cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of the Boundary Plasma to the Plasma-Material Interface

While the sensitivity of the scrape-off layer and divertor plasma to the highly uncertain cross-field transport assumptions is widely recognized, the plasma is also sensitive to the details of the plasma-material interface (PMI) models used as part of comprehensive predictive simulations. Here, these PMI sensitivities are studied by varying the relevant submodels within the SOLPS plasma transport code. Two aspects are explored: the sheath model used as a boundary condition in SOLPS, and fast particle reflection rates for ions impinging on a material surface. Both of these have been the study of recent high-fidelity simulation efforts aimed at improving the understanding and prediction of these phenomena. It is found that in both cases quantitative changes to the plasma solution result from modification of the PMI model, with a larger impact in the case of the reflection coefficient variation. This indicates the necessities to better quantify the uncertainties within the PMI models themselves and to perfor...
THE MICROBIAL CONTENT OF SOME SALADS AND SANDWICHES AT RETAIL OUTLETS

Samples of commercially prepared salads and sandwiches were examined for microbial content. Total counts varied considerably among the samples of different products and between samples of the same type product. Pimento cheese spread had the highest median count (5.4 × 105/g) and cole slaw had the lowest median count ( 3.6 × 103) for the salad products. Median counts for the different type sandwiches ranged between 1 × 105 and 2.7 × 105/g. Approximately 40% of the samples contained <10 coliforms/g. The median yeast and mold counts for these products generally were <1 × 104/g. Approximately 39% of the salads and 60% of the sandwiches contained coagulase positive staphylococci at levels which exceeded 1 × 105/g for some salads and 1 × 105/g in one sandwich. Possible Salmonella isolates were obtained from one salad sample and two sandwiches. Two salad samples and one sandwich were positive for Clostridium perfringens.
The impact of coffee consumption on blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Coffee is the most widely consumed beverage, next to water. However, there has been a long-standing controversy regarding its safety on blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular disease ...
Physical Health of Human Trafficking Survivors: Unmet Essentials

Human trafficking is an egregious human rights violation with significant impact on the physical, mental, and social health and well-being of individuals, communities, and society. While myriad factors affect the nature of the exploitation and its unique health risks and exposures, the adverse health outcomes of human trafficking are ubiquitous and often long-lasting. This chapter offers a review of the literature on the physical health effects of sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and trafficking for the removal of organs. Variations in the health effects of human trafficking that are mediated by geography and by the stage of trafficking are discussed. Finally, recommendations are made for improving the health sector’s ability to effectively respond to the medical needs of trafficked persons and survivors who present for medical care.
Surgical Treatment of 4-10 cm Renal-Cell Carcinoma: A Survey of the Lions and Gazelles.

Abstract Introduction: The decision between partial nephrectomy (PN) and radical nephrectomy (RN) may be influenced by training, practice type, or location. We sought to evaluate current opinions about the optimal management of 4–10 cm renal-cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and Methods: A survey was emailed to ∼2500 Endourologic Society and Society of Urologic Oncology members regarding training, practice setting, and interest in clinical trials in addition to questions about four patient scenarios. We evaluated the associations of demographic variables with specific answers. Results: 399 physicians completed the survey with 37% and 34% completing urologic oncology and endourology fellowships, respectively. More respondents reported receiving adequate training in complex open PN compared with complex minimally invasive surgery (MIS) PN, 81% vs 37%. Eighty-three percent of respondents would offer a healthy patient a PN for a 7 cm exophytic mass. Receiving adequate training in complex PN is predictive of off...
Exploring the needs of certified hand therapists regarding electronic applications.

Abstract Study Design Survey. Introduction App technology may provide a beneficial clinical resource for CHTs. Purpose of Study This descriptive study examined beneficial components for inclusion in a potential app for certified hand therapists to use as a clinical resource based on a nationwide survey. Methods Certified hand therapist members of the American Society of Hand Therapists were surveyed to evaluate preferences of content to be included in a potential clinical app. Results Most of the 341 respondents were Caucasian, female, 51-60 years old, with 21+ years' experience. Respondents preferred home program illustrations, video demonstrations, evidence-based resources, postoperative protocols, and functional outcome measures. Regarding app usage, 26.7% responded “definitely use the app” and 37.5% reported “highly likely to use the app” within a price range of $1-$20. Conclusion An ideal app should include home program media, evidence-based practice, postoperative protocols, and functional outcome measures related to reported diagnoses encountered in the clinic. Level of Evidence N/A.
Redox Properties of Therapeutic Cu Bis(Thiosemicarbazone) Complexes in a Biomimetic Environment

Cu II complexes of bis-thiosemicarbazones (btsc) are under active investigation as copper delivery agents in vivo, where they have been successfully used as radioimaging agents and are currently being adapted for potential use as antimicrobial and antitumoricidal agents, as well as therapeutic agents for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In ongoing studies, we have found that several of these compounds are extremely effective in treating ALS in mice. Their general mode of action is thought to involve passive diffuse into cells followed by metal-centered reduction and release of Cu(I); alternatively, copper loss is conceivably a consequence of ligand oxidative degradation. Critical to identifying this process are the redox potentials of the Cu-btsc analogs, which vary widely with substituent identity; these potentials, in turn, appear to be primary determiners of the so-called “hypoxic selectivity” of the complexes wherein cells possessing lowered redox poise are preferentially targeted. However, the limited aqueous solubility of the complexes severely hinders determination of their reactivity characteristics in biologically relevant media. In this study, we overcome this limitation by utilizing an aqueous SDS micellar environment as a cytosolic model; in this environment, it becomes possible to directly measure the reducing capacity and dynamics of various biological compounds toward the microphase-bound complexes, as well as the nature of oxidative reactions with ROS. Ligand substitution dynamics, including Cu-Zn transmetallation, are also investigated, as are direct determination of the binding of Zn(II) (which is isoelectronic with Cu(I)) to the btsc ligands. Collectively, these data provide a marked improvement in our understanding of the underlying intracellular delivery mechanisms for copper and zinc.
Simulated Dynamics of Glycans on Ligand-Binding Domain of NMDA Receptors Reveals Strong Dynamic Coupling between Glycans and Protein Core

N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, key neuronal receptors playing the central role in learning and memory, are heavily glycosylated in vivo. Astonishingly little is known about the structure, dynamics, and physiological relevance of glycans attached to them. We recently demonstrated that certain glycans on the ligand binding domain (LBD) of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) can serve as intramolecular potentiators, changing EC50 of NMDAR coagonists. In this work, we use molecular dynamics trajectories, in aggregate 86.5 μs long, of the glycosylated LBD of the GluN1 subunit of the NMDAR to investigate the behavior of glycans on NMDARs. Though all glycans in our simulations were structurally the same (Man5), the dynamics of glycans at different locations on NMDARs was surprisingly different. The slowest-time scale motions that we detected in various glycans in some cases corresponded to a flipping of parts of glycans relative to each other, while in other cases they reduced to a head-to-tail bending of a glycan. ...
The Strategic Measure of R&D

(1991). The Strategic Measure of R&D. Research-Technology Management: Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 13-16.
The prospects of CRISPR-based genome engineering in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders

Over the past few decades, as gene discovery methods and sequencing technologies have evolved, many genetic variations that significantly increase the risk of or cause neurodegenerative diseases have been identified. However, knowledge of those pathogenic mutations and subsequent mechanism-focused studies has rarely yielded effective treatments, warranting alternative strategies for refining rational therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, with the evolution of gene targeting methods, it has been increasingly recognized that the disease-causing gene itself is the best therapeutic target even when we do not have a full understanding of its biological functions. Considering this, CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology offers the promise of permanently silencing or correcting the disease-causing mutations, potentially overcoming key limitations of RNA-targeting approaches. The versatile CRISPR/Cas-based strategies have the potential to become treatment options for challenging disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we summarize recent reports of preclinical applications of CRISPR/Cas in models of neurodegenerative disorders to provide perspectives on therapeutic gene editing for diseases of the nervous system.
High electric field conduction in low-alkali boroaluminosilicate glass

Electrical conduction in silica-based glasses under a low electric field is dominated by high mobility ions such as sodium, and there is a transition from ionic transport to electronic transport as the electric field exceeds 108 V/m at low temperatures. Electrical conduction under a high electric field was investigated in thin low-alkali boroaluminosilicate glass samples, showing nonlinear conduction with the current density scaling approximately with E1/2, where E is the electric field. In addition, thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) characterization was carried out on room-temperature electrically poled glass samples, and an anomalous discharging current flowing in the same direction as the charging current was observed. High electric field conduction and TSDC results led to the conclusion that Poole-Frenkel based electronic transport occurs in the mobile-cation-depleted region adjacent to the anode, and accounts for the observed anomalous current.
T Cell Calcium Signaling Regulation by the Co-Receptor CD5

Calcium influx is critical for T cell effector function and fate. T cells are activated when T cell receptors (TCRs) engage peptides presented by antigen-presenting cells (APC), causing an increase of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration. Co-receptors stabilize interactions between the TCR and its ligand, the peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC), and enhance Ca2+ signaling and T cell activation. Conversely, some co-receptors can dampen Ca2+ signaling and inhibit T cell activation. Immune checkpoint therapies block inhibitory co-receptors, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death 1 (PD-1), to increase T cell Ca2+ signaling and promote T cell survival. Similar to CTLA-4 and PD-1, the co-receptor CD5 has been known to act as a negative regulator of T cell activation and to alter Ca2+ signaling and T cell function. Though much is known about the role of CD5 in B cells, recent research has expanded our understanding of CD5 function in T cells. Here we review these recent findings and discuss how our improved understanding of CD5 Ca2+ signaling regulation could be useful for basic and clinical research.
Concurrent Inguinal Hernia Repair in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Radical Prostatectomy: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Study

Abstract Objective: To compare perioperative 30-day outcomes between minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP) with and without concurrent inguinal hernia repair (IHR) using a national databa...
Transport Properties in Liquid 3He-4He Mixtures Near the Tricritical Point

In this talk, we present results of acoustic attenuation measurements in 3He-4He mixtures, carried out in the range between 1 and 45 MHz. Furthermore, an account is given of an analysis of transient effects occurring during sound velocity measurements, and which lead to some conclusions on the thermal diffusivity ratio KT. Because the results have been described in detail in two papers,1,2 the presentation here can be made brief.
Learning of Aggression

Aggression—behavior aimed at harming another person—has environmental and biological determinants. Environmental factors include the degree to which the environment provides aggressive models, reinforces aggression, and frustrates and victimizes the child. Biological factors include the child’s temperament, hormones, and physique. Interplays between heredity and environment are also influential. For example, children born with irritating, hard-to-handle temperaments are especially at risk for eliciting the rejecting, punitive parental reactions that are conducive to aggressive development. This chapter focuses on environmental bases of aggression. Special attention is paid to how environmental factors interact with the child’s cognitions and behaviors to influence the development of aggression.
Allgemeines über wirtschaftliches Werkstückspannen

Fur die Fertigungsplanung entscheidet die Zahl der monatlich anfallenden Werkstucke uber die Ausrustung der bereitzustellenden Fertigungsmittel. Es ist verstandlich, das zur Fertigung groser Mengen mehr Geld fur die Betriebsmittel ausgegeben werden kann, als bei einer Einzel-oder Kleinstserienfertigung. Dementsprechend ist auch die Ausrustung mit mehr oder minder kostspieligen Spannorganen das eine Mal gerechtfertigt und ein andermal nicht mehr vertretbar.
Ridges of Functions Defined on Manifolds

In Section 5.1 we apply the definitions of Chapter 4 to finding height ridges of functions defined on manifolds. The first case is simplest where we construct 1dimensional ridges of a function defined on a 2—dimensional surface embedded in 1R3. The second case is the most general where we construct d—dimensional ridges of a function defined on an n—dimensional manifold embedded in IRP. Section 5.2 provides an alternative definition for ridges based on principal curvatures and principal directions. Section 5.3 discusses a ridge definition which is an application of the definition of Section 5.2 to level sets.
Urban Health: An Overview

For the first time in history, over half the world's population resides in urban areas. The challenge of urban health is already central to the social development of cities and this challenge will continue to grow as the urbanization trend continues. Urban health, particularly in the world's most rapidly urbanizing regions – the low- and middle-income countries referred to as the Global South – is largely determined by social and environmental factors, which are strongly interrelated. These include but are not limited to access to basic services and amenities associated with urban living, such as health care, transport, clean water, sanitation, education, and safe places to live and work. Climate change-related events, such as severe storms and floods, are interacting with and compounding existing urban health risks. Transport-related injuries and deaths are expected to increase as more vehicles are added to the already-chaotic fray of urban traffic. Addressing the urban health challenge will require an approach that focuses on the social and environmental determinants that drive health outcomes and understanding the complex interactions among them in the urban context.
We Have Seen It All. At the Mall

Many of us have conflicted attitudes toward suburban shopping malls in the United States. Malls are environmentally irresponsible, reinforce a dependence on cars, fortify economic and social strati...
Prevention and Treatment Strategies for Mesh Infection in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.

Background:Mesh infection remains the most feared complication after abdominal wall reconstruction, requiring prolonged hospitalizations and often, mesh removal. Understanding of current prevention and treatment strategies is necessary in the management of a common surgical problem.Methods:A compreh
High-Power Microwave Switching Utilizing Low- Temperature Gas Discharge Tube

Microwave breakdown of gas and formation of plasma can be a destructive effect that limits power handling of highfrequency devices and circuits with small gaps 1, 2. When such plasma is formed, the insulated air gaps are transformed into conductive regions. Although this phenomenon can result in performance degradation or even device failure, it can alternatively be useful for some high power devices such as limiters 3, attenuators 4 and switches. In microwave-induced plasma, the incoming wave is employed for plasma ignition, and hence there is no concern about power consumption. Also, microwave-driven plasma can operate in the α-discharge regime 5 even at atmospheric pressure and thus requires lower operating voltage and power 6 and has much higher stability and much longer lifetime in comparison with dc plasma 3.
Characterizing the impact of particle behavior at fracture intersections in three-dimensional discrete fracture networks.

We characterize the influence of different intersection mixing rules for particle tracking simulations on transport properties through three-dimensional discrete fracture networks. It is too computationally burdensome to explicitly resolve all fluid dynamics within a large three-dimensional fracture network. In discrete fracture network (DFN) models, mass transport at fracture intersections is modeled as a subgrid scale process based on a local Peclet number. The two most common mass transfer mixing rules are (1) complete mixing, where diffusion dominates mass transfer, and (2) streamline routing, where mass follows pathlines through an intersection. Although it is accepted that mixing rules impact local mass transfer through single intersections, the effect of the mixing rule on transport at the fracture network scale is still unresolved. Through the use of explicit particle tracking simulations, we study transport through a quasi-two-dimensional lattice network and a three-dimensional network whose fracture radii follow a truncated power-law distribution. We find that the impact of the mixing rule is a function of the initial particle injection condition, the heterogeneity of the velocity field, and the geometry of the network. Furthermore, our particle tracking simulations show that the mixing rule can particularly impact concentrations on secondary flow pathways. We relate these local differences in concentration to reactive transport and show that streamline routing increases the average mixing rate in DFN simulations.
Applying the principles of green chemistry in art: design of a cross-disciplinary course about ‘art in the Anthropocene: greener art through greener chemistry’

This cross-disciplinary course bridging the disciplines of art and chemistry provides an exceptional environment in which first-year students and beyond are engaged and challenged in new ways. This...
Opportunities for Cost Savings with In-Transit Visualization.

We analyze the opportunities for in-transit visualization to provide cost savings compared to in-line visualization. We begin by developing a cost model that includes factors related to both in-line and in-transit which allows comparisons to be made between the two methods. We then run a series of studies to create a corpus of data for our model. We run two different visualization algorithms, one that is computation heavy and one that is communication heavy with concurrencies up to 32, 768 cores. Our primary results are in exploring the cost model within the context of our corpus. Our findings show that in-transit consistently achieves significant cost efficiencies by running visualization algorithms at lower concurrency, and that in many cases these efficiencies are enough to offset other costs (transfer, blocking, and additional nodes) to be cost effective overall. Finally, this work informs future studies, which can focus on choosing ideal configurations for in-transit processing that can consistently achieve cost efficiencies.
Signature simulation of mixed materials

Soil target signatures vary due to geometry, chemical composition, and scene radiometry. Although radiative transfer models and function-fit physical models may describe certain targets in limited depth, the ability to incorporate all three signature variables is difficult. This work describes a method to simulate the transient signatures of soil by first considering scene geometry synthetically created using 3D physics engines. Through the assignment of spectral data from the Nonconventional Exploitation Factors Data System (NEFDS), the synthetic scene is represented as a physical mixture of particles. Finally, first principles radiometry is modeled using the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation (DIRSIG) model. With DIRSIG, radiometric and sensing conditions were systematically manipulated to produce and record goniometric signatures. The implementation of this virtual goniometer allows users to examine how a target bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) will change with geometry, composition, and illumination direction. By using 3D computer graphics models, this process does not require geometric assumptions that are native to many radiative transfer models. It delivers a discrete method to circumnavigate the significant cost of time and treasure associated with hardware-based goniometric data collections.
An attempt to condition extrasystoles using direct myocardial electrical stimulation as an unconditional stimulus

Conditioning of extrasystoles which were induced by direct electrical stimulation of the ventricular myocardium was attempted. It was found that this type of cardiac irregularity which is entirely peripheral in origin could not be conditioned. Other studies have shown that extrasystoles which are produced by stimulation of the central nervous system can be conditioned. The study supports the theory that the effect of stimuli which produce physiological changes at the periphery without intermediate involvement of the central nervous system cannot be conditioned.
HPC-cloud native framework for concurrent simulation, analysis and visualization of CFD workflows

Abstract Analysis and rendering of high-resolution computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations often requires execution of multiple parallel data-processing pipelines. In this paper we present a hybrid cloud solution for efficient simulation and analysis of drop dispersions. The simulation component runs on a high-performance computing (HPC) cluster and cloud native framework performs the processing of CFD outputs. To facilitate some of the cloud features, we broke down the CFD data analysis pipeline into small microservice-like processes. In this way, a given resource can be set up and shared between different simulations, codes and locations to minimize idle times and dynamically adjust the capacity to the workload while producing results on the fly, independent of the simulation engine. A combination of HPC and cloud technologies allows us to create agile and highly scalable solutions for CFD purposes. We focus on HPC-cloud infrastructure; however, other arrangements such as cloud–cloud or desktop–cloud can be easily adapted depending on the needs. This enables a framework for centralizing services for collaborative use between different users as well as for automatically providing data from different sources to machine learning algorithms. We describe a proof of concept implementation of the proposed framework and provide detailed analysis of its performance applied to a real two-phase flow application.
Challenges in the care of transgender and gender-diverse youth: an endocrinologist’s view

An increasing number of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth (early pubertal through to late adolescent, typically 9-10 through to 18 years of age) are seeking medical services to bring their physical sex characteristics into alignment with their gender identity - their inner sense of self as male or female or somewhere on the gender spectrum. Compelling research has demonstrated the clear mental health - even life-saving - benefits of gender-affirming care, but current clinical practice guidelines and standards of care are based on only several short-term and a few medium-term outcomes studies complemented by expert opinion. Nevertheless, although the relative paucity of outcomes data raises concerns, the stance of not intervening until more is known is not a neutral option, and large observational studies evaluating current models of care are necessary and are now underway. This Review highlights key advances in our understanding of transgender and gender-diverse youth, the challenges of providing gender-affirming care, gaps in knowledge and priorities for research.
Latent Factor Structure of Outcome Measures Used in the HABIT® Mild Cognitive Impairment Intervention Programs.

Background In Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) research, common outcome measures include cognitive and functional impairment, as well as persons with mild cognitive impairment (pwMCI) and care partner self-reported mood and quality of life. Studies commonly analyze these measures separately, which potentially leads to issues of multiple comparisons and/or multicollinearity among measures while ignoring the latent constructs they may be measuring. Objective This study sought to examine the latent factor structure of a battery of 12-13 measures of domains mentioned above, used in a multicomponent behavioral intervention (The HABIT® program) for pwMCI and their partners. Methods Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) involved 214 pwMCI-partner pairs. Subsequent Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) used 730 pairs in both pre- and post-intervention conditions. Results EFA generated a three-factor model. Factors could be characterized as partner adjustment (29.9%), pwMCI adjustment (18.1%), and pwMCI impairment (12.8%). The subsequent CFA confirmed our findings, and the goodness-of-fit for this model was adequate in both the pre- (CFI = 0.937; RMSEA = 0.057, p = 0.089) and post-intervention (CFI = 0.942; RMSEA = 0.051, p = 0.430) groups. Conclusion Results demonstrated a stable factor structure across cohorts and intervention conditions suggesting that three broad factors may provide a straightforward and meaningful model to assess intervention outcome, at least during the MCI phase of ADRD.
Transforming National League for Nursing Advancing Care Excellence for Seniors Unfolding Cases into Virtual Simulations: An Innovative Approach for Interactive Learning

Abstract Background Two National League for Nursing (NLN) Advancing Care Excellence for Seniors (ACE.S) cases were transformed into engaging and interactive virtual simulation learning experiences due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The purpose of this article is to describe the process of designing and implementing this novel approach to virtual simulation. Results Faculty aligned each virtual simulation with existing course outcomes, student learning outcomes, concept-based learning principles, and best practices of The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) standards. Conclusions Practical strategies used to convert these unfolding case studies into virtual simulations for a small private Christian university of undergraduate junior level accelerated nursing students will be revealed.
Surgical and Nonsurgical Interventions for Obesity in Service of Preserving Cognitive Function.

Objectives The purposes of this article are to highlight what is currently known about the mechanisms of obesity-related cognitive impairment and weight loss-related cognitive improvement, and to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of available treatments. Methods The article is based on a live debate, presenting the main advantages and disadvantages of exercise interventions and bariatric surgery as related to cognitive functioning. The live debate took place during a 1-day conference, Diabetes, Obesity and the Brain, sponsored by the American Psychosomatic Society in October 2013. Results Although it is well established that bariatric surgery tends to lead to greater weight loss, better glycemic control, and cognitive improvement (effect sizes ranging between 0.61 and 0.78) during the first 1 to 2 years postintervention compared with nonsurgical treatments, medical complications are possible, and follow-up data beyond 5 years are limited. In contrast, nonsurgical therapies have been extensively studied in a variety of clinical settings and have proved that they can sustain positive health outcomes up to 10 years later, but their cognitive benefits tend to be more modest (effect sizes ranging from 0.18 to 0.69) and long-term regimen compliance, especially in obese individuals, is uncertain. Conclusions Rather than focusing on debating whether surgical or no-surgical interventions for obesity are better, additional research is needed to identify the most efficient and practical combination of approaches to ensure sustained positive health outcomes for the largest number of patients possible.
Hepatitis Non A Non B: A Newly Recognized Old Disease

Viral hepatitis represented a major public health problem during World War II and the number of soldiers incapacitated by this disease called forth an intensive effort to elucidate the routes of transmission and potential means of prevention. Studies of epidemic hepatitis among soldiers in the Middle East and Africa and of hepatitis traced to yellow fever vaccine clearly distinguished two epidemiologic forms which came to be known as infectious (type A) and serum (type B) hepatitis. The former was an explosive, epidemic disease found to be transmitted by the fecal-oral route and the latter a more indolently transmitted disease borne primarily by parenteral inoculation of virus. The distinction of these two clinical entities was further established by epidemiologic studies at the Willowbrook State School (1). A patient, “M.S.”, developed two sequential episodes of hepatitis, one having a short incubation period similar to infectious hepatitis (MS-1) and the other, a long incubation period similar to serum hepatitis (MS-2). MS-1 serum consistently produced short incubation disease and MS-2, long incubation disease, when administered to volunteers. Later, following discovery of the Australia antigen (2), it could be shown that MS-1 disease and natural epidemics of infectious hepatitis were consistently Australia antigen-negative, whereas MS-2 disease and many cases of parenterally induced hepatitis were Australia antigen-positive (3). The distinction of two forms of human viral hepatitis was thus unequivocal on clinical, epidemiologic and serologic grounds.
Effectiveness of Web-Based Learning Opportunities in a Competency-Based Program

The Master of Arts in Learning and Technology (MLT), a competency-based online degree program at Western Governors University (WGU), has been running for over fours years. Unlike traditional degree programs, the MLT measures students’ progress by the number of assessments they have passed during a certain period. This poses a challenge for students to be highly motivated in order to complete any learning opportunities necessary to gain these competencies. The program culminates in a capstone project that requires students to identify an instructional problem and address it by designing, developing, and evaluating an instructional unit integrating technology into the instruction. When students work through each domain, they address the instructional problem from a particular angle (instructional design, research, use of technology or evaluation) by creating a project for the domain. Each project builds toward the final capstone, thus creating continuity from one project to the next. That continuity forces students to think globally about the program from the very beginning and make connections among the discrete domains. As a result, special demands are posed on learning opportunities; learning and instruction entail a drastic shift of the paradigm. In the context of competency-based education a learning opportunity refers to an instructional resource (such as an online distance course, online self-study modules, or textbook) that enables students to acquire required knowledge and skills. Some learning opportunities were more conducive to this shift than others and produced better results, which has kept us wondering about the following questions:
Rotaviruses: Extraction and Isolation of RNA, Reassortant Strains, and NSP4 Protein

Rotavirus (RV) contains 11 double-stranded RNA segments that encode for twelve structural and nonstructural proteins. The separation and isolation of viral RNA is a necessary precursor for many experimental techniques and can be useful for rapid RV RNA typing and sequencing of different rotavirus strains. The segmented genome enables RV to recombine easily. These recombinant viruses are essential for many purposes, including generation of potential vaccine strains. Rotavirus gene 10 expresses the viral enterotoxin, NSP4, which has been the focus of several studies due to the influence of NSP4 on rotavirus replication, morphogenesis, and pathogenesis. This unit will describe the isolation and separation of viral RNAs, the production characterization of recombinant RV in culture, and the expression and isolation of NSP4 in mammalian and insect cells. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: rotavirus; reassortants; RNA electrophoresis; NSP4; peptide antibodies; chromatography
Sorafenib and HDAC inhibitors synergize with TRAIL to kill tumor cells

The present studies were designed to compare and contrast the abilities of TRAIL (death receptor agonist) and obatoclax (BCL-2 family inhibitor) to enhance sorafenib + HDAC inhibitor toxicity in GI tumor cells. Sorafenib and HDAC inhibitor treatment required expression of CD95 to kill GI tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. In cells lacking CD95 expression, TRAIL treatment, and to a lesser extent obatoclax, enhanced the lethal effects of sorafenib + HDAC inhibitor exposure. In hepatoma cells expressing CD95 a similar data pattern emerged with respect to the actions of TRAIL. Downstream of the death receptor the ability of TRAIL to enhance cell killing correlated with reduced AKT, ERK1/2, p70 S6K, and mTOR activity and enhanced cleavage of pro-caspase 3 and reduced expression of MCL-1 and BCL-XL. Over-expression of BCL-XL or MCL-1 or expression of dominant negative pro-caspase 9 protected cells from drug toxicity. Expression of activated AKT, p70 S6K, mTOR, and to a lesser extent MEK1EE also protected cells that correlated with maintained c-FLIP-s expression, reduced BIM expression, and increased BAD phosphorylation. In vivo sorafenib + HDAC inhibitor toxicity against tumors was increased in a greater than additive fashion by TRAIL. Collectively, our data argue that TRAIL, rather than obatoclax, is the most efficacious agent at promoting sorafenib + HDAC inhibitor lethality.
Buckling of piles in cohesive soil supporting jointless bridges

Soil-structure and especially soil-pile interaction is one of the main sources of complication in the analysis of jointless bridges. Because of the complexity of the problem, calculation of the critical buckling load of embedded piles has always been a concern to the designers since piles are relatively slender elements. In the current design method, for simplification it is assumed that soil reaction is a linear function of the lateral displacement. In this paper, a new approach is proposed which utilizes the energy method and incorporates p-y curves to estimate the critical axial load of piles embedded in cohesive soil. Pile head displacement is also incorporated into capacity calculation. In this method, the soil reaction is a nonlinear function of lateral displacement and can efficiently model the soil-structure interaction. The method is validated with experimental data for solving the governing differential equation along with calculation of buckling load. Results of parametric study reveal that buckling loads estimated by equivalent cantilever method are highly above the corresponding loads estimated by the energy method at relatively small pile head movement. Furthermore, for this condition it is shown that fully embedded piles will fail before reaching the estimated buckling load because of yielding; consequently, buckling analysis does not govern the design of piles fully embedded in cohesive soil. However for partially embedded piles, the buckling load may govern.
Coevolution in communication senders and receivers: vocal behavior and auditory processing in multiple songbird species

Communication is a strong selective pressure on brain evolution because the exchange of information between individuals is crucial for fitness-related behaviors, such as mating. Given the importance of communication, the brains of signal senders and receivers are likely to be functionally coordinated. We study vocal behavior and auditory processing in multiple species of estrildid finches with the goal of understanding how species identity and early experience interact to shape the neural systems that subserve communication. Male finches learn to produce species-specific songs, and both sexes learn to recognize songs. Our studies indicate that closely related species exhibit different auditory coding properties in the midbrain and forebrain and that early life experience of vocalizations contributes to these differences. Moreover, birds that naturally sing tonal songs can learn broadband songs from heterospecific tutors, providing an opportunity to examine the interplay between species identity and early experience in the development of vocal behavior and auditory tuning.
The Ergonomics of Computer Pointing Devices

1. Introduction.- 1.1 Approach.- 1.2 The Organization of This Book.- 1.3 Importance and Future of Pointing Device Ergonomics.- 2. Human Motor Performance.- 2.1 Fitts' Law.- 2.2 Psychomotor Models.- 2.3 Other Aspects of Motor Behavior.- 2.4 Summary.- 2.5 Endnotes.- 3. Factors in Applying Psychomotor Studies to Pointing Devices.- 3.1 Devices: Operation, Features and Types.- 3.2 Limb Control.- 3.3 Tasks.- 3.4 Summary.- 4. A Survey of Ergonomic Studies.- 4.1 Studies by Device.- 4.2 Comparison Between Devices.- 4.3 Summary.- 4.4 Endnotes.- 5. Evaluating New Devices: A Case Study.- 5.1 Overview.- 5.2 Introduction.- 5.3 Previous Research.- 5.4 Method.- 5.5 Results.- 5.6 Discussion.- 5.7 Conclusions.- 5.8 Endnotes.- 6. Using the Microstructure of Movement to Understand Device Performance.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Research Questions.- 6.3 Method.- 6.4 Results.- 6.5 Discussion.- 6.6 Summary and Conclusions.- 6.7 Endnotes.- 7. Performance Models.- 7.1 Historical Background.- 7.2 GOMS.- 7.3 Keystroke Level Model.- 7.4 Stochastic Network Models.- 7.5 Extensions to the GOMS Model Research.- 7.6 Summary.- 7.7 Endnotes.- 8. Challenges of the Present and Future.- 8.1 Review of Pointing Device Research Findings.- 8.2 Integrating Ergonomics Research into Design.- 8.3 Innovations in Pointing Device Technology and Interfaces.- 8.4 Future Research Directions.- 8.5 Conclusions.- 8.6 Endnotes.- 9. Bibliography.
Proposal for an International Convention on Online Gambling

The proposal, which will be published as a chapter in a volume from the Internet Gaming Regulation Symposium co-organized by the William S. Boyd School of Law of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in May 2012, presents the outline of an international convention ('Convention') that will facilitate cooperation among countries in enforcement of their online gambling regulations while allowing the countries to maintain their individual legal approaches to online gambling. Countries continue to vary in their approaches - some permit and regulate, and others prohibit online gambling, and even countries that permit and regulate online gambling approach the issue differently. Countries cannot enforce their own online gambling regulations without assistance from other countries - specifically, the countries where online gambling operators have their operations and/or their assets. Under the proposed Convention, national online gambling regulators would cooperate in the exchange of necessary information, in the licensing and standardization of technological requirements for online gambling operators, and, most importantly, in assisting with the enforcement of foreign country regulations by imposing geolocation and filtering requirements on online gambling operators. The chapter discusses the challenges that the proposal faces and suggests that the challenges can be overcome. Recent events in the online gambling world, such as 'Black Friday,' demonstrate a pressing need for effective international cooperation among Internet gambling regulators, and the proposed Convention, by providing a solution to the vexing problem of enforcement of online gambling regulation on the Internet, can provide the impetus for national discussions on online gambling.
The Molecular Genetics of Maturation in Eastern Larch (Larix Laricina [Du Roi] K. Koch)

Maturation in woody plants has recently received much attention because of the maturation-related decrease in the ability to clone selected individuals using expiants from mature plants (Hackett, 1985; Greenwood, 1987). Furthermore, the phenotypic changes that accompany maturation make it difficult for the tree breeder to select superior genetic families or individuals at the seedling stage (e.g., Lambeth, 1980). The changes associated with maturation include growth rate, branching characteristics and growth habit, reproductive behavior, and the morphology and physiology of foliage. The significance of the latter will be emphasized in this brief report, with emphasis on the role of gene expression in the maturational process. Changes in foliage associated with maturation have been discussed (e.g., Zimmerman et al., 1985; Bauer and Bauer, 1980) and do not follow a completely consistent pattern among species.
Our Voices: Native Stories of Alaska and the Yukon

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2001 Pages: xiv + 394 Publisher: University of Nebraska Press ISBN: 0803289847 Prices: $25.00
Kinetics of organ response and survival following normalization of the serum free light chain ratio in AL amyloidosis

Despite successful treatment of the clonal plasma cell implicated in its pathogenesis, patients with AL amyloidosis (AL) experience significant morbidity related to underlying amyloid mediated organ dysfunction. While normalization of the serum free light chain measurements [normal ratio of involved and uninvolved free light chains (nFLCr)] is the goal of therapy and centerpiece of hematologic response criteria, achieving (or not achieving) meaningful organ response (OR) is clinically significant for its implications on long-term symptomatology as well as overall survival (OS), and remains the ultimate goal of treatment. Expectations for organ recovery following successful therapy leading to nFLCr in AL remain poorly described. We evaluated the timeframe and predictive factors for OR, and long-term outcome, in 313 AL patients who achieved nFLCr following therapy initiation. OR was seen in 80% of surviving AL patients within 1-year of nFLCr. Patients achieving early OR within 1 year of nFLCr had superior OS compared with those who despite obtaining nFLCr did not achieve early OR. We further evaluated factors predicting OR and OS among patients achieving nFLCr. Higher values of dFLC (involved-uninvolved) at diagnosis predict OR, and early OR predicts improved OS following successful hematologic therapy in AL.
Economic Sources of Inventive Activity

The fundamental conclusion of this paper is that technological progress is intimately dependent on economic phenomena. The evidence suggests that society may indeed affect the allocation of inventive resources through the market mechanism somewhat as it affects the allocation of economic resources generally. If this is true, then technological progress is not an independent cause of socio-economic change, and an interpretation of history as largely the attempt of mankind to catch up to new technology is a distorted one. Cultural lags undoubtedly exist in social history. The automobile—to use an obvious example—rendered obsolete many pre-existing social arrangements and behavior patterns. But the reverse is also true. New goods and new techniques are unlikely to appear, and to enter the life of society without a pre-existing,—albeit possibly only latent—demand. Even a longstanding demand may have been intensified shortly before a technique to satisfy it is invented. In addition to cultural lag, there exists technological lag—a chronic tendency of technology to lag behind demand.
Effect of Moisture, Pressure, and Temperature on Enzymatic Starch Degradation of Barley and Sorghum Grain

Abstract Barley and sorghum grain were processed with various combinations of moisture, heat, and pressure. Percent starch digestion was determined by incubating ground samples of the processed grain with a buffered homogenate of bovine pancreas for 30min at 40C. Addition of water to the grain by soaking or by steaming at atmospheric pressure did not greatly improve enzymatic starch degradation of barley or sorghum grain. Application of pressure to the grains (with hydraulic press or roller mill) increased in vitro starch digestibility over untreated grains. The pressure response was greater with moist grains than with dry grains. Enzymatic starch degradation was greatest for processing treatments involving application of moisture, heat, and pressure. Starch digestibility of pressure cooked grains was increased at each increment of steam pressure from 1.4 to 7.0 kg/cm 2 . Flaking the grains after steam processing or pressure cooking markedly improved enzymatic starch degradation. The optimum cooking pressure for both grains (with flat flaking) appeared to be 4.2 kg/cm 2 . The critical pressure (with a hydraulic press) for improving enzymatic starch degradation of dry, steamed, and soaked sorghum grain occurred at 140 kg/cm 2 with the pressure plates at room temperature. Increased pressures to 1,400 kg/cm 2 did not improve digestion. When the pressure plates were preheated to 98C, the critical pressure remained at 140 kg/cm 2 for dry sorghum grain, but starch degradation was improved in the steamed and soaked grains at both 35 and 140 kg/cm 2 .
AB INITIO CALCULATIONS OF THE EXCITED STATES OF FORMAMIDE

The excited states of formamide in the gas phase have been calculated using multireference configuration interaction methods. The nπ* transition is calculated to be at 5.85 eV, and the ππ* transition is placed at 7.94 eV. The corresponding experimental energies are 5.65 and 7.32 eV, respectively. In addition, a number of states with significant intensity are calculated to occur in the region of the experimental spectrum designated as the V1 band. The experimental ππ* transition dipole moment, 3.71 D, is estimated by assuming that the intensity of the V1 band is due solely to the ππ* transition. The calculated ππ* transition dipole moment is 3.70 D, if only one unoccupied a‘‘ orbital is included in the active space. If the number of unoccupied a‘‘ orbitals in the active space is increased, the calculated ππ* transition moment drops to 2.40 D, and another transition, the π3pπ, appears at 7.40 eV, but with only low to moderate intensity. The calculated orientation of the ππ* transition dipole moment agrees w...