cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Zinc Oxide Deposition

Zinc oxide is increasingly being studied as an eventual replacement for indium tin oxide as a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) for thin film solar cells. In order to better understand the growth process of ZnO, as well as provide for accurate control on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s TCO deposition system, undoped RF-magnetron sputtered ZnO films on silicon were analyzedin situ using real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE). A large wavelength range (245-994 nm) was measured in order to derive information about optical properties both below and above the bandgap. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements were also taken to confirm ellipsometry surface roughness results and provide additional insight into the surface morphology. In light of observed poor fit of typical two-layer optical models toin situ ellipsometry data, we propose a model film structure consisting of two layers: a bulk ZnO layer of graded density that increases in thickness as the growth proceeds and a growth zone at the top of the film of approximately constant thickness with a slightly larger bandgap, lower density, and decreased excitonic absorption. Unfortunately, this model is insufficient to explain the evolution of the film during the early growth period, corresponding to film thicknesses less than 100 nm. Nevertheless, the presence of a growth zone for films above a certain thickness should provide some insight into the growth process of RF-magnetron sputtered ZnO.
Effect of Adsorbed Carbonate on Surface Charge Characteristics and Physical Properties of Aluminum Hydroxide Gel

A titration procedure was used to determine the zero point of charge of a number of chloride-containing aluminum hydroxide gels and aluminum hydroxycarbonate gels. The surface charge characteristics of aluminum hydroxide gel were determined by both hydroxyls and the surface density of specifically adsorbed carbonate anion. The wide range of zero point of charge values reported for aluminum hydroxide is thought to be due to the presence of specifically adsorbed anions such as carbonate. The effect of ionic strength on the pH of aluminum hydroxide gel is important during washing since the ease of electrolyte removal is related to surface charge. Viscosity and sedimentation characteristics are related to the relationship between the zero point of charge and bulk pH. Maximum viscosity was observed when the bulk pH was adjusted to the zero point of charge.
The Modern Dual Economy—a cost-benefit analysis of Liberia

Even now, in the last third of the twentieth century, the nineteenth-century dual economy still exists, in effect if no longer in name, over much of the developing world. Although nationally independent — in Latin America for the past 100 years, and now in Africa and Asia — many of the developing nations are still economically dominated by their past colonial masters.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHIASMATA AND CROSSING OVER IN TRITICUM AESTIVUM

Telocentrics for the β arm of chromosome 4A and the long arm of 6B were used as cytological markers for the determination of chiasma frequency. In concomitant studies of recombination, terminal segments of rye and T. umbellulatum chromatin carrying Hp (Hairy peduncle) and Lr9 (Leaf-rust resistance), respectively, marked 4A and 6B. Two temperatures, 21° and 32°, were used for both the 4A and 6B experiments.—Only one chiasma was observed in each heteromorphic bivalent. Because there was a substantial reduction in pairing between diakinesis and metaphase I, all determinations of chiasma frequency were made at diakinesis. In the 21° experiments, agreement was good between genetic recombination and cytological prediction on the basis of the partial chiasmatypy hypothesis that each chiasma represents a crossover. At 32° both chiasma frequency and crossing over, but particularly the latter, were strongly reduced. The fewer crossovers than expected are explained in part by stickiness of chromosomes at the high temperature, sometimes resulting in adjacent chromosomes being wrongly scored as having a chiasma, and in part by premetaphase disjunction of some recombined bivalents and subsequent independent behavior of the two resulting univalents.—Male transmission of the 4A telocentric from the heteromorphic bivalent was unusually high: 51% at 21° and 31% at 32°.
Construction of Status Equality in Friendships between Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Students and Straight Students in College

Focusing on public and formal settings, symbolic interactionists have demonstrated how people produce and reproduce status inequality in social interactions. However, little is known about how peop...
Leakage-Aware Design of Nanometer SoC

In the sub-65 nm CMOS technologies, subthreshold and gate dielectric leakage currents need to be simultaneously suppressed for effective energy reduction. New low-leakage circuit techniques based on multi-threshold-voltage (multi-Vt) and multi-oxide-thickness (multi-tox) standard single-gate and emerging double-gate MOSFET/FinFET technologies are presented in this paper. The leakage savings achieved with the techniques are characterized for a diverse set of logic and memory circuits that are widely used in systems-on-chips. The speed, active power, noise immunity, and area tradeoffs with the leakage reduction schemes are also evaluated.
Delay and Energy Tradeoff in Multi-State Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper discusses a first attempt to investigate, using analytic means, the transmission delay and energy characteristics of a multi-state wireless sensor network. For such a network with in nodes, where each node can be active, resting or sleeping, a model that describes the transition of a node from one state to another and the probability associated with each state is proposed. Asymptotic analyses of transmission delay and energy are presented. We report the presence of a threshold for the arrival rate of data packets that decides which energy component dominates. The transmission delay-energy tradeoff is presented for the case where transmission energy varies directly with distance raised to a power and when the reported threshold is exceeded.
Bone and cartilage changes in rabbit mandibular condyles after 1 injection of botulinum toxin.

Introduction Temporary paralysis of the masseter muscle caused by botulinum toxin is a common treatment for temporomandibular disorders, bruxism, and muscle hypertrophy. Loss of masseter force is associated with decreased mandibular mineral density. Our objectives were (1) to establish whether bone loss at the mandibular condyle is regionally specific and (2) to ascertain whether the treatment affects the condylar cartilage. Methods Young adult female rabbits received a unilateral masseter injection of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A, n = 31), saline solution (n = 19), or no injection (n = 3) and were also injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a replication marker. The rabbits were killed at 4 or 12 weeks after treatment. The condyles were processed for paraffin histology. Cortical thickness, cartilage thickness, and trabecular bone areal density were measured, and replicating cells were counted after BrdU reaction. Results The BoNT/A rabbits exhibited a high frequency of defects in the condylar bone surface, occurring equally on the injected and uninjected sides. Bone loss was seen only on the side of the BoNT/A injection. Cortical as well as trabecular bone was severely affected. The midcondylar region lost the most bone. Recovery at 12 weeks was insignificant. Condylar cartilage thickness showed no treatment effect but did increase with time. The numbers of proliferating cells were similar in the treatment groups, but the BoNT/A animals showed more side asymmetry associated with the condylar defects. Conclusions Bone loss may be a risk factor for the use of botulinum toxin in jaw muscles.
Crosstalk among electrical activity, trophic factors and morphogenetic proteins in the regulation of neurotransmitter phenotype specification

Morphogenetic proteins are responsible for patterning the embryonic nervous system by enabling cell proliferation that will populate all the neural structures and by specifying neural progenitors that imprint different identities in differentiating neurons. The adoption of specific neurotransmitter phenotypes is crucial for the progression of neuronal differentiation, enabling neurons to connect with each other and with target tissues. Preliminary neurotransmitter specification originates from morphogen-driven neural progenitor specification through the combinatorial expression of transcription factors according to morphogen concentration gradients, which progressively restrict the identity that born neurons adopt. However, neurotransmitter phenotype is not immutable, instead trophic factors released from target tissues and environmental stimuli change expression of neurotransmitter-synthesizing enzymes and specific vesicular transporters modifying neuronal neurotransmitter identity. Here we review studies identifying the mechanisms of catecholaminergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic, cholinergic and serotonergic early specification and of the plasticity of these neurotransmitter phenotypes during development and in the adult nervous system. The emergence of spontaneous electrical activity in developing neurons recruits morphogenetic proteins in the process of neurotransmitter phenotype plasticity, which ultimately equips the nervous system and the whole organism with adaptability for optimal performance in a changing environment.
Effects of End Restraint on Eyebar Behavior in Bridges

Many steel truss railroad bridges use tension members consisting of eyebars. After years of service, these eyebars may exhibit significant wear at the pin holes, leading to the development of unequal tension stresses among eyebars within the same set. To restore bridge performance, eyebar tensions are often equalized through flame-shortening, where the tension in any eyebar is determined by measuring its fundamental natural frequency and then converting this frequency to the corresponding tension through a simple analytical model. In practice this model assumes that the ends of the eyebar are pinned; however, for transverse vibration about the minor axis, a significant degree of rotational restraint will often exist, potentially resulting in very inaccurate tension estimates. This paper presents the results of analytical studies, model testing, and field observations that focus on improving the prediction of eyebar tensions from observed natural frequencies. Besides supporting the flame-shortening process, the ability to achieve greater accuracy in tension measurements also provides for valuable applications to bridge rating.
Screening and monitoring in men prescribed testosterone therapy in the U.S., 2001-2010.

Objectives.The Endocrine Society recommends testosterone therapy only in men with low serum testosterone levels, consistent symptoms of hypogonadism, and no signs of prostate cancer. We assessed sc...
Are key marketing topics adequately covered in strategic management

Most business schools have a capstone course called strategic management. Students in these courses are often required to assess organizations’ functional areas of business, including marketing. Students determine marketing strengths and weaknesses of firms, and develop strategic plans for case companies. Students formulate strategies, make recommendations, and determine the expected marketing impact of those recommendations. Although marketing plays an important role in strategic planning, the present research shows that most strategic-management textbooks provide little to no marketing coverage. In study 1, a content analysis of six leading strategic-management textbooks reveals 10 marketing topics being discussed, although scantly. In study 2, a survey of 167 business students nearing graduation examines the relative importance of the identified topics in strategic planning. Findings of this research suggest that the capstone business course needs to be more integrative. Implications for business cours...
Short-term application of doxorubicin chemotherapy immunosuppressive side effects for composite tissue allotransplantation.

Background Adjuvant chemotherapy is often required for the treatment of bone cancers after tumor resection, which often results in a large continuity defect. The immunosuppressive side effects could instead be exploited to allow immediate reconstruction with a composite tissue allograft (CTA) that would provide for replacement of tissues. We used a short course of doxorubicin to achieve a novel method of immunosuppression in a rat model undergoing CTA to create an immunological environment for allograft survival. Materials & methods The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee-approved protocol consisted of 3 experimental groups. Groups 2 and 3 consisted of Brown Norway rats (n = 5) as allograft donors and Lewis rats (n = 5) as transplant recipients. An abdominal wall CTA was harvested off the superficial inferior epigastric vessels. Doxorubicin therapy was administered in group 3 animals. Survival of the CTA was assessed by physical examination and histological analysis. Results Allotransplant without treatment showed complete clinical and histologic rejection by day 7. Allotransplant rats treated with doxorubicin had clinically and histologically normal grafts through day 10. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a statistically significant difference, with increased CTA survival time to end point with doxorubicin treatment, from a mean of 8.8 days in group 2 to 16.4 days in group 3. Conclusions Allotransplant flaps without treatment developed complete clinical and histological rejection. The allotransplant group which received doxorubicin showed a delay of allograft rejection with an 86% increased CTA graft survival time. This demonstrates the feasibility of the immunosuppression side effect caused by chemotherapy to prevent rejection of a CTA.
Fortitude in the Face of Adversity: Resilience as a Moderator of the Developmental Pathway from Childhood Exposure to Violence to Dating Violence Perpetration

The purpose of the current study is examining personal resilience as a moderator of the developmental pathway from childhood exposure to violence to the experience of dating violence. Participants (N = 235) completed a series of measures in Spring of 2015. Results from analyses revealed partial support for the three hypotheses. While resilience moderated relations between childhood exposure factors (exposure to indirect violence, violence in the home, and neighborhood violence) and three outcomes related to the perpetration of dating violence (threatening behaviors, emotional/verbal abuse, and physical abuse), resilience did not moderate any relations with victimization as an outcome. Results are discussed in terms of the development of resilient functioning.
Investigation of high-temperature steam oxidation for 15CrMo steel tube in thermal power plant

The failure of 15CrMo steel super-heater tube which was in service only for 3,000 h under 540 ℃ and 3.9 MPa was investigated.In order to determine the causes of the failure,the characteristics of the oxide layer and its composition distribution of the steel tube were carried by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscope(SEM) and electron microprobe.The results indicate that pearlite matrix of 15CrMo steel was decomposed;the original lamellar structure pearlite is completely spheroidzed.The inner-wall displays a serious oxidation which takes place prior in the grain boundary,and a great number of tiny apertures formed in the matrix close to the grain boundary which may be related to selective oxidation for ion diffusion.The oxide layer can be divided into 2 layers,and the loose inner oxide layer is convenience to free diffusion for the gas molecules and metal ions and which promotes the reaction of the oxidation process.
Interface Traps in Silicon Carbide MOSFETs

In "classical" MOS technology, reliability and performance limiting defects are, as a rule, precisely at the semiconductor/insulator interface and very near that interface on the dielectric side. In the Si/SiO2 system, the dominating defects have typically been silicon dangling bond defects. During the last few years there has been a great deal of interest in "new materials" based MOS technologies. In these new devices, the physical location and chemical nature of performance limiting defects may be very different from the Si/SiO2 case. In this study we show that "interface traps" in 4H SiC MOSFETs may be very strongly influenced by the quality of the SiC substrate, with defects in that substrate present at densities which can be comparable to or in excess of the defect densities precisely at the semiconductor/ dielectric interface. Using DCIV and magnetic resonance measurements, we explore the physical location and chemical nature of these performance limiting defects in variously processed SiC MOSFETs.
Short-term visual result after simultaneous photorefractive keratectomy and small-aperture cornea inlay implantation

PURPOSE To report the short-term results of simultaneous photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and small-aperture cornea inlay implantation (KAMRA) surgery in treating presbyopia. METHODS Simultaneous PRK and KAMRA inlay surgery was performed on 21 patients from July 2015 to March 2016. Follow-up exams were conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Our patients were also divided preoperatively into three categories: myopic, hyperopic, and emmetropic. Over the 6-month period, the main outcome measures were uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), changes in best-corrected distance visual acuity, and mean spherical equivalent refraction. RESULTS At 6-month follow-up, 83% (10/12) of patients had a monocular UNVA of 20/40 or better, and 75% had a binocular UNVA of 20/40 (J5) or better. At 6 months, the overall mean refractive spherical equivalent (MRSE) was -0.60 D (±0.42 standard deviation [SD], range: -1.38 to -0.13) with a mean change of -0.43 D (±1.19 SD, range: -1.5 to 2.63) compared to preoperative data. Overall, 91% (10/11) of patients were within a ±0.5 D range of our target -0.75 D for KAMRA use. One-hundred percent (5/5) of the hyperopes, 50% (1/2) of emmetropes, and 100% (4/4) of myopes met the targeted range. At 6 months, the MRSE for the hyperopic subgroup (n=5) was 0.33 D (±0.20 SD), the MRSE for the emmetropic subgroup (n=2) was -1.19 D (±0.19 SD), and the MRSE for the myopic subgroup (n=4) was -0.66 D (±0.36 SD). CONCLUSION Based on preliminary results and a small sample size, it seems that simultaneous PRK and KAMRA is effective and predictable. There are multiple advantages in performing simultaneous PRK and KAMRA including a shorter recovery time and less steroid use than the two surgeries performed separately.
Psychology Student Experience of a Brief, Interprofessional Team Training:

Healthcare providers, including psychologists who work as health service providers and with older adults, must be able to work effectively with professionals from other disciplines. Interprofession...
Predicting changes in student engagement in university physical education: Application of control-value theory of achievement emotions

Abstract Objectives Based on Pekrun’s (2006) control value theory of achievement emotions, this study examined both distal and proximal predictors of change in students' behavioral and emotional engagement during one semester of university physical education classes. Design Short-term longitudinal design. Method Students ( N = 202) completed questionnaires on three separate occasions during one semester. At the beginning of the semester, demographic information and behavioral and emotional engagement were reported. At the mid-point in the semester, control beliefs, extrinsic value beliefs, and discrete activity emotions toward the physical education context (i.e., enjoyment; anger; boredom) were completed. At the end of the semester, behavioral and emotional engagement were measured once again. Results A series of confirmatory factor analyses provided evidence for factor validity and reliability in the measured constructs and longitudinal measurement invariance tests established that any detected change in student engagement was associated with true change. Findings from a path analysis revealed that initial emotional engagement was a predictor of control and extrinsic value appraisals as well as enjoyment and boredom, but not anger. Extrinsic value positively predicted enjoyment while control negatively predicted anger. Finally, a distinct pattern of relations was established between enjoyment, boredom, and changes in engagement. Conclusions Differences in the predictive relations of boredom and anger on changes in student engagement highlights the unique contributions of measuring discrete emotions. Overall, findings partially support the applicability of using Pekrun's control value framework in physical activity settings.
Matched illumination waveform design for enhanced tunnel detection

One promising technique for improving tunnel detection is the use of spotlight synthetic aperture radar (SL-SAR) in conjunction with focusing techniques. Still, clutter arises from surface variations while severe attenuation of the target signal occurs due to the dielectric properties of the soil. To combat these ill-effects, this work aims to improve imaging and detection of underground tunnels by examining the feasibility of matched illumination waveform design for tunnel detection applications. The tunnel impulse response is incorporated in an optimum waveform derivation scheme which aims to maximize the signal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR) at the receiver output. Numerical electromagnetic simulations are used to consider wave propagation in realistic soil scenarios which include uniform and non-uniform moisture profiles. It is demonstrated that by considering matched illumination waveforms for transmission in SL-SAR systems, an improvement in the detection and imaging capabilities is achieved through enhanced SINR.
Fabrication of hierarchical biomimetic polymeric nanostructured surfaces

Insect cuticles display complex and often hierarchical surface topographies that control, define, and determine the properties of these surfaces. The structural hierarchy that is displayed by insect cuticles extends from the micron scale to the nanoscale and often results in multimodal functionality, simultaneously generating mechanical properties such as self-cleaning and antimicrobial activity and optical properties such as structural color or anti-reflection. The native nanostructured surfaces (NSS) that are found on insect cuticles are the product of cellular mechanisms and composed of protein, chitin, and lipids. These cellular processes generate surfaces with high uniformity and reproducibility, but on a minute scale such as the surface of wings or eyes. We show that by modification of the nanosphere lithographic technique through the use of different substrates, alteration to the etching conditions, and reiteration of the nanosphere lithographic process itself, we can fabricate biomimetic surfaces that mimic the nanoscale hierarchies found on native insect cuticles and generate new and novel hierarchical NSS. Synthetic NSS display tunable wettability and interesting spectral properties, which demonstrates that the generation of biomimetic synthetic nanostructured surfaces via NSL holds great promise for many applications including solar energy, optics, and antimicrobial surfaces.
Map4k4 impairs energy metabolism in endothelial cells and promotes insulin resistance in obesity.

The blood vasculature responds to insulin, influencing hemodynamic changes in the periphery, which promotes tissue nutrient and oxygen delivery and thus metabolic function. The lymphatic vasculatur...
PASCAL: A Parallel Algorithmic SCALable Framework for N -body Problems

We propose PASCAL, a parallel unified algorithmic framework for generalized N-body problems. PASCAL utilizes tree data structures and user-controlled pruning or approximations to reduce the asymptotic runtime complexity from being linear in the number of data points to be logarithmic. In PASCAL, the domain scientists express their N-body problem in terms of application-specific operations, and PASCAL generates the pruning and approximation conditions automatically from this high-level specification. In order to evaluate PASCAL, we generate solutions for six problems: k-nearest neighbors, range search, Euclidean minimum spanning tree, kernel density estimation, expectation maximization (EM), and Hausdorff distance chosen from various domains.
The Value of Vulnerability: A Social Learning Perspective on Leader Humility

Drawing on social learning theory we test trust in the leader as a mediator of leader humility on extra-role performance outcomes. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test the cross-level effe...
Frederick A. de Armas, «El retorno de Astrea: astrología, mito e imperio en Calderón»

Resena de Frederick A. de Armas, El retorno de Astrea: astrologia, mito e imperio en Calderon , ed. G. Gomez Sanchez-Ferrer, Iberoamericana / Vervuert, Madrid / Frankfurt am Main, 2016, 380 pp. ISBN: 9788484899594.
Atomistic Scale Effects of Lipopolysaccharide Modifications on Bacterial Outer Membrane Defenses.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are a main constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Salmonella enterica, like many other bacterial species, are able to chemically modify the structure of their LPS molecules through the PhoPQ pathway as a defense mechanism against the host immune response. These modifications make the outer membrane more resistant to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), large lipophilic drugs, and cation depletion, and are crucial for survival within a host organism. It is believed that these LPS modifications prevent the penetration of large molecules and AMPs through a strengthening of lateral interactions between neighboring LPS molecules. Here, we performed a series of long-timescale molecular dynamics simulations to study how each of three key S. enterica lipid A modifications affect bilayer properties, with a focus on membrane structural characteristics, lateral interactions, and the divalent cation bridging network. Our results discern the unique impact each modification has on strengthening the bacterial outer membrane through effects such as increased hydrogen bonding and tighter lipid packing. Additionally, one of the modifications studied shifts Ca2+ from the lipid A region, replacing it as a major cross-linking agent between adjacent lipids and potentially making bacteria less susceptible to AMPs that competitively displace cations from the membrane surface. These results further improve our understanding of outer membrane chemical properties and help elucidate how outer membrane modification systems, such as PhoPQ in S. enterica, are able to alter bacterial virulence.
Evaluation of electrowet coalescer in series with PVDF-HFP electrospun fiber membranes for separation of water from ULSD

Abstract Water in diesel fuel is a significant issue in the petrochemical industries as it causes diesel engine corrosion and maintenance problems. Efficient removal of water from diesel fuel is necessary to protect the diesel engine. In this work, water drop emulsions of drop sizes in 2–80 µm size range in ultra low sulfur diesel fuel were pre-coalesced by flow through an electrowet coalescer prior to flowing through flat and tubular electrospun PVDF-HFP fiber membranes. Experimental results showed the separation efficiencies of 90–95% for membranes alone improved significantly to greater than 99% when the water drops were pre-coalesced by the electrowet coalescer. The power required to operate the electrowet coalesce and flow through the membranes was less than the power required flow through the membranes without the electrowet coalescer to achieve similar separation efficiency.
Root Exudation and Rhizosphere Biology: Multiple Functions of a Plant Secondary Metabolite

Plant root exudates have important effects on plant and soil communities, mediating positive and antagonistic plant-plant and plant-microbe interactions, and altering soil processes. Here, we discuss the potential for a single plant secondary metabolite to serve multiple functions in the rhizosphere. Secondary metabolites that serve multiple functions may provide plants with multiple benefits at relatively low metabolic cost, with consequences for competitive ability, disease resistance, and resource availability. Specifically, we describe recent research on (±)-catechin, a secondary metabolite exuded from the roots of the invasive weed Centaurea maculosa. Depending on concentration and the species that are present, (±)-catechin has the potential to act as an allelochemical, autoinhibitor, and antimicrobial agent, and to increase soil nutrient availability.
Modifications: A Reading of Auden and Iser

Intertwined in the life-world of the poetry of W. H. Auden is a world of landscape, a geographical landscape that is physical, a world of hills and limestone where beasts roam and where winds blow. It is likewise a landscape with a human dimension where one can hear the murmur of underground streams, and where one can wander through a million vistas of thought. But moreover, it is a world of landscape that invites the reader to possibility.
A Case Study of Early Language Awareness

Along with the development of language itself, there emerges a capacity to attend to language and speech as objects of reflection. The development of language awareness is, of course, part of the general development of consciousness and self-consciouness. One can distinguish levels of metalinguistic capacity, from the dimly conscious or preconscious speech monitoring which underlies self-correction, to the concentrated, analytic work of the linguist. Much of this route is traversed in the preschool years. The following aspects of language awareness appear, between the ages of two and six: (1) self-corrections and re-phrasings in the course of ongoing speech; (2) comments on the speech of others (pronunciation, dialect, language, meaning, appropriateness, style, volume, etc.); (3) explicit questions about speech and language; (4) comments on own speech and language; (5) response to direct questions about language.
Structural Identifiability Analysis of a Labeled Oral Minimal Model for Quantifying Hepatic Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with aging, trauma, and many diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and sepsis. Determining tissue-specificity of IR in a given individual or disease state may have important implications for clinical care and requires detailed assessment of glucose–insulin dynamics. Previous work introduced a differential-equations-based model to interpret data collected under a stable isotope-based oral glucose tolerance test designed to differentiate the dynamics of exogenous and endogenous glucose. We investigated the structural identifiability of this model using the Taylor expansion method. We found that the model is structurally unidentifiable due to parameters involving the rate of appearance of exogenous glucose and the volume of distribution of the compartment that cannot be separately identified. Our analysis informs a two-step approach to model implementation that overcomes limitations in identifiability and provides a reliable methodology to estimate parameters used to quantify tissue-specific IR. This work contributes to an improved understanding of methods designed to investigate tissue-specific IR.
A 72-h exposure study with eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and the nanomaterial graphene oxide.

Graphene is a 2-dimensional nanomaterial with unique mechanical, thermal, electrical, and optical properties. With increasing applications of graphene-family nanomaterials (GFNs) in electronics, biomedicine, and surface coatings, concern for their impacts on aquatic ecosystems is rising. Current information on the toxicity of GFNs, including graphene oxide, is scarce. Filter-feeding bivalves, such as eastern oysters, are good models for nanomaterial exposure studies. We present results from a 72-h static renewal oyster study using 1 and 10 mg/L graphene oxide, which, to our knowledge, is the first report on in vivo effects of graphene oxide exposures in marine bivalves. Water samples were analyzed for graphene oxide concentration and size assessments. Gill and digestive gland tissues were evaluated for lipid peroxidation and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity. In addition, gill sections were fixed for histopathological analyses. Elevated lipid peroxidation was noted in oysters exposed to 10 mg/L graphene oxide. No significant changes in GST activity were observed, but reduced total protein levels were found in digestive gland tissues of exposed oysters at both concentrations. Loss of mucous cells, hemocytic infiltration, and vacuolation were observed in gills of exposed oysters. The results indicate that short-term graphene oxide exposures can induce oxidative stress and epithelial inflammation and adversely affect overall oyster health. Further investigations regarding the fate and sublethal effects of graphene oxide are critical to understanding the risks associated with a rapidly growing graphene consumer market. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:820-830. Published 2019 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
The Changing Spectrum of Biomedical and Clinical Research

The landscape of extramural funding for biomedical and clinical research has been undergoing substantial change over the last five years. Among the drivers of change is diminished NIH funding, fewer training opportunities, reduced interest among physicians to pursue research careers and an aging faculty of US academic health centers (AHCs). Further, changes in the economics of health care delivery will likely narrow margin generation among the academic clinical enterprise thereby reducing the potential to subsidize the biomedical and clinical research missions. Newer models to enhance research competitiveness are needed, that in part, require efforts to reengineer the practices of AHCs to successfully achieve a vibrant faculty, a more efficient operating research model, and a governance with sufficient flexibility to adapt in a highly dynamic competitive context.
Managing cancer pain poorly responsive to systemic opioid therapy.

Large surveys of populations with cancer pain indicate that as many as 90% of patients can attain adequate relief of pain using optimal, systemic, opioid-based pharmacotherapy. Skilled clinicians should be able to achieve
Comparison of Message and Effects Perceptions for The Real Cost E-Cigarette Prevention Ads.

Perceived message effectiveness (PME) is commonly used in health communication research and practice, yet there has been a dearth of studies comparing different operationalizations of the PME const...
Christian Education and Spiritual Formation: Recent History and Future Prospects

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Christian education and spiritual formation existed in an uneasy tension, running on parallel tracks but also developing mutual points of intersection. This article ...
Integral models in unramified mixed characteristic (0, 2) of hermitian orthogonal Shimura varieties of PEL type, Part II

We construct relative PEL type embeddings in mixed characteristic (0,2) between hermitian orthogonal Shimura varieties of PEL type. We use this to prove the existence of integral canonical models in unramified mixed characteristic (0,2) of hermitian orthogonal Shimura varieties of PEL type. MSC 2010: 11E57, 11G10, 11G15, 11G18, 14F30, 14G35, 14K10, 14L05, 20G25.
An adaptive boundary element method for the transmission problem with hyperbolic metamaterials

Abstract In this work we present an adaptive boundary-integral equation method for computing the electromagnetic response of wave interactions in hyperbolic metamaterials. The indefiniteness of the permittivity tensor gives rise to preferential wave radiation within the propagating cone for the hyperbolic media, and this induces sharp transition for the solution of the integral equation across the cone boundary when waves start to decay or grow exponentially. In order to avoid a global refined mesh over the whole boundary, we employ a two-level a posteriori error estimator and an adaptive mesh refinement procedure to resolve the singularity locally for the solution of the integral equation. Such an adaptive procedure allows for the reduction of the number of the degrees of freedom significantly for the integral equation solver while achieving desired accuracy for the solution. In addition, to resolve the fast transition of the fundamental solution and its derivatives accurately across the propagation cone boundary, adaptive numerical quadrature rules are applied to evaluate the integrals for the stiffness matrices. Finally, to formulate the integral equations over the boundary we also derive the limits of layer potentials and their derivatives in the hyperbolic media when the target points approach the boundary.
Genetic pathways regulating hematopoietic lineage speciation: Factorial latent variable model analysis of single cell transcriptome.

Abstract Genetic pathways regulating hematopoietic lineage commitment at critical stages of development remain incompletely characterized. To better delineate genetic sources of variability regulating cellular speciation during steady-state hematopoiesis, we applied a factorial single-cell latent variable model (f-scLVM) to decompose single-cell transcriptome heterogeneity into interpretable biological factors (refined pathway annotations or gene sets without annotation) dynamically regulating cell fate. Hematopoietic single cell transcriptomic raw sequencing data extracted from 1,920 hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) derived from 12-week-old female mice were used for data analysis and model development. These single cell RNA sequencing data were subsequently analyzed using the factorial single-cell latent variable model (f-scLVM), with their heterogeneity decomposed into interpretable biological factors. The top biological factors underlying the basal hematopoiesis were subsequently identified for the aggregate, and lineage-restricted (myeloid, megakaryocyte, erythroid) progenitor cells. For a subset of factors, data were independently verified experimentally in a companion research paper [1] . These data facilitate the identification of novel subpopulations and adjust gene sets to discover new marker genes and hidden confounding factors driving basal hematopoiesis.
Management of Antithrombotic Therapy after Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Antithrombotic Therapy after Acute Coronary Syndromes Antithrombotic therapy is a central component of treatment after acute coronary syndromes. The focus is on antiplatelet therapy, but balancing ...
Humerusschaftfrakturen

Seit 1964 Lorenz Bohler in seiner Arbeit „Gegen die operative Behandlung von frischen Oberarmschaftbruchen“ dogmatisch die operative Behandlung als Ausnahmeindikation hinstellte, hat sich in den letzten Jahren ein Pradigmenwechsel hin zur operativen Behandlung vollzogen. Die konservative Behandlung wird nun nur noch in Ausnahmesituationen nach klar definierten Indikationen durchgefuhrt. Die operative Behandlung wurde durch die Weiterentwicklung der Implantate nach der klassischen Plattenosteosynthese vor allem durch die nun zur Verfugung stehenden intramedullaren rotationsstabilen Implantate erganzt. Der Fixateur externe zur Primarversorgung beim polytraumatisierten Patienten oder als Ruckzugsverfahren bei Komplikationen sollte nicht im chirurgischen Repertoire fehlen. Besonderes Augenmerk ist auf die Behandlung des primaren und die Vermeidung des sekundaren Nervenschaden, vor allem des N. radialis zu achten. Hier ist tendenziell die operative Revision des Nerven bei unklaren Verlaufen zu empfehlen. Bei den seltenen kindlichen Oberarmschaftfrakturen ist grundsatzlich der konservativen Behandlung der Vorrang zu geben, wobei bei Komplikationen der konservativen Behandlung entschlossen auf eine definitive operative Stabilisierung umgeschwenkt werden sollte.
Synthetic Wind Speed Scenarios Generation using Artificial Neural Networks for Probabilistic Analysis of Hybrid Energy Systems

Hybrid energy systems, which consist of multiple energy inputs and multiple energy outputs, have been proposed in literature to enable ever increasing penetration of clean energy. In order to properly design and analyze HES configuration, extensive data sets of renewable resources for the given location are required, whose availability may be limited due to insufficient historical measurement. This paper focuses on the methodology to generate synthetic scenarios of renewable resources, e.g., wind speed. Specifically, artificial neural networks (ANN) is utilized to characterize historical wind speed measurements and to generate synthetic scenarios, allowing Monte Carlo simulation of HES for probabilistic analysis. In addition, Fourier transformation is used to characterize the low frequency components in historical data, allowing the synthetic scenarios to preserve seasonal trend. Case study of probabilistic analysis is then performed on a particular HES configuration, which includes nuclear power plant, wind farm, battery storage, EV charging station, and desalination plant. Wind power availability and requirements on component ramping rate are then investigated.
Using Octonions to Describe Fundamental Particles

In previous work, the standard 4-dimensional Dirac equation was rewritten in terms of quaternionic 2-component spinors, leading to a formalism which unifies the treatment of massive and massless particles, and which describes the correct particle spectrum to be a generation of leptons, with the correct number of spin/helicity states. Furthermore, precisely three such generations naturally combine into an octonionic description of the 10-dimensional massless Dirac equation. We extend this formalism to 3-component octonionic “spinors”, which may lead to a description of fundamental particles in terms of the exceptional Jordan algebra, consisting of 3 × 3 octonionic Hermitian matrices.
13. Subsurface drip irrigation

When compared with other irrigation systems, subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) has advantages and disadvantages that should be carefully considered. There are many design and management similarities to surface drip irrigation (DI), but there are also some unique differences that affect uniformity, operation, and system longevity. Factors that affect SDI uniformity are emitter clogging, root intrusion, root pinching, mechanical and pest damage, soil overburden and compaction, soil hydraulic parameters, and, possibly, system age. A typical SDI system often requires additional components, compared to DI, such as flushlines, additional air/vacuum relief valves, and pressure gauges and a flowmeter for system monitoring. Emitter flowrate and spacing, and dripline diameter, wall thickness, spacing, and depth are all important design criteria for SDI systems. Flushing of SDI driplines is also a key design criterion, and some designers prefer to begin their design with the flushing system. SDI can potentially provide a more consistent soil water and nutrient environment for optimum crop growth, but there can also be challenges in some regions, such as crop establishment, salinity management, soil water redistribution, and application of some agrochemicals. The application of SDI for some of the lower-value grain and fiber crops has been increasing, and this trend is likely to continue.
Fast classification and estimation of internet traffic flows

This paper makes two contributions: (i) it presents a scheme for classifying and identifying Internet traffic flows which carry a large number of packets (or bytes) and are persistent in nature (also known as the elephants), from flows which carry a small number of packets (or bytes) and die out fast (commonly referred to as the mice), and (ii) illustrates how non-parametric Parzen window technique can be used to construct the probability density function (pdf) of the elephants present in the original traffic stream. We validate our approach using a 15-minute trace containing around 23 million packets from NLANR.
The adipokine profile of metabolically benign obese and at-risk normal weight postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.

Objective Nearly, a third of obese individuals, termed metabolically benign obese, have a low burden of adiposity-related cardiometabolic abnormalities, whereas a substantial proportion of normal-weight individuals possess risk factors. Methods In cross-sectional analyses of 699 normal weight and 1,294 overweight/obese postmenopausal women enrolled in a nested case-control stroke study ancillary to the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, we compared levels of adiponectin, leptin, and resistin among metabolically benign normal weight, at-risk normal weight, metabolically benign obese, and at-risk obese women using components of the ATP III definition of the metabolic syndrome (metabolically benign: ≤1 of the four components; at-risk phenotype: ≥2 components or diabetes). Results Overall, 382/699 normal-weight women (54.6%) and 328/1,194 overweight/obese women (27.5%) were metabolically benign. Among normal-weight women, at-risk women had higher leptin and lower adiponectin levels compared to metabolically benign women; multivariate-adjusted odds ratios were significant for having leptin (OR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.28-5.01) and resistin (1.46; 1.03-2.07) in the top tertile and adiponectin in the bottom tertile (2.64; 1.81-3.84). Compared to metabolically benign overweight/obese women, at-risk obese women had higher odds of having leptin in the top tertile (1.62; 1.24-2.12) and adiponectin in the bottom tertile (2.78; 2.04-3.77). Conclusions Overall, metabolically benign overweight/obese women had an intermediate adipokine profile (between at-risk obese and metabolically benign normal-weight women), whereas at-risk normal-weight women had a less favorable profile compared to metabolically benign normal-weight women. As adiponectin was the only adipokine independent of BMI, it may be most likely to have a role in the etiological pathway of these phenotypes.
Identification of Gifted Students: An Analysis of Criteria Preferred by Preservice Teachers, Classroom Teachers, and Teachers of the Gifted:

This study describes criteria preferred by teachers when recommending students for gifted programs. It also examines differences between expert and novice teachers of the gifted by comparing the pr...
Sex ratio, sex‐specific pattern in vegetative growth and gemma production in an aquatic liverwort, Scapania undulata (Marchantiophyta: Scapaniaceae)

Scapania undulata is an aquatic dioicous liverwort growing in shallow streams in boreal to subtropical zones. We studied the expressed sex ratio, sex-specific differences in shoot architecture and possible trade-off between sexual and asexual reproduction in ten populations of S. undulata by surveying 100 plots in ten streams in southern Finland. The expressed sex ratio was male biased, in contrast with the sex ratio in most dioicous bryophytes. It was also highly variable between the streams, but individual plots frequently comprised shoots from only one sex. The overproduction of males might be a strategy to overcome sperm dilution and ensure fertilization over longer distances in water. No size differences between females and males were detected, but they differed in branching patterns. Evidence for a higher cost of sexual reproduction in females than males can be seen from the following: the male-biased sex ratio; low number of sex-expressing female shoots in female-only plots; no co-occurrence of gemmae and female sex organs on a single branch, and no more than one sexual branch per female shoot. In contrast, high gemma production of male and female sex-expressing shoots indicates a minimal trade-off between sexual and asexual reproduction. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 175, 229–241.