (15/25, 60%) and HMGA2 (2/25, 8%). Five novel fusion partners (DDX6, KLF10, and KANSL1L with PLAG1 and EP400 and FGD6 with HMGA2) were found. PLAG1 immunohistochemistry was positive (nuclear, moderate/strong) in myxoid and classic subtypes lipoblastomas with preferential expression in mesenchymal cells within myxoid stroma and fibrous septa and negative in all controls. When comparing PLAG1 immunohistochemistry with molecular testing (FISH and/or RNA sequencing and/or karyotype), concordant results were noted in 13/25 (52%) cases, increasing to 15/25 (60%) after slight adjustment of the PLAG1 FISH positive threshold. In myxoid and classic lipoblastomas, PLAG1 immunohistochemistry seems to be a better surrogate marker for PLAG1 rearrangement, as compared with lipoma-like subtypes. In lipoma-like subtypes, targeted RNA sequencing appears to detect PLAG1 fusions better than FISH and immunohistochemistry. The preferential expression of PLAG1 in the mesenchymal and fibroblast-like cells deserves further investigation as the putative cell of origin in lipoblastoma.
Kinematic Analysis and Design Optimization for a Reduced-DoF Quadruped Robot with Minimal Torque Requirements

With a unique kinematic arrangement, a new type of quadruped robot with reduced degrees of freedom (DoF) requires minimal-torque actuators to achieve high-payload locomotion. This paper focuses on the kinematic analysis and design optimization for robots of this type. To plan and control its change of posture, a necessary strategy to find feasible solutions of full-body inverse kinematics under additional kinematic constraints is introduced. A design method via nonlinear programming (NLP) is first presented in order to optimize link parameters with guarantee to a series of successive steps. Workspace is also investigated to prepare for further dynamic motion planning. We have verified feasibility of proposed methods with software simulations and hardware implementations, e.g., omni-directional walking and situ rotation.
Retinoic acid inhibits growth of immortalized and weakly tumorigenic human breast epithelial cells (HBEC), but not highly tumorigenic HBEC: Molecular mechanisms of loss of anti-proliferative effect of retinoic acid during breast carcinogenesis

871 The inhibitory effect of retinoic acid on tumor growth is attenuated as tumors developed to more advanced stages, however, the mechanism of loss of anti-tumorigenic action of retinoic acid is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-proliferative effect of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) during breast carcinogenesis using a novel cell culture system of human breast epithelial cells (HBEC). Type I normal HBEC with stem cell characteristics were developed from reduction mammoplasty tissues of healthy women. Immortalized (M13SV1), weakly tumorigenic (M13SV1R2), and highly tumorigenic (M13SV1R2N1) type I HBEC were derived sequentially from type I HBEC after expressing SV40 large T-antigen, irradiation with x-rays, and expressing the c-erbB2 (neu) oncogene. RA at 100 nM and 1 μM inhibited growth of immortalized and weakly tumorigenic HBEC, but not highly tumorigenic HBEC in 3 to 8 days. All cell lines tested expressed retinoic acid receptor-α (RARα), RARβ, and RARγ and RA had little effect on these RAR receptor protein levels. Immortalized and weakly tumorigenic cells showed low protein levels of p185c-erbB2/neu, while highly tumorigenic HBEC overexpressed p185c-erbB2/neu. RA had little effect on p185c-erbB2/neu protein expression and phosphorylation of JNK1/2 in all cell lines. Immortalized cells had higher phosphorylation of ERK1/2 than weakly and highly tumorigenic HBEC. RA inhibited phosphorylation of ERK1/2 only in immortalized cells, but not in weakly and highly tumorigenic HBEC. All cell lines showed similar protein levels of cyclin D1, while RA increased cyclin D1 level in highly tumorigenic HBEC. This is the first study investigating the effect of retinoic acid on different stages of breast carcinogenesis using immortalized, weakly tumorigenic, and highly tumorigenic HBEC sequentially derived from the same parental normal human breast stem cells. Our results indicate that loss of anti-proliferative effect of RA on highly tumorigenic HBEC might be associated with a stage of breast cells overexpressing neu oncogene. This overexpression of neu oncogene might interfere with the ability of RA to regulate cell signaling kinases and cell cycle regulating proteins. Further studies will explore how RA affects functionality of RAR isoforms, erbB2 activation and identify the genes differentially expressed by RA treatment. Research supported by NIH grant (CA79737) to DAT.
Machine learning lattice constants for cubic perovskite A22+BB′O6 compounds

Double perovskite oxides have attracted great attention in the past decade due to their unique and versatile material properties. The lattice constant, a, as the only variable parameter among the six parameters in the cubic structure, has a significant impact on the structural stability, electronic structure, magnetic ordering, and thus material performance. In this work, a Gaussian process regression (GPR) model is developed to elucidate the statistical relationship among ionic radii, electronegativities, oxidation states, and lattice constants for cubic perovskite A22+BB′O6 compounds. A total of 147 samples with lattice constants ranging from 7.700 A to 8.890 A are explored. The modeling approach demonstrates a high degree of accuracy and stability, contributing to efficient and low-cost estimations of lattice constants.
Improving medication safety practice at a community hospital: a focus on bar code medication administration scanning and pain reassessment.

Introduction In the USA over 30% of medication errors occur at the point of administration. Among non-surgical patients in US hospitals exposed to opioids, 0.6% experience a severe opioid-related adverse event. In September 2018, Sierra View Medical Center identified two areas of opportunity for quality improvement: bedside bar code medication administration (BCMA) and pain reassessments. At baseline (April 2018 to September 2018) only 81% of medications were scanned prior to administration with pain reassessments completed only 41% of the time 1 hour postopioid administration. Objective To improve BCMA scanning rates (goal ≥95%) and pain reassessments within 1 hour postopioid administration (goal ≥90%). Methods Implementation methods included data transparency, weekly dashboards, education and plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles informed by feedback from key stakeholders. Results Following a series of PDSA cycle implementations, barcode medication administration (BCMA) scanning rates improved by 14% (from 81% to 95%) and pain reassessments improved by 50% (from 41% to 91%), sustained 17 months postproject implementation (October 2018 to February 2019). The number of adverse drug events (ADEs) related to administration errors decreased by 17% (estimated annual cost savings of $120 750–239 725 per year) and opioid-related ADEs decreased by 2.6% (estimated annual cost savings of $72 855–80 928 per year). Conclusion Adopting John Kotter’s model for change, developing performance dashboards and sustaining engagement among stakeholders on a weekly basis improved bar code medication scanning rates and pain reassessment compliance. The stakeholders created momentum for change in both practice and culture resulting in improved patient safety with a favourable financial impact.
On the general relationship between victimization and offending: Examining cultural contingencies

abstract Available online xxxx Culture has been implicated in a wide range of individual behaviors. However, empirical investigation of howculture impacts violent behavior is limited. In particular, the well-established ﬁnding that there is an overlapbetween offenders and victims has not been examined in a culturally comparative context - limiting the abilityto generalize current ﬁndings across cultures.Purpose: This study uses data from the second International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD-II), a largeschool-basedsampleofadolescentsingrades7-9,andthreemeasuresfromtheHofstedeDimensionsofNationalCulturedatasettoinvestigatehowculturemightmoderatetherelationshipbetweenvictimizationandoffending.Methods: A series of multivariate, multilevel models are run examining variation in the victim-offender overlapacross contexts and attempting to explain why variations exist.Results: The results indicate that victimization remains a salient predictor of offending across contexts withoverall consistency in its effect on offending. Some cultural indicators were shown to slightly moderate thisrelationship.Conclusions: While consistency in the victim-offender overlap was clear, individualism was a cultural-levelvariable that displayed a weak but statistically signiﬁcant moderation effect on the victim-offender relationshipsuggesting that culture should not be altogether ignored in studies on violence.© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
CAPE: a framework for assessing equity throughout the computer science education ecosystem

Examining both the leading indicators of equity in CS and the lagging indicators of student outcomes.
Accurate Prediction of Free Solvation Energy of Organic Molecules via Graph Attention Network and Message Passing Neural Network from Pairwise Atomistic Interactions.

Deep learning based methods have been widely applied to predict various kinds of molecular properties in the pharmaceutical industry with increasingly more success. Solvation free energy is an important index in the field of organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, drug delivery, and biological processes. However, accurate solvation free energy determination is a time-consuming experimental process. Furthermore, it could be useful to assess solvation free energy in the absence of a physical sample. In this study, we propose two novel models for the problem of free solvation energy predictions, based on the Graph Neural Network (GNN) architectures: Message Passing Neural Network (MPNN) and Graph Attention Network (GAT). GNNs are capable of summarizing the predictive information of a molecule as low-dimensional features directly from its graph structure without relying on an extensive amount of intra-molecular descriptors. As a result, these models are capable of making accurate predictions of the molecular properties without the time consuming process of running an experiment on each molecule. We show that our proposed models outperform all quantum mechanical and molecular dynamics methods in addition to existing alternative machine learning based approaches in the task of solvation free energy prediction. We believe such promising predictive models will be applicable to enhancing the efficiency of the screening of drug molecules and be a useful tool to promote the development of molecular pharmaceutics.
Legionella pneumophila targets autophagosomes and promotes host autophagy during late infection

Abstract Autophagy is a fundamental eukaryotic process that mediates clearance of unwanted molecules and facilitates nutrient release. The bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila establishes an intracellular niche within phagocytes by manipulating host cellular processes, such as autophagy. Effector proteins translocated by L. pneumophila’s Dot/Icm type IV secretion system have been shown to suppress autophagy. However evidence suggests that overall inhibition of autophagy may be detrimental to the bacterium. As autophagy contributes to cellular homeostasis and nutrient acquisition, L. pneumophila may translocate effectors that promote autophagy for these benefits. Here, we show that effector protein Lpg2411 binds phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate lipids and preferentially binds autophagosomes. Translocated Lpg2411 accumulates late during infection and co-localizes with the autophagy receptor p62 and ubiquitin. Furthermore, autophagy is inhibited to a greater extent in host cells infected with a mutant strain lacking Lpg2411 compared to those infected with wild-type L. pneumophila, indicating that Lpg2411 stimulates autophagy to support the bacterium’s intracellular lifestyle. Summary Legionella pneumophila translocates several effector proteins that inhibit autophagic processes. In this study, we find that the effector protein Lpg2411 targets autophagosomes during late stages of infection and promotes autophagy.
Adjusting Intervention Intensity to Support Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Special education and related professionals often understand the importance of adhering to intervention procedures (i.e., fidelity), but may be less familiar with concepts of intervention intensity...
A Simulation Study of Adaptation in Traffic Management Decision Making under Free Scheduling Flight Operations

This research describes an investigation into the potential impact of alternative management control policies on air traffic flow. An experiment was conducted that analyzed the effect of four different arrival management conditions under two different goal conditions on computer-simulated traffic management decision making and on simulated performance. In the condition representing the least level of central arrival management, there was no central arrival management decision maker at all. Two of the arrival management conditions resembled “free scheduling” operations: in both, a central arrival manager provided information to support independent departure decisions by air carriers, but the two conditions differed on the type of information provided. The fourth condition represented a centrally controlled arrival management operation, where the arrival manager directly limited the number of departures the air carriers could make.Each arrival management condition was simulated under two different goal cond...
When Worlds Collide: The Uneasy Convergence of Creativity and Innovation

Over time there has developed an uneasy convergence between the normative concepts of “creativity” and “innovation,” particularly in the areas of copyright and patent law and policy. Arising historically from the inclusion of software as a copyright protectable work in the 1980s, this convergence has led to the interjection of concepts related to the protection of “innovation” into copyright law. Ultimately, the conflation of “innovation” with “creativity” blurs the normative distinctions between these two areas of intellectual property protection and leads to the adoption of innovation protection methods in copyright which are better suited the policy goals of patent law. This article contends that the distinctions between “creativity” and “innovation” are not only critical to the development of a rational copyright system, they ultimately explain why mistakes in the scope of protection afforded “creative” activities may be more harmful than those afforded “innovative” ones.
Inhibition of COX-2 expression by endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol is mediated via PPAR-γ.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Endocannabinoids have both anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties against harmful stimuli. We previously demonstrated that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) protects hippocampal neurons by limiting the inflammatory response via a CB1 receptor-dependent MAPK/NF-κB signalling pathway. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether PPARγ, an important nuclear receptor, mediates 2-AG-induced inhibition of NF-κB phosphorylation and COX-2 expression, and COX-2-enhanced miniature spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH By using a whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiological recording technique and immunoblot analysis, we determined mEPSCs, expression of COX-2 and PPARγ, and phosphorylation of NF-kB in mouse hippocampal neurons in culture. KEY RESULTS Exogenous and endogenous 2-AG-produced suppressions of NF-κB-p65 phosphorylation, COX-2 expression and excitatory synaptic transmission in response to pro-inflammatory interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and LPS were inhibited by GW9662, a selective PPARγ antagonist, in hippocampal neurons in culture. PPARγ agonists 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) and rosiglitazone mimicked the effects of 2-AG on NF-κB-p65 phosphorylation, COX-2 expression and mEPSCs, and these effects were eliminated by antagonism of PPARγ. Moreover, exogenous application of 2-AG or elevation of endogenous 2-AG by inhibiting its hydrolysis with URB602 or JZL184, selective inhibitors of monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), prevented the IL-1β- and LPS-induced reduction of PPARγ expression. The 2-AG restoration of the reduced PPARγ expression was blocked or attenuated by pharmacological or genetic inhibition of the CB1 receptor. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our results suggest that CB1 receptor-dependent PPARγ expression is an important and novel signalling pathway in endocannabinoid 2-AG-produced resolution of neuroinflammation in response to pro-inflammatory insults. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed issue on Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine. To view the other articles in this issue visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.163.issue-7
Magcam [camera for visually impaired people]

The Magcam (Mini Magnifying Camera) is a hand-held electronic magnification camera used in conjunction with any TV or LCD display to provide a larger and clearer image of the scanned data.
Marketing nutrition through a corporate intranet

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of pop-up messages promoting the consumption of fruits and vegetables in a corporate setting. Fun food facts and nutritional information about fruits and vegetables were marketed through electronic pop-up messages attached to a corporate intranet menu. A Pearson's correlation, between total fruit sales and website hits during the test period, showed a moderately positive correlation. This, however, was weaker than the correlation found during the baseline period. No significant differences were found concerning total fruit sales between the pretest, baseline and test periods. Daily menu website at the beginning of the workweek had significantly lower hits than the previous year. The mean cafeteria menu website hits at the end of the workweek were higher during the intranet intervention. Results indicate that an intranet intervention implemented at the end of the workweek could effectively market healthful cafeteria food options to corporate employees.