cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epitaxial Growth of TiN ON GaAs(100) by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Epitaxial growth of TiN films on GaAs(100) by pulsed laser deposition has been studied. Excimer KrF laser (λ=248 nm, τ=30 ns) has been used for deposition of TiN films in a chamber maintained at vacuum of ≤ 10−6 torr. The microstructure of TiN films has been characterized by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cross-sectional high resolution TEM showed a smooth unreacted interface between the single crystalline TiN film and GaAs. The predominant epitaxial relationship was found to be [110]TiN//[010]GaAs, (220)TiN//(040)GaAs at a substrate temperature of 350O C. Modelling of epitaxial growth showed that the interfacial energy is an important term responsible for 450 rotation of the TiN unit cell with respect to that of GaAs. The high strain energy associated with the coherent epilayer is reduced by domain epitaxial growth. These films were characterized using high-resolution TEM techniques, and experimental results were rationalized by thin film growth modeling.
Measurement of Low Rates of Oxygen Consumption With a Horizontal Capillary-Differential Syringe Manometer.

SummaryA small differential syringe manometer with a 30 mm horizontal capillary is described. Estimates of accuracy and reproducibility were made by measuring the release of known volumes of nitrogen gas and by measuring the slow respiration rates that occur in unsupplemented liver homoge-nates. Absorption of oxygen at rates as low as 3 μliters/hour could be measured with a reproducibility of ±1 μliter. The small size of the apparatus together with the accuracy, reproducibility, and simplicity of measurement recommend its use over conventional vertical column differential manometers.
Credit Spreads and Regime Shifts

The authors use data on a large sample of investment-grade and high-yield corporate bonds of non-financial firms to investigate the stability of the relationship between yield spreads and both Treasury term structure and market risk variables. The sample spans before, during, and after the recent financial crisis. Regression model estimates reveal a negative relationship between credit spread changes and changes in the term structure variables, as well as a significant effect of stock market conditions, bond volatility, and aggregate liquidity on spreads. Results from a Markov switching-regime model confirm the presence of two regimes and show different effects of certain spread determinants undereach regime.
Investigation on Occupational Hazards in Coating Workshop of An Automobile Manufacturer

[Objective]To understand the occupational hazards status in benzene-free coating workshop of an automobile manufacturer. [Methods]Occupational health epidemiology investigation was performed in this workshop,and the occupational health examination was performed on workers. [Results]The workplace air chemicals were all in line with the national standard.Noise intensity was 69.4~90.1 dB(A),3 points(37.5%) over standard.12.4% workers who received occupational health examination appeared biochemical immune abnormality.12.0% showed ENT symptoms in various degree,6.3% of the routine blood abnormalities,24.9% ECG abnormalities.2.1% B-sonography display had different degrees of fatty liver. [Conclusion]This manufacturer uses benzene-free spraying,chemical factors are accorded to national limits,but still produce a certain degree of hazards.The main symptoms show in blood biochemistry,ENT,ECG and liver damage.
Effectiveness of MS-222 as anesthetic agents for Andrias davidianus

This study represents the first attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of MS-222 as anesthetic agents for Andrias davidianus. Two groups of A. davidianus,sixteen from Heihe river basin and sixteen from Donghe river basin,were anesthetized in a 12 ℃ water bath containing MS-222( 600 mg / L of water). After a one half month period,eight of the A. davidianus were randomly chosen for anesthesia in a 15 ℃ water bath. Escape,right,superficial pain,and deep pain reflexes were monitored at every five-minute intervals after exposure to anesthetics. The duration of deep anesthesia and of recovery was recorded. MS-222 administered at 0. 6 g / L produced deep anesthesia in all of the A. davidianus either in 12 ℃ water bath or in 15 ℃ water bath. The time for anesthesia and recovery ranged between 11 ~ 30 min and 30 ~ 180 min,respectively. The higher water temperature significantly( P 0. 01) reduced the time required for deep anesthesia and for recovery at both groups. A slightly positive correlation( r = 0. 320) was found between body mass and the time for anesthesia and recovery.
Correlation of bulk sedimentary and compound-specific δ13C values indicates minimal pre-aging of n-alkanes in a small tropical watershed

Abstract Inherent to sedimentary compound-specific isotopic proxies of paleoecological and paleoclimate change is the assumption that biomarkers are coeval with the surrounding sedimentary matrix. Compound-specific radiocarbon analyses of lake and nearshore marine sediments have indicated a potential offset between the ages of terrestrial biomarkers and their surrounding sediments that could confound efforts to establish strong chronological control for compound-specific isotopic data. We conducted high-resolution compound-specific δ13C analyses of n-alkanes (δ13Calkane) in a well-studied sediment core from Laguna Castilla, Dominican Republic, and compared the results to bulk sedimentary δ13C (δ13Cbulk), fossil pollen, and sediment geochemistry to assess potential ‘pre-aging’ of alkanes in the terrestrial environment prior to deposition. We found significant positive correlations between δ13Cbulk values and δ13Calkane values, indicating little or no temporal lag in the response of δ13Calkane values to vegetation change and thus little or no offset in the age of terrestrially-derived compounds and the organic fraction of the sedimentary matrix. While this study highlights the need for further research into the variables affecting age offsets between proxy data, we propose the comparison of δ13Cbulk and δ13Calkane values as a method to assess potential age offsets between compound-specific and other proxy datasets, particularly in small watersheds with sediment records containing a high proportion of allochthonous organic matter. This method is more available to researchers than obtaining numerous compound-specific radiocarbon analyses, which are costly and not a routine service offered by radiocarbon facilities.
The Consumer Socialization Process in the Child-Youth Market and Its Strategic Implications for Retailers

The socialization process that takes place in the child­youth market, provides a guideline for the retail marketing strategy. This article first explores the importance of this market. After this exploration, an attempt is made to identify different marketing strategies at different stages of the socialization process­The rest of the paper elaborates upon how marketing strategy for the child-youth market can be developed.
The Haitian Army During the US Occupation

The US occupation of Haiti (1915–34) had a tremendous impact on the evolution of the Haitian military. It was a point of demarcation between the past and the present as the marines almost completely destroyed the old army and gave birth to a new military structure. In other words, the US occupation transformed the Haitian military from a fragmented institution into a professional organization, from disjointed regional army units into a centralized bureaucracy, and from a ‘director’ into a ‘mediator’ role in Haitian politics. For some politicians, the transformation was a dream come true. In the nineteenth century the army served as the government, and this constituted a problem or, more precisely, an obstacle for the establishment of democracy in Haiti. Countless politicians were hoping to see an end to the pre-eminence of the military in governmental affairs. It was argued that the army could be constrained only by way of reorganizing the institution and redefining its strictly military mission. Previous attempts at reorganization were sectoral and did not lead to the total transformation of the entire institution. The failure to reorganize the army was due to the shortsightedness of many politicians and their unwillingness to come to a consensus. Some of them were too dependent on the institution for their political careers and opportunities.
Bounds on the calving cliff height of marine terminating glaciers

Increased calving and rapid retreat of glaciers can contribute significantly to sea level rise, but the processes controlling glacier retreat remain poorly understood. We seek to improve our understanding of calving by investigating the stress field controlling tensile and shear failure using a 2D full Stokes finite element model. Using idealized rectangular geometries, we find that when rapidly sliding glaciers thin to near buoyancy, full thickness tensile failure occurs, similar to observations motivating height-above-buoyancy calving laws. In contrast, when glaciers are frozen to their beds, basal crevasse penetration is suppressed and calving is minimal. We also find shear stresses are largest when glaciers are thickest. Together, the tensile and shear failure criteria map out a stable envelope in an ice-thickness-water-depth diagram. The upper and lower bounds on cliff height can be incorporated into numerical ice sheet models as boundary conditions, thus bracketing the magnitude of calving rates in marine-terminating glaciers.
Regulatory change and innovation in Latin America: The case of renewable energy in Brazil

Abstract This article examines how market-oriented regulations have advanced renewable energy sources in Brazil. Despite efficiency and competition serving as the organizing principles for electric power reform, social and environmental considerations have steadily gained priority within energy planning. This article first analyzes the political and institutional context that gave rise to regulatory reforms in the power sector since the 1990s. The pre-existing hydropower infrastructure, both physical and institutional, is demonstrated to have created important constraints on the adoption of alternative forms of energy. Against this backdrop, it examines the factors that have enabled the share of wind and solar in the Brazilian energy supply. A central focus lies with the role of regulations and regulatory agencies that were created to govern the electricity sector. In particular, it is argued that regulators have undertaken innovative changes to encourage the use of renewable energy within the scope of their mandate. Consequently, rather than dismissing such regulatory choices as problems of weak legitimacy, future studies should unravel how regulatory agencies can ensure the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of electricity sectors in Latin America.
Current-induced surface roughness reduction in conducting thin films

Thin film surface roughness is responsible for various materials reliability problems in microelectronics and nanofabrication technologies, which requires the development of surface roughness reduction strategies. Toward this end, we report modeling results that establish the electrical surface treatment of conducting thin films as a physical processing strategy for surface roughness reduction. We develop a continuum model of surface morphological evolution that accounts for the residual stress in the film, surface diffusional anisotropy and film texture, film's wetting of the layer that is deposited on, and surface electromigration. Supported by linear stability theory, self-consistent dynamical simulations based on the model demonstrate that the action over several hours of a sufficiently strong and properly directed electric field on a conducting thin film can reduce its surface roughness and lead to a smooth planar film surface. The modeling predictions are in agreement with experimental measurements ...
Advancing a Model-Validated Statistical Method for Decomposing the Key Oceanic Drivers of Regional Climate: Focus on Northern and Tropical African Climate Variability in the Community Earth System Model (CESM)

AbstractThis study advances the practicality and stability of the traditional multivariate statistical method, Generalized Equilibrium Feedback Assessment (full-GEFA), for decomposing the key oceanic drivers of regional atmospheric variability, especially when available data records are short. An advanced stepwise-GEFA methodology is introduced, in which unimportant forcings within the forcing matrix are eliminated through stepwise selection. Method validation of stepwise-GEFA is performed using the CESM, with a focused application to northern and tropical Africa (NTA). First, a statistical assessment of the atmospheric response to each primary oceanic forcing is carried out by applying stepwise-GEFA to a fully coupled control run. Then, a dynamical assessment of the atmospheric response to individual oceanic forcings is performed through ensemble experiments by imposing sea surface temperature anomalies over focal ocean basins. Finally, to quantify the reliability of stepwise-GEFA, the statistical assess...
Heroin use onset among nonmedical prescription opioid users in the club scene.

Abstract Background Nonmedical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) is well documented among participants in the club scene, yet prior studies have not examined transition to heroin use. We prospectively examined heroin initiation among a sample of young adults with drug involvement associated with participation in the club scene, to understand factors that influence transition from NMPOU to heroin and to identify opportunities for intervention. Methods Data were drawn from a randomized trial that enrolled 750 Miami-based club and prescription drug users through respondent driven sampling, and tested the efficacy of assessment interventions in reducing risk. Participants reported current substance use at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 month follow-ups. We examined predictors of heroin initiation among participants reporting NMPOU at baseline, with no lifetime history of heroin use (N = 323). Results The mean age was 25.0 years; 67.5% met DSM-IV criteria for substance dependence. About 1 in 13 participants (7.7%) initiated heroin use at follow-up. In univariable comparisons, frequent LSD use, history of drug overdose, high frequency NMPOU, using oral tampering methods, and endorsing a primary medical source for prescription opioids were associated with greater likelihood of heroin initiation. LSD use, oral tampering, and primary medical source were significant predictors in a Cox regression model. Conclusions Heroin initiation of 7.7% suggests a high level of vulnerability for transition among young adult NMPO users in the club scene. The importance of oral tampering methods in the trajectory of NMPOU may indicate a need to further examine the role of abuse deterrent formulations in prevention efforts.
A Comprehensive, Integrative Model of Employee Engagement

The level of employee engagement has important implications for a broad set of organizational outcomes. Therefore, it is important to develop a thorough understanding of the various factors that impact employee engagement. In this chapter, we present an integrative model of the antecedents and consequences of employee engagement. The core relationship in this model is the connection between the experience of work as meaningful and the level of employee engagement. Thus, we consider a variety of micro-level dimensions of organizational behavior that contribute to meaningful work. Our model also includes organizational-level processes such as the HRVC and the PMNG that impact the level of employee engagement. This meso-model provides the basis for the hypotheses that we tested in a series of field studies.
Solvation Structure and Thermodynamic Mapping (SSTMap): An Open-Source, Flexible Package for the Analysis of Water in Molecular Dynamics Trajectories

We have developed SSTMap, a software package for mapping structural and thermodynamic water properties in molecular dynamics trajectories. The package introduces automated analysis and mapping of local measures of frustration and enhancement of water structure. The thermodynamic calculations are based on Inhomogeneous Fluid Solvation Theory (IST), which is implemented using both site-based and grid-based approaches. The package also extends the applicability of solvation analysis calculations to multiple molecular dynamics (MD) simulation programs by using existing cross-platform tools for parsing MD parameter and trajectory files. SSTMap is implemented in Python and contains both command-line tools and a Python module to facilitate flexibility in setting up calculations and for automated generation of large data sets involving analysis of multiple solutes. Output is generated in formats compatible with popular Python data science packages. This tool will be used by the molecular modeling community for co...
Perspectives on Reward Circuitry, Neurobiology, Genetics and Pathology: Dopamine and Addiction

Perspectives on Reward Circuitry, Neurobiology, Genetics and Pathology: Dopamine and Addiction
A opção preferencial pelos pobres à luz da Teologia da Libertação: uma releitura lassalista

This article interprets the theological conception of the preferential option for the poor formulated by Gustavo Gutierrez, From a Lasallian perspective. To this end, tries to demonstrate some relationships between Liberation Theology (TdL) and Lasallian pedagogy, having as criterion the emancipation of the poor in Latin America. Initially, the article analyzes the emergence of liberation theology in Latin American social context of combating poverty in the last four decades of the twentieth century. Then, it analyzes the new context of struggle against poverty in the first two decades of the twenty-first century in Brazil; it concludes that, the option for the poor is still a relevant and necessary option supported both by liberation theology as the Lasallian Pedagogy.
On periodic solutions in the non-dissipative Lorenz model: the role of the nonlinear feedback loop

AbstractIn this study, we discuss the role of the linear heating term and nonlinear terms associated with a non-linear feedback loop in the energy cycle of the three-dimensional (X–Y–Z) non-dissipative Lorenz model (3D-NLM), where (X, Y, Z) represent the solutions in the phase space. Using trigonometric functions, we first present the closed-form solution of the nonlinear equation without the heating term (i.e. rX), (where τ is a non-dimensional time and r is the normalized Rayleigh number), a solution that has not been previously documented. Since the solution of the simplified 3D-NLM is oscillatory (wave-like) and since the nonlinear term (X3) is associated with the nonlinear feedback loop, here, we suggest that the nonlinear feedback loop may act as a restoring force. When the heating term is considered, the system yields three critical points. A linear analysis suggests that the origin (i.e. the trivial critical point) is a saddle point and that the other two non-trivial critical points (i.e. centers)...
Aneurysms of the Anterior Circulation

Cerebral aneurysms of the anterior circulation include those that arise from the internal carotid artery (ICA) or any of its terminal branches. Although the indications for an endovascular approach to aneurysm treatment continue to expand, microsurgical treatment remains the preferred option for many patients with select anterior circulation aneurysms. The established durability, versatility, and effectiveness of microsurgical clip ligation for treating anterior circulation aneurysms set the standard by which all newer technologies must be judged. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive review of the considerations necessary to effectively treat anterior circulation aneurysms microsurgically while avoiding common pitfalls (Table 13.1). In addition to reviewing the salient general preoperative and intraoperative matters of relevance to anterior circulation aneurysm surgery, we also discuss the specific considerations for aneurysms in each location.
An evaluation of a bucket chlorination campaign during a cholera outbreak in rural Cameroon

Bucket chlorination (where workers stationed at water sources manually add chlorine solution to recipients’ water containers during collection) is a common emergency response intervention with litt...
Non-neurologic Late Effects of Therapy

With the overall 5-year survival of patients diagnosed with cancer during childhood and adolescence now exceeding 80%, these survivors represent a rapidly growing population who may be burdened with adverse late toxicities and chronic disease. The chapter is organized by organ systems involved and addresses many of the more common adverse non-neurologic treatment-related late effects. The mechanisms of and risk factors for their development and imaging methods for their detection are discussed.
Surgery Hurts: Characterizing the Experience of Pain in Surgical Patients as Witnessed by Medical Students.

Background The patient experience around surgical care is poorly characterized. Medical students have a unique position on the surgical team, which allows them to observe patient experiences that may otherwise be overlooked. The objective of this study was to characterize surgical patients’ experience with pain as witnessed by medical students. Study Design At the end of an 8-week surgical clerkship, we asked all third-year medical students to write a reflective essay describing one surgical patient in pain. We collected 341 essays over a 4-year period and used qualitative content analysis to explore the students’ reports of pain experienced by surgical patients. Results When asked to tell a story about a surgical patient in pain, medical students report vivid descriptions of physical agony, emotional distress, and patient regret. For example, “Throughout the procedure our patient cried out and writhed in agony from the searing pain in his chest,” and “The patient was practically shedding tears, complaining of pain, as [we] changed her dressing.” The students' accounts reveal wide-ranging physical and emotional suffering among surgical patients, including alterations in self-image and feelings of vulnerability. Pain and suffering were intensified when patients felt they had lost control, in settings of uncertain prognosis and with unexpected outcomes. Conclusions Students’ descriptions of the surgical patient's experience are disturbingly graphic. They expose suffering ranging from generalized discomfort to anguish and excruciating pain. These data suggest that surgical patients have substantial unmet needs with respect to symptom management and emotional support that, if better addressed, could improve the patient experience.
Nonbinding Goals in Teams: A Real Effort Coordination Experiment

Problem definition: We investigate the impact of nonbinding (wage-irrelevant) goals, set by a manager, on a team of workers with “weak-link” production technology. Can nonbinding goals improve team...
Analyzing and Reducing Current Harmonics of AC and DC sides of Cascaded H-Bridge Converters for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

In this paper, average modeling is derived for both AC and DC sides of grid-tied cascaded H-bridge converter (CHB). The proposed technique uses the AC current harmonics to control and reduce the current harmonic ripples on the DC sides of the CHB converter. By using the proposed modeling technique, the DC current harmonics of all cells of the CHB can be balanced including the zero- and the second-order current harmonics. This balancing technique has several advantages. First, due to balancing and regulating the even order current harmonics of all cells, the DC side current harmonics of batteries of electric vehicle are equal. So, the lifetimes of all batteries are kept the same due to dealing with the similar current harmonic spectrums. Next, as will be derived in the equations, controlling the odd-order AC side current harmonics of the grid-tied converter can reduce the even-order harmonics of the DC sides of the converter. This can increase the lifespans of batteries. Finally, the low-frequency selective harmonic current mitigation-pulse width modulation (SHCM-PWM) technique is used in this paper which meets the requirements of IEEE-519 for AC side harmonics. The simulation and experimental results in this paper validate the advantages of the proposed current harmonic balancing technique.
A joint process model of consensus and longitudinal dynamics

Abstract The Extended Condorcet Model allows us to explore interindividual consensus concerning culturally held knowledge. Also, it enables a process-level description of interindividual differences in the knowledge a person has of the consensus, their willingness to guess in the absence of knowledge, and their bias in guessing. These person-specific characteristics might be tied to one’s everyday life experiences. Here, we develop a cognitive latent variable model in which dynamic process parameters from intensive longitudinal daily life data are systematically linked to parameters of the Extended Condorcet Model. We apply this joint model of consensus and longitudinal dynamics to study whether subjective beliefs on what makes people feel loved are linked to daily life experiences of love.
6.09 – Molecular Probes for Protein Glycosylation

Protein glycosylation is a fundamental process in nature that controls essential biological pathways, ranging from protein trafficking and cell adhesion to host–pathogen interactions. The diverse and complex structure of glycans on proteins often directs specific biological processes and when altered can give rise to a variety of diseases. Understanding the basic principles of protein glycosylation is therefore of great importance to basic biology and medicine. The advances in genomics have now provided the blueprints for dissecting protein glycosylation in many organisms. Major challenges, however, lay ahead for the functional characterization of protein glycosylation in biology. A more complete understanding of protein glycosylation will require new approaches for the pharmacological perturbation of glycan-associated enzymes that will complement genetic methods as well as global biochemical analysis of glycoproteins and glycan-binding proteins. This chapter highlights advances in chemistry that have contributed to our understanding of glycoprotein function and the development of new methods toward functional glycomics.
Absorption and Fluorescence Spectral Database of Chlorophylls and Analogues

Absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra are essential for use across the photosciences, yet such spectra along with the all-important values for molar absorption coefficient (e) and fluorescence quantum yield (Φf ) often are found with great difficulty. Here, a literature survey concerning the vital class of chlorophyll compounds has led to identification of spectra for 150 members. Spectra in print form have been digitized (with baseline corrections) and assembled into a database along with literature references, solvent identity and values for e and Φf (where available). The database encompasses photosynthetic tetrapyrroles wherein the chromophore is a porphyrin (e.g. chlorophyll c1 , protochlorophyll a), chlorin (e.g. chlorophyll a, bacteriochlorophyll c) or bacteriochlorin (e.g. bacteriochlorophyll a). Altogether, the database contains 305 absorption spectra (from 19 porphyrins, 109 chlorins and 22 bacteriochlorins) and 72 fluorescence spectra (from 10 porphyrins, 30 chlorins and 4 bacteriochlorins). The spectral database should facilitate comparisons and quantitative calculations. All spectra are available in print form in the Supporting Information. The entire database in digital form is available with the PhotochemCAD program for free downloading and further use at http://www.photochemcad.com.
Correlation in plant volatile metabolites: physiochemical properties as a proxy for enzymatic pathways and an alternative metric of biosynthetic constraint

From intra-individual regulation of metabolism to entire ecosystem functioning, the thousands of biogenic compounds produced by organisms serve as a major component of ecological and evolutionary diversity mediating interactions across scales. Earlier work considers canonical reactions, defined as reactions specified along accepted (experimentally validated or theoretically postulated) biosynthetic pathways, as the primary form of constraint on chemical diversity. An emerging understanding of non-canonical reactions (reactions which occur independently of canonical reactions) suggests that the physical chemistry of compounds may play a larger role in constraining chemo-diversity than previously thought. We selected 24 studies of plant volatile profiles, satisfying a defined set of criteria, to assess the extent of correlation among profiles attributable to either shared biosynthetic enzymes or physiochemical properties. Across studies, regardless of treatment, 0.17 (± 0.16 SD) adjusted R2 was attributed to both shared biosynthetic enzymes and physiochemical properties; however, there were no significant differences between the amount of unique variance attributed to shared enzymes (0.05 ± 0.08 SD) or physiochemical properties (0.03 ± 0.06 SD). The amount of unique variance explained by physiochemical properties, independent of their canonical relationships, provides a metric for evaluating the role of non-enzymatic and non-canonical reactions in constraining molecular diversity.
Antimicrobial use quantification in adult dairy cows - Part 2 - Developing a foundation for pharmacoepidemiology by comparing measurement methods.

As stewardship programmes seek to influence therapeutic choices and reduce resistance selection pressure, it is essential to understand the multiple factors which may influence any given antimicrobial use measure. This article compares 9 measures of antimicrobial use pertaining to adult cows in US dairy systems based on treatment records standardized to a single standardized regimen (SReg) format. There are 3 fundamental parameters underlying the nine measures: amount of active substance (AMOUNT), number of SRegs (ANIMALS) and treatment time (TIME). Additionally, three use categories were considered in the analysis: control of mastitis (Dry Cow), treatment of detected mastitis (Clinical Mastitis) and treatment of other diseases (Other Treatment). The assumptions necessary for calculation of each of the nine measures are identified. The influence of measure choice on farm rank was explored at the farm level both within and across fundamental parameters. Across all use categories, when measures of TIME and ANIMALS were compared, correlations between measures were greater than 0.91. However, when measures of AMOUNT were compared to either measures of TIME or ANIMALS, the correlation between measures was more variable across use categories (R = 0.31-0.91). These comparisons demonstrate that the selection of antimicrobial use metric can affect which dairies are considered the highest users of antimicrobials. Measurement selection also influences which use category has the greatest potential for use reduction. This indicates that measure selection can influence which use category is prioritized as a target for reduction of antimicrobial use. Utilization of this information may allow those developing dairy antimicrobial stewardship programmes to better understand the potential effects of measurement selection on driving changes in antimicrobial use.
Selenomethionine as an expressible handle for bioconjugations

Site-selective chemical bioconjugation reactions are enabling tools for the chemical biologist. Guided by a careful study of the selenomethionine (SeM) benzylation, we have refined the reaction to meet the requirements of practical protein bioconjugation. SeM is readily introduced through auxotrophic expression and exhibits unique nucleophilic properties that allow it to be selectively modified even in the presence of cysteine. The resulting benzylselenonium adduct is stable at physiological pH, is selectively labile to glutathione, and embodies a broadly tunable cleavage profile. Specifically, a 4-bromomethylphenylacetyl (BrMePAA) linker has been applied for efficient conjugation of complex organic molecules to SeM-containing proteins. This expansion of the bioconjugation toolkit has broad potential in the development of chemically enhanced proteins.
Do Caps on Damage Awards Crowd Out Judicial Oversight of Civil Jury Verdicts

There are numerous policies that limit the dollar value of damage awards rendered by juries in civil disputes. Presumably intended to correct perceived problems with the jury system, these policies can be seen as automating an oversight function otherwise left to the initial discretion of trial judges. It is possible that having these limitations imposed in verdicts where judges would have not chosen to exercise any oversight in their absence makes them less willing to exercise their discretion to oversee other aspects of the damage award. We test for the “crowding out” of judicial oversight using a survey of post-trial adjustments to jury verdicts in New York and California. The results suggest that when certain components of a damage award are subject to external limits, judges are less likely to exert oversight and reduce other components of the award. These findings support the hypothesis that mandated limitations to damage awards crowd out judicial oversight and may have consequences unintended by policymakers.
Chromospheric variability mechanisms affecting pre-main sequence stars

Variability studies of pre-main sequence (PMS) stars, which combine simultaneous data from different spectral regions, provide a powerful tool for investigating both the inhomogeneous outer atmospheric structure of these stars and the mechanisms causing their observed variability. The mechanisms already identified include variations in active region surface coverage, changes in circumstellar extinction, heating due to infalling material, stellar wind variability and flaring.
The Digital Divide: Current and Future Research Directions

The digital divide refers to the separation between those who have access to digital information and communications technology (ICT) and those who do not. Many believe that universal access to ICT would bring about a global community of interaction, commerce, and learning resulting in higher standards of living and improved social welfare. However, the digital divide threatens this outcome leading many public policy makers to debate the best way to bridge the divide. Much of the research on the digital divide focuses on first order effects regarding who has access to the technology, but some work addresses the second order effects of inequality in the ability to use the technology among those who do have access. In this paper, we examine both first and second order effects of the digital divide at three levels of analysis  the individual level, the organizational level, and the global level. At each level, we survey the existing research noting the theoretical perspective taken in the work, the research methodology employed, and the key results that were obtained. We then suggest a series of research questions at each level of analysis to guide researchers seeking to further examine the digital divide and how it impacts citizens, managers, and economies.
Sources and Delivery of Nutrients to the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico from Streams in the South-Central United States.

Rebich, Richard A., Natalie A. Houston, Scott V. Mize, Daniel K. Pearson, Patricia B. Ging, and C. Evan Hornig, 2011. Sources and Delivery of Nutrients to the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico From Streams in the South-Central United States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(5):1061-1086. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00583.x Abstract: SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) models were developed to estimate nutrient inputs [total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP)] to the northwestern part of the Gulf of Mexico from streams in the South-Central United States (U.S.). This area included drainages of the Lower Mississippi, Arkansas-White-Red, and Texas-Gulf hydrologic regions. The models were standardized to reflect nutrient sources and stream conditions during 2002. Model predictions of nutrient loads (mass per time) and yields (mass per area per time) generally were greatest in streams in the eastern part of the region and along reaches near the Texas and Louisiana shoreline. The Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River watersheds, which drain nearly two-thirds of the conterminous U.S., delivered the largest nutrient loads to the Gulf of Mexico, as expected. However, the three largest delivered TN yields were from the Trinity River/Galveston Bay, Calcasieu River, and Aransas River watersheds, while the three largest delivered TP yields were from the Calcasieu River, Mermentau River, and Trinity River/Galveston Bay watersheds. Model output indicated that the three largest sources of nitrogen from the region were atmospheric deposition (42%), commercial fertilizer (20%), and livestock manure (unconfined, 17%). The three largest sources of phosphorus were commercial fertilizer (28%), urban runoff (23%), and livestock manure (confined and unconfined, 23%).
A Smarter Meter: IEEE-1459 power definitions in an off-the-shelf Smart Meter

With respect to harmonics, revenue meters have suffered from inconsistent power definitions and ambiguous metering Specifications for decades. Modern digital metering technology and new power definitions can correct these issues. The IEEE-1459 Standard provides consistent and unambiguous power definitions ideal for revenue metering purposes. Its primary innovation is the separation of the fundamental frequency power components P 1 and Q 1 from the apparent power S. This paper will demonstrate that these definitions can easily be implemented in an off-the-shelf Smart Meter at no additional hardware cost, by modifying the firmware in the metering chip. Harmonic distortion tests proposed by the OIML [2] were applied to the reprogrammed meter, and results evaluated with a commercial meter test set. The paper concludes that modern digital meter technology can implement the IEEE-1459 power definitions and existing Reference Standards can be used to test and calibrate these Smarter Meters.
Researching to Transgress: The Epistemic Virtue of Research With

In her book, Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing, Miranda Fricker describes hermeneutical injustice as “the injustice of having some significant area of one’s social experience obscured from collective understanding owing to a structural identity prejudice in the collective hermeneutical resource.” Hermeneutical injustices are part of the systemic patterns of structural injustices that members of particular social groups (for example, women, GLBTQ, people of color, and dis/ abled individuals) are susceptible to; they are, therefore, aspects of oppression. A hermeneutical injustice occurs when “a collective hermeneutical gap impinges so as to significantly disadvantage some group(s) and not others.” Those wronged in this way are excluded from participating in the spread of knowledge; a significant area of their social experience is not intelligible through collective understanding or dominant narratives because a gap in the collective hermeneutical resource renders them marginalized. Fricker offers the condition of women before the legal and social term “sexual harassment” existed to describe their inappropriate treatment by men in the workplace as an example of hermeneutical injustice. Owing to a lacuna in the collective hermeneutical resource, women were unable to fully express workplace experiences without the concept of sexual harassment and the legal and social assumption the concept now communicates (for example, “boys will be boys” does not justify inappropriate touching in the workplace). The lack of a shared concept, “sexual harassment,” harmed women in terms of physical and mental stress, but it also occasioned an “epistemic harm” because the experience of women was unintelligible to others.
Expression of p53 and Bcl-xL predicts outcome in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of oropharynx treated with chemoradiation for organ preservation

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4478 The prognosis for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck remains poor, despite refinements in conventional therapy and experimental protocols using alternative treatment modalities. Identifying biomarkers with predictive potential to choose therapeutic strategies for patients will tremendously benefit the patients and improve their quality of life and survival. We have previously shown that p53 mutation status and Bcl-xL expression correlate with cisplatin sensitivity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines. In the present study, the expression profiles of p53 and Bcl-xL in 42 patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer enrolled in an organ preservation clinical trial were analyzed and their correlation with chemotherapy response, organ preservation and survival determined. Patients received one cycle of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Patients achieving 50% reduction of their primary tumor size received concurrent chemoradiation; those with less than 50% response underwent definitive surgery and adjuvant radiation. Chemoradiation consisted of 70 Gy (2 Gy fraction daily × 7 weeks) with concurrent cisplatin 100 mg/m2 every 3 weeks × 3 cycles. A tissue microarray was constructed from pre-treatment tumor biopsies and immunohistologic expression of p53 and Bcl-xL was determined. Proportion of p53 and Bcl-xL positive tumor cells were scored by a pathologist as 50%. Patients were grouped into 4 categories based on combinations of p53 high (>5%) or low ( 21%) or low (<20%). There were significant differences between the 4 groups in overall survival (p=0.01) and disease-free survival (p=0.04). Patients with tumors having both low p53 expression and high Bcl-xL expression had the poorest overall and disease free survival. In contrast, patients with tumors having low p53 and low Bcl-xL staining had the best overall survival and lowest risk of recurrence. No difference in response to induction chemotherapy or organ preservation was observed. These results suggest that Bcl-xL expression in patients with tumors having low p53 expression could identify patients with poor response to a chemoradiation treatment approach. Targeting the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-xL, with small molecular inhibitors along with conventional chemotherapeutic agents could be a strategy to improve outcome and treatment selection in patients with biologically aggressive oropharyngeal cancer. This research is supported by NIH NIDCR grants (R01 DE13346) & (P30 DC 05188), University of Michigan’s Head and Neck Cancer SPORE grant (P50 CA97248) & Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA46592).
Harsh Parenting, Deviant Peers, Adolescent Risky Behavior: Understanding the Meditational Effect of Attitudes and Intentions

Although research supports the influence of parents and peers on adolescent risky behavior, less is known about mechanisms proposed to explain this relation. This study examined the influence of adolescent attitudes and intentions about such behaviors. Prospective, longitudinal data came from rural youth who participated throughout adolescence (n= 451). Observed harsh parenting and relationship with deviant peers was assessed in early adolescence, attitudes and intentions were measured during middle adolescence, and risky behavior was assessed in late adolescence. Results indicated that parenting and deviant peers was related to engagement in tobacco use, alcohol use, and risky sexual behaviors. Moreover, attitudes and intentions mediated this relationship even after parent use and adolescent early involvement in these behaviors were taken into account.
Direct Oral Anticoagulants for the Prevention of Stroke in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: Understanding Differences and Similarities.

The presence of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, significantly increases the risk for stroke. Current guidelines recommend that the vitamin K antagonist warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), such as the approved direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran and the approved direct factor Xa inhibitors apixaban, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban, should be used for thromboprophylaxis in patients with nonvalvular AF at risk for stroke or systemic embolic events (SEE). Warfarin, the mainstay of stroke prevention in AF, increases the risk of major bleeding. Furthermore, warfarin therapy comes with several limitations including frequent monitoring and the need for dose adjustments, unpredictable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and the potential for significant drug-drug and food-drug interactions. The DOACs were developed to overcome these limitations while maintaining or surpassing warfarin’s efficacy and safety profiles. All four DOACs have similar or better efficacy and safety compared with warfarin and are therefore valuable alternatives for the prevention of stroke and SEE in patients with nonvalvular AF. Understanding the subtle differences in the DOACs’ pharmacology, phase 3 study designs, and trial outcomes will allow for a more tailored approach in selecting the right oral anticoagulant for each patient.
Hepatozoon Parasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) in Bats

Abstract: We provide the first evidence of Hepatozoon parasites infecting bats. We sequenced a short fragment of the 18S rRNA gene (∼600 base pairs) of Hepatozoon parasites from 3 Hipposideros cervinus bats from Borneo. Phylogenies inferred by model-based methods place these Hepatozoon within a clade formed by parasites of reptiles, rodents, and marsupials. We discuss the scenario that bats might be common hosts of Hepatozoon.
Stochastic processes and genotypic frequencies under mixed selfing and random mating

Abstract A theoretical stochastic model is developed from which it is possible to compute mean genotypic frequencies and variances expected in any generation. The parameters in the model specify hypotheses concerning the more important directed and non-directed processes which affect populations under mixed selfing and random outcrossing. Results based on this model agree closely with those obtained by using an electronic data processing machine to impose stochastic variation on deterministic population models.
Simulation optimal design and application research of micro-vehicle engine's valve lift

In order to resolve the underpowered problem at low speed of micro-vehicle engine, designing optimally valve lift by using CAE method. Firstly building correct original engine model with engine performance software and multi-dynamic software based on test result. Choosing the optimal valve lifts which should meet performance and dynamic requirement. The method that has been proved true by test can decrease the cost and time.
Thermal conductivity of thin films: Measurements and understanding

Several techniques are reviewed with which thermal conductivity and phonon scattering can be measured in films of thicknesses ranging from angstroms to millimeters. Recent experimental results are compared critically with previous measurements. It is shown that phonons are very sensitive probes of the structural perfection of the films.
Effect of Sπ on the Polymerization of Liquid Sulfur and the Nature of Sπ

Abstract The Tobolsky-Eisenberg theory serves to explain the equilibrium polymerization of sulfur in terms of the dependence of S8 (ring) concentration on temperature and the dependence of number-average degree of polymerization on temperature. The predictions of the theory are completely in accord with experiment. In this paper it is shown that it is possible to take the presence of another component in the melt, Sπ, into account, using a slightly modified version of the Tobolsky-Eisenberg theory. When this is done it is found that the earlier conclusions remain valid. The molecular complexity and structure of Sπ is also discussed.