cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do children produce the melody before the words? A review of developmental intonation research

Abstract Developmental theories of intonation are typically based on the idea that linguistic pitch patterns reflect biological or emotional “natural tendencies”. Accordingly, these theories predict that intonation will develop along with the infant's earliest speech-like vocalizations. This article examines the empirical and theoretical basis of the claim that children master intonation before the onset of speech. As a background for studying prosodic development, Section 2 describes three components of intonation: (1) intonation-groups, (2) forms of intonation, and (3) tonal meanings. Section 3 presents criteria for evaluating children's development in each of these areas. Section 4 focuses on studies of children's development of intonation from 3 to 25 months of age, with special attention to the grammatical, pragmatic, and affective/attitudinal functions of pitch patterns. Most studies were not designed to meet the criteria specified in Section 3. Although this makes any conclusions very tentative at present, our review suggests that children control some core features of intonation before they produce two-word combinations— but not before they produce their first words. Register seems to be the first component of intonation to stabilize in the single-word period. Except for pre-intentional associations between pitch level and affect, natural tendencies are not sufficient to account for children's development of intonation.
Mission assurance through Test Program Set analysis

This paper provides a brief overview of the challenges of test requirements collection for Test Program Set (TPS) maintenance or re-hosting. The paper specifies a TPS analysis framework to address these issues and provides implementation guidelines using application examples with a focus on digital testing.
Photon, light ion, and heavy ion cancer radiotherapy: paths from physics and biology to clinical practice

External beam radiotherapy has proven highly effective against a wide range of cancers, and in recent decades there have been rapid advances with traditional photon-based (X-ray) radiotherapy and the development of two particle-based techniques, proton and carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT). There are major cost differences and both physical and biological differences among these modalities that raise important questions about relative treatment efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) represent the gold standard for comparing treatments, but there are significant cost and ethical barriers to their wide-spread use. Meta-analysis of non-coordinated clinical trials data is another tool that can be used to compare treatments, and while this approach has recognized limitations, it is argued that meta-analysis represents an early stage of investigation that can help inform the design of future RCTs.
Biology of Aging

This chapter briefly summarizes what we currently know about some of the biological changes that accompany aging, and then tries to predict which of these may be the most relevant to the onset of age-related cardiac pathology, and the ultimate need for cardiothoracic surgery in older persons. Although cardiovascular diseases are now the major cause of mortality in developed countries, and age is a major risk factor for many of these diseases, it is still not clear just which age-related changes are the most critical in affecting longevity or the risk of dying as a result of cardiovascular pathology.
Promising New 18F-Labeled Tracers for PET Myocardial Perfusion Imaging.

Myocardial perfusion imaging with PET offers several advantages over SPECT for the detection and characterization of coronary artery disease. With PET, individual tissue-density measurements are routinely used to correct the emission images for photon attenuation and scatter by interposed tissue.
Emerging and neglected tropical diseases: translational application of proteomics.

The challenges of identifying and controlling emerging diseases impact individual health, as well as political, social and economic situations. In this review we discuss the role of proteomics for investigation of pathogen discovery, outbreak investigation, bio-defense, disease control, host–pathogen dynamics and vaccine development of emerging and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In the future the discipline of proteomics may help define multiple aspects of emerging and NTDs with respect to personalized medicine and public health.
Cooperative Effects in Water Binding to Cuprous Oxide Surfaces

Water adsorption on solid surfaces plays a part in a variety of processes, including renewable energy applications. Water adsorption can occur either dissociatively, monomolecularly, or as clusters. In contrast to metal surfaces, the compositional and structural complexity of metal oxide surfaces has inhibited atomic-scale understanding of their interactions with water. Cu2O is a promising photocatalyst and (photo)electrochemical catalyst. Here, we investigate water adsorption on its (111) surface, using density functional theory + U with dispersion corrections. A number of monomolecular and dissociated adsorbate geometries are considered on the two most stable surface terminations. H2O is found to adsorb most strongly when datively coordinated to an unsaturated surface Cu cation; dissociative adsorption is not as favorable as this dative bonding mode of molecular chemisorption. If these Cu cations are not present, H2O binds via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions in surface cavities. We also ...
L PHASE VARIANTS RELATED TO ANTIBIOTIC INHIBITION OF CELL WALL BIOSYNTHESIS.

SummaryThe effect of bacitracin, novobiocin, gentian violet and vancomycin upon organisms known to be L forming bacteria was studied. L phase growth could not be produced although protoplast formation occurred in liquid media. It is concluded that these agents cannot act solely by interference with cell wall biosynthesis.
Developmental rates of the navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at various constant temperatures

The rates of development of the egg and pupal stages of the navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker), were measured at various constant temperatures. Estimates of the lower and upper developmental threshold temperatures and thermal constants for the egg and pupal stages were 13.6, 32.2-34.4°C, 52 degree-days (DD), and 12.9, 32.2-34.4°C, 111 DD, respectively. Analyses of these data combined with data from other sources produced estimates of lower threshold temperatures and thermal constants of 13.3°C and 53 DD, and 12.9°C and 113 DD, for the egg and pupal stages, respectively. Diel periodicity of adult eclosion was documented; most adults eclosed near the onset of the dark cycle.
Paleozoic brachiopod symbioses: Testing the limits of modern analogues in paleoecology

Paleoecologic interpretations involving symbiotic interactions begin with a determination that the partners were simultaneously alive. Criteria for recognizing live-live interactions among benthic suspension feeders include: (1) preferred locations of symbionts on (encrusting) or in (boring or embedding) the host; (2) preferred orientations of elongate symbionts or clustering of symbiont apertures and feeding structures in relation to host-induced currents; and (3) growth abnormalities and/or distortions of the host, the symbiont, or both. Interpretations of the nutritional aspects of ancient symbioses involve establishment of feeding locations and methods and the diets of Holocene descendants. However, use of living analogues and, hence, their value in paleoecology, commonly invoke the unwarranted assumption that the host-symbiont interaction and the foods available to the partners have not evolved in concert with their skeletons. These nutritional uncertainties are compounded further in symbioses involving fossils of unknown biological affinities or taxa that have evolved by different rules. Analyses of Paleozoic brachiopod symbioses spanning the gamut from symbionts of undoubted ancestor-descendent relations (e.g., Spirorbis ) to trace fossils (e.g., Trypanites ) exemplify these nutritional uncertainties. Most of these symbionts suggest that in life, spiriferaceans were attached to the substrate by a thick, short pedicle and that the hinge line and/or umbo of the brachial valve acted as a fulcrum to elevate the commissure into the water column for efficient suspension feeding. Conversely, the same symbionts provide equivocal results when used to infer the circulation pattern of spiriferacean mantle cavity currents. These analyses also exemplify the great limitations of uniformitarian concepts in evolving biological systems.
Research and Development of High Voltage Linear Fiber Isolation System

In the high voltage power supply system,signals should be insulated and transmitted between the high voltage circuit and measurement control system. The fiber isolation system not only satisfies the requirements of high voltage isolation but also has excellent ability against the electromagnetic disturbance. Two methods,which are adopted to insulate and transmit the analog signal in high power system by fiber,are introduced,and the configuration of isolation transmission system and design scheme of analog signal isolation transmission are explained.The experiment results show that the analog signal can be insu- lated and transmitted well between the high potential power supply circuit and its measurement circuits,because the emitter of this fiber is olation system works in its linearity range.
Minimizing the Return Array for Full-Aircraft Lightning Transient Analysis Testing

The aircraft under Lightning Transient Analysis (LTA) testing requires a return array to balance the magnetic fields near the aircraft. A quasi-coaxial return array is the standard method to minimize the effect that the return conductor currents have on the current distribution on the aircraft and aircraft wiring. The intent of this study is to determine by analysis the minimum return array required to get the desired balance of fields around the aircraft. A side benefit of this study is the determination of the variation in aircraft data when the fields are not balanced (such as when only one return array wire is used). A large number of models with various numbers of return array configurations was simulated and analyzed by using a basic cylindrical fuselage model. The front and back of the fuselage were connected to the array by single wires located in the center of the shell close-outs. The injected current was applied to the wire connected to the front of the fuselage. These results provide useful data for determining the minimum usable return array for use in testing. It also provides data that can be used to compensate for the effects of using only a single-sided return array. The study compared the effects of these configurations on both carbon fiber and aluminum aircraft.
Analysis on laboratory results of measles surveillance in Heze city from 2009 to 2012

Objective In order to improve the operation level of Measles Surveillance System(MSS), and to do a good job of measles epidemic monitoring and emergency handling work, and to provide the basic data for confirming measles elimination. Methods Descriptive analysis was conducted on the data of laboratory surveillance of MSS in 2009-2012. Results 322、485、70 and 61 Measles-like Illnesses(MLI) were reported during the period of 2009- 2012 respectively, and the measles incidences(per 100000) were 2.98、4.75、0.37、0.11. 55, 52, 23 and 2 cases were confirmed through the laboratory diagnosis respectively. The collecting rate of blood serum samples of the cases was from 19.87% to 83.61%, significant differences found(P 0.05). The report rate of the blood serum samples after being tested within 7days was from 52.94% to 94.23%, significant differences found(P 0.05). The Laboratory diagnosis cases were confirmed sporadic measles cases. The groups aged under 3years accounted for 51.52%(68/132) in all the laboratory diagnosis cases, while the groups aged 20 years and above accounted for 32.58%(43/132). Of all 132 laboratory diagnosis cases, there were 56 cases with no measles vaccination history, which accounted for 42.42%. Conclusion MSS was running normally, and the measles morbidity was under control. More attention should be paid to the measles situations among the groups aged under 8 months and among the adults. To raise measles vaccine coverage is one of the focuses in the nearly future.
Biosynthesis of prostaglandin E 2 in human skin: subcellular localization and inhibition by unsaturated fatty acids and anti-inflammatory drugs

The biosynthesis of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) from [1-(14)C]arachidonic acid has been demonstrated in homogenates and subcellular fractions of human epidermis. This biosynthetic capacity is localized in the microsomal fraction, indicating the presence of an active prostaglandin synthetase system associated with membranes of the skin. The incorporation of (14)C from [1-(14)C]arachidonic acid into PGE(2) by the microsomal fraction was enhanced by EDTA. This apparent increase in (14)C incorporation into PGE(2) in the presence of EDTA could be due at least in part to its chelating properties of removing the divalent cations in the homogenate that enhance the selective formation of PGF(2alpha) and the suppression of the activity of epidermal phospholipase A, which causes the release of nonradioactive fatty acid precursors from endogenous phospholipids. This study has also demonstrated that the formation of PGE(2) from arachidonic acid by the microsomal fraction from human skin could be inhibited by polyunsaturated fatty acids, suggesting a possible regulatory role of fatty acids released from endogenous phospholipids on prostaglandin synthesis in this tissue. The inhibitory effects of some anti-inflammatory drugs on skin microsomal prostaglandin synthetase were also demonstrated in these studies. Results from these studies indicate that the skin is therefore a useful tissue for the study of mechanisms of prostaglandin biosynthesis and the mode of action of various anti-inflammatory drugs.
Operator and Query Progress Estimation in Microsoft SQL Server Live Query Statistics

We describe the design and implementation of the new Live Query Statistics (LQS) feature in Microsoft SQL Server 2016. The functionality includes the display of overall query progress as well as progress of individual operators in the query execution plan. We describe the overall functionality of LQS, give usage examples and detail all areas where we had to extend the current state-of-the-art to build the complete LQS feature. Finally, we evaluate the effect these extensions have on progress estimation accuracy with a series of experiments using a large set of synthetic and real workloads.
Mechanobiology, Tissue Development and Organ Engineering

Abstract Tissue engineering has as its main goal the fabrication of artificial tissues for use as replacements for damaged body structures. Great advances have been made in terms of developing prosthetic devices that can repair structural defects (e.g., vascular grafts) and even replace complex mechanical behaviors (e.g., artificial joints). However, the challenge for the future is to develop tissue substitutes that restore the normal biochemical functions of living tissues in addition to their structural features. To accomplish this feat, we must first establish precise design criteria for tissue fabrication. These design features should be based on a thorough understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of tissue regulation. They also must take into account the important role that insoluble extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds and mechanical stresses play in control of cell phenotypes or “fates” (e.g., growth, differentiation, motility, apoptosis, different stem cell lineages) during tissue formation and repair. This latter point is critical since the spatial organization of cells and the mechanical constraints imposed on them as they grow actively regulate tissue development () as well as tissue and organ function throughout adult life.
LB1.65 Frequency of broadly neutralising antibodies in hiv-1 chronically infected individuals in ugandan clades a & d

Introduction The study was aimed at assessing frequencies of neutralising antibodies in individuals affected with the commonest HIV-1 clades A and D in Uganda. Methods This was a cross- sectional study of 83 HIV-1 chronically infected Anti- Retroviral Therapy (ART) naive adults who were enrolled from Medical Research Council (MRC) cohort and The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) Clinic in Entebbe. Samples of Plasma were tested for the neutralisation activity against a panel of 3 clade A and D viruses using the Neutralisation Assays. Neutralisation assays were performed using Env pseudovirus viruses in the TZM-bl cell- based assay. Neutralisation values were obtained as the plasma dilutions at which virus entry was inhibited by 50% compared to that in the absence of plasma (IC50). A plasma sample was scored as displaying neutralising activity against a particular virus if at least 50% inhibition of infection was recorded at the lowest plasma dilution tested (1: 20) in at least two independent neutralisation assays. Results Clade A viruses are better neutralised compared to clade D viruses. Individuals whose titers were above 1080 (labelled red required further sample dilution. 51.81% of the participants had their antibody neutralisation titers above 40. There was a significant difference between the proportion of clade A viruses neutralised and those of clade D as obtained statistically using the Mann- Whitney test with a p- value Conclusion Generally, the frequency of neutralising antibodies was found to be much higher in Clade A compared to Clade D. This implies that in case of a vaccine design, emphasis should be put on Clade D subtype since it’s harder to neutralise naturally.
Future Directions for Gland-Preserving Surgery

Like any field of endeavor, the future of gland-preserving therapy for salivary disorders depends to a large degree on the quality of current efforts at research and development. Whereas the first 25 years of minimally invasive salivary surgery focused on the technologic advancement of salivary scopes and surgical instruments, the next phase will focus on the complete medical and surgical management of salivary gland disorders using innovative imaging and pharmaceutical interventions. In addition, greater attention will be paid to patient outcomes to improve patient selection for endoscopic salivary surgery. To achieve these goals, salivary surgeons will need to work together to ask the pertinent questions and find answers using research designs that provide the highest level of scientific evidence.
Silica–Conjugated Polymer Hybrid Fluorescent Nanoparticles: Preparation by Surface-Initiated Polymerization and Spectroscopic Studies

Organic/inorganic hybrid nanoscale materials possess fascinating optical, electronic, magnetic, and catalytic properties that are promising for a variety of practical applications. Such properties can be dramatically affected by the hierarchical structure and molecular organization in the nanomaterials. Herein, we employed surface-initiated Kumada catalyst-transfer polymerization to prepare hybrid materials consisting of shells of conjugated polymers (CPs)—polythiophene or poly(p-phenylene)—and their block copolymers covalently attached to the surface of silica nanoparticles. Because of the controlled chain-growth mechanism of surface-initiated polymerization, we obtained structurally well-defined CP blocks in the diblock copolymer shells, which produced distinct spectroscopic properties related to the intraparticle excitation energy transfer between the nanoscale polymer shell components, as well as the formation of interfacial exciplex states. The spectroscopic phenomena were further understood via time...
“Will the Jungle Take Over?” National Review and the Defense of Western Civilization in the Era of Civil Rights and African Decolonization

During the 1950s and 1960s, conservative intellectuals in the United States described African decolonization and the civil rights movement as symptoms of a global threat to white, Western civilization. In the most influential conservative journal of the period, National Review, writers such as William F. Buckley grouped these events together as dangerous contributors to civilizational decline. In the crucible of transnational black revolt, some conservative intellectuals embraced scientific racism in the 1960s. These often-ignored features of conservative intellectual thought provided space for white supremacist ideals to continue to ferment on the American right into the twenty-first century.
Radiotherapy in Wilms' tumour.

Abstract Radiotherapy in the treatment of Wilms' tumour has had a long and distinguished history. In the pre-chemotherapy era, it was shown that radiotherapy given postoperatively increased the survival of patients with this disease. As Wilms' tumour is highly chemosensitive, the use of radiotherapy has been modified and it is now clear that it is not necessary for patients with stage I and II favourable histology (approximately 60% of all patients with Wilms' tumour). No dose response has been demonstrated for radiotherapy in Wilms' tumour; therefore, the National Wilms' Tumor Study protocols use 10 Gy. Results from the International Society of Pediatric Oncology and United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group have shown that radiotherapy must continue to be used in certain circumstances.
Theory of Solidification

1. Introduction 2. Pure substances 3. Binary substances 4. Nonlinear theory for directional solidification 5. Anisotrophy 6. Disequilibrium 7. Dendrites 8. Eutectics 9. Microscale fluid flow 10. Mesoscale fluid flow 11. Phase-field models.
Theoretical Problems in the Design of Tools to Aid in the Construction of Parallel Programs

The subject of parallel computation has been around for almost 20 years and, until very recently, it has been an exotic subdiscipline of computer architecture and algorithm analysis. However, recently we have seen a fundamental shift in the role of parallelism studies in both academic computer science and in the computer industry. In particular, parallel computation issues are now a significant part of research in most branches of computer science and the industry sees parallelism as the only answer to the next generation of high performance machines. Because we can now build parallel systems with relative ease and because application programmers are now intensively involved in the use of these machines, the nature of basic research has shifted focus. In the past, when there were no real machines available, all we could do was make theoretical studies of parallel algorithm complexity and debate the merits of switching network design. Now the discipline more closely resembles other sciences in that there is a very active experimental branch of computer science that is busy testing new design theories and algorithms. The experimental work is driving new investigations of theoretical questions that have arisen from our need to fully understand this first generation of parallel hardware.
Observations of Cocoon Deposition, Emergence, and Feeding in Philobdella floridana (Verrill)

Philobdella floridana, a species of leech in the family Macrobdellidae, occupies a broad, yet seemingly patchy, distribution in the Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain regions of the southeastern US. A recent collection of an adult P. floridana from North Carolina gave us a unique opportunity to observe several poorly understood, and previously mischaracterized, aspects of the ecology of the species, including cocoon deposition, emergence of young from cocoons, and feeding behavior. In addition, we provide new records of P. floridana, extending its known distribution northward in both the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Our observations provide important insight into the reproduction, diet, and habitat of a widespread yet little understood leech species.
Calcifications at Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Imaging Features and Biopsy Techniques

Full-field digital mammography (FFDM), the standard of care for breast cancer screening, has some limitations. With the advent of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), improvements including decreased recall rates and increased cancer detection rates have been observed. The quasi-three-dimensional capability of DBT reduces breast tissue overlap, a significant limitation of FFDM. However, early studies demonstrate that a few cancers detected at FFDM may not be diagnosed at DBT-only screening, and lesions with calcifications as the dominant feature may look less suspicious at DBT or not be visible at all. These findings support the use of combined FFDM and DBT protocols to optimize screening performance. However, this combination would approximately double the patient's radiation exposure. The development of computer algorithms that generate two-dimensional synthesized mammography (SM) views from DBT has improved calcification conspicuity and sensitivity. Therefore, SM may substitute for FFDM in screening protocols, reducing radiation exposure. DBT plus SM demonstrates significantly better performance than that of FFDM alone, although there are reports of missed malignant calcifications. Thus, some centers continue to perform FFDM with DBT. Use of DBT in breast imaging has also necessitated the development of DBT-guided biopsy. DBT-guided biopsy may have a higher success rate than that of stereotactic biopsy, with a shorter procedure time. While DBT brings substantial improvements to breast cancer imaging, it is important to be aware of its strengths and limitations regarding detection of calcifications. This article reviews the imaging appearance of breast calcifications at DBT, discusses calcification biopsy techniques, and provides an overview of the current literature. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2019 An earlier incorrect version of this article appeared online. This article was corrected on February 13, 2019.
Strategies for safe living following solid organ transplantation—Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice

The present AST-IDCOP guidelines update information on strategies for safe living after organ transplantation. While transplantation carries an increased risk for infection from the recipient's environment due to lifelong immunosuppression, the goal is for the recipient to be able to return to their home and live as normal a life as possible with a functioning graft. The current guideline provides updates to prior recommendations including additions on infections from water and food sources, exposures to animals, cannabis use as well as sexual exposures or those encountered with travel. Similar to the prior editions, many of the recommendations are based on good infection prevention standards, extrapolation from other immunocompromised hosts, and risks found from cases series in transplant patients. Enhanced education and attention to incorporating safe living strategies into daily life should help to accomplish successful transplant with recipients achieving a fulfilling life away from the hospital.
Subretinal infiltration of monocyte derived cells and complement misregulation in mice with AMD-like pathology.

We have characterized a naturally-occurring mutation in mice that causes slow, progressive photoreceptor degeneration, white fundus flecks, and late-onset RPE atrophy. These animals predictably lose visual function as photoreceptors degenerate. Genetic studies identified a deletion in the 5’ coding sequence of Mfrp, designated Mfrp 174delG , which essentially results in a complete knockout at the protein level. We have shown in Mfrp 174delG mice that these white fundus flecks are due to the presence of F4/80+ inflammatory cells in the subretinal space. Here we expand on our initial description of the cells with additional markers and by determining their origin. We have also begun an analysis of complement factors in the RPE and found decreased levels of C3d, suggesting that the alternative complement pathway may be misregulated. Finally, we compare and contrast the characteristics of fundus images in Mfrp 174delG mice with those of other mutations that cause similar irregularities, including Crb1 rd8 and RDH5, and discuss the structural differences that may underlie them.
Adaptive task offloading over wireless in mobile edge computing

In energy-aware mobile edge computing systems, offloading real-time application tasks to remote edge nodes may become counter-productive as frequent fluctuations in wireless channels that are used for task offloading cause overall task execution time to increase. In this paper, we propose an adaptive task offloading algorithm to optimize and balance energy consumption at end-devices and overall task execution time.
CCL2 and CXCL12 Derived from Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Cooperatively Polarize IL-10+ Tissue Macrophages to Mitigate Gut Injury

Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based therapy for inflammatory diseases involves paracrine and efferocytotic activation of immunosuppressive interleukin-10+ (IL-10+) macrophages. The paracrine pathway for MSC-mediated IL-10+ macrophage functionality and response to tissue injury is not fully understood. In our present study, clodronate pre-treatment of colitic mice confirms the essential role of endogenous macrophages in bone-marrow-derived MSC (BM-MSC)-mediated clinical rescue of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. We identify that BM-MSC-secreted chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) cooperate as a heterodimer to upregulate IL-10 expression in CCR2+ macrophages in vitro and that CCL2 expression by MSC is required for IL-10+ polarization of intestinal and peritoneal resident macrophages in vivo. We observe that tissue macrophage IL-10 polarization in vivo is widespread involving extra-intestinal tissues and secondarily leads to bystander IL-10 expression in intestine-resident B and T cells. In conclusion, the BM-MSC-derived chemokine interactome dictates an IL-10+-macrophage-amplified anti-inflammatory response in toxic colitis.
Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal, a century in waiting

In PNAS, the liquid crystal group of the Soft Materials Research Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, led by N. A. Clark, reports on the discovery of a ferroelectric nematic fluid NF, an additional state of matter (Chen et al., ref. 1) (Fig. 1 A ). Such a phase has been expected at least since 1916 (2), but first-principle experiments have never demonstrated its existence until now. To many, the word “nematic” is associated with the informational revolution of the 20th century and portable displays enabled by this liquid crystal. That nematic (N), shown in Fig. 1 B and C , is a nonpolar version of the discovered nematic. Fig. 1. ( A and B ) Random selection of molecular dipoles in ferroelectric NF ( A ) and dielectric N ( B ) nematics. ( C ) Topological defects, disclinations, and a point defect–hedgehog, in N. ( D–F ) Domain walls in ferromagnets ( D ) and in NF ( E and F ). ( G and H ) Disclinations in N serve as seeds of domain walls in NF with different orientations of the polarization vector, weakly ( G ) and strongly ( H ) charged. Molecules of N, usually of a rod-like shape, align parallel to each other but otherwise are free to move around, showing no long-range positional order. The rods are 2 to 3 nm long, typically with chemically distinct ends, but molecular interactions do not distinguish between these ends and the fluid is nonpolar (Fig. 1 B ). The apolar character of N is captured by the identity property n ^ ≡ − n ^ of the headless vector n ^ , called the director, which specifies the average orientation of the molecules. The nonpolarity is also reflected in the name. The term nematic derives from the Greek νeμα, which reads “nema” and means “thread.” The word was invented by Friedel in 1922 (3), who … [↵][1]1Email: olavrent{at}kent.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Paleoenvironments and geochemistry across a continuous Permian–Triassic boundary section at Bűkk Mountains, Hungary

Abstract The Balvany North Permian-Triassic boundary sediments were deposited on a carbonate platform in the tropical part of the western PaleoTethys ocean. The overall elemental geochemistry of the detailed two-metre-thick section across the boundary that we studied shows that the clastic content of the sediments came from dominantly silica-rich continental sources though with some more silica-poor inputs in the uppermost Permian and lowest Triassic limestones as shown by Ni/Al and Nb/Ta ratios. These inputs bracket, but do not coincide with, the main extinctions and associated C, O and S changes. Increased aridity at the Permian-Triassic boundary with increased wind abrasion of suitable Ti-bearing heavy minerals accounts for both the high Ti/Al and Ti/Zr ratios. Various geochemical redox proxies suggest mainly oxic depositional conditions, with episodes of anoxia, but with little systematic variation across the Permian–Triassic extinction boundary. The lack of consistent element geochemical changes across the Permian-Triassic boundary occur not only in adjacent shallower-water marine sections, and in other marine sections along the SW Tethys margin such as the Salt Range sections in Pakistan, but also in deeper shelf and oceanic sections, and in non- marine African and European continental sediments. In the absence of significant changes in physical environments, chemical changes in the atmosphere and oceans, reflected in various isotopic changes, drove the Permian–Triassic extinctions.
MD and MDL Characterization Using Direct-Detection Pulse Measurements

Direct-detection of optical pulses can be used to characterize the modal dispersion and the mode-dependent loss of multimode and multicore optical fibers. We investigate the accuracy of direct-detection measurements in the case of several few-mode fibers.
The Transcription Factor Foxp3 Shapes Regulatory T Cell Identity by Tuning the Activity of trans-Acting Intermediaries

Summary Regulatory T (Treg) cell identity is defined by the lineage-specifying transcription factor (TF) Foxp3. Here we examined mechanisms of Foxp3 function by leveraging naturally occurring genetic variation in wild-derived inbred mice, which enables the identification of DNA sequence motifs driving epigenetic features. Chromatin accessibility, TF binding, and gene expression patterns in resting and activated subsets of Treg cells, conventional CD4 T cells, and cells expressing a Foxp3 reporter null allele revealed that the majority of Foxp3-dependent changes occurred at sites not bound by Foxp3. Chromatin accessibility of these indirect Foxp3 targets depended on the presence of DNA binding motifs for other TFs, including TCF1. Foxp3 expression correlated with decreased TCF1 and reduced accessibility of TCF1-bound chromatin regions. Deleting one copy of the Tcf7 gene recapitulated Foxp3-dependent negative regulation of chromatin accessibility. Thus, Foxp3 defines Treg cell identity in a largely indirect manner by fine-tuning the activity of other major chromatin remodeling TFs such as TCF1.
Patient Mindset and the Success of Carpal Tunnel Release

BACKGROUND: Depression and pain catastrophizing are aspects of the patient's mindset that have been shown to be important in relation to the outcome of carpal tunnel release. However, other factors of the patient's mindset have been understudied, such as treatment expectations and illness perceptions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of these mindset aspects on outcome of carpal tunnel release, in addition to psychological distress and pain catastrophizing. METHODS: A total of 307 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome who visited outpatient hand surgery clinics and who completed online questionnaires regarding demographic and psychosocial characteristics and carpal tunnel syndrome severity were included. The patient mindset was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Credibility Expectancy Questionnaire, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Hierarchical linear regression models were used to examine the relation between self-reported severity 6 months after carpal tunnel release, as measured with the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, and psychosocial aspects of mindset, adjusting for preoperative Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire score, patient characteristics, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Independent associations with better self-reported outcome were found for higher treatment expectations (β = -0.202; p < 0.001) and illness comprehensibility (β = -0.223; p < 0.001). The additional explained variance in Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire scores by the patient's mindset was 13.2 percent (psychological distress and pain catastrophizing together, 2.1 percent; treatment expectations and illness perceptions together, 11.1 percent). CONCLUSION: Treatment outcome expectations and comprehensibility of illness are both independently associated with the outcome of carpal tunnel release, showing the importance of these aspects of the patient's mindset for the outcome of carpal tunnel release. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.
Teaching English through Play: Then and Now

In this present age of intercultural communication and social media, learning a second language has become of paramount importance to many students. English is perhaps the most demanded foreign language, and many teachers have found that one of the best ways to teach English is through the use of “play.” While play has been a component of teaching English as a foreign language for many years, teachers have had to adapt their use of play to keep up with the technological and cultural changes taking place in educational institutions throughout the world. This paper aims to examine how the use of “play” in teaching English as a foreign language has both developed and changed over the last 35-40 years, through a review of educational literature. Examples of the types of “play” studied include drama and digital play, and it is found that different types of play provide students with different arenas in which to learn English. A more thorough look at technological play and second language learning would complement the findings of this paper.
The overlooked story of the immigrant lawyer experience in the United States: analyzing income differences in the American legal profession

The study of lawyers and legal professionals has long been fertile ground for socio-legal research. Such inquiries typically emphasize the role of these attorneys in shaping social processes and de...
Longitudinal Changes of Patellar Alignment Before and After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Hamstring Autograft.

Background:Evidence has suggested that after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR), individuals exhibit patellar malalignment; however, it is unknown if patellar alignment changes ...
Associations Between Patient–Provider Secure Message Content and Patients' Health Care Visits

Background: Between-visit communications can play a vital role in improving intermediate patient outcomes such as access to care and satisfaction. Secure messaging is a growing modality for these c...
Simulator Sickness Questionnaire: Twenty Years Later

The present study used simulator sickness questionnaire data from nine different studies to validate and explore the work of the most widely used simulator sickness index. The ability to predict participant dropouts as a result of simulator sickness symptoms was also evaluated. Overall, participants experiencing nausea and nausea-related symptoms were the most likely to fail to complete simulations. Further, simulation specific factors that increase the discrepancy between visual and vestibular perceptions are also related to higher participant study dropout rates. As a result, it is suggested that simulations minimize turns, curves, stops, et cetera, if possible, in order to minimize participant simulation sickness symptoms. The present study highlights several factors to attend to in order to minimize elevated participant simulation sickness.
The Emerging Project Bond Market : Covenant Provisions and Credit Spreads

The emergence in the 1990s of a nascent project bond market to fund long-term infrastructure projects in developing countries merits attention. The authors compile detailed information on a sample of 105 bonds issued between January 1993 and March 2002 for financing infrastructure projects in developing countries, document their contractual covenants, and analyze their pricing determinants. They find that on average, project bonds are issued at approximately 300 basis points above U.S. Treasury securities, have a surprisingly high issue size of US$278 million, a maturity of slightly under 12 years, and are rated slightly below investment grade. In terms of geographic origin, projects in Asia and Latin America have issued more bonds than those located in other regions. Much of the recent work relating to the role of contractual covenants to the determination of bond prices has focused on the U.S. corporate bond market with its unique bankruptcy code - Chapter 11 - and well developed legal framework, recognizing the bond contract as the sole instrument of defining the rights and duties of various parties. In circumstances in which the underpinning legal and institutional frameworks governing contract formation and enforcement are not well developed, the link between bond pricing and legal framework becomes important. This finding is confirmed by the authors' econometric analysis of project bond pricing model. So, investors take into account the quality of the host country's legal framework and reward projects located in countries that adhere to the rule of law with tighter credit spreads and lower funding costs.
Diseases with long-term consequences in search of a microbial agent.

Host factors that may contribute to long-term consequences as a result of infections include the genetic background of the host (major histocompatibility complex status or genetic defects that increase susceptibility to disease), concomitant infections, age, gender, hormonal status, immune status, nutritional status, environmental factors, and behavioral attitudes. In the present chapter, the symptoms and long-term consequences of chronic diseases, including autism, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and multiple sclerosis (MS) are discussed. The diagnosis of CFS is based on clinical criteria; currently, there is no laboratory test for the identification of CFS. It is likely that CFS is due to infection by a heterogeneous group of microbial agents. Secondary progressive MS (SPMS) is seen in approximately 40% of RRMS patients. It starts out like RRMS, but as time progresses, patients show shorter and shorter periods of recovery between attacks. It is probable that a number of microbial agents or environmental insults can trigger the disease. The major neuropathological finding in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the loss of pigmented dopaminergic neurons. It has been proposed that children who experience tics or obsessive-compulsive disorders are suffering from an autoimmune response to group A β-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) infections. Tourette’s syndrome probably should be classified as one of the diseases caused by pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) since GABHS infections have been associated with the syndrome.
Survey Research in Domestic Violence Facilities: Challenges and Best Practices

In the United States, there are approximately 2,000 domestic violence facilities, ranging from short-term shelters to longer-term transitional housing facilities providing a safe haven for women and their children fleeing life-threatening violence. Survey researchers interested in working with populations resident in domestic violence facilities may find that a number of social and legal factors complicate their ability to do so, including legal restrictions, trauma-informed trust issues, social services fatigue, facility culture, and restricted access to records. This article offers a brief overview of these issues and offers research-based best practices for overcoming them in survey research.
Fertilizing the tree of knowledge: Environmental history comes of age

A recently published encyclopedia of environmental history reflects both the strengths and weaknesses attending this growing aeld of study. The encyclopedia succeeds in showing that natural forces constrain and structure human history. But it is less successful at exploring the interface between environment and social relations, as evidenced in its treatment of political economy, free trade, and natural disasters.
Diamond and Zinc-Blende Structure Semiconductors

In this chapter, we will concentrate on the tetravalent semiconductors. These materials are, in many ways, archtypical semiconductors. Owing to their elemental nature and their enormous technological value, our theoretical and experimental knowledge of these elements probably exceeds that for any other solid state material. For example, it is often stated that silicon is to solid state physics what the hydrogen atom is to atomic physics. Though cliches are often trivializing in nature, the comparison here is not. The amount of data for silicon is immense; almost every conceivable probe has been applied to silicon with a concurrent analysis of theoretical predictions. Most of the theoretical results given in this chapter are from [8.1].
NMR, Mass Spectrometry and Chemical Evidence Reveal a Different Chemical Structure for Methanobactin That Contains Oxazolone Rings

Methanobactin (mb) is a small copper-binding peptide produced by methanotrophic bacteria and is intimately involved in both their copper metabolism and their role in the global carbon cycle. The st...
Structural details and composition of Trichomonas vaginalis lipophosphoglycan in relevance to the epithelial immune function

Trichomonas vaginalis causes the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection linked to increased risk of premature birth, cervical cancer and HIV. This study defines molecular domains of the parasite surface glycoconjugate lipophosphoglycan (LPG) with distinct functions in the host immunoinflammatory response. The ceramide phospho-inositol glycan core (CPI-GC) released by mild acid had Mr of approximately 8,700 Da determined by MALDI-TOF MS. Rha, GlcN, Gal and Xyl and small amounts of GalN and Glc were found in CPI-GC. N-acetyllactosamine repeats were identified by endo-beta-galactosidase treatment followed by MALDI-MS and MS/MS and capLC/ESI-MS/MS analyses. Mild acid hydrolysis led to products rich in internal deoxyhexose residues. The CPI-GC induced chemokine production, NF-kappaB and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation in human cervicovaginal epithelial cells, but neither the released saccharide components nor the lipid-devoid LPG showed these activities. These results suggest a dominant role for CPI-GC in the pathogenic epithelial response to trichomoniasis.
Heat transfer to plane non-Newtonian Couette flow

Abstract Heat transfer to laminar non-Newtonian Couette flow with pressure gradient is investigated in the present work. The general velocity distribution for a power-law non-Newtonian fluid is developed. The heat transfer model, which includes the viscous dissipation, is numerically simulated by using an implicit finite difference method. Comparison of the present numerical solutions for a special case with the previous ones shows very good agreement for two different types of boundary conditions. The effects of several dimensionless parameters, such as reciprocal of dimensionless pressure gradient, pseudoplastic index and viscous dissipation parameter, on the heat transfer characteristics are numerically explored.