cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of NO synthase inhibitors, arginine-deficient diet, and amiloride in pregnant rats

This study tests the hypothesis that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition is linked to NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-mediated intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and fetal limb reduction deficits (LRD) in pregnant dams. Administration of L-NAME (1 mg/ml) or aminoguanidine (AG, 500 micrograms/ml) in the drinking water or intraperitoneal administration of L-N5-(1-iminoethyl)-ornithine (L-NIO, 10 mg.kg-1.day-1) on gestational days 13-20 decreased nitrite and nitrate plus nitrate (RNI) levels in the urine and plasma and decreased RNI in incubates of aorta and fetal limbs compared with pregnant rats given amiloride (50 micrograms/ml) or water (control). Although all drugs caused fetal IUGR, only L-NAME and amiloride caused fetal deaths and LRD. Urine and tissue levels of RNI were unchanged in rats fed and arginine-free diet (AFD) on gestational days 13-20, and yet fetal IUGR, deaths, and LRD were prevalent. L-NAME potentiated the fetal abnormalities and resorptions. Plasma arginine concentrations decreased with AFD > > L-NAME > L-NIO. Plasma ornithine, a precursor for polyamine synthesis, decreased with AFD and increased with L-NAME. Thus inhibition of NOS is not linked to LRD. The ability of L-NAME and amiloride to produce fetal IUGR and LRD may result from L-NAME-mediated modulation of amino acid delivery to the fetus and amiloride-mediated inhibition of protein synthesis. Finally, IUGR appears unrelated to LRD.
The "why(s)" of criminal behavior in juveniles: The long and the short of it

The USA and the Russian Federation have been competing with each other for what appears to be a rather dubious leadership in having the highest number of prisoners per 100,000 people (Walmsley 2008), with the USA being a clear first (756 in 2008), and Russia—the leader of a cluster (629 in 2008) formed primarily by developing nations (e.g., Rwanda—604, St. Kitts and Nevis—588, Cuba—531, U.S. Virgin Islands—512, with the rest of the countries falling below and far below 500; 59% of the countries had less than 150 prisoners per 100,000 people). This trend is replicated in the juvenile justice systems as well, with USA and Russia detaining and/or incarcerating the largest number of juveniles per capita in the world.
THROMBOSIS WITH LOW-ESTROGEN ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES

The relationship of oral contraception (OC) to thrombosis was studied retrospectively in 104 idiopathic cases 357 other thrombotic cases (exclusive of cerebrovascular thrombosis) and 1302 matched controls. The relative risk of idiopathic thromboembolism for OC users was estimated to be 7.2 times that for nonusers (p less than .0001); the relative risk for the whole series was 1.9 (p less than .0001). The low risk for nonidiopathic cases was considered to be due to selective prescription of contraception. The risk for the whole series was 1.9 (p less than .0001). The low risk for nonidiopathic cases was considered to be due to selective prescription of contraception. The risk for thos e taking 100 mcg or more of estrogen was higher than for those on lower doses though there is a definite risk of thrombosis even with the low-estrogen dosage. Results of another study indicating a 2-fold risk of biliary tract surgery among OC users was confirmed in this study.
Robust Workload and Energy Management for Sustainable Data Centers

A large number of geo-distributed data centers begin to surge in the era of data deluge and information explosion. To meet the growing demand in massive data processing, the infrastructure of future data centers must be energy-efficient and sustainable. Facing this challenge, a systematic framework is put forth in this paper to integrate renewable energy sources (RES), distributed storage units, cooling facilities, as well as dynamic pricing into the workload and energy management tasks of a data center network. To cope with RES uncertainty, the resource allocation task is formulated as a robust optimization problem minimizing the worst-case net cost. Compared with existing stochastic optimization methods, the proposed approach entails a deterministic uncertainty set where generated RES reside, thus can be readily obtained in practice. It is further shown that the problem can be cast as a convex program, and then solved in a distributed fashion using the dual decomposition method. By exploiting the spatio-temporal diversity of local temperature, workload demand, energy prices, and renewable availability, the proposed approach outperforms existing alternatives, as corroborated by extensive numerical tests performed using real data.
The Influenza M2 Cytoplasmic Tail Changes the Proton-Exchange Equilibria and the Backbone Conformation of the Transmembrane Histidine Residue to Facilitate Proton Conduction

The influenza M2 protein forms an acid-activated tetrameric proton channel important for the virus lifecycle. Residue His37 in the transmembrane domain is responsible for channel activation and proton selectivity. While the structure and dynamics of His37 have been well studied in TM peptide constructs, it has not been investigated in the presence of the full cytoplasmic domain, which increases the proton conductivity by 2-fold compared to the TM peptide. We report here 13C and 15N chemical shifts of His37 in the cytoplasmic-containing M2(21–97) and show that cationic histidines are already present at neutral pH, in contrast to the TM peptide, indicating that the cytoplasmic domain shifts the protonation equilibria. Quantification of the imidazole 15N intensities yielded two resolved proton dissociation constants (pKa’s) of 7.1 and 5.4, which differ from the TM result but resemble the M2(18–60) result, suggesting cooperative proton binding. The average His37 pKa is higher for M2(21–97) than for the shorte...
Motor Incoordination in ADHD

The relationship between motor performance, attention deficit, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity in 42 school-aged children with ADHD (36 males, 6 females; mean age 8 years 2 months; range 6-11 years) was studied at National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lithospheric shear velocity structure of South Island, New Zealand, from amphibious Rayleigh wave tomography

We present a crust and mantle 3-D shear velocity model extending well offshore of New Zealand's South Island, imaging the lithosphere beneath the South Island as well as the Campbell and Challenger Plateaus. Our model is constructed via linearized inversion of both teleseismic (18–70 s period) and ambient noise-based (8–25 s period) Rayleigh wave dispersion measurements. We augment an array of 4 land-based and 29 ocean bottom instruments deployed off the South Island's east and west coasts in 2009–2010 by the Marine Observations of Anisotropy Near Aotearoa experiment with 28 land-based seismometers from New Zealand's permanent GeoNet array. Major features of our shear wave velocity (Vs) model include a low-velocity (Vs 50 km) beneath the central South Island exhibits strong spatial correlation with upper mantle earthquake hypocenters beneath the Alpine Fault. The ~400 km long low-velocity zone we image beneath eastern South Island and the inner Bounty Trough underlies Cenozoic volcanics and the locations of mantle-derived helium measurements, consistent with asthenospheric upwelling in the region.
A case study of flour food poisoning caused by pesticide pollution

Objective to analyze the causes of a food poisoning. Methods to apply epidemiological investigation and laboratory testing on the suspicious foods and patients vomit according to the general principles of food poisoning diagnosis and technical solusions. Results positive detection of organophosphorus compounds in the flour, the dumpling wrappers and the gastric juice from the patient. Conclusions the poisoning incident is indeed caused by intaking of organophosphorus compounds in the flour food polluted by pesticide.
About Analyzing the Designing of Exhibit Engine

With the improvement of life quality,the goal of users is high comfort and high function in automobile.This article mainly introduces the process of making exhibit,including the designing of cutting in some section parts,the designing of the base frame,the designing of transmission device,the designing of the light circuit.So that people can understand of the internal structure of engine and the simulation process of four stroke operation from the exhibit.
Positron emission tomography to quantitate myocardial perfusion

The evolution of positron emission tomographic imaging devices coupled with the flexibility to easily label compounds with positron emitting radionuclides has enabled the development of quantitative methods for the noninvasive measurement of regional myocardial perfusion. The current state-of-the-art measurement methods are based on the kinetic characteristics of compounds that behave as inert, freely diffusible tracers or compounds that mimic the behavior of radiolabeled microspheres. Each of these myocardial blood flow methods has been developed so that the influence of resolution distortions in the finite resolution images is minimized. It is anticipated that the clinical extension of these myocardial blood flow methods will enable the noninvasive evaluation of coronary reserve, the assessment of the functional capacity of collateral circulation, and the effectiveness of treatment strategies for coronary artery disease. In this article, these methods are described and the initial experimental studies using these methods are summarized.
Going Global: Studying Late Adopters of Traveling Reforms

This book represents an attempt at understanding why so many educational reforms in Mongolia have been tailored after reforms from elsewhere. Globalization does capture, in a very broad sense, what has been occurring in Mongolia. This trendy characterization suffers, however, from many shortcomings. Among other deficiencies, it is devoid of agency, process, and rationale. Who drives the import of educational reforms? How does policy transfer to Mongolia from elsewhere occur? Why do certain global reforms resonate in Mongolia? Why not others? These are the kinds of questions that help us investigate why educational reforms in different parts of the world, including in Mongolia, are becoming “strikingly similar” (Samoff 1999: 249). While the script of this book may tell a story of globalization and Mongolian education, the fine print traces complex traveling reforms that landed, in some cases with considerable delay, in Mongolia.
The Essence of Peace? Toward a Comprehensive and Parsimonious Model of Sustainable Peace

This concluding chapter has four sections. First, it highlights the basic commonalities in the discussion of the construct of a “harmonious sustainable peace”. Second, it offers a summary of the main components of sustainable peace. Third, it presents a sketch of a more parsimonious model of sustainable peace informed by dynamical systems theory and dynamic minimalism. Finally, it outlines an agenda for future study and education in this area.
Ag Alloy Sheathed BPSCCO Superconducting Wires

Alloying sheath effect of BiPbSrCaCuO(2223) superconducting wires were studied in order to fabricate the wires with much higher mechanical strength and higher resistivity of sheath material than that of pure Ag sheath case. Ni was heavily reacted with superconductor. Mn was partly oxidized internally, so the strength and electrical resistivity were higher than that of pure Ag sheath case. Sb was less reacted with superconductor and fully oxidized internally. When the alloying elements were oxidized internally, Jc degradation starts at much higher tensile stress than that of pure Ag sheath case.
Posttraumatic Stress and the Comprehension of Everyday Activity

People with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often report difficulties with attention and memory on tasks that are unrelated to their trauma. One important component of everyday event comprehension is the segmentation of ongoing activity into meaningful events. The present study asked whether PTSD symptom severity was associated with impaired segmentation and memory for neutral, ongoing activity. A sample of 137 participants, ages 21–79, completed event segmentation and memory tasks, general ­cognitive functioning tasks, and questionnaires assessing PTSD symptom severity. People with higher levels of PTSD symptoms had poorer event segmentation and event memory performance. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that PTSD symptom severity explained unique variance in event segmentation performance, even after controlling for general cognitive function. These results suggest that interventions aimed at improving event comprehension may help compensate for memory disruptions in PTSD.
Cognitive dissonance and the success of democracy

My paper presents two models of 'behavioural political economy.' The first one builds a mathematical model of cognitive dissonance - a psychologically-founded model describing ideologies and mental mind-sets which exhibit the empirically underpinned features of path-dependence and punctuated equilibria. An application here is that people vote because they like emotionally supporting one of the candidates, and would experience dissonance if they had these emotions and at the same time thought that they had no say in the outcome of the elections. The second model uses game theory to show that stability immediately after the establishment of a democratic regime can make or break the fledgling democracy. The policy recommendation is to instigate long-term power sharing agreements in new democracies. Although the two models can be regarded as independent of each other, a great amount of synergy is attainable by incorporating cognitive dissonance in the second one, thereby strengthening its case.
Probabilistic framework for performance assessment of electrical power networks to tornadoes

AbstractThe Electrical Power Network (EPN) constitutes a vital component of the nation’s critical infrastructure. Additionally, the resilience of the community to different natural and man-made haz...
Sophistry and Sorcery in Libanius' Declamations

In his rhetorical exercises that portray boorish critics denouncing educated speakers as sophists and magicians, Libanius hints at the contemporary scene of Christian attacks on Hellenic paideia.
A Program for Research and Training of Complex Rehabilitative Performance Skills Among the Retarded

A system for automatically programming and recording Sheltered Workshop performance is outlined. The principles of programmed instruction are adapted for rehabilitation of work skills. An example of how the program works and an outline of research projects are discussed.
Hearing The Opera: “Teahouse Mimesis” And The Aesthetics Of Noise In Early Jingju Recordings, 1890s–1910s

Noise as an element evocative of teahouse atmosphere was part of the voice of opera in China at the turn of the twentieth century. As such, Chinese listeners embraced the talking machine wholeheart...
Polyacrylonitrile nanocomposite fibers from acrylonitrile-grafted carbon nanofibers

Abstract For the first time, uniform distribution of surface functionalized carbon nanofibers (CNFs) has been achieved in low molecular weight (≈120,000 g/mol) textile grade-polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based composite filaments. Surface grafting of CNFs with acrylonitrile enhances the dispersion of nanofibers in PAN fiber matrix. XPS study reveals high atomic nitrogen content (7%) on the CNF surface due to the grafting reaction. The solution-spun filaments have been characterized for distribution of CNFs in the PAN matrix by electron microscopy. PAN composite filaments containing 3.2 wt.% CNF and processed at draw ratio of ≈6.3 exhibit enhanced tensile strength and modulus by more than three folds compared to the control PAN filament. Because of chemically compatible surface modification of the nanofibers, better dispersion and improved mechanical properties were accomplished in the reinforced PAN fibers. This should allow the production of CNF reinforced carbon fibers with improved tensile properties. An increase in CNF loading (6.4 wt.%), however, reduced performance due to inefficient alignment of CNF along the fiber axis. Nevertheless, hot stretching (at draw ratio ≈ 10) of the filaments enhanced tensile strength and elastic modulus of PAN composite filaments by 20–30% compared to the control hot stretched PAN filaments.
Posttreatment Low-Risk Drinking as a Predictor of Future Drinking and Problem Outcomes Among Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorders: A 9-Year Follow-Up.

Author(s): Kline-Simon, Andrea H; Litten, Raye Z; Weisner, Constance M; Falk, Daniel E | Abstract: BackgroundTreatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) has traditionally been abstinence oriented, but new research and regulatory guidelines suggest that low-risk drinking may also be an acceptable treatment outcome. However, little is known about long-term outcomes for patients who become low-risk drinkers posttreatment. This study explores a posttreatment low-risk drinking outcome as a predictor of future drinking and psychosocial outcomes over 9 years.MethodsStudy participants were adults with AUDs at treatment entry who received follow-up interviews 6 months posttreatment intake (N = 1,061) in 2 large randomized studies conducted at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large private, nonprofit, integrated health system. Six-month drinking status was defined as abstinent, low-risk (nonabstinent, no 5+ drinking days), or heavy drinking (1 or more days of 5+ drinks). Using logistic regression models, we explored the relationship between past 30-day drinking status at 6 months and odds of being abstinent or a low-risk drinker (compared to heavy drinking), and positive Addiction Severity Index psychosocial outcomes over 9 years (9-year follow-up rate of 73%).ResultsAbstainers and low-risk drinkers at 6 months had higher odds of recent abstinence/low-risk drinking over 9 years than heavy drinkers; abstainers had better drinking outcomes than low-risk drinkers. Additionally, among those with interview data, 95% of abstainers and 94% of low-risk drinkers at 6 months were abstinent/low-risk drinkers at 9 years; surprisingly, 89% of heavy drinkers at 6 months were also abstinent/low-risk drinkers although still significantly fewer than the other groups. Abstainers and low-risk drinkers at 6 months had better psychiatric outcomes, and abstainers had better family/social outcomes than heavy drinkers; medical outcomes did not differ. Low-risk drinkers and abstainers showed no reliable differences across psychosocial measures.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that a low-risk drinking outcome may be reasonable over the long-term for some alcohol-dependent individuals receiving addiction treatment.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of dynamic airway behavior in an asthma model (Conference Presentation)

To better understand bronchoconstriction in asthma, it is critical to dynamically visualize airway behavior in vivo. However, currently available imaging techniques do not have sufficient temporal and spatial resolution to investigate airway dynamics. We propose to use endobronchial Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to provide real-time cross-sectional images of airway dynamics with a high spatial resolution. Our aim was to study the structure and function of spatially distinct airways during tidal breathing (TB), breath-holds (BH) at end inspiration, and in a response to single deep inspiration (DI) and multiple DI (MDI) in a preclinical sheep asthma model. Anesthetized and mechanically ventilated sheep (n=3) were imaged with OCT in 4 dependent and 4 non-dependent airways at baseline and in methacholine constricted airways. We assessed airway morphology during TB, BH, DI and MDI maneuvers. The change in airway lumen area was found to be greater in the dependent airways compared to the non-dependent airways during TB (dependent: +14.9%, non-dependent: +6%) at baseline. Similarly, the dependent airways dilated more than the non-dependent airways in response to BH (dependent: +7.9%, non-dependent: +5.7%) in relaxed condition. Conversely, in the constricted lung, the DI and MDI maneuvers dilated the non-dependent airways (+13.6% DI, +44% MDI) more than the dependent airways (+6% DI, +15.5% MDI). Overall, dependent airways were more distensible than non-dependent airways during TB and BH, while this behavior was reversed following DI and MDI maneuvers in constricted airways possibly due to a greater local methacholine delivery due to gravitational dependencies on perfusion.
THEOREMS RELATING FINITE GROUPS AND DIVISION ALGEBRAS

Publisher Summary The connection between finite groups and rational division algebras is apparent from Wedderburn's theorems. This relationship has been explicated by R. Brauer and E. Witt and in the recent work of several authors. This chapter presents some recent results that extend the Brauer–Witt results and the work of Ford, and M. Benard and M. Schacher. The results identify a very special class of groups that determine the structure of the division algebras. The chapter presents two examples that illustrate the alternatives described by the main theorem. The chapter presents a set of finite groups whose faithful irreducible complex representations have rational enveloping algebras that are division algebras.
A measurement of induced radioactivity in materials found around a neutron generator.

The induced radioactivity in the construction materials of a Cockcroft-- Walton type neutron generator was measured. Major activation products (/sup 24/ Na, /sup 28/Al, /sup 56/Mn, /sup 64/Cu, /sup 65/Ni, /sup 69m/Zn, /sup 88/Rb /sup 91/Sr /sup 101/Mo, /sup 187/W/ and resulting doses are tabulated. Results show that the highest gamma activities would be observed in the fluorescent bulbs, copper pipe, aluminum lattice rod, and the aluminum pipe clamp. Thermoluminescent dosimeter readings yield the highest doses for the copper pipe tee, copper pipe, and aluminum lattice rod. Results of measuremerts of the neutron and gamma dose profiles of the facility are shown. However the indication is clearly that the tritium target, compared to other components, is the major source of radiation both during and after shutdown. (UK)
Understanding Area and Area Formulas.

Consider the difference between the standard procedures for measuring length and area. Length is measured directly. The length of a segment is the number of arbitrarily chosen unit lengths that fit end to end on the segment. We measure length by using a ruler-like device that has the unit lengths already marked off and count ed on it. Area, in contrast, is measured indirectly. Although the area of a region is the number of arbitrarily chosen unit ar eas that cover the region with no overlap, almost always we measure area by taking linear measurements and inserting them into a formula. One undesirable consequence of this indirect procedure for measuring area is that many students have developed ex tremely vague or false notions about the concept of area. Asked to define it, many of these students respond that area is "length times width." Asked to compare the areas of two irregularly shaped regions as in figure 1, many students respond that the "distances around" should be found. Few students understand why the areas of certain regions can be determined by tak ing linear measurements and using area formulas. So let us examine the concept of area and explore some activities that can be used to help students gain a better understanding of area and area formulas.
Regulation of Genetic Therapy - The American Experience

Gene therapies intended for human use in the United States of America are evaluated by two national organisations, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Recombinant Advisory Committee (RAC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and by one local institution specific mechanism, the Institutional Review Board (IRB). At the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), all gene therapies, just like all new and investigational therapeutics in the US, are evaluated based upon the science, medicine and manufacturing issues. The RAC, a body composed of scientists, physicians, lawyers and ethicists, has a more focused review responsibility to evaluate gene therapy protocols that utilize National Institutes of Health funds. The RAC reviews protocols that may occur at their particular institution. This board has the responsibility of protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects. The local board has the opportunity to oversee the individual investigator and the equity of the protocol for the individual human subject. Gene therapy protocols in the US should have IRB review before they are sent to the national level for evaluation.
Analysis for Science Librarians of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: The Life and Work of James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo

ABSTRACTOn October 1, 2018, James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo were awarded the 2018 Physiology or Medicine Nobel for their work leading to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition (ICI). ICI is the fourth pill...
Role of NaV1.6 and NaVβ4 Sodium Channel Subunits in a Rat Model of Low Back Pain Induced by Compression of the Dorsal Root Ganglia.

Abstract Low back pain is a common cause of chronic pain and disability. It is modeled in rodents by chronically compressing the lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) with small metal rods, resulting in ipsilateral mechanical and cold hypersensitivity, and hyperexcitability of sensory neurons. Sodium channels are implicated in this hyperexcitability, but the responsible isoforms are unknown. In this study, we used siRNA-mediated knockdown of the pore-forming NaV1.6 and regulatory NaVβ4 sodium channel isoforms that have been previously implicated in a different model of low back pain caused by locally inflaming the L5 DRG. Knockdown of either subunit markedly reduced spontaneous pain and mechanical and cold hypersensitivity induced by DRG compression, and reduced spontaneous activity and hyperexcitability of sensory neurons with action potentials
Putting It Together: Takeaway Points for Clinicians Conducting PCIT with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The chapter integrates key clinical recommendations from the present handbook’s chapters in a brief, outline format. The editors present a synthesized approach to addressing the use of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) with children on the autism spectrum. Takeaway points are highlighted by providing short descriptions and examples. Additionally, a novel third phase, entitled Social-Directed Interaction (after standard PCIT treatment is completed), is introduced by the authors as a method of employing parents to assist in the critical areas of child communication and social functioning. The chapter highlights ways that PCIT can be used to address disruptive behavior, the parent-child relationship, and core features of autism spectrum disorder.
The Contrarian Manager: The Importance of Alternative Viewpoints

AbstractContrarians are valuable members of any management team since they can help avoid potential mistakes by presenting alternative viewpoints. Management literature and general opinion are over...
Alternative-fuel-vehicle policy interactions increase U.S. greenhouse gas emissions

Abstract The transportation sector is currently the largest contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States, and light-duty vehicles produce the majority of transportation emissions. Federal standards for fleet-averaged vehicle GHG emission rates and their corresponding corporate average fuel economy standards cap GHG emissions of the US light-duty vehicle fleet. In addition, two key policies aim to encourage a future fleet transition to alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) technologies: (1) incentives that treat AFVs favorably in the federal GHG standard, and (2) state zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) policy, which mandates AFV sales in some states. While each of these AFV policies can encourage AFV adoption, we show that net GHG emissions increase when both policies are present simultaneously. Specifically, we estimate changes in life cycle GHG emissions and gasoline consumption, relative to a pure federal fleet GHG standard (without AFV incentives or mandates), resulting from the introduction of (1) AFV incentives in federal fleet GHG policy, (2) state ZEV mandates, and (3) the combination of the two. We find that under fairly general conditions the combined AFV policies produce higher GHG emissions than either policy alone. This result is a consequence of state mandates increasing AFV sales in the presence of federal incentives that relax the fleet GHG standard when AFVs are sold. Using AFV sales projections from the Energy Information Administration and the California Air Resources Board, we estimate that the combined policies produce an increase on the order of 100 million tons of CO2 emissions cumulatively for new passenger cars sold from 2012 through 2025 relative to a pure GHG standard. AFV incentives in the GHG standard conflate policy goals by encouraging AFV adoption at the cost of higher fleet GHG emissions, and they permit even higher fleet GHG emissions when other policies, such as the ZEV mandate, increase AFV adoption.
Evaluating tobacco retailer experience and compliance with a flavoured tobacco product restriction in Boston, Massachusetts: impact on product availability, advertisement and consumer demand.

Background Flavoured tobacco products are widely available in youth-accessible retailers and are associated with increased youth initiation and use. The city of Boston, Massachusetts restricted the sale of flavoured tobacco products, including cigars, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes, to adult-only retailers. This paper describes the impact of the restriction on product availability, advertisement and consumer demand. Methods Between January and December 2016, data were collected in 488 retailers in Boston at baseline and 469 retailers at 8-month follow-up, measuring the type, brand and flavour of tobacco products being sold. Process measures detailing the educational enforcement process, and retailer experience were also captured. McNemar tests and t-tests were used to assess the impact of the restriction on product availability. Results After policy implementation, only 14.4% of youth-accessible retailers sold flavoured products compared with 100% of retailers at baseline (p Conclusion Tobacco retailers across Boston were largely in compliance with the regulation. Availability of flavoured tobacco products in youth-accessible retailers declined city-wide after policy implementation. Strong educational and enforcement infrastructure may greatly enhance retailer compliance.
Characterizing the efficacy and trends of adjuvant therapy versus observation in women with early stage (uterine confined) leiomyosarcoma: a National Cancer Database study

OBJECTIVE The utility of adjuvant therapy for women with uterine confined leiomyosarcoma remains uncertain. We sought to identify trends, analyze efficacy, and assess survival impact of adjuvant therapy in this patients. METHODS We performed an observational cohort study of 1030 women with early stage leiomyosarcoma from the 2008-2014 National Cancer Database. Multi-nominal logistic regression was used to identify trends in receipt of adjuvant treatment. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate survival. RESULTS There were 547 who (53.1%) received observation, 79 (7.7%) received radiation alone, 340 (33.0%) received chemotherapy alone, and 64 (6.2%) received chemoradiation. Patients were more likely to be observed if tumor size was 5 cm, and LVSI with worsened survival, with the strongest predictor of mortality being the presence of LVSI. With a median survival of 61.9 months, there was no difference in estimated overall survival at 1 and 3 years based on receipt of adjuvant treatment as compared to observation (p=0.500). CONCLUSION Although women with uterine confined leiomyosarcoma experience high recurrence rates and poor survival outcomes, adjuvant treatment does not appear to confer a survival benefit.
Analysis and Applications of Adaptive Group Testing Methods for COVID-19

Abstract Testing strategies for Covid-19 to maximize number of people tested are urgently needed. Recently, it has been demonstrated that RT-PCR has the sensitivity to detect one positive case in a mixed sample of 32 cases [12], In this paper we propose adaptive group testing strategies based on generalized binary splitting (CBS) [5], where we restrict the group test to the largest group that can be used. The method starts by choosing a group from the population to be tested, performing a test on the combined sample from the entire group, and progressively splitting the group further into subgroups. Compared to individual testing at 4% prevalence, we save 74%; at 1% we save 91%; and at .1% we save 98% of tests. We analyze the number of times each sample is used and show that the method is still efficient if we resort to testing a case individually if the sample is running low. In addition we recommend clinical screening to filter out individuals with symptoms and show this leaves us with a population with lower prevalence. Our approach is particularly applicable to vulnerable confined populations such as nursing homes, prisons, military ships and cruise ships.
Institutional Selectivity and Occupational Outcomes for STEM Graduates: A Generational Comparison

To increase the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, U.S. education policy has emphasized the pathways from education to STEM careers. While some scholars argue that ...
Crossbill: an open access single objective light-sheet microscopy platform

Abstract We present an open access scanned oblique plane microscopy platform Crossbill. It combines a new optical configuration, open hardware assembly, a systematic alignment protocol, and dedicated control software to provide a compact, versatile, high resolution single objective light-sheet microscopy platform. The demonstrated configuration yields the most affordable sub-micron resolution oblique plane microscopy system to date. We add galvanometer enabled tilt-invariant lateral scan for multi-plane, multi-Hz volumetric imaging capability. A precision translation stage extends stitched field of view to centimeter scale. The accompanying open software is optimized for Crossbill and can be easily extended to include alternative configurations. Using Crossbill, we demonstrate large volume structural fluorescence imaging with sub-micron lateral resolution in zebrafish and mouse brain sections. Crossbill is also capable of multiplane functional imaging, and time-lapse imaging. We suggest multiple alternative configurations to extend Crossbill to diverse microscopy applications.
Numerical Modeling of n-CdTe/p-ZnTe Thin Film Solar Cells

Improving the open circuit voltage (V OC ) has always been a critical need and focus in the research of CdTe solar cells. High n-type doping in CdTe is easier to achieve compare to p-type doping. In this paper, numerical simulations are used to investigate the factors that impact V OC in n-CdTe/p-ZnTe heterojunction solar cells. The impact of the properties of the n-CdTe absorber layer, p-ZnTe window layer and n-CdTe/p-ZnTe heterojunction interface have been studied. Simulation results from SCAPS-1D and AMPS-1D have been utilized to demonstrate the impact of n-type doping concentration, minority carrier lifetime and absorber/emitter interface defect density on device performance and are presented in this manuscript.
Explaining Variation in Challenges to Social Conventions: Black Political Leadership and 'Contraband Camps' in the U.S. Civil War

What explains variation in the extent to which out-group individuals participate in behaviors that challenge existing social orders in ways that fall short of outright contentious politics? In addition to existing explanations that point to technological exposure, institutional change, or leadership attributes, we present a new and complementary explanation. We argue that more significant limitations on a dominant group's ability to police access to informal and formal institutions of power or to regulate participation in privileged activities in a given location cause higher rates of persistent out-group actions that challenge existing social orders. We test our argument using the creation of "contraband camps'' during the U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction-era Black political leadership. These camps significantly limited whites' power and control locally, while Black political leadership breached social conventions at the time. Using quantitative analyses that draw on original data collection, we find that relative to counties without such camps, counties with the camps had almost twice as many Black political leaders. Our results shed light on an understudied phenomenon in the U.S. Civil War while also contributing to research on social change.
Exploring factors associated with pregnant women's experiences of material hardship during COVID-19: a cross-sectional Qualtrics survey in the United States.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the financial insecurity of women and their families globally. Some studies have explored the impact of financial strain among pregnant women, in particular, during the pandemic. However, less is known about the factors associated with pregnant women's experiences of material hardship. Methods This cross-sectional study used a non-probability sample to examine the factors associated with pregnant women's experiences of material hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, 183 pregnant women living in the United States participated in an online Qualtrics panel survey. In addition to socio-demographic characteristics, individuals were asked about their finances and predictors of financial well-being, mental health symptoms, and intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences. Chi-square analysis and one-way ANOVA were used to examine whether women's experiences with material hardship and associated factors differed by income level (i.e., less than $20,000; $20,000 to $60,000; more than $60,000). Ordinary least squares regression was used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted estimates. Results Study findings showed that the majority of women in the sample experienced at least one form of material hardship in the past year. Individuals with an annual household income less than $20,000 reported the highest average number of material hardships experienced (M = 3.7, SD = 2.8). Compared to women with household incomes less than $20,000, women with incomes of more than $60,000 reported significantly fewer material hardships, less financial strain, and higher levels of financial support, economic self-efficacy, and economic-self-sufficiency. Women with incomes of $60,000 or more also reported significantly lower levels of psychological abuse, and a smaller percentage met the cut-off for anxiety. Economic self-sufficiency, financial strain, posttraumatic stress disorder, and economic abuse were all significantly associated with material hardship. Conclusions A contribution of this study is that it highlights the significant, positive association between economic abuse, a unique form of IPV, and material hardship among pregnant women during the pandemic. These findings suggest the need for policy and practice interventions that help to ameliorate the financial insecurity experienced by some pregnant women, as well as respond to associated bidirectional vulnerabilities (e.g., mental health symptoms, experiences of IPV).
Technology Diffusion - A Social Network Perspective

Information Systems (IS) research on technology acceptance has mainly explored user acceptance at the individual level, with the prominent framework being the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Research involving TAM and other similar frameworks has tended to be user-centric with primary focus on individual attributes that could influence user perceptions towards the technology. This study focuses on technology diffusion at the organizational level, in particular the process of technology related knowledge dissemination, organizational learning, and the influence of the social context in which implementation and acceptance takes place, for complex large-scale integrated systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). To address these issues and to complement the findings of the current individual-centric acceptance research, this study adopts a social network perspective towards technology diffusion within an organization. It is expected that technology diffusion within and across organizational units will be subject to and influenced by the characteristics of interpersonal relations embodied in the network structure. Thus, organizational units having close, diverse, and dense ties among its members would have rapid and efficient information flows that serve to lower knowledge barriers and facilitate organizational learning; hence, we can expect a faster, smoother and more efficient diffusion process. Data for this study will be collected at four points in time from over 1500 users spread across 200 organizational units of a large southeastern university that is currently replacing its present administrative computing systems using the SAP portfolio of ERP solutions.
Fiscal Policy and External Performance: The Turkish Experience

In 1980 Turkey embarked on a far-reaching stabilization and liberalization program, which contributed to export-led growth and a significant movement toward both domestic and external equilibrium. Later, as fiscal policy was partly reoriented from a restrictive to an expansionary stance while adhering to a flexible exchange rate policy, inflationary pressures intensified but the external current account did not deteriorate. Counterfactual simulations, performed with a computational general equilibrium model, suggest that Turkey would have experienced a significantly lower inflation rate, with only a small reduction in growth, if it had adopted a less expansionary fiscal stance.
Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: An in-depth look at diagnosis and treatment

Purpose: To provide an in-depth synthesis of the literature on polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) that will assist the primary care nurse practitioner (NP) in recognizing the variety of symptom presentations, accurately evaluating laboratory data, developing a plan of care that includes current treatment guidelines, and adroitly managing patients for improved outcomes. Data sources: A thorough search of the literature was conducted including MEDLINE, CIHAHL, and PubMed encompassing the decades from the 1970s to the present. Conclusions: Because of the varied and vague symptom presentations of PMR and GCA, primary healthcare providers often misdiagnose these pathologies, delaying treatment and relief of suffering. Textbooks descriptions often omit supplemental content necessary to understand the intricacies of the presenting symptoms, diagnostic tests needed for work-up, and specific treatment for these overlapping pathologies. Implications for practice: Because PMR and GCA often present in the primary care setting, NPs must maintain a high index of suspicion when a patient over 60 years of age presents with vague complaints such as headache, weakness, anorexia, and malaise. Arriving at an accurate diagnosis in a timely fashion will lead to appropriate treatment and minimize patient suffering.
Ethical decision making and the law

This paper will examine the effects of gender, age, work experience, academic status and legality on certain ethical decisions. Six scenarios representing ethical dilemmas were presented to both undergraduate and MBA students in an attempt to determine if various demographic factors influenced ethical decision making. While some past studies have suggested that gender has an important effect on ethical decision making, this study does not completely support this conclusion and suggests that age and/or length of work experience should be included in any study of ethical decision making.
Skin-Like Electronics for a Persistent Brain- Computer Interface

There exists a high demand for a continuous, persistent recording of non-invasive electroencephalograms in both clinical and research fields. Head-cap electrodes with metal conductors and conductive gels are widely used and considered as the gold standard for such measurement. This physical interface, however, is poorly suited to uninterrupted, long-term use due to the uncomfortable rigid electrodes, skin irritation due to the gel, and electrical degradation as the gel dries. These issues can be addressed by using a newly developed, dry form of electronics. Here, we briefly review a class of soft electronic technology in the aspects of mechanics, materials, and its capabilities for a long-term recording of electroencephalograms and a brain-computer interface (BCI). We summarize the progress in the development of a skin-like electronic system with a focus on key mechanical factors to achieve conformal skin contact. The design of hard electronics, integrated with soft membranes, uses deterministic fractal motifs to offer bending and stretching mechanics. We also introduce a most recent example of such electronics, an ‘auricle-integrated system’, which includes a strategy of conformal integration on the complex surface topology, a quantitative study of biocompatibility, and an application as a persistent BCI. Journal of Nature and Science, 1(7):e132, 2015.
Steroid hysteria: unpacking the claims.

A physician argues in favor of the use of performance-enhancing substances by adult participants in sports. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
A matrix-based approach for semi-supervised document co-clustering

In order to derive high quality information from text, the field of text mining has advanced swiftly from simple document clustering to co-clustering documents and words. However, document co-clustering without any prior knowledge or background information is a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose a Semi-Supervised Non-negative Matrix Factorization (SS-NMF) based framework for document co-clustering. Our method computes a new word-document matrix by incorporating user provided constraints through distance metric learning. Using an iterative algorithm, we perform tri-factorization of the new matrix to infer the document and word clusters. Through extensive experiments conducted on publicly available data sets, we demonstrate the superior performance of SS-NMF for document co-clustering.
5 Complete Remission of Proteinuria with Cellcept and Cyclosporine in Non-HIV Collapsing Glomerulopathy

COMPLETE REMISSION OF PROTEINURIA WITH CELLCEPT AND CYCLOSPORINE IN NON-HIV COLLAPSING GLOMERULOPATHY Muhammad Rizwan Afzal; Antoine Samaha, Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinna Ohio This case report is the first evidence of a successful treatment in a non-HIV pa ent with Collapsing Glomerulopathy (CG) using Cellcept and Cyclosporine. A 40-years old African American female presen ng with lower extremity edema was diagnosed with nephro c syndrome (Urine protein 10 gm/day, serum albumin 1.4 mg/dl, serum LDL 278 mg/dl & serum crea nine 2 mg/dl). A serological work up including ANA, An dsDNA, An SSA/SSB, An RNP, C-ANCA, P-ANCA, complement factors (C3, C4), HIV and hepa s panel was unremarkable. Renal ssue analysis with light microscopy, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy was consistent with collapsing variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). A steroid sparing immunosuppressive regimen consis ng of Cellcept (500 mg every 12 hours) and cyclosporine (3mg/kg/day) was started. Proteinuria started declining a er one month of treatment. The pa ent received cyclosporine for eight months and Cellcept for two years. Kidney func on remained stable during and six months a er discon nua on of treatment showing complete resolu on of proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia in recent lab work (Urine protein 0.3 gm/day, serum albumin 3.8 mg/dl & serum Crea nine 2.2 mg/dl). This case strongly suggests use of Cellcept and cyclosporine for treatment of CG variant of FSGS.