cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autonomy support and control within mother-father parenting structures: A person-centered approach in youth sport

Abstract In the youth sport context, parents play an important role in the motivation of adolescent athletes. From a self-determination theory viewpoint, the provision of autonomy support versus control by parents is an essential part of this socialization process. The purpose of the present study was threefold: (a) identify distinct mother-father parenting profiles of autonomy support and control based on perceptions of adolescent athletes, (b) examine the unique influence of mother-father parenting profiles on adolescent athletes' motivational responses (i.e., parent-to-child effects), and (c) understand the contribution of adolescent athletes' motivation to the emergence of these mother-father parenting profiles (i.e., child-to-parent effects). To test our hypotheses, a person-centered approach (latent profile analysis) was employed to analyze data collected from a sample of high school athletes (N = 264; Mage = 15.7 years, 64% female). Results provided evidence supporting a four-profile solution: Strong Autonomy Support Dominant: Both Parents (n = 26, 9.8%), Weak Control Dominant: Both Parents (n = 111, 42.0%), Moderate Autonomy Support and Control: Both Parents (n = 21, 8.0%), and Weak Autonomy Support Dominant: Both Parents (n = 106, 40.2%). The four mother-father parenting profiles were found to be differentially predicted by, and predictive of, adolescent athletes' adaptive and maladaptive motivational responses (i.e., basic psychological needs satisfaction, autonomous and controlled motivation). This study illuminated a general pattern of congruency in the provision of autonomy support and control by parents within mother-father parenting structures and contributed empirical evidence pointing to the reciprocal nature of interpersonal processes in parent-athlete relationships.
Diabetes and health-related quality of life among American Indians: the role of psychosocial factors

Little is known about the association of psychosocial factors with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among American Indians with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study described functional social support, emotional support, coping, resilience, post-traumatic stress disorder, and HRQoL, among American Indians by diabetes status and, among those with diabetes, examined the association of these factors with HRQoL. Using data from the Cherokee Nation Health Survey collected between 2017 and 2019, we evaluated differences in each measure of interest according to diabetes status, using t-test and Chi-squared tests of association. We used weighted multiple logistic regression to examine associations between multiple psychosocial factors and HRQoL among those with diabetes. Compared to individuals without diabetes, participants with diabetes rated their functional social support (4.62 vs. 4.56, respectively) and coping (2.65 vs. 2.61, respectively) slightly lower and were more likely to report ≥ 15 days of poor physical (14% vs. 26%, respectively) and mental health (14% vs. 17%, respectively) in the past month. Odds of reporting poor overall health increased more than sixfold for those who were dissatisfied/very dissatisfied with life (AOR = 6.70). Resilience scores reduced odds of reporting ≥ 15 days with poor physical health, while experiences of post-traumatic stress doubled these odds. Our study yielded insights into the risk as well as protective factors associated with diabetes outcomes in a large sample of American Indians with T2D. Researchers should design pragmatic trials that deepen understanding of preventive as well as treatment leverage through greater attention to experiences that compromise HRQoL.
Differential privacy applied to smart meters: a mapping study

Smart meters and the smart grid will allow utility companies and customers to monitor their electricity and utility usage in fine-grained detail instead of the previously common monthly or yearly measurements. With this fine-grained detail comes serious privacy concerns. One of the most promising solutions for measuring and preserving privacy loss is differential privacy. Both differential privacy and the smart grid are relatively young developments that will require more research before they can be confidently implemented worldwide. With this systematic mapping study, we will provide an overview of the current literature and attempt to determine the future directions the research may take.
Primary Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Seminal Vesicle Associated with Intestinal Metaplasia: A Radiation-Induced Tumor?

Primary adenocarcinoma of the seminal vesicle is very rare, with fewer than one hundred well-documented cases reported in the literature (1). These tumors have variable microscopic appearances, including cases with hobnail, polygonal and columnar neoplastic cells arranged in diverse architectural patterns (1). We recently received a radical cystoprostatectomy specimen from a 74-year-old patient with biopsy-proven muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma.
Dependence Modeling for Large-scale Project Cost and Time Risk Assessment: Additive Risk Factor Approaches

High-dimensional dependence modeling remains a crucial challenge in quantitative project cost and time risk analysis. Building a complete and mathematically consistent correlation matrix becomes unrealistically restrictive as the number of uncertain performance units in a project (i.e., activity times and costs) increases, regardless of using empirical data or with subjective judgment. This article presents a pair of additive factor dependence models that provide analytic solutions to the generation of a complete and mathematically consistent correlation matrix. The additive risk factor (ARF) models account for multiple risk factors in two classes (i.e., extra-marginal and intramarginal) while providing additional flexibility for a strategic tradeoff between the accuracy and the scalability to high-dimensional project risks. We extend the ARF models to present an analytic solution to the program evaluation and review technique (PERT) problem with correlated activity times. Numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy and computational efficiency of the ARF approaches. The ARF approaches and the ARF-PERT would serve as a quick and sensible alternative to large-scale Monte Carlo simulation, in particular during the early stage of the project life-cycle.
Patient-Reported Outcomes as a Measure of Healthcare Quality

The technical minutiae and nuances of assessing and measuring the quality of healthcare can, at times, seem far removed from broad conceptual and philosophical discussions about what patients want from their healthcare providers. But as our healthcare system undergoes a fundamental shift, reorienting payment for healthcare services from volume to value, it is worth stepping back to consider how we can link the quality of care to the meaning of life.
Interactive Direct Volume Rendering of Time-Varying Data

Previous efforts aimed at improving direct volume rendering performance have focused largely on time-invariant, 3D data. Little work has been done in the area of interactive direct volume rendering of time-varying data, such as is commonly found in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Until recently, the additional costs imposed by time-varying data have made consideration of interactive direct volume rendering impractical. We present a volume rendering system based on a parallel implementation of the Shear-Warp Factorization algorithm that is capable of rendering time-varying 1283 data at interactive speeds.
Glyphosate Resistance and Gene Amplification in Selected Daucus carota Suspension Cultures

There are many studies describing selected gene amplification with both animal cell cultures and microbial systems (1). However, in the case of plants, there are only two selection agents, phosphinothricin and glyphosate, both of which are nonselective herbicides, which have been shown to produce gene amplification when used in selection experiments.
Genome Signature Comparisons of the Proteobacteria

We present a comparative analysis of proteobacteria based on genome signature assessments of oligonucleotide relative abundances. Although α-and γ-proteobacteria form largely coherent groups in terms of dinucleotide relative abundance distance, there are notable exceptions. The obligate intracellular parasites Rickettsia prowazekii and R. conorii are extremely distant from all other α-proteobacteria. Brucella melitensis and B. suis are weakly or distantly similar to most other α-proteobacteria, but moderately similar to the nitrogen-fixing Rhizobiales Sinorhizobium meliloti and Mesorhizobium loti. Among the γ-proteobacteria, Pseudomonas and Buchnera sp. stand out, being significantly distant from the rest of the class. The β-proteobacteria Neisseria meningitides and Ralstonia solanacearum also are closer to other proteobacteria than to each other. e-proteobacteria, represented by Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni are moderately similar to each other, but distant from other proteobacteria. We also examined individual dinucleotide and tetranucleotide relative abundances. GpC is overrepresented in many species, except Pseudomonas and some α-proteobacteria, while ApT is broadly overrepresented in the α-proteobacteria. TpA dinucleotides are widely suppressed. Among the tetranucleotides, CTAG is prominently suppressed in many species, while ATAG/CTAT (a one nucleotide change from CTAG) is elevated in most α-proteobacteria and in R. solanacearum. We discuss possible interpretations of these observations in terms of genome-wide processes.
A functional profile of gene expression in ARPE-19 cells

Retinal pigment epithelium cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of age related macular degeneration. Their morphological, molecular and functional phenotype changes in response to various stresses. Functional profiling of genes can provide useful information about the physiological state of cells and how this state changes in response to disease or treatment. In this study, we have constructed a functional profile of the genes expressed by the ARPE-19 cell line of retinal pigment epithelium. Using Affymetrix MAS 5.0 microarray analysis, genes expressed by ARPE-19 cells were identified. Using GeneChip® annotations, these genes were classified according to their known functions to generate a functional gene expression profile. We have determined that of approximately 19,044 unique gene sequences represented on the HG-U133A GeneChip® , 6,438 were expressed in ARPE-19 cells irrespective of the substrate on which they were grown (plastic, fibronectin, collagen, or Matrigel). Rather than focus our subsequent analysis on the identity or level of expression of each individual gene in this large data set, we examined the number of genes expressed within 130 functional categories. These categories were selected from a library of HG-U133A GeneChip® annotations linked to the Affymetrix MAS 5.0 data sets. Using this functional classification scheme, we were able to categorize about 70% of the expressed genes and condense the original data set of over 6,000 data points into a format with 130 data points. The resulting ARPE-19 Functional Gene Expression Profile is displayed as a percentage of ARPE-19-expressed genes. The Profile can readily be compared with equivalent microarray data from other appropriate samples in order to highlight cell-specific attributes or treatment-induced changes in gene expression. The usefulness of these analyses is based on the assumption that the numbers of genes expressed within a functional category provide an indicator of the overall level of activity within that particular functional pathway.
The haptic hand: providing user interface feedback with the non-dominant hand in virtual environments

We present a user interface for virtual environments that utilizes the non-dominant hand to provide haptic feedback to the dominant hand while it interacts with widgets on a virtual control panel. We believe this technique improves on existing prop-based methods of providing haptic feedback. To gauge the interface's effectiveness, we performed a usability study. We do not present a formal comparison with prior techniques here. The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of using the non-dominant hand for haptic feedback, and to obtain subjective data about usability. The results demonstrated that the interface allowed users to perform precision tasks. These results have convinced us that this technique has potential and warrants further development.
A Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program comparison of adult and pediatric Wilms' tumor†

PURPOSE: To compare the characteristics and outcome of adults and children diagnosed with Wilms' tumor. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database was analyzed for patients diagnosed with Wilms' tumor between 1973 and 2007. Patients were stratified into pediatric (<16 years) or adult (≥16 years) groups. Overall survival was the primary endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 2342 patients (2190 pediatric and 152 adult) with Wilms' tumor were identified. Adult patients were statistically more likely to be staged as localized than pediatric patients (62.5% vs 44.7%), to not receive any lymph node sampling (57.9% vs 16.2%), and to not receive any radiation treatment (74.3% vs 53.9%). Adults had a statistically worse overall survival (OS) than pediatric patients (5-year OS, 69% vs 88%, P<.001) despite the earlier tumor stage. When stratified by treatment era, the OS of all patients treated after 1981 was statistically higher than those treated before (5-year OS, 75% vs 89%, P<.001). Significant predictors of OS on univariate analysis for adults included treatment era, SEER stage, surgery, and radiation treatment. Significant predictors of OS on multivariate analysis of all patients included adult status (hazard ratio, 4.14; P<.001), treatment era, SEER stage, and surgery. CONCLUSION: Adults in the SEER database had statistically worse OS than pediatric patients despite previous studies showing comparable outcome when treated on protocol. The worse outcome of SEER adults likely stems from incorrect diagnosis, inadequate staging and undertreatment. We recommend lymph node samplings for all adult Wilms' tumor patients and collaboration with pediatric oncologists. Cancer 2012. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Introduction to Biomedical Instrumentation: Electrodes, sensors, signals, and noise

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1 list and describe what a sensor does 2 identify the two types of transducers and describe examples of each type 3 list and describe the sources of error in sensor systems 4 list and describe the four types of electrodes (surface, micro, indwelling, and needle) 5 list and describe the sensors that are used to record direct blood pressure and temperature 6 list and describe impedance matching and patient impedance 7 list and describe human periodic, static, and random signals 8 characterize human signals as analog and medical devices as digital 9 describe electrical noise, especially related to the clinical setting Introduction The most common activity in patient care is patient monitoring. The human body produces a variety of physiological signals, and physicians have learned to interpret these signals to provide information about the health of a patient. To measure or monitor these signals, there must be a connection between the patient and some (typically electronic) device. This type of activity is called in vivo monitoring, which refers to the living patient. This chapter explores the machine-human connection. Sensors Sensors (often called transducers – the difference is unimportant here) convert the energy of the patient (pressure, for example) into a form that can be used by an instrument.
Research highlights: detecting, characterizing and quantifying the presence and impact of carbon nanomaterials in environmental systems

Here, we highlight articles examining different aspects contributing to the fate and role of carbon nanomaterials in environmental systems by developing new insight through measurement methodologies or systematic approaches. The first study examined the role of dissolved organic matter on the colloidal stability of bare and functionalized fullerene and used tools that provide data on the change in size and structure of aggregates with changing media composition. The origin of the aggregates in aqueous media observed is further discussed from other computational and experimental work from other groups. Another study focuses on the development of new mass spectrometry methods for improved detection and quantification of these species in complex media, which provides methods to better assess current methods for detection and water processing. The last study examines the role of carbon nanomaterials in soils and sediments, which provides data on the roles different carbon nanomaterials have in the bioavailability of contaminants.
Effect of porosity on reducing cohesive strength and accelerating crack growth in ultra low-k thin-films [IC interconnect applications]

The reliable fabrication of interconnects containing nanoporous low dielectric constant (LKD) films has proven to be a significant technological challenge. The LKDs are brittle in nature and susceptible to stress corrosion cracking in reactive aqueous environments. Moreover, nearly all levels of processing involve subjecting these extremely fragile materials to mechanical loads in the presence of harsh aqueous solutions, such as chemical mechanical planarization (CMP). Here we demonstrate how controlled volume fractions of nanometer scale porosity reduces the cohesive strength of LKDs and significantly accelerates the rate of crack growth in both simulated and commercial CMP solutions.
Women at Midlife

The cultural narrative provided for women at midlife is either medical and menopause oriented--hot flashes, osteoporosis, heart disease, the estrogen replacement therapy decision--or socially devaluing--"empty nest," a fertility has-been, abandoned for a younger woman, depressed. Without alternative images these demoralizing cultural stereotypes can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The study discussed in this article investigated midlife experiences of a group of white women in the New York City area and identified factors associated with successful negotiation of midlife transformation. Although midlife was a challenging stage of life, 72.5 percent of the women studied described themselves as happy or very happy. Factors predicting well-being at midlife included an annual family income above $30,000, a confidante or a group of women friends, good health, high self-esteem, lack of self-denigration, high self-effectance, a benign superego, goals for the future, a positive life narrative, the belief that one has a right to a life, positive midlife role models, and positive feelings about one's appearance.
Far Infrared Optical Properties of Pressed CdTe.

Abstract : The optical properties of a commercial pressed CdTe for frequencies between 15 and 50 wavenumbers were determined from spectra Fourier-transformed from interferograms obtained with the Aerospace lamellar grating interferometer. By use of parameters obtained in the mid-infrared and by adjustment of the value of the low-frequency dielectric constant to a best-fit value of 10.324 plus or minus 0.008, it was found that the measured refractive index and absorption agree well with the predictions of a damped Lorentz oscillator model. (Author)
Closure to “Interactive Irrigation Tool for Simulating Smart Irrigation Technologies in Lawn Turf” by N. A. Dobbs, K. W. Migliaccio, M. D. Dukes, K. T. Morgan, and Y. C. Li

Kati W. Migliaccio, P.E.; Michael D. Dukes, P.E.; Nicole A. Dobbs; Kelly T. Morgan; and Yuncong Li Associate Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Dept., Univ. of Florida, 18905 SW 280th St., Homestead, FL 33031 (corresponding author). E-mail: klwhite@ufl.edu Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering Dept., Univ. of Florida, P.O. Box 110570, Gainesville, FL 32611-0570. E-mail: mddukes@ ufl.edu Graduate Student, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept., North Carolina State Univ., Campus Box 7625, Raleigh, NC 27695. E-mail: nadobbs@ncsu.edu Associate Professor, Soil and Water Science Dept., Univ. of Florida, 2685 State Rd. 29 North, Immokalee, FL 34142. E-mail: conserve@ufl.edu Professor, Soil and Water Science Dept., Univ. of Florida, 18905 SW 280th St., Homestead, FL 33031. E-mail: yunli@ufl.edu
VMIPVS: a visual medical image processing and visualization system

Image processing and visualization are very important in the medical field. This is clearly demonstrated by the wide variety of imaging schemes used such as magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, x-ray imaging (computed tomography, CT), single photon emission tomography, and positron emission tomography. All of these modalities produce 2-D images. It is evident that image processing and visualization routines could expedite research in the field. In fact, if routines that already exist could be reused, it would further assist the progress. Environments that provide all the functionality required are not available (aside from the fact that all the functionality might not be understood, yet). A visual programming environment (VPE) tailored to the integration of all needed functions, through the combination of the best features of different packages into a single unified interface, was the main goal to be accomplished by the design of VMIPVS. Important issues addressed by VMIPVS are interoperability, data conversion, display formats, and extendibility.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Studies in Batch and Continuous Solvent Sublation. IV. Continuous Countercurrent Solvent Sublation and Bubble Fractionation of Hydrophobic Organics from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract Experimental results on the solvent sublation of four hydrophobic compounds [pentachlorophenol (PCP), 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB), 2,3,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP)] from the aqueous phase tc organic solvents are reported. The experiments were conducted with the aqueous and air phases in continuous countercurrent modes and the organic solvent as a stagnant layer. TCB, TCA, and TCP were sublated into mineral oil. PCP at pH 2.9 as neutral molecules were sublated into mineral oil and decyl alcohol while ionic PCP at pH 8.9 were sublated as a complex with hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide into decyl alcohol. The effect of the two organic solvents were compared for neutral PCP sublation from the aqueous phase. The effects of air flow rates, influent feed rates, and the volume of organic solvent were studied. Comparisons were made between the bubble fractionation and solvent sublation of neutral PCP and TCP into mineral oil. The efficiency of sublation was largest for TCB...
Ternary forms as invariants of Markoff forms and other SL2 (Z)-bundles

Abstract Consider the free group Γ = {A,B} generated by matrices A, B in SL2(Z). We can construct a ternary form Φ(x,y,z) whose GL3(Z) equivalence class is invariant, as it depends on Γ and not the choice of generators. If Γ is the commutator of SL2(Z), then the generating matrices have fixed points corresponding to different fields and inequivalent Markoff forms, but they are all biuniquely determined by Φ = -z2+ y(2x+y+z) to within equivalence. When referred to transformations A, B of the upper half plane, this phenomenon is interpreted in terms of inequivalent homotopy elements which are primitive for the perforated torus.
Lessons learned about prostatic transformation from the age-related methylation of 5α-reductase type 2 gene

This commentary highlights the article by Ge et al, which proposes the use of methylation and expression of SRD5A2 as a gene signature to tailor therapies for prostatic diseases.
Elemental content of Douglas‐fir shoot tips: Sampling and variability 1

Abstract Seasonal changes in Douglas‐fir shoot tip composition were measured for two years in an Oregon Christmas tree plantation. Nitrogen, and P levels were highest during active growth. Calcium, Mg, Mn and Fe levels were lowest during active growth, increasing during dormancy. Elemental concentration of Douglas‐fir clones followed the same annual patterns. Sample size requirements ranged from 18 for N to 132 for Fe at 5% confidence interval, and 5 for N to 33 for Fe at 10%. Clonal populations varied nearly as much as seedling populations, indicating that elemental composition of Douglas‐fir was very sensitive to environmental factors.
Organized Arrangements of “Holes” in Ionic Planes: Crystalline Bis[tetra-dodecylammonium] hexafluorosilicate, a Group 15 Salt with Four Long n-Alkyl Chains and a Divalent Anion

The use of small divalent anions is suggested as a strategy for engineering regular patterns of “holes” in ionic planes of crystalline ammonium and phosphonium salts with four equivalent long (i.e....
Theory of hyperfine interactions in alkaline-earth ions isoelectronic with alkali-metal atoms — Ba + 137

With the development of ion-storage techniques, it has become possible to study the hyperfine interactions of alkaline-earth positive ions which are isoelectronic with alkali-metal atoms. As part of a program to study the available experimental values of the hyperfine constants and the relative importance of various contributing mechanisms in these systems, we have investigated the singly ionized barium ion using relativistic many-body perturbation theory. The one-electron contribution to the hyperfine constant in $^{137}\mathrm{Ba}^{+}$ is found to be 3476 MHz composed of direct and exchange core-polarization contributions of 3055 and 421 MHz, respectively. The many-electron correlation contribution is found to be 727 MHz. The net calculated hyperfine constant of (4203\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 200) MHz agrees satisfactorily with the experimental value of 4018.2 MHz. The ratios of the exchange core-polarization and correlation contributions to the direct contribution are both found to be smaller than the corresponding ratios in the isoelectronic cesium atom. This can be ascribed to the lesser deformability of the core of ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{+}$ as compared to that of the neutral cesium atom.
Effective White Teachers of Black Children: Teaching within a Community

This article is a report of a qualitative case study of the beliefs and practices of three White public primary school teachers. The teachers were nominated as effective by key members of the Black community in which they teach. The purpose of the study was to understand effective teaching of Black children by White teachers in light of community preferences. Findings suggest a complex and interwoven relationship between the participant teachers’ beliefs and practices that fostered their Black students’ learning in ways significantly compatible with the beliefs and practices of effective Black teachers described in the literature. Three subthemes from a total of 25 are highlighted by way of example. They focus, respectively, on discipline, view of teaching self, and literacy education. A fourth subtheme, racial consciousness, is also explored. Findings related to this subtheme differed in part from the discussion of effective Black teachers in the literature.
A Topical Microbicide Gel Formulation of CCR5 Antagonist Maraviroc Prevents HIV-1 Vaginal Transmission in Humanized RAG-hu Mice

For prevention of HIV infection many currently licensed anti-HIV drugs and new ones in the pipeline show potential as topically applied microbicides. While macaque models have been the gold standard for in vivo microbicide testing, they are expensive and sufficient numbers are not available. Therefore, a small animal model that facilitates rapid evaluation of potential candidates for their preliminary efficacy is urgently needed in the microbicide field. We previously demonstrated that RAG-hu humanized mouse model permits HIV-1 mucosal transmission via both vaginal and rectal routes and that oral pre-exposure chemo-prophylactic strategies could be tested in this system. Here in these proof-of-concept studies, we extended this system for topical microbicide testing using HIV-1 as the challenge virus. Maraviroc, a clinically approved CCR5 inhibitor drug for HIV treatment, was formulated as a microbicide gel at 5 mM concentration in 2.2% hydroxyl ethyl cellulose. Female RAG-hu mice were challenged vaginally with HIV-1 an hour after intravaginal application of the maraviroc gel. Our results showed that maraviroc gel treated mice were fully protected against vaginal HIV-1 challenge in contrast to placebo gel treated mice which all became infected. These findings highlight the utility of the humanized mouse models for microbicide testing and, together with the recent data from macaque studies, suggest that maraviroc is a promising candidate for future microbicide clinical trials in the field.
Characterization of ethylguanine isomers and structurally related compounds by laser-desorbed cationization in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer

Abstract Laser-desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry (LD-FTMS) was used to investigate and compare the fragmentation patterns of O 6 -, 7- and 9-ethylguanines. LD-FTMS of all ethylguanine isomers studied here gave characteristic fragmentations in addition to pseudomolecular ions. These ethylguanine isomers lose ethylene leading to the formation of protonated guanine. O 6 -Ethylguanine readily loses acetaldehyde from molecular and pseudomolecular ions, however, acetaldehyde elimination was not observed in the spectra of 7- and 9-ethylguanines. Ionized O 6 - and 7-ethylguanines both lose methyl radicals whereas ionized 9-ethylguanine does not. Fragmentation pathways for formation of some of the distinguishing ions are proposed. Collision-induced dissociation was also carried out to identify some of the fragment ions.
Nanocluster seed-mediated synthesis of CuInS2 quantum dots, nanodisks, nanorods, and doped Zn-CuInGaS2 quantum dots

Recent work using seed-mediated quantum dot growth has shown that nanoparticle seeds are a useful method for providing nucleation centers in order to control the nanoparticle shape and composition. Here we present a facile nanocluster seed-mediated protocol to synthesize CuInS2 quantum dots (q-dots) and Zn and/or Ga doped CuInS2 (Zn-CuInGaS2) q-dots using (NH4)2S as a sulfur source. Due to high reactivity of (NH4)2S toward metal cations, we are able to isolate a CuInS2 nanocluster (<2 nm with low crystallinity) intermediate at low temperatures (60 °C). By varying the conditions of a “heat-up” synthesis method, these nanoclusters can be grown into CuInS2 with different morphologies (q-dots, nanodisks, and nanorods) and different crystalline phases (chalcopyrite and wurtzite). Further, we can incorporate dopant Ga3+ and Zn2+ ions into the q-dots by introducing the dopant either during the nanocluster formation or during the crystal growth stage, resulting in CuInGaS2 and CuInZnS q-dots. Incorporation of both Ga and Zn increases the photoluminescence intensity compared to CuInS2; furthermore, the absorption spectra and photoluminescent emission peaks are shifted to shorter wavelengths. With this nanocluster method, we have also synthesized pentanary Zn-CuInGaS2 for the first time. Compared to quaternary CuInGaS2 and CuInZnS, we observe a larger blue shift in the absorption spectra when both Zn and Ga are present. The interesting optical properties of Zn-CuInGaS2 makes it an attractive material for photovoltaic devices and light emitting diodes. The ability to isolate the intermediate CuInS2 nanoclusters provides a strategy for synthesizing a wide variety of tailored quaternary and pentanary metal chalcogenides in the future.
Improving Employees’ Interpersonal Communication Competencies A Qualitative Study

Companies that recognize the relationship between employee engagement and business success will seek ways to foster and facilitate workers’ emotional well-being. One way to encourage employee engag...
Changes in the refractive index of fused silica due to implantation of transition-metal ions

Abstract The changes in the refractive index of high purity silica glass produced by implantation of Ti + , Cr + , Mn + , Fe + and Cu + ions at 160 keV were measured using ellipsometry at a wavelength of 633 nm. Implantation doses ranged from 10 15 to 6 × 10 16 ions cm −2 . At the highest doses, a relative increase in refractive index of approximately 15% for implanted Cu ions and an increase of about half that for implanted Cr, Mn and Fe ions are observed. These variations in index probably result from colloid formation. For implanted Ti, virtually no change in the measured index of refraction was observed even at the highest doses.
Alpha1a-adrenoceptor genetic variant induces cardiomyoblast-to-fibroblast-like cell transition via distinct signaling pathways

The role of naturally occurring human α1a-Adrenergic Receptor (α1aAR) genetic variants associated with cardiovascular disorders is poorly understood. Here, we present the novel findings that expression of human α1aAR-247R (247R) genetic variant in cardiomyoblasts leads to transition of cardiomyoblasts into a fibroblast-like phenotype, evidenced by morphology and distinct de novo expression of characteristic genes. These fibroblast-like cells exhibit constitutive, high proliferative capacity and agonist-induced hypertrophy compared with cells prior to transition. We demonstrate that constitutive, synergistic activation of EGFR, Src and ERK kinases is the potential molecular mechanism of this transition. We also demonstrate that 247R triggers two distinct EGFR transactivation-dependent signaling pathways: 1) constitutive Gq-independent β-arrestin-1/Src/MMP/EGFR/ERK-dependent hyperproliferation and 2) agonist-induced Gq- and EGFR/STAT-dependent hypertrophy. Interestingly, in cardiomyoblasts agonist-independent hyperproliferation is MMP-dependent, but in fibroblast-like cells it is MMP-independent, suggesting that expression of α1aAR genetic variant in cardiomyocytes may trigger extracellular matrix remodeling. Thus, these novel findings demonstrate that EGFR transactivation by α1aAR-247R leads to hyperproliferation, hypertrophy and alterations in cardiomyoblasts, suggesting that these unique genetically-mediated alterations in signaling pathways and cellular function may lead to myocardial fibrosis. Such extracellular matrix remodeling may contribute to the genesis of arrhythmias in certain types of heart failure.
Review of Margaret Miles, Augustine and the Fundamentalist’s Daughter

This review considers Margaret Miles’s recent book, offering some criticisms of specific points but overall admiring the lucidity and passion Miles brings to her reading of Augustine.
Why do performance and subjective workload measures dissociate

A set of three experiments are described that examine the sources of information processing that produce a dissociation between subjective workload measures and performance. The results support a theory of the dissociation. Subjective measures are driven more by the number of tasks currently performed. Subjective measures are also less sensitive to resource competition than performance measures are. Factors that demand more resource investment improve performance, but these factors also increase subjective ratings of workload.
Genetic causes of mental retardation.

: Mental retardation has been categorized into severe mental retardation where genetics plays a very important role and mild mental retardation, in which genetics in some instances plays a role but in which cultural factors also matter a great deal. The pathogenetic, clinical and behavioral characteristics of genetically determined disorders associated with mental retardation differ greatly—as exemplified by two genetic disorders that have been clarified recently, namely Rett syndrome and the Williams syndrome. In the work-up of the developmentally disabled child, previous studies have shown that genetic studies are of have great importance and high yield. Early biochemical diagnosis in newborn screening has tremendous potential and has been strongly supported by NICHD—the PKU story being so much part of what NICHD has done. We must gain a better understanding of structure/function relationships, which becomes more and more possible with neuroimaging. A better understanding of neural plasticity can lead to correction by early intervention.
Ribosomal Biosynthesis of the Cyclic Peptide Toxins of Amanita Mushrooms

Some species of mushrooms in the genus Amanita are extremely poisonous and frequently fatal to mammals including humans and dogs. Their extreme toxicity is due to amatoxins such as α- and β-amanitin. Amanita mushrooms also biosynthesize a chemically related group of toxins, the phallotoxins, such as phalloidin. The amatoxins and phallotoxins (collectively known as the Amanita toxins) are bicyclic octa- and heptapeptides, respectively. Both contain an unusual Trp-Cys cross-bridge known as tryptathionine. We have shown that, in Amanita bisporigera, the amatoxins and phallotoxins are synthesized as proproteins on ribosomes and not by nonribosomal peptide synthetases. The proproteins are 34–35 amino acids in length and have no predicted signal peptides. The genes for α-amanitin (AMA1) and phallacidin (PHA1) are members of a large family of related genes, characterized by highly conserved amino acid sequences flanking a hypervariable “toxin” region. The toxin regions are flanked by invariant proline (Pro) residues. An enzyme that could cleave the proprotein of phalloidin was purified from the phalloidin-producing lawn mushroom Conocybe apala. The enzyme is a serine protease in the prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) subfamily. The same enzyme cuts at both Pro residues to release the linear hepta- or octapeptide. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 94: 659–664, 2010. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Valence and conduction band molecular-orbital topologies and the optical and electrical properties of gallium arsenide and silicon

Abstract The local electronic valence and conduction band densities of states and corresponding chemical bonding characters of GaAs and silicon are compared on the basis of SCF-X α scattered-wave cluster molecular-orbital computations. The computed densities of states are in good agreement with available spectroscopic data. The calculations indicate that the tops of the valence bands of both materials correspond primarily to nearest-neighbor pσ- and ϱπ-bonding molecular orbitals. However, the molecular-orbital topologies at the bottoms of the conduction bonds of GaAs and silicon are quite different. For GaAs the conduction band edge corresponds to molecular orbitals which are of localized Ga(s, p)As(s, p) σ- and π-antibonding character between nearest neighbors and of delocalized Ga(s)Ga(s) σ-bonding character between second-nearest neighbors. The molecular-orbital topology at the silicon conduction band edge, on the other hand, is of localized Si(s)Si(p) σ-antibonding character between second-nearest neighbors and of localized Si(d)Si(s, p) σ- and π-bonding character between nearest neighbors. These results, in conjunction with Kubo's theory, explain why the electron mobility of GaAs is much larger than that of silicon and why the hole mobilities are similar. This also suggests a “real space” understanding of electron and hole mobility may be related to the localized nature of certain molecular orbitals.
Genocide in Rwanda: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges to the UN Human Rights System

In light of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the new challenges of our time, beginning with the end of the Cold War, the recent spread of democracy, and explosion of ethnic and religious turmoil around the world, we need to reexamine critically the complex web of UN human rights machinery. This paper does so by using the 1994 genocide in Rwanda as a case study. It contrasts the violent reality of the genocide with how the UN human rights system reacted. This analysis reveals that many early warning signals emanate from the UN human rights system but that they often go unheard due to the lack of any formal procedures and mechanisms for early warning and for rapid responses. This paper therefore argues for the need to develop and adopt a coherent system for early warning and, finally, seeks to identify some creative ways to strengthen the role of the various human rights bodies in reacting to massive scale human rights violations.
Childhood adversity and substance use of women prisoners: A general strain theory approach

Abstract The current paper seeks to add to the literature on General Strain Theory (GST) in two ways. First, it tests the efficacy of the theory in a sample of incarcerated women, adding to our knowledge of the generality of the theory. Second, it examines whether specific individual measures of strain or an index of cumulative strain provide more information about the relationship between strain and deviance. To explore this issue, we examine the effects of individual strains versus the cumulative impact of strain on daily drug and alcohol use prior to incarceration using data from the 2008 and 2009 Oklahoma Study of Incarcerated Women and Their Children. Our measures of strain are drawn from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. The analyses indicate that certain tenets of GST do predict daily drug use in this sample, thus suggesting the theory is has applicability to an offending population. The analyses further suggest that the explanatory power is similar, whether the individual or cumulative measures of strain are employed. However, a few key stressors appear to account for most of the explanatory power of the index, and there are some variations in which strains are related to the type of substance used.
Processing wave-front-sensor slope measurements using artificial neural networks

For adaptive-optics systems to compensate for atmospheric turbulence effects, the wave-front perturbation must be measured with a wave front sensor (WPS), and key parameters of the atmosphere and the adaptive-optics system must be known. Two parameters of particular interest include the Fried coherence length r(0) and the WPS slope measurement error. Statistics-based optimal techniques, such as the minimum variance phase reconstructor, have been developed to improve the imaging performance of adaptive-optics systems. However, these statistics-based models rely on knowledge of the current state of the key parameters. Neural networks provide nonlinear solutions to adaptive-optics problems while offering the possibility of adapting to changing seeing conditions. We address the use of neural networks for three tasks: (l) to reduce the WPS slope measurement error, (2) to estimate the Fried coherence length r(0), and (3) to estimate the variance of the WPS slope measurement error. All of these tasks are accomplished by using only the noisy WPS measurements as input. Where appropriate, we compare our method with classical statistics-based methods to determine if neural networks offer true benefits in performance. Although a statistics-based method is found to perform better than a neural network in reducing WPS slope measurement error, neural networks perform better in estimating the variance of the WPS slope measurement error, and both methods perform well in estimating r(0).
Generalized Partially Linear Measurement Error Models

This article considers generalized partially linear models when the linear covariate is measured with additive error. We propose estimators of parameter and nonparametric function by using local linear regression, the SIMEX technique, and generalized estimating equation. The asymptotic normality of the estimators of the parameter, and bias and variance of the estimators of the nonparametric component are derived under appropriate assumptions. In addition, the generalization to clustered measurements is discussed. The approaches are used to the analysis of data from the Framingham Heart Study. A simulation experiment is conducted for an illustration.
A preliminary study of flutamide, testolactone, and reduced hydrocortisone dose in the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Treatment outcome in congenital adrenal hyperplasia is often suboptimal due to hyperandrogenism, treatment-induced hypercortisolism, or both. As a new approach, we hypothesized that the effects of androgen could be blocked by an antiandrogen (flutamide) and an inhibitor androgen to estrogen conversion (testolactone), thus allowing the hydrocortisone dose to be reduced. We conducted a short term pilot study in 12 children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia in a randomised cross-over open design to determine whether flutamide, testolactone, reduced hydrocortisone dose, and fludrocortisone are more effective than hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone treatment in normalizing linear growth, weight gain, and bone maturation. Each regimen was administered for 6 months, with a 3-month washout period, consisting of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone treatment, between regimens. Compared to hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone treatment, the regimen of flutamide, testolactone, reduced hydrocortisone dose (from 12.9 to...
Rich Financial Lives of Poor People

The authors document the variety of ways by which poor families manage their finances to feed, shelter, and care for themselves.
Mother is Not Brown The “Unmarked” Performance of Keeping the Hair Straight or the Unpolitical Racial Performance of Mother’s Hair

In this performance autoethnography the author explores the simultaneity of telling and resisting stories of lived experience. In the process the author constructs the notion of “resisting stories”...
The Effects of Individual Differences in Working Memory Capacity and Design Environment on Design Fixation

The current study investigates how design fixation, a negative limitation in a designer’s creative output due to an overreliance on features of preexisting designs, is affected by a designer’s environment and his or her working memory capacity. Participants in this study were 29 undergraduate students (21 women, 8 men) enrolled at a large metropolitan university. Participants completed a computerized assessment of working memory capacity, viewed an example poster design intended to create design fixation, and then designed their own poster in either a quiet or noisy environment. The results of the study revealed a significant interaction between design environment, working memory capacity, and design fixation effects and a significant main effect of working memory capacity on fixation. The results are discussed as they relate to the design of products and systems with optimal human factors characteristics, and how designers might self-select optimal design environments on the basis of their working memory...
Variation of l-gulonolactone oxidase activity in placental mammals

Abstract 1. 1. The activity of l -gulonolactone oxidase (EC 1.1.3.8) in livers of 49 species of eutherian mammals varied intraspecifically among individuals; coefficients of variation were 0.2 to 0.4 in many species. 2. 2. Differences observed in l -gulonolactone oxidase activity among strains of laboratory rats and domestic rabbits are probably genetically controlled. 3. 3. Pronounced sex differences in l -gulonolactone oxidase activity were found in some species, particularly in the genera Peromyscus, Reithrodontomys and Onychomys. 4. 4. Mormota monax exhibited seasonal variation in l -gulonolactone oxidase somewhat like that previously observed in Sylvilagus floridanus; no such seasonal variation was found in Sciurus carolinensis. 5. 5. Hibernation did not affect l -gulonolactone oxidase activity in Spermophilus tridecemlineatus. 6. 6. In four species of rodents, Microtus ochrogaster, Tylomys panamensis, Octodon degus and Sigmodon hispidus, l -gulonolactone oxidase activity was not affected by the level of dietary ascorbate.