cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical Pressure-Driven Incommensurability in CaPd5: Clues to High-Pressure Chemistry Offered by Complex Intermetallics

While composition and pressure are generally considered orthogonal parameters in the synthesis and optimization of solid state materials, their distinctness is blurred by the concept of chemical pressure (CP): microscopic pressure arising from lattice constraints rather than an externally applied force. In this article, we describe the first cycle of an iterative theoretical/experimental investigation into this connection. We begin by theoretically probing the ability of physical pressure to promote structural transitions in CaCu5-type phases that are driven by CP in other systems. Our results point to the instability of the reported CaCu5-type CaPd5 phase to such a transition even at ambient pressure, suggesting that new structural chemistry should arise at only modest pressures. We thus attempted to synthesize CaPd5 as a starting material for high-pressure experiments. However, rather than obtaining the expected CaCu5-type phase, we encountered crystals of an incommensurately modulated variant CaPd5+q/2...
BAR-CD8 T-Cell Mediated Targeted Killing of Inhibitor Producing FVIII-Specific B Cells

Abstract Anti-FVIII antibody (inhibitor) formation is a major complication in the treatment of Hemophilia A. Our lab has focused on developing novel approaches to modulate inhibitor formation by regulation of FVIII-specific T effectors that recognize FVIII and "help" B cells to produce antibodies to FVIII. As an alternative approach, in this presentation, we directly target anti-FVIII B cells. Therefore, we have developed a novel chimeric antigen-like receptor called B-cell antibody recognizing receptor (BAR) to target and directly kill the FVIII-specific B cells and antiobody-producing cells . Our BAR comprises of FVIII-domain C2 attached to T cell signaling CD28 and CD3ζ elements. We reasoned that CD8 T cells transduced to express the FVIII C2 should trigger cytotoxicity upon recognition by and interaction with specific B cells. We expressed the C2-BAR or Ova-BAR (control) in human T cells and demonstrated expression by flow cytometry. These BAR CD8 T cells also proliferated upon addition of anti-C2 or anti-Ova, respectively post 72 hrs. For proof of principle that these BAR-expressing CD8 T cells can kill specific B cells, the following basic experiment was designed. Mouse CD8 T cells transduced to express C2-BAR were co-cultured with FVIII-specific hybridomas (expressing surface IgG anti-C2) at a various ratios. After 5 hours, we measured antibody secretion by ELIspot assay. Our results demonstrated suppression of antibody secretion by C2 BAR expressing CD8 T cells, but not by control Ova-expressing BAR CD8s. These results provide evidence that BAR CD8 T cells expressing FVIII domains can be used to target specific B cells to suppress inhibitor formation, and may also provide a platform to treat other undesirable antibody responses. (Supported in part by a Pfizer ASPIRE award and NIH grant HL061883) Disclosures Zhang: Henry Jacksopn Foundation: Other: patent filed. Kim: Henry Jackson Foundation: Other: patent filed. Scott: Henry Jackson Foundation: Other: patent filed.
Psychological Benefits of the “Maker” or Do-It-Yourself Movement in Young Adults: A Pathway Towards Subjective Well-Being

Over the past several decades, increasing numbers of people have become involved in the do-it-yourself (DIY) or “Maker” movement, i.e., creating a wide range of products from home improvement to self-service to crafts. Little is known about the psychological benefits of these actions; there is an assumption that involvement ultimately increases quality of life. We surveyed 465 college students to describe their participation in a variety of Maker undertakings ranging from domestic arts, arts and crafts, to DIY activities, and examined four potential mediators of the relationship between a Maker identity and SWB. We inquired about the time spent engaged in the activities, reasons for involvement, as well as the immediate and long-term benefits received from Making. We found that college students spent approximately 3 h a week involved in Maker activities and that they most often engaged in domestic arts (e.g., cooking, baking, and gardening). The most important reasons provided for involvement in Maker activities were mood-repair, socializing with friends, and the ability to “stay present-focused.” Having a Maker identity was associated with subjective well-being (SWB), primarily explained by high arousal (i.e., exciting or stimulating) during Maker activities, but not positive mood. Trait rumination and reduced self-focus, or quiet ego, were also related to SWB and suggest the importance of reduced self-focus in understanding the relationship between Making and SWB. Taken together, it appears that Maker identity may be a potential pathway towards SWB.
Paroxysmal Nonepileptic Spells in Adolescence

Paroxysmal nonepileptic spells refer to events that clinically can resemble epileptic seizures but are not caused by abnormal epileptiform activity in the brain. These spells can often be difficult to diagnose owing to clinical similarities, but a correct diagnosis is needed to prevent unnecessary treatment with antiepileptic drugs. We review the most common diagnoses in adolescents that can be mistaken for epilepsy, including migraine, syncope, movement disorders, sleep disorders, and psychologic disorders.
Power Semiconductor Devices for Smart Grid and Renewable Energy Systems

Modern civilization is related to the increased use of electric energy for industry production, human mobility, and comfortable living. Highly efficient and reliable power electronic systems, which convert and process electric energy from one form to the other, are critical for smart grid and renewable energy systems. The power semiconductor device, as the cornerstone technology in a power electronics system, plays a pivotal role in determining the system efficiency, size, and cost. Starting from the invention and commercialization of silicon bipolar junction transistor 60 years ago, a whole array of silicon power semiconductor devices have been developed and commercialized. These devices enable power electronics systems to reach ultrahigh efficiency and high-power capacity needed for various smart grid and renewable energy system applications such as photovoltaic (PV), wind, energy storage, electric vehicle (EV), flexible ac transmission system (FACTS), and high voltage dc (HVDC) transmission. In the last two decades, newer generations of power semiconductor devices based on wide bandgap (WBG) materials, such as SiC and GaN, were developed and commercialized further pushing the boundary of power semiconductor devices to higher voltages, higher frequencies, and higher temperatures. This paper reviews some of the major power semiconductor devices technologies and their potential impacts and roadmaps.
Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Total Escherichia coli in Feces and Feedlot Surface Manure from Cattle Fed Diets with and without Corn or Sorghum Wet Distillers Grains with Solubles

Feeding corn wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) to cattle can increase the load of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in feces and on hides, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. The objective of these experiments was to examine a role for the persistence of E. coli O157:H7 in the feces and feedlot pen surfaces of cattle fed WDGS. In the first study, feces from steers fed 0, 20, 40, or 60% corn WDGS were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7. The E. coli O157:H7 numbers in feces from cattle fed 0% corn WDGS rapidly decreased (P < 0.05), from 6.28 to 2.48 log CFU/g of feces by day 14. In contrast, the E. coli O157:H7 numbers in feces from cattle fed 20, 40, and 60% corn WDGS were 4.21, 5.59, and 6.13 log CFU/g of feces, respectively, on day 14. A second study evaluated the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in feces from cattle fed 0 and 40% corn WDGS. Feces were collected before and 28 days after the dietary corn was switched from high-moisture corn to dry-rolled corn. Within dietary corn source, the pathogen persisted at higher concentrations (P < 0.05) in 40% corn WDGS feces at day 7 than in 0% WDGS. For 40% corn WDGS feces, E. coli O157:H7 persisted at higher concentrations (P < 0.05) at day 7 in feces from cattle fed high-moisture corn (5.36 log CFU/g) than from those fed dry-rolled corn (4.27 log CFU/g). The percentage of WDGS had no effect on the E. coli O157:H7 counts in feces from cattle fed steam-flaked corn-based diets containing 0, 15, and 30% sorghum WDGS. Greater persistence of E. coli O157:H7 on the pen surfaces of animals fed corn WDGS was not demonstrated, although these pens had a higher prevalence of the pathogen in the feedlot surface manure after the cattle were removed. Both or either the greater persistence and higher numbers of E. coli O157:H7 in the environment of cattle fed WDGS may play a part in the increased prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle by increasing the transmission risk.
Size effects and odd-even effects in MoS2 nanosheets: first-principles studies.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanostructures have been widely used as catalysts in the petroleum refinery industry for the hydrodesulfurization process, in which sulfur vacancies play a critical role in determining the catalytic activity. Here we report size effects and odd–even effects on the formation of sulfur vacancies in the triangular MoS2 nanosheets using first-principles calculations. By modeling four types of edge structures of MoS2 nanosheets, S-terminated edges are found to be energetically more favorable than Mo-terminated edges, and are then selected for studying energetics of sulfur vacancies. Two types of sulfur dimer vacancies at the center (VS@Cen) and at the corner (VS@Cnr) of the edges of S-terminated MoS2 nanosheets are modeled, respectively. Our results reveal a strong odd–even effect on the formation of sulfur dimer vacancies, particularly for small MoS2 nanosheets, in terms of the size of nanosheets that is defined by the number of Mo atoms on the edge. The VS@Cen dimer vacancy has a low formation energy at an even-number but a high formation energy at an odd-number, while the VS@Cnr dimer vacancy exhibits a complete opposite trend. These results indicate that small MoS2 nanosheets can exhibit unique material properties for catalytic applications.
Understanding the viscoelastic behavior of arterial elastin in glucose via relaxation time distribution spectrum

Elastin is a critical extracellular matrix protein that provides many biological tissues with resilience. In elastic arteries such as aorta, elasticity is crucial for energy storage and transmission of the pulsatile blood flow. As one of the main mechanisms of aging, non-enzymatic glycation can greatly compromise the mechanical properties of the long-lived elastin. In this study, effect of glucose on the viscoelastic behavior of purified porcine aortic elastin was investigated through stress relaxation tests and the corresponding relaxation time distribution spectra. Elastin was incubated in 2M glucose solution at 37°C for 4, 7, 14, 21 or 28 days. Biaxial stress relaxation tests were performed to study the viscoelastic property of elastin. Elastin samples with glucose treatment show increased stress relaxation with incubation time. Continuous relaxation time distribution spectra were obtained from the stress relaxation data using Tikhonov regularization method. Generally the spectra of both untreated and treated elastin have a broad range of relaxation time constants and multiple peaks located between 0.1-10,000s. The intensity of the short-term peak (0.1-10s) increases after glucose exposure whereas the intensity of the long-term peak (> 100s) decreases. The dominant peaks, i.e., the long-term peak of untreated tissue and the short-term peak of glucose treated tissue, suggest different relaxation mechanisms. The initial stress level dependency of stress relaxation was studied and the results suggested that the intensity of all the peaks increases with higher initial stresses. A multi-exponential model was developed to describe the stress relaxation behavior with material parameters obtained directly from the continuous relaxation spectrum. To fully characterize the relaxation processes, a multi-exponential model with four exponential terms, located between 0.001-1s, 1-10s, 10-100s, and 100-10,000s and obtained directly from the corresponding relaxation spectrum, appears to best capture the stress relaxation behavior of elastin before and after glucose exposure.
The Effect of Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrix at the Time of Gluteus Medius Repair: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) on outcomes after surgical repair of gluteus medius tendons. Methods This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data comparing patients who underwent gluteus medius repair with PRFM and patients without PRFM. Preoperative characteristics, intraoperative characteristics, and postoperative outcomes at a minimum of 1 year were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using a multivariate analysis of variance to test for differences in continuous demographic variables and postoperative-only scores between patient groups, χ 2 tests were performed for categorical variables, and a repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed to test for the effects of PRFM. We also assessed for interobserver variation in grading adductor tendon tears. Results In total, the series of gluteus medius repairs without PRFM included 29 patients (25 women and 4 men, 15 right and 4 left) with a mean age of 63.09 ± 12.0 years. The series of gluteus medius repairs with PRFM included 18 patients (16 women and 2 men, 6 right and 12 left) with a mean age of 60.26 ± 8.8 years. There were no differences in patient preoperative variables or intraoperative characteristics. Although there was a significant effect of surgical intervention on the visual analog scale for pain, Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living, Hip Outcome Score–Sports Specific, and modified Harris Hip Score, the use of PRFM had no significant effect on outcome. Linear models showed a significant positive effect of PRFM on only postoperative Short Form 12 Physical and International Hip Outcome Tool 12 scores. Conclusions PRFM augmentation does not appear to have an effect on gluteus medius tendon repair in terms of pain or clinical evidence of retears but may have a role in improving subjective outcomes of overall and hip-specific physical functioning. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.
The Influence of Adding Spices to Reduced Sugar Foods on Overall Liking.

Reducing sugar intake is a major public health goal but many consumers are reluctant to use low calorie sweeteners. Two studies were conducted in healthy adults aged 18 to 65 to investigate whether addition of culinary spices to foods reduced in sugar could preserve hedonic liking. Test foods, black tea, oatmeal, and apple crisp, were prepared in full sugar (FS), reduced sugar (RS), and reduced sugar with spice (RSS) versions. Sugar reductions were 100%, 35%, and 37% for tea, oatmeal, and apple crisp, respectively. In Study 1, 160 subjects rated absolute liking of FS, RS, and RSS versions of a breakfast of oatmeal and tea and an afternoon snack of apple crisp on consecutive weeks. In Study 2, 150 subjects rated relative liking of all 3 versions of one food at the same seating, with different foods tested 1 wk apart. Liking was assessed using a 9-point Likert scale. Both studies yielded similar results. For all 3 test items, liking was significantly higher for FS than for RS (P < 0.03). For tea, addition of spices did not significantly improve liking in either study. For oatmeal, addition of spices did not consistently improve liking compared to RS. For apple crisp, relative liking of RSS was not different then FS. These results indicate that it is possible to preserve the hedonic pleasure of a reduced sugar version of a dessert food, apple crisp, by addition of culinary spices. This may be a promising strategy to reduce sugar in some foods without using low calorie sweeteners. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Reducing sugar consumption is an important public health goal. Many consumers are reluctant to use low calorie sweeteners and alternative approaches are needed. Using culinary spices to enhance the flavor of foods may allow sugar reduction while still preserving acceptable overall liking.
Use of Vagus Nerve Stimulator on Children With Primary Generalized Epilepsy.

Objective:To describe the response to vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) in otherwise neurotypical children with medically intractable primary generalized epilepsy.Methods:Retrospective chart review of p...
Transgenic oncogene mice. Tumor phenotype predicts genotype.

The hypothesis that oncogenes influence tumor phenotype was tested by examining slides from 607 mammary tumors from 407 transgenic mice bearing the ras, myc, and/or neu oncogenes. Most tumors (91%) had patterns (phenotypes) that could not be classified by Dunn's standard nomenclature. The nonstandard tumors were described as eosinophilic small cell (SC), basophilic large cell (LC), or pale intermediate cell (IC). The SC tumor was associated with ras, the LC was associated with myc, and the IC was associated with neu, with specificities more than .90 and sensitivities ranging from .99 to .48. Thus, the tumor phenotype could be used to predict which oncogene was present in the animal. The presence of myc in combination with either ras or neu resulted in the predominance of LC tumors and accelerated tumorigenesis. The combination of ras and neu resulted in a decreased tumor incidence. Thus, knowledge of the oncogenes that were present could be used to predict the natural history of the disease.
Bioactive Compounds as Ingredients of Functional Foods: Polyphenols, Carotenoids, Peptides From Animal and Plant Sources New

Abstract Bioactive ingredients provide some physiological benefits, which direct the food industry to focus its research on products of this nature. Therefore, this chapter is meant to provide information on the use of bioactive compounds as food ingredients. Polyphenols, carotenoids, and peptides are the most studied bioactive compounds. Bioactive components, such as chitosan, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and astaxanthin from marine animals and tocopherols of oils of plant origin have excellent potential as functional food ingredients, since they have health benefits. By adding bioactive ingredients to foods, many factors are involved in their bioavailability, among them are the matrix constituents that can either aid or impair, the concentration of the bioactive, the food production process, and the conditions in which the product will be stored. Therefore, a diet that presents bioactive ingredients is extremely important, and is a challenging area today, in order to improve health and quality of life.
Abstract # 3080 Tocilizumab, an IL-6 Receptor antagonist, is associated with worse depression, anxiety, pain, and sleep following hematopoietic cell transplantation

Sickness symptoms associated with immunomodulatory treatments for cancer provided some of the first evidence for the neural and behavioral actions of cytokines. We now see a reemergence of this clinical relevance in the context of new therapeutic modalities targeting different aspects of immunity, including the IL-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab. We hypothesized that tocilizumab would decrease depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain in individuals undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). This clinical trial compared outcomes from 25 patients receiving pre-HCT tocilizumab to an historical control group of 63 HCT patients. Participants completed self-report measures pre-HCT, day + 28 (D + 28), D + 100, and D + 180 post-transplant. A linear mixed-effect model co-varying for baseline variables evaluated the effects of tocilizumab on depression, anxiety, fatigue, sleep, and pain. The tocilizumab-exposed group had significantly higher depression scores at D + 28 (p = .02), more anxiety at all time points (p
IMDA/retro-Mannich approach to cis-perhydroquinoline Lycopodium alkaloids: asymmetric synthesis of (+)-luciduline.

The first chiral auxiliary mediated asymmetric synthesis of the naturally occurring Lycopodium alkaloid (+)-luciduline has been accomplished. Key steps include an IMDA reaction of a chiral dihydropyridine, a subsequent retro-Mannich ring opening, and a novel cationic reductive cyclization reaction.
Accuracy of Genomic Predictions for Birth, Weaning and Yearling Weights in US Simmental Beef Cattle

Direct genomic breeding values (DGV) based on actual or imputed GeneSeek Genomic Profiler HD (GGPHD) genotypes were obtained for birth, weaning and yearling weights using Bayesian regression on about 20,000 US Simmental pure- or cross-bred beef cattle. Accuracies of DGV were quantified using 4-fold cross validation. Accuracies expressed as genetic correlations between DGV and trait ranged from 0.61 to 0.65, and the regressions of phenotype on DGV ranged from 0.61 to 0.66. These results indicate good predictive ability of genomic prediction with GGPHD chips but DGV need to be adjusted for bias.
Abstract TP226: Aging and Smoking Exacerbates Post-Stroke Complement Driven Neuroinflammation

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the current standard of care based on level 1 evidence from multiple randomized controlled trials. Recently, real-world indi...
Conditioned place preference reveals tonic pain in Octopus

Abstract Tonic pain is an ongoing, negative affective state arising from tissue damage or inflammation (1). Because pain is aversive and its relief is innately rewarding, mammals learn to avoid a context in which pain is experienced, and prefer one where pain relief occurs(2, 3). It is generally accepted that vertebrate animals experience pain(4), however, there is currently no compelling evidence that pain occurs in any invertebrate(5). Here we show that octopuses exhibit tonic pain behavior after subcutaneous injection of dilute acetic acid. In conditioned place preference assays, octopuses avoid contexts in which pain was experienced, prefer a location in which they experienced tonic pain relief, and show no conditioned preference in pain’s absence. Octopuses are thus the first invertebrate shown to experience pain. One sentence summary A cognitive test demonstrating the emotional component of pain in mammals reveals the first example of pain in any invertebrate.
Argentina in Crisis: Superheroes in Zenitram (2010) and Kryptonita (2015)

While the study of superheroes has become a comprehensive field in itself, a focus on global superheroes has only recently begun to take shape. Vinodh Venkatesh’s Capitan Latinoamerica: Superheroes in Cinema, Television, and Web Series (2020) furthers a comprehensive examination of the superhero in Latin American moving images from the late 1950s to the present day, covering contexts from Mexico to Chile. Missing from this study, however, is an examination of Argentine superheroes. The present essay fills this gap by addressing two films, Zenitram (2010) and Kryptonita (2015), that portray and critique Argentina and its relationship with neoliberalism in the 20th and 21st centuries. Both films move beyond the parameters of genre cinema by engaging salient issues extant in the cultural horizon of the country.
Improving Fluoride Application and Dental Care Education in the Pediatric Medical Home: A Quality Improvement Project

Background and Objectives: Dental caries (cavities) are one of the most common chronic diseases in children in the United States (Dye BA, 2012). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends periodic oral health risk assessment to prevent early caries and promote oral health (Section on Oral Health, 2019.) This Quality Improvement project focuses on early dental care and improving fluoride application in routine well child exams, ages 6 months to 3 years. Providing …
Differential charge boost in hysteretic ferroelectric–dielectric heterostructure capacitors at steady state

A ferroelectric material in a ferroelectric–dielectric heterostructure can provide a charge boost, as often discussed in the context of negative capacitance, and, in doing so, can reduce the power dissipation in field-effect transistor technology. However, there is an ongoing debate on whether the charge boost in such a heterostructure is a transient phenomenon or a steady state one. In this Letter, we use the positive-up-negative-down (PUND) measurement technique on a ferroelectric–dielectric (FE–DE) capacitor to show that the charge boost is a steady-state effect—i.e., the charge boost remains intact after the initial transient effects subside and all the voltages in the system reach constant values and steady states. We also demonstrate differential charge boost in steady state using a staircase voltage pulse measurement technique. An experimentally calibrated multi-domain SPICE model of an FE–DE stack is used to accurately simulate the PUND and staircase voltage hopping methods.
China's outward foreign direct investment in the Belt and Road Initiative: What are the motives for Chinese firms to invest?

Abstract Because of the potentially large and important effects of the extremely ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) launched by China in late 2013, considerable attention has been given to the motives for, and repercussions of, the BRI-driven infrastructural projects. Yet, the non-infrastructural outward foreign direct investment (FDI) from China to BRI countries, which varies quite substantially across different sectors and different countries, has not yet received much attention. In contrast to some recent studies showing that the massive initiative has increased China's total FDI outflows to fellow BRI countries, in this paper, based on our sector-level difference-in-differences models, we find that effect to be statistically insignificant. Yet, at the same time, we provide empirical evidence on the sectoral pattern of China's outward FDI before and after 2014 indicating that China's FDI outflows to BRI countries have significantly increased in sectors characterized by overcapacity and contributing to pollution in China, thereby demonstrating that China's BRI-driven outward FDI has been very selective in terms of sectors. We confirm these findings with a variety of robustness checks and show that it is BRI countries with relatively low institutional quality that have been more likely to receive these types of FDI from China. We thus speculate that Chinese firms have been motivated to place FDI investments in BRI countries for the sake of alleviating China's own overcapacity and pollution problems. Our findings lead us to suggest that, although these sectoral patterns are consistent with the different stages of economic development in which China and its fellow BRI-identified countries find themselves, Chinese investors and host country governments should be more concerned with the potential for unwanted side-effects of the FDI investments so that the mutually beneficial effects of the BRI can be sustained into the indefinite future among all countries involved.
Changes in liver steatosis in HIV-positive women are associated with the BMI, but not with biomarkers.

Abstract The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is higher in HIV-infected patients compared to the general population. While metabolic risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome have been identified as key risk factors in all individuals, there is limited information regarding the mechanisms that contribute to the higher prevalence among individuals living with HIV, particularly among women and ethnic minorities. The aim of this study was to determine the association, over two time points, of a panel of biomarkers with liver steatosis in a cohort of HIV-seropositive women and age-matched negative controls and to investigate whether the association differed by HIV status. To this effect, plasma samples obtained from 105 HIV-positive and –negative participants enrolled in the Women’s Interagency HIV study (WIHS) Washington DC site were assayed for biomarkers associated with inflammation, adipose tissue function, fibrinolysis, gut permeability and hepatocyte apoptosis/necrosis. Their association with liver steatosis, measured using Controlled-Attenuation Parameter (CAP) scores determined by transient elastography, were then analyzed. HIV positivity was associated with lower median IL-17A and higher IL-22 and sCD14 values. There were no statistically significant associations between HIV status, biomarkers or covariates with CAP measurement over two time points. However, IL-1β levels were associated with higher CAP scores at the second visit. Across all statistical models, an increase in BMI was associated with an increase in CAP measurements. No statistically significant associations were found between viral load history, CD4 + T-cell count, biomarkers and covariates, including ART use, on CAP measurements. These results confirm that BMI is a key risk factor for liver steatosis independent of HIV status. The potential contributions to NAFLD of differences in IL-1β, Th17-family cytokines and gut permeability between HIV-positive vs. negative individuals require further study.
Monocrystalline 4H Silicon Carbide-on-Insulator Substrates for Nav-Grade Planar BAW Gyroscopes

This paper reports on the unique merits of monocrystalline hexagonal silicon carbide-on-insulator (4H-SiCOI) substrates for the implementation of maximally-driven bulk acoustic wave (BAW) gyroscopes on a chip. The scaling of performance in planar silicon micromechanical gyroscopes over the past two decades has hovered above inertial-grade level. The material properties of monocrystalline hexagonal silicon carbide, an isoelastic high acoustic velocity semiconductor with ultra-low internal damping, are superbly amenable to mode-matched ultra-high-Q micromechanical resonant gyroscopes with low mechanical Brownian noise. The recent development of 40,..m-thick bond and etch-back SiCOI substrates and their nanoscale-precision DRIE may enable maximally-driven ultra-high-Q planar SiC BAW gyroscopes with navigation-grade performance on a chip
Utilizing Social Media for Information Dispersal during Local Disasters: The Communication Hub Framework for Local Emergency Management.

In today’s society, the use of social media has increased the public’s desire to receive information quickly and to be able to interact with communicators. During a disaster, the trend to turn to social media for information has risen in popularity. Society’s reliance on social media and quick access to information has led the field of emergency management and the role of a Public Information Officer to adapt to include social media as a crisis communication channel for information dispersal. Existing frameworks for the use of social media as a channel for crisis communications provide guidance for emergency management agencies across all levels of government but fail to account for the varying access to communication resources at the local level. Due to the differing access to communication resources and unique relationships with stakeholders at the local level, there is a need for guidance on how local emergency management agencies can use social media to disperse essential information. The proposed Communication Hub Framework utilizes local emergency management professionals’ relationships with key community stakeholders to aid in the distribution of essential information to community members via social media during a disaster.
Species-specific quantification of circulating ebolavirus burden using VP40-derived peptide variants

Six ebolavirus species are reported to date, including human pathogens Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Ebola virus (EBOV), Sudan virus (SUDV), and Tai Forest virus (TAFV); non-human pathogen Reston virus (RESTV); and the plausible Bombali virus (BOMV). Since there are differences in the disease severity caused by different species, species identification and viral burden quantification are critical for treating infected patients timely and effectively. Here we developed an immunoprecipitation-coupled mass spectrometry (IP-MS) assay for VP40 antigen detection and quantification. We carefully selected two regions of VP40, designated as peptide 8 and peptide12 from the protein sequence that showed minor variations among Ebolavirus species through MS analysis of tryptic peptides and antigenicity prediction based on available bioinformatic tools, and generated high-quality capture antibodies pan-specific for these variant peptides. We applied this assay to human plasma spiked with recombinant VP40 protein from EBOV, SUDV, and BDBV and virus-like particles (VLP), as well as EBOV infected NHP plasma. Sequence substitutions between EBOV and SUDV, the two species with highest lethality, produced affinity variations of 2.6-fold for p8 and 19-fold for p12. The proposed IP-MS assay differentiates four of the six known EBV species in one assay, through a combination of p8 and p12 data. The IP-MS assay limit of detection (LOD) using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) as signal readout was determined to be 28 ng/mL and 7 ng/mL for EBOV and SUDV respectively, equivalent to ~1.625-6.5×105 Geq/mL, and comparable to the LOD of lateral flow immunoassays currently used for Ebola surveillance. The two peptides of the IP-MS assay were also identified by their tandem MS spectra using a miniature MALDI-TOF MS instrument, greatly increasing the feasibility of high specificity assay in a decentralized laboratory.
Mass Appeal: Make Room for TV

On October 20, 1952, Frank P. Walsh, who ground out a living as an industrial plant guard and worked the night shift, shot and killed his television set with a .38 caliber revolver. He complained that the noise from the set, in constant use by his wife, mother-in-law, and five children, disturbed his sleep in his small West Hempstead, Long Island, house. His wife reacted to the assault on the family entertainment center with shock and dismay. She called the police, who investigated the matter and determined that there was no law against shooting one’s own television set. It took a surprisingly long time for the diffusion of television to occur, but when it did, television predominated over the movies and the radio in the Walsh household and in other American homes. This reordering of entertainment priorities posed little problem for the radio networks because they simply transformed themselves into the dominant television networks. As for the movie industry, worries that television would take away its audience produced both the high art described in the previous chapter and the ultimate realization that the movie companies could make TV shows in the same way they had once churned out feature films, short subjects, and other products. Breakout hits, in particular I Love Lucy , showed television executives that telefilms could be as profitable as the live broadcasts that had characterized radio and the early years of television.
Exergames for Older Adults: Towards Sustainable and Transferrable Health Benefits

This study presents an exergame called Pressure-Ball game that is designed to increase health among institutionalized older adults. As many older adults develop sedentary lifestyle in which their physical activities are reduced, it is important to engage them in a mild exercise activity. The mild exercise activity can increase their confidence in fitness levels and reduce fear of injuries; thereby building active lifestyle that can be sustainable and transferrable to other domains of life. To assess health benefits brought about by Pressure-Ball game, we propose a longitudinal study that employs a series of experiments in retirement homes in Midwest. The completed research has potential to provide health benefits to aging population.
Wise Decisions: A Frontier Newspaper's Coverage of the Dakota Conflict

Abstract The Minnesota Dakota Conflict in 1862 was among the bloodiest American Indian wars. One of its last events took place in Mankato on December 26, 1862, when 38 Dakota men were hanged in the largest mass execution in US history. This work examines the coverage of the war and the hanging by frontier editor John Wise's weekly newspaper, the Mankato Record. This research contributes to the history of US Indian-white relations and the frontier press, and it adds evidence to the guard-dog theory of the press. The idea is that mainstream media personnel will tolerate those outside the dominant group, but only until external threats appear. Thus, ultimately, a “free” press serves to perpetuate the status quo, not challenge it. This was especially true in 1860s frontier America, when newspapers, written by whites for whites, were key promoters of manifest destiny.
Leukocyte adherence inhibition response to murine sarcoma virus-induced tumors: II. Requirement for T-cell subpopulations and macrophages

Abstract Murine sarcoma virus (MSV)-immune T cells from C57BL/6 mice respond to intact RBL-5 tumor cells with the production of leukocyte adherence inhibition factor (LAIF), which mediates an adherence inhibition response of macrophages. LAIF is elaborated by isolated Lyt-2+ cells incubated with RBL-5 cells, whereas Lyt-1+ cells elaborate a substance that enhances macrophage adherence. Spleen macrophages or peritoneal exudate macrophages from MSV-immune mice when present at concentrations of 0.1% changed the response of Lyt-1 + cells from the formation of an adherence enhancing factor to the formation of an adherence inhibiting factor. Migration inhibition factor (MIF) was formed by Lyt-1+ cells, but not by Lyt-2+ cells under identical culture conditions. Addition of either spleen macrophages from mice with progressively growing tumors or tumor-infiltrating macrophages suppressed LAIF formation by both Lyt-1+ and Lyt-2+ cells. Tumor-infiltrating macrophages elicited an adherence enhancing factor from Lyt-2+ cells when present at high concentrations. The results suggest that the extent of macrophage adherence in vitro is the outcome of an interaction of macrophages with mediators that have opposing effects.
Causes and Implications of the U.S. Housing Crisis

The British sometimes use the phrase “safe as houses” to describe a sure bet or an investment that carries little to no risk. Until a few years ago, this expression held true in America as well, where housing prices had done nothing but steadily rise since the Great Depression, and the general public considered a home to be one of the best investments possible. As the nation headed into a new Millennium, mortgage loans were easy to come by and housing prices soared while the economy appeared to thrive. The government strongly encouraged Americans to own their own home, and with banks devising creative methods to make money off mortgage loans, everyone appeared to win. However, the seemingly stable economy was belied by the underlying fundamentals, leading to a global financial shakeup that has changed the way we perceive the economy. This paper will trace the housing crisis to its roots and examine how it impacted the broader American economy, bringing us to our current financial situation of a depressed housing market and lingering unemployment. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol20/iss1/12 The Park Place Economist, Volume XX 40 CAUSES AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE U.S. HOUSING CRISIS
A vintage adjustment model of industrial energy substitution: Comparative results from California manufacturing, 1958–76

Abstract A model based on an explicit treatment of capital vintages is developed and estimated for twelve California industries. It is shown that while short-run elasticities can appropriately be regarded as parameters of technology, long-run elasticities cannot, as these are determined as much by the benchmark vintage composition of capital as by technology. Empirical results indicate considerable similarities in short-run responses between the vintage model and the traditional static and partial adjustment specifications. However, long-run elasticities are found to be quite different, as is the pattern of dynamic adjustment. A shift in relative prices acts like a glacial drift — imperceptible in the short run, irresistible in the long run. Adelman and Morris (1981).
The Colorful Future of Spin

Activity and discoveries in spin physics of strong interactions has grown dramatically in recent years. What will we find in the future? I believe the future will be about the direct experimental exploration of confinement. While it is impossible to predict the “future spin” of the whole community, my personal vision indicates we will teach ourselves how to use new coordinates for the gauge sector. New coordinates will be more appropriate for the new questions being asked. Contrary to long‐held beliefs, there does exist alternatives to QCD. Not only will the future be about discovering the micro‐structure of hadrons, but also new fundamental questions of principle will be confronted.
Abundances in Stars in Globular Clusters from Palomar CCD Spectra

We have completed abundance analyses of stars in three globular clusters: M71, M4. and M22. Spectra of resolution 0.3 and 0.6 (two pixel) resolution have been obtained with the Palomar coude spectrograph and a TI CCD. The analysis was carried out with model atmospheres and f-values derived from three sources: absolute f-values derived by theory for the 6300 line of OI and for CN bands, laboratory f-values for lines that are too weak in the sun to be useful, and solar f-values. The last introduce an uncertainty of about 0.25 dex because solar f-values derived via the Holweger-Muller model differ from those derived via the BEGN model.
IN enhanced services strategy

The article consists of a PowerPoint presentation on an Intelligent Network (IN) enhanced services strategy. The specific areas/topics discussed include: the Network Environment; Customer Requirements; Evolution of Enhanced Services; Critical Success Factors; Telecommunications & Media; Enhanced Services Strategy and Vision; Enhanced Services Solutions; and IBM's Vision.
Elongation of the achilles tendon after rupture repair occurred slightly less with postoperative early motion than with postoperative immobilization.

Question: In patients having repair of Achilles tendon ruptures, does early motion or immobilization after surgery reduce Achilles tendon elongation? Design: Randomized (allocation concealed), unblinded, controlled trial with 60-week follow-up. Setting: A university hospital in Oulu, Finland. Patients: 50 patients who were 21 to 55 years of age (mean age 36 y, 92% men) and treated for an acute, complete, closed Achilles tendon rupture. Exclusion criteria included an age of >60 years, a delay in treatment of ≥1 week, systemic or local corticosteroid treatment, a previous Achilles tendon rupture on the contralateral side, and diabetes mellitus. Intervention: All patients had the same operative repair technique including a central gastrocnemius aponeurosis flap for repairing the Achilles tendon rupture. 25 patients were allocated to early motion and 25 to immobilization. On the first postoperative day, patients in the early-motion group received a below-the-knee, dorsal-blocking, rigid plaster splint, which they wore for 6 weeks. The splint allowed active free plantar flexion of the ankle with dorsiflexion restricted to neutral. Patients in the immobilization group received a below-the-knee plaster splint with the ankle held in a neutral position for 6 weeks. Full weight-bearing was permitted in both groups after 3 weeks. Patients were given a standard rehabilitation program of exercises to perform postoperatively. Jogging was begun at 12 weeks, and swimming and cycling exercises were recommended. Full-speed running and other sports were allowed at 6 months. Main outcome measures: Achilles tendon elongation (assessed by radiography) and functional outcomes (ankle performance and isokinetic calf-muscle strength scores). Main results: Achilles tendon elongation was less in the early motion group than in the immobilization group at a mean of 60 weeks (median, 2 vs 5 mm; p = 0.05 [borderline significance]). Ankle performance and isokinetic calf-muscle strength scores did not differ between groups. Conclusion: In patients who have had surgical repair of an Achilles tendon rupture, elongation of the Achilles tendon occurred slightly less after early motion than after immobilization.
Radiotherapy: Particle Beams

An overview, including historical developments, of various types of particle-beam radiotherapies is given. This overview also includes electron, proton, neutron, and heavy-ion radiotherapy. The types of particle accelerators and related apparatus for these are described together with the radiological aspects of each type of particle beam. Possible future developments in the field are outlined. Keywords: radiotherapy; particle beam; particle accelerator; electron beam; proton; neutron
Evaluating posture behavior during seated tasks

A method was developed to evaluate posture behavior of the trunk, neck, eye, and upper extremity in three-dimensional during the performance of static, seated tasks. Body postures were measured using an ultrasonic measurement system to determine the Cartesian coordinates of joints and the angles between adjacent limbs. Posture preferences for a variety of visual and manual tasks were then determined. Pilot studies using three subjects performing visual and right-handed tasks showed that the postures were affected by target location, body size, and target size. These experiments suggest that the preferred horizontal location of visual targets is within 10 o of the saglttal plane of the head. The preferred vertical location of visual targets is 10 o to 35 o below the seated eye height. For manual reaches, the target-to-shoulder distance should be at least one-third the length of the upper extremity to avoid extreme elbow flexion. In addition, the seat pan should swivel and should allow a person to move fore and aft in order to adjust to a comfortable work posture. Relevance to industry
Effects of Varying Particle Size of Forage on Digestion and Chewing Behavior of Dairy Heifers

Abstract Eighteen Holstein heifers were fed long and chopped coarse and fine alfalfa hay ad libitum to evaluate effects of physical form on digestion and chemical composition of feed and fecal particles and to examine the applicability of a sinusoidal model to chewing behavior. Recordings of jaw movement were divided into 1-h segments for analysis. Least square mean size of fecal particles from coarse and finely chopped diets were 290 and 297μm as compared to 227 μ m on long hay. Intakes of dry matter were greater and digestibilities lower for chopped as compared to long hay. Crude protein content of separated feed and fecal particles increased as particle size decreased. Neutral and acid detergent fiber concentrations decreased in feed and feces with decreasing particle size. Lignin content of feed particles decreased as particle size decreased, whereas for fecal particles lignin as a percent of cell wall followed a "U" shaped pattern of declining then increasing as size decreased. Patterns were sinusoidal for eating and ruminating long and chopped hays and total chewing (eating and ruminating) of long hay. Our results suggest a gradual effect on chemical degradation and physical detrition of digesta particles and chewing behavior as forage particle size decreased.
Aflatoxin and chromosomal studies.

Aspergillus flavus is known to be a common fungal contaminant on groundnuts, groundnut cake, and meal, Four metabolites have been designated as comprising the toxins produced by the fungus. Collectively, the B1, B2, G1, and G2 toxic factors have come to be called aflatoxin; the B1 form being considered the most common naturally occurring form.