cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brain potentials to native and non-native speech contrasts in 7- and 11-month-old American infants

Behavioral data establish a dramatic change in infants’ phonetic perception between 6 and 12 months of age. Foreign-language phonetic discrimination significantly declines with increasing age. Using a longitudinal design, we examined the electrophysiological responses of 7- and 11-month-old American infants to native and non-native consonant contrasts. Analyses of the eventrelated potentials (ERP) of the group data at 7 and at 11 months of age demonstrated that infants’ discriminatory ERP responses to the non-native contrast are present at 7 months of age but disappear by 11 months of age, consistent with the behavioral data reported in the literature. However, when the same infants were divided into subgroups based on individual ERP components, we found evidence that the infant brain remains sensitive to the non-native contrast at 11 months of age, showing differences in either the P150‐250 or the N250‐550 time window, depending upon the subgroup. Moreover, we observed an increase in infants’ responsiveness to native language consonant contrasts over time. We describe distinct neural patterns in two groups of infants and suggest that their developmental differences may have an impact on language development.
Heat Balance in the Nocturnal Boundary Layer during CASES-99

Abstract A unique set of nocturnal longwave radiative and sensible heat flux divergences was obtained during the 1999 Cooperative Atmosphere–Surface Exchange Study (CASES-99). These divergences are based on upward and downward longwave radiation measurements at two levels and turbulent eddy correlation measurements at eight levels. In contrast to previous radiation divergence measurements obtained within 10 m above the ground, radiative flux divergence was measured within a deeper layer—between 2 and 48 m. Within the layer, the radiative flux divergence is, on average, comparable to or smaller than the sensible heat flux divergence. The horizontal and vertical temperature advection, derived as the residual in the heat balance using observed sensible heat and radiative fluxes, are found to be significant terms in the heat balance at night. The observations also indicate that the radiative flux divergence between 2 and 48 m was typically largest in the early evening. Its magnitude depends on how fast the gr...
Wine Specialty Funds and Their Application in Prudent Portfolio Management

An elementary look at wine specialty funds and whether they can be used in prudent portfolio management.
Glutathione Metabolism and Its Contribution to Antiapoptotic Properties of α-Crystallins in the Retina

Research on the multifaceted role of α-crystallins in tissues including the retina has intensified in recent years. Several studies show that α-crystallins elicit antiapoptotic properties in addition to their well-known chaperone function. Glutathione (GSH), an endogenous antioxidant present abundantly in retina and in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, is also critical for the maintenance of cellular viability. The modulation of GSH enzymes, transport, and mechanisms of protection are discussed with special emphasis on their role in defining the antioxidative action of α-crystallins in the retina during oxidative stress. Recent studies reveal the following: (a) GSH release from RPE cells is mediated by multidrug resistance proteins (MRPs), probably MRP1; (b) Overexpression and suppression of α-crystallin results in elevation or decrease in intracellular GSH, respectively, accounting for cell survival/death; (c) αB-crystallin is secreted by RPE cells by a distinct mechanism, and secretion is regulated by cellular stress; and (d) mitochondrial GSH and mitochondrial α-crystallin are critical in preventing cell death.
Transvertebral direct current stimulation paired with locomotor training in chronic spinal cord injury: A case study.

Study design This double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover case study combined transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS) and locomotor training on a robot-assisted gait orthosis (LT-RGO). Objective Determine whether cathodal tvDCS paired with LT-RGO leads to greater changes in function and neuroplasticity than sham tvDCS paired with LT-RGO. Setting University of Kentucky (UK) HealthCare Stroke and Spinal Cord Neurorehabilitation Research at HealthSouth Cardinal Hill Hospital. Methods A single subject with motor incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) participated in 24 sessions of sham tvDCS paired with LT-RGO before crossover to 24 sessions of cathodal tvDCS paired with LT-RGO. Functional outcomes were measured with 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT), 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III (SCIM-III) mobility component, lower extremity manual muscle test (MMT), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Corticospinal changes were assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Results Improvement in 10MWT speed, SCIM-III mobility component, and BBS occurred with both conditions. 6MWT worsened after sham tvDCS and improved after cathodal tvDCS. MMT scores for both lower extremities improved following sham tvDCS but decreased following cathodal tvDCS. Corticospinal excitability increased following cathodal tvDCS but not sham tvDCS. Conclusion These results suggest that combining cathodal tvDCS and LT-RGO may improve functional outcomes, increase corticospinal excitability, and possibly decrease spasticity. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these conclusions. Sponsorship This publication was supported by the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant UL1TR000117, and the HealthSouth Cardinal Hill Stroke and Spinal Cord Endowment (1215375670).
Light to moderate alcohol intake may be associated with non-minimal cancer risk

Commentary on: Cao Y, Willett WC, Rimm EB, et al. Light to moderate intake of alcohol, drinking patterns, and risk of cancer: results from two prospective US cohort studies. BMJ 2015;351:h4238. Empirical evidence has linked excessive alcohol consumption to increased risk of various cancers including those of the oral cavity, oesophagus, pharynx, larynx, lungs, female breast, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder and colorectum. A large prospective cohort study followed women for 7 years and found light to moderate drinking of 7–14 drinks/week was associated with increased risk of all cancers (Relative Risk=1.05, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.07).1 However, the associations of all cancers and only alcohol-related cancer with light to moderate drinking (eg, up to 2 drinks/day for men and 1 drink/day for women per US Dietary Guideline) are not as clear in the USA. To assess the risk of all cancers and all alcohol-related cancers associated with levels of alcohol consumption with a focus on …
Predicting Regular Breast Cancer Screening in African-American Women with a Family History of Breast Cancer

Objective To evaluate the impact of socioeconomic, personal and affective factors on regular breast cancer screening in at-risk African-American women. Methods The study was a cross-sectional analysis assessing socioeconomic and affective predictors of breast cancer screening practices. Unaffected African-American women ages 40-64 with a family history of breast cancer were recruited from community settings. The main outcome measures were recent mammography, regular mammography and regular breast self-examinations. Results The majority of women reported having a recent mammogram (73%) and yearly mammograms (71%). More than half (56%) reported monthly breast self-examinations (BSEs). Available health insurance and risk perception had significant independent associations with regular mammography screening so that women having a mammogram every 6-12 months were more likely to have health insurance [odds ratio (OR)=4.99, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-23.52], and women not engaged in regular screenings were less likely to perceive future breast cancer risk (OR=0.10, 95% CI: 0.01-0.96). Access to regular healthcare had a significant independent association with recent mammography so that women having a mammogram in the past 12 months were more likely to have access to regular healthcare (OR=6.59, 95% CI: 1.01-42.79). Conclusions A significant majority of this subset of African-American women engage in repeat mammography screenings with cognitive and economic factors predicting noncompliance. Additional research with repeat mammography users is required so that regular screening practices can be encouraged among all at-risk women.
Modeling the optical properties of bowtie antenna generated by self-assembled ag triangular nanoprisms.

Self-organized metal nanoparticles often possess assembly defects that can have a profound impact on the optical properties of the resulting nanoparticle assembly. Modeling these defects and evaluating their optical outcomes can provide a better understanding of how to design the assembly process and can evaluate the quality of the resulting materials. Here, we use finite element methods to examine the fabrication of bowtie nanoantenna, a commonly sought-after plasmonic structure with resonances in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths, through the self-assembly of colloidal triangular Ag nanoprisms. We model perfect and defective antenna structures and examine the effects of commonly observed assembly defects such as imperfect nanoprism shapes, off-axis antenna structures, and trimer or tetramer formation. We also evaluate the ability to fabricate antenna structures that possess comparable structural parameters (e.g., thickness, gap distance) to top-down lithographic techniques. We find that structur...
Potential Mechanism of PTA: Alterations in Joint Loading

The complex interaction between biomechanics and biology in the etiology and progression of arthritis remains unknown. The challenge becomes one of understanding joint mechanics in both normal and traumatized joints. This requires consideration of how loads are transferred across the joint, how they are distributed among the joint tissues, and how injury affects joint stability. Lessons learned from tribology of man-made joints underscore the importance of the interaction between joint force and stability. Animal models used to induce arthritic changes, often by creating joint instability, are hampered by poor control and inadequate measurement of the mechanical environment. However, considerable progress is underway, supported by increases in computational tools and computing power, the availability of mouse models that can incorporate specific genetic alterations, and more robust imaging techniques for longitudinally modeling the resulting alterations in joint tissues.
Analysis of Helicopter Maintenance Risk from Accident Data

This paper identifies the most frequent unsafe maintenance actions (maintenance errors and violations) in helicopter accidents, and the helicopter systems that were affected by these actions. We use the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident database to analyze historical helicopter accident data between 1982 and 2013. We consider an accident to be maintenance-related if it had at least one maintenance-related cause, factor, or event. In 1982–2013, there were 590 (10.0% of the 5857 helicopter accidents between 1982 and 2013) accidents that were maintenance-related—498 were coded using the old system, while 92 maintenance-related accidents were recorded using the new system. In 1982–2008, incorrect inspection was reported in 22.9% of maintenance-related accidents; however, the subject codes do not provide additional information about the types of inspection. Accidents from 2008–2013 were coded using the new system. In this period, preflight inspection was blamed in 22.8%, and scheduled/routine inspection in 7.6% of maintenance-related accidents. Maintenance Installation was responsible (in part) for 20.2% of the maintenancerelated accidents in 1982–2013. Incorrect installation during maintenance was more likely to appear in powerplant-related accidents than maintenance-related accidents overall. The helicopter fuel system (e.g., fuel injector, valves) and turboshaft engine parts (e.g., free turbine shaft, reduction gearbox) were frequently affected due to negligence during installation. Failure to comply with Airworthiness Directives (ADs) was reported 6.3% of the accidents where a structural part was affected—indicating violations of regulations.
The impact of a school-based hygiene education intervention on student knowledge in Kenya

Recent research indicates that investments in infrastructure for safe water and sanitation provision do not significantly reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases in the developing world unless they are accompanied by education in water handling and hygiene practices. School-based hygiene education initiatives are popular, but there is little evidence that they are effective in teaching students about safe water-handling practices. This study compared the outcomes of two approaches to teaching schoolchildren about the links between hygiene, water handling, and water-borne diarrhea. One approach combined messages about safe water handling and hygiene practices with water testing; the other used messages alone. A quasi-experimental design was used with 120 middle-school students. Forty students received messages alone, 40 received messages and tested water quality, and 40 served as a control group. An evaluation 1 week after the interventions measured students’ hygiene knowledge. Results showed significant improvement in knowledge among students who received messages and tested water, compared to their counterparts who received intervention through hygiene messages only. Evaluation after 12 months showed that the hygiene knowledge gained in both groups was retained. Including participatory water testing in hygiene education interventions can improve students’ knowledge about safe water handling and hygiene practices.
Bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) and obesity

O and its associated complications constitute serious public health threats in the 21st century. Over the last decade, we and others have shown that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress levels are increased in obesity. It has been documented that such increased ER stress levels in obesity plays a key role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. We have previously reported a transcription factor called X-box binding protein1 (XBP1) as a key player in the development of obesity and consequent insulin resistance. Recently, we have discovered that the expression levels of bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7), a newly identified tumor suppressor, are reduced in obesity. We showed that restoration of BRD7 expression levels in the liver of severely obese and diabetic mice reduces the circulating blood glucose levels, decreases gluconeogenesis, improves glucose tolerance, therefore, reverses the type 2 diabetic features. We showed that reinstating BRD7 levels in the liver restores XBP1s’ ability to translocate to the nucleus in obesity conditions, therefore, restores the transcriptional activity of XBP1s, and acts to maintain glucose homeostasis.
Civil War Wests: Testing the Limits of the United States

Civil War Wests: Testing the Limits of the United States is the result of a 2013–2014 symposium of the same title that was jointly sponsored by the William P. Clements Center for Southwest Studies ...
The Globalization of Innovation, Nationalist Competition, and the Internationalization of Scientific Training:

Richard Gordon's work helps us understand that globalization of innovation does not diminish competition among states, but it does make it more difficult for states to influence the distribution of...
Colon: Structure, Function, and Disorders

The colon is a dynamic organ involved in the absorption of salts, fluids, and nutrients, and has a primary role in the defecatory function. Additionally, the colon is an immunologically active tubular cavity playing an important part in host immune responses and defense against pathogens. Interactions with the colonic microbiome are important in a variety of health and disease states, including obesity, diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel disease. The colon also contributes to energy and nitrogen metabolism, either directly or indirectly via the microbiome. Chronic conditions including protein losing enteropathy and chronic inflammatory disease have implications on energy expenditure and growth.
The Highways and Byways of Ritual: Pascal and Xunzi on Faith, Virtue, and Religious Practice

Blaise Pascal contends that ritual is not simply an expression of religious faith; it is also the means by which religious faith is cultivated. While Pascal fails to offer a plausible account of how ritual can lead to faith, the classical Confucian philosopher Xunzi’s account of ritual – especially his account of how rituals shape a person’s character and how one comes to “acquire a taste” for the things that rituals achieve – is a helpful resource for extending and refining Pascal’s account of how ritual works to transform not just our actions but our feelings, desires, and beliefs, as well.
Quantitative K-theory for geometric operator algebras

The purpose of this chapter is to give a friendly introduction to quantitative Ktheory of operator algebras and its applications. Quantitative operator K-theory was first introduced in my work on the Novikov conjecture for groups with finite asymptotic dimension [Yu98]. Herve Oyono-Oyono and I developed a more general quantitative K-theory for C *-algebras [OOY15]. Quantitative operator theory provides a constructive way to compute K-theory of C *-algebras under certain finiteness conditions. The crucial idea is that quantitative operator K-theory is often computable by using a cutting-and-pasting technique in each scale under certain finite-dimensionality conditions and the usual K-theory is an inductive limit when the scale goes to infinity.
Insect Abatement on Lubricious, Low Adhesion Polymer Coatings Measured with an Insect Impact Testing System

Insect debris disrupts laminar flow, obstructs operator vision, and degrades vehicle aesthetics. To protect vehicle surfaces, anti-contamination coatings have been under development for 70 years, but no known homogeneous coating both adequately reduces debris and survives on vehicle surfaces. Coatings with synergistic combinations of physical properties and materials, however, may enable improved anti-fouling and maintain long-term durability. Transparent, spray-on coatings were developed that contain a combination of fluorinated and hygroscopic chemistries in which the fluorinated component reduces wetting of insect debris while the hygroscopic component produces a lubricating layer of absorbed water that interferes with debris adhesion. Debris area after insect impact was approximately twice as low on these coatings as compared to homogeneous control materials. Furthermore, the sensitivity of debris accumulation to hygroscopic content, and thus lubricity, was measured. At least 13 wt% hygroscopic content in the developed coatings was required for decreased debris accumulation compared to a pure fluorinated surface. Lastly, resistance to common vehicle fluids and scribe-tape adhesion was measured on fluorinated-hygroscopic coatings as initial demonstrations of durability.
Coupling of the cell cycle and metabolism in yeast cell-cycle-related oscillations via resource criticality and checkpoint gating

We investigate the possibility that slow metabolic, cell-cycle-related oscillations in yeast and associated temporal clustering of cells within the cell cycle could be due to an interplay between near-critical metabolism and cell cycle checkpoints. We construct a dynamical model of the cell cycles of a large culture of cells that incorporates checkpoint gating and metabolic mode switching that are triggered by resource thresholds. We investigate the model analytically and prove that there exist open sets of parameter values for which the model possesses stable periodic solutions that exhibit metabolic oscillations with cell cycle clustering. Simulations of the model give evidence that such solutions exist for large sets of parameter values. This demonstrates that checkpoint gating coupled with critical resources can be a robust mechanism for producing the phenomena observed in experiments.
Association between American Board of Surgery in-training examination score and attrition from general surgery residency.

Abstract Background The American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam is administered annually to general surgery residents and could provide a way to predict attrition, potentially offering a point of intervention. Methods In 2007, a national survey of categorical general surgery interns was performed. Resident characteristics were linked to an American Board of Surgery database of American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam scores. Attrition was determined based on completion of training during eight years of follow-up. To identify residents at risk of attrition, American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam scores were analyzed based on average rank and change in American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam score. Results Of 1,048 residents, 739 (70.5%) participated and 108 (14.6%) did not complete training. Average American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam rank was higher for participants who completed training than those who did not (51.8 vs. 42.7 percentile respectively, P 16.5 percentile points were more likely to leave training (attrition rate 13.0% with a drop versus 6.0% without a drop, P = .003). In adjusted analysis, a one percentile increase in American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam rank was associated with decreased odds of attrition (OR 0.98, P Conclusion Lower American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam scores are associated with attrition, but this difference is small, and some residents complete training with very low scores. A large drop in American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam scores from one year to the next appears to be associated with attrition. Program directors should focus their efforts on these at-risk residents.
Co-occurring vulnerabilities and menthol use in U.S. young adult cigarette smokers: Findings from Wave 1 of the PATH Study, 2013-2014.

Abstract This study incorporates intersectionality theory to address potential effects of age on other documented risk factors for current smoking and menthol cigarette use in young adults aged 18–34 using Wave 1 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study (2013–2014). We explored known correlates of current cigarette and menthol cigarette smoking and interaction analyses by age group (18–24 vs. 25–34), accounting for survey weighting. Use of non-cigarette tobacco products and e-cigarettes was characterized among current cigarette smokers. Young adults experience multiple vulnerabilities to smoking beyond age and some of these known risk factors for smoking place those aged 18–24 at different risk of cigarette smoking compared to their 25–34 year old counterparts. These include lower odds of cigarette smoking by age for sex (female; AOR = 0.62 in those aged 18–24 vs. 0.72 in those aged 25–34) and Hispanic ethnicity (vs. White; AOR = 0.77 vs. 0.45), and higher odds of smoking among past 30-day alcohol users aged 18–24 vs. 25–34 (AOR = 1.62 vs. 1.32). Correlations between lower education and smoking were nearly two-fold higher in 25–34 than 18–24 year olds. Having any medical comorbidity had opposite effects on current smoking by age (18–24 positive correlation, AOR = 1.17; 25–34 negative correlation, AOR = 0.84). Lower education was correlated with menthol cigarette use among young adult smokers. This study suggests that higher smoking prevalence among young adults is associated with the intersection of multiple vulnerabilities to smoking.
Management and Emergency Intervention During Anesthesia

Proper management and monitoring during anesthesia minimizes the need for emergency intervention. Monitoring of. circulation, ventilation, and oxygenation allows for early recognition of problems such as airway obstruction, hypotension, acid-base disturbances, or cardiac arrest, and is discussed. Appropriate therapies are instituted early for best success and are described in this article.
Food Preferences and Coping Strategies among Diabetic and Nondiabetic Households Served by US Food Pantries

Limited access to healthy food caused by food insecurity makes diabetes mellitus (DM) self-management more challenging. Using data from Hunger in America 2014 (n = 60,122 US food pantry users), we sought to understand food preferences and coping strategy utilization (e.g. choosing between paying for food and medical care) among households seeking assistance from US food pantries with and without DM members. The prevalence of wanting and not obtaining fruits, vegetables, dairy, and protein was high among all households. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, households with DM members were more likely to want and not obtain fruits, vegetables, and dairy, and were also more likely to use several coping strategies to increase food access, compared to households without DM members. These results highlight the high demand for healthy food items among clients from US food pantries, particularly among households with DM, as well as the extra burden DM may place on food insecure households.
Soybean cultivar responses to and epidemiological studies of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2. SOYBEAN CULTIVAR RESPONSES TO SCLEROTINIA SCLEROTIORUMIN FIELD AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT STUDIES CHAPTER 3. SOYBEAN CULTIVAR RESISTANCE TO SCLEROTINIA SCLEROTIORUMMAY BE RELATED TO LEVELS OF ISOFLAVONE GLUCOSYL CONJUGATES IN THE HOST CHAPTER 4. SPREAD OF SCLEROTINIA STEM ROT OF SOYBEAN FROM AREA AND POINT SOURCES OF APOTHECIA CHAPTERS. GENERALCONLUSIONS
The Genetic and Molecular Determinants of Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: A Systematic Review.

Objective:Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a rare vascular tumor of unknown etiology. Studies investigating the molecular and genetic determinants of JNA are limited by small sample si...
Abstract 3049: Hornerin as a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer

Background and aim - Through our functional proteomics screening efforts, we recently identified hornerin (HRNR) as a protein expressed on the cell surface of both cancer and cancer blood vessels. Hornerin is a member of the S100 family of proteins, a group of calcium binding proteins involved in the maintenance of calcium homeostasis, as well other fundamental cellular processes and signaling cascades. Several family members have been implicated in a variety of cancers, with evidence demonstrating that altered expression of S100 proteins was associated with tumor progression and prognosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that HRNR may represent an important therapeutic target for cancer. Method - De-identified human tumor microarray specimens underwent standard immunohistochemistry (IHC) procedure to determine HRNR expression in various type of cancer. Standard westernblot were also used to assess HRNR expression in eleven epithelial PDAC cell lines. Analysis of HRNR expression in cellular compartments was performed after differential centrifugation of PDAC cell lysates. Cell surface HRNR expression was further validated by immunofluorescence on non-permeabilized cells. Additionally, cells from 4 different renal carcinoma (RCC) PDX models were infected with human HRNR shRNA lentiviral particles in order to silence HRNR expression. Those cells were then injected subcutaneously into immunocompromised nude mice and assessed for tumor growth. Molecular mechanism of HRNR was evaluated via western blot. Effect of blocking HRNR on cancer in vitro and in vivo using a HRNR specific antibody was determined. Results - Based on IHC scoring, HRNR expression has been observed in twenty-one different types of cancer among which are PDAC and renal cancer. Expression of HRNR in tumor cells and on the cell surface of cancer was confirmed through cell fractionation and immunofluorescence. Validation of HRNR as an important cancer therapeutic target was demonstrated through siRNA knockout studies. PDX models of renal cancer that were devoid of HRNR expression were unable to form tumors in vivo. As members of the S100 family have been shown to activate signaling pathways important for proliferation and migration, we hypothesized that HRNR would be able to activate proteins in these signaling cascades. Western blot analysis of cells treated with recombinant HRNR revealed the activation of AKT and ERK and the stabilization of EGFR. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of a HRNR targeted antibody as a therapeutic. Treatment with the HRNR targeted antibody resulted in a decrease in cell proliferation and complete cell death that was HRNR specific. Conclusion - HRNR plays an important role in cancer and represents a novel therapeutic target. Citation Format: Julien Dimastromatteo, Kimberly A. Kelly. Hornerin as a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3049.
A Metal-Organic Framework Thin Film for Selective Mg 2+ Transport

The incompatibility between the anode and the cathode chemistry limits the used of Mg as an anode. This issue may be addressed by separating the anolyte and the catholyte with a membrane that only allows for Mg2+ transport. Mg-MOF-74 thin films were used as the separator for this purpose. It was shown to meet the needs of low-resistance, selective Mg2+ transport. The uniform MOF thin films supported on Au substrate with thicknesses down to ca. 202 nm showed an intrinsic resistance as low as 6.4 Ω cm2 , with the normalized room-temperature ionic conductivity of ca. 3.17×10-6 S cm-1 . When synthesized directly onto a porous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) support, the resulting films were used as a standalone membrane to permit stable, low-overpotential Mg striping and plating for over 100 cycles at a current density of 0.05 mA cm-2 . The film was effective in blocking solvent molecules and counterions from crossing over for extended period of time.
The Composition and Magnitude of Alcohol Taxes in States: Do They Cover Alcohol-Related Costs?

Objective:At least one type of tax is applied to the sale of alcoholic beverages in all U.S. states. The purpose of this study was to characterize the composition and magnitude of alcohol taxes in ...
Improving the US hospital reimbursement: how patient satisfaction in HCAHPS reflects lower readmission.

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether patient readmission rates are associated with patient satisfaction and Medicare reimbursement rates in the US hospitals.,The Hospital Compare database was obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the US. A total of 2,711 acute care hospitals were analyzed for this present study. The data included patient satisfaction surveys, hospital 30-days readmission ratios for heart failure and pneumonia patients and related payments. Exploratory factor analysis was applied in the first stage to operationalize constructs for scale development. Partial least squares (PLS) modeling analysis via Smart-PLS was utilized for testing the hypotheses.,Results indicated that data provided from the Hospital Compare database for the acute care hospitals accurately reflect quality outcomes. Nevertheless, the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) did not penalize the hospitals when patients reported lower satisfaction via the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores.,The findings suggest that a high-readmission rate is not associated with lower payment. Such results appear to conflict with the goals of value-based purchasing programs, which seek to penalize hospitals financially for higher readmission rates.
Quenching an active swarm: Effects of light exposure on collective motility in swarming Serratia marcescens colonies

Swarming colonies of the light responsive bacteria Serratia marcescens grown on agar exhibit robust fluctuating large-scale collective flows that include arrayed vortices, jets, and sinuous streamers. We study the immobilization and quenching of these large-scale flows when the moving swarm is exposed to light with a substantial ultra-violet component. We map the response to light in terms of two independent parameters - the light intensity and duration of exposure and identify the conditions under which mobility is affected significantly. For small exposure times and/or low intensities, we find collective mobility to be negligibly affected. Increasing exposure times and/or intensity to higher values temporarily suppresses collective mobility. Terminating exposure allows bacteria regain motility and eventually reestablish large scale flows. For long exposure times or at high intensities, exposed bacteria become paralyzed, with macroscopic speeds eventually reducing to zero. In this process, they form highly aligned, jammed domains. Individual domains eventually coalesce into a large macroscopic domain with mean radial extent growing as the square root of exposure time. Post exposure, active bacteria dislodge exposed bacteria from these jammed configurations; initial dissolution rates are found to be strongly dependent on duration of exposure suggesting that caging effects are substantial at higher exposure times. Based on our experimental observations, we propose a minimal Brownian dynamics model to examine the escape of exposed bacteria from the region of exposure. Our results complement studies on planktonic bacteria and inform models for pattern formation in gradated illumination.
Terrorism in Australia: A Decade of Escalating Deaths and Injuries Supporting the Need for Counter-Terrorism Medicine.

Background: Australia is ranked 71st on the Global Terrorism Index (GTI; 2019), a scoring system of terrorist activities. While it has a relatively low terrorist risk, events globally have wide-ranging repercussions putting first responders and emergency health workers at risk. Counter-Terrorism Medicine (CTM) is rapidly emerging as a sub-specialty needed to address these threats on the front line. This study aims to provide the epidemiological context for the past decade, detailing the unique injury types responders are likely to encounter, and to develop training programs utilizing these data. Methods: The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) was searched for all attacks in Australia from the years 2009-2019. Attacks met inclusion criteria if they fulfilled the following terrorism-related criteria as set by the GTD. Ambiguous events were excluded when there was uncertainty as to whether the incident met all of the criteria for inclusion as a GTD terrorist incident. The grey literature was reviewed, and each event was cross-matched with reputable international and national newspaper sources online to confirm or add details regarding weapon type used, and whenever available, details of victim and perpetrator fatalities and injuries. Results: Thirty-seven terrorist events occurred in the study time period. Of the thirty-seven incidents, twenty-six (70.2%) involved incendiary weapons, five (13.5%) involved firearms, four (10.8%) involved melee (bladed weapon/knife) attacks, two (5.4%) were explosive/bombing/dynamite attacks, and one (2.7%) was a mixed attack using both incendiary and melee weapons. All except one firearms-related incident (four out of five) resulted in either a fatality or injury or both. Every melee incident resulted in either a fatality or injury or both. Conclusions: In the decade from 2009 to 2019, terrorist attacks on Australian soil have been manageable, small-scale incidents with well-understood modalities. Eleven fatalities and fourteen injuries were sustained as a result of terrorist events during that period. Incendiary weapons were the most commonly chosen methodology, followed by firearms, bladed weapons, and explosive/bombings/dynamite attacks.
Light Load Operation Analysis for MHz GaN Based LLC Resonant Converter

LLC resonant converter is popular for dc-dc converter designs due to its simple topology, galvanic isolation and soft switching capability. Therefore, lots of researches have been performed for LLC converter design and optimization to pursue high efficiency and high power density with high switching frequency. However, relevant research about the analysis and ZVS model for LLC converter with light load condition under MHz switching is scarce. In this paper, detailed analysis for MHz GaN based LLC converter is provided with light load. Moreover, a simple and accurate ZVS model is proposed, which can help determine fully ZVS condition for primary side devices. To verify the analysis and the proposed ZVS model, a 1 MHz/300 W (10% load) GaN based LLC converter prototype is built and tested.
Determining quantum Monte Carlo simulability with geometric phases

This paper presents a necessary and sufficient condition for the efficient simulability of a Hamiltonian in a given basis by quantum Monte Carlo.
They Treated Me Like a Criminal

Efforts to achieve compliance with environmental law most often focus on a strong enforcement policy. As in many other areas of the criminal justice system, the almost unavoidable conclusion is that laws do not function smoothly because of a weak or nonexistent enforcement approach. Not enough violators are identified; when identified, not enough are sanctioned; and when they are sanctioned, penalties are insufficiently severe to communicate the fact that violations will not be tolerated.
First TPC-energy benchmark: lessons learned in practice

TPC-Energy specification augments the existing TPC Benchmarks with Energy Metrics. The TPC-Energy specification is designed to help hardware buyers identify energy efficient equipment that meets both their computational and budgetary requirements. In this paper we discuss our experience is publishing industry's first-ever TPC-Energy metric publication.
Quantum effect in oxide thickness determination from capacitance measurement

Simple quantitative models of charge displacement due to the quantum effect and its influence on gate oxide thickness measurements are presented. An effective oxide thickness (T/sub DC/) is introduced which is relevant to MOSFET current modeling. Physical oxide thickness and T/sub DC/ can be extracted easily from capacitance measurement, and the electrical thickness can be predicted from a target physical thickness using these new models.
47.1: Invited Paper: Practical Application of TI DLP® Technology in the Next Generation Head-up Display System

Next generation automotive head-up display (HUD) could fundamentally change how OEMs utilize a HUD. A significantly larger virtual display area and vastly improved image quality are two of the many benefits. Along with the benefits come a unique set of challenges, which can be addressed by incorporating TI DLP® product solutions. This paper explores options for these challenges, including a comparison of different solid state illumination sources, and offers practical solutions for developers.
La psychothérapie individuelle de la schizophrénie: mise en perspective de son histoire, de ses développements récents et de ses orientations nouvelles

L’etude empirique du devenir a long terme des personnes atteintes de schizophrenie fait apparaitre qu’un retablissement est souvent possible. Ce dernier peut, selon cette litterature, renvoyer a des experiences differentes selon les personnes qui ont presente pourtant les memes troubles psychiatriques. Pour certaines, le retablissement peut signifier la remission des symptomes, alors que pour d’autres il peut se traduire par des accomplissements psychosociaux. Pour d’autres encore, cependant, se retablir peut impliquer des changements subjectifs dans la maniere de se sentir sujet de l’action, porteur de sens dans le monde. Pour certaines personnes, se retablir sera retrouver pleinement le sentiment de soi, un sentiment de soi qui permette de s’engager dans des relations a autrui dotees de sens et d’affronter les rigueurs de la vie quotidienne. Dans cet article, nous examinerons la capacite de la psychotherapie individuelle d’aborder les aspects les plus subjectifs du retablissement lies au sentiment de soi. Nous recenserons d’abord la litterature sur l’efficacite de la psychotherapie pour les personnes atteintes de schizophrenie. Nous discuterons ensuite les travaux portant sur la question plus large de savoir de quelle maniere le deficit en matiere de metacognition narrative, peut etre sous-jacent a certains des troubles du sentiment de soi observes dans la schizophrenie. Enfin, nous nous centrerons sur la maniere dont la psychotherapie pourrait etre concue et adaptee pour contribuer a enrichir l’experience de soi par la narration et la metacognition. Des perspectives pour des recherches futures seront discutees.
On the Increasing Intensity of the Strongest Atlantic Hurricanes

The past three decades have seen a significant upward trend in the intensity of the strongest hurricanes worldwide that is most pronounced over the North Atlantic. Questions remain about this trend especially its relevance to coastal communities in the United States and elsewhere. This chapter focuses on observed changes in the intensity of the strongest hurricanes over the North Atlantic basin and on the geographic pattern of these changes. Results show that the upward trend is significantly related to rising sea-surface temperature (SST) after accounting for El Nino. The trend peaks at 16 m s− 1 per ∘C at the 75th percentile with a 90% confidence interval of between 7 and 20 m s− 1 per ∘C. The consequences of increasing intensity of the strongest hurricanes is not confined to the open ocean as nearly 70% of all hurricanes that occur over the basin reach a lifetime maximum intensity west of 60∘W longitude. The largest intensity increases are occurring over the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, where ocean temperatures are warmest and hurricanes are strongest. Decreases in intensity are noted along most of the United States coastline consistent with a hypothesis that continental aerosols act to decrease hurricane intensity. This might help explain why, despite the increasing intensity of basin-wide hurricanes, there is no detectable upward tend in damage costs in the United States.
Molecular Mechanisms of DNA Polymerase Clamp Loaders

Clamp loaders are ATP-driven multiprotein machines that couple ATP hydrolysis to the opening and closing of a circular protein ring around DNA. This ring-shaped clamp slides along DNA, and interacts with numerous proteins involved in DNA replication, DNA repair and cell cycle control. Recently determined structures of clamp loader complexes from prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA polymerases have revealed exciting new details of how these complex AAA+ machines perform this essential clamp loading function. This review serves as background to John Kuriyan’s lecture at the 2010 Erice School, and is not meant as a comprehensive review of the contributions of the many scientists who have advanced this field. These lecture notes are derived from recent reviews and research papers from our groups.
Algorithmic Tools for Mining High-Dimensional Cytometry Data

The advent of mass cytometry has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of analytes measured in individual cells, thereby increasing the complexity and information content of cytometric data. Although this technology is ideally suited to the detailed examination of the immune system, the applicability of the different methods for analyzing such complex data is less clear. Conventional data analysis by manual gating of cells in biaxial dot plots is often subjective, time consuming, and neglectful of much of the information contained in a highly dimensional cytometric dataset. Algorithmic data mining has the promise to eliminate these concerns, and several such tools have been applied recently to mass cytometry data. We review computational data mining tools that have been used to analyze mass cytometry data, outline their differences, and comment on their strengths and limitations. This review will help immunologists to identify suitable algorithmic tools for their particular projects.
Contrast-enhanced transvaginal sonography of benign versus malignant ovarian masses: preliminary findings

OBJECTIVE The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate differences in contrast enhancement and contrast enhancement kinetics in benign versus malignant ovarian masses with pulse inversion harmonic transvaginal sonography. METHODS Seventeen consecutive patients with 23 morphologically abnormal ovarian masses (solid or cystic with papillary excrescences, focally thickened walls, or irregular solid areas) smaller than 10 cm received a microbubble contrast agent intravenously while undergoing pulse inversion harmonic transvaginal sonography. The following parameters were assessed in all tumors: detectable contrast enhancement, time to peak enhancement (wash-in), peak contrast enhancement, half wash-out time, and area under the enhancement curve. Tumor histologic analysis was used to distinguish benign from malignant ovarian tumors. RESULTS Fourteen benign masses and 9 malignancies were studied. There was a statistically significant difference in the peak enhancement (mean +/- SD, 23.3 +/- 2.8 versus 12.3 +/- 3.9 dB; P < .01), half wash-out time (139.9 +/- 43.6 versus 46.3 +/- 19.7 seconds; P < .01), and area under the enhancement curve (2012.9 +/- 532.9 versus 523.9 +/- 318 seconds(-1); P < .01) in malignant masses compared with benign disease. There was no statistically significant difference in the time to peak enhancement (26.1 +/- 6.3 versus 24.9 +/- 7.6 seconds; P = .07). CONCLUSIONS Overall, our data showed a significant difference in the contrast enhancement kinetic parameters between benign and malignant ovarian masses.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in affective disorders--I. Basic pharmacology.

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline, are the result of rational research to find drugs that were as effective as the ...
Problems with a False Recognition Paradigm for Developmental Memory Research.

Abstract Developmental changes in memory organization based on synonym and antonym relationships were examined in three experiments. Although Cramer (1973) claimed that second-grade children organized their memory for words based on synonym relationships while sixth-graders used antonyms, no support for this interaction was found. The present studies employed additional procedures in an attempt to replicate and extend Cramer's finding. Some inadequacies of a false recognition paradigm for developmental research are identified and some alternative analyses are proposed.
Controlling flow in microfluidic channels with a manually actuated pin valve

There is a need for a simple method to control fluid flow within microfluidic channels. To meet this need, a simple push pin with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) tip has been integrated into microfluidic networks to be placed within the microchannel to obstruct flow. This new valve design can attain on/off control of fluid flow without an external power source using readily-available, low-cost materials. The valve consists of a 14 gauge (1.6 mm) one inch piece of metal tubing with a PDMS pad at the tip to achieve a fluidic seal when pressed against a microfluidic channel’s substrate. The metal tubing or pin is then either manually pushed down to block or pulled up to allow fluid flow. The valve was validated using a pressure transducer and fluorescent dye to determine the breakthrough pressure the valve can withstand over multiple cycles. In the first cycle, the median value for pressure withstood by the valve was 8.8 psi with a range of 17.5–2.7 psi. The pressure the valves were able to withstand during each successive trial was lower suggesting they may be most valuable as a method to control the initial introduction of fluids into a microfluidic device. These valves can achieve flow regulation within microfluidic devices, have a small dead volume, and are simple to fabricate and use, making this technique widely suitable for a range of applications.