cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the granular lubrication theory

The governing equations for the flow of a granular material within the context of the lubrication theory are derived. The resulting analysis gives a generalized Reynolds equation that predicts the pressure generation capacity in a bearing with consideration of side flow. A series of simulations are presented that characterize the three-dimensional flow behaviour of powder in a slider bearing.
Job-Related Burnout Among Civilian and Sworn Police Personnel

Employee burnout can affect workers’ health, motivation, and job performance, and speed staff turnover. In law enforcement, burnout has been attributed to a variety of job-related, organizational, ...
Virtual-reality training improves angled telescope skills in novice laparoscopists.

Abstract Background Based on prior success of virtual-reality (VR) trainers in imparting surgical skills, a randomized and controlled study was designed to determine whether VR training improves angled-telescope operative performance. Methods Third-year medical students received instruction on the use of an angled laparoscope and subsequently underwent performance assessment of angled telescope navigational tasks in an anesthetized porcine model. Subjects were then randomized to objective-based training with an angled-telescope simulator (EndoTower; Verefi Technologies, Elizabethtown, PA) versus no training, followed by reassessment of performance. Results Initially, there were no significant differences between VR-trained (n = 9) and control (n = 10) groups. After training, object visualization, scope orientation, and horizon error scores were significantly better in VR-trained than control groups; subject-matched improvement in orientation score was 50.9% versus 10.8% (P Conclusions VR training in angled laparoscope use improves operative performance of novices. These data support growing evidence that VR training is highly effective in improving surgical skills outside of the clinical setting.
MALE-BIASED MUTATION, SEX LINKAGE, AND THE RATE OF ADAPTIVE EVOLUTION

An interaction between sex-linked inheritance and sex-biased mutation rates may affect the rate of adaptive evolution. Males have much higher mutation rates than females in several vertebrate and plant taxa. When evolutionary rates are limited by the supply of favorable new mutations, then genes will evolve faster when located on sex chromosomes that spend more time in males. For mutations with additive effects, Y-linked genes evolve fastest, followed by Z-linked genes, autosomal genes, X-linked genes, and finally W-linked and cytoplasmic genes. This ordering can change when mutations show dominance. The predicted differences in substitution rates may be detectable at the molecular level. Male-biased mutation could cause adaptive changes to accumulate more readily on certain kinds of chromosomes and favor animals with Z-W sex determination to have rapidly evolving male sexual displays.
Combination therapy for neuropathic pain: a review of current evidence

Neuropathic pain is a debilitating chronic condition that remains very difficult to treat. Recently, a number of clinical studies have compared the effectiveness of combination drug therapy with monotherapy for neuropathic pain treatment. In this article, we summarize up-to-date clinical studies of combination therapy for the treatment of both cancer- and non-cancer-related neuropathic pain. Despite a relatively small number of clinical studies on this topic, several positive indications have emerged. First, clinical studies using gabapentin (five positive trials) and pregabalin (five positive trials and one negative trial) in combination with an opioid, cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor or antidepressant have shown positive responses greater than the respective monotherapies for pain related to diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuropathy. Second, high-concentration (8%) topical capsaicin and a 5% lidocaine patch seem to be effective add-on therapies (a modality of combination therapy) for various neuropathic pain conditions. Third, combination therapy for cancer-related neuropathic pain has yielded only limited success based on a number of small-scale clinical studies. While there are benefits of using combination therapy for neuropathic pain treatment, including better pain relief and reduced adverse effects, more clinical studies are required in order to (i) make head-to-head comparisons between combination and single-drug therapies, (ii) identify symptom-specific combination therapies for distinctive clinical neuropathic pain conditions, (iii) explore combination therapies that include non-drug modalities such as physical therapy, psychological coping and biofeedback to facilitate functional restoration and (iv) develop new and objective evaluation tools for clinical outcome assessment.
The Relationship Between Concussion Knowledge and the High School Athlete’s Intention to Report Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Sports-related concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a frequent occurrence among high school athletes. Long-term and short-term effects of TBI on the athlete's developing brain can be minimized if the athlete reports and is effectively treated for TBI symptoms. Knowledge of concussion symptoms and a school culture of support are critical in order to promote the student's intention to report TBI symptoms. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the relationship between the high school athlete's concussion knowledge and an intention to report TBI symptoms. One hundred eleven articles were retrieved and four articles met established criteria and were included in this systematic review. A link appears to exist between high school athlete concussion knowledge and an intention to report TBI symptoms. School nurses can provide a supportive environment and concussion knowledge to the high school athlete in order to ultimately facilitate TBI symptom reporting.
Ecology of Ectoparasites from Tropical Bats

Incidence, prevalence, and density of ectoparasites are reported for 3 species of tropical bats, Stenoderma rufum Demarest, Artibeus jamaicensis Leach, Monophyllus redmani Leach, from the tabonuco forest of Puerto Rico. In addition, patterns of ectoparasite associations were examined with respect to several host characteristics including age and sex, as well as with respect to season. Levels of ectoparasite infestation differed because of host age, but not sex, with juveniles harboring higher numbers than adults. No ectoparasite attribute differed with season. Significantly different assemblages of parasites occurred on adult male, adult female, and juvenile A. jamaicensis. Moreover, S. rufum, A. jamaicensis, and M. redmani each have a significantly different ectoparasite assemblage.
Advanced General Aviation Concept Study for a Roadable Aircraft

The past fifty years has seen a myriad of attempts to develop roadable aircraft designs. It is undeniable that the flexibility offered by these personal air vehicles (PAV) would prove useful in urban and suburban environments prone to road traffic congestion, as well as in improving the efficiency of regional business commutes. Surprisingly, only few designs have managed to reach the production phase. The opportunities offered by recent advances in electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems open the door for more revolutionary designs that may prove more appealing in the market. The authors have carried out a research on roadable aircraft designs and this paper introduces the approaches taken and the capabilities developed to translate the need and requirement of customers into potential design concepts. The proposed methodology enables fast generation of concepts, rapid evaluation of interesting concepts, and finally, down-selection of the most promising design. In order to showcase the process, a notional set of mission requirements is set forth, roadable aircraft concepts are generated and one design is analyzed. Finally, requirement sensitivity and technology trade-off studies are conducted for the proposed roadable design.
Aerobic Oxidation Reactions Catalyzed by Vanadium Complexes of Bis(Phenolate) Ligands

Vanadium(V) complexes of the tridentate bis(phenolate)pyridine ligand H2BPP (H2BPP = 2,6-(HOC6H2-2,4-tBu2)2NC5H3) and the bis(phenolate)amine ligand H2BPA (H2BPA = N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-4,5-dimethylbenzyl)propylamine) have been synthesized and characterized. The ability of the complexes to mediate the oxidative C–C bond cleavage of pinacol was tested. Reaction of the complex (BPP)VV(O)(OiPr) (4) with pinacol afforded the monomeric vanadium(IV) product (BPP)VIV(O)(HOiPr) (6) and acetone. Vanadium(IV) complex 6 was oxidized rapidly by air at room temperature in the presence of NEt3, yielding the vanadium(V) cis-dioxo complex [(BPP)VV(O)2]HNEt3. Complex (BPA)VV(O)(OiPr) (5) reacted with pinacol at room temperature, to afford acetone and the vanadium(IV) dimer [(BPA)VIV(O)(HOiPr)]2. Complexes 4 and 5 were evaluated as catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol and arylglycerol β-aryl ether lignin model compounds. Although both 4 and 5 catalyzed the aerobic oxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol,...
Inverse-Ordered Fabrication of Free-Standing CNT Sheets for Supercapacitor.

Free-standing thin carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets are challenging to handle and control for device fabrication. In this paper, we report on the inverse-ordered fabrication method from thick CNT sheets to thin free-standing CNT sheets. As proof of the concept, thin CNT sheets for a supercapacitor were fabricated from 200 thick layers. The results show that the thin CNT sheet was electrochemically stable and had enhanced capacitive performance. The smaller the number of layers is, the larger the specific capacitances we have (from 10.10 F g–1 to 51.37 F g–1). Energy and power density were increased from 0.50 to 2.57 Wh kg–1 and from 0.33 to 2.31 kWkg–1, respectively. This simple and scalable inverse-ordered method is capable to fabricate CNT sheets in various forms, allowing fast trials on various applications.
Incompatibility between Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genomes Contributes to an Interspecies Reproductive Barrier.

Vertebrate cells carry two different genomes, nuclear (nDNA) and mitochondrial (mtDNA), both encoding proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation. Because of the extensive interactions, adaptive coevolution of the two genomes must occur to ensure normal mitochondrial function. To investigate whether incompatibilities between these two genomes could contribute to interspecies reproductive barriers, we performed reciprocal mtDNA replacement (MR) in zygotes between widely divergent Mus m. domesticus (B6) and conplastic Mus m. musculus (PWD) mice. Transfer of MR1 cybrid embryos (B6nDNA-PWDmtDNA) supported normal development of F1 offspring with reduced male fertility but unaffected reproductive fitness in females. Furthermore, donor PWD mtDNA was faithfully transmitted through the germline into F2 and F3 generations. In contrast, reciprocal MR2 (PWDnDNA-B6mtDNA) produced high embryonic loss and stillborn rates, suggesting an association between mitochondrial function and infertility. These results strongly suggest that functional incompatibility between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes contributes to interspecies reproductive isolation in mammals.
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States, with nearly 80% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients taking an NSAID sometime in their disease course. NSAIDs help alleviate symptoms of fever, arthritis, serositis, and headache that SLE patients commonly experience. This chapter reviews the available literature on traditional NSAIDs (nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitors) and nontraditional NSAIDs (selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors). There will also be an emphasis on the side effects and safety profile of NSAIDs in SLE patients. NSAIDs can be safely used in the management of SLE, provided that both patients and physicians are aware of the increased frequency of side effects and vigilant monitoring of adverse events.
Numerical Modelling of the Operation of a Novel Two Stroke V4 Engine

The paper presents simulations of the operation of a novel two-stroke engine for road Super Sport motorcycles. Two-stroke engines were preferred to four-stroke engines in Grand Prix motorcycle racing until the start of the Moto GP era when new rules phased out the two-stroke engines. Reasons for the change were the poor fuel economy and significant pollutant emissions. The paper discusses the opportunity of a came back at least in road Super Sport motorcycles thanks to the recent advantages in direct injection and precise lubrication for two-stroke engines, plus the opportunity to use jet ignition, based on performance simulations.
Effects of dietary lipids on body composition and liver function in juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of dietary lipids on body composition and liver function in juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Diets were formulated to contain 40% crude protein from solvent-extracted menhaden fish meal and 0, 7, 14 or 21% lipid from menhaden fish oil. The basal diet, without supplemental fish oil, contained lipid at 0.4% of dry weight. The diets were fed to groups of 25 juvenile red drum initially averaging 7.3 ± 0.18 g fish−1 in a recirculating culture system for 8 weeks and weight gain was recorded. After an additional 8 weeks, 16 fish from each treatment were sacrificed and the following measurements were recorded: hepatosomatic index (HSI), intraperitoneal fat (IPF) ratio, and liver α-tocopherol, malondialdehyde (MDA) formation, and cytochrome P-4501A activity (measured as 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity). The activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and concentrations of α-tocopherol also were measured in plasma.
Dynamics of gene regulatory networks with stochastic propensities

Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) control the production of proteins in cells. It is well-known that this process is not deterministic. Numerous studies employed a non-deterministic transition struct...
Knowledge Discovery and Machine Learning for Investment Strategy with CPC

Knowledge discovery is an important aspect of human cognition. The advantage of the visual approach is in the opportunity of solving easier perceptual tasks instead of complex cognitive tasks.﻿ H﻿owever for cognitive tasks such as financial investment decision making, this opportunity faces the challenge that financial data are abstract multidimensional and multivariate, i.e., outside of traditional visual perception in 2-D or 3-D world. This chapter presents a visualization-inspired approach to find an investment strategy based on pattern discovery in multidimensional space. It is shown that the new lossless Collocated Paired Coordinates approach is an effective instrument for such inspiration for the investment strategy.﻿ It is coming from the two levels of the approach. The first level involves examining the best 4D and 6D coordinate systems to build 2D or 3D visualization spaces. The second level involves learning parameters of attributes in each selected space. A key role of the CPC here is in helping to find the best locations (squares in 2D or cubes in 3D) to open long or short positions, respectively. The main positive result is finding the property in the visualization space that leads to a profitable investment decision for EUR/USD foreign exchange market. The strategy is ready for implementation in algotrading m﻿ode.﻿﻿
Current state of in vivo panning technologies: Designing specificity and affinity into the future of drug targeting

Targeting ligands are used in drug delivery to improve drug distribution to desired cells or tissues and to facilitate cellular entry. In vivo biopanning, whereby billions of potential ligand sequences are screened in biologically-relevant and complex conditions, is a powerful method for identification of novel target ligands. This tool has impacted drug delivery technologies and expanded our arsenal of therapeutics and diagnostics. Within this review we will discuss current in vivo panning technologies and ways that these technologies can be improved to advance next-generation drug delivery strategies.
Mañana es San Perón...¿ Trabaja el patrón?

Aunque el peronismo es indudablemente uno de los fen6menos mAs investigados y polemicos de la Argentina contempordnea, los estudios sobre 1i distan adn de abarcar aspectos fundamentales de su historia. El rol que la clase obrera tuvo en el surgimiento y supervivencia de este fen6meno politico ha centrado la investigaci6n en su relaci6n con el sindicalismo y los trabajadores1, limitando la incursi6n en sus rasgos de carActer mAs estrictamente politico, ideol6gico y cultural2. En este contexto de ausencias historiogrdficas el libro de Plotkin es un renovador intento por comprender qu6fue el peronismo, reconstruyendo algunos aspectos ideol6gicos y culturales del primer y segundo gobierno de Per6n (1946-55). Sin negar el rol central que tuvo el sindicalismo, Plotkin se propone reconstruir "(...) los mecanismos destinados a la generaci6n de consenso politico y movilizaci6n masiva creados por el Estado durante el r~gimen peronista" (pdg. 1). La actual marginaci6n politica y social de la clase obrera y la muerte del populismo en manos de un presidente "peronista" parecieran hacer licita la pregunta por los aspectos mAs ideol6gicos y culturales que hicieron, y quizAs hacen, posible su continuidad ideol6gica. Una aproximacibn al libro permite distinguir dos cuestiones, una analitica y otra temAtica, intimamente relacionadas. Al mismo tiempo que ofrece un conjunto de interpretaciones sobre el significado de las politicas culturales y de propaganda de Per6n, las reconstruye rica y detaIl damente, tanto en sus aspectos ideol6gicodiscursivos como institucionales. Los primeros capitulos caracterizan la situaci6n politica de la decada del '30 con el objeto de definir el con-
Dynamic Computational Model of the Human Spinal Cord Connectome.

Connectomes abound, but few for the human spinal cord. Using anatomical data in the literature, we constructed a draft connectivity map of the human spinal cord connectome, providing a template for...
Transcriptional regulation of fatty acid cis–trans isomerization in the solvent‐tolerant soil bacterium, Pseudomonas putida F1

One key to the success of Pseudomonas spp. is their ability to reside in hostile environments. Pseudomonas spp. possess a cis-trans isomerase (Cti) an enzyme that converts the cis-unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) of the membrane lipids to their trans-isomers to rigidify the membrane and thereby resist stresses. Whereas the posttranslational Cti regulation has been previously reported, transcriptional cti regulation remains to be studied in more details. Here, we have studied cti transcriptional regulation in the solvent-tolerant strain Pseudomonas putida F1. Two cti transcriptional start sites (cti-279 and cti-77) were identified with cti-279 transcript being dominant. Expression of cti was found to increase with temperature increase, addition of the organic solvent, octanol and in the stationary growth phase. We found that cti expression was repressed by the cyclic-AMP receptor protein (Crp) and repression required the cyclic-AMP ligand of Crp. Production of trans-unsaturated FAs was found to decrease after 24 h of growth. Although this decrease was accompanied by an increase in cyclopropane FA content, this was not at the expense of trans-unsaturated FAs demonstrating the absence of competition between Cti and Cfa in FA modification.
Extracting Motor Imagery Features to Control Two Robotic Hands

Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) technology has the potential to restore physical movement of the arm or leg by acquiring electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from the human brain, detecting changes associated with a human arm or leg movements, and generate control signals for the assistive devices in real-time. This project was designed to understand motor imagery tasks associated with human hand movement during visual stimulation, record EEG signals for actual and imagery tasks, and train artificial neural network algorithms u sing three different methods: Scaled Conjugate Gradient, Levenberg-Marquardt, and Bayesian Regularization. Hjorth parameters were calculated prior to train neural network algorithm in order to extract four features: rest, right hand, left hand and both hands. The experiment includes 16-channel wired EEG system from g.tec to acquire real-time signals from the human scalp in Simulink at a sampling rate of 512 samples/second. Eight human subjects between ages of 18 to 52 were recruited to perform both studies associated with human hand movements. Motor imagery signals from C3, FCz, and C4 were used for feedforward pattern recognition neural network algorithm. Sixteen features were calculated during EEG signals recording to achieve overall 95 percent accuracy to successfully detect four different classes. A successful BMI model was developed to control two robotic hands using Arduino-Simulink library in real time with trained artificial neural networks.
Transcriptional Regulation of Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Plants: So Many Regulators, So Little Consensus

In plants, the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway (CBP) is essential for the production of photosynthetic and protective pigments, plant hormones, and visual/olfactory attractants for animal pollinators and seed dispersers. The regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis at the transcriptional level is vitally important for all of these functions and has been the subject of intensive research. Many putative transcriptional regulators, both direct and indirect, have been identified through conventional mutant analysis, transcriptome profiling, yeast one-hybrid screening, and candidate gene approaches. Despite this progress, our understanding of the transcriptional regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis remains fragmented and incomplete. Frequently, a stimulus or regulator is known, but the mechanism by which it affects transcription has not been elucidated. In other cases, mechanisms have been proposed (such as direct binding of a CBP gene promoter by a transcription factor), but function was tested only in vitro or in heterologous systems, making it unclear whether these proteins actually play a role in carotenoid regulation in their endogenous environments. Even in cases where the mechanism is relatively well understood, regulators are often studied in isolation, either in a single plant species or outside the context of other known regulators. This presents a conundrum: why so many candidate regulators but so little consensus? Here we summarize current knowledge on transcriptional regulation of the CBP, lay out the challenges contributing to this conundrum, identify remaining knowledge gaps, and suggest future research directions to address these challenges and knowledge gaps.
Perception of Damaged Self in Plants.

Multicellular eukaryotes including plants and animals have evolved highly complex, multilayered immune systems to fight off microbial infections. How the immune systems function is a fundamental question for immunologists. The animal immune system was originally thought to function by distinguishing
Unravelling the sintering temperature-induced phase transformations in Ba(Fe0.7Ta0.3)O3-δ ceramics

Abstract Our work reports on the fundamental details of the crystal structure and phase transformations in Ba(Fe0.7Ta0.3)O3-δ, the best known temperature-independent oxygen-sensing ceramic material for applications in extreme environments. Ba(Fe0.7Ta0.3)O3-δ ceramics were synthesized using conventional solid-state ceramic reaction under variable sintering temperatures (Ts = 1200–1350 °C). Combined X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements revealed the Ts-induced phase transformations and their origin in Ba(Fe0.7Ta0.3)O3-δ. Associated with phase transformations, pseudo-cubic (PC) reflections, such as {200}PC, {211}PC, and {220}PC, exhibited distinct anomalies with increasing Ts. At Ts = 1200 °C, Ba(Fe0.7Ta0.3)O3-δ stabilized in mixed orthorhombic + rhombohedral phases (Amm2 + R3m). With increasing Ts (≥1250 °C), Ba(Fe0.7Ta0.3)O3-δ ceramics stabilized in tetragonal/rhombohedral [P4mm + R3m] mixed phases, while variations in the quantity of the respective phases were observed. Because both structure and crystal chemistry play key roles in achieving enhanced performance in chemical sensing and catalytic converters, detailed understanding of the phase transformations and crystal structure of Ba(Fe0.7Ta0.3)O3-δ ceramics, as derived in this work, will be useful to develop chemical sensors with optimum performance for high-temperature and corrosive environments.
Author response: Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics disorders: Relationship to Alzheimer biomarkers and cognition

We would like to thank Drs. Allali and Laticevschi for their comment on our recent publication.1 They report previously unpublished findings from an NPH cohort in Geneva,2 which showed that the presence of a high-convexity tight sulci (HCTS) was associated with a lower CSF phosphorylated tau level. Both their observations and ours show converging evidence of an association with lower tau burden and the presence of HCTS, which is an MRI indicator of a CSF dynamics disorder. In our study, we demonstrated the presence of HCTS was associated with lower tau signal on PET in a population-based study,1 and the Geneva group showed low CSF phosphorylated tau levels in a cohort of patients with NPH. Similar findings in 2 different cohorts with 2 different ways of measuring tau provide additional evidence that the HCTS pattern is not secondary to Alzheimer disease tauopathy.
Effect of metallic substrates and cavities on emission kinetics of dye-doped polymeric films

We have studied emission kinetics in dye-doped polymeric films (HITC:PMMA), deposited on top of glass and silver and embedded in Fabry–Perot cavities (metal-insulator-metal waveguides). For highly doped films on glass, we observed strong concentration quenching, as evidenced by a dramatic shortening of the emission kinetics, consistent with our previous studies. However, for the same dye-doped films on top of silver, slower emission kinetics were observed despite the high decay rates of individual dye molecules near the metallic surface. The concentration quenching rates in Fabry–Perot cavities were nearly identical to those of HITC:PMMA films deposited on top of silver. These findings are explained within a theoretical model for the inhibition of Forster energy transfer near a metallic surface. Furthermore, the emission kinetics of the dye-doped films on top of silver were approximately single exponential—consistent with the strong coupling of excited molecules with propagating surface plasmons.
High order quadrature based iterative method for approximating the solution of nonlinear equations

In this paper, weight function and composition technique is utilized to speeds up the convergence order and increase the efficiency of an existing quadrature based iterative method. This results in the proposition of its improved form from a two-point quadrature based method of convergence order ρ = 3 with efficiency index EI = 1:3161 to a three-point method of convergence order ρ = 8 with EI = 1:5157 at the cost of one additional function evaluation. The method is used to approximate the solution of some nonlinear equations and the results generated are compared with that of some existing methods. Numerical results shows that method developed herein is very efficient in approximation of solution of nonlinear equations.
Fundamentals of Cardiopulmonary Bypass Machine Equipment and Technique

Cardiac surgery is uniquely complex, as it requires a significant amount of artificial support, because the heart is exposed to extreme manipulation and incisions. Most cardiac operations use an extra-corporeal device, called the heart-lung machine, to provide cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
Targeted degradation of transcription factors by TRAFTACs: TRAnscription Factor TArgeting Chimeras.

Summary Many diseases, including cancer, stem from aberrant activation or overexpression of oncoproteins that are associated with multiple signaling pathways. Although proteins with catalytic activity can be successfully drugged, the majority of other protein families, such as transcription factors, remain intractable due to their lack of ligandable sites. In this study, we report the development of TRAnscription Factor TArgeting Chimeras (TRAFTACs) as a generalizable strategy for targeted transcription factor degradation. We show that TRAFTACs, which consist of a chimeric oligonucleotide that simultaneously binds to the transcription factor of interest (TOI) and to HaloTag-fused dCas9 protein, can induce degradation of the former via the proteasomal pathway. Application of TRAFTACs to two oncogenic TOIs, NF-κB and brachyury, suggests that TRAFTACs can be successfully employed for the targeted degradation of other DNA-binding proteins. Thus, TRAFTAC technology is potentially a generalizable strategy to induce degradation of other transcription factors both in vitro and in vivo.
Sustaining and Enhancing the Scholarly Communications Department: A Comprehensive Guide [Book Review]

Are you interested in the field of scholarly communications or have you recently been hired at your institution as the director of scholarly initiatives? The concepts presented in Sustaining and Enhancing the Scholarly Communications Department: A Comprehensive Guide by Kris S. Helge, Ahmet Meti Tmava, and Amanda R. Zerangue provide guidance for the scholarly communications librarian, especially those new to the profession.
School-Based Management and Learning Outcomes: Experimental Evidence from Colima, Mexico

A school-based management program was implemented Mexico in 2001 and continued until 2014. This national program, Programa Escuelas de Calidad, was considered a key intervention to improve learning outcomes. In 2006, the national program was evaluated in the Mexican state of Colima, being the first experimental evaluation of the national program. All schools were invited to participate in the program; a random selection was performed to select the treatment and control groups among all the applicants. An intent-to-treat approach did not detect any impact on learning outcomes; a formal school-based management intervention plus a monetary grant was not enough to improve learning outcomes. First, the schools in the evaluation sample, control and treatment, were schools with high learning outcomes. Second, these schools had experienced some years of regular school-based management practices before the evaluation. A difference-in-difference design is used to identify heterogeneous effects of the program on learning outcomes. The difference-in-difference approach shows that the intensity of treatment increased test scores during the first year of the intervention.
Enforcing Openness: Trade Protectionism and Intervention in Civil Wars

Governments may resort to a wide range of economic policies to generate revenue and compensate certain sectors in civil wars. Such measures block market access and hurt the interests of third-party...
Histomorphometry in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: Comparison of Different Axon Counting Methods.

ABSTRACT Background Histomorphometry quantitatively evaluates nerve regeneration. Total myelinated fiber count (TMFC) is most accurately obtained manually across full nerve cross-sections, but most researchers opt for automated, sampled analysis. Few of the numerous techniques available have been validated. The goal of this study was to compare common histomorphometric methods (full manual [FM], sampled manual [SM], and sampled automatic [SA]) to determine their reliability and consistency. Material and methods Twenty-four rats underwent sciatic nerve (SN) repair with 20mm isografts; SNs distal to the graft were analyzed. TMFC was manually determined in each full cross-section. Counts were also extrapolated from sampled fields, both manually and automatically with ImageJ software. Myelinated fiber diameter, axon diameter, and myelin sheath thickness were measured manually in full and sampled fields; G-ratio was calculated. Repeated-measures MANOVA, Spearman correlation, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed. A systematic review of histomorphometry in rat SN repair was performed to analyze the variability of techniques in the literature. Results FM TMFC was 13,506 ± 4,217. Both sampled methods yielded significantly different TMFCs (SM:14.4 ± 13.4%, P Conclusion SM and SA analysis are reliable with standardized, systematic sampling. Transparency is essential to allow comparison of data; meanwhile, researchers must be cognizant of the wide variety of methodologies in the literature.
Proposed Mechanism for the Biosynthesis of the [FeFe] Hydrogenase H-Cluster: Central Roles for the Radical SAM Enzymes HydG and HydE

Radical S-adenosylmethionine (radical SAM or rSAM) enzymes use their S-adenosylmethionine cofactor bound to a unique Fe of a [4Fe–4S] cluster to generate the “hot” 5′-deoxyadenosyl radical, which d...
Thinking Inside the Box

While the visual design of a question has been shown to influence responses in survey research, it is less understood how these effects extend to assessment-based questions that attempt to measure how, rather than just what, a respondent thinks. For example, in a divergent thinking task, the number and elaboration of responses, not just how original they are, contribute to the assessment of creativity. Using the Alternative Uses Task in an online survey, we demonstrated that scores on fluency, elaboration, and originality, core constructs of participants' assessed creative ability, were systematically influenced by the visual design of the response boxes. The extent to which participants were susceptible to these effects varied with individual differences in trait conscientiousness, as several of these effects were seen in participants with high, but not low, conscientiousness. Overall, our results are consistent with previous survey methodology findings, extend them to the domain of creativity research, and call for increased awareness and transparency of visual design decisions across research fields.
A New Approach to Intellectual Property Management and Industrially Funded Research at Penn State

(2012). A New Approach to Intellectual Property Management and Industrially Funded Research at Penn State. Research-Technology Management: Vol. 55, No. 5, pp. 12-17.
Purification and Characterization of a Histidine-binding Protein from Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 and Its Relationship to the Histidine Permease System

Abstract A histidine-binding protein has been isolated from the shock fluid of osmotically shocked Salmonella typhimurium cells and has been purified by conventional techniques. It has a molecular weight of 25,000 and binds 1 histidine molecule per molecule of protein. The binding protein is stable to wide variations of temperature, ionic strength, and pH. It binds histidine with a Kd of 1.5 µm. The protein also binds arginine but with a much weaker affinity. The transport of histidine by Salmonella typhimurium was found to be an energy-dependent process. The Km for histidine was 0.07 µm when measured by the "growing cells" method but it was 1 µm when determined in the presence of an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Histidine transport is inhibited by large excesses of arginine. Osmotically shocked cells exhibit a reduction in the initial rate and the steady state level of histidine accumulation. The simultaneous release of the histidine-binding protein and the reduction of transport caused by osmotic shock, as well as the similarity of kinetic constants and specificity of the binding protein and the histidine permease system suggest that the histidine-binding protein is a functional component of the histidine permease system.
Hyperthermia associated with baclofen withdrawal and increased spasticity

Rapid baclofen withdrawal is known to cause markedly increased spasticity, but high fever associated with this complication has not been reported. We describe a 13-year-old boy with sensory incomplete C1 quadriplegia two years after injury who was on 200mg of baclofen per day for spasticity. Concerns about adverse side effects prompted tapering of his baclofen. Severely increased spasticity was noted with associated hyperthermia to 107 degrees F after the dosage was gradually decreased. Sepsis work-up was negative, head computed tomography scan was unchanged, and electroencephalogram showed no epileptiform activity. Cooling blankets, intravenous diazepam, and return of baclofen to 160mg per day decreased spasticity and normalized body temperature without recurrence of hyperthermia. Possible fever etiology is the hypermetabolic state associated with the acute return of spasticity.
The Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form

ABSTRACT The Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form (LCSF) is reviewed in an effort to evaluate its potential use in clinical and probation settings. The individual strengths and weaknesses of the LCSF are discussed in light of its demographic correlates, reliability, and validity. It is recommended that clinical interpretation of the LCSF consider the total score grouped into three categories (scores below 7 being classified as “low risk,” scores between 7 and 9 as “moderate risk,” and scores of 10 or higher as “high risk”) which can then be used to establish the client's optimal level of supervision/intervention.
Long-term retention of learning-induced receptive-field plasticity in the auditory cortex.

Abstract Brief learning experience (classical conditioning) induces frequency-specific receptive-field (RF) plasticity in the auditory cortex, characterized as increased response to the frequency of the conditioned stimulus and decreased responses to most other frequencies, including the pretraining best frequency. This experiment asked (i) whether learning-induced RF plasticity, established in the waking state, can be expressed under general anesthesia and if so (ii) whether it exhibits long-term retention. Pure-tone-frequency RFs were obtained from adult guinea pigs under general anesthesia (sodium pentobarbital or ketamine) before and repeatedly after (1 hr-8 weeks) a 20- to 30-trial session of pairing a non-best-frequency tone with mild footshock. Conditioned-stimulus-specific RF plasticity was expressed under both types of anesthesia and included shifts of the pretraining best frequency toward or even to the frequency of the conditioned stimulus. Moreover, this RF plasticity exhibits long-term retention, being evident 1-8 weeks after training. This satisfies a criterion for the long-term storage of information in the auditory cortex.
New Developments in Convulsive Therapy for Major Depression

Abstract Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is highly effective in the treatment of major depression. Frontiers for enhancing ECT in the management of severe major depression include techniques to reduce cognitive side effects and improve efficacy for those patients who remain resistant to the therapeutic effects with traditional methods. Important relationships between electrical dosage and electrode placement have been identified and will make a major impact on the clinical conduct of ECT. Furthermore, advances in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic and adverse effects of ECT will guide the development of more refined ECT interventions and newer magnetic convulsive techniques to combat major depression.
Investigation on magnesium degradation under flow versus static conditions using a novel impedance-driven flow apparatus

Abstract This article reports a novel impedance-driven flow apparatus and its applicability for studying magnesium degradation under flow versus static conditions. Magnesium has potential to be an effective biomaterial for use inside the human body due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. Magnesium undergoes degradation reactions in aqueous solutions such as body fluids, leading to mass loss and pH increase of the surrounding fluid. To compare the degradation process of magnesium under flow versus static conditions, a novel flow apparatus consisting of an impedance pump and a flow chamber was designed and constructed. In addition to low-cost, this apparatus is flexible to be sterilized and assembled, and is small enough for use inside an incubator, making it appealing for measuring and comparing magnesium degradation in vitro under flow versus static conditions. The average flow rate in this flow apparatus was 2.8 ml/s, mimicking the flow rate (2.6 ml/s) in coronary artery. In a simulated body fluid (SBF), magnesium samples lost their mass at a much faster rate under the flow condition than that under the static condition. Starting with a pH of 7.4, the SBF showed a pH increase to 8.5 under the flow condition within 96 h due to the degradation of magnesium, greater than the pH increase under the static condition. The results of this study demonstrated the effects of fluid flow on magnesium degradation using the impedance-driven flow apparatus, providing useful design guidelines for magnesium-based implants that may be exposed to body fluid flow.
Performance of a coupled cooling system with earth-to-air heat exchanger and solar chimney

Abstract Buildings represent nearly 40 percent of total energy use in the U.S. and about 50 percent of this energy is used for heating, ventilating, and cooling the space. Conventional heating and cooling systems are having a great impact on security of energy supply and greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike conventional approach, this paper investigates an innovative passive air conditioning system coupling earth-to-air heat exchangers (EAHEs) with solar collector enhanced solar chimneys. By simultaneously utilizing geothermal and solar energy, the system can achieve great energy savings within the building sector and reduce the peak electrical demand in the summer. Experiments were conducted in a test facility in summer to evaluate the performance of such a system. During the test period, the solar chimney drove up to 0.28 m3/s (1000 m3/h) outdoor air into the space. The EAHE provided a maximum 3308 W total cooling capacity during the day time. As a 100 percent outdoor air system, the coupled system maximum cooling capacity was 2582 W that almost covered the building design cooling load. The cooling capacities reached their peak during the day time when the solar radiation intensity was strong. The results show that the coupled system can maintain the indoor thermal environmental comfort conditions at a favorable range that complies with ASHRAE standard for thermal comfort. The findings in this research provide the foundation for design and application of the coupled system.
An environment for parallel and distributed computation with application to overlapping grids

We describe an environment for efficient and scalable implementation of large scientific applications on parallel and distributed computing systems. We show how this environment is used to support overlapping grid methods. In addition to providing a user interface that reduces programming complexity, the environment facilitates dynamic partitioning of data and the scheduling of both computations and communication, transparent to the user. After describing the user interface and some of the implementation issues, we present performance data for a model application executed on two different systems: an eight-processor IBM Power Parallel Prototype (PPP) system and a 32-processor IBM POWER Visualization System™ (PVS).
A note on the equivalence of time consistency and subgame perfection in stochastic games

Abstract This note examines the relationship between time consistency and subgame perfection for a class of games widely used in economics: stochastic games. While subgame perfection is a stronger refinement than time consistency, equivalence is shown for an important sub-class of games.
Electrical properties of p + / n + In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As tunnel diodes grown by liquid phase epitaxy

p +/n + In0.53Ga0.47As tunnel diodes were prepared by liquid phase epitaxy and their electrical properties were characterized. These devices exhibit large forward conductances (2.59×103 Ω−1 cm−2), high peak current densities (793 A/cm2) and large peak to valley current ratios (16.2). These devices offer great promise as intercell ohmic contacts (IOCs) for InP-based, onolithic multijunction solar cells.
One-particle excitation spectra of Hubbard systems with intersite interactions

Abstract Using exact diagonalization techniques, the photoemission and inverse photoemission spectra of an extended Hubbard model with intersite interactions are calculated. The intersite interaction is found to suppress the spectral features driven by the on-site interaction, leading to a spectral narrowing and anomalous behavior in the spin polarization of the spectra and in the doping dependence of the low-energy spectral weight. General implications of the calculated results are discussed.
Missed opportunities: intimate partner violence in family practice settings

Abstract Background. For women experiencing partner violence, women health care visits represent opportunities for physicians and patients to address intimate partner violence (IPV), a significant health threat for women. Objectives. The objectives were to estimate rates of physician documentation of IPV in medical records; characterize IPV+ women most likely to have IPV documented; and determine whether IPV screening increased IPV documentation. Methods. Subjects were women ages 18–65 receiving primary care in two large family practice clinics. All were screened for IPV by study staff using a modified Index of Spouse Abuse and the Women's Experience with Battering scales. We selected and abstracted medical records for all women experiencing current IPV ( N = 144) and a random sample of women never experiencing IPV ( N = 147). Results. Of 144 women screened as currently experiencing IPV, 14.7% were documented. Women most likely to have IPV documented were Caucasian, with higher WEB scores, and more likely to have an event that could trigger posttraumatic stress syndrome. Although the majority (41/56) of women currently in physically violent relationships did not plan to disclose IPV, those disclosing were significantly more likely to have IPV documented and documentation occurred after screening for 60% of women experiencing IPV. Conclusion. IPV screening increased documentation. IPV screening can provide the opportunity for patients to disclose IPV. Physicians then have the opportunity to compassionately connect patients with appropriate resources.
Analysis of di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate plasticiser in foods by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Realisation d'une technique de dosage de ce compose present dans les emballages alimentaires et qui peut contaminer les produits par migration (essai sur du fromage, des gâteaux)
Citizen complaints and gender diversity in police organisations

Using data from 464 law enforcement agencies drawn from the Law Enforcement Administrative and Management Statistics survey, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the number of institutional rules and organisational structures an agency has in place to identify, collect and manage information on the use of force incidents explains the previously reported findings that greater levels of female officer representation is associated with more police use of force. Agencies reported receiving a total of 18,711 citizen complaints in 2003 and 22,146 complaints in 2007. Approximately 6.7% of the complaints were sustained in 2003 and 8% in 2007. In 2007, women made up approximately 11% of the sworn officers in the agencies under examination, ranging from 1.4% to 40.1%, up slightly from 2003 when the average was 10.1% Based on the disruption thesis, we hypothesise that increasing female representation in police organisations is a catalyst by which norms and practices become formalised and embedded in the...