cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A LOGOS solution of a Locally Corrected Nystrom formulation for the magnetostatic volume integral equation

Local-global solution (LOGOS) modes have been proven to be an effective framework for developing fast, direct solution methods for electromagnetic simulations [1]. The LOGOS method provides an efficient direct factorization that sparsifies dense linear systems of equations with controlled accuracy. In this paper, the LOGOS method is applied to analyze the magnetostatic problem. The analysis of magnetic materials in a magnetostatic field is a challenging problem. To add to the challenge, magnetic materials are usually non-linear and are often inhomogeneous. An efficient solution is proposed for this class of problems that is based on a magnetostatic volume integral equation (MVIE) discretized via a Locally Corrected Nystrom method [2, 3] combined with a fast, direct LOGOS solver. The MVIE is posed such that only the diagonal operator is influenced by the magnetic material parameters. The dense linear system can be pre-factored via a LOGOS factorization. Thus, each iteration of a non-linear solution does not require the system matrix to be re-factorized and the problem can be solved in O(N) operations. In this paper, the Locally Corrected Nystrom solution of the proposed MVIE and the efficiency of the fast direct LOGOS solution are validated.
A competition assay to detect scrapie prion protein by capillary electrophoresis

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies of animals and humans are infectious diseases that cause progressive degenerative disorders of the central nervous system. These diseases are caused by an accumulation in the lysosymes of a modified normal cellular protein. This protein is modified by a post translational modification which truncates a host cellular protein at the N-terminus causing a conformational change in the protein. After modification, this protein becomes resistant to proteases and aggregates into rod-shaped fibrils in the brains of infected animals. When these aggregates are subjected to SDS-PAGE in the presence of 2-β-mercaptoethanol, a monomeric form (prion protein) is observed with a molecular mass of ca. 27 kdaltons. Capillary electrophoresis was used to detect immunocomplex formation of the prion protein with an antiserum produced to a peptide of the prion protein. The synthesized peptide was labeled with fluorescein iodoacetamide at the free sulfhydryl group of cysteine that was added to N-terminus of the peptide. When the fluorescein labeled peptide was incubated with increasing concentrations of the rabbit antibody, a new peak that was proportional to the amount of antiserum in the reaction mixture with a concurrent reduction in the labeled peptide peaks was observed. Incubation overnight at 4°C enhanced immunocomplex formation. Competition of unlabeled peptide and of brain samples prepared from sheep for the fluorescein labeled peptide was carried out using a concentration of rabbit antibody that produced ca. 50% of the maximum amount of immunocomplex formation. Unlabeled peptide and brain samples prepared from scrapie infected sheep brain but not from normal sheep reduced immunocomplex formation. This reduction was dependent on the concentration of the peptide and the amount of scrapie infected brain sample. By using competition for labeled peptide instead of using direct binding of the antiserum to the prion protein as in a previous study, we increased the sensitivity of detection of the scrapie prion protein. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Underwater Stock Options and Voluntary Executive Turnover: A Multi-Disciplinary Perspective Integrating Behavioral and Economic Theories

In a longitudinal study of top US executives between 1996 and 2006, we examined the impact of underwater stock options on voluntary turnover. We took a multi-disciplinary perspective, which recognizes the financial and economic logic suggesting that while underwater options may carry a positive valuation based on Black-Scholes pricing, there are also a variety of psychological and behavioral theories suggesting that underwater option portfolios may motivate voluntary turnover to a greater extent than what can be captured by Black-Scholes pricing. We investigated whether BS valuation can be usefully augmented, as a predictor of voluntary turnover, by adding insights from psychology and other behavioral theories. Supporting a multi-disciplinary view, we found that the degree to which executive stock option portfolios were underwater was positively related to voluntary turnover, after controlling for the time value of the options and other factors.
Is inflammatory bowel disease in dogs and cats associated with a Th1 or Th2 polarization

Mucosal immunity involves complex interactions to generate either immune tolerance or active immune responses. An imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that drive the recruitment of immune cells to the intestinal mucosa are a key characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease in humans, where distinctive helper-T-lymphocyte profiles help to discriminate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This review evaluates the current veterinary literature to determine whether a Th1/Th2 (and possibly also Th17) polarization also exists in canine and feline inflammatory bowel disease.
Estimation of transpalatal nasalance during production of voiced stop consonants by noncleft speakers using an oral-nasal mask.

Abstract Objective: Our objective was to estimate nasalance due to transpalatal transfer of acoustic energy during production of voiced stop consonants by noncleft speakers. We also determined the relationship between the transpalatal nasalance and fundamental frequency (F0) of the speakers. Method: Participants were 8 men and 10 women (mean age = 21.9 years, SD = 4.0) without cleft palate who produced voiced stop (/b d g/) and nasal (/m n η/) consonants in syllables embedded in a carrier phrase. Participants also read the Zoo Passage. A divided OroNasal Nasality System mask was used to simultaneously obtain acoustic nasalance and airflow during production of the consonants. Both F0-derived and first formant (F1)–derived nasalance were computed. Results: F0-derived and F1-derived peak nasalance across all speakers ranged from a low of 20% to a high of 80% during production of stop consonants. An estimate of error from the combined sources of transoral transfer of energy (5%) and acoustic crossover between...
Outcomes of Improved Anaerobic Techniques in Clinical Microbiology

To our knowledge, the effects of the use of improved anaerobic techniques have not been documented. We compared data on patients during 2 different time periods-the first when anaerobic cultures were done by standard techniques (the control or before group) and the second when anaerobic cultures were done after an intensive program to improve anaerobic techniques (IAT). The program consisted of the use of an anaerobe chamber, improved anaerobic transport and media, and education of clinicians and microbiologists. There were 74 diagnosis-related group (DRG)-matched patients in the controls and 76 in the IAT group. The average turnaround time for preliminary anaerobic data was decreased in the IAT group (124 hours per specimen for controls and 107 for IAT, P = .001). The cost of achieving anaerobic conditions for a plate was ∼$0.09 when the anaerobic chamber was used and $0.96 when the bio-bag system was used. The crude mortality rate was 10.8% in controls and 1.3% in the IAT group (P =.06). The average length of stay was 10.2 days per patient in controls and 8.9 in the IAT group (P =.91). The average variable cost was $6865 per patient in the control group and $4432 in the IAT group (P =.21). The average laboratory cost was $723 per patient in the control group and $380 in the IAT group (P =.08). In conclusion, benefits associated with improved anaerobic testing were documented. We could expect to save >$630,000 every year with improved anaerobic processes.
Monitoring of Electronic Communications at Universities: Policies and Perceptions of Privacy

This paper presents the results of a research study on the use of electronic communications by college students at public universities. We examine student perceptions and attitudes towards electronic communications, such as email, web browsing, using social networks, and other online activities, as well as their views and expectations of privacy and trust. We discuss a number of important characteristics of information technology as a facilitator of electronic communications on campus and their impact on the perceived privacy. We paid special attention to the effects of institutional policies concerning the monitoring of electronic communications and the resulting possible loss of privacy and trust. The results of our study indicate that regardless of their awareness of such policies, individuals have an inherent expectation that their on-campus electronic communications will stay private. Our results also suggest that average users do not understand the implications of electronic monitoring policies on their privacy. However, as a result of their understanding of these policies, users often adjust their communications in response to the possibility of diminishing privacy.
Beyond Looking Backward: Is Child Care a Key Economic Sector?

Economic sectors that do not directly support exports are of little interest in traditional economic development analysis. Though input-output multipliers provide useful information about the impacts of changes in export, or exogenous, demand, they only reflect backward linkages. Many sectors, however, can be thought of as "enabling" sectors whose importance lies in their forward linkages. In an economy increasingly dominated by local service sectors, this concept is especially important for community developers. The input-output based method of hypothetical extraction offers an empirical alternative for describing the importance of economic sectors. Unlike multipliers, this method does not privilege sectors whose importance rests solely in the strength of their export-induced demand linkages. It also captures the enabling characteristics of sectors, including those sectors that sell exclusively to local households. The significance for child care, an exemplar of a non-exporting, household-serving sector ...
Memristor Drift Model based on conservation of mobile vacancies

A significant percentage of the analysis applied to memristors is based on the Linear Drift Model. In the Linear Drift Model the resistance of the doped region increases in direct proportion to the width of the doped region. It is shown that this is not consistent with the physical conservation of the mobile vacancies. A circuit model is proposed which is consistent with the conservation of the mobile vacancies and takes into account a high constant intrinsic resistivity indicative of the memristor “off state”. A numerical analysis (NA) scheme is tested and compared with reported Hewlett Packard memristor data and with the theoretical solution for the Linear Drift Model.
Multilayered Metallic Thin Films Prepared by Dual-Bath Electrodeposition

Electrodeposition is a fast and relatively inexpensive method for making metal multi-layered films. We present a dual bath electrodeposition technique capable of producing crystalline Ni/amorphous NiP x multilayers with repeat lengths of 20A and above, of sufficient quality to give several low-angle x-ray reflections. The compositional and structural modulations of the films are analysed using x-ray diffraction and microscopy, and the effects of deposition parameters, such as the current density, are examined.
Actin Polymerization in Macrophages in Response to Oxidized LDL and Apoptotic Cells: Role of 12/15-Lipoxygenase and Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase

Formation of filamentous F-actin drives many cellular processes, including phagocytosis and cell spreading. We have recently reported that mouse macrophage 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO) activity promotes F-actin formation in filopodia during phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) also stimulates robust F-actin formation and spreading of macrophages. However, unlike apoptotic cells, OxLDL did not cause specific translocation of 12/15-LO to the cell membrane, neither in macrophages nor in GFP-15LO-transfected COS-7 cells. Moreover, inhibition of 12/15-LO activity in macrophages by a specific inhibitor or by 12/15-LO gene disruption did not affect OxLDL-induced actin polymerization. Among LDL modifications modeling OxLDL, LDL modified by incubation with 15LO-overexpressing fibroblasts was as active in eliciting F-actin response as was OxLDL. This LDL modification is well known to produce minimally modified LDL (mmLDL), which is bioactive and carries lipid oxidation products similar to those produced by 12/15-LO catalysis. MmLDL activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and PI3K inhibitors abolished mmLDL-induced macrophage spreading. We hypothesize that OxLDL and mmLDL may contribute oxidized lipids to the macrophage cell membrane and thereby mimic intracellular 12/15-LO activity, which leads to uncontrolled actin polymerization and dramatic cytoskeletal changes in macrophages.
A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF A GROWTH SERIES OF THE PERMIAN NECTRIDEAN DIPLOCAULUS MAGNICORNIS SHOWING TWO-STAGE ONTOGENY

Abstract We use probability plots to compare metric data for a growth series of the Permian nectridean Diplocaulus magnicornis Cope to a normal (Gaussian) probability distribution function and demonstrate that the ontogeny of Diplocaulus is not a single continuous process. The plots are bimodal, revealing a population of small, ontogenetically young animals whose growth is governed by a distinct process. This population, which comprises ∼20% of the growth series, is not evident in allometric studies. These young animals have a mean mid-line skull length of ∼21 mm, and their orbits are relatively larger, and rounder, than the orbits of the older animals, whose mean skull length is ∼94 mm. Although there is no evidence of lissamphibian-type metamorphosis in the Nectridea, the probability plots clearly demonstrate a two-stage ontogeny, best described as an ontogenetic morphological saltation. This saltation may have been an alternative strategy to the metamorphic heterochrony found in lissamphibians and thei...
Dancing in Place: Exhaustion, Embodiment, and Perec

stand facing the mirror that covers one of the long walls of the dance studio. It is what we call the Merce Cunningham Studio, though in fact, the "real" Cunningham Studio is gone. That beloved space, perhaps the most beautiful dance venue in New York City for forty years—a great swath of pale-floored, high-ceilinged openness, eleven flights up, two walls lined with windows situating us within the vast and undisciplined architectural landscape of down- town Manhattan and flooding us with sunlight, one short wall mirrored to reflect dancers' images, Merce's barre in the corner—has been lost to a tangle of real estate, politics, and grief. 1 We are mere (and admittedly grateful) tenants now, one among many, in this windowless studio at City Center, in the wrong neighborhood, its floors too hard, its lighting harsh, its scheduling of classes subject to the landlord's calendar. So in this space that is not really what we call it, I stand toward the back, positioned to face my reflection in the mirror, fifth panel from the left, my most slender double, the shape of my body already narrowed by my perpetual black costume and a lifetime of dance techniques designed to produce a body that not only does particular things but has the visual appearance announcing that it can. We have not yet begun to move, the pianist has not yet begun to play, the teacher has not yet arrived at his or her position, center front, signaling us to get in place, as it were: to choose a spot in the room and line up the parts of our bodies according to the ballet-derived, vertically or- ganized script: head floating atop the long neck, chin lowered a bit, chest open, energy going up and down through the torso, weight down through the legs and feet, tailbone dropped, hips over knees over toes, arms ever-so-slightly rounded. We have begun the minutely detailed and endless cata- loguing of our bodies' components, in movement and stillness, in this moment of prelude—this moment that is, of course, only seemingly still—and that continues, consciously and otherwise, throughout the class and throughout our dancing lives. 2
Eugnamptine weevils of La Selva, Costa Rica (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae)

Twelve species of eugnamptine weevils (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae) are recorded from the La Selva Biological Station in northeastern Costa Rica. They include 11 species of Eugnamptus Schoenherr and one species of Hemilypus Sharp. Eight of the 11 species of Eugnamptus are new species: E. balius, E. bellus, E. herediensis, E. longiusculus, E. pusillus, E. rostralis, E. sarapiquensis, and E. sulcicollis. The single species of Hemilypus and three of the 11 Eugnamptus species are known valid species: H. obliteratus Sharp, E. basalis Sharp, E. laticeps Voss, and E. suturalis Sharp. Lectotypes are designated for E. laticeps Voss, E. basalis Sharp, E. suturalis Sharp and H. obliteratus Sharp. Eugnamptus godmani Sharp is treated as a new synonym of E. basalis Sharp. Each species is treated in standard taxonomic fashion and a key to the La Selva species based on adult color and
A Modified Procedure for the Detection of Antinuclear Factor Using Human Leukocytes

The use of human peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes as the antigen for antinuclear factor detection is desirable, as this antigen is easy to obtain, stable, and reproducible. We experienced difficulty during preparation of this antigen by aspiration of the buffy coat with acid lysis of erythrocytes. Leukocytes obtained without the use of chemical anticoagulants by hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes result in a superior antigen. This technic not only retains the desired sensitivity, but also allows recognition of patterns of fluorescence in positive preparations.
The effect of prostaglandins on the release of [3H]dopamine from superfused slices of rat striatum following electrical stimulation.

SummaryIt is concluded that prostaglan-dins of the E series, but not F2α, can decrease the electrically induced release of [3H]dopamine from rat striatal slices. The effect is much less dramatic than that seen on peripheral adrenergic neurons. Prostaglan-dins may play a role in helping to modulate the release of dopamine following nerve stimulation.The authors wish to thank Ms. Georgia Wahl and Joann Sanders for excellent technical assistance. Thanks are also extended to Dr. John Pike, Upjohn Company, for generous supplies of PGE1 PGE2, andPGF2α
Maternal Care of Immature Progeny by Parasitoids

The females of most species of gregarious external parasitoids oviposit on or near a suitable host and then depart without paying any further attention to their progeny. However, in a very few species, the female remains with her brood while it develops. This unusual behavior occurs in 3 separate superfamilies of the Hymenoptera, and must have arisen independently in each case. The only known instance among the lchneumonoidea is that of the braconid Cedria paradoxa Wilkinson, which attacks the larvae of certain pyralids in India and China. The habit is also extremely uncommon in the Chalcidoidea where it is exhibited in only the eulophid genus Melittobia. However, it does occur more frequently in the Bethyloidea where it is reported in several genera, all in the family Bethylidae (see summaries in Clausen 1940, Malyshev 1968; see also Evans 1964). According to Malyshev (1968) this behavior is an early evolutionary step towards socialization, and he termed the habit “familial ectoparasitism.” Malyshev proceeded to develop the interesting hypothesis that this behavior pattern in some bethyloid ancestor led to the genesis of ants (Wilson 1971), all of which are of course social. Malyshev set forth all the criteria that he believed are necessary for this porformicoid phase of ant evolution, and he showed how they are met in the bethylid genus Scleroderma.
Do adults aged 70 years or older with acute myeloid leukemia benefit from allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Do adults aged 70 years or older with acute myeloid leukemia benefit from allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation?
Sensory Epithelium of the Eye and Ear

Humans rely heavily on both vision and hearing. Unfortunately, both deteriorate with age, partly because of the death of cells in the primary sensory organs; the eye and the ear. In addition, the frequency of disease genes that affect one or both of these modalities is relatively high. Stem cells able to replace some of the dying cells, either in situ or through engraftment, have been a hope for some time. In part, this is because there are few effective therapies for diseases of these tissues. Work aimed at identifying retinal and otic stem cells has been undertaken with more energy in the last several years because of the exciting findings for stem cells elsewhere in the body. Here, we review these findings in the context of normal development.
Ultrasonic methods of predicting the estimated date of confinement

The present study examines the relative accuracy of 2 ultrasonic methods of predicting the estimated date of confinement (EDC). The first technique, mean projected gestational age (MPGA), utilizes 2 fetal biparietal diameter (BPD) readings between 19 and 30 weeks' gestation with at least a 3-week interval between examinations. The 2 values are fitted to the mean of the standard curve as closely as possible and an EDC is predicted. The second method, growth adjusted sonographic age (GASA), is based on 1 BPD measurement in the second trimester and another in the third. The first is plotted on the mean and then readjusted depending on the percentile into which the second falls (below 25, 25 to 75, above 75). The EDC was blindly predicted in 120 patients, 60 by the MPGA method and 60 by the GASA technique. These were compared with 60 controls whose EDCs were predicted on the basis of excellent clinical dates. The interval between the predicted EDC and the actual delivery date was calculated for each patient and the results were compared. There was no statistical difference between the 2 techniques.
Stabilization of Particle Discrimination Efficiencies for Neutron Spectrum Unfolding With Organic Scintillators

The literature discussing pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) in organic scintillators dates back several decades. However, little has been written about PSD techniques that are optimized for neutron spectrum unfolding. Variation in $n$ - $\gamma $ misclassification rates and in $\gamma /n$ ratio of incident fields can distort the neutron pulse-height response of scintillators and these distortions can in turn cause large errors in unfolded spectra. New applications in arms-control verification call for detection of lower-energy neutrons, for which PSD is particularly problematic. In this article, we propose techniques for removing distortions on pulse-height response that result from the merging of PSD distributions in the low-pulse-height region. These techniques take advantage of the repeatable shapes of PSD distributions that are governed by the counting statistics of scintillation-photon populations. We validate the proposed techniques using accelerator-based time-of-flight measurements and then demonstrate them by unfolding the Watt spectrum from measurement with a 252Cf neutron source.
Design Automation in Synthetic Biology

Design automation refers to a category of software tools for designing systems that work together in a workflow for designing, building, testing, and analyzing systems with a target behavior. In synthetic biology, these tools are called bio-design automation (BDA) tools. In this review, we discuss the BDA tools areas-specify, design, build, test, and learn-and introduce the existing software tools designed to solve problems in these areas. We then detail the functionality of some of these tools and show how they can be used together to create the desired behavior of two types of modern synthetic genetic regulatory networks.
Computational predictions of energy materials using density functional theory

In the search for new functional materials, quantum mechanics is an exciting starting point. The fundamental laws that govern the behaviour of electrons have the possibility, at the other end of the scale, to predict the performance of a material for a targeted application. In some cases, this is achievable using density functional theory (DFT). In this Review, we highlight DFT studies predicting energy-related materials that were subsequently confirmed experimentally. The attributes and limitations of DFT for the computational design of materials for lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen production and storage materials, superconductors, photovoltaics and thermoelectric materials are discussed. In the future, we expect that the accuracy of DFT-based methods will continue to improve and that growth in computing power will enable millions of materials to be virtually screened for specific applications. Thus, these examples represent a first glimpse of what may become a routine and integral step in materials discovery. Density functional theory has become an indispensable tool in the design of new materials. This Review details the principles of computational materials design, highlighting examples of the successful prediction and subsequent experimental verification of materials for energy harvesting, conversion and storage.
Assessing the Viability of H atom Abstraction as a Mechanism for PS II water oxidation

The photodriven oxidation of water to form dioxygen is one of the great unsolved mysteries of bioinorganic chemistry. The metalloenzyme responsible for this life sustaining reaction is the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) which is found in photosystem II of plants and algae. Known to require manganese, calcium and chloride, this complex system has been the focus of biochemical and biophysical investigations for several decades. (1) During the past ten to fifteen years, synthetic inorganic chemists have attempted to prepare speculative structural models for the manganese cluster organization, compounds that help to explain the spectroscopic features of manganese clusters with varying metal stoichiometry, oxidation state and bridge type. (2) More recently, there has been an emphasis in the modelling community on reactivity mimics for the OEC and Mn catalases or to understand fundamental thermodynamic properties of metal clusters. (3–6) In particular, there is now an interest in experimentally determining the homolytic bond dissociation energies for water coordinated to manganese as H atom abstraction has recently been suggested to play a role in the water oxidation mechanism. (7)
Pneumonia due to a Rare Pathogen: Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Subspecies denitrificans

Achromobacter xylosoxidans, subspecies denitrificans, is a gram-negative rod recently implicated as an emerging cause of infection in both immunosuppressed and immunocompetent populations. Few cases are reported in literature involving multiple body systems. Diagnosis depends on cultures of appropriate specimens, and management usually is by administration of appropriate antibiotics (usually agents with antipseudomonal activity). We report a rare case of pneumonia due to infection with this organism, in a patient with preexisting bronchiectasis secondary to chronic aspiration.
Abstract 004: Plasma Zonulin, Along With a Unique Gut Microbiome Profile, Are Potential Predictors of Systolic Blood Pressure in Humans

Objectives: We have previously shown that gut pathophysiology and dysbiosis are closely associated with hypertension (HTN) in animal models. However, whether this association also occurs in human HTN is unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we tested two hypotheses. 1. Hypertensive patients (HTN) have gut barrier dysfunction. 2. Prediction of blood pressure will be possible from circulating markers of gut health and gut microbiome composition. Design and Method: Plasma and fecal samples were collected from HTN (n=22, mean SBP 155.8±3.4mmHg) and reference subjects without HTN (REF) (n=18, mean SBP 121.1±1.5mmHg) (see ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02188381 for protocol). Gut microbiomes were analyzed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and Qiime. Plasma analytes were measured by ELISA. Results: Plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein (REF;1.2 ± 0.1 ng/ml, HTN;1.9 ± 0.2 ng/ml, p=0.0097) and lipopolysaccharide (REF; 39.0 ± 9.5 pg/ml, HTN; 98.0 ± 26.2 pg/ml, p=0.0423) were increased in HTN, suggesting increased intestinal inflammation and permeability. Additionally, the soluble form of zonulin (regulator of gut tight junction proteins) was markedly elevated in the plasma of HTN (REF; 28.4 ± 2.0 ng/ml, HTN; 42.6 ± 2.7 ng/ml, P=0.0002) further supporting gut barrier dysfunction. Plasma zonulin was correlated with SBP (R 2 =0.5301, p 2 values of 0.506 and 0.554 respectively, p 2 =0.4608, p Conclusions: Markers of increased gut permeability, particularly zonulin, and abundance of butyrate producing bacteria predicted SBP. These results support the hypothesis that gut barrier dysfunction and gut microbiome composition are directly linked with HTN in humans.
Medical and Rehabilitative Techniques in Cervical Disorders of the Child

The pediatric cervical spine is quite complex. Due to their dynamic qualities and varied pathologies, disorders of the pediatric cervical spine warrant special consideration regarding evaluation, workup, and subsequent management. This chapter will address the medical and rehabilitative management of the most common disorders of the cervical spine in children. Discussion will focus on congenital torticollis, acquired torticollis, and soft tissue injuries.
The Effectiveness of Online Synchronous Discussion

I have been exploring ways to incorporate online techniques into my MBA course in Management of Information Technology. The course uses small-group discussion of case studies, so online synchronous discussion seemed appropriate. After a small-scale successful experiment, I offered most of the spring 2001 course offering online. Although the students were enthusiastic, I got the disturbing feeling students were not really learning from the online discussions. So I administered a short multiple-choice post-test to the class. I gave the same test to a later class with virtually identical material delivered traditionally. Scores were about 20% higher for the traditional group, and statistical analysis verifies that this difference is not due to chance. So synchronous online discussion seems less effective than classroom instruction in this context. I suggest possible reasons for the lesser effectiveness of this online technique and consider what other online techniques might be more effective for this material.
Peptoid-based membrane-mimetic two dimensional nanomaterials

This paper presents a review of membrane-mimetic two dimensional (2D) nanomaterials assembled from sequencedefined, diblock-like peptoids through an evaporation-induced crystallization method. Similar to those associated with cell membranes, these peptoid-based nanomembranes exhibit thicknesses in the 3.5 - 5.6 nm range, spontaneous assembly at interfaces, thickness variations in response to changes in Na+ concentrations, and the ability to self-repair. Moreover, they are highly stable, free-standing, and atomically ordered. Both experimental and simulations studies showed that these nanomembranes were formed through an anisotropic formation process. We further demonstrated the incorporation and patterning of a broad range of functional groups within peptoid membranes through large side-chain diversity and/or co-crystallization approaches. By tuning the peptoid hydrophobic domains which determine the stability of nanomembranes, we demonstrated the assembly of singlewalled crystalline nanotubes through folding peptoid-based 2D nanomaterials. Given peptoids are biocompatible and easy to synthesize, we anticipate this new class of peptoid-based 2D nanomaterials will provide a robust platform for development of biomimetic materials tailored to specific applications.
Crystallization of electrically conductive visibly transparent ITO thin films by wavelength-range-specific pulsed Xe arc lamp annealing

Transparent electric conductors made of indium tin oxide (ITO)-doped glass prepared by a flash lamp annealing (FLA) process were compared with ITO-doped glass prepared via a conventional rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. Stylus surface profilometry was used to determine thicknesses, scanning electron microscopy was used to image surfaces, X-ray diffraction was used to determine film structures, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine oxidation states and film compositions, 4-point probe measurements were used to determine electrical conductivities, UV–Vis spectroscopy was used to determine film transparencies, and selective light filtering was used to determine which wavelengths of light are needed to anneal ITO into a visibly transparent electrically conductive thin film via an FLA process. The results showed that FLA with visible light can be used to nearly instantaneously anneal ITO to create visibly transparent and electrically conductive ITO thin films on glass. The FLA process achieved this by predominately exciting unoxidized indium, unoxidized tin, tin monoxide (SnO), and non-stoichiometric indium oxide (InO x ), appropriately distributed in an electron beam physical vapor-deposited amorphous ITO thin film, to allow their oxidation and crystallization into an electrically conductive visibly transparent ITO. Though it is possible to prepare ITO-doped glass that is more transparent with an RTA process, the FLA process is significantly faster, has comparable electrical conductivity, and can strongly localize heating to areas of the as-deposited ITO thin film that are not electrically conductive and visibly transparent.
Reconsidering territoriality is necessary for understanding Anolis mating systems

In a paper titled The erratic and contingent progression of research on territoriality: a case study (Kamath and Losos 2017, Behav Ecol Sociobiol 71:89), we sought to understand the inconsistency between behavioral and genetic descriptions of Anolis lizards’ mating system. We argued that “a potentially important reason for such inconsistencies is a research trajectory rooted in early studies that were equivocal and overreaching, followed by studies that accepted earlier conclusions at face value and assumed, rather than tested, key ideas about animal mating systems,” and demonstrated such a research trajectory in Anolis lizards. In their responses to our historical review, Bush and Simberloff (2018, Behav Ecol Sociobiol in press) and Stamps (2018, Behav Ecol Sociobiol in press) criticize the definition of territoriality we employed and de-emphasize the link between conceptions of territoriality and descriptions of mating systems in Anolis. Here, we respond by reiterating how our understandings of territoriality and of mating systems in Anolis and other animals have long been intertwined. Moreover, we argue that our definition of territoriality is precisely well suited to investigating mismatches between behavioral and genetic descriptions of mating systems.
The Canonical Complex Structure of Flag Manifolds in a C*-algebra

The final objective of this article is to study the space of increasing n-tuples of self-adjoint idempotents in a C*-algebra—which is called a flag manifold—from a differential geometric point of view. It is proved that a flag manifold has a natural intrinsic complex structure. Some properties of this structure are examined and a generalization of the well-known Gram-Schmidt construction is considered.
Code Generation to the Common Language Runtime

I fear this chapter may be a bit of an anticlimax, and this is because in this book I have deliberately focused primarily on the front end of a compiler, including language design, language specification using Backus-Naur Form, lexical analysis, and parsing.
An Acute Injury Model for the Phenotypic Characteristics of Geographic Atrophy.

Purpose Geographic atrophy (GA) is the late stage of non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration. A lack of animal models for GA has hampered treatment efforts. Presented herein is a rat model for GA using subretinal injection of sodium iodate (NaIO3). Methods Rats were given subretinal injections of NaIO3 (5 μg/μL) using a pico-injector. Fundus photographs and spectral domain optical coherent tomography scans were collected at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after injection, at which time rats were euthanized and eyes were enucleated. Eyes were either cryopreserved or dissected into retinal and choroidal flatmounts. Fluorescence immunohistochemistry was performed for retinal glial fibrillary acidic protein (activated Muller cells and astrocytes) and vimentin (Muller cells), as well as peanut agglutin lectin (photoreceptors) labeling. RPE/choroids were labeled for RPE65 and CD34. Images were collected on Zeiss confocal microscopes. Results Fundus photos, spectral domain optical coherent tomography, and RPE65 staining revealed well-demarcated areas with focal loss of RPE and photoreceptors in NaIO3-treated rats. At 1 day after injection, RPE cells appeared normal. By 3 days, there was patchy RPE and photoreceptor loss in the injected area. RPE and photoreceptors were completely degenerated in the injected area by 7 days. A large subretinal glial membrane occupied the degenerated area. Choriocapillaris was highly attenuated in the injected area at 14 and 28 days. Conclusions The rat model reported herein mimics the photoreceptor cell loss, RPE atrophy, glial membrane formation, and choriocapillaris degeneration seen in GA. This model will be valuable for developing and testing drugs and progenitor cell regenerative therapies for GA.
Piezoelectric Property Enhancement of PZT Thick Film via Pulsed Flash Poling during Sintering

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is a widely used piezoelectric material due to its high piezoelectric response. High-temperature thermal sintering and poling are two important steps to obtain a high ...
Incidence of peripheral edema in patients receiving PI3K/mTOR/CDK4/6 inhibitors for metastatic breast cancer

This study evaluated development of edema in patients receiving PI3K/mTOR/CDK4/6 targeted therapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We reviewed medical records of 160 patients receiving targeted therapy with PI3K/mTOR/CDK4/6 inhibitors to treat MBC (n = 160; 185 treatment occurrences). Clinicopathologic data, treatment details, and edema incidence were recorded. Edema incidence was 43.1% (69/160) overall and 25.6% (41/160) in the upper extremity ipsilateral to the treated breast. In 185 therapy regimens administered, 6.8% of patients on a PI3K inhibitor, 8.8% of patients on an mTOR inhibitor, and 9.2% of patients on a CDK4/6 inhibitor experienced new onset or worsened preexisting upper extremity edema. Further, 9.1% of patients on a PI3K inhibitor, 18.8% of patients on an mTOR inhibitor, and 10.5% of patients on a CDK4/6 inhibitor experienced new onset or worsened preexisting edema elsewhere in the body. Multivariate logistic regression showed that, beyond the established breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) risk factors [axillary lymph node dissection (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.69, p = 0.020), regional lymph node irradiation (OR 6.47, p < 0.001), and body-mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 (OR 3.46, p = 0.006)], a relative decrease in serum albumin after 3 months of treatment increased risk of developing edema (OR 2.07, p = 0.062). Neither duration nor type of therapy were significant risk factors for edema. PI3K/mTOR/CDK4/6 inhibitors may influence the development of edema, which may cause or exacerbate progression of BCRL in patients with MBC. The varied incidence of edema between therapeutic regimens warrants vigilant monitoring of patients treated with these therapies, especially those at high risk of developing BCRL.
Morphine tolerance is attenuated in germfree mice and reversed by probiotics, implicating the role of gut microbiome

Prolonged exposure to opioids results in analgesic tolerance, drug overdose, and death. The mechanism underlying morphine analgesic tolerance still remains unresolved. We show that morphine analgesic tolerance was significantly attenuated in germfree (GF) and in pan-antibiotic−treated mice. Reconstitution of GF mice with naive fecal microbiota reinstated morphine analgesic tolerance. We further demonstrated that tolerance was associated with microbial dysbiosis with selective depletion in Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillaeae. Probiotics, enriched with these bacterial communities, attenuated analgesic tolerance in morphine-treated mice. These results suggest that probiotic therapy during morphine administration may be a promising, safe, and inexpensive treatment to prolong morphine’s efficacy and attenuate analgesic tolerance. We hypothesize a vicious cycle of chronic morphine tolerance: morphine-induced gut dysbiosis leads to gut barrier disruption and bacterial translocation, initiating local gut inflammation through TLR2/4 activation, resulting in the activation of proinflammatory cytokines, which drives morphine tolerance.
Relationship management as antecedents to public communication behaviors: Examining empowerment and public health among Asian Americans

Abstract This study examined the effects of relationship management by community health organizations on the situational perceptions, and, in turn, on information behaviors about health issues among community members. Survey data with 222 Asian Americans indicated that trust and control mutuality played different but complementary roles on problem recognition, involvement recognition, and constraint recognition, which then differently impacted four information behaviors ranging from information attending, information forwarding, information sharing, and information seeking. This study proposed and tested a public-oriented model and contributed to two lines of research: examining public-centered consequences of relationship management and exploring antecedents to the formation of publics. It has practical implications on fostering relationships and empowering community members.
Burnout among behavioral health providers in integrated care settings

Introduction Burnout in health care, especially among physicians, is a growing concern. It is now well accepted that physician burnout leads to increased depersonalization of patients, lower personal accomplishment, employee turnover, and worse patient outcomes. What is not known, however, is to what extent behavioral health providers (BHPs) in medical settings experience burnout and its associated sequela. Method Participants (n = 230) from a variety of practice settings and levels of integrated care completed practice and burnout questions via an online survey. Practice-related questions and a modified version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory was administered to BHPs who work in different levels of collaboration with other medical providers. Results Overall, BHPs who work primarily in fully integrated care settings reported higher rates of personal accomplishment in their everyday job (B = 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.40, 2.58). Additionally, those who have worked more than 10 years in these types of settings reported both higher personal accomplishment (B = 1.58; 95% CI = 0.68, 2.49) and lower rates of depersonalization (B = -1.32; 95% CI = -2.28, -0.36). Discussion In contrast to high rates of burnout among many clinicians in the United States, this is the first study to document relatively low rates of reported burnout among integrated care BHPs. The relationships between lower burnout, working in a fully integrated care practice, and experience as a BHP is important to understand when creating and sustaining team-based primary care jobs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Personal networks and associations with psychological distress among young and older adults

Abstract Objective The aim of the study was to provide new tests of the argument that aspects of personal networks affect psychological distress and moderate the effects of negative life events, leveraging new, rich data on two different cohorts. Method The UCNets project measured psychological distress, life events, and various dimensions of personal networks for 673 50- to 70-year old adults and 485 21- to 30-year old adults. The project used stratified random address based sampling for all the older adults. Such sampling, supplemented with Facebook advertisement and referral sampling, yielded the young adult sample. Networks were measured using several name-eliciting questions and several name descriptors. Results The findings differed for younger versus older adults. Among young adults, personal network characteristics were not directly associated with, nor did they moderate the effect of negative life events on psychological distress. Unlike younger adults, the presence of supportive network ties, including social companions and emergency helpers, were directly associated with lower distress among older adults, while difficult and demanding ties as well as advisors were directly associated with higher distress. There was limited evidence of buffering among older adults, albeit through the presence of difficult and demanding ties. Conclusions In the current sample, network exchange roles (i.e., specific types of network support and burden) were associated with psychological distress among older adults while other characteristics of the network, including size, multiplexity, and social participation were not. Further, network support may be best positioned to have direct, as opposed to buffering, effects on psychological well-being.
Systemic Review of Biodegradable Nanomaterials in Nanomedicine.

Background: Nanomedicine is a field of science that uses nanoscale materials for the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. It has emerged as an important aspect of the therapeutics, but at the same time, also raises concerns regarding the safety of the nanomaterials involved. Recent applications of functionalized biodegradable nanomaterials have significantly improved the safety profile of nanomedicine. Objective: Our goal is to evaluate different types of biodegradable nanomaterials that have been functionalized for their biomedical applications. Method: In this review, we used PubMed as our literature source and selected recently published studies on biodegradable nanomaterials and their applications in nanomedicine. Results: We found that biodegradable polymers are commonly functionalized for various purposes. Their property of being naturally degraded under biological conditions allows these biodegradable nanomaterials to be used for many biomedical purposes, including bio-imaging, targeted drug delivery, implantation and tissue engineering. The degradability of these nanoparticles can be utilized to control cargo release, by allowing efficient degradation of the nanomaterials at the target site while maintaining nanoparticle integrity at off-target sites. Conclusion: While each biodegradable nanomaterial has its advantages and disadvantages, with careful design and functionalization, biodegradable nanoparticles hold great future in nanomedicine.