cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using the theory of planned behavior to predict infant restraint use in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To determine whether the theory of planned behavior (TPB) predicted intent of child restraint system (CRS) use among pregnant women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in Dallah Hospital, Riyadh, KSA during June-July 2013, 196 pregnant women completed surveys assessing their beliefs regarding CRS. Simultaneous observations were conducted among a different sample of 150 women to determine CRS usage at hospital discharge following maternity stay. Results: Logistic regression model with TPB constructs and covariates as predictors of CRS usage intent was significant ( χ 2 =64.986, p <0.0001) and predicted 38% of intent. There was an increase in odds of intent for attitudes (31.5%, p <0.05), subjective norm (55.3%, p <0.001), and perceived behavioral control (76.9%, p <0.001). The 3 logistic regression models testing the association of the relevant set of composite belief scores were also significant for attitudes ( χ 2 =16.803, p <0.05), subjective norm ( χ 2 =29.681, p <0.0001), and perceived behavioral control ( χ 2 =20.516, p <0.05). The behavioral observation showed that none of the 150 women observed used CRS for their newborn at discharge. Conclusion: The TPB constructs were significantly and independently associated with higher intent for CRS usage. While TPB appears to be a useful tool to identify beliefs related to CRS usage intentions in KSA, the results of the separate behavioral observation indicate that intentions may not be related to the actual usage of CRS in the Kingdom. Further studies are recommended to examine this association.
Estrogen and peptide YY are associated with bone mineral density in premenopausal exercising women.

Abstract Background In women with anorexia nervosa, elevated fasting peptide YY (PYY) is associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Prior research from our lab has demonstrated that fasting total PYY concentrations are elevated in exercising women with amenorrhea compared to ovulatory exercising women. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the association between fasting total PYY, average monthly estrogen exposure and BMD in non-obese premenopausal exercising women. Methods Daily urine samples were collected and assessed for metabolites of estrone 1-glucuronide (E1G) and pregnandiol glucuronide (PdG) for at least one menstrual cycle if ovulatory or a 28-day monitoring period if amenorrheic. Fasting serum samples were pooled over the measurement period and analyzed for total PYY and leptin. BMD and body composition were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine whether measures of body composition, estrogen status, exercise minutes, leptin and PYY explained a significant amount of the variance in BMD at multiple sites. Results Premenopausal exercising women aged 23.8 ± 0.9 years with a mean BMI of 21.2 ± 0.4 kg/m 2 exercised 346 ± 48 min/week and had a peak oxygen uptake of 49.1 ± 1.8 mL/kg/min. Thirty-nine percent (17/44) of the women had amenorrhea. Fasting total PYY concentrations were negatively associated with total body BMD (p = 0.033) and total hip BMD (p = 0.043). Mean E1G concentrations were positively associated with total body BMD (p = 0.033) and lumbar spine (L2–L4) BMD (p = 0.047). The proportion of variance in lumbar spine (L2–L4) BMD explained by body weight and E1G cycle mean was 16.4% (R 2 = 0.204, p = 0.012). The proportion of variance in hip BMD explained by PYY cycle mean was 8.6% (R 2 = 0.109, p = 0.033). The proportion of variance in total body BMD explained by body weight and E1G cycle mean was 21.9% (R 2 = 0.257, p = 0.003). Conclusion PYY, mean E1G and body weight are associated with BMD in premenopausal exercising women. Thus, elevated PYY and suppressed estrogen concentrations are associated with, and could be directly contributing to, low BMD in exercising women with amenorrhea, despite regular physical activity.
Prototyping an Electronic Edition of William Blake’s Manuscript of Vala, or the Four Zoas: A Progress Report

This article describes the recent experiments undertaken by the William Blake Archive in preparing a digital edition of Vala, or the Four Zoas , one of Blake’s most materially challenging works. The aim is to provide users with multiple tools for analysing Blake’s messy and mysterious manuscript: a high-quality image of the manuscript page paired with a dynamic transcription that allows readers to choose the level of detail they want for understanding what it is, precisely, they are looking at. However, the existing encoding standards and display were revealed to be totally inadequate by the complexity of The Four Zoas , and early models were almost impossible to read and understand. The article traces the journey towards the latest prototype as the team try to strike a balance between detail and accessibility, description and interpretation, readability and reliability, and established conventions and new approaches.
Modeling of the resource allocation in cloud computing centers

Cloud computing offers on-demand network access to the computing resources through virtualization. This paradigm shifts the computer resources to the cloud, which results in cost savings as the users leasing instead of owning these resources. Clouds will also provide power constrained mobile users accessibility to the computing resources. In this paper, we develop performance models of these systems. We assume that jobs arrive to the system according to a Poisson process and they may have quite general service time distributions. Each job may consist of multiple numbers of tasks with each task requiring a virtual machine (VM) for its execution. The size of a job is determined by the number of its tasks, which may be a constant or a variable. The jobs with variable sizes may generate new tasks during their service times. In the case of constant job size, we allow different classes of jobs, with each class being determined through their arrival and service rates and number of tasks in a job. In the variable case a job generates randomly new tasks during its service time. The latter requires dynamic assignment of VMs to a job, which will be needed in providing service to mobile users. We model the systems with both constant and variable size jobs using birth-death processes. In the case of constant job size, we determined joint probability distribution of the number of jobs from each class in the system, job blocking probabilities and distribution of the utilization of resources for systems with both homogeneous and heterogeneous types of VMs. We have also analyzed tradeoffs for turning idle servers off for power saving. In the case of variable job sizes, we have determined distribution of the number of jobs in the system and average service time of a job for systems with both infinite and finite amount of resources. We have presented numerical results and any approximations are verified by simulation. The results of the paper may be used in the dimensioning of cloud computing centers.
Myth and History in Eusebius's De vita Constantini: Vit. Const. 1.12 in Its Contemporary Setting

The opening chapters of Eusebius's De vita Constantini contain several comparisons of Constantine with great figures from the past. The first two, Cyrus and Alexander ( Vit. Const . 1.7-8), are predictable names in a work that bears many features of conventional royal panegyric. But Eusebius's choice of Moses for a third comparison ( Vit. Const . 1.12) departs from conventional norms and shows that the subject of his bios is not going to be measured simply by traditional imperial standards. The following analysis of Vit. Const . 1.12 begins with a consideration of Eusebius's choice of subjects to compare with Constantine. We will see that the literary construction of the comparison with Moses derives from biblical typology as much as it does from a typical classical synkrisis . Embedded in the typological construction is an allusion by Eusebius to a widespread opinion that the story of the Exodus was a myth. This aspect of the comparison has not received the attention which it deserves. I will argue that the mythic reference works against the rhetoric of the comparison as a whole. Its anomalous presence requires an explanation. This paper identifies various sources of the mythic charge, and defends the hypothesis that the critic foremost in Eusebius's mind was the pagan philosopher Porphyry. It ends with the conclusion that the triumph of Constantine was a valuable antidote to the critique of Exodus as myth.
Stockout Recovery under Consignment: The Role of Inventory Ownership in Supply Chains

We examine how a supply chain firm may implement an incentive contract under inventory consignment to recover stockouts and to retain customers. Inventory consignment allows an upstream firm (e.g., a manufacturer) to own and control inventory at a downstream firm (e.g., a retailer), representing a structural change in supply chain governance. Motivated by cases in pet toy and electronics component industries, we formulate principal–agent models based on the newsvendor framework to capture the strategic interactions in a supply chain. We find that consignment can be effective in reducing stockouts because the ownership and control of the product by the manufacturer allows better prevention of stockouts, which complements stockout recovery and leads to fewer stockouts. However, the lower level of stockout under consignment does not necessarily translate into profitability—when the manufacturer is highly opportunistic, that is, readily exploring outside opportunities for its product, consignment may lead to lower profitability for both the manufacturer and the supply chain. On the other hand, consignment will improve profitability for the manufacturer and the supply chain, if both the manufacturer opportunism and the retailer opportunism are moderate.
Competition Between Solid Phase Epitaxy and Random Crystallization During cw Laser Annealing of Amorphous Si Films

The kinetics of amorphous-to-polycrystalline conversion and solid phase epitaxy (SPE) in UHV-deposited Si films have been determined over a wide temperature range by the use of optical reflectivity measurements made during rapid heating by a cw Ar laser. Crystallization rates measured in UHV following film deposition are reported and compared to rates measured in air in order to elucidate the effects of contaminants on the processes. The effects of boron doping on nucleation and growth kinetics are also reported. The crystallization rates determined in these studies can be used to predict the volume fraction of polycrystalline material formed during laser-induced SPE growth of thick epitaxial layers.
Flexible QoS Multicast Routing Algorithm Based on Differential Evolution in NGI

Taking difficulty on exact measurement and complete expression of NGI(next generation Internet) network status into account,this paper presents a flexible QoS multicast routing algorithm based on DE(differential evolution) with introduction of fuzzy mathematics.the corresponding model and its mathematical description are introduced.Under inaccurate network status information and flexible user QoS requirement,the proposed algorithm tries to find the multicast tree with the maximum confidence degree on meeting with user QoS requirement and the user satisfaction degree on the achieved QoS.Simulation results have shown that the proposed algorithm is both feasible and effective.
Correlation of CD2 expression with PML gene breakpoints in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

The chromosomal translocation t(15;17)(q22:21) of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) fuses PML, a novel gene, with RAR alpha, a retinoic acid receptor gene. PML-RAR hybrid transcripts were studied in 18 cases of APL using RNA-PCR. Two forms were noted: one designated 5', producing a 439-bp chimeric fragment, and a 3' form, producing a pair of fragments of 765 bp and 909 bp. 5' forms were found in 7 of the 18 cases while the other 11 patients expressed the 3' forms. The chromosome 15 specific probes K3 and K2 were used to study genomic breakpoints in 12 APL patients. Comparison of these results with RNA PCR in 11 patients for whom both were available yielded a rearrangement pattern predictive of whether the hybrid transcript was 5' or 3'. In this way, an additional three patients in whom DNA but not RNA was available were identified as having 3' (downstream) breakpoints and, therefore, 3' hybrid forms. Thus, 21 cases categorized as having 5' or 3' PML-RAR transcripts were analyzed for various phenotypic differences. Surface phenotyping of leukemic promyelocytes demonstrated expression of the CD2 antigen in all cases with the 5' splice variant. Only 1 of 11 cases with the 3' form showed CD2 expression. This difference is significant at P = .001.
Hierarchical Test Generation

A test generation procedure is now presented which utilizes the hierarchical circuit and fault models developed in the previous chapter. It aims to exploit the possibility of detecting a significant percentage of the SSL faults by generating tests for total bus faults in the high-level model of a circuit. By effectively merging sets of SSL faults that can be tested in parallel, the number of target faults is reduced, as is the overall test generation effort. Tests for faults that cannot be directly handled can then be obtained by applying the same test generation procedure to a gate-level model of the circuit. Thus, the test generation technique presented here is truly hierarchical, i.e., invariant with respect to the level of the circuit and fault model used, a feature that sets it apart from most other test generation procedures. Moreover, at the gate level total bus faults are the same as SSL faults, implying that the hierarchical test generation technique allows us to obtain complete SSL fault coverage while generating tests for total bus faults only. Experimental results for sample circuits are presented, which show that this approach results in complete test sets for SSL faults that are almost always smaller than those generated by conventional methods.
Self-Control of Tension Headache

I would like to briefly review some of our research on the treatment of chronic tension headache. I am particularly interested in reactions from people who are as sophisticated in the use of relaxation as this group, because our findings suggest that the learned control of muscle tension may play a less important role in the self-control of tension headache than we had previously thought.
Sex Hormones and Their Impact on the Ventilatory Responses to Exercise and the Environment

This chapter outlines and describes the effect of sex and variations in the levels of sex hormones via the menstrual cycle and/or oral contraceptive use on the respiratory system’s responses to exercise and the environment. Based upon the available literature ventilation at rest is either less or not different in women compared to men and does not appear to vary with changes in sex hormones. Ventilation during exercise is much lower in women compared to men. This difference is due to women having smaller lungs and smaller airways, which limits their ability to generate expiratory flow. However, there are no variations in ventilation during exercise with changes in sex hormones most likely because ventilatory drive is too robust and tightly coupled to metabolic rate such that the levels of hormones are insufficient to uncouple these parameters. However, there is limited data on the effect of sex and even less on the effect of sex hormones on ventilatory patterns, respiratory mechanics, and pulmonary gas exchange, thus requiring future work.
Chairmen in Academic Urologic Practice: A Descriptive Analysis.

Objective To examine and characterize the demographics and scholarly characteristics of academic urology chairmen at the time of appointment. Materials and Methods The chairman of each United States urology residency program as of September 2016 was included in the study. Interim chairmen, as well as programs for which no clearly defined chair could be identified, were excluded. Demographic and academic data were collected via publically available curriculum vitae, departmental websites, Google search engine, and PubMed and Scopus websites. Results One hundred thirteen chairmen were included in the study. The majority were male (96%) and mean age at appointment was 46 years (standard deviation = 6.3 years). Mean number of publications and H-index at the time of appointment was 105 and 31.1, respectively. Fellowship training was completed by 75% of chairmen, of which urologic oncology (N = 43), endourology (N = 12), and infertility/andrology (N = 10) were the most common. The most common additional graduate degrees prior to appointment were MBA (N = 7) and PhD (N = 6). The most frequently attended institutions for residency were Johns Hopkins University (13) and Northwestern University (5), whereas Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (13) and Baylor University (7) were the most frequent for fellowship. Twenty percent of chairmen attained the chairman position at their former residency program and 7% at their former fellowship program. Conclusion Our study describes the demographic and academic characteristics of urology academic chairmen at the time of appointment. The majority of chairmen are male and specialize in urologic oncology. Chairmen often receive the chair appointment at their former residency program.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma: key determinants in tailoring the right treatment for the right patient.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive solid malignancy with a dismal prognosis. Data from the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) mesothelioma staging project, which is based on the records of both operable and non-operable MPM patients, indicates a median overall survival of 21, 19, 14 and 10 months for MPM patients with stage I, II, III and IV disease, respectively (1). Unfortunately, at diagnosis, the majority of MPM patients present with extensive disease and impaired functional status.
Communication—Modeling Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel-Cell Agglomerates with Double-Trap Kinetics

Author(s): Pant, LM; Weber, AZ | Abstract: A new semi-analytical agglomerate model is presented for polymer-electrolyte fuel-cell cathodes. The model uses double-trap kinetics for the oxygen-reduction reaction, which can capture the observed potential-dependent coverage and Tafel-slope changes. An iterative semi-analytical approach is used to obtain reaction rate constants from the double-trap kinetics, oxygen concentration at the agglomerate surface, and overall agglomerate reaction rate. The analytical method can predict reaction rates within 2% of the numerically simulated values for a wide range of oxygen concentrations, overpotentials, and agglomerate sizes, while saving simulation time compared to a fully numerical approach.
Cytosine Iminyl Radical (cytN•) Formation via Electron-Induced Debromination of 5-Bromocytosine: A DFT and Gaussian 4 Study.

Halogen-substituted pyrimidines, such as 5-bromouracil and 5-iodouracil, have been used as radio therapeutic (RT) agents in cancer treatment. The radiosensitizing activity of 5-bromouracil is attributed to its reaction with electron which produce the highly reactive uracil-5-yl radical by dissociating the C5–Br bond. Using density functional methods and highly accurate Gaussian 4 (G4) theory, herein, we show that 5-bromocytosine (5-Brcyt) after reaction with electron, also, leads to the formation of cytosine-5-yl radical. However, our results show that this species can subsequently undergo a base-catalyzed tautomerization reaction to form the π-aminyl radical followed by a second tautomerization to the thermodynamically most stable σ-iminyl radical (cytN•). From the present theoretical calculations, we infer that the mechanism of the formation of cytN• by one-electron reduction of 5-Brcyt is straightforward and may take place in 5-Brcyt-labeled DNA in competition with the usual reactions expected for the ...
How will sea-level rise affect threats to nesting success for Seaside Sparrows?

ABSTRACT Sea-level rise (SLR) threatens the nesting success of salt marsh breeding birds, including Seaside Sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus), by increasing the magnitude and frequency of extreme high tides that flood nests. However, the threat to nesting success from tidal flooding is intertwined with that of predation because the threats are connected through a trade-off along a nest height gradient. Therefore, to understand the risk to nesting success from SLR, it is necessary to consider predation threats simultaneously. I used an individual-based model of Seaside Sparrow nesting behavior, calibrated using empirical data on nest success rates and nest-site selection behaviors, to project the effects of SLR conditions on the relative importance of predation and flooding threats in affecting nesting success, and to investigate whether nest-site selection along a gradient of nest height can modulate the risk of SLR. Outputs from the model revealed that present-day levels of predation risk pose as great a r...
In-silico screening of 2,3-diphenylquinozaline derivatives as C-met kinase inhibitors

Quinoxaline, an important class of heterocylic compounds drawn greater attention due to their wide spectrum of biological activities. They are considered as an important chemical scaffold for anticancer drug design due to their potential inhibitory activity against C-met tyrosine kinase. C-met kinase inhibitors are a class of small molecules that having therapeutic potential in the treatment of various types of cancers. The present study aims to focus on the chemistry of quinoxaline derivatives, their potential activities against C-met tyrosine kinase, and in-silico screening of designed compounds. A series of twelve compounds were designed and docked against C-met tyrosine kinase for their binding energy. All compounds were found to be interacting well with the protein. Compound NQ1 was found to have good binding energy showing an estimated Ki value of 1.1μm. SAR study indicated the presence of an electron withdrawing substitution on benzilidine phenyl ring of quinoxaline greatly improves its binding interaction with the protein.
Presence of Sleep Disturbances Among Child Trauma Survivors: Comparison of Caregiver and Child Reports.

A significant body of research has been devoted to demonstrating high rates of sleep impairment, and the subsequent adverse implications of sleep difficulties, among adult trauma survivors, particularly those diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet considerably less work has been focused on sleep disturbances among trauma-exposed children, especially preschoolers. Pediatric research is paramount in light of the numerous developmental and functional implications that may result from sleep impairment. Prior studies have also documented disagreement between caregiver’s and children’s reports of trauma-related symptoms; however, the level of concordance rates regarding sleep difficulties is unknown in this population. The present study investigated the rates of multiple types of sleep disturbances using caregiver’s and children’s reports as well as caregiver-child concordance rates regarding these difficulties. Three hundred and forty-two treatment-seeking children ages of 3–18 years (M = 9.68, SD = 4.00; 61.1% female, 60.4% Black) and their caregivers were included in the study. Sleep disturbances were common in this sample, and children endorsed higher levels of sleep symptoms (range 46–72%) than their caregivers (range 14–51%). Nearly half (47%) of preschool children evinced significant sleep impairment per their caregiver. Inter-rater agreement between caregiver’s and children’s reports for all sleep symptoms were below acceptable levels (range κ = 0.01-.13), indicating that the concordance rate for caregiver-child trauma-related sleep problems is quite low. Findings illustrate the relevance of sleep disturbances among trauma-exposed children and point to the need to assess both caregiver’s and children’s symptoms regarding sleep impairment.
La “Revista de la semana”, el formato periodístico de las mujeres

The “Revista de la semana” is a common format in most of Nineteenth-Century magazines in Lima. In this article I review its development in the magazines oriented to the female audience. I describe how this journalistic format, common in political magazines, is taken by the writers of the generation of 1870 and transformed into a discursive format that explores women’s relation with the public space, through the comment of the social and cultural events that were going on in that time in Lima.
Exercise on-transition uncoupling of ventilatory, gas exchange and cardiac hemodynamic kinetics accompany pulmonary oxygen stores depletion to impact exercise intolerance in human heart failure.

AIM In contrast to knowledge that heart failure (HF) patients demonstrate peak exercise uncoupling across ventilation, gas exchange and cardiac haemodynamics, whether this dyssynchrony follows that at the exercise on-transition is unclear. This study tested whether exercise on-transition temporal lag for ventilation relative to gas exchange and oxygen pulse (O2 pulse) couples with effects from abnormal pulmonary gaseous oxygen store (O2store ) contributions to V˙O2 to interdependently precipitate persistently elevated ventilatory demand and low oxidative metabolic capacity in HF. METHODS Beat-to-beat HR and breath-to-breath ventilation and gas exchange were continuously acquired in HF (N = 9, ejection fraction = 30 ± 9%) and matched controls (N = 10) during square-wave ergometry at 60% V˙O2peak (46 ± 14 vs 125 ± 54-W, P < .001). Temporal responses across V˙E , V˙O2 and O2 pulse were assessed for the exercise on-transition using single exponential model Phase II on-kinetic time constants (τ = time to reach 63% steady-state rise). Breath-to-breath gas fractions and respiratory flows were used to determine O2stores . RESULTS HF vs controls: τ for V˙E (137 ± 93 vs 74 ± 40-seconds, P = .03), V˙O2 (60 ± 40 vs 23 ± 5-seconds, P = .03) and O2 pulse (28 ± 18 vs 23 ± 15-seconds, P = .59). Within HF, τ for V˙E differed from O2 pulse (P < .02), but not V˙O2 . Exercise V˙E rise (workload indexed) differed in HF vs controls (545 ± 139 vs 309 ± 88-mL min-1 W-1 , P < .001). Exercise on-transition O2store depletion in HF exceeded controls, generally persisting to end-exercise. CONCLUSION These data suggest HF demonstrated exercise on-transition O2store depletion (high O2store contribution to V˙O2 ) coupled with dyssynchronous V˙E , V˙O2 and O2 pulse kinetics-not attributable to prolonged cardiac haemodynamics. Persistent high ventilatory demand and low oxidative metabolic capacity in HF may be precipitated by physiological uncoupling occurring within the exercise on-transition.
Congenital sodium diarrhea and chorioretinal coloboma with optic disc coloboma in a patient with biallelic SPINT2 mutations, including p.(Tyr163Cys).

Congenital sodium diarrhea is a rare and life-threatening disorder characterized by a severe, secretory diarrhea containing high concentrations of sodium, leading to hyponatremia and metabolic acidosis. It may occur in isolation or in association with systemic features such as facial dysmorphism, choanal atresia, imperforate anus, and corneal erosions. Mutations in the serine protease inhibitor, Kunitz-Type 2 (SPINT2) gene have been associated with congenital sodium diarrhea and additional syndromic features. We present a child with congenital sodium diarrhea, cleft lip and palate, corneal erosions, optic nerve coloboma, and intermittent exotropia who was found to have biallelic mutations in SPINT2. One mutation, c.488A > G, predicting p.(Tyr163Cys), has been previously associated with a syndromic form of congenital sodium diarrhea. The other mutation, c.166_167dupTA, predicting p.(Asn57Thrfs*24) has not previously been reported and is likely a novel pathogenic variant for this disorder. We found only one other report of an optic nerve coloboma associated with SPINT2 mutations and this occurred in a patient with congenital tufting enteropathy. Our patient confirms an association of ocular coloboma with presumed loss of SPINT2 function.
EXAMINATION OF SPECTRAL TRANSFORMATIONS ON SPECTRAL MIXTURE ANALYSIS

Abstract. While many spectral transformation techniques have been applied on spectral mixture analysis (SMA), few study examined their necessity and applicability. This paper focused on exploring the difference between spectrally transformed schemes and untransformed scheme to find out which transformed scheme performed better in SMA. In particular, nine spectrally transformed schemes as well as untransformed scheme were examined in two study areas. Each transformed scheme was tested 100 times using different endmember classes’ spectra under the endmember model of vegetation- high albedo impervious surface area-low albedo impervious surface area-soil (V-ISAh-ISAl-S). Performance of each scheme was assessed based on mean absolute error (MAE). Statistical analysis technique, Paired-Samples T test, was applied to test the significance of mean MAEs’ difference between transformed and untransformed schemes. Results demonstrated that only NSMA could exceed the untransformed scheme in all study areas. Some transformed schemes showed unstable performance since they outperformed the untransformed scheme in one area but weakened the SMA result in another region.
Exploring Biology: A Vision and Change Disciplinary First-Year Seminar Improves Academic Performance in Introductory Biology

The transition to college is challenging for most students, especially those who aspire to major in the science, technology, engineering, or mathematics disciplines, in which introductory courses can be large and instruction less than optimal. This paper describes a novel, disciplinary first-year seminar (FYS) course, Exploring Biology, designed to address many of the challenges facing aspiring biology students beginning their academic careers at a large public research university. The course addresses typical FYS goals, such as community building, introduction to resources, and academic skill development, and introduces students to the core concepts of biology defined in the 2011 Vision and Change report. Relative to a matched comparison group of students, Exploring Biology alumni were retained at higher rates and had higher levels of academic performance in a subsequent introductory biology course, suggesting Exploring Biology has a positive impact on future academic performance in the discipline. Results from course evaluations and an alumni survey show that, overall, students valued both the FYS components and biology components of the course. These results provide evidence that the Exploring Biology disciplinary FYS model is an intervention that may increase academic success and retention in biology.
Orthodontic treatment of a patient with maxillary lateral incisors with dens invaginatus: 6-year follow-up.

Introduction Dens invaginatus is an anomaly of dental development in which calcified tissues, such as enamel and dentin, are invaginated into the pulp cavity. This morphologic alteration is more frequent in maxillary permanent lateral incisors and makes them more susceptible to carious lesions and pulp alterations. Methods This case report describes a patient with maxillary lateral incisors affected by dens invaginatus. The maxillary right lateral incisor had already undergone endodontic treatment, and the maxillary left one had a periapical lesion. Additionally, the patient had a Class II Division 1 malocclusion, with anterior open bite, posterior crossbite, and an impacted mandibular left second molar. Results The orthodontic treatment involved extraction of the maxillary lateral incisors and 2 mandibular premolars, resulting in proper overjet and overbite with good arch coordination and occlusal stability. Conclusions Treatment results were stable, as evaluated in a 6-year posttreatment follow-up.
Verapamil and riluzole cocktail liposomes overcome pharmacoresistance by inhibiting P-glycoprotein in brain endothelial and astrocyte cells: A potent approach to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract Riluzole is currently one of two approved medications for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, brain disposition of riluzole, as a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), is limited by the efflux transporters at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We propose to develop a liposomal co-delivery system that could effectively transport riluzole to brain cells by reducing efflux pumps with a P-gp inhibitor, verapamil. Riluzole and verapamil cocktail liposomes were prepared by lipid film hydration. The average particle size of cocktail liposomes was 194.3 ± 6.0 nm and their polydispersity index (PDI) was 0.272 ± 0.017. The encapsulation efficiencies of verapamil and riluzole in the cocktail liposomes were 86.0 ± 1.4% and 85.6 ± 1.1%, respectively. The drug release from cocktail liposomes after 8 h in PBS at 37 °C was 78.4 ± 6.2% of riluzole and 76.7 ± 3.8% of verapamil. The average particle size of liposomes did not show significant changes at 4 °C after three months. Verapamil cocktail liposomes inhibited P-gp levels measured by western blotting in dose and time-dependent manners in brain endothelial bEND.3 cells. Increased drug efflux transporters were detected in bEND.3 and astrocytes C8D1A cells, promoted by tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Restored accumulations of riluzole and fluorescent dye rhodamine 123 were observed in bEND.3 cells after treatments with cocktail liposomes. It indicated that inhibitory potential of co-delivery liposome system towards P-gp could mediate the transport of both P-gp substrates. Verapamil and riluzole co-loaded liposomes may be used to overcome pharmacoresistance of riluzole for improving ALS therapy.
YOU’D BE OKAY IF YOU WEREN’T SO GAY: ENDING THE SPECIAL TREATMENT OF LGBT STUDENTS UNDER TITLE IX

An illogical and cruel legal fiction has taken hold in the sexual harassment jurisprudence: Title IX, the statute specifically designed to prohibit harassment based upon sex, does not apply to harassment based upon sexual orientation. Although harassment based upon failure to fulfill gender stereotypes is considered discrimination based on sex, harassment based on sexual attraction to members of one’s own sex is not discrimination based on sex. If you wonder how sexual attraction is not sex but effeminate characteristics are sex, you are not alone. This article critiques the legal fiction that leaves gays without protection from harassment that, if directed at a heterosexual, would clearly be prohibited under Title IX.
Historical Perspectives of Microbial Bioterrorism

A number of events over the last decade have served to focus attention on the threat of terrorism and the use of biological or chemical weapons against military and civilian populations for the purpose of causing illness or death. It is increasingly recognized that agricultural animals and plants also present a vulnerable target to terrorists.(1,2) Most significantly, the threat of terrorism has attracted the attention of policy makers in all levels of government in the United States. However, policymakers and analysts have differed in their assessment of the threat of bioterrorism. Many authorities believed that the threat of bioterrorism was growing, particularly from non-state sponsored groups.(3) Someof them contended that it was only amatter of time before a terrorist used biologic agents to cause mass casualties, while others argued that the historical record provided no basis for concern. Moreover, some even questioned the wisdom of funding preparedness efforts.(4) However, the situation changed in October 2001 when an individual or individuals sent spores of Bacillus anthracis to media companies in New York City and Boca Raton, Florida(2) resulting in five deaths and considerable panic throughout the country.
What is the effectiveness of using conspecific or heterospecific acoustic playbacks for the attraction of animals for wildlife management? A systematic review protocol

Many animals are attracted to the sounds of their conspecifics and some are attracted to the sounds of other species. Therefore, wildlife managers have begun to capitalize on this attraction to lure animals to specific places by broadcasting vocalizations—a method referred to as acoustic playback. Playbacks have been conducted to attract animals for capture, encourage birds to use specific nest boxes, attract animals to safe locations where they can breed, or to lure animals to habitats away from human disturbances. However, there has been no evaluation of the general effectiveness of this intervention on the attraction of animals for wildlife management. We describe a protocol to systematically review the literature of the effectiveness of using playbacks so that conservation practitioners can make informed wildlife management decisions. The review will examine primary field studies that use acoustic playbacks to attract animals for wildlife management. Playbacks could be of conspecifics, heterospecifics, or both. We will search various bibliographic databases, online search engines, and specialist websites for relevant studies. We will screen studies first on title and abstract, then on full text. We will only include studies that measure quantitative results. Relevant outcomes will include the attraction of animals to playbacks and encompass various management goals: to capture the animal, to persuade the animal to use a new breeding location, and/or to persuade the animal to settle in a location during the study duration. Studies must be based on comparison between conditions before and after intervention, on comparison between treatment and control plots, or both. Inter-reviewer consistency in article inclusion will be performed with 10% of the titles and abstracts and 10% of the full texts. We will critically appraise the literature based on study type and design, sample sizes, study duration, and other aspects of methodology. We will extract data and meta-data including various potential effect modifiers (e.g., taxon). Finally, we will evaluate the effectiveness of playbacks through a narrative synthesis of the evidence, and quantitative synthesis (i.e., meta-analysis) if sufficient data (more than two studies) of similar outcomes are found.
CAN NONLOCAL TRADERS CAPTURE THE LOCAL INFORMATION ADVANTAGE AND PROFIT

Market makers located in geographic proximity (local) to companies possess a local information advantage that comes from access to soft information. We study whether a nonlocal trader can capture the local information advantage and profit without relocating. We develop a trading strategy for the nonlocal trader that generates “buy” and “sell” signals for stocks based on quotes of local market makers. Our findings suggest it is possible, albeit difficult, for nonlocal traders to extract local information from local market makers’ quotes. Using limit orders from buy signals, we generate up to 7.6 basis points of abnormal return per day.
Sexual and gender minority young adults' smoking characteristics: Assessing differences by sexual orientation and gender identity.

Abstract Introduction Sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults have higher smoking prevalence than their non-SGM peers. Less is known about differences in smoking characteristics within the SGM community. Methods Participants were SGM young adult smokers age 18–25 (N = 165, M age = 21.8) enrolled in a clinical trial of the Put It Out Project, a Facebook smoking cessation intervention for SGM young adults. Analyses tested differences between 1) sexual orientation groups, and 2) gender identity groups, on the following smoking characteristics: cigarettes/day, daily smoker (yes/no), social smoker (yes/no), years of smoking, number of close friends who smoke (out of 5), age of initiation, age began smoking regularly, time to first cigarette (30 min or less/>30 min), lifetime quit attempts, past-year quit attempts, and stage of change for quitting smoking (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation). Results Participants were 56% bi/pansexual, 18% gay, 18% lesbian, 8% other (e.g., asexual, queer). The gender identity of the sample was 52% cisgender, 18% transgender, 30% gender non-binary. Lesbian women began smoking at an older age (M = 18.0, SD = 2.0) than “other” sexual orientation participants (M = 15.7, SD = 2.2), p Conclusions Smoking characteristics were mostly similar across subgroups of young adult SGM smokers; however, transgender individuals were heavier smokers.
Robust Process Monitoring Methodology for Detection and Diagnosis of Unobservable Faults

This paper presents a new integrated methodology for fault detection and diagnosis. The methodology is built using the multivariate exponentially weighted moving average principal component analysi...
Insights into pressure tunable reaction rates for electrochemical reduction of CO2 in organic electrolytes

Electrochemical CO2 reduction rates are limited in aqueous-based electrolytes by the low solubility of CO2. We recently demonstrated that organic solvent-based CO2 Expanded Electrolytes (CXEs) can solubilize multi-molar amounts of CO2 at moderate pressures while retaining sufficient supporting electrolyte to facilitate electrochemistry. Up to an order of magnitude enhancement in CO2 reduction rates to CO was achieved on polycrystalline Au electrodes at faradaic efficiencies approaching 80%. Herein, we show that similar enhancements are observed on Cu catalysts as well, on the basis of enhanced current flow. On both systems, a maximum in CO2 reduction rate was observed at ca. 5 M CO2 concentration (i.e., 3.1 MPa head-space pressure) beyond which the rate decreases. To explain this counterintuitive phenomenon, we developed a detailed COMSOL-based mechanistic model of CO2 reduction in organic electrolytes under elevated pressures on Au electrodes. This model incorporates the dissimilar variations of the key physicochemical properties (viz., CO2 concentration, CO2 diffusion rate, and solution polarity) with CO2 pressure. We thereby demonstrate that the overall rate is limited by CO2 concentrations at lower than optimum CO2 pressures. At pressures higher than the optimum the rate is limited by both an attenuation of the first electron-transfer step and an increase in the ohmic resistance of the system. Excellent quantitative match between experimental and model-predicted rates lend credence to the proposed underlying mechanism of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction in CXEs. These fundamental insights provide guidance for the rational design and scaleup of highly efficient CXE-based CO2 reduction systems.
Internet of Things: An Overview

The Internet of Things (IoT), which has digitized the physical world, has received considerable attention recently. IoT applications such as smart fridge, smart hospitals, and other consumer applications have made our work easier, quicker, and more comfortable. Since the early days of the IoT, consumers have connected smart devices to the network at an exponential rate, bringing us closer to a future that is nearly without limitations. We are now entering an era of even more pervasive connectivity where a very wide variety of appliances communicate, process, and analyze the data over the Internet. This paper focuses on how physical components of IoT function together to provide IoT connectivity, IoT characteristics, opportunities, and application domains, and discusses the architectures of IoT. This paper also analyzes and compares various Internet protocols, their applications, and characteristics. With the rapid improvement of IoT, this paper also describes how new technologies such as cloud computing and edge computing are becoming an important factor in developing IoT applications. In addition, the paper also delivers an overview of open research challenges as opportunities for future research.
Artificial virtue: the machine question and perceptions of moral character in artificial moral agents

Virtue ethics seems to be a promising moral theory for understanding and interpreting the development and behavior of artificial moral agents. Virtuous artificial agents would blur traditional distinctions between different sorts of moral machines and could make a claim to membership in the moral community. Accordingly, we investigate the “machine question” by studying whether virtue or vice can be attributed to artificial intelligence; that is, are people willing to judge machines as possessing moral character? An experiment describes situations where either human or AI agents engage in virtuous or vicious behavior and experiment participants then judge their level of virtue or vice. The scenarios represent different virtue ethics domains of truth, justice, fear, wealth, and honor. Quantitative and qualitative analyses show that moral attributions are weakened for AIs compared to humans, and the reasoning and explanations for the attributions are varied and more complex. On “relational” views of membership in the moral community, virtuous machines would indeed be included, even if they are indeed weakened. Hence, while our moral relationships with artificial agents may be of the same types, they may yet remain substantively different than our relationships to human beings.
Food waste tendencies: Behavioral response to cosmetic deterioration of food.

American households discard a significant amount of food that represent a sizable portion of their food expenditures. This study adds to our understanding of product attributes associated with food waste, with a focus on cosmetic deterioration during home storage. Specifically, we profile a sample of U.S. individuals by patterns of common food-related behaviors and determine the effects of product attributes on food waste tendencies at the point of consumption by distinct behavioral profiles. An interactive survey at the Minnesota State Fair (N = 333) was used to obtain measurements on food-related behavior and sociodemographic factors. The survey included a conjoint task to elicit food discard tendencies to construct the food waste proxy. The study considered cosmetic deterioration, date labels, implied shelf life, package size, and prices paid, in fresh, packaged spinach and ground beef products. Factor analysis and latent class modeling categorized the sample into two classes, revealing distinct food-related behavioral patterns. Planners, who constituted a slight majority in our sample, were likely to have established pre-shopping and in-store behavior and food management and cooking skills. Extemporaneous Consumers had inferior food handling routines and were less knowledgeable and skilled in the kitchen. Regression analysis using a random-effects tobit model showed Extemporaneous Consumers were prone to waste a greater portion of the spinach product than Planners. Otherwise, both classes showed similar increases in likelihood to discard the products, as their appearance deteriorated. Their tendency to waste increased with shorter remaining shelf life for spinach but not for ground beef, and was not affected by the date label type. Results suggest an intervention that targets a general audience designed to enhance people’s skills to discern edibility of food in home storage by manipulating sensory expectations from cosmetic deterioration could be impactful in efforts to curtail food waste.