cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A design study of an alkali seeded arc jet

In conventional arcjets the largest loss in efficiency is the energy required to ionize the propellant. Previous work shows that adding a small amount of a readily ionizable material such as cesium can provide adequate electrical conductivity, without the main propellant (hydrogen) being ionized. This can reduce this loss from about fifty percent to less than one percent. A quasi one dimensional model was shown to be consistent with a fully two dimensional code, and was used for performance mapping. Varying the parameters mapped out the performance range and provided a design for a prototype. A materials search and a thermal model led to a structural design including regenerative cooling, which regained 65% of the heat lost to the walls. Supply and extraction of the cesium was examined and the pumping requirements determined. Finally a mission analysis showed that a seeded arcjet is the best choice for LEO to GEO orbit raising with transfer times between 30 and 160 days when the power source is considered part of the propulsion system, and between 15 and 80 days when considered part of the payload.
ST2 Predicts Mortality and Length of Stay in a Critically Ill Noncardiac Intensive Care Unit Population.

Objectives: The biomarker suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) is a well-established clinical biomarker of cardiac strain and is frequently elevated in a variety of cardiac conditions. Here, we sought to evaluate the prognostic value of ST2 in critically ill medical intensive care unit (MICU) patients without primary cardiac illness. Methods: We measured ST2 and high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) on plasma specimens collected on 441 patients following admission to a noncardiac MICU and evaluated the prognostic power of ST2 both alone and in multivariate models. Results: Of these critically ill patients, 96% exhibited ST2 concentrations above the reference interval. ST2 concentrations were highly predictive of intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, as well as in-hospital mortality, with high concentrations predicting a poor prognosis. Rates of in-hospital mortality were more than four times higher in patients with ST2 concentrations in the highest compared with the lowest quartile. In multivariate analysis, ST2 remained an important predictor of death after adjustment for age, hsTnT, and common diagnoses. Conclusions: ST2 is increased and predictive of prognosis in critically ill patients without primary cardiac disease, suggesting that critically ill patients may often have unrecognized cardiac injury. Clinical decision support algorithms incorporating ST2 and hsTnT results may be useful in patient risk stratification.
Routine Postoperative Care of Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting on Cardiopulmonary Bypass

The postoperative course of a patient undergoing cardiac surgery (CS) is dictated by a largely predictable set of interactions between disease-specific and therapeutic factors. ICU personnel need to quickly develop a detailed understanding of the patient's current status and how critical care resources can be used to promote further recovery and eventual independence from external support. The goal of this article is to describe a typical operative and postoperative course, with emphasis on the latter, and the diagnostic and therapeutic options necessary for the proper care of these patients. This paper will focus on coronary artery bypass grafting as a model for understanding the course of CS patients; however, many of the principles discussed are applicable to most cardiac surgery patients.
Role of composition and structure on the properties of metal/multifunctional ceramic interfaces

The formation of intermetallic secondary phases, such as Pt3Pb, has been observed experimentally at PbTiO3/Pt and Pb(Zr,Ti)O3/Pt, or PZT/Pt, interfaces. Density functional theory calculations are used here to calculate the work of adhesion of these interfacial systems with and without the secondary intermetallic phase. The charge density maps of the interfaces reveal the electronic interactions at the interface and the impact of the secondary phase. In addition, Bader charge analysis provides a quantitative assessment of electron transfer from the perovskites to the Pt. Analysis of the band diagrams indicates an increase of the potential barrier associated with electron transfer due to the formation of the Pt3Pb at PZT/Pt interfaces.
Status Based Equity Alliances in the Thoroughbred Horse Industry: A Two-Sided Matching Approach

In many industries, firms with asymmetric status form alliances in order to gain new resources. We use a unique setting of equity alliances in the Thoroughbred Horse Industry to study the effects of two underlying dimensions of status, resource quality and network position. We find that firms select each other based on the quality of their resources and on the network closure higher status firm. Once the selection is controlled for, the performance outcome of the alliance is affected by the quality of the resources and the network closure of both partners. Our results indicate that firms seek overlapping assurance (from the equity alliance and the high-status partner’s network closure) to prevent opportunism in their alliance for the high-status partner and to promote reputational benefits for the low-status partner. The paper uses a two-sided matching model with Bayesian estimation to account for endogeneity of the mutual selection in the alliance.
A 802.11a WLAN oscillator with high Q embedded passives on laminate-type organic package

Phase noise, output RF amplitude, and jitter are the oscillator performance characteristics which are determined by the DC power consumed and the quality factor (Q) of the passives. In a multi-standard environment, low phase noise enables achieving high SNR for all standards in the presence of noise and interference. CMOS and similar IC technologies limit the DC voltage supply and provide very low Q inductors and capacitors (/spl sim/6 to 30), trading the oscillator's performance with the DC power consumed. The paper presents a low power, low phase noise Colpitt's oscillator at 5.2 GHz for WLAN (IEEE 802.11a) application. The adjacent channel interference suppression requirement of the 802.11a WLAN system (5.15-5.35 GHz, 5.725-5.825 GHz) is approximately 25 dB with an SNR of 19 dB for a BER of 10/sup -6/ in a 64 QAM system. This leads to a phase noise requirement of at least -110 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset (Bhattacharjee, J. et al., 2002 IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Dig., vol.1, p.585-8, 2002).
Article 39 [Report of the Committee]

Article 39 constitutes a final provision of the international monitoring mechanism provided by the CRPD that explains the role of the CRPD Committee in the framework of the UN human rights machinery. Compared to earlier human rights conventions, the CRPD monitoring regime does not present particular aspects of novelty, reflecting a consolidated practice. This norm establishes that the CRPD Committee reports every 2 years to the UN General Assembly and to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on its activities. Furthermore, it may make ‘suggestions and general recommendations’ based on the examination of reports and information submitted by State Parties. The obligation to report information on a periodic basis is a consistent feature of the practice of all human rights treaty bodies and represents a tool of particular importance for information, monitoring and decision making. In the same vein, the competence of the CRPD Committee to elaborate ‘suggestions and general comments’ constitutes a pivotal task of the Committee and contributes to making the CRPD a living instruments.
The essential conference: A report on the 2016 Access Services Conference, Georgia Institute of Technology

A couple of years ago, in these pages, we reported on the annual Ivies+ Access Services Symposium (Wilson, 2014), a gathering that brings together Access Services staff from Ivy League schools and ...
Design, integration, and field evaluation of a robotic apple harvester

Every apple destined for the fresh market is picked by the human hand. Despite extensive research over the past four decades, there are no mechanical apple harvesters for the fresh market commercially available, which is a significant concern because of increasing uncertainty about the availability of manual labor and rising production costs. The highly unstructured orchard environment has been a major challenge to the development of commercially viable robotic harvesting systems. This paper reports the design and field evaluation of a robotic apple harvester. The approach adopted was to use a low-cost system to assess required sensing, planning, and manipulation functionality in a modern orchard system with a planar canopy. The system was tested in a commercial apple orchard in Washington State. Workspace modifications and performance criteria are thoroughly defined and reported to help evaluate the approach and guide future enhancements. The machine vision system was accurate and had an average localization time of 1.5 s per fruit. The seven degree of freedom harvesting system successfully picked 127 of the 150 fruit attempted for an overall success rate of 84% with an average picking time of 6.0 s per fruit. Future work will include integration of additional sensing and obstacle detection for improved system robustness.
Nearly a Third of High-Grade Dysplasia and Colorectal Cancer Is Undetected in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

It is unclear whether intensive surveillance protocols have resulted in a decreased incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To determine the prevalence and characteristics of IBD associated high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or CRC that was undetected on prior colonoscopy. This is a single-center, retrospective study from 1994 to 2013. All participants had a confirmed IBD diagnosis and underwent a colectomy with either HGD or CRC found in the colectomy specimen.The undetected group had no HGD or CRC on prior colonoscopies. The detected group had HGD or CRC identified on previous biopsies. Of 70 participants, with ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 47), Crohn’s disease (CD) (n = 21), and indeterminate colitis (n = 2), 29% (n = 20) had undetected HGD/CRC at colectomy (15 HGD and 5 CRC). In the undetected group, 75% had prior LGD, 15% had indefinite dysplasia, and 10% had no dysplasia (HGD was found in colonic strictures). Patients in the undetected group were more likely to have pancolitis (55 vs. 20%) and multifocal dysplasia (35 vs. 8%). The undetected group was less likely to have CRC at colectomy (25 vs. 62%). There was a trend toward right-sided HGD/CRC at colectomy (40 vs. 20%; p = 0.08). In addition, 84% of the lesions found in the rectum at colectomy were not seen on prior colonoscopy in the undetected group. The prevalence of previously undetected HGD/CRC in IBD found at colectomy was 29%. The high proportion of undetected rectal and right-sided HGD/CRC suggests that these areas may need greater attention during surveillance.
Abstract 3067: Galectin-3, a target for KRAS-addicted lung cancer

KRAS-mutant cancers are notoriously therapy-resistant. While responsible for oncogenesis, mutant KRAS or the sustained activation of KRAS-driven effectors may or may not be required throughout the course of cancer progression. Thus, understanding which tumors remain dependent on oncogenic KRAS could lead to the identification of unique vulnerabilities and opportunities to treat them. We previously discovered that the carbohydrate-binding Galectin-3 (Gal-3) brings together KRAS with integrin αvβ3 at the cell membrane in epithelial cancer cells to promote tumor progression. Here, we show that by directly binding to the cell surface receptor integrin αvβ3, Gal-3 drives addiction to oncogenic KRAS by enhancing macropinocytosis and reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). This pathway drives increased expression of SOD2, a superoxide dismutase that clears mitochondrial ROS to protect against cell death. Targeting Gal-3 with a clinically active drug decreases macropinocytosis and increases ROS to eradicate KRAS-addicted lung cancer in patient-derived xenografts and spontaneous KRAS-driven lung cancer in mice. Our work reveals Gal-3 as a druggable target for KRAS-addicted lung cancer, and indicates integrin αvβ3 as a biomarker to identify this dependence. Citation Format: Laetitia Seguin, Maria F. Camargo, Hiromi I. Wettersten, Shumei Kato, Tami von Schalscha, Kathryn C. Elliott, Sara M. Weis, David A. Cheresh. Galectin-3, a target for KRAS-addicted lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3067. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3067
Association of Hormonal Contraception with depression in the postpartum period.

Abstract Objectives Studies have demonstrated an association between hormonal contraception use with subsequent depression and antidepressant use. This association has not been assessed among postpartum women. Study design This study is a secondary analysis of insurance records from 75,528 postpartum women enrolled in the US military medical system, who delivered between October 2012 and September 2014. Our analyses excluded women who used antidepressants or had a diagnosis of depression in the 24 months prior to delivery. We assessed the relationship of hormonal contraception use with subsequent antidepressant use or diagnosis with depression in the first 12 months postpartum using Cox proportional hazards regression, with a time dependent covariate measuring exposure to hormonal contraception. Results Antidepressants were prescribed to 7.8% of women and 5.0% were diagnosed with depression. In multivariable analysis adjusting for demographics, both antidepressant use and diagnosis with depression were associated with: younger age, lower socioeconomic status, and a history of military service. Compared to women with no hormonal contraceptive use, use of etonogestrel containing contraception was associated with a higher risk of antidepressant use (Implant: adjHR:1.22(95%CI:1.06–1.41), p Conclusion The risk of major depression diagnosis and antidepressant use in the postpartum period varies with the type of hormonal contraception used. Further research is required to describe the mechanisms of these relationships.
Late-transition metal modified β-Mo2C catalysts for enhanced hydrogenation during guaiacol deoxygenation

Molybdenum carbide has been identified as a promising bifunctional catalyst in the deoxygenation of a variety of pyrolysis vapor model compounds. Although high deoxygenation activity has been demonstrated, complementary hydrogenation activity has been limited, especially for lignin-derived, aromatic model compounds. The ability to control the relative site densities of acidic and hydrogenation functionalities represents a catalyst design challenge for these materials with the goal to improve hydrogenation activity under ex situ catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) conditions. Here we demonstrate that the addition of Pt and Ni to β-Mo2C resulted in an increase in the H*-site density with only a minor decrease in the acid-site density. In contrast, the addition of Pd did not significantly alter the H*- or acid-site densities. High conversions (>94%) and high selectivities to 0-oxygen products (>80%) were observed in guaiacol deoxygenation under ex situ CFP conditions (350 °C and 0.44 MPa H2) for all catalysts. Pt...
The rival might be not smart: Revising a CDMA jamming game

Due to the shared and open-access nature of the wireless medium, wireless networks are vulnerable to interference in the form of jamming attacks. In the research literature, game theory is a commonly employed tool to describe such jammming attacks as well as to design anti-jamming (defense) strategies. An advantage of such an approach is that it allows one to consider the adversary as a smart agent, who flexibly responds to the action of the other agents. In this paper, we put forward a question: what happen if the rival is smart? How does a priori knowledge about this impact on the rivals strategies. We formulate a jamming problem in a CDMA-style network as a Bayesian game between a jammer and a user with two-sided incomplete information about the type of rival it faces. We prove that the equilibrium exists and is unique. Closed form criteria to establish whether the equilibrium is an inner or boundary equilibrium is established. We derive monotonicity properties for the superposition of the two best response strategies, which allows us to develop an algorithm based on the bisection method to find the fixed point (i.e. equilibrium) of this superposition of best response strategies. Our algorithm can be considered as a learning algorithm since it allows to reduce the zone of uncertainty for the equilibrium by a half per iteration.
The Changing Role of University Presidents, Vice-Chancellors and Rectors

This article focuses on the changing environment worldwide for higher education and its impact on the role and challenges of campus administrators, specifically the president, rector, and vice-chancellor, referred to collectively as institutional heads. The first section examines two major forces for change shaping institutional management, leadership, and governance: the changing relationships between institutions and their governments, and the intensified market environment. The second section discusses the effects of these forces on institutional management and governance, focusing on the move from collegial governance to managerialism and the resulting tensions. The final section explores the changing role of institutional heads, describing four key factors shaping that role and exploring the tensions arising from the role of institutional head as change agent.
Public Opinion on Voter ID Laws and Voting Fraud

We examine levels of support for voter identification (ID) laws. Voter ID laws are highly politicized legislative acts originating at the state level. While some see them as necessary to prevent voting fraud, others argue that fraud is extremely rare and that voter ID laws can actually prevent eligible voters from participating in elections. Using a population based experiment embedded in a telephone survey of U.S. adults (n=906) we find strong levels of support for voter ID laws, but the support depends how the law is “framed.” The survey asked how much respondents favored or opposed voter ID laws using five different wordings: two suggesting support of the laws, two suggesting opposition to the laws, and one “unframed” version containing no arguments. An examination of the data finds that arguments in favor of voter ID laws do not produce greater support; nor does an anti-voter ID law argument based on the rarity of voter fraud. In contrast, the argument that such laws might deny legitimate voting rights reduced support for ID laws. The poll also found the public is divided on the prevalence of voting fraud and is ill-informed about voter ID laws. When asked whether their state requires them to show photo ID when voting, many respondents gave inaccurate answers (particularly among those who said “yes”). Our results highlight the politicized nature of voter ID laws and suggest that information asymmetry may underlie public support.
Semi-implantable Middle Ear Electromagnetic Hearing Device for Sensorineural Hearing Loss:

A semi-implantable middle ear electromagnetic hearing device (SIMEHD) is proposed for limited clinical trial in adult patients to evaluate the implantable hearing device for moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigational device exemption (IDE) approval has been granted (May 1996) for clinical trials. The implant unit has been evaluated acutely and chronically in animals (cats) with excellent results. Five cats undergoing chronic implantation were allowed to survive an average of 9.6 months, showing that the SIMEHD is biocompatible, functional and without untoward complications. All implant units recovered from the cats were functional, except for wire breakage of the internal antenna. A new antenna was redesigned for human implantation. The SIMEHD system consists of an external and internal unit. The external unit consists of a microphone, audio amplifier, modulator, radio frequency (RF) amplifier, antenna and battery. The internal unit is composed of a receiving antenna, hybrid electronic circuit, air core driving coil, and a target magnet cemented to the incus. All materials in contact with the body are biocompatible and expected to survive indefinitely. The implant unit is miniaturized and manufactured with existing fabrication technology by our industrial collaborator, Wilson Greatbatch, Ltd. The specific aims and major tasks of the proposed research are: a) to evaluate reliability, safety and efficacy of the SIMEHD system in a selected group of patients diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, due mainly to presbycusis or aging of the inner ear; and b) to obtain objective and subjective evaluation of audiologic and psychoacoustic performance as compared to the acoustic hearing aid. This paper describes the design, illustrates the actual device (newest prototype) and details the technique for surgical implantation in the attic and mastoid antrum in humans.
Revision of the genus Malporus Casey (Coleoptera: Anthicidae: Anthicinae).

The North American genus Malporus Casey is revised for the first time. Three species are found in the eastern North America, and are most commonly collected in riparian areas or in salt marshes: M. cinctus (Say), M. formicarius (LaFert6-Senectere), M. properus Casey. A new species from the Southwestern United States, M. werneri, is described, and M. blandus Casey is here placed as a junior synonym of M. properus, new synonym. Anthicus fornicarius LaFert6-Senectere is designated as the type species of Malporus. Malporus is a small, distinctive group of Anthicidae from North America, which was proposed as a new genus by Casey (1895) in his revision of the North American fauna. Casey placed four species into this group: Anthicus formicarius LaFerte-Senectere, A. cinctus Say, and two species he then described, Malporus properus Casey and M. blandus Casey. The only subsequent systematic comment on this group was by Werner (1975), when he placed M. blandus as a junior synonym of M. formicarius. This is one of the few North American genera of Anthicinae that has not been revised within the last 35 years. While Malporus is not a diverse group, there have been consistent misidentifications of the few species in almost all collections, and a new species from Arizona and New Mexico has been found. This revision will clarify the species characteristics, correct the one synonymy, and provide an opportunity to summarize the greatly increased information on distribution of these species. Lengths cited in the species descriptions are based on measurement of the examined specimens of the respective species. The other measurements are based on an exemplar selected for each species. Biological and Collection Information LeConte (1852) was the first to provide information on the habitat associations of this group, when he mentioned that M. formicarius was common in salt marshes. Malporus formicarius is frequent in New England and eastern Canada under debris in sandy areas along lakes and streams, or in coastal dunes and along the margins of salt marshes. Blatchley (1910) later noted that M. cinctus was found beneath logs and "rubbish" in sandy areas near water. Members of this genus are usually associated with riparian or marshy areas. When individuals are collected at ultraviolet light, the light is usually by a stream or river. Adults are probably scavengers and micro-predators like most Anthicidae (Werner and Chandler 1995), as are the larvae. Kitayama (1982) ' Scientific Contribution Number 1949 from the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station
Value Traits Reinforcement and Perceived Importance: Does Context Matter?

This study examines whether business students' perception of value trait reinforcement and importance differ by their university context. Student perceptions in coeducational religious, coeducational public and all-female religious schools were compared. The results of this study indicate areas of similarity and differences among students in regard to the context of school type and that reinforcement differences seemed to contribute to the differences.
Region, Religion, Education and Contraceptives Use in Ghana: An Analysis from a Gender Perspective

This study seeks to examine the role of region, religion and education on contraceptive use in Ghana. The study also observes how gender affects the relationship between region, religion, education (independent variable) and contraceptive use (dependent variable) in Ghana. This study employs a data with the sample size of 11,888 from the 2008 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) on Ghana. The dependent variable of the student is contraceptive use and the independent variables of the study are region, religion and education. The paper controls for gender, to determine how gender affects both the dependent and independent variables. The results from the study prove that region, religion and education strongly influence contraceptive use in Ghana. The study also proves gender has a strong influence on contraceptive use in Ghana.
Introduction: Is There a Boundary between Promotion and Progression?

The need for a meeting that would discuss the poorly defined areas of promotion and progression, and the impetus to promote it, came as a result of a Gordon Conference on Cancer in August, 1987. It had become evident to me and other participants that the concepts of promotion and progression as two separate stages in a multi-step model of carcinogenesis required further evaluation.
Arsenic, Beryllium, Selenium and Vanadium

The importance of toxic elements in environmental chemistry is rarely questioned, but a relatively small number of elements (mercury, lead, and cadmium) have received a large share of researchers’ attention. The environmental chemistry of the transition metals, e.g., chromium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, copper, etc., has also been investigated principally because of their roles in metabolism, especially enzymatic processes. However, two non-metals, arsenic and selenium, and two metals, beryllium and vanadium, are elements which will become more significant in the future from environmental and toxicological points of view. Arsenic and selenium have been investigated, but much more work is needed because of the importance of these two elements in the environment. The author considers beryllium and vanadium to be “problem metals of the future”. The primary exposure route for both beryllium and vanadium is via the atmosphere and as lower environmental standards are imposed, more uses are found for each element, and more fossil fuels (source of V) are burned, the amounts added to the atmosphere will have more significance.
On the flexibility of a decision theory-based heuristic for single machine scheduling

Abstract This report extends prior research on the “decision theory” approach for scheduling/sequencing (DTS). Compared to other construction heuristics like priority dispatching (PD) approaches, DTS has the advantage that it is flexible regarding a diverse range of regular and non-regular objectives. Furthermore, multiple decision criteria linearly combined within a single objective function can be addressed. For sequencing a set of jobs on a single machine, DTS estimates the total effect of selecting the next job in the sequence. To this, the completion times for all jobs resulting from this decision need to be estimated. We provide an estimator for job completion times and prove it to be the expected completion time. We also prove that DTS using this estimator provides optimum solutions for a number of single machine scheduling problems. Finally, we provide an extensive computational study comparing DTS to 38 competing PD approaches for a large variety of objectives (31). The results indicate DTS to be a flexible and viable alternative to PD approaches almost independent of specific objectives and problem instance characteristics.
Predicting the product particle size distribution from a laboratory vertical stirred mill

Abstract The use of ball mills for fine grinding is inefficient resulting in an increasing use of vertical stirred mills in the mineral processing industry. The difficulty encountered in fine grinding is the increased resistance to comminute small particles compared to coarse particles. Therefore, increased energy inputs are necessary to raise the number of stress events in a mill to contribute to the comminution of the fine material. In this study, a research program was designed and carried out to predict the performance of a laboratory scale vertical stirred mill. An energy-based population balance model was developed to analyze the response in product size by changing operating conditions. The model prediction was compared with the results obtained in the laboratory vertical stirred mill. The grinding results show that changes in feed size, agitator speed, and grinding media size mainly affect the particle breakage rate. The test data also show that a finer product size is obtained when the mill operates at higher stirrer speed and when using smaller grinding media.
Bank excess returns and unconventional monetary policy

During the Global Recession, the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) and the European Central Bank have implemented a series of unconventional monetary policy (UMP) measures. We argue that these programmes...
Modeling Collaboration in Parameter Design Using Multiagent Learning

This paper presents a model of collaboration in multidisciplinary engineering based on multiagent learning. Complex engineered systems are often designed through the collaboration of many designers or experts. A variety of frameworks have been presented and put in practice to help manage this collaboration, with good results; however, there have been few attempts to create an underlying model of collaboration.
Conductivity of Metallic Cryogenic Materials

As it is often important to have an approximate estimate of the thermal conductivity as a function of temperature for metals used in cryogenic design it is worth while to examine how well this conductivity can be predicted for a particular metal on the basis of the low and high temperature electrical resistivities which are relatively easily measured. We therefore wish to calculate the thermal conductivity k from the “residual” electrical resistivity due to impurities, ρ0, and the “ideal” resistivity due to thermal vibrations at room temperature, ρi(T1) assumed to be given by ρi(T1) = ρ(T1) — ρ0 (Matthiessen’s rule).
The state of medicinal science.

Medicinal science involves the study of pharmaca, especially of chemicals used in medicine as therapeutic and occasionally as prophylactic agents. It is based on combinations of experimental biology and chemistry and physics applied to the understanding of pathologies and restoring normal conditions in animal cells and tissues. The widest areas contributing to medicinal science are medicinal chemistry, biochemistry and pathology applied to metabolic aberrations, pharmacology, microbiology and virology, endocrinology and immunology. Many medical specialties funnel information into medicinal science and vice versa where pharmacotherapeutic treatment is involved. It would be a great advantage if unified concepts could be found to tie all these activities together. In physics and chemistry, the trend toward such generalizations is making progress. Biology and behavioral sciences are approaching the stage at which many of their phenomena are becoming classifiable as chemical and physical manifestations. But unified explanations in biology run into difficulties through refined visual observations and instrumental measurements. As we advance toward visualization of macromolecules by electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and other spectroscopic methods, we witness a centrifugal expansion of what had been thought to be ultimate biological entities only a few years ago. Where ‘animate’ matter and macromolecules meet we recognize the growing importance of molecular aggregation and polymerization.
A method to derive a tree survival model from any existing stand survival model

This study addresses a situation in which a forest manager has been using a whole-stand model that seems to predict well for their stands and now wants to derive an individual-tree model from it to...
History of Brainstem Glioma Surgery

Our understanding of brainstem gliomas (BGs) has matured immensely over the last two centuries, but on the scale of our greater understanding of neurological surgery, or even posterior fossa surgery, it remains a recent advancement. The incremental unraveling of anatomic relationships and surgical approaches by pioneering individuals in the context of improving antisepsis and neurological localization has allowed for the progressive comprehension of treatment strategies for BGs, but it has not been until the modern era that any meaningful therapeutic advancements have been made. As we trace the history of BGs, it is apparent that the few meaningful successes have unfortunately been riddled by many poor outcomes in which patients succumbed to their diseases. Much remains to be written about our developing understanding of BGs. This chapter will review the evolution of our functional and anatomical understanding of BGs, with a focus on the pioneers of the early and modern era, whose genius propelled forward the surgical management of these lesions of the brainstem.
Localizing Spoofing Attacks on Vehicular GPS Using Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications

GPS spoofing is a problem that is receiving increasing scrutiny due to an increasing number of reported attacks. Plenty of results have been reported on detecting the presence of GPS spoofing attacks. However, very few results currently exist for the localization of spoofing attackers, which is crucial to counteract GPS attacks. In this paper we propose leveraging vehicle-to-vehicle communications to detect and localize spoofing attacks on vehicular navigation GPS. The key idea is to correlate Doppler shift measurements which are reported by most commercial GPS receivers. The approach does not need additional dedicated devices and is easily deployable on modern vehicles equipped with vehicle-to-vehicle communication devices. It is capable of localizing both stationary spoofers and mobile spoofers which, for example, could be mounted on a vehicle. Both numerical simulations and experimental tests are conducted to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Photoexcited free carrier dynamics in Bi2Se3, (Bi0.75In0.25)2Se3, and (Bi0.50In0.50)2Se3: from topological to band insulator

Replacing some Bi by In in Bi2Se3 transforms it from a topological insulator to a band insulator. Here, we have used time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy to investigate photoexcited carrier dynamic...
A Full-Duplex Transceiver with CMOS RF Circulation and Code-Domain Signal Processing for 104 dB Self-Interference Rejection and Watt Level TX Power Handling

This paper describes a full-duplex (FD) radio transceiver that uses CMOS RFICs to realize high power handling and linearity. A high-rejection, magnetic-less CMOS circulator at the antenna along with high-rejection, blocker-tolerant RF code-domain correlators achieve high transmitter (TX) rejection in the RF domain. Code-domain operation supports higher linearity in FD applications. Digital cancellation increases the rejection down to noise floor of a software-defined radio (SDR). We compare the role of antenna impedance in the performance of SI rejection. The measured results demonstrate more than 104 dB TX self-interference (TX-SI) rejection at 20 dBm TX power. To the best of our knowledge, this work presents the best reported TX-SI rejection at more than 20 dBm.
Nonperturbative tuning of O(a2) improved staggered fermions

Abstract We perform a nonperturbative tuning of the coefficients in the O ( a 2 ) improved action for staggered fermions. The mass splitting for the pions of different doubler flavor is used as a measure of the symmetry breaking effects introduced by O ( a 2 ) discretization errors. We find that the flavor nondegeneracy can be somewhat reduced but not eliminated by such a tuning, indicating the need for new terms in the action to reduce the nondegeneracy.
A Precepting-Focused Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience in Academia.

Description of the opportunity Traditional advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) in academia provide students exposure to job responsibilities and expectations of pharmacy faculty members. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the development and structure of a precepting-focused academic APPE, APPE student perceptions of the experience, and introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) student perceptions of being precepted by APPE students. Innovation An academic pharmacy APPE was developed to emphasize preceptor development in addition to traditional academic pharmacy topics and responsibilities. Pre- and post-experience surveys were completed by APPE students to collect perceptions of academic pharmacy and precepting. During the experience, APPE students, under the supervision of faculty, precepted IPPE students, who were given the opportunity to assess the APPE student's precepting ability by completing a survey following the experience. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. Findings Nine students completed the academic APPE and the corresponding pre- and post-surveys. All students indicated the rotation increased their understanding of academia, and the majority (7/9) indicated an increased confidence in their precepting ability. Eighty-five IPPE students evaluated the APPE students, and the majority (78%) rated the quality of instruction from APPE students as "similar" to faculty instruction. Conclusion The structure of this experience allowed APPE students to gain exposure to academia and increase confidence in precepting, while facilitating the delivery of the IPPE program. Results indicate offering an academic APPE with an emphasis on experiential teaching is a potential strategy to prepare future pharmacy preceptors.
Protocol for the Mason: Health Starts Here prospective cohort study of young adult college students

Young adulthood is a period of increasing independence for the 40% of young adults enrolled in U.S. colleges. Previous research indicates differences in how students’ health behaviors develop and vary by gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. George Mason University is a state institution that enrolls a highly diverse student population, making it an ideal setting to launch a longitudinal cohort study using multiple research methods to evaluate the effects of health behaviors on physical and psychological functioning, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mason: Health Starts Here was developed as a longitudinal cohort study of successive waves of first year students that aims to improve understanding of the natural history and determinants of young adults’ physical health, mental health, and their role in college completion. The study recruits first year students who are 18 to 24 years old and able to read and understand English. All incoming first year students are recruited through various methods to participate in a longitudinal cohort for 4 years. Data collection occurs in fall and spring semesters, with online surveys conducted in both semesters and in-person clinic visits conducted in the fall. Students receive physical examinations during clinic visits and provide biospecimens (blood and saliva). The study will produce new knowledge to help understand the development of health-related behaviors during young adulthood. A long-term goal of the cohort study is to support the design of effective, low-cost interventions to encourage young adults’ consistent performance of healthful behaviors, improve their mental health, and improve academic performance.
Rice Husk-Derived Cellulose Nanofibers: A Potential Sensor for Water-Soluble Gases

Cellulose and its derivatives have evoked much attention in sensor technology as host-matrices for conducting materials because of their versatility, renewability, and biocompatibility. However, only a few studies have dealt with the potential utilization of cellulose as a sensing material without a composite structure. In this study, cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF) extracted from rice husks by using ultrasonic-assisted methods are introduced as a potential gas sensing material with highly sensitive performance. To fabricate nanocellulose-based films, CNF, TOCNF, and TOCNF with glycerol (TOCNF/G) were dispersed in water and applied on polyimide substrate with digital electrodes to form self-standing thin films by a drop-casting method. A transparent coating layer on the surface of the plate after drying is used for the detection of water-soluble gases such as acetone, ammonia, methane, and hydrogen sulfide gases at room temperature at 52% relative humidity. The sensor prototypes exhibited high sensitivity, and the detection limit was between 1 ppm and 5 ppm, with less than 10 min response and recovery time. The results indicate that both the CNF- and the TOCNF-coated sensors show good sensitivity toward ammonia and acetone, compared to other gases. A TOCNF/G-coated sensor exhibited minimum time in regard to response/recovery time, compared to a CNF-coated sensor. In this study, nanocellulose-based sensors were successfully fabricated using a low-cost process and a bio-based platform. They showed good sensitivity for the detection of various gases under ambient conditions. Therefore, our study results should further propel in-depth research regarding various applications of cellulose-based sensors in the future.
Is a Website Subject to Title III of the ADA: Why the Text Applies to Only Websites “Of” a Place of Public Accommodation

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) prohibits discrimination involving the “goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation.” The ADA lists examples that qualify as “public accommodations,” but it does not define the word “place.” As a result, the circuit courts since 1995 have been split over whether a “place of public accommodation” is limited to a physical place. Courts have recently addressed whether websites are subject to Title III and have relied primarily on precedent over a “place of public accommodation.” District courts within the Minority Approach have consistently held that a website is a “place of public accommodation.” In contrast, the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits have held that a website is not a “place of public accommodation” and thus not subject to Title III. Oddly enough, no court has held that a website is a “service,” “privilege,” or “advantage” of a “place of public accommodation.” This Comment urges courts to subject Title III to only websites that are a “service,” “privilege” or “advantage” of a “place of public accommodation.”
Patient-Reported Outcomes in SLE

Patient-reported outcomes are questionnaires designed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This is important to measure in SLE because the burden of symptoms that patients experience is often not reflected in measures of disease activity, leading to a discordance in the way patients versus clinicians perceive disease state. As a result, questionnaires that are specific to the experience of patients with SLE have been developed in addition to generic PROs. Utilizing PROs encourages clinical conversations, engaging patients as stakeholders in their own care. Working toward this patient empowerment, PROs can be integrated into clinics with minor adjustments to work flow; electronic administration and the utilization of spydergrams increases efficiency and interpretability. Because PROs measure aspects of HRQoL that often cannot be addressed by medication alone, building toward integrated care and connecting patients to interdisciplinary resources will be key in maximizing the benefit of PROs.
Development and characterization of phasor-based analysis for FLIM to evaluate the metabolic and epigenetic impact of HER2 inhibition on squamous cell carcinoma cultures

Significance Deranged metabolism and dysregulated growth factor signaling are closely associated with abnormal levels of proliferation, a recognized hallmark in tumorigenesis. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) of endogenous nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), a key metabolic coenzyme, offers a non-invasive, diagnostic indicator of disease progression, and treatment response. The model-independent phasor analysis approach leverages FLIM to rapidly evaluate cancer metabolism in response to targeted therapy. Aim We combined lifetime and phasor FLIM analysis to evaluate the influence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) inhibition, a prevalent cancer biomarker, on both nuclear and cytoplasmic NAD(P)H of two squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cultures. While better established, the standard lifetime analysis approach is relatively slow and potentially subject to intrinsic fitting errors and model assumptions. Phasor FLIM analysis offers a rapid, model-independent alternative, but the sensitivity of the bound NAD(P)H fraction to growth factor signaling must also be firmly established. Approach Two SCC cultures with low- and high-HER2 expression, were imaged using multiphoton-excited NAD(P)H FLIM, with and without treatment of the HER2 inhibitor AG825. Cells were challenged with mitochondrial inhibition and uncoupling to investigate AG825's impact on the overall metabolic capacity. Phasor FLIM and lifetime fitting analyses were compared within nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments to investigate epigenetic and metabolic impacts of HER2 inhibition. Results NAD(P)H fluorescence lifetime and bound fraction consistently decreased following HER2 inhibition in both cell lines. High-HER2 SCC74B cells displayed a more significant response than low-HER2 SCC74A in both techniques. HER2 inhibition induced greater changes in nuclear than cytoplasmic compartments, leading to an increase in NAD(P)H intensity and concentration. Conclusions The use of both, complementary FLIM analysis techniques together with quantitative fluorescence intensity revealed consistent, quantitative changes in NAD(P)H metabolism associated with inhibition of growth factor signaling in SCC cell lines. HER2 inhibition promoted increased reliance on oxidative phosphorylation in both cell lines.
Well-Being, EDIB, and the Promise of Leadership Development

Morale research over the past several years documents a crisis in the library profession and a 2021 report by Ithaka S + R reveals a confidence deficit in library administrators around work toward ...
Strategizing International Marketing and a Research Agenda

As I stated in my previous book (Samli 1995), we have to understand international consumer behavior so that consumers all over the world may have their needs and desires taken care of. This orientation in the twenty-first century has become more critical but also more challenging. In our discussions through the Introduction and Chap. 13, the discussion has been in the direction of understanding the learning and involvement of international consumers as conditions prior to the purchase.