cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Networking Sites’ Impact on Political Engagement: An Emphasis on African Americans

In the past several years, Social Networking Sites (SNS) have played an increasing role in galvanizing citizens to participate in local and national elections. For Example, in 2008, Twitter was used as a vehicle to mobilize young voters to support presidential candidate Barack Obama, by using inline posts to present his policy agenda. Also, the 2010 mid-term elections were another example of SNS users forming political coalitions to shape national politics. For example, Tea Party members used Twitter and Facebook as tools of political dissent. SNS also led them to establish a political movement centered on political reform.The purpose of this paper is to determine whether there is a direct correlation between social networking usage and level of political engagement among African Americans. In essence, I intend to test whether social networking could be used to bring about political participation among African Americans. In addition to obtaining supporting data from the content analysis section of the paper, I will be able to outline key points that are critical to my main argument that African Americans SNS usage and their Facebook political group affiliations determine how they employ their respective social Web utilities to follow or befriend a political candidate.Methodologically, I will utilize a diachronic approach to analyze the evolution of social networking sites’ impact on political engagement among African Americans. The technique will deal with the influence of social networking on African American political engagement. Thus, the hypothesis is that an African American social network user is more likely to be political active the more he or she engages in network activities. Data collection will be based on document analysis of secondary sources of, books, journals, and Internet sources. Online interviews will also be conducted to argument the data acquired. The data collected will be systematically analyzed using a triangulative technique that will encompass both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
The design of selective and non-selective combination therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is an unique subtype of acute myeloid leukemia typically carrying a specific reciprocal chromosome translocation, t(15;17), leading to the expression of a leukemia-generating fusion protein, PML-RARα. APL patients are responsive to APL-selective reagents such as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or arsenic trioxide and non-selective cytotoxic chemotherapy. Nearly all de novo APL patients undergo clinical remission when treated with ATRA plus chemotherapy or with the combinational selective therapy, ATRA plus As2O3. Combining ATRA with As2O3 as an induction followed by chemotherapy consolidation results in more profound clinical remissions compared to treatment with any agent alone or any of the other possible combinations. The mechanism of action of each of these agents differs. ATRA induces APL cell differentiation and PML-RARα proteolysis. As2O3 induces APL cell partial differentiation, PML-RARα proteolysis, and apoptosis. Chemotherapy, mainly using anthracyclines, induces APL cell death. The combined effects of selective APL therapy (ATRA and As2O3) and/or non-selective chemotherapy in APL cells in vitro and their mechanisms in relation to clinical protocol design are discussed.
Inhibition of tumor necrosis factor prevents warming-induced sleep responses in rabbits

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a key regulatory component of sleep. In the present study, we determined the effects of intracerebroventricular injection of a TNF inhibitor, a soluble TNF receptor fragment (TNF-RF), on sleep responses of rabbits during and after exposure to mild increases in ambient temperature (T(amb)). Each rabbit (n = 8) was recorded under three conditions: 1) normal T(amb) (21 degrees C) with pyrogen-free saline (PFS), 50 microl i.c.v.; 2) 27 degrees C T(amb) with PFS, intracerebroventricularly; and 3) 27 degrees C T(amb) with the TNF-RF, 50 microg i.c.v. When T(amb) was increased to 27 degrees C from 21 degrees C, it was kept at that temperature for 6 h after injection. The higher T(amb) alone significantly increased non-rapid eye movement sleep, decreased rapid eye movement sleep, and increased brain temperature (T(br)) across the 23-h recording period. Electroencephalogram slow-wave activity was also significantly enhanced during the 6-h warming period. In contrast, all of the sleep responses associated with the higher T(amb) were absent if rabbits were pretreated with the TNF-RF. The elevated T(br) during the higher T(amb) was not affected by the TNF-RF. The present results suggest that brain TNF is involved in the mild increases in T(amb)-induced sleep responses.
Confirmed Delivery Multicast Protocol in Delay-Tolerant and Disruptive Networks

This paper evaluates the performance of the NORM multicast transport protocol, when used in mobile satellite channels that behave as in delay-tolerant and disruptive networks (DTN). Comparisons are made between multicast transmissions with and without interleaver when NORM is used in “confirmed delivery” mode.
Open-Loop Control of Oxidative Phosphorylation in Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Mitochondria by Ca2+

In cardiac muscle, mitochondrial ATP synthesis is driven by demand for ATP through feedback from the products of ATP hydrolysis. However, in skeletal muscle at higher workloads there is an apparent contribution of open-loop stimulation of ATP synthesis. Open-loop control is defined as modulation of flux through a biochemical pathway by a moiety, which is not a reactant or a product of the biochemical reactions in the pathway. The role of calcium, which is known to stimulate the activity of mitochondrial dehydrogenases, as an open-loop controller, was investigated in isolated cardiac and skeletal muscle mitochondria. The kinetics of NADH synthesis and respiration, feedback from ATP hydrolysis products, and stimulation by calcium were characterized in isolated mitochondria to test the hypothesis that calcium has a stimulatory role in skeletal muscle mitochondria not apparent in cardiac mitochondria. A range of respiratory states were obtained in cardiac and skeletal muscle mitochondria utilizing physiologically relevant concentrations of pyruvate and malate, and flux of respiration, NAD(P)H fluorescence, and rhodamine 123 fluorescence were measured over a range of extra mitochondrial calcium concentrations. We found that under these conditions calcium stimulates NADH synthesis in skeletal muscle mitochondria but not in cardiac mitochondria.
Transplantation of Gonads from Lethal to Normal Larvae in Drosophila melanogaster

ConclusionThe distinct but limited development of the transplanted ovaries shows that this organ still has developmental potencies at a time when other organs, such as the imaginai discs, degenerate. This means that the lethal genetic constitution prevents further development in different organs at different periods of time. Whether the further development of the ovaries is based on autonomous potencies or whether it is a result of a favorable influence coming from the genetically normal host cannot be determined from these experiments.The striking difference found between the developmental potencies of transplanted ovaries and testes seems to be correlated with the fact that prior to transplantation, the testes during the third larval instar already show such deleterious changes brought about by the lethal conditions as to prevent their increase in size, whereas the ovaries seem not yet affected.
Multimodal distributions of pigeon’s reaction time

Four pigeons were trained to peck at one disk when presented with white noise at one of five levels2A7E 76 dB SPL and to peck at another disk when presented with white noise at one of five levels 2A7D 72 dB SPL. The distributions of reaction time indicate that, in this situation, the pigeons emit several discrete types of responses, each with its own characteristic speed of execution. Differential reinforcement of short reaction times affects the proportions of the response-type mixture, but not the characteristic speed of each response.
Resistivity and Hall Voltage Investigation of Phosphorus Segregation in Polycrystalline Si1-xGex Thin Films

Dopant segregation in atmospheric-pressure, chemically vapor deposited (APCVD), ~300 nm thick, polycrystalline Si 0.95 Ge 0.5 and Si 0.9 Ge 0.1 thin films, implanted at 80 KeV with 6×10 13 to 5×10 14 P/cm 2 and annealed at 800 °C for 1 hr, was investigated using a combination of Hall and conductivity vs. temperature measurements. Hall measurements, feasible only in heavier doped films, showed that 29% of the phosphorus in Si 0.9 Ge 0.1 and 42% of phosphorus in Si 0.95 Ge 0.05 was electrically inactive. The loss was attributed to dopant segregating to grain boundaries. The density of grain boundaries states was also found to increase slightly with increasing Ge content, from 3.6×10 12 /cm 2 in Si 0.95 Ge 0.05 to 4.4×10 12 /cm 2 in Si 0.9 Ge 0.1 .
Diffusate media for cultivation of oral anaerobic bacteria.

Antigen-free media suitable for cultivating anaerobic bacteria from the human gingival crevice were devised, based upon supplementing diffusates from standard media ingredients. Growth in these is at least as good as in customary media. Formulations suitable for the major species encountered are described and compared.
A grounded typology of foreign-born spouses in Japan: The motivations behind migration to Japan:

Over 3% of all new marriages in Japan are international marriages. Who are these foreign-born spouses? What is the motivation behind their migration to Japan, and what is the role of intermarriage in this move? Drawing from in-depth interviews with 18 foreign-born spouses living in Japan, this preliminary research reveals two dominant motivations behind their migration to Japan: social and economic necessity and social and economic opportunity. We provide a grounded typology for foreign-born spouses by cross-classifying their current social status (based on ethnicity and class) with motivation behind migration (social and economic necessity and social and economic opportunity). We find that intermarriage serves as either the cause of migration, the cause of remigration, or came about as a consequence of migration. Ultimately, the typology reveals the range in foreign-born spouses' (and international couples') experiences, and complexity that is often missing in the discourse on international marriages in ...
Influence of Dispersion Forces and Ordering on the Compositions of Mixed Monolayers of Alkanoic Acids on Nanocrystalline TiO2 Films

Lateral dispersion forces induce the ordering of n-alkanoic acids on nanocrystalline TiO2 films and cause the compositions of mixed monolayers to change. The equilibrium formation of single-component monolayers of n-alkanoic acids and 6-bromohexanoic acid (Br6A) on TiO2 was well-modeled by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Surface adduct formation constants were 103–104 M–1, and saturation amounts of adsorbates per projected surface area of TiO2 were on the order of 10–7 mol cm–2. The adsorption of n-heneicosanoic acid (21A) followed Langmuir kinetics, whereas the net rates of adsorption of shorter n-alkanoic acids and Br6A were slower than predicted by simple Langmuir kinetics, suggesting that desorption was non-negligible. At high surface coverages, n-alkanoic acids with 14 or more methylene groups formed ordered, crystalline monolayers, as evidenced by shifts of asymmetric and symmetric CH2 stretching bands in IR spectra. The extent of ordering was similar to that of self-assembled monolayers of alkane...
Blood Feeding of Anopheles stephensi

Blood feeding of Anopheles stephensi females was partitioned into host detection, probing, gut distention and fluid egestion phases, and 2 subjectively imposed intervals, 30 sec after probing ceased and 60 sec after 1st fluid egestion. During fluid egestion, the cellular components of the blood meal appeared to be concentrated, thus increasing the overall weight of the blood meal. A minimal degree of midgut stretching appeared to be required to initiate follicular development; however, once this critical degree of stretching was surpassed, egg production was proportional to the weight of the blood meal. Sucrose deprivation did not consistently alter feeding behavior or egg production. Prior sensitization by repeated mosquito feeding appeared to exert a negative effect on egg production.
Determination of Trace Chloride in Drinking Water by Silver Nitrate Turbidimetry

Objective To develop a method for the determination of trace chloride in drinking water by silver nitrate turbidimetry. Methods Based on the precipitation reaction of chloride with silver nitrate in acid medium,the sediments produced white emulsion,and a silver nitrate turbidimetry method was proposed for the determination of trace chloride in drinking water. Results The linear ranges of determination for chloride were between 0.10 mg/l and 5.00 mg/l(r=0.9998).The relative standard deviations for chloride were between 0.058% and 1.8%.The recoveries of samples for chloride were between 98.5% and 102.5%.The sensitivity,precision,and accuracy of the method were all superior to those of silver nitrate volumetric method. Conclusions The method is rapid,simple,accurate and highly sensitive,it can be used for analysis of trace chloride in drinking water.
Research on Characteristics and Strategies of Physical Education Teacher's Career Plateau in University

By using the method of literature review,questionnaire survey and interview,this paper investigates and analyzes the phenomenon of physical education teacher's career plateau.The result shows that the total average of the physical education teacher's career plateau is on the middle-level,but there are evident differences in three factors,the score of hierarchical plateau is the highest and the score of the content plateau is the lowest.There are evident differences in total plateau and three factors among the physical education teachers with different gender,age,educational background and school age.The author analyzes the characteristics of physical education teacher's career plateau,put forwards the strategies to deal with it from the teacher,school and society aspects and provides the reference to enrich and expand the teacher education.
Monitoring analysis of subway foundation-pit engineering stability

The open-cut technology is used in the Xinkai River running tunnel of the 16th bid of Shenyang subway engineering,and the cast-in-place pile system surported by steel brace is applied in foundation pit excavating.During the excavating,the pile displacement,the stress of the reinforcing steel bar,the axis stess of the steel brace and the ground subsidence are monitored.The results got by monitor and the effects of the engineering indicate that the foundation pit using cast-in-place pile system is safe,and the foundation pit excavation has little effect on the environment.
Gene therapy for arthritis: principles and clinical practice.

Introduction Arthritic diseases are common crippling conditions for which there are no cures and few useful treatments. Nevertheless recent research into the biology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), the two most common forms of arthritis, has identified a number of potentially anti-arthritic proteins with promising antiinflammatory, immunomodulatory or chondroprotective properties. A number of these proteins have been evaluated in animal models of arthritis, with encouraging results. Clinical application of such mediators is greatly hindered by the lack of a suitable means for delivering them to patients with arthritis. Oral administration of proteins is ineffective, and delivery by injection is inefficient because of the rapidity with which they are cleared. T o circumvent these limitations, we have suggested that instead of delivering the therapeutic proteins themselves, it would be better to deliver the genes that encode them. In this sense, we are proposing gene transfer as a biological drugdelivery system for secreted anti-arthritic proteins [l-41. Although this concept can be extended to include the delivery of other gene products, such as anti-sense RNA or transcription factors, which act intracellularly, the use of genes encoding secreted proteins stands the greatest chance of early success as it can be used in an ex vivo fashion and does not require unreasonably high transduction efficiencies. In this context, the most immediate questions to be
Diagnosis and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

In most cases, diagnosis of prostatism is based on evidence of obstruction to the passage of urine. Diagnostic criteria and procedures are presented, and the indications for treatment, whether nonoperative or operative, are described. The two principal methods of operation are also discussed. With operative methods currently available, few, if any, patients need be denied relief from prostatism.
Sun and Stars

Studies of the Sun differ in two major ways from the other disciplines of astronomy. First, because of the enormous quantity of radiation we receive from our nearest star, the scientific program of solar physics can readily utilize the full range of observational techniques available to astronomers. As a result, solar observations now cover the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from long-wavelength radio waves generated by electrons moving in the Sun’s outer atmosphere, to ultra short-wavelength gamma-ray emissions arising from collisions between atomic nuclei in solar flares. Measurements are made routinely not only with telescopes on Earth’s surface but also by satellites in Earth orbit. Other spacecraft venture into the Solar System itself, orbiting the Sun like little planets, to sample streams of solar gas in space.
Evolutionary Foundations of Developmental Psychopathology

In this chapter we situate developmental psychopathology in an evolutionary perspective and demonstrate how the discipline can benefit by embracing modern biological theory. We begin by presenting the integrative approach of evolutionary-developmental psychology and exploring the interplay between adaptation and maladaptation in the origin of disorders. We then review a host of recent theoretical developments that address the organization of individual differences, the nature of environmental risk, the role of early stress, the nature of gene–environment interactions, the classification of mental disorders, and many other critical issues. Together, these contributions paint the contours of an integrative theory of human development and provide a sophisticated evolutionary foundation for developmental psychopathology. We aim to show that, far from undermining the tenets of developmental psychopathology, the evolutionary framework we describe supports all its core principles while also extending them, clarifying their underlying logic, and connecting them at a deeper level than previously possible. Keywords: developmental plasticity; differential susceptibility; evolutionary-developmental psychology (EDP); gene–environment interactions; life history theory; maladaptation; stress
Factors associated with the omission of androgen deprivation therapy in radiation-managed high-risk prostate cancer.

Purpose Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been shown to improve survival for men with unfavorable-risk prostate cancer (PCa). We investigated the utilization and factors associated with the omission of ADT in radiation-managed high-risk PCa. Methods and Materials We used the National Cancer Database to identify men with National Comprehensive Cancer Network high-risk PCa treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with or without brachytherapy boost from 2004 to 2012. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for clinical and sociodemographic factors was used to identify independent predictors for ADT use. Results A total of 57,968 radiation-treated high-risk PCa men were included in our analysis. There were 49,363 patients (85.2%) treated with EBRT alone and 8605 patients (14.8%) treated with EBRT plus brachytherapy boost. Overall, 77% of men received ADT. In multivariable regression analysis, the use of brachytherapy boost was associated with a significantly lower utilization of ADT (70% vs. 78%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.62–0.69; p-Value <0.0001), as was treatment at an academic vs. nonacademic center (AOR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.86–0.95; p-Value <0.0001) and treatment in 2010–2012 compared to 2004–2006 (AOR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.81–0.90; p-Value <0.0001). Conversely, greater ADT use was seen with higher Gleason scores, PSA, and T-category (all p-Values <0.001). Conclusions Approximately one in four men with radiation-managed high-risk PCa do not receive ADT, which may reflect concerns about its toxicity profile despite known improvements in overall survival. Practice patterns suggest that some providers believe dose escalation through brachytherapy boost may obviate the need for ADT in some high-risk patients, but this hypothesis requires further testing.
The relationship between population density of Paruroctonus utahensis (Scorpionida: Vaejovidae) and characteristics of its habitat

Population density of the desert grassland scorpion, Paruroctonus utahensis was estimated on six shortgrass prairie sites in central New Mexico. Soil hardness, as well as the composition and structure of vegetation, were measured on each site. Standing crop biomass of potential prey for scorpions was estimated on 81 sampling nights for two sites with different densities of scorpions. Paruroctonus utahensis density was positively correlated with vegetation characteristics and inversely correlated with the hardness of the soil. Prey biomass levels were similar on sites with different vegetation and different scorpion density. It is suggested that the density of scorpions is primarily influenced by soil characteristics as they relate to the burrowing behaviour of Paruroctonus utahensis, and only secondarily related to vegetation through the latter's covariation with soil texture.
Multiscale, Hierarchical Patterning of Graphene by Conformal Wrinkling

This paper describes how delamination-free, hierarchical patterning of graphene can be achieved on prestrained thermoplastic sheets by surface wrinkling. Conformal contact between graphene and the substrate during strain relief was maintained by the presence of a soft skin layer, resulting in the uniform patterning of three-dimensional wrinkles over large areas (>cm2). The graphene wrinkle wavelength was tuned from the microscale to the nanoscale by controlling the thickness of the skin layer with 1 nm accuracy to realize a degree of control not possible by crumpling, which relies on delamination. Hierarchical patterning of the skin layers with varying thicknesses enabled multiscale graphene wrinkles with predetermined orientations to be formed. Significantly, hierarchical graphene wrinkles exhibited tunable mechanical stiffness at the nanoscale without compromising the macroscale electrical conductivity.
Lather, rinse, repeat for giant results

Circulating antibodies that bind self-antigens (autoantibodies) are considered important drivers of disease, including autoimmune disorders, infections, and cancers. They may offer peripheral windows into the immune response during disease progression or treatment. Technologies that readily measure
Online Data Thinning via Multi-Subspace Tracking

In an era of ubiquitous large-scale streaming data, the availability of data far exceeds the capacity of expert human analysts. In many settings, such data is either discarded or stored unprocessed in data centers. This paper proposes a method of online data thinning , in which large-scale streaming datasets are winnowed to preserve unique, anomalous, or salient elements for timely expert analysis. At the heart of this proposed approach is an online anomaly detection method based on dynamic, low-rank Gaussian mixture models. Specifically, the high-dimensional covariance matrices associated with the Gaussian components are associated with low-rank models. According to this model, most observations lie near a union of subspaces. The low-rank modeling mitigates the curse of dimensionality associated with anomaly detection for high-dimensional data, and recent advances in subspace clustering and subspace tracking allow the proposed method to adapt to dynamic environments. Furthermore, the proposed method allows subsampling, is robust to missing data, and uses a mini-batch online optimization approach. The resulting algorithms are scalable, efficient, and are capable of operating in real time. Experiments on wide-area motion imagery and e-mail databases illustrate the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Contrasting particle size distributions and Fe isotope fractionations during nanosecond and femtosecond laser ablation of Fe minerals: Implications for LA-MC-ICP-MS analysis of stable isotopes

Abstract Laser ablation coupled to a multi-collector inductively coupled mass spectrometer (LA-MC-ICP-MS) is a promising tool for in situ analysis of metal and metalloid stable isotope ratios. Potential isotopic fractionation associated with laser ablation may, however, cause biased sampling of the substrate, posing a major challenge for precise and accurate isotope ratio measurements. To better characterize the nature of laser ablation induced isotopic fractionation, this study compared particle morphologies, sizes, and size-dependent Fe isotope fractionations produced by ablation of a suite of semi-conductive samples, including natural Fe oxide, sulfide, and carbonate minerals, under various conditions using a 193 nm ArF nanosecond (ns) laser and a 266 nm Ti:sapphire femtosecond (fs) laser. Ablation-produced particles were sorted based on aerodynamic size using a cascade impactor, and Fe isotope compositions of size-sorted particles were then measured offline using conventional solution nebulization ICP-MS to quantify isotopic fractionation produced by the laser ablation. Particle morphology and size distributions produced by ns-laser ablation are more substrate and fluence dependent as compared to fs-laser ablation, resulting from the thermal nature of ns-laser ablation. Often, a higher proportion of the ablated Fe mass resides in particles with large aerodynamic sizes during ns-laser ablation as compared to fs-laser ablation, posing a potential difficulty for LA-ICP-MS analysis due to the increased possibility of incomplete ionization of large particles. Significant size-dependent Fe isotope fractionations of up to several per mil can occur during both ns- and fs-laser ablation, highlighting the importance of quantitative transport of particles to the ICP-MS for accurate Fe isotope analysis. Size-dependent Fe isotope fractionation observed for fs-laser ablation of all Fe minerals can be explained by particle formation through a condensation model, but multiple processes need to be considered to explain the observed Fe isotope fractionation during ns-laser ablation. Mass-balance calculations suggest that ns-laser ablation does not sample magnetite stoichiometrically for Fe isotope compositions at low fluence (1 J/cm2), but does at higher fluences for all minerals. In contrast, fs-laser ablation always provides stoichiometric sampling for Fe isotopes regardless of fluence. Results of this study demonstrate that ns-laser ablation is substrate- and fluence-dependent, resulting in variable particle size distributions and Fe isotope fractionations, and possible non-stoichiometric sampling of semi-conductive samples for Fe isotope analysis. Instead, fs-laser ablation largely minimizes the substrate and fluence dependence, providing more consistent ablation.
High-Content Imaging Reveals Expansion of the Endosomal Compartment during Coxiella burnetii Parasitophorous Vacuole Maturation

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of human Q fever. Replication of the bacterium within a large parasitophorous vacuole (PV) resembling a host phagolysosome is required for pathogenesis. PV biogenesis is a pathogen driven process that requires engagement of several host cell vesicular trafficking pathways to acquire vacuole components. The goal of this study was to determine if infection by C. burnetii modulates endolysosomal flux to potentially benefit PV formation. HeLa cells, infected with C. burnetii or left uninfected, were incubated with fluorescent transferrin (Tf) for 0 to 30 minutes, and the amount of Tf internalized by cells quantitated by high-content imaging. At three and five days, but not one day post-infection, the maximal amounts of fluorescent Tf internalized by infected cells were significantly greater than uninfected cells. The rates of Tf uptake and recycling were the same for infected and uninfected cells; however, residual Tf persisted in EEA.1 positive compartments adjacent to large PV after 30 minutes of recycling in the absence of labeled Tf. On average, C. burnetii-infected cells contained significantly more CD63-positive endosomes than uninfected cells. In contrast, cells containing large vacuoles generated by Chlamydia trachomatis exhibited increased rates of Tf internalization without increased CD63 expression. Our results suggest that C. burnetii infection expands the endosomal system to increase capacity for endocytic material. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the power of high-content imaging for measurement of cellular responses to infection by intracellular pathogens.
Real-Time Approach to Flow Cell Imaging of Candida albicans Biofilm Development.

The ability of Candida albicans to form biofilms is a virulence factor that allows tissue attachment and subsequent infection of host tissues. Fungal biofilms have been particularly well studied, however the vast majority of these studies have been conducted under static conditions. Oral biofilms form in the presence of salivary flow, therefore we developed a novel flow system used for real-time imaging of fungal biofilm development. C. albicans wild-type (WT) cells readily attached to the substrate surface during the 2 h attachment phase, then formed heterogeneous biofilms after 18 h flow. Quantitative values for biomass, rates of attachment and detachment, and cell–cell adhesion events were obtained for C. albicans WT cells and for a hyperfilamentous mutant Δhog1. Attachment rates of C. albicans WT cells were nearly 2-fold higher than C. albicans Δhog1 cells, although Δhog1 cells formed 4-fold higher biomass. The reduced normalized detachment rate was the primary factor responsible for the increased biomass of Δhog1 biofilm, showing that cell detachment rates are an important predictor for ultimate biofilm mass under flow. Unlike static biofilms, C. albicans cells under constant laminar flow undergo continuous detachment and seeding that may be more representative of the development of in vivo biofilms.
Additive Manufacturing Metal, the Art of the Possible

Novel applications and designs showcase the power and potential of 3D printing and additive manufacturing of metal. This chapter identifies the market segments where AM is making inroads and having the greatest impact. The momentum in advances of AM metal technology, historically driven by rapid prototyping for engineering applications, is rapidly changing and moving toward the production of high value components made of advanced materials. Application examples include critical products such as those certified for use in aerospace and for medical hardware. In addition, customized artistic designs and one of a kind personalized items are being created on demand. Unique designs and functions are being incorporated into parts unthought-of only yesterday. The potential to transform industry and realize significant cost and energy savings is demonstrated by the use complex cooling channels in hardware for the tool and die industry to high-performance heat exchangers and wear resistant coatings in the energy, oil and gas industries. Repair and remanufacturing of components with every increasing complexity using multiple and advanced materials is being demonstrated. This chapter provides examples of components and products within the hottest segments of AM metal technology, introducing the art of the possible.
Synthesis and use of a hyper-connecting cross-linking agent in the hole-transporting layer of perovskite solar cells

Solution-processed organic semiconducting materials feature prominently in modern optoelectronic devices, especially where low-cost and flexibility are specific goals, such as perovskite solar cells. Their intrinsic solubility, poor cohesion and lack of adhesion to underlying substrates, however, curtail their scope of application and durability. To overcome this, a mechanically stiff, light-activated, tetra-azide cross-linking agent, 1,3,5,7-tetrakis-(p-benzylazide)-adamantane (TPBA), has been developed to transform solution processed organic polymers into solvent-resistant and mechanically tough films. The use of 3-azidopropyltrimethoxysilane (AzPTMS) has been developed as a light-activated adhesion promotor, enabling mechanical testing of toughened, cross-linked polymers. Lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI) doped poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine, poly(triaryl amine) (PTAA), a hole-transporting material used in perovskite solar cells, has been selected as a candidate system for demonstrating the utility of TPBA to transform a fragile and highly-soluble hole-transporting organic semiconductor into a mechanically tough and solvent-resistant semiconducting composite. TPBA enables the solvent resistance and mechanical toughness of PTAA to be tuned without compromising the electronic functionality of the semiconducting material. While increasing the fracture toughness of PTAA by over 300%, TPBA cross-linking also enables fabrication of perovskite solar cells with increased photovoltaic efficiencies in n–i–p and p–i–n geometries, and promotes adhesion of the doped polymer to the perovskite layer, mitigating interfacial device failure.
“Priestesses unto the Most High God”: Gender, Agency, and the Politics of LDS Women’s Temple Rites

This study builds upon previous research on religious women’s agency by drawing from in-depth interviews with active Latter-day Saint (LDS) women to examine the interconnections among LDS temple in...
An efficient approach to securing user data in android

Android is the most popular mobile operating system in use today having over a billion users; with that many users, privacy and security are major concerns in Android. Applications on Android have unprecedented access to user information and many of these applications store this information locally on the device. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that this information is stored securely. In this paper, we investigate how applications store such information, the existing security features in Android that secure this information, and the known issues associated with these security measures. The results of our study show that a majority of applications store user information on the device in an insecure form. However, the existing Android architecture is not enough to address the security and privacy concerns associated with this. Hence, we propose a novel framework which supports applications in storing user information securely and efficiently in an encrypted form on the device.
Ecologies of Heritage Language Learning in a Multilingual Swedish School

The field of heritage language (HL) education is a rapidly growing area of educational linguistics research and pedagogy. While considerable research has looked at identity in relation to HL learni...
Does A Firm's Entry or Exit Affect Competitors’ Value? Evidence from the REIT Industry

We analyze 483 entry and 439 exit events of publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and find that changes in the number of REITs in the market affect rival REITs’ stock performance. We also partition the sample by the modes of entries and exits as well as by REIT asset type in order to disentangle alternative explanations. Overall, our evidence indicates that the supply effect still matters for stock prices even after considering signaling and price pressure explanations.
F-TRIDYN simulations of tungsten self-sputtering and applications to coupling plasma and material codes

Abstract Fractal-TRIDYN (F-TRIDYN) is an upgraded version of the Monte Carlo, Binary Collision Approximation code TRIDYN for simulating ion-surface interactions. F-TRIDYN adds an explicit model of surface roughness and additional output modes for coupling to both plasma and material codes. Code-coupling represents a compelling path toward whole-device modeling, especially for future fusion reactors. Whole device models need to span length and time scales of many orders of magnitude. Atomic processes in materials that occur on the order of picoseconds, such as changes to surface morphology, will have an effect on fusion plasma performance over many hours of operational time. Conversely, interactions with the plasma will drive chemical, thermal, and morphological processes in the material. Simulating this complex interaction between the plasma and the plasma-facing material demands fast interfaces between material and plasma codes. F-TRIDYN is a flexible code for simulating atomic-scale ion-surface interactions, which are responsible for interactions between plasma and surface such as sputtering and implantation. F-TRIDYNs surface roughness model allows the effect of surface roughness on ion-surface interactions to be simulated. Surface roughness can significantly alter sputtering yields and other ion-surface interaction quantities. Understanding the role surface roughness plays in Plasma-Material Interactions will be crucial to modeling the performance of future fusion reactors such as ITER. F-TRIDYN is also suited for the simulation of a wider range of plasma-surface interactions where surface morphology may play a role, including those utilized for sputter-coating and plasma treating applications.
Coverage for Obesity Prevention and Treatment Services: Analysis of Medicaid and State Employee Health Insurance Programs.

Objective This study examined changes in coverage for adult obesity treatment services in Medicaid and state employee health insurance programs between 2009 and 2017. Methods Administrative materials from Medicaid and state employee health insurance programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia were reviewed for indications of coverage and payment policies specific to evidence-based treatment modalities for adults (≥ 21 years of age) with obesity, including nutritional counseling, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery. Results From 2009 to 2017, the proportion of state employee programs indicating coverage increased by 75% for nutritional counseling (from 24 to 42 states), 64% for pharmacotherapy (from 14 to 23 states), and 23% for bariatric surgery (from 35 to 43 states). The proportion of Medicaid programs indicating coverage increased by 133% for nutritional counseling (from 9 to 21 states) and 9% for bariatric surgery (from 45 to 49 states), with no net increase for pharmacotherapy (16 states in both plan years). Conclusions Coverage for adult obesity care improved substantially in Medicaid and state employee insurance programs since 2009. However, recommended treatment modalities are still not covered in many states. Where coverage has expanded, educating providers and beneficiaries on the availability and proper use of evidence-based obesity treatments may improve health outcomes.
Involvement in Ethnic Organizations and Community Activism Among Asian Immigrants in the United States

This study examines whether ethnic organization members have a lower likelihood of community activism than multiethnic organization members as predicted by social capital approaches to collective civic engagement. Community activism is measured by whether the respondent has worked with others in his or her community to solve a problem in the last 12 months. Data come from the 2008 National Asian American Survey, and the sample is limited to five major Asian immigrant groups (the Chinese, Asian Indians, Filipinos, Koreans, and the Vietnamese) for group-specific analyses. Findings suggest that membership in ethnic organizations does not necessarily diminish the probability of community activism: For the Chinese and Asian Indians, members of ethnic organizations have a higher probability of community activism than their non-joiner counterparts. Yet, consistent with the prediction of social capital approaches, there is a significant difference in the probability of community activism between members of multiethnic organizations and non-joiners for all ethnic groups, except for the Vietnamese. Nevertheless, findings show that there is no significant difference in the likelihood of community activism between members of ethnic organizations and those of multiethnic organizations for each ethnic group. Thus, data from the 2008 NAAS fail to provide compelling evidence to support the social capital argument that involvement in ethnic organizations has a significantly weaker effect on collective civic engagement than involvement in multiethnic organizations. This paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings.
The Regulation of Uterine Concentration of Estrogen Binding Protein

Summary The concentration of the estrogen binding protein in the rat uterus has been studied in three stages of uterine development. A 3- to 4-fold increase in concentration of estrogen binding protein occurs between days one and ten after birth. The concentration appears to remain relatively constant from this point on, with an estimated synthesis rate of about 80 binding sites/hr/cell. The half-life of the protein is approximately 5-6 days, which is compatible with a relatively stable protein. After estrogen is injected, the receptor concentration in the cytoplasm goes into a three-stage cycle. (1) Initially, there is a loss of binding protein, followed by (2) a stage sensitive to inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis, and (3) a replenishment period that is not affected by the inhibitors.
On-Demand Therapy with Proton Pump Inhibitors for Maintenance Treatment of Nonerosive Reflux Disease or Mild Erosive Esophagitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used for the long-term management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, concerns about the cost and/or inconvenience of continuous maintenance PPI treatment have led to the evaluation of various alternative approaches. Aim. To assess the effectiveness of on-demand PPI therapy in the maintenance treatment of nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) or mild erosive esophagitis (EE). Methods. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception until October 2, 2017, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing on-demand PPI versus placebo or daily PPI in the management of NERD or mild EE (Savary-Miller grade 1). Discontinuation of therapy during the trial was used as a surrogate for patient dissatisfaction and failure of symptomatic control. We calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) to evaluate the efficacy of on-demand PPI treatment. Separate analyses were conducted for studies comparing on-demand PPI with daily PPI and with placebo. Subgroup analysis was done based on NERD studies alone and on studies of both NERD and mild EE. These were analyzed using a random effects model. Results. We included 10 RCTs with 4574 patients. On-demand PPI was superior to daily PPI (pooled OR = 0.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.35, 0.72). On subgroup analysis in NERD patients only, pooled OR was 0.44 (0.29, 0.66). In studies including patients with NERD and mild EE, pooled OR was 0.76 (0.36, 1.60). For studies comparing on-demand PPI with placebo, pooled OR was 0.21 (0.15, 0.29); subgroup analyses of studies evaluating NERD only and studies conducted in NERD and mild EE showed similar results (pooled OR was 0.22 (0.13, 0.36) and 0.18 (0.11, 0.31), resp.). Conclusions. On-demand PPI treatment is effective for many patients with NERD or mild EE. Although not FDA-approved, it may be adequate for those patients whose symptoms are controlled to their satisfaction.
Genetic Algorithm–Genetic Programming Approach to Identify Hierarchical Models for Ultraviolet Disinfection Reactors

AbstractThe performance of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection reactors using experimental data poses major challenges to the water treatment industry, and a regression model has been developed in the wa...
Preoperative laboratory testing before pediatric neurosurgery: an NSQIP-Pediatrics analysis.

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to evaluate clinical predictors of abnormal preoperative laboratory values in pediatric neurosurgical patients. METHODS Data obtained in children who underwent a neurosurgical operation were extracted from the prospective National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatrics (NSQIP-P, 2012-2013) registry. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated predictors of preoperative laboratory values that might require further evaluation (white blood cell count 1.4, or partial thromboplastin time > 45 seconds) or a preoperative transfusion (within 48 hours prior to surgery). Variables screened included patient demographics; American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical designation classification; comorbidities; recent steroid use, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy; and admission type. Predictive score validation was performed using the NSQIP-P 2014 data. RESULTS Of the 6556 patients aged greater than 2 years, 68.9% (n = 5089) underwent laboratory testing, but only 1.9% (n = 125) had a critical laboratory value. Predictors of a laboratory abnormality were ASA class III-V; diabetes mellitus; hematological, hypothrombotic, or oncological comorbidities; nutritional support; recent chemotherapy; systemic inflammatory response syndrome; and a nonelective hospital admission. These 9 variables were used to create a predictive score, with a single point assigned for each predictor. The prevalence of critical values in the validation population (NSQIP-P 2014) of patients greater than 2 years of age was 0.3% with a score of 0, 1.0% in those with a score of 1, 1.6% in those with a score of 2, and 6.2% in those with a score ≥ 3. Higher score was predictive of a critical value (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.91-2.83, p < 0.001, C-statistic 0.76) and with the requirement of a perioperative transfusion (intraoperatively or within 72 hours postoperatively; OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.22-1.67, p < 0.001) in the validation population. Moreover, when the same score was applied to children aged 2 years or younger, a greater score was predictive of a critical value (OR 2.47, 95% CI 2.15-2.84, p < 0.001, C-statistic 0.76). CONCLUSIONS Critical laboratory values in pediatric neurosurgical patients are largely predicted by clinical characteristics, and abnormal preoperative laboratory results are rare in patients older than 2 years of age without comorbidities who are undergoing elective surgery. The NSQIP-P critical preoperative laboratory value scale is proposed to indicate patients with the highest odds of an abnormal value. The scale can assist with triaging preoperative testing based on the surgical risk, as determined by the treating surgeon and anesthesiologist.