cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in the Understanding of Mammalian Polyamine Catabolism

As more data emerge, the significance of polyamine catabolism in polyamine homeostasis, drug response, and disease etiology is expanding. Importantly, the regulation and function of the polyamine catabolic pathway has emerged as a rational target for drug intervention in both chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive strategies. Mammalian intracellular polyamine catabolism had long been thought to be a two-step process primarily regulated by a rate-limiting acetyltransferase, spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT), followed by the activity of a constitutively expressed acetylpolyamine oxidase (PAO). However, as recent reports have clearly demonstrated, mammalian polyamine catabolism also includes the activity of a previously unrecognized spermine oxidase (SMO/PAOh1). The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other toxic products by these various polyamine catabolic enzymes can result in both useful and potentially dangerous consequences. This chapter will examine some of the most recent findings related to polyamine catabolism and will address the cloning and characterization of mammalian polyamine oxidases, including the newly discovered SMO/PAOh1. Additionally, further characterization of the highly regulated SSAT, as facilitated by many recent advances with transgenic models, will be discussed with respect to the potential role that it and the oxidases play in determining response to various drugs and stimuli. Although the polyamine catabolic pathway is well described and being studied in multiple organisms, this work will focus primarily on results directly related to mammalian systems, with special emphasis given to the relationship between polyamine catabolism and human disease. Specifically, data indicating that the induction of polyamine catabolism by specific antitumor polyamine analogs plays a direct role in determining drug response will be discussed. Also to be examined is the recent recognition that the oxidation of polyamines contributes to disease processes, and the potential targeting of polyamine catabolism as a strategy for chemoprevention.
Terahertz-range interrogated grating-based two-axis optical fiber inclinometer

We report a two-axis fiber inclinometer fabricated using an ultraweak terahertz-range fiber Bragg grating. Three sensing grating structures were inscribed along a single-mode optical fiber using a femtosecond laser, bound together into a sensing array using thermoformed plastic, and fixed to a two-axis rotational stage. Inclination tests were performed in which the fiber was deflected from 0 to 1.7 deg. These tests were repeated at eight azimuthal angles in increments of 45 deg (from 0 to 315 deg). The standard deviation of the largest incli- nation angle error was 0.048 deg and the stability of the inclination angle was 0.030 deg.©2016 SocietyofPhoto-Optical
A Biochemical Engineering Course Taught in the Context of Drug Discovery to Manufacturing

The topics and concepts in this biochemical engineering course are presented in the context of the path from drug discovery to manufacturing. The basics for working in the area of cell culture process development are covered in an interesting, relevant, and connected way. This paper presents activities for engaging students in learning the biological basics and describes two projects involving the societal and ethical impacts of biotechnology and the survey of a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company.
Effectiveness of Sensory Stimulation to Improve Arousal and Alertness of People in a Coma Or Persistent Vegetative State After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

Objective This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of sensory stimulation to improve arousal and alertness of people in a coma or persistent vegetative state after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method Databases searched included Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, OTseeker, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The search was limited to outcomes studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals between 2008 and 2013. Results Included studies provide strong evidence that multimodal sensory stimulation improves arousal and enhances clinical outcomes for people in a coma or persistent vegetative state after TBI. Moderate evidence was also provided for auditory stimulation, limited evidence was provided for complex stimuli, and insufficient evidence was provided for median nerve stimulation. Conclusion Interventions should be tailored to client tolerance and premorbid preferences. Bimodal or multimodal stimulation should begin early, be frequent, and be sustained until more complex activity is possible.
Multiscalar Settlement Ecology Study of Piedmont Village Tradition Communities, A.D. 1000–1600

This research analyzes the spatial patterning of settlement sites in relation to landscape features to determine the factors that influenced settlement location choices for Late Precontact (A.D. 1000–1600) Piedmont Village Tradition (PVT) communities in the Yadkin, Dan, Haw, and Eno river valleys of the Piedmont Southeast. We employ geographic information systems to estimate characteristics of past landscapes, nearest neighbor analysis to describe basic settlement patterns, and discriminant function analysis to determine spatial correlations between settlements and landscape features. We examine the data on three scales and also assess potential changes over time. Results indicate that settlement location choices were broadly similar on the regional scale, but specific influences varied between and within valleys and over time. When examined with current archaeological, ethnohistoric, and linguistic information, the results suggest that PVT communities engaged in regional interaction networks in highly va...
Canyoneering Fluid Mechanics

Extreme sports such as canyoneering have expanded greatly since the turn of the century yet little scientific attention has been paid to the analyses of the dangers of those activities. The author was much involved in promoting one such sport, namely canyoneering, and presents this paper as an example of the kind of fluids engineering analyses that are needed in order to objectively quantify those dangers and properly advise the participants. In canyoneering, the primary fluid-related sources of danger are the impact of falling water on the human body and the dangers a swimmer faces in a plunge pool. This paper presents rough evaluations of both dangers.
THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PERTHES9 DISEASE

Introduction 2010 marked a century since Perthes9 disease was first described, but the aetiology and mechanism remain unknown. Worldwide, the incidence of Perthes9 disease varies widely, yet this may be through differences in study design, population denominators or case ascertainment. It is suggested that differential exposure to adverse socioeconomic circumstances may be a key precipitant, although this remains the subject of debate. This work draws on several epidemiological studies that have sought to develop the understanding of Perthes9 disease by examining a case register from Merseyside, discharge data from Scotland and the world9s largest community disease register. A systematic review was performed to ensure a robustness and homogeneity between published studies in order to allow meaningful comparisons. Methods Studies were based on data from the Merseyside Perthes9 Disease Register (1976–2008), the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD, 1990–2008) and hospital discharge data for Scotland (2000–2009). Temporal trends and geographic patterns were analysed and the relationship to deprivation investigated. A systematic review of the published literature was used to explore international variations in incidence up to December 2010 focusing upon the influence of race and latitude. Analyses were conducted using Poisson regression. Results Systematic Review: 21 studies were included which described 27 populations in 16 countries, observing 124 million person years. The annual incidence ranged from 0.2 – 19.1 per 100,000 0–14 year-olds. Race was a key determinant with East Asians least affected and Whites most affected (East Asian IRR 1.0 (Ref), South Asian IRR 2.9 (2.4, 3.5), White IRR 8.8 (8.2, 9.6)). Latitude was a strong predictor of disease, even after adjusting for race. Each 10 degree increase in latitude resulted in the incidence rate increasing by a factor of 1.44 (1.30, 1.58). GPRD Study There was a dramatic decline in Perthes9 disease incidence within the UK, with annual incidence rates falling from 12.2 to 5.7 cases/100,000 0–14 year-olds over the 19 year study period (p Merseyside There was a dramatic decline in Perthes9 disease incidence within Liverpool with rates falling from 14.2 to 7.7 cases/100,000 0–14 year-olds over the 34-year study period (p Scotland Hospital discharge rates due to Perthes9 disease fell annually by 5.6% (95% CI 2.4% – 8.8% p Conclusions These studies provide strong evidence to suggest a declining incidence of Perthes9 disease within the UK and a strong relationship to socioeconomic deprivation. Although Perthes9 disease incidence is falling it remains an important cause of child morbidity and exemplifies socioeconomic inequalities in health. The striking UK North–South divide is similar to that seen in adult diseases such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Latitude has an independent association with disease which may be through the action of sunlight and Vitamin D. A deprivation-related exposure (probably acting prenatally) appears critical but the aetiological determinants remain elusive.
Polysilicon resistor trimming for packaged integrated circuits

Pulse current trimming to adjust values of polysilicon resistors has been investigated for use in full scale IC production. The technique is remarkably accurate, layout efficient, quick and inexpensive from a test perspective, and requires no additional process complexity. The trim process is shown to be reversible to a small, but usable extent for n-type polysilicon. A new physical model consistent with all observations for resistance trim and recovery is presented. Finally, reliability results from extensive burn-in show the trimmed resistors to be exceptionally robust. >
A Systematic Analysis of Treatment and Outcomes of NOD2-Associated Autoinflammatory Disease

Abstract Objectives Yao syndrome, formerly named NOD2 -associated autoinflammatory disease, is a periodic disease characterized by fever, dermatitis, polyarthritis/leg swelling, and gastrointestinal and sicca-like symptoms associated with specific NOD2 sequence variants. Our aim was to evaluate the treatment and outcomes of the disease. Methods A total of 52 adult patients with autoinflammatory disease phenotype were diagnosed with Yao syndrome and enrolled at the Cleveland Clinic between November 2009 and May 2015. All patients were genotyped for the NOD2 variants, and systematically studied for treatment outcomes. Results Among the 52 Yao syndrome patients, all were white, and 72% were women. The mean age at diagnosis was 38.0 ± 12.0 years, and the disease duration was 8.8 ± 5.8 years. In the multi-organ disease, more common and typical manifestations were recurrent dermatitis and inflammatory arthritis with or without distal leg swelling besides recurrent fever. It was genotypically associated with the NOD2 IVS8 +158 or R702W. Therapeutically, glucocorticoids markedly decreased the disease severity and duration of flares in 19 patients (36.6%), sulfasalazine treatment achieved a significant symptomatic improvement in 22 (42%) patients, and 3 patients received canakinumab or tocilizumab with benefits. Prognostically, 13% of the 52 patients had somewhat physical impairment, and there was no mortality during the follow-up. Associated comorbidities were fibromyalgia, asthma, renal stones, and ventricular hypertrophy. Conclusions As a systemic disease, Yao syndrome uncommonly affects the solid internal organs, but it can be complicated with chronic pain syndrome and even disability. Glucocorticoids or sulfasalazine may be considered as the first-line treatment option, and interleukin (IL)-1/IL-6 inhibitors may be tried for refractory cases. The potential associations between certain comorbidities and Yao syndrome deserve further study.
Leadership Competencies for Business Lawyers: Using a Framework that Links Strategy, Law, and Ethics

Harvard Business School requires MBA students to take a leadership course based on a practical framework for decision making that combines economics, law, and ethics. By broadening economics to strategy, this triadic framework can enable law students in Contracts and Torts courses to move beyond the traditional legal risk management focus to a value creation mindset. For example, product liability prevention processes can be used for new product development, and lean contracting and contract visualization can enable success in achieving business goals while managing legal risks. Beyond its introduction in Contracts and Torts courses, a framework that links strategy and law with ethics provides a model for a capstone course on Law and Leadership or Legal Strategy. Much like a capstone MBA course, this course could aggregate learning from required courses using the lens of value-creating legal strategies. This article, published in the May 2017 issue of the American Bar Association publication Business Law Today, discusses (1) the framework used in the Harvard leadership course, (2) the expansion of the framework to include strategy, (3) the gap between law and strategy created by the increasingly-important risk management function of law, and (4) suggestions (with examples) for closing the gap.
Metabolism of N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone in Honey Bee Adults and Larvae: Exploring Age Related Differences in Toxic Effects

In chronic feeding assays, the common agrochemical inert formulant N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is at least 20 times more toxic to honey bee larvae than to adults, but the underlying cause of this difference is unknown. In other taxa, NMP is primarily detoxified via a cytochrome P450 mediated pathway. Using a LC-MS method, putative cytochrome P450 metabolites of NMP were identified and quantified in adults and larvae following chronic exposure to NMP. Major differences in the identities and quantities of the generated metabolites were observed between adults and larvae. One major difference was the higher percentage of the administered NMP recovered as the parent compound in larvae compared to adults. To further explore the apparent difference in metabolic capacity, a spectrofluorometric method was used to compare general cytochrome P450 enzyme activity by monitoring the transformation of a 7-ethoxycoumarin substrate. Higher microsomal levels of 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity in adult fat bodies s...
The Traditional Tunes of the Gibraltar Romances

The fifteen tunes transcribed directly from the field tapes of Prof. Oro Anahory-Librowicz, represent but a sampling of the rarely heard Judeo-Spanish ballad tradition from Gibraltar. All were sung by a single informant, Mrs. Flora Ohana de Roublev. Thus the tunes will serve as valuable comparative documentation for the on-going musicological researches concerning traditional Peninsula and Moroccan balladry.
Wrinkling-to-delamination transition in thin polymer films on compliant substrates

Compressing a thin, stiff film attached to a thick, compliant substrate can lead to a number of different modes of mechanical deformation depending upon the material properties of the system. In this article we explore direct transitions from surface wrinkling to buckle delamination, and provide a theoretical framework for understanding the conditions under which such transitions take place, as well as the resulting dimensions of the wrinkling-induced delamination. A key conclusion of this work is that the width of the delamination blister formed from a wrinkled film is relatively strain-independent, suggesting that delaminations can be used in such systems to measure the adhesion energy at the film-substrate interface. In addition, we demonstrate how the length and width of delaminations can be tailored through straightforward control of the substrate and film properties in the system, illustrating how wrinkling delaminations can be used for both thin film metrology and patterning applications.
Farmer Decision Makers: What Are They Thinking?

A broad array of factors shape producers’ decisions and management systems and in turn affect water quality outcomes. Many of these factors relate directly to farmers’ personal and social identity as environmental stewards, their awareness of water quality as a local problem, and how they think about the co-production of agricultural products and environmental services. A series of farmer interviews demonstrate how personal knowledge, experience and management routines influence farmer decision making, and point to a need for a better understanding of these influences. Sustainable improvements in water quality will require farmers reconstruct their frame of reference to include ecosystem management considerations.
Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases: Changing Practice Patterns and Disparities in the United States

Background: Management of brain metastases typically includes radiotherapy (RT) with conventional fractionation and/or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). However, optimal indications and practice patterns for SRS remain unclear. We sought to evaluate national practice patterns for patients with metastatic disease receiving brain RT. Methods: We queried the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) for patients diagnosed with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, or melanoma from 2004 to 2014 who received upfront brain RT. Patients were divided into SRS and non-SRS cohorts. Patient and facility-level SRS predictors were analyzed with chi-square tests and logistic regression, and uptake trends were approximated with linear regression. Survival by diagnosis year was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Of 75,953 patients, 12,250 (16.1%) received SRS and 63,703 (83.9%) received non-SRS. From 2004 to 2014, the proportion of patients receiving SRS annually increased (from 9.8% to 25.6%; P<.001), and the proportion of facilities using SRS annually increased (from 31.2% to 50.4%; P<.001). On multivariable analysis, nonwhite race, nonprivate insurance, and residence in lower-income or less-educated regions predicted lower SRS use (P<.05 for each). During the study period, SRS use increased disproportionally among patients with private insurance or who resided in higher-income or higher-educated regions. From 2004 to 2013, 1-year actuarial survival improved from 24.1% to 49.6% for patients selected for SRS and from 21.0% to 26.3% for non-SRS patients (P<.001). Conclusions: This NCDB analysis demonstrates steadily increasing-although modest overall-brain SRS use for patients with metastatic disease in the United States and identifies several progressively widening sociodemographic disparities in the adoption of SRS. Further research is needed to determine the reasons for these worsening disparities and their clinical implications on intracranial control, neurocognitive toxicities, quality of life, and survival for patients with brain metastases.
Structural features of α-synuclein amyloid fibrils revealed by Raman spectroscopy

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with the formation of α-synuclein amyloid fibrils. Elucidating the role of these β-sheet-rich fibrils in disease progression is crucial; however, collecting detailed structural information on amyloids is inherently difficult because of their insoluble, non-crystalline, and polymorphic nature. Here, we show that Raman spectroscopy is a facile technique for characterizing structural features of α-synuclein fibrils. Combining Raman spectroscopy with aggregation kinetics and transmission electron microscopy, we examined the effects of pH and ionic strength as well as four PD–related mutations (A30P, E46K, G51D, and A53T) on α-synuclein fibrils. Raman spectral differences were observed in the amide-I, amide-III, and fingerprint regions, indicating that secondary structure and tertiary contacts are influenced by pH and to a lesser extent by NaCl. Faster aggregation times appear to facilitate unique fibril structure as determined by the highly reproducible amide-I band widths, linking aggregation propensity and fibril polymorphism. Importantly, Raman spectroscopy revealed molecular-level perturbations of fibril conformation by the PD–related mutations that are not apparent through transmission electron microscopy or limited proteolysis. The amide-III band was found to be particularly sensitive, with G51D exhibiting the most distinctive features, followed by A53T and E46K. Relating to a cellular environment, our data would suggest that fibril polymorphs can be formed in different cellular compartments and potentially result in distinct phenotypes. Our work sets a foundation toward future cellular Raman studies of amyloids.
Reforma monetária internacional e os países em desenvolvimento

O presente artigo discute os principais itens da agenda para a reforma do sistema monetario internacional sob a otica dos paises em desenvolvimento. Sugere o FMI como o forum mais adequado para administrar, no futuro, o SMI, e o fortalecimento do G-24 como forma de participacao dos paises em desenvolvimento nas decisoes internacionais.AbstractThis paper highlights some of the main items on the new agenda with the aim of laying basis for a discussion about international monetary system, from the developing countries point of view. It suggests IMF as the most satisfactory forum within which to manage a new international monetary regime and the need of building a coalition among developing countries.
A Real-Time Wireless Sweat Rate Measurement System for Physical Activity Monitoring

There has been significant research on the physiology of sweat in the past decade, with one of the main interests being the development of a real-time hydration monitor that utilizes sweat. The contents of sweat have been known for decades; sweat provides significant information on the physiological condition of the human body. However, it is important to know the sweat rate as well, as sweat rate alters the concentration of the sweat constituents, and ultimately affects the accuracy of hydration detection. Towards this goal, a calorimetric based flow-rate detection system was built and tested to determine sweat rate in real time. The proposed sweat rate monitoring system has been validated through both controlled lab experiments (syringe pump) and human trials. An Internet of Things (IoT) platform was embedded, with the sensor using a Simblee board and Raspberry Pi. The overall prototype is capable of sending sweat rate information in real time to either a smartphone or directly to the cloud. Based on a proven theoretical concept, our overall system implementation features a pioneer device that can truly measure the rate of sweat in real time, which was tested and validated on human subjects. Our realization of the real-time sweat rate watch is capable of detecting sweat rates as low as 0.15 µL/min/cm2, with an average error in accuracy of 18% compared to manual sweat rate readings.
Unconventional computing with diffusive memristors

Diffusive memristors with Ag active metal species are volatile threshold switches featuring spontaneous rupture of conduction channels at small electrical bias. The unique temporal dynamics of the conductance evolution originates from the underlying electrochemical and diffusive dynamics of the active metals in dielectrics, which can be explored for a variety of novel applications in unconventional computing. The superior I-V nonlinearity enables large crossbar arrays for high density non-volatile memories. The relaxation dynamics and the delay dynamics of the conductance evolution lead to faithful synaptic emulators and single-device threshold logic neurons, respectively. Unsupervised learning has been demonstrated with a fully memristive neural network consisting of these artificial synapses and neurons for the first time. In addition, the intrinsic stochasticity of the delay mechanism has been used to realize a true random number generators for security solutions.
A history of viral infections of the central nervous system: foundations, milestones, and patterns.

Abstract For millennia, infectious diseases were viewed as the result of malignant supernatural forces or punishments by angry gods for human transgressions. In the 19th century several advances occurred. Medicine became based on clinical observations; Rudolph Virchow laid the foundation of cellular pathology; Louis Pasteur dismantled the notion of spontaneous generation, and Robert Koch established the fundamental techniques of bacteriology, together creating the revolutionary paradigm shift of germ theory. Virology was born in the last decade of the 19th century in the study of tobacco mosaic virus; the crucial characteristics were the capacity to pass through a bacteria-retaining filter and the need for living cells in which to replicate. In 1901 yellow fever was shown to be the first human disease to be caused by a “filterable virus.” In 1903 rabies would be the first disease of the nervous system to be determined to be viral in nature, and polio followed soon thereafter. Paradoxically, because no agent has yet been shown to be the cause, the modern study of epidemic encephalitis began with encephalitis lethargica in 1917. However, the flood gates of viral isolations opened in the 1930s for the arboviral encephalitides, using experimental primates and mice, starting with St. Louis encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis. Within a decade, the viral nature of aseptic meningitis and herpes simplex sporadic encephalitis was demonstrated. From the 1950s through the 1970s great interest in “slow viral diseases” arose as potential models for chronic diseases of the nervous system. The era of modern neurovirology has been characterized by two principal features. The first is the remarkable advances in technology – witness the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identifying infectious agents, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to image the nervous system, and the advance in therapeutics based on molecular medicine. The second has been the impact of emerging and re-emerging diseases – witness the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, Nipah encephalitis, and the appearance of West Nile encephalitis in the western hemisphere.
Radical Cyclization of Aldehydes: Synthetic and Mechanistic Developments

The material to be presented in this lecture grew out of the recent observation, summarized in Scheme 1, which shows that the highly-branched compound 1, on treatment with tri-n-butyltin hydride, gave a 4:1 mixture of the cyclohexanol 2 and the diquinane 3 [1]. Subsequent studies have shown that radical-aldehyde cyclization to give a six-membered ring can be a highly efficient process, even in the face of a 5-hexenyl alternative [2,3].
Fluorescence Properties of Visual Pigmentsla

The act of seeing, i.e. vision, requires a chromophore capable of absorbing light. In a continuing series of studies Wald, Hubbard, and co-workers2 have shown that this visual pigment is formed from the combination of a protein with a particular polyene aldehyde. By far the greatest attention has been centered on the night vision pigment, rhodopsin. Its chromophore is derived from 11-cis retinal by reaction of the aldehyde group with a specific amino group on the protein3 (although there is some controversy over this point4). Further, the spectral properties of rhodopsin are best reconciled with the protonated (or acidified) form of this Schiff base.5
Simulations of a high-density, highly-radiating lithium divertor

Abstract Results are presented for one- and two-dimensional (2D) edge plasma transport simulations for strong injection of lithium (Li) in the divertor region of a tokamak. The model includes the scrape-off layer and divertor regions, and, for 2D, a small region inside the magnetic separtrix. Equations are solved for the density and momentum of a deuterium/tritium (DT) species and all three charge states of Li, in addition to separate ion and electron energy equations via the UEDGE code. Equations are also included for the DT and Li gas species. Lithium gas is injected from the side walls or divertor plate, implying that these surfaces are evaporating liquid Li. For a range of Li gas input, steady-state, detached-plasma solutions are shown where greater than 90% of the exhaust power is radiated by Li, resulting in peak surface heat fluxes ∼ 2 MW/m2 on the divertor plate, outer wall, and private-flux wall. While Li ions dominate in the divertor leg, their density is in the range of 10% of the DT density at the midplane. The collisional parallel thermal force plays a key role in determining the midplane ion Li density, and sensitivity of results to different model assumptions are discussed. Here the key issue is possible dilution of the core DT fuel. A brief comparison of the Li neutral solution is made with that from the Direct Simulation Monte-Carlo (DSMC) SPARTA code.
Por dentro e por fora: 'Mundo Interior' de Machado de Assis e a teoria fenomenológica

Mundo interior (1880, Machado de Assis) mostra como o autor antecipou conceitos de espaco que seriam expostos muitos anos depois pelo filosofo fenomenologico Gaston Bachelard. No poema, a vasta paisagem ao ar livre, tanto geografica como humana, tem uma relacao correspondente e inversa com uma profundidade de contemplacao. Exemplos do romance Quincas Borba , no qual os personagens sao atraidos para olhar atraves das janelas quando estao envolvidos em seus pensamentos mais intimos, mostram como o padrao de “imensa intimidade” se estende alem do poema em questao para as imagens das obras ficcionais de Machado.
Ambient Air Pollution, Noise, and Late-Life Cognitive Decline and Dementia Risk.

Exposure to ambient air pollution and noise is ubiquitous globally. A strong body of evidence links air pollution, and recently noise, to cardiovascular conditions that eventually may also affect c...
Game Based Learning Using Unreal Engine

In order for students to be better served; a system that can be designed to adapt education delivery to students’ needs as well as give students an immersive education experience is needed. Classes are often comprised of students with diverse learning styles and differing proficiency backgrounds and as a result, the traditional education system often under-serves many students. Game Based Learning (GBL) includes applications and software used to train, teach, or facilitate the learning of a subject. We proposed a game called Ecomerica, to show how a GBL system can lead to better learning of introductory topics on economics.
Plasmonic Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems: from Local Motion Sensing to Powering Mechanical Oscillation

We nanofabricate localized plasmon resonators using nanometer scale mechanically-tunable gaps between noble metal structures. Integrated into plasmomechanical systems, the resonators strongly and locally couple optical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal responses, both static and dynamic.
Comparison of simulation and experiments for multimode aerodynamic breakup of a liquid metal column in a shock-induced cross-flow

While the mechanisms that drive breakup and aerodynamic dispersion of traditional liquids such as water have been extensively studied, it is not yet clear if models for traditional liquids can be used to accurately describe the behavior of molten metals. In this paper, multiphase simulations with the interface-capturing combined level-set volume-of-fluid approach are used to provide time-resolved morphology and breakup data for a liquid column subject to a shock-induced cross-flow. For the first time, numerical simulation of the behavior of a liquid metal (Galinstan alloy composed of gallium, indium, and tin) is compared to the well-documented behavior of water. Simulations consider a gas cross-flow Weber number between 10 and 12, which produces a multimode breakup morphology consisting of multiple baglike structures. Up to bag breakup, we confirm that the deformation rate of Galinstan follows the same dependence on the gas cross-flow Weber number as ordinary liquids when time is nondimensionalized by including the liquid-gas density ratio. Moreover, we determine that the appearance of a central stem along the column upstream surface in multimode bag breakup is consistent with the occurrence of Rayleigh-Taylor instability. We also resolve bag stretching and fragmentation, to the full extent allowed by our computational resources, and carry out a direct comparison with the measurements of size and velocity of secondary droplets from high-speed digital inline holography. For Galinstan, we illustrate the differences between simulation and experiment that emerge because of the modification of the surface properties of the metal exposed to air.
Voice actors simulating small vocal tracts: A study using 3-D ultrasound

Voice actors are an interesting population for linguistic study because their professional field requires them to perform complex vocal tract manipulations in order to consistently and believably convey many different character types. Previous investigations have looked at how voice actors manipulate laryngeal setting and voice quality, to portray specific types of characters in animation (Teshigawara and Murano, 2004; Starr, 2015), but investigations of articulatory manipulations employed by voice actors are rare. This study uses 3-D ultrasound and acoustic analyses to compare the different kinds of articulatory and phonatory strategies that different actors use in order to approximate a smaller vocal tract and achieve a similar ‘childlike’ percept. Preliminary analysis shows that one amateur actor relies on manipulation of articulatory setting by implementing hyoid bone raising, gesture fronting, and tongue grooving, whereas one professional actor relies more on manipulation of laryngeal structures and prosody. Despite these differences in approach, the two actors still achieve similar child-like percepts. This poster will compare strategies from two female and two male subjects as well as describe within-subject variation across each actor’s adult and imitated child voices.Voice actors are an interesting population for linguistic study because their professional field requires them to perform complex vocal tract manipulations in order to consistently and believably convey many different character types. Previous investigations have looked at how voice actors manipulate laryngeal setting and voice quality, to portray specific types of characters in animation (Teshigawara and Murano, 2004; Starr, 2015), but investigations of articulatory manipulations employed by voice actors are rare. This study uses 3-D ultrasound and acoustic analyses to compare the different kinds of articulatory and phonatory strategies that different actors use in order to approximate a smaller vocal tract and achieve a similar ‘childlike’ percept. Preliminary analysis shows that one amateur actor relies on manipulation of articulatory setting by implementing hyoid bone raising, gesture fronting, and tongue grooving, whereas one professional actor relies more on manipulation of laryngeal structures and ...
Efficacy of a learning trajectory approach compared to a teach-to-target approach for addition and subtraction

Although basing instruction on a learning trajectory (LT) is often recommended, there is little direct evidence to support the premise of a “LT approach”—that to be maximally meaningful, engaging, and effective, instruction is best presented one LT level beyond a child’s present level of thinking. The present report serves to address the question: Is it necessary to teach each contiguous level of a LT or can instruction be similarly or more effective when skipping levels, provided the necessary exemplars are made? In a multimethod research study that included individual teaching experiments embedded inside of a quasi-experimental research design, one group of 13 kindergartners received instruction based on an empirically-validated LT for addition and subtraction (the “LT” treatment). The counterfactual, “skip” treatment (n = 12), received instruction focused mainly on levels at least two levels above their present level for the same amount of time as the LT treatment. More children in the LT treatment exhibited greater addition and subtraction learning during sessions and from pretest to posttest than children in the skip treatment. Implications for future study are discussed.
The Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing on Patient and Provider.

Direct-to-consumer genetic testing came on the scene 2 decades ago as a means for allowing consumers to access their genetic information without the involvement of a physician or genetic counselor. Results are delivered directly to the consumer, often leading to misinterpretation and needless medical interventions or false reassurance. Increasingly, we are seeing these patients in our genetics clinics for test interpretation, management guidance and confirmatory genetic testing.
Saving for college: perspectives from participants in a universal children’s savings program

As the cost of college education continues climbing, college affordability eludes many low- to moderate-income families. Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs) have been proposed as potential resources...
Is outpatient shoulder arthroplasty safe? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Amid rising health care costs and recent advances in surgical and anesthetic protocols, the rate of outpatient joint arthroplasty has risen steadily in recent years. Although the safety of outpatient total knee arthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty has been well established, outpatient shoulder arthroplasty is still in its infancy. The purpose of this study was to synthesize the current literature and provide further data regarding the outcomes and safety of outpatient shoulder arthroplasty. Methods A systematic review was conducted following the standard PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Included were studies that evaluated the outcomes of patients undergoing outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or reverse TSA. Meta-analysis was conducted using Mantel-Haenszel statistics to generate odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing outpatient and inpatient shoulder arthroplasty. Results Twelve studies were included, with a total of 194,513 patients, of whom 7162 were outpatients. Of the studies, 8 were level III and 4 were level IV. The average age of the outpatients was 66.6 years, and the average age of the inpatients was 70.1 years. The overall OR for complications was significantly lower in outpatients (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.35-0.45) than in inpatients. There was no significant difference in rates of 90-day readmission (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.75-1.03), revision (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.65-1.41), and infection (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.64-1.35) when comparing outpatients with inpatients. Conclusion Outpatient TSA, in an appropriately selected patient population, is safe and results in comparable patient outcomes to those of inpatient shoulder arthroplasty. Given the expected increase in the number of patients requiring TSA, surgeons, hospital administrators, and insurance carriers should strongly consider the merits of a cost- and care-efficient approach to total shoulder replacement.
New Fossil Histerid Species from Cretaceous Burmese Amber (Coleoptera: Histeridae)

Four newly discovered Cretaceous genera and species are established in the family Histeridae. Phasmister cristatus Caterino, new genus, new species and Carinumerus maddisoni Caterino, new genus, new species are described in the Onthophilinae. Yethiha peregrina Caterino, new genus, new species and Druantia aeterna Caterino, new genus, new species are described in the Dendrophilinae. Additionally, Onthophilus yingae Jiang et al. is reassigned to Carinumerus. The new onthophiline genera share characters with the previously described Cretaceous histerid Cretonthophilus Caterino et al. and lack characters typical of extant Onthophilinae, and the three together may represent an early diverging lineage of this subfamily. The species of Druantia shares some features with extant Dendrophilinae, and some with Yethiha, so their systematic placement is less clear. A brief diagnostic catalog of all known Cretaceous Histeridae is provided.
Design and application of hybrid cyclic-linear peptide-doxorubicin conjugates as a strategy to overcome doxorubicin resistance and toxicity.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is used for breast cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma treatment as an effective chemotherapeutic agent. However, Dox use is restricted due to inherent and acquired resistance and an 8-fold increase in the risk of potentially fatal cardiotoxicity. Hybrid cyclic-linear peptide [R5K]W7A and linear peptide R5KW7A were conjugated with Dox through a glutarate linker to afford [R5K]W7A-Dox and R5KW7A-Dox conjugates to generate Dox derivatives. Alternatively, [R5K]W7C was conjugated with Dox via a disulfide linker to generate [R5K]W7C-S-S-Dox conjugate, where S-S is a disulfide bond. Comparative antiproliferative assays between conjugates [R5K]W7A-Dox, [R5K]W7C-S-S-Dox, linear R5KW7A-Dox, the corresponding physical mixtures of the peptides, and Dox were performed in normal and cancer cells. [R5K]W7A-Dox conjugate was 2-fold more efficient than R5KW7A-Dox, and [R5K]W7C-S-S-Dox conjugates in inhibiting the cell proliferation of human leukemia cells (CCRF-CEM). Therefore, hybrid cyclic-linear [R5K]W7A-Dox conjugate was selected for further studies and inhibited the cell viability of CCRF-CEM (84%), ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK-OV-3, 39%), and gastric carcinoma (AGS, 73%) at a concentration of 5 μM after 72 h of incubation, which was comparable to Dox (5 μM) efficacy (CCRF-CEM (85%), SK-OV-3 (33%), and AGS (87%)). While [R5K]W7A-Dox had a significant effect on the viability of cancer cells, it exhibited minimal cytotoxicity to normal kidney (LLC-PK1, 5-7%) and heart cells (H9C2, <9%) at concentrations of 5-10 μM (compared to free Dox at 5 μM that reduced the viability of kidney and heart cells by 85% and 44%, respectively). The fluorescence microscopy images were consistent with the cytotoxicity studies, indicating minimal uptake of the cyclic-linear [R5K]W7A-Dox (5 μM) in H9C2 cells. In comparison, Dox (5 μM) showed significant uptake, reduced cell viability, and changed the morphology of the cells after 24 h. [R5K]W7A-Dox showed 16-fold and 9.5-fold higher activity against Dox-resistant cells MDA231R and MES-SA/MX2 (lethal dose for 50% cell death or LC50 of 2.3 and 4.3 μM, respectively) compared to free Dox (LC50 of 36-41 μM, respectively). These data, along with the results obtained from the cell viability tests, indicate comparable efficiency of [R5K]W7A-Dox to free Dox in leukemia, ovarian, and gastric cancer cells, significantly reduced toxicity in normal kidney LLC-PK1 and heart H9C2 cells, and significantly higher efficiency in Dox-resistant cells. A number of endocytosis inhibitors did not affect the cellular uptake of [R5K]W7A-Dox.
Hydrodynamic Screening in Random Media

We study the propagation of momentum through viscous fluid in a domain containing a large number of randomly distributed small obstacles. The obstacles are assumed to be fixed, and the velocity is governed by Stokes equations. Our motivations are: (i) Analyse hydrodynamic interactions in random configurations. (ii) Develope models for porous media.
Thinking like a mountain

Comment on Kohn, Eduardo. 2013. How forests think: Toward an anthropology beyond the human . Berkeley: University of California Press.
Catalytic Modes in Natural Ribozymes

In nature, RNA transmits genetic information, and it catalyzes reactions that are universal in biology. The reactions of phosphorus and carbon esters that are catalyzed by natural ribozymes occur with specific geometries and are susceptible to both acid and base catalysis as well as catalysis that involves metal ions. High-resolution structures of a few ribozymes implicate the involvement of individual nucleotides in performing these catalytic strategies. Detailed biochemical tests of the mechanisms of these ribozymes provide evidence for the involvement of nucleobase functional groups in acid/base catalysis, yet debate continues concerning their precise roles in proton transfer. Complementary structural and biochemical support has been gained for the involvement of specific RNA functional groups in positioning metal ions for catalysis. Still, only a few systems have been probed in sufficient depth to infer mechanistic detail and to achieve a complete chemical description of how ribozyme active sites enact specific catalytic strategies remains a key goal.
Increasing the production capacity of a work cell using modeling and simulation

A model was developed for a work cell at a specialty wood products manufacturer. The cell uses eight "AE" machines to shape small wood blocks and one "Three-Links" machine to drill, sand, and taper the shaped blocks The theoretical production capacity for the cell (i.e., no delays due to sorting, scheduling, or other causes of downtime), is approximately 13000 pieces per workday. The actual capacity for the cell has averaged 5000 pieces per day, plus or minus 2000 pieces. Thus, not only is the average capacity unacceptably low but the variation in capacity is excessive as well. The primary purpose for this project was to determine methods to increase capacity for the cell. Specific objectives were to: model the system in its current configuration; use the model to examine the causes of downtime; and explore methods to increase capacity. Two models were developed for the process.
Too Big to Fail, Too Blind to See

Too Big to Fail by Andrew Ross Sorkin offers a meticulous re-telling of one of the most important periods in recent history. As regulators, bankers, lawyers, scholars, and other interested parties sift through the rubble in search of knowledge about the crash, Too Big to Fail serves both as a chronicle of the recent past and a cautionary tale for the immediate future. Acknowledging past missteps, uncovering root causes, and correcting systemic shortcomings to prevent similar failure is arguably the key economic and regulatory challenge of our time. Part I of this Essay summarizes key episodes of the financial crisis as covered by Too Big to Fail. Part II examines a potential explanation of the crisis unexplored in the book in light of the decline of neoclassical economic theory and the emergence of behavioral economic theory.
Contrast enhanced MR venography with gadofosveset trisodium: evaluation of the intracranial and extracranial venous system.

Purpose To demonstrate the efficacy of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance venography (CEMRV) using gadofosveset trisodium in the comprehensive evaluation of the intracranial and extracranial venous system. Materials and Methods Temporal signal decay, in-plane saturation and flow artifacts were assessed in an institutional review board approved, HIPAA compliant CEMRV study of 99 subjects. In a 39 subject subset, percent diameter narrowing of the internal jugular (IJ), brachiocephalic and azygous veins were coded according to the following ordinal grades for both catheter venography (CV) and CEMRV: grade 0 ≤ 50%, grade 1 >50% and ≤ 75%, grade 2 >75% and <100% and grade 3 = 100% and compared with pressure gradient measurements obtained during CV. Results There was no significant signal decay, in-plane saturation or flow artifacts identified on CEMRV or hemodynamically significant pressure gradients identified on CV. All brachiocephalic and azygous veins had matched grade 0 narrowing on both modalities. Discrepancy between modalities occurred in the IJ veins at the level of thyroid gland where 15% of IJ veins had CEMRV grade ≥ 1 narrowing compared with 4% for CV or below the thyroid gland where 5% of IJ veins had CEMRV grade ≥ 1 narrowing compared with 20% for CV. There was fair agreement (κ = 0.24) between modalities for grade of narrowing in the combined data set of all coded veins. Conclusion CEMRV using gadofosveset trisodium is accurate in the evaluation of the venous system. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:630–640. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.