cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does the Defining Issues Test Measure Ethical Judgment Ability or Political Position

This article addresses the construct validity of the Defining Issues Test of ethical judgment (DIT/DIT-2). Alleging a political bias in the test, Emler and colleagues (1983, 1998, 1999, 2007), show that conservatives score higher when asked to fake as liberals, implying that they understand the reasoning associated with "higher" moral development but avoid items they see as liberally biased. DIT proponents challenge the internal validity of faking studies, advocating an explained-variance validation. This study takes a new approach: Adult participants complete the DIT-2, then evaluate the raw responses of others to discern political orientation and ethical development. Results show that individuals scoring higher on the DIT-2 rank others' ethical judgment in a way consistent with DIT-2-based rankings. Accuracy at assessing political orientation, however, is low. Results support the DIT-2's validity as a measure of ethical development, not an expression of political position.
Halide based MBE of crystalline metals and oxides

A halide based growth chemistry has been demonstrated which can deliver a range of transition metals using low to moderate effusion cell temperatures (30-700 °C) even for high melting point metals. Previously, growth with transition metal species required difficult to control electron beam or impurity inducing metal organic sources. Both crystalline oxide and metal films exhibiting excellent crystal quality are grown using this halide-based growth chemistry. Films are grown using a plasma assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) system with metal-chloride precursors. Crystalline niobium, cobalt, iron, and nickel were grown using this chemistry but the technology can be generalized to almost any metal for which a chloride precursor is available. Additionally, the oxides LiNbO3 and LiNbO2 were grown with films exhibiting X-ray diffraction (XRD) rocking curve full-widths at half maximum of 150 and 190 arcseconds respectively. LiNbO2 films demonstrate a memristive response due to the rapid movement of lithium in the layered crystal structure. The rapid movement of lithium ions in LiNbO2 memristors is characterized using impedance spectroscopy measurements. The impedance spectroscopy measurements suggest an ionic current of.1 mA for a small drive voltage of 5 mV AC or equivalently an ionic current density of ∼87 A/cm2. This high ionic current density coupled with low charge transfer resistance of ∼16.5 Ω and a high relaxation frequency (6.6 MHz) makes this single crystal material appealing for battery applications in addition to memristors. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Coal-Fired Power Generation, New Air Quality Regulations, and Future U.S. Coal Production

Abstract Tighter new regulation of stack gas emissions and competition in power generation are driving electrical utilities to demand cleaner, lower sulfur coal. Historical data on sulfur content of produced coals shows little variability in coal quality for individual mines and individual coal-producing counties over relatively long periods of time. If coal-using power generators follow the compliance patterns established in Phase I of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, then the industry’s response to the tighter Phase II emissions standards will result in large amounts of coal production shifting from higher sulfur areas to areas with lower cost low sulfur coal. One reason this shift will likely occur is that currently only 30% of U.S. coal-fired electrical generating capacity is equipped with flue-gas scrubbers. In 1995, coal mines in the higher sulfur areas of the Illinois Basin and Northern and Central Appalachia employed 78% of all coal miners (>70,000 miners). A substantial geographical redistribution of the nation’s coal supplies will likely lead to economic dislocations that will reach beyond local coal-producing areas.
Defending the Border: Identity, Religion, and Modernity in the Republic of Georgia

Defending the Border: Identity, Religion, and Modernity in the Republic of Georgia. By Mathijs Pelkmans. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2006. 240p. $59.95 cloth, $22.95 paper. Although much has been said for modern principles of self-determination, there is often comfort and security in established, even externally imposed, sources of self-identity. If the Soviet Union was a prison of nations, then it was—whether imperfectly, perniciously, or opportunistically—also an answer to national questions that might otherwise have been solved with more difficulty and less satisfaction. In the aftermath of the USSR efforts to ask and to answer those questions have sometimes been coupled with semicompulsory expectations of self-determination that have threatened to substitute one form of repressive identification for another. Nowhere has this led to greater problems than in the Caucasus.
Acute ethanol responses in Drosophila are sexually dimorphic

In mammalian and insect models of ethanol intoxication, low doses of ethanol stimulate locomotor activity whereas high doses induce sedation. Sex differences in acute ethanol responses, which occur in humans, have not been characterized in Drosophila. In this study, we find that male flies show increased ethanol hyperactivity and greater resistance to ethanol sedation compared with females. We show that the sex determination gene transformer (tra) acts in the developing nervous system, likely through regulation of fruitless (fru), to at least partially mediate the sexual dimorphism in ethanol sedation. Although pharmacokinetic differences may contribute to the increased sedation sensitivity of females, neuronal tra expression regulates ethanol sedation independently of ethanol pharmacokinetics. We also show that acute activation of fru-expressing neurons affects ethanol sedation, further supporting a role for fru in regulating this behavior. Thus, we have characterized previously undescribed sex differences in behavioral responses to ethanol, and implicated fru in mediating a subset of these differences.
Proteasome Failure Promotes Positioning of Lysosomes around the Aggresome via Local Block of Microtubule-Dependent Transport

Ubiquitinated proteins aggregate upon proteasome failure, and the aggregates are transported to the aggresome. In aggresomes, protein aggregates are actively degraded by the autophagy-lysosome pathway, but why targeting the aggresome promotes degradation of aggregated species is currently unknown. Here we report that the important factor in this process is clustering of lysosomes around the aggresome via a novel mechanism. Proteasome inhibition causes formation of a zone around the centrosome where microtubular transport of lysosomes is suppressed, resulting in their entrapment and accumulation. Microtubule-dependent transport of other organelles, including autophagosomes, mitochondria, and endosomes, is also blocked in this entrapment zone (E-zone), while movement of organelles at the cell periphery remains unaffected. Following the whole-genome small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen for proteins involved in aggresome formation, we defined the pathway that regulates formation of the E-zone, including the Stk11 protein kinase, the Usp9x deubiquitinating enzyme, and their substrate kinase MARK4. Therefore, upon proteasome failure, targeting of aggregated proteins of the aggresome is coordinated with lysosome positioning around this body to facilitate degradation of the abnormal species.
Importance of Left Ventricular Mass as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Morbidity in Hypertension

Arterial hypertension is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but the ability to use blood pressure measurements to predict complications in individual patients or small groups is limited. One possible approach to identifying hypertensive patients at high risk is based on the observation that the presence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) identifies individuals at severalfold higher risk than other individuals with similar blood pressure but no ECG-LVH. The suggestion that the increased risk associated with ECG-LVH is related to increased left ventricular (LV) mass has been supported by autopsy studies in which heart weight was found to be increased in patients dying of cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, the usefulness of LVH to predict prognosis in hypertension has been limited practically by the fact that ECG-LVH is present in only 3% to 8% of average hypertensive patients, and by the possibility that certain electrocardiographic patterns, particularly involving repolarization, might reflect undiagnosed coronary artery disease rather than myocardial hypertrophy. The development over the past dozen years of anatomically validated echocardiographic methods of measuring LV muscle mass has provided a probe that is more sensitive than electrocardiography for detection of hypertensive LVH. This method has now been utilized in studies which suggest that LV mass may be more important than blood pressure as a predictor and possible determinant of cardiovascular morbid events. It is the purpose of this review to evaluate critically these findings and other clinical and experimental evidence related to the prognostic significance and possible mechanisms of risk associated with increased LV mass.
A modern Bayesian look at the multi-armed bandit

A multi-armed bandit is an experiment with the goal of accumulating rewards from a payoff distribution with unknown parameters that are to be learned sequentially. This article describes a heuristic for managing multi-armed bandits called randomized probability matching, which randomly allocates observations to arms according the Bayesian posterior probability that each arm is optimal. Advances in Bayesian computation have made randomized probability matching easy to apply to virtually any payoff distribution. This flexibility frees the experimenter to work with payoff distributions that correspond to certain classical experimental designs that have the potential to outperform methods that are ‘optimal’ in simpler contexts. I summarize the relationships between randomized probability matching and several related heuristics that have been used in the reinforcement learning literature. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thinking big with small molecules

Synthetic chemistry has enabled scientists to explore the frontiers of cell biology, limited only by the laws of chemical bonding and reactivity. As we investigate biological questions of increasing complexity, new chemical technologies can provide systems-level views of cellular function. Here we discuss some of the molecular probes that illustrate this shift from a “one compound, one gene” paradigm to a more integrated approach to cell biology.
Does combination antimicrobial therapy reduce mortality in Gram-negative bacteraemia? A meta-analysis.

The use of combination antimicrobial therapy for bacteraemia caused by Gram-negative bacilli is controversial. We did a meta-analysis of published studies to determine whether a combination of two or more antimicrobials reduces mortality in patients with Gram-negative bacteraemia. Criteria for inclusion were: analytic studies of patients with documented Gramnegative bacteraemia that included patients receiving a single antibiotic (monotherapy) and patients receiving two or more antibiotics (combination therapy). Data on mortality (outcome) had to be provided. A pooled odds ratio was calculated with the random effects model of DerSimonian and Laird. Assessment of heterogeneity was done with the Breslow-Day test and reasons for heterogeneity were explored. 17 studies met the inclusion criteria, five prospective cohort studies, two prospective randomised trials, and ten retrospective cohort studies. Most studies used beta-lactams or aminoglycosides alone and in combination. The summary odds ratio was 0·96 (95% CI 0·70–1·32), indicating no mortality benefit with combination therapy. Subgroup analyses adjusting for year of publication, study design, and severity of illness did not change the results. Considerable heterogeneity was present in the main analyses. Analysis of only Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemias showed a significant mortality benefit (OR 0·50, 95% CI 0·30–0·79). Our analysis does not support the routine use of combination antimicrobial therapy for Gram-negative bacteraemia, beyond settings where infection by P aeruginosa is strongly suspected or more than one drug would be desirable to assure in-vitro efficacy.
Investment Performance Evaluation

This article provides a review of the rapidly developing literature on investment performance evaluation. The goals are to summarize the significant forces and contributions that have brought this field of research to its current state of knowledge and to suggest directions for future research. This review is written for a reader who is familiar with financial economics but not the specific literature and who wishes to become familiar with the current state of the art. Suggestions for future research include refinements to portfolio holdings-based performance measures, a more balanced treatment of costs, and clientele-specific measures of investment performance.
A guideline for the treatment and prevention of NSAID-induced ulcers

Guidelines for clinical practice are intended to indicate preferred approaches to medical problems as established by scientifically valid research. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are preferable, but compassionate use reports and expert review articles are used in a thorough review of the literature conducted through Medline with the National Library of Medicine. When only data that will not withstand objective scrutiny are available, a recommendation is identified as a consensus of experts. Guidelines are applicable to all physicians who address the subject without regard to specialty training or interests and are intended to indicate the preferable, but not necessarily the only, acceptable approach to a specific problem. Guidelines are intended to be flexible and must be distinguished from standards of care, which are inflexible and rarely violated. Given the wide range of specifics in any health care problem, the physician must always choose the course best suited to the individual patient and the variables in existence at the moment of decision. Guidelines are developed under the auspices of the American College of Gastroenterology and its Practice Parameters Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees. Each has been intensely reviewed and revised by the Committee, other experts in the field, physicians who will use them, and specialists in the science of decision analysis. The recommendations of each guideline are therefore considered valid at the time of their production based on the data available. New developments in medical research and practice pertinent to each guideline will be reviewed at a time established and indicated at publication to assure continued validity. INTRODUCTION
Cronyism and Delaware Incorporation: An Examination on Excess Compensation

This paper investigates whether Delaware incorporation relates to cronyism by examining excess director and CEO compensation. I find that excess director compensation is significantly and positively related to excess CEO compensation in both Delaware and non-Delaware firms. However, excess CEO compensation in non-Delaware firms is negatively associated with firm performance. The result indicates that cronyism does exist in non-Delaware firms but not in Delaware firms. Therefore, Delaware incorporation does not favor managers at the expense of shareholders.
Recursively Enumerable Sets Modulo Iterated Jumps and Extensions of Arslanov's Completeness Criterion

Let We be the eth recursively enumerable (r.e.) set in a standard enumeration. The fixed point form of Kleene's recursion theorem asserts that for every recursive function f there exists e which is a fixed point of f in the sense that We = Wf(e). In this paper our main concern is to study the degrees of functions with no fixed points. We consider both fixed points in the strict sense above and fixed points modulo various equivalence relations on recursively enumerable sets.Our starting point for the investigation of the degrees of functions without (strict) fixed points is the following result due to M. M. Arslanov [A1, Theorem 1] and known as the Arslanov completeness criterion. Proofs of this result may also be found in [So1, Theorem 1.3] and [So2, Chapter 12], and we will give a game version of the proof in §5 of this paper.Theorem 1.1 (Arslanov). Let A be an r.e. set. Then A is complete (i.e. A has degree0′) iff there is a function f recursive in A with no fixed point.
Social Network Analysis of a Grassland Rodent Community Using a Lotka-Volterra Modeling Approach

Although social network analysis is a promising tool to study the structure and dynamics of wildlife communities, the current methods require costly and detailed network data, which often are not available over long time periods (e.g. decades). The present work aims to resolve this issue by developing a new methodology that requires much less detailed data and it relies on well-established Lotka-Volterra models. Using the long-term abundance data (1973-2003) of northeastern Kansas rodents, the changes in the magnitude and direction of interactions (e.g., changes from cooperative behavior to competitive behavior or changes in the magnitude of competition) are quantified.
Microparticle Fluorescence and Energy Transfer

Morphology-dependent resonances are found in other structures of high symmetry,(48) and so their possible existence in biological systems should not be ignored. The presence of such resonances should alter the rates of decay of excited species. A considerable amount of work remains to be done on investigating the optical properties of small, regularly shaped objects. Continuing studies of fluorescence from such systems may lead to improved probes of the microscopic environment of molecules, remote sensing techniques, and surface probes to investigate both solid and liquid surfaces. The study of interactions higher intensity is almost sure to produce a host of interesting effects. The work described in this chapter will hopefully introduce a reader to the field, and we have endeavored to make the citations as current as possible in order to allow the interested reader to follow subsequent developments.
Inter- and Intra-Rater Reliability of Predictive Models for the Non-Operative Healing Potential of Stable Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans (JOCD) Knee Lesions

Objectives: While juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) lesions have greater healing potential than equivalent lesions in adults, only 50% of JOCD lesions demonstrate radiographic healing after 6 months of non-operative treatment. Krause et al. (2013) and Wall et al. (2008) have described models to predict a patient's probability of healing with non-operative treatment based on patient and lesion characteristics. The Wall et al. nomogram incorporates normalized lesion length, normalized lesion width, and pain type, while the Krause et al. model includes normalized lesion width, patient age, and the size of concurrent cyst-like lesions. The purpose of this study was to determine inter- and intra-observer reliability of the predictive nomograms.
Enhanced sensitivity of graphene ammonia gas sensors using molecular doping

We report on employing molecular doping to enhance the sensitivity of graphene sensors synthesized via chemical vapor deposition to NH3 molecules at room temperature. We experimentally show that doping an as-fabricated graphene sensor with NO2 gas improves sensitivity of its electrical resistance to adsorption of NH3 molecules by about an order of magnitude. The detection limit of our NO2-doped graphene sensor is found to be ∼200 parts per billion (ppb), compared to ∼1400 ppb before doping. Electrical characterization and Raman spectroscopy measurements on graphene field-effect transistors show that adsorption of NO2 molecules significantly increases hole concentration in graphene, which results in the observed sensitivity enhancement.
Controlling stem cell behavior with decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds

Decellularized tissues have become a common regenerative medicine platform with multiple materials being researched in academic laboratories, tested in animal studies, and used clinically. Ideally, when a tissue is decellularized the native cell niche is maintained with many of the structural and biochemical cues that naturally interact with the cells of that particular tissue. This makes decellularized tissue materials an excellent platform for providing cells with the signals needed to initiate and maintain differentiation into tissue-specific lineages. The extracellular matrix (ECM) that remains after the decellularization process contains the components of a tissue specific microenvironment that is not possible to create synthetically. The ECM of each tissue has a different composition and structure and therefore has unique properties and potential for affecting cell behavior. This review describes the common methods for preparing decellularized tissue materials and the effects that decellularized materials from different tissues have on cell phenotype.
How livestock and flooding mediate the ecological integrity of working forests in Amazon River floodplains

The contribution of working forests to tropical conservation and development depends upon the maintenance of ecological integrity under ongoing land use. Assessment of ecological integrity requires an understanding of the structure, composition, and function and major drivers that govern their variability. Working forests in tropical river floodplains provide many goods and services, yet the data on the ecological processes that sustain these services is scant. In flooded forests of riverside Amazonian communities, we established 46 0.1-ha plots varying in flood duration, use by cattle and water buffalo, and time since agricultural abandonment (30–90 yr). We monitored three aspects of ecological integrity (stand structure, species composition, and dynamics of trees and seedlings) to evaluate the impacts of different trajectories of livestock activity (alleviation, stasis, and intensification) over nine years. Negative effects of livestock intensification were solely evident in the forest understory, and plots alleviated from past heavy disturbance increased in seedling density but had higher abundance of thorny species than plots maintaining low activity. Stand structure, dynamics, and tree species composition were strongly influenced by the natural pulse of seasonal floods, such that the defining characteristics of integrity were dependent upon flood duration (3–200 d). Forests with prolonged floods ≥140 d had not only lower species richness but also lower rates of recruitment and species turnover relative to forests with short floods <70 d. Overall, the combined effects of livestock intensification and prolonged flooding hindered forest regeneration, but overall forest integrity was largely related to the hydrological regime and age. Given this disjunction between factors mediating canopy and understory integrity, we present a subset of metrics for regeneration and recruitment to distinguish forest condition by livestock trajectory. Although our study design includes confounded factors that preclude a definitive assessment of the major drivers of ecological change, we provide much-needed data on the regrowth of a critical but poorly studied ecosystem. In addition to its emphasis on the dynamics of tropical wetland forests undergoing anthropogenic and environmental change, our case study is an important example for how to assess of ecological integrity in working forests of tropical ecosystems.
REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS AND THE EVOLUTION OF BREEDING TERRITORIES IN PUPFISH (CYPRINODON).

An understanding of selective pressures that are responsible for the evolution of breeding systems requires detailed analysis of the reproductive performance of both sexes. In lek breeding systems (Buechner and Roth, 1974; Hogan-Warburg, 1966; Leuthold, 1966; Robel and Ballard, 1974) reproductive success of males can be quantified, because they display, defend territories and mate in groups on well defined breeding grounds. Because of the conspicuous nature of many leking grounds, breeding behavior can be observed and relatively large samples can be obtained. In lek breeding systems the direct parental investment of males in their offspring is minimal, and consists solely of contributing sperm, thus males are selected to increase their reproductive success by mating with as many females as possible (Trivers, 1972). Reproductive success of individual males is determined by competitive interactions among males and mate selection by females, and is influenced by habitat quality and population density as well as the physical and behavioral attributes of the males. The territorial breeding system of pupfish (genus Cyprinodon), a small cyprinodontid fish of coastal and desert freshwater habitats, is not a lek in the strictest sense, since eggs are laid on the territories. However, there is no direct paternal care of the eggs or young and territories serve primarily as sites for courtship and mating. Therefore the breeding territories of pupfish are functionally equivalent to those of lek breeding organisms. Pupfish are well suited for quantitative studies of territorial breeding systems because territorial and spawning behavior is easily observed and quantified, breeding habitat varies in size and quality, and many populations are confined to small habitats so that the reproductive performance of entire populations can be assessed. The objective of the present study was to determine factors that affect the reproductive success of individual males and thus understand the selective pressures responsible for the evolution and maintenance of the territorial breeding system. The work of Raney et al. (1953), Barlow (1961), Itzkowitz and Minckley (1969), Liu (1969) and Echelle (1973) has provided important background information on the breeding behavior of pupfish. The territorial behavior and types of substrates on which breeding territories are established have been described briefly for C. macularius by Barlow (1958) and for C. rubrofluviatilis by Echelle (1973), who also reported daily and seasonal changes in the spawning activity of territorial males. However, the extent to which reproductive success varies among males and the causes of this variation had not been analyzed quantitatively.
Equivalent constitutive behavior of sandwich cellular cores

The constitutive behavior of a continuum equivalent to cellular core are calculated using detailed finite element models of representative unit cell for hexagonal, square and triangular core shapes. The variation of the constitutive behavior of the homogeneous structure equivalent to the cellular core with respect to the core density is studied. Formulas for direct calculation of the constitutive behavior are generated for cell size range 1/8″ to 3/8″ and core density range 1.0 pcf to 8.1 pcf. The calculated properties are tested using two-dimensional and three-dimensional finite element modeling techniques of sandwich panels. Error analysis is then performed to identify the effect of the panel size to cell size ratio as well as the facesheet thickness to core thickness ratio on the error. Results show linear variation of mechanical properties with core density except for panel-wise in-plane shear modulus which is too low and can be neglected. The facesheet thickness to core thickness ratio was found to h...
Perceived Health Risks of Snus and Medicinal Nicotine Products

Introduction Perceived health risk (PHR) of a tobacco product may influence both uptake and continued use. In this study, we examined PHRs of snus and medicinal nicotine using the PHR scale and the relationship of PHR responses to use of these products in smokers seeking an alternative to smoking. Methods Smokers were randomly assigned to snus or to medicinal nicotine for a period of 12 weeks and asked to only use the assigned product. The PHR scale involves rating the extent of perceived risk of a product for different diseases and was given at baseline and weeks 4 and 12 during treatment. Relationships between PHR scale scores and study attrition, compliance with only using the product, and continued use of the product after treatment were determined. Results Response to the PHR scale showed no significant differences between the snus and medicinal nicotine for perceived risks for lung cancer, emphysema, and bronchitis. However, significant differences were observed for other cancers, heart disease, stroke and risk for addiction, particularly after product use, with higher scores among those assigned to snus. Scores on the PHR scale were not related to any of the trial outcome variables. Conclusions Among smokers seeking an alternative to smoking in a clinic setting, PHR of a product changes after product use but may not be related to product use patterns. Implications PHRs of snus or medicinal nicotine in smokers assigned to these products become more accurate after product use. PHR does not appear to be associated with patterns of product use; rather satisfaction with a product is a better indicator as to whether a smoker is compliant with only using the product or continues to use the product.
Computerized pharmacy services in a large community hospital

A computerized pharmacy system dealing with drug distribution, clinical services and administrative services is described. Present systems, implemented for 50% of the institution's beds, are discussed fully. Future applications of the system are outlined.
The facies-controlling parameter field stochastic simulation method and its application

The facies-controlling parameter field stochastic simulation method subtly depicts the heterogeneous characters of reservoir property parameters.Based on the simulation principles of facies-controlling parameter field,the simulation method of facies-controlling parameter field was proposed to predict the planar distribution of reservoir property parameters.The linkage of sedimentary microfacies simulation and sequential Gaussian simulation has been satisfactorily realized.Keeping to the simulation restriction of sedimentary microfacies,probability and difference function,we established the fine geological model of the II5 reservoir in Shuanghe oil field by the two step simulation method.The minimum of average error of the simulation results is 4.52%,and the maximum is 11.23%.The application results show that this method resolve the consistency problem of the simulation parameters,and improve the precision of the simulation.
Coast Radar Calibration Method Based on Automatic Identification System(AIS) Information

The automatic identification system(AIS) messages which contain the position of the ship by GPS can be used in calculating the relative position from radar to the ship.A coast radar calibration method applying AIS information is discussed.The principle of the calibration and the calculation flow of system error are introduced as well.The statistical analysis for experimental data shows that the system errors calculated by this method are similar to that by the "ship+GPS" which is the commonly-used radar calibration method.
Detection of Hypervelocity Impact Radio-Frequency Pulses through Prior Constrained Source Separation†

Hypervelocity dust impacts produce electromagnetic pulses in the radio-frequency (RF) spectrum that scale with impactor mass and velocity. Due to the mass acceleration limitations of ground-based facilities, detecting emissions from impacts in a laboratory setup is difficult due to their low output power. This paper presents a general probabilistic technique to perform signal excision, which was applied to synthetic and hypervelocity impact data sets. The task of excising multiple signals from a single observation of their mixtures is referred to as underdetermined blind source separation (BSS). This paper introduces a framework for solving underdetermined BSS problems when there is only one observation signal by leveraging often overlooked prior information. The most probable solutions for the source signals are computed by solving an iterative constrained optimization problem that seeks to maximize the posterior probability of the system model. In the hypervelocity impact data set, the goal was to reduce the noise floor on an RF antenna by modeling and extracting exterior sources of noise. It was found that the algorithm described in this paper was able to model signals in the observation and subtract them while still maintaining the spectral and temporal content of the remaining signals. Through the use of this methodology, previously hidden impact emissions were able to be isolated and identified for further characterization.
Narrative as Vital Methodology in Clinical Sociology

Narratives are clients' spoken thoughts, feelings, ideas, and ideals about their social worlds. In this study narratives are largely client-driven, being facilitated by clinicians' questions and co...
Targeting astrocytes as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer?s disease

R advances in cell-type specific research tools have led to a growing appreciation for the role of neuroglia in CNS disorders. Astrocytes are a major glial-subtype that perform vital metabolic functions and interact extensively with synapses and microvessels, which show high vulnerability in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). At early stages of AD, “activated” astrocytes exhibit pronounced morphologic and biochemical changes, offering a largely-untapped source of druggable targets. Previously, we demonstrated that calcineurin (CN)/NFAT signaling is elevated in astrocytes early in AD and recapitulates many components of the activated phenotype. Our ongoing work exploits the activation status of the astrocytic CN/NFAT pathway in an attempt to (1) dissect the functional impact of activated astrocytes and (2) assess the therapeutic potential of these cells in experimental models of AD. Recently, we used adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors bearing the astrocyte-specific Gfa2 promoter to deliver a CN/NFAT inhibitor (i.e. VIVIT) selectively to hippocampal astrocytes of APP/PS1 mice at the outset of amyloid pathology. At 10-months-post-injection, these mice exhibited less glial activation, reduced amyloid deposition, and improved synaptic and cognitive function relative to mice treated with control AAV vectors. Ongoing studies are investigating the mechanistic basis for the neuroprotective actions of AAV-Gfa2-VIVIT and are determining if similar beneficial effects occur when treatment is administered at late disease stages. The results provide some of the first direct evidence that activated astrocytes help drive neurologic dysfunction during AD and provide proof-of-principle for the development of similar astrocyte-based strategies for treating AD. Christopher M. Norris, J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 2013, 3:4 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-0460.S1.002
Association of IL-6 with PM2.5 Components: Importance of Characterizing Filter-Based PM2.5 Following Extraction

Filter-based toxicology studies are conducted to establish the biological plausibility of the well-established health impacts associated with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure. Ambient PM2.5 collected on filters is extracted into solution for toxicology applications, but frequently, characterization is nonexistent or only performed on filter-based PM2.5, without consideration of compositional differences that occur during the extraction processes. To date, the impact of making associations to measured components in ambient instead of extracted PM2.5 has not been investigated. Filter-based PM2.5 was collected at locations (n = 5) and detailed characterization of both ambient and extracted PM2.5 was performed. Alveolar macrophages (AMJ2-C11) were exposed (3, 24, and 48 h) to PM2.5 and the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 was measured. IL-6 release differed significantly between PM2.5 collected from different locations; surprisingly, IL-6 release was highest following treatment with PM2.5 from the lowest ambient concentration location. IL-6 was negatively correlated with the sum of ambient metals analyzed, as well as with concentrations of specific constituents which have been previously associated with respiratory health effects. However, positive correlations of IL-6 with extracted concentrations indicated that the negative associations between IL-6 and ambient concentrations do not accurately represent the relationship between inflammation and PM2.5 exposure. Additionally, seven organic compounds had significant associations with IL-6 release when considering ambient concentrations, but they were not detected in the extracted solution. Basing inflammatory associations on ambient concentrations that are not necessarily representative of in vitro exposures creates misleading results; this study highlights the importance of characterizing extraction solutions to conduct accurate health impact research.
Life Events that Impact Identity

This chapter examines different aspects and types of life events and the ways that they can impact career development. Examples of these events include marriage, divorce, coming out as an LGBT person, financial issues, and recovering from addiction or alcoholism. The purpose of the chapter is to explicate different ways that life events can manifest, and different ways that they can impact one’s career development, in order to give “voice” to what might be sources of shame or stigma. The purpose of the chapter is to bring these issues to the forefront, so that HRD practitioners can develop acuity around “undiscussables” and as a result, become aware, sensitive, and equipped to design programs that are attuned to these issues.
Pilot Experiment: the Effect of Added Flavorants on the Taste and Pleasantness of Mixtures of Glycerol and Propylene Glycol

The US Food and Drug Administration banned most “sweet” flavorants for use in cigarettes due to the concern that sweet flavors appeal to young, beginning smokers. However, many of the same flavors, including fruity and confection-associated aromas (e.g., vanilla), are still used in e-cigarettes. Sweet flavors may have a number of effects, including enhancement of the taste of other ingredients. The current work focused on the impact of model flavorants on the taste of a mixture of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, solvents used in most e-cigarettes and related products. A device delivered mixtures of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine into the mouth in parallel with puffs of clean air (control) or odorized air. Aromas included two “fruity” esters (“pineapple” and “banana”), two confection-associated aromas (“vanilla” and “caramel/malty”), menthol (not a “sweet” aroma, but commonly used in e-cigarettes), and a “burnt” aroma not expected to enhance flavor. Twenty young adults, aged 18–25, rated the sweetness, bitterness, and pleasantness of all stimuli (within-subjects design). Both fruity aromas significantly enhanced sweetness, both confection-associated aromas significantly enhanced pleasantness, and the caramel/malty aroma significantly reduced bitterness. Menthol and the “burnt” aroma had no measurable effects on the taste of solvent mixtures. Some flavorants modulated the taste of solvents commonly used in e-cigarettes in ways consistent with an enhanced sensory profile. If similar effects occur in actual products, improved flavor profiles could facilitate continued use, particularly in non-smokers experimenting with e-cigarettes and related products.
Reduced dosing of enoxaparin for venous thromboembolism in overweight and obese adolescents: a single institution retrospective review.

Background The global obesity epidemic has created new challenges, including venous thromboembolisms (VTE) in obese adolescents. The data on whether to reduce the dose of low-molecular heparin in obese adults is conflicting, and information on adolescent patients is scarce. Objectives Our primary goal was to describe dosing, anti-Xa levels, and outcomes of overweight and obese adolescents who received reduced doses of enoxaparin at the initiation of therapy. The secondary goal was to compare their outcomes to overweight and obese adolescents who received standard 1 mg/kg dosing to determine if future trials for dose reduction are warranted. Patients/methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of overweight and obese patients between the ages of 12 and 18 years old diagnosed with VTE who were treated with reduced dosing (RD) of enoxaparin, comparing their dosing, anti-Xa levels, and outcomes to overweight and obese adolescents who received standard dosing (SD). Results RD patients (n=19) achieved therapeutic mean initial anti-Xa levels that were similar to SD patients (n=11). Of the RD patients, 53% did not require dose adjustments during treatment. Two RD patients had thrombus progression. A total of 25 patients ultimately completed therapy with RD. Conclusions Future trials are warranted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of reduced dosing of enoxaparin to treat overweight and obese adolescents with VTE.
Photonic interconnect with superconducting electronics for large-scale neuromorphic computing (Invited paper)

Advanced neuromorphic systems require massive interconnectivity, extreme energy efficiency, and complex signaling mechanisms. Here we propose an integrated optoelectronic platform utilizing superconducting electronics with photonic signaling to enable neuromorphic computing beyond the scale of the human brain.
Molecular identification of the biowarfare simulant Serratia marcescens from a 50-year-old munition buried at Fort Detrick, Maryland

ABSTRACT serratia marcescens are Gram-negative bacteria that were often used by the U.S. military and others to track movement of bacteria in the environment. As part of ongoing construction at Fort Detrick, Maryland, what appeared to be a small bomblet was found buried in the ground at the site of an old test grid. A sample of a clear, straw-colored liquid was aseptically removed from the plastic reservoir; the results of routine cultures on standard bacteriological media were negative. DNA was extracted from the sample and found to be 99% identical to S. marcescens. These results demonstrate the ability to identify the contents of a biological munition that had been buried for ∼50 years.
The Public Health Challenge of Consumer Non-Compliance to Toy Product Recalls and Proposed Solutions.

This paper addresses the public health issue of toy product recalls in the United States, an under-addressed topic in scholarly literature, yet highly relevant to the prevention of pediatric injuries. Toy-related injuries led to 274,000 emergency room visits and seven fatalities in 2016 in the United States, and toy-related injury rates have remained stable over the last five years despite declining incidences of recalls. While dangerous toys not being recalled and the misuse of “safe” products are possible contributing factors, consumer non-response to recall notices also contributes to unintentional child injury from dangerous toys. We discuss the process of recalling toys, and the role of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in that process. We also review potential factors behind significant consumer non-response to recall notifications, citing economic and psychological theories as explanations for the actions of multiple stakeholders in the recall process. We close by proposing reforms at the regulatory, consumer, and retailer levels that might boost compliance with recall notifications and ultimately reduce injury morbidity and mortality.
Structural and Socio-cultural Barriers to Prenatal Care in a US Marshallese Community.

Objectives Pacific Islanders are disproportionately burdened by poorer perinatal health outcomes with higher rates of pre-term births, low birth weight babies, infant mortality, and inadequate or no prenatal care. The aim of this study is to examine Marshallese mothers’ beliefs, perceptions, and experiences of prenatal care and to identify potential barriers. Methods Three focus groups were conducted with Marshallese mothers, who were 18 years or older, and living in Arkansas. Focus groups focused on mothers’ beliefs, perceptions, and experiences of prenatal care. A thematic qualitative analysis was conducted to identify salient themes within the data. Results The results demonstrated that negotiating health insurance, transportation, and language barriers were all major structural barriers that constrain prenatal care. The social–cultural barriers that emerged included a lack of understanding of the importance of seeking early and consistent prenatal care, as well as how to navigate the healthcare process. The more complicated challenges that emerged were the feelings of shame and embarrassment due to the perception of their age or being unmarried during pregnancy not being acceptable in American culture. Furthermore, the participants described perceived discrimination from prenatal care providers. Lastly, the participants described fear as a barrier to seeking out prenatal care. Conclusions for Practice This study identified both structural and socio-cultural barriers that can be incorporated into suggestions for policy makers to aid in alleviating maternal health disparities among Pacific Islander women. Further research is needed to address the Marshallese mothers’ perceived discrimination from maternal health care providers.
Androgen receptor positive triple negative breast cancer: Clinicopathologic, prognostic, and predictive features.

Introduction Overexpression of the androgen receptor (AR) characterizes a distinct molecular subset of triple negative breast carcinomas (TNBC). The role of AR as a prognostic/predictive biomarker in TNBC is controversial, but increasing evidence suggests that this subset may respond to therapeutic agents targeting AR. Evaluation of AR has not been standardized, and criteria for selection of patients for antiandrogen therapy remain controversial. In this study we determine the appropriate threshold of AR immunoreactivity to define AR positive (AR+) TNBC, describe the clinicopathologic features of AR+ TNBC, and discuss the utility of AR positivity as a prognostic and predictive marker in TNBC. Materials and methods 135 invasive TNBC processed in accordance with ASCO/CAP guidelines, were immunostained for AR. Clinicopathologic features of AR+ TNBC were analyzed and compared to AR negative (AR-) TNBC. Patients’ age, tumor size, tumor grade, lymph node status, proliferation rate, immunopositivity for EGFR, CK5/6, Ki-67, and disease free survival (DFS) were evaluated statistically. Results A 1% cutpoint was confirmed as the appropriate threshold for AR positivity. Using this cutpoint 41% of 135 TNBC were AR+. AR+ TNBC occurred in older women, were larger, had lower mean proliferation rate and increased incidence of axillary metastasis than AR- TNBC. 76% of TNBC with apocrine morphology were AR+. A subset of AR+TNBC expressed basal markers (EGFR and CK5/6). A prognostic model was created. Summary AR identifies a heterogeneous group of TNBC. Additional evaluation of EGFR expression allowed us to stratify TNBCs into 3 risk groups with significant differences in DFS and therapeutic implications: low-risk (AR+ EGFR-) which represents the LAR molecular subtype with the best prognosis and may benefit the most from anti-androgen therapies; high-risk (AR- EGFR+) which represents the basal molecular subtype with the worst prognosis and may benefit the most from chemotherapy regimens; intermediate-risk (AR+EGFR+ and AR-EGFR-) TNBC with an intermediate prognosis. Prospective trials are required to further validate this prognostic and predictive grouping.