cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeted expression of the ret/PTC1 oncogene induces papillary thyroid carcinomas

The ret/PTC oncogene, a rearranged form of the ret proto-oncogene, has been found to be restricted to human papillary thyroid carcinomas. This report shows that transgenic mice with thyroid-targeted expression of the ret/PTC1 oncogene developed thyroid carcinomas with considerable similarities to human papillary thyroid carcinomas, particularly in the nuclear cytologic features and the presence of local invasion. Our findings indicate that ret/PTC2 is not only a biomarker associated with papillary thyroid carcinomas, but is also the only proven specific genetic event leading to the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
A practical guide for determining the solubility of metal hydroxides and oxides in water

In response to increasing metal toxicity concerns, new and more stringent regulations are driving industry to better understand the fate of metals in the environment. As a result, practicing engineers need a set of tools for quickly understanding the aqueous chemistry of the system at hand. This paper presents a practical guide for estimating the solubility of metal hydroxides/oxides in aqueous systems. Equilibrium chemistry software from OLI Systems, Inc. (Morris Plains, NJ) was used to predict the solubility of metal hydroxides/oxides in water as a function of pH. The product is an overall metal solubility diagram containing the solubility curves for 12 metal hydroxides/oxides. The curves are based on a commercially available thermodynamic database and were validated against literature solubility data. In most cases, the curves depict the solubility of the less stable crystalline or amorphous form of the metal hydroxide or oxide. This will be typical of industrial situations where aging of the solid phase is often minimal. The solubility curves are best viewed as “solubility bands” that can extend as much as an order of magnitude above and below the predicted lines. Two case studies illustrate the usefulness of the overall metal solubility diagram to practicing engineers.
The short proposal: versatile tool for communicating corporate culture in competitive climates

The authors maintain that proposals are typically overwritten, poorly researched documents that force recipients to search for ideas of pertinent concern and rarely accomplish their objectives. They suggest that short proposals, introduced early in the negotiation process, can act as replacements for formal proposals or as interim documents leading to more productive, persuasive formal proposals. They explain why many long proposals fail and short proposals succeed. >
Extraneous perceptual information interferes with children's acquisition of mathematical knowledge

Educational material often includes engaging perceptual information. However, this perceptual information is often extraneous and may compete with the deeper to-be-learned structure, consequently hindering either the learning of relevant structure or its transfer to new situations. This hypothesis was tested in 4 experiments in which 6- to 8-year-old children learned to read simple bar graphs. In some conditions, the bars were monochromatic (i.e., No Extraneous Information), whereas in other conditions, the bars consisted of columns of discrete countable objects (i.e., Extraneous Information). Results demonstrated that the presence of extraneous information substantially attenuated learning; participants tended to count the objects and failed to acquire the appropriate strategy. The interference effects decreased with age. These findings present evidence of how extraneous information affects learning of new mathematical knowledge. Broader implications of these findings for understanding the development of the ability to filter task-irrelevant information and for educational practice are also discussed.
Hypotonicity induces L-selectin shedding in human neutrophils.

Expression levels of adhesion molecules on neutrophils are affected under various conditions, including ischemia, possibly because of associated increases in cell volume. We examined the effects of...
Neural plasticity and behavior - sixty years of conceptual advances.

This brief review summarizes 60 years of conceptual advances that have demonstrated a role for active changes in neuronal connectivity as a controller of behavior and behavioral change. Seminal studies in the first phase of the six-decade span of this review firmly established the cellular basis of behavior - a concept that we take for granted now, but which was an open question at the time. Hebbian plasticity, including long-term potentiation and long-term depression, was then discovered as being important for local circuit refinement in the context of memory formation and behavioral change and stabilization in the mammalian central nervous system. Direct demonstration of plasticity of neuronal circuit function in vivo, for example, hippocampal neurons forming place cell firing patterns, extended this concept. However, additional neurophysiologic and computational studies demonstrated that circuit development and stabilization additionally relies on non-Hebbian, homoeostatic, forms of plasticity, such as synaptic scaling and control of membrane intrinsic properties. Activity-dependent neurodevelopment was found to be associated with cell-wide adjustments in post-synaptic receptor density, and found to occur in conjunction with synaptic pruning. Pioneering cellular neurophysiologic studies demonstrated the critical roles of transmembrane signal transduction, NMDA receptor regulation, regulation of neural membrane biophysical properties, and back-propagating action potential in critical time-dependent coincidence detection in behavior-modifying circuits. Concerning the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, regulation of gene transcription was found to serve as a bridge between experience and behavioral change, closing the 'nature versus nurture' divide. Both active DNA (de)methylation and regulation of chromatin structure have been validated as crucial regulators of gene transcription during learning. The discovery of protein synthesis dependence on the acquisition of behavioral change was an influential discovery in the neurochemistry of behavioral modification. Higher order cognitive functions such as decision making and spatial and language learning were also discovered to hinge on neural plasticity mechanisms. The role of disruption of these processes in intellectual disabilities, memory disorders, and drug addiction has recently been clarified based on modern genetic techniques, including in the human. The area of neural plasticity and behavior has seen tremendous advances over the last six decades, with many of those advances being specifically in the neurochemistry domain. This review provides an overview of the progress in the area of neuroplasticity and behavior over the life-span of the Journal of Neurochemistry. To organize the broad literature base, the review collates progress into fifteen broad categories identified as 'conceptual advances', as viewed by the author. The fifteen areas are delineated in the figure above. This article is part of the 60th Anniversary special issue.
Establishment, Incorporation, and Endorsement: Everson's Muddled Legacy of Incorporation and Legislating Out of the Passive Display Quandary

This article examines the Establishment Clause and the Supreme Court's development of the Endorsement test. The article argues that the Endorsement Test takes a far too expansive view of the Establishment Clause. Specifically, the article argues that the Endorsement Test offends traditional limitations on the powers of federal courts. Accordingly, the article ultimately argues that Congress should strip district courts of jurisdiction over challenges to state action under the Establishment Clause.
Expression of integrin cell adhesion receptors during human airway epithelial repair in vivo

Airway epithelium is subject to injury during inflammation and exposure to a variety of inhaled and infectious agents. Little is known about the expression of integrins during human airway epithelial regeneration and differentiation after injury. We therefore characterized integrin subunit expression after mechanical injury in an in vivo xenograft model of human bronchial epithelium. On the migrating cells at the edges of surface epithelial wounds, there was increased expression of the alpha v-, beta 5-, beta 6-, and alpha 5-integrin subunits. During the later phase of repair, the increased expression of alpha v-, beta 5-, and beta 6-subunits persisted, but the expression of the beta 8-subunits was restricted to basal cells. In addition, there was a redistribution of the alpha 2- and alpha 6-collagen/laminin-binding integrins to suprabasal epithelial layers. There was no expression of the beta 3- or alpha 4-integrin subunit on reparative epithelium. A similar upregulation of alpha v-, beta 5-, and beta 6-integrin receptor subunits was observed in areas of undifferentiated airway from cystic fibrosis patients. Injured epithelium was found to be significantly more susceptible to gene transfer with a recombinant adenovirus, suggesting that the increased integrin expression has implications for the acquisition of adenovirus infections and for lung-directed gene therapy.
Study on internal incentive and restrictive mechanism of the public hospital based on entrusted agency theory

Public hospital reform is one of the health system reform priorities. Under the guidance of realizing the goal that everyone is entitled to basic health services, how to establish a scientific incentive and restrictive mechanism to achieve the goal that the hospital takes the connotative development road, is the problem that the hospital administrators must resolve immediately. Combined with the entrusted agency theory, based on analyzing the hospital internal entrusted agency relationship and entrusted agency problem, the article constructed the framework of the hospital internal incentive and restrictive mechanism.
A Physician Attribution Computational Model for Inpatient Care

This paper describes a computational model that utilizes clinical information from a patient's EHR (Electronic Health Record) to retrospectively identify the physician most responsible for the patient's care in the hospital. Physician attribution provides an important data point for research on delivery of cost-effective and high quality patient care in hospitals. In contrast to extant attribution methods that require expensive human-centered knowledge engineering to encode the attribution logic, the unique and novel aspect of our work is that this logic is automatically learned from a manually created small example set consisting of physicians attributed to patients. This approach makes our model highly scalable across hospitals and specialties within them. Furthermore the precision of attribution achieved by our model is over 97%. A web based system based on our attribution model has been deployed at Stony Brook Medicine (SBM). The application works in real time off a daily data feed of EHRs of discharged patients.
Bifidus factor. V. The activity of α- and β-methyl-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminides

Abstract 1. 1. β-Methyl- N -acetyl- d -glucosaminide is a growth factor for Lactobacillus bifidus var. Penn . The corresponding α-glucoside is inactive. 2. 2. When mixtures of the inactive α-methyl- N -acetyl- d -glucosaminide and of the active β-isomer are used, the activity of the β-isomer is enhanced up to fivefold. 3. 3. Other compounds containing NH-CO groups did not enhance the activity of β-methyl- N -acetyl- d -glucosaminide. In general, no or only very slight enhancement by the α-glucoside was observed when the β-glucoside was replaced by other substances with bifidus factor activity. 4. 4. Lactobacillus bifidus var. Penn contains an enzyme that hydrolyzes and inactivates β-methyl- N -acetyl- d -glucosaminide but not the corresponding α-glucoside. In the presence of the α-glucoside the rate of hydrolysis of the β-glucoside was decreased. The observed in vitro effect did not seem sufficient to explain the microbiological response.
Abdominal and Genitourinary Complications Following Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts

AbstractThree patients with complications secondary to ventriculoperitoneal shunts for the management of hydrocephalus are described. Abdominal and genitourinary complications that may occur after the shunting procedure usually are owing to abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid or perforation by the shunting catheter tip.
Use of Phytohormones for Strengthening Metal(loid) Phytoextraction: Limitations and a Case Study

Phytoextraction is a branch of phytoremediation technology in which plants are used to remove polluting substances from the environment. Among inorganic contaminants, metal(loid)s are an important problem. Of the abiotic stresses that strongly impact plant growth and healthy food, metal(loid)s in soil are an important and challenging area for scientists working on agricultural and environmental issues. Phytoextraction is basically a modified “agronomic” practice where plants are used not for food production but for “cleaning” and/or rendering contaminated media less harmful. Many factors, such as the survival of plants at high-contaminant concentrations, low soil fertility conditions, and unfavorable pH values, diminish the potential of this technique. Another factor to consider is the long period of time it can take to reduce contaminants to the level of natural content or to the limit established by the laws and regulations of each country. Very recently, phytohormones were studied to resolve several phytoremediation limitations. Interesting results (presented as a case study in the second part of the chapter) were obtained from our laboratory at ISE-CNR in Pisa on the use of phytohormones as an exogenous treatment for different phytoextraction mechanisms. It was shown to counteract difficulties plants have in combating phytotoxicity effects and to improve the technology’s efficiency.
Cancer Journey for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Pacific Northwest .

Purpose/objectives To describe the experiences of American Indian and Alaska Native cancer survivors to improve understanding of the trajectory of cancer treatment. . Research approach Qualitative focus group research. . Setting Rural and geographically isolated American Indian and Alaska Native communities in the Pacific Northwest. . Participants 30 American Indian and Alaska Native cancer survivors or caregivers. . Methodologic approach The authors analyzed data from two focus groups with cancer survivors by using thematic analysis informed by indigenous methodologies. . Findings Based on focus group findings, the authors developed a conceptual model of the cancer experience called Rough Waters. Participants described their cancer experience as a collective journey involving family and friends and requiring resources to offset challenges along the way. Dominant themes were delays, isolation, communication, money, advocacy, spirituality, and family involvement. . Conclusions American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Pacific Northwest have special cultural needs during cancer care. The current study provides examples that can guide patient-provider interactions. . Interpretation Using the metaphor of cancer as a journey, clinicians can begin a dialogue to identify what will impede or assist the cancer journey for their American Indian and Alaska Native patients.
Project Management and the Importance of Crises in the Sectors of the National Economy

Abstract Project management is one of the most important management tool in many companies. In the past decade, the word project has become widely known and used, and its importance has greatly expanded. Most often, it is used to name a sequence of related activities with a given beginning and an end, the purpose of which is the realization of a certain objective. All projects contain a part of uncertainty and they are exposed to unidentified or poorly predictable phenomena. Organizations that are not managed by projects deal with crises reactively. They will address the crisis when it occurs. Companies with project management use a proactive approach. They prepare in advance and they are able to handle a greater number and variety of urgency negative situations than they encountered in the past. The text deals with individual research of management of small and medium enterprises in the Czech Republic according to the sectors of the national economy. The aim of the paper is also to assess the project management and the importance of crisis in the sector of economy. As reported by the results of different sectors, it depends on the business in terms of project management and the importance of the crisis.
Characterisation of iridium Schottky contacts on n-AlxGa1-xN

The electrical characteristics of Ir Schottky contacts on n-type AlxGa1−xN (x=0, 0.10, 0.20, 0.25) grown by MOCVD on sapphire substrate are investigated. The barrier heights are obtained from current–voltage (I–V) and capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements and are found to increase with aluminium composition. The effect of thermal annealing on barrier height of Ir Schottky diodes on Al0.25Ga0.75N is also studied. Only slight degradation in Schottky barrier height is observed after annealing the Ir-Schottky diodes at 850°C for 30 s.
Nanotechnology-Driven Therapeutic Interventions in Wound Healing: Potential Uses and Applications

The chronic nature and associated complications of nonhealing wounds have led to the emergence of nanotechnology-based therapies that aim at facilitating the healing process and ultimately repairing the injured tissue. A number of engineered nanotechnologies have been proposed demonstrating unique properties and multiple functions that address specific problems associated with wound repair mechanisms. In this outlook, we highlight the most recently developed nanotechnology-based therapeutic agents and assess the viability and efficacy of each treatment, with emphasis on chronic cutaneous wounds. Herein we explore the unmet needs and future directions of current technologies, while discussing promising strategies that can advance the wound-healing field.
Spines and Mental Disorders

Mental retardation (MR) is a frequent cause of cognitive disability and is often associated with spine loss or dysgenesis. Deficits in the regulation of the dendritic cytoskeleton affect both the structure and function of dendritic spines and synapses, and they are believed to underlie and/or contribute to mental retardation in some instances. The dynamic actin-rich nature of dendritic spines pointed to Rho GTPase family members as central contributors because they are key regulators of actin dynamics and organization. It is therefore not surprising that mutations in genes encoding regulators and effectors of the Rho GTPases have been associated with human neurological diseases. This article focuses on the role of Rho GTPases and their associated signaling molecules in spine morphogenesis and MR.
Predicting breeding values and genetic components using generalized linear mixed models for categorical and continuous traits in walnut ( Juglans regia )

Genetic components for economically important traits in walnut (Juglans regia) were estimated for the first time using historical pedigree and heirloom phenotypic data from the walnut breeding program at the University of California, Davis. The constructed pedigree is composed of ~ 15,000 individuals and is derived from current and historic phenotypic records dating back > 50 years and located across California. To predict the additive genetic values of individuals under selection, generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), implemented with MCMCglmm, were developed. Several repeatability models were established to obtain the best model and predict the genetic parameters for each trait. Repeatability for yield, harvest date, extra-light kernel color (ELKC), and lateral bearing were predicted at 0.82, 0.98, 0.63, and 0.96, respectively, and average narrow-sense heritabilities were 0.54, 0.77, 0.49, and 0.75, respectively. Each individual in the pedigree was ranked by its estimated breeding value (EBV). The genetic trend showed specific patterns for each trait, and real genetic improvement was found over time. The completed pedigree built here, the estimated breeding values, and the ranking of individuals according to their breeding values, can be used to guide future crossing designs in the walnut breeding program and future implementation of genomic selection methods in walnut.
Organizational Herding in Advertising Spending Disclosures: Evidence and Mechanisms

As firms use advertising to gain product market advantages and increase their valuation in financial markets, disclosing their advertising spending is influential—whether it erodes organizational competitive advantages in product markets or signals quality in financial markets. The authors argue that firms lower their own advertising disclosure uncertainty by observing peers’ advertising disclosure, and they empirically investigate information-based organizational herding in the context of advertising spending disclosure, where a 1994 reporting rule made advertising spending disclosures voluntary in the United States. The authors examine whether a firm relies on information from benchmark leaders or similar peers to resolve disclosure uncertainty. A novel identification strategy, which uses partially overlapping strategic groups, to mitigate simultaneity and correlated unobservables, shows robust evidence for herding effects among peer firms in the same strategic group. Moreover, firms are more likely to resolve disclosure uncertainty from similar peers rather than from benchmark leaders. The authors discuss how firms can use knowledge of competitors’ predicted advertising disclosure decisions conditional on their disclosure to their strategic advantage in product and financial markets.
Design considerations for handling dropouts in anti-depressant drug trials

Abstract Background In clinical trials, statistical analysis often requires certain assumptions about missing data for a valid statistical inference. If the dropout rate is high, a wrong assumption about the missing data may compromise the validity of statistical inferences. Purpose To mitigate the high dropout rates commonly observed in psychiatry clinical trials, we consider two design approaches for short-term controlled trials submitted in support of marketing applications for drug products for the major depressive disorder (MDD) indication: (1) shortening the trial duration and (2) treating time to treatment discontinuation as an alternative primary efficacy endpoint. Methods Subject-level efficacy data from 45 trials for drugs approved for an MDD indication between 1997 and 2014 were collected. We analyzed change from baseline in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) total score using the mixed model repeated measures approach. We compared the least squares means and the 95% confidence intervals of the treatment effect among three different trial durations, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. We considered two definitions of discontinuation: (i) all-cause discontinuation, (ii) discontinuation due to lack of efficacy. We compared the two-sided log-rank p-values with the p-values from the protocol-specified primary analysis. Conclusions Our findings suggest that MDD trials in the acute setting may be shortened to 6 weeks provided that the treatment difference between drug and placebo on HAMD-17 total score reaches approximately 2 units at Week 6. However, our exploratory analyses of available data do not support the use of time to treatment discontinuation as an alternative primary efficacy endpoint.
Infectious Blood Source Alters Early Foregut Infection and Regurgitative Transmission of Yersinia Pestis by Rodent Fleas

Fleas can transmit Yersinia pestis by two mechanisms, early-phase transmission (EPT) and biofilm-dependent transmission (BDT). Transmission efficiency varies among flea species and the results from different studies have not always been consistent. One complicating variable is the species of rodent blood used for the infectious blood meal. To gain insight into the mechanism of EPT and the effect that host blood has on it, fleas were fed bacteremic mouse, rat, guinea pig, or gerbil blood; and the location and characteristics of the infection in the digestive tract and transmissibility of Y. pestis were assessed 1 to 3 days after infection. Surprisingly, 10–28% of two rodent flea species fed bacteremic rat or guinea pig blood refluxed a portion of the infected blood meal into the esophagus within 24 h of feeding. We term this phenomenon post-infection esophageal reflux (PIER). In contrast, PIER was rarely observed in rodent fleas fed bacteremic mouse or gerbil blood. PIER correlated with the accumulation of a dense mixed aggregate of Y. pestis, red blood cell stroma, and oxyhemoglobin crystals that filled the proventriculus. At their next feeding, fleas with PIER were 3–25 times more likely to appear partially blocked, with fresh blood retained within the esophagus, than were fleas without PIER. Three days after feeding on bacteremic rat blood, groups of Oropsylla montana transmitted significantly more CFU than did groups infected using mouse blood, and this enhanced transmission was biofilm-dependent. Our data support a model in which EPT results from regurgitation of Y. pestis from a partially obstructed flea foregut and that EPT and BDT can sometimes temporally overlap. The relative insolubility of the hemoglobin of rats and Sciurids and the slower digestion of their blood appears to promote regurgitative transmission, which may be one reason why these rodents are particularly prominent in plague ecology.
The effect of hedonic and utilitarian values on satisfaction and loyalty of Airbnb users

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between customer values, satisfaction and loyalty in the context of Airbnb.,The survey questionnaires were developed based upon review of previous studies. The samples were collected from US- based Airbnb users. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.,The result of this study indicates that first, Airbnb users’ hedonic value has a positive impact on satisfaction and loyalty, while utilitarian value influences only on satisfaction. Second, this study also shows that product involvement plays as a moderating role in the paths between hedonic value and customer satisfaction.,Study findings may help researchers understand the roles of hedonic and utilitarian values and their impacts on satisfaction and loyalty in the context of Airbnb. This study also contributes to Airbnb marketers in fulfilling users’ expectations about the company.,This research contributes to the hospitality literature by expanding the realm of research on Airbnb, which is a unique company applying the sharing economy concept in the lodging industry.
Chapter 11 – Covert Camera—The Fangs of the Fourth Estate

Seven motorcycles weave through traffic on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, once known as the Pearl of Asia. The off-road bikes scream like chain saws as they race down the dirt road towards their destination. The city blurs to countryside, from wealth to poverty. The passengers lean in unison with their drivers, avoiding potholes and oxcarts .
Encapsulating perovskite solar cells to withstand damp heat and thermal cycling

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are highly promising, but they are mechanically fragile, composed of layers with mismatches in thermal expansion coefficients, and known to decompose in the presence of heat and moisture. Here we show the development of a glass–glass encapsulation methodology for PSCs that enables them to pass the industry standard IEC 61646 damp heat and thermal cycling tests. It is important to select a thermally stable perovskite composition to withstand the encapsulation process at 150 °C and design a cell that minimizes metal diffusion. Moreover, the package needs an edge seal to effectively prevent moisture ingress and an inert encapsulant with an appropriate elastic modulus to hold the package together while allowing for compliance during temperature fluctuations. Our work demonstrates that industrially relevant encapsulation techniques have the potential to enable the commercial viability of PSCs.
Generalized LR parsing

Generalized LR parsing has become popular in the second half of the 1980s, after the publication of Tomita’s algorithm [Tomita, 1985]. The theoretical foundation of this approach is in fact much older and dates back to Lang [1974].
Who brings patients to the psychiatric emergency room?: Psychosocial and psychiatric correlates

In a sample of 311 consecutive psychiatric emergency room patients, 133 (43%) were accompanied by relatives, friends, or others, 113 (36%) came with the police, and 65 (21%) came by themselves. There were more males in the group brought in by police or who came by themselves than in the group accompanied by family or others. Aggression was the presenting problem in about 40% of police referrals. Half the aggressive patients who were brought in by the police were diagnosed with psychotic disorders. Poor social functioning was found in patients who came with police and by themselves, this finding was more pronounced in males. High rates of substance abuse, as suggested by positive toxicology, were found in police referrals and patients who came by themselves. This was mostly due to alcohol in males and cocaine in females. Findings indicate that gender, diagnosis, and psychosocial status contribute independently to who brings patients to the psychiatric emergency room. It is suggested that this information is clinically useful for diagnostic assessment and management. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
Stress and Vivid Memories

Confidential informants play a significant role in the apprehension of the criminal elements in society. They help reduce crime by helping put criminals in jail by gathering intelligence that some law enforcement officers find hard to get. Usually they are a member of the local society; however, they are international players too and know all of the actors that may engage in criminal conduct as well as know what is going on in the streets of the community. Not all informants are innocent persons beings helpful to law enforcement. As a matter of fact a lot of them are criminals as well and receiving immunity for cooperating with law enforcement. (Police Chief Magazine, 2007) Another point is that not all are low level criminals operating in crime ridden neighborhoods; some confidential informants consist of major players in the criminal environment, while others are corporate executives, lawyers, drug traffickers, illegal immigrants, terror suspects and more. (Natapoff, 2011; Onecle, 2011) Some receive immunity from criminal punishment for their cooperation with law enforcement while others get paid. The question that most people ask is, “how reliable are informants and what do they get out of cooperating or collaborating with law enforcement?” This paper will attempt to discuss the use of confidential informants and the pros and cons of their service regarding criminal prosecutions and their ethical relationship with law enforcement and your need to talk to your congressman.
Understanding Computer-Mediated Support Groups: A Revisit Using a Meta-Analytic Approach.

The increasing popularity of computer-mediated support groups (CMSGs) has drawn scholarly attention in recent decades. Fifteen empirical controlled studies have been published since Rains and Young...
Classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulation of plasma fueling using magnetic plasma expulsion

The possibility of fueling a magnetically confined plasma using particle sources located inside of the plasma is studied by computer simulation. Magnetic plasma expulsion [R. E. Phillips and C. A. Ordonez, Phys. Plasmas 25, 012508 (2018)] would serve to keep the magnetically confined plasma away from the particle sources without adversely affecting plasma confinement. The simulations show how charged particles can be injected into a plasma by using particle sources located directly between two current-carrying wires that create a magnetic expulsion field. Plasma fueling with the average energy of injected particles greater than the average energy of plasma particles may serve for heating the plasma. Also, plasma fueling with positive and negative particles injected at different rates may serve for changing the neutrality of the plasma. Conditions for plasma fueling are investigated using a classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulation. Two types of particle sources are considered, and the fraction of emitted particles that reach (and fuel) the magnetically confined plasma is evaluated for each.
Logic IP for Low-Cost IC Design in Advanced CMOS Nodes

Routing closure and design-for-manufacturability (DFM) challenges exacerbate nonrecurring engineering (NRE) costs, a steep barrier to entry for advanced sub-20-nm CMOS nodes, making low-volume fabrication of integrated circuits (ICs) almost intangible. For ICs in which the cost of design dominates the fabrication, we seek to trade some amount of chip area to lower NRE costs. To this end, we consider designing logic cell layouts for easier routing and DFM closure. We accustom a layout simplification and reuse approach to build standard cell libraries such that good pin access and layout regularity are ensured for all cells. Using a commercial 14-/16-nm technology, we developed two 100-cell logic cell libraries that are, respectively, 9 and 10.5 metal tracks tall. Our routing experiments on multiple designs show that taller cells can endure 20% higher placement density while reducing the number of design rule check (DRC) violations by four orders of magnitude compared with a commercial 7.5 track library. Silicon measurements show that taller cells can enable faster design closure in ICs with stringent performance requirements at the cost of a marginal power overhead. Finally, our logic cell design approach can make advanced CMOS nodes more affordable for low-volume design.
The development of network governance and its relevance for public affairs education

Networks and network governance have gained substantial attention among scholars in public administration, public policy, and public affairs. A growing number of books and review articles have been...
Factors influencing tweet purposes and citizen engagement with municipal Twitter accounts

The purpose of this paper is to determine the demographic, resource and internal competition factors that influence both the level of citizen engagement provided by municipal Twitter accounts as well as the primary purposes for which those accounts are used.,This research uses a mixed-methods approach. Twitter data were content analyzed and categorized according to their specific purposes (information dissemination, community building or calls to action). Twitter engagement was measured as an index variable constructed from prior research, and multiple regression was used to determine the factors which best predict both account engagement and tweet purposes.,The results show that two factors (a multiplatform approach and fiscal health) along with the interaction of those factors predict the level of Twitter-based citizen engagement. Median citizen age was found to significantly predict the percentage of municipal tweets with purposes of information dissemination and community building.,This study adds to the literature on public sector social media use by examining the purposes and practices of local government Twitter use, providing a context for examining how Twitter is employed by local governments for citizen engagement.
Strategic Anticipation and the Hierarchy of Justice in U.S. District Courts

Does the hierarchical relationship between the district courts and the courts of appeals influence decision making at the trial level? Do these judges anticipate responses by appellate panels and c...
Cast On Cast Off II

The art of knitting using precise machinery to bind individual threads into a single entity cannot be learned alone. To enhance my professional works, I sought an opportunity to learn machine knitting. I also learned to knit cords using six-needle cord knitting machine. After returning to my own institution, the lack of knitting equipment posed a challenge for my practicing, progressing, and perfecting of the techniques I learned. Nevertheless, I undertook the challenge and utilized my new understanding in knitting. The purpose of the design was to create a cocktail dress using an unconventional material— specifically yarn. The dress features bias drapes of yellow and blue ottoman stitch pieces with a blue all-knit piece and red cords strap forming a knot with tassels on the back. The yarn colors were selected for the contrast effect. The content of yarns is 100% acrylic with characteristics of durability, easy care, and softness.
Publication bias is the consequence of a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion

Publication bias has been shown to exist in research across medical and surgical specialties. Bias can occur at any stage of the publication process and can be related to race, ethnicity, age, religion, sex, gender, or sexual orientation. Although some improvements have been made toward addressing this issue, bias still spans the publication process from authors and peer reviewers, to editorial board members and editors, with poor inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities throughout. The result of bias remaining unchecked is the publication of research that leaves out certain groups, is not applicable to all people, and can result in harm to some populations. We have highlighted the current landscape of publication bias and strived to demonstrate the importance of addressing it. We have also provided solutions for reducing bias at multiple stages throughout the publication process. Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout all aspects of the publication process, requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion statements in reports, and providing specific education and guidelines will ensure the identification and eradication of publication bias. By following these measures, we hope that publication bias will be eliminated, which will reduce further harm to certain populations and promote better, more effective research pertinent to all people.
MONOPOLY® PRICING

There is a large and rich literature in economics on monopoly pricing. However, a close examination of this literature reveals a surprising gap: there have been virtually no studies of Monopoly® pricing. We fill that void with an empirical examination of the pricing of the board game Monopoly®. In particular, we examine market-level, quarterly prices from 1990 to 2002 and find substantial evidence of the phenomenon of customary pricing. (JEL L83, L1, L12, Z11, D42)
The Performance Rewards of Human Capital Development in the Federal Government

Human capital is one of the most vital assets an organization possesses. Research has demonstrated that human capital is directly related to performance. Thus, there is a clear incentive for organi...
Candidate Black Holes

When a very massive star has used up its thermonuclear fuel, there is no equilibrium state and it is thought to collapse forever into a black hole. This hypothetical object is by itself invisible, for no radiation can escape from its surface, but its presence can be inferred when the invisible black hole is close enough to a large visible companion. Gas is then pulled from the visible star into the black hole; the gas heats up and emits X-rays before disappearing from view. Orbital and spectral analysis of the binary system can lead to estimates of the mass, M c , of the visible companion, and the mass, M X , of the invisible object responsible for the X-ray radiation. When the invisible object has a mass greater than three solar masses, or when M X ≥ 3M⊙, it is too massive to be a white dwarf or neutron star, and it is in all probability a black hole.
Margaret Fuller’sSummer on the Lakes, in 1843and the Condition of America

In her travel narrativeSummer on the Lakes, in 1843, Margaret Fuller differentiates consistently between the materialistic or utilitarian motivations of settlers, on one hand, and the spiritual or aesthetic aims of tourists on the other. Her trip occurred during the depths of the severe economic crisis of 1837 to 1844, a period of widespread questioning of the historical progressiveness of capitalism. Many among Fuller’s circle of radical bourgeois Bostonians felt that the world had been badly deformed by what they called “the spirit of commerce”, and they worried that New England was developing what Thomas Carlyle diagnosed as the “Condition-of-England.” This romantic assessment of socio-economic pathologies focused on the idea that a materialist, instrumentalist, and rationalist civilization had lost touch with the organic “laws of nature.”Summer on the Lakes, then, is structured by the tension between a vision of a just society rooted in nature and the stark reality of America’s westward expansion, between an abiding faith in the human potential to live up to the beauty of picturesque landscapes and a clear understanding of the cold social calculus of immediate profit.
Applications of Far Infrared Lasers

The earliest useful sources of coherent radiation in the far infrared or submillimeter region were the electron tube devices including harmonic generators and carcino-trons. These have been used for molecular spectroscopy [1] and for resonance studies of solids [2][3]. The development of the HCN laser [4] at 337 urn in 1964 soon revolutionized resonance spectroscopy in semiconductors [5] and magnetic materials. With the addition of isotopic species of HCN and H2O, a number of additional lines from 10 to 120 cm-1 became available for such studies [6]. The potential for far infrared applications has been even further enhanced by the development of optically pumped molecular lasers [7] and by the nonlinear mixing of two lasers to provide tunable radiation over two decades, including the submillimeter region [8], The cw sources provide high resolution and power levels of milliwatts and the pulse sources provide high power in the ten to hundred kilowatt range. Linear and nonlinear spectroscopic studies of molecular vibrations, transitions be-tween excited states of atomic species, vibration spectra of suitable crystals, resonance spectroscopy of electric and magnetic dipole transitions of all sorts in solids and gases and a variety of new diagnostic and other studies of plasmas are in progress or are contemplated for the immediate future.
Beyond Sustainability Reporting: Integrated Reporting is Practiced, Required & More Would Be Better

Ninety-five percent of the Global Fortune 250, along with thousands of other companies worldwide, voluntarily report on their environmental, societal, and economic impacts. The practice is variously known as sustainability reporting, corporate responsibility (CR) reporting, corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting, citizenship reporting, environmental, societal, and governance (ESG) reporting, or triple bottom line (TBL) reporting. A growing number of countries now mandate or provide guidance related to this practice to some extent. For example, in the United States, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act explicitly requires publicly traded companies to disclose data related to their supply chains of certain minerals. Should greater disclosures be explicitly and specifically required? Should companies begin greater disclosures for their own benefit? Do the basic principles of existing laws already require a greater amount of disclosure in our current context? If so, what would be gained from greater and more explicit guidance from legislators or regulators such as the SEC? We seek to answer these questions. This article summarizes the history, current state, and motivations and impacts of sustainability reporting and regulation-by-disclosure, along with data on the present needs of investors and recent market trends. It also reviews the definition of materiality under U.S. securities laws and regulations – the key to understanding what data a company must publicly disclose for the benefit of investors. Based on our review of recent history, the current needs of investors, and the definition of materiality, it is clear that existing laws and related rules already require greater disclosure of data on environmental and societal impacts than commonly understood. The article concludes with recommendations for managers, their attorneys, accountants, and policymakers, and provokes further questions for constructive scholarship in the fields of business and law.
Correlation of Resting Elbow Angle with Spasticity in Chronic Stroke Survivors.

Objective: To evaluate whether resting joint angle is indicative of severity of spasticity of the elbow flexors in chronic stroke survivors. Methods: Seventeen hemiparetic stroke subjects (male: n=13; female: n=4; age: 37-89 years; 11 right and 6 left hemiplegia; averaged 54.8 months after stroke, ranging 12-107 months) participated in the study. The number of subjects with modified Ashworth scale score (MAS) = 0, 1, 1+, 2, 3 was 3, 3, 5, 3, 3, respectively. In a single experimental session, resting elbow joint angle, MAS, and Tardieu scale score (Tardieu R1) were measured. A customized motorized stretching device was used to stretch elbow flexors at 5°/s, 50°/s, and 100°/s, respectively. Biomechanical responses (peak reflex torque and reflex stiffness) of elbow flexors were quantified. Correlation analyses between clinical and biomechanical assessments were performed. Results: Resting elbow joint angle showed a strong positive correlation with Tardieu R1 (r = 0.77, p<0.01) and a very strong negative correlation with MAS (r = −0.89, p<0.01). The resting angle also had strong correlations with biomechanical measures (r= −0.63 to −0.76, p<0.01). Conclusion: Our study provides experimental evidence for anecdotal observation that the resting elbow joint angle correlates with severity of spasticity in chronic stroke. Resting angle observation for spasticity assessment can and will be an easy, yet a valid way of spasticity estimation in clinical settings, particularly for small muscles or muscles which are not easily measurable by common clinical methods.
Where Do Terrorists Come from

Which social, political and global factors affect the supply of labor to terrorist organizations? To answer this question, I propose a multivariate model at the national level which includes three classes of factors hypothesized to have a relationship with the supply of labor to terrorism. Drawing on motivation and political opportunism as explanations of terrorism, the three classes of factors are determined as social structural, political institutional, and global capitalist contexts. The data for the dependent variables is obtained from 28 countries between 1991 and 1997. After applying the negative binomial regression model in a cross sectional time series analysis to the afore-mentioned factors, I found that political institutional factors and nations' position in the world system are related to the origins of terrorists.
Stanford's Smoke-Free Initiative: An Ethical Debate

This essay critically analyses the Smoke-Free Initiative, proposed by the student group Stanford's Colleges Against Cancer, which calls for, among other things, the creation of remotely located smoking areas on campus, outside of which tobacco smoke is prohibited. The analysis addresses both sides of the argument, applying rigorous ethical frameworks to each. Liberty Limiting Principles are the main focus of the analysis, essentially weighing the right to smoke in public against the right to a clean and safe environment. I conclude that the stipulations of the Smoke-Free Initiative are too harsh, impinging too greatly, and therefore unethically, on the rights of the smoking community.