cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probing the Pro- and Anti-Coagulant Interactions of Thrombin

Thrombin is a serine protease that is central to the coagulation cascade. It functions both as a pro-coagulant, through the cleavage of fibrinogen and protease-activated receptors, and as an anti-coagulant primarily through the thrombomodulin (TM)-mediated cleavage of Protein C which functions as negative feedback for thrombin production. Fully understanding the physical behavior of thrombin is critical for the treatment of a number of blood related illnesses such as strokes and sepsis. in our research we seek to better understand the allosteric conversion of thrombin from pro- to anti-coagulant using various biophysical techniques. Using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, we have shown a thermodynamic connection between the anion-binding exosite I (ABEI) and the active site in both active and inhibited forms of thrombin. A fluorescent active site analog, DAMPA, binds with enthalpies differing by up to 1.7 kcal/mol between thrombin and TM-bound thrombin. However, this change in enthalpy is offset by an entropic compensation resulting in an unchanged binding free energy. Furthermore, a similar change is seen when a DNA aptamer for ABEI binds to free and covalently inhibited thrombin. Additionally, we have developed new constructs of thrombomodulin that demonstrate similar binding affinity and effectiveness to natural thrombomodulin, which together with fluorescent and calorimetric characterization techniques presents a strong new tool for further illuminating the interactions of thrombin and thrombomodulin.
A Report Card on Provider Report Cards: Current Status of the Health Care Transparency Movement

BACKGROUND Public reporting of provider performance can assist consumers in their choice of providers and stimulate providers to improve quality. Reporting of quality measures is supported by advocates of health care reform across the political spectrum.
Cellular and molecular basis of antibody-dependent enhancement in human dengue pathogenesis

Dengue fever is gaining increased attention as a major global health problem. It occurs annually in 50–100 million people in more than 100 countries, and places half a million people at risk of life-threatening diseases: dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). The pathogenic mechanisms causing DHF/DSS are not clearly understood. This article reviews cellular and molecular mechanisms that might be responsible for the initiation of the pathogenic processes, including hypotheses for DHF/DSS, dengue-permissive target cells, putative dengue receptors, neutralizing and enhancing antibodies to dengue virus, mechanisms of vascular plasma leakage, innate immune response in dengue infection and antibody-dependent enhancement of dengue infection. While reviewing the literature, the article also gives the author’s opinion on perceived areas of importance for future research in human dengue pathogenesis.
Dinuclear Metal–Organic Material for Binary Optical Recording

A diimine ligand tethered to anthracene in the 9-position, 4′-(9-anthrylethyl)-4-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine (bpy-An), was dimerized through cycloaddition photochemistry. The resultant head-to-tail photodimer (bpy-PD) was used as a bridging ligand in the preparation of a new dinuclear RuII complex, [Ru(dmb)2(bpy-PD)Ru(dmb)2]4+ (dmb = 4,4′dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine). The corresponding mononuclear species containing anthracene ([Ru(dmb)2(bpy-An)]2+ was also synthesized and serves as a model compound in this study. UV photolysis (λ < 300 nm) of the strongly luminescent RuII dinuclear complex results in cycloreversion, generating two anthracene-containing mononuclear species, [Ru(dmb)2(bpy-An)]2+, whose emission is largely quenched as a result of nonradiative triplet–triplet energy transfer. The photophysical and photochemical properties of the dinuclear system have been studied in CH3CN solutions and in solid polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) thin films. The “on”–“off” luminescence switching characteristics and concomitant non-destructive readout properties suggested that these molecules could be useful in read-only memory (ROM) applications. In the solid state, micrometer-sized objects were imaged using visible light, taking advantage of the luminescence contrast generated from the UV photochemical reaction. These written images were stable for at least 6 months, indicating that long-term binary data storage is indeed feasible in these ROM metal–organic materials.
A multiscale anelastic model for meteorological research

The recently reported nonhydrostatic anelastic numerical model for simulating a range of atmospheric processes on scales from micro to planetary is extended to moist processes. A theoretical formulation of moist precipitating thermodynamics follows the standard cloud models; that is, it explicitly treats the formation of cloud condensate and the subsequent development and fallout of precipitation. In order to accommodate a broad range of temporal scales, the customized numerical algorithm merges the explicit scheme for the thermodynamics with the semiimplicit scheme for the dynamics, where the latter is essential for the computational efficiency of the global model. The coarse spatial resolutions used in present global models result in a disparity between the timescales of the fluid flow and the much shorter timescales associated with phase-change processes and precipitation fallout. To overcome this difficulty the approach based on the method of averages is employed, where fast processes are evaluated with adequately small time steps (and lower accuracy) over the large time step of the model, to provide an accurate approximation to the large time step integral of fast forcings in the stiff system. This approach allows for stable integrations when cloud processes are poorly resolved and it converges to the formulation standard in cloud models as the resolution increases. The theoretical developments are tested in simulations of small-, meso-, and planetary-scale idealized moist atmospheric flows. Results from the smallscale simulations demonstrate that the proposed approach compares favorably with traditional explicit techniques used in cloud models. Planetary simulations, on the other hand, illustrate an ability to capture moist processes in low-resolution large-scale flows.
Navigational Aids and Spatial Memory Impairment: The Role of Divided Attention

Navigational aids impair spatial memory for experienced environments, but the cognitive mechanisms underlying impairment remain an open question. Recent evidence implicates divided attention, but to date no study has directly manipulated divided attention in navigational aid contexts. The present study addresses this need. Participants navigated virtual towns with aid presence and divided attention factorially crossed in a within-participants design. They then completed spatial memory assessments. Divided attention alone impaired spatial memory. Navigational aid presence impaired spatial memory when attention was undivided, replicating previous findings, but did not to a greater extent when attention was divided. These findings suggest that navigational aids divide attention sufficiently to impair spatial memory.
A 3D Multi-Phase Hydrodynamic Model for Cytokinesis of Eukaryotic Cells

In the late stage of the mitotic cycle of eukaryotic cells, cytokinesis en- sues during which a parent cell replicates its nucleus with the necessary genetical substances (i.e., DNAs and chromosomes) and splits into two similar offspring cells. This mitotic process involves complex chemical, biophysical and mechanical processes whose details are just beginning to be unfolded experimentally. In this paper, we pro- pose a full 3-D hydrodynamical model using a phase field approach to study the cel- lular morphological change during cytokinesis. In this model, the force along the con- tracting ring induced by remodeling of actin-myosin filamen to n cell cortex layer at the division plane of the parent cell during cytokinesis, is approximated using a proxy force anchored on the newly formed nuclei. The symmetric or asymmetric cell division is simulated numerically with the model. Our numerical results show that the location of the division planeand the contracting forcealong the cytokinetic ring on the division plane are essential for the cell division. In addition, our numerical study also shows that, during cytokinesis, surface tension of the cell membrane also contributes to this process by retaining the morphological integrity of the offspring cells. This model and the accompanying numerical simulation tool provide a solid framework to build upon with more sophisticated whole cell models to probe the cell mitotic process.
A Matter of Context: Christian Right Influence in U.S. State Republican Politics

The Christian Right is a powerful force in contemporary state Republican party politics. In this article, I create a new comprehensive measure of that influence and offer a theoretical framework through which to understand how influence varies across the states. Drawing from the insights of social movement theory, the results of the data analysis demonstrate the importance of the movement's internal resources and the state political context in which the Christian Right seeks to influence state Republican party politics.
Public versus Private Morality: Where and How Do We Draw the Line?

In December 1957, the Wolfenden Committee, a British royal commission, presented its report on homosexual offenses and prostitution to Parliament. Shortly thereafter Patrick Devlin, later Lord Devlin, a jurist of the Queen's Bench, was invited to give the Second Maccabean Lecture in Jurisprudence to the British Academy. Choosing as his subject "Morals and the Criminal Law,"1 Devlin directed his attention to issues raised by the Wolfenden Report. The lecture initiated a controversy with Herbert Lionel Adolphus Hart, then professor of juris prudence at Oxford, whose major reply was delivered at Stanford University in 1962.2 Both Devlin's original presenta tion and Hart's response stimulated widespread commentary and discussion.
The Current Problem and Countermeasure of Drinking Water Safety in Our Country

The safety of drinking water is the important factor concerning the health of our citizen and the economic development in our country.The current problem of drinking water safety in our country has been analyzed in this article,including the current problem of water resources、water supply in city and water supply in countryside;Five problems have been discussed,including water pollution、 endemic diseases causing by drinking water、snail fever、the ability of drinking water treatment and the seasonal shortage of drinking water,the countermeasure and proplsal of drinking water safety have been put forward.
Flexible protocol for administration of human follicle-stimulating hormone with gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist.

Objective To test, using a primate model, a new approach for achieving individualized pituitary-ovarian responses to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Design Normal ovulatory adult monkeys were selected and randomly assigned to one of the three groups according to onset of spontaneous menses. They had no prior exposure to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist or exogenous gonadotropin therapies. Setting The laboratories of The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine were used. Patients, Participants Normal adult macaque females were studied. Interventions Monkeys received hormonal therapies of gonadotropins in combination with GnRH antagonist. Main Outcome Measure(s) Pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and ovarian estrogen and progesterone production were monitored. Results Adding GnRH antagonist to ongoing human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH) stimulation can prevent unwanted LH surges, whether begun at early, mid, or late points in the stimulation protocol. Conclusions The flexible protocol for administration of hFSH with GnRH antagonist yielded satisfactory results, with apparent advantages of economy, convenience, and individuality of treatment compared with GnRH agonist plus gonadotropin regimens used currently.
China’s Rise and the Global Order

China’s phenomenal economic progress during the past three decades followed by the steady growth of its military power has dramatically transformed the global and regional security environment. Undoubtedly, the rapid growth of China’s economic and military power will be the most momentous development of the twenty-first century with far-reaching repercussions on international security and the world economy from which Pakistan cannot remain immune. It is, therefore, necessary to understand the implications of China’s rise for the regional and global security environment in the formulation of Pakistan’s grand strategy. Further, keeping in view the growing convergence of their strategic interests, Islamabad must take active steps to strengthen Pakistan-China friendship and cooperation in various fields.
Windblown Pliocene diatoms and East Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat

A long-standing debate regarding the Pliocene history of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet was spurred by the discovery of marine diatoms in the Transantarctic Mountains. Here the authors show that the diatoms were emplaced by wind following a retreat of the ice sheet into coastal basins and subsequent isostatic emergence.
Bo-ear: unsupervised car sound sensing and tracking using microphones on smartphones

As people become increasingly accustomed to using smartphones while they walk, there will be a corresponding concern about pedestrian safety as smartphone users might become distracted. In this work, we address this concern by developing a system for smartphones that warns users when it detects an oncoming car. In addition to detecting the presence of a vehicle, it can also estimate the vehicle's driving direction. We achieve these goals by processing the acoustic signal captured by microphones embedded in the user's mobile phone. In order to achieve more robust and timely detection, we also explore two novel feature, namely, Power on Certain Frequencies and Top Right frequency.
Natural compounds targeting major cell signaling pathways: a novel paradigm for osteosarcoma therapy

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone cancer affecting children and adolescents worldwide. Despite an incidence of three cases per million annually, it accounts for an inordinate amount of morbidity and mortality. While the use of chemotherapy (cisplatin, doxorubicin, and methotrexate) in the last century initially resulted in marginal improvement in survival over surgery alone, survival has not improved further in the past four decades. Patients with metastatic osteosarcoma have an especially poor prognosis, with only 30% overall survival. Hence, there is a substantial need for new therapies. The inability to control the metastatic progression of this localized cancer stems from a lack of complete knowledge of the biology of osteosarcoma. Consequently, there has been an aggressive undertaking of scientific investigation of various signaling pathways that could be instrumental in understanding the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma. Here, we review these cancer signaling pathways, including Notch, Wnt, Hedgehog, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, and JAK/STAT, and their specific role in osteosarcoma. In addition, we highlight numerous natural compounds that have been documented to target these pathways effectively, including curcumin, diallyl trisulfide, resveratrol, apigenin, cyclopamine, and sulforaphane. We elucidate through references that these natural compounds can induce cancer signaling pathway manipulation and possibly facilitate new treatment modalities for osteosarcoma.
Neuroethics and Policy at the National Security Interface: A Test Case for Neuroethics Theory and Methodology

Cutting-edge research in neuroscience has been frequently sponsored or conducted by elements of national security. This elicits three important but underexplored methodologically relevant issues in neuroethics: (1) the use of force through neurotechnologies, (2) the use of neurotechnologies by or on members of the national security establishment, and (3) priority setting and the ethics of pursuing basic scientific research in support of national security. We describe these issues and then give an account for how neuroethics theory will need to accommodate new sources of normative insight in order to provide answers.
What Is in Your Wallet? Quantitation of Drugs of Abuse on Paper Currency with a Rapid LC–MS/MS Method

Laboratory experiments were developed to introduce students to the quantitation of drugs of abuse by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Undergraduate students were introduced to internal standard quantitation and the LC–MS/MS method optimization for cocaine. Cocaine extracted from paper currency was analyzed with a simple and rapid LC–MS/MS method. Students in advanced laboratories determined the amount of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone on currency in addition to cocaine. The LC–MS/MS method has a short run time (2.5 min) to allow for a high throughput of student samples.
Methamphetamine Augments Concurrent Astrocyte Mitochondrial Stress, Oxidative Burden, and Antioxidant Capacity: Tipping the Balance in HIV-Associated Neurodegeneration.

Methamphetamine (METH) use, with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 comorbidity, exacerbates neurocognitive decline. Oxidative stress is a probable neurotoxic mechanism during HIV-1 central nervous system infection and METH abuse, as viral proteins, antiretroviral therapy and METH have each been shown to induce mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the mechanisms regulating mitochondrial homeostasis and overall oxidative burden in astrocytes are not well understood in the context of HIV-1 infection and METH abuse. Here, we report METH-mediated dysregulation of astrocyte mitochondrial morphology and function during prolonged exposure to low levels of METH. Mitochondria became larger and more rod shaped with METH when assessed by machine learning, segmentation analyses. These changes may be mediated by elevated mitofusin expression coupled with inhibitory phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein-1, which regulate mitochondrial fusion and fission, respectively. While METH decreased oxygen consumption and ATP levels during acute exposure, chronic treatment of 1 to 2 weeks significantly enhanced both when tested in the absence of METH. Together, these changes significantly increased not only expression of antioxidant proteins, augmenting the astrocyte’s oxidative capacity, but also oxidative damage. We propose that targeting astrocytes to reduce their overall oxidative burden and expand their antioxidant capacity could ultimately tip the balance from neurotoxicity towards neuroprotection.
Ethnic disparities in cancer incidence and survival among the oldest old in the United States.

ABSTRACTObjective: To examine potential ethnic disparities in cancer incidence and survival rates among the oldest old using data from the SEER Program.Design: Cases diagnosed with one of the leadi...
Circumstances of suicide among individuals with a history of cancer

OBJECTIVE Cancer can trigger psychological distress, which may be associated with risk of suicide. We explored precipitating circumstances of suicides among decedents with and without a history of cancer. METHODS Coroner or medical examiner and law enforcement narratives of adult suicides were coded from 17 participating states in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Violent Death Reporting System during 2004 to 2013. Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined associations between cancer history and factors that precipitated suicide. RESULTS Of 90 581 suicides, 4182 decedents (4.6%) had a history of cancer. Significantly more decedents with a history of cancer (versus without) were male, non-Hispanic white, married, veterans, and aged 55 or older (P < .001). Decedents with a history of cancer were more likely to die of suicide by firearm and less likely to die of suicide by suffocation compared to poisoning. In matched case analyses controlling for demographic and recent circumstances, fewer decedents with a history of cancer had mental health problems, history of suicide attempts, alcohol use problems, intimate partner problems, financial problems, job problems, and recent crisis. CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight the potential to identify high-risk populations for suicide prevention in clinical practice.
Dynamics of zonal shear collapse with hydrodynamic electrons

This paper presents a theory for the collapse of the edge zonal shear layer, as observed at the density limit at low β. This paper investigates the scaling of the transport and mean profiles with the adiabaticity parameter α, with special emphasizes on fluxes relevant to zonal flow (ZF) generation. We show that the adiabaticity parameter characterizes the strength of production of zonal flows and so determines the state of turbulence. A 1D reduced model that self-consistently describes the spatiotemporal evolution of the mean density n¯, the azimuthal flow v¯y, and the turbulent potential enstrophy e=⟨(n−∇2ϕ)2/2⟩—related to fluctuation intensity—is presented. Quasi-linear analysis determines how the particle flux Γn and vorticity flux Π=−χy∇2vy+Πres scale with α, in both hydrodynamic and adiabatic regimes. As the plasma response passes from adiabatic (α > 1) to hydrodynamic (α 1) to hydrodynamic (α < 1) electron dynamics is associated with the density limit.
Extracting temporal equivalence relationships among keywords from time-stamped documents

Identifying keyword associations from text and search sources is often used to facilitate many tasks such as understanding relationships among concepts, extracting relevant documents, matching advertisements to web pages, expanding user queries, etc. However, these keyword associations change as the underlying content changes with time. Two keywords that are associated with each other during one time period may not be associated in another time period or the context under which these keywords are associated may be different. In this paper, we define an equivalence relationship among a pair of keywords and develop methods to construct a temporal view of the equivalence relationship. Given a document set D, a keyword a is associated with a context consisting of frequently occurring keyword sets (fs) of D in which a appears. Two keywords a and b are equivalent in D if their contexts are the same. We say that a and b are temporally equivalent in a time interval if a and b are equivalent in the documents published during that time interval. Given a time-stamped document set D published over a time period T, we define the temporal equivalence partitioning problem to construct a partitioning of the time period T into a sequence of maximal length time intervals such that in each time interval keywords a and b are either temporally equivalent or the equivalence relationship does not hold. A temporal equivalence partitioning of a document set for a given pair of keywords highlights all of the different contexts in which the given keywords are associated which can be used to generate time-varying keyword suggestions to users. We show the effectiveness of the approach by constructing the temporal equivalence partitionings of several pairs of keywords from the Multi-Domain Sentiment data set and the ICWSM 2009 Spinn3r data set.
Music, Socializing, Performance, and the Web of Social Ties

Abstract This qualitative exploration sought to understand how older adults ascribe meaning to their lifelong participation in instrumental music. Seven adults between the ages of 72 and 85 participated in one-time in-depth interviews. Analysis of transcribed narrative responses indicated that these individuals uniformly believed that instrumental music participation was meaningful in their lives because it provided an opportunity for personal growth and expression and because it connected them to others and to society. Four themes emerged in support of this thesis: (1) participants' long-term involvement was associated with positive childhood music experiences and family support for music involvement; (2) music was associated with a good quality of life; (3) participation created social ties with other musicians, helping generate asense of efficacy, belonging, and mutual respect; and (4) music was perceived to have an emotionally therapeutic function.
House Price Variation and the Convenience Yield to Owning One’s Home

Existing models of mortgage default cannot explain variation in mortgage performance across origination years because they do not account for the “convenience yield” households derive from owning, rather than renting, a home. The convenience yield is the flow of services from owning rather than renting an otherwise identical residence. This includes the ability to enter into a longer-term housing services contract, customize the residence, and pledge the house as collateral for external finance to increase current period non-housing consumption. We use house price and owner’s equivalent rent data to estimate the stochastic convenience yield of Gibson and Schwartz (1990) and Schwartz (1997) parameterized through the Kalman filter. We find that the national convenience yield is closely related to the rate of home equity withdrawal, while cross-sectional variation in the average convenience yield across metropolitan areas is explained by population churn rates. Both findings are consistent with the theory of an endogenous convenience yield to home ownership.
Cell cycle‐dependent regulation of FtsZ in Escherichia coli in slow growth conditions

FtsZ is the key regulator of bacterial cell division. It initiates division by forming a dynamic ring-like structure, the Z-ring, at the mid-cell. What triggers the formation of the Z-ring during the cell cycle is poorly understood. In Escherichia coli, the common view is that FtsZ concentration is constant throughout its doubling time and therefore regulation of assembly is controlled by some yet-to-be-identified protein-protein interactions. Using a newly developed functional, fluorescent FtsZ reporter, we performed a quantitative analysis of the FtsZ concentration throughout the cell cycle under slow growth conditions. In contrast to the common expectation, we show that FtsZ concentrations vary in a cell cycle-dependent manner, and that upregulation of FtsZ synthesis correlates with the formation of the Z-ring. The first half of the cell cycle shows an approximately fourfold upregulation of FtsZ synthesis, followed by its rapid degradation by ClpXP protease in the last 10% of the cell cycle. The initiation of rapid degradation coincides with the dissociation of FtsZ from the septum. Altogether, our data suggest that the Z-ring formation in slow growth conditions in E. coli is partially controlled by a regulatory sequence wherein upregulation of an essential cell cycle factor is followed by its degradation.
Cancer-related financial burden among patients with metastatic breast cancer.

32Background: Recent data suggest that the adverse financial impact of cancer is an underappreciated source of potential harm to patients, also known as “financial toxicity”. Little is known about the financial impact of cancer in patients with widespread, incurable disease, despite the relatively high cost of their care. We conducted a national survey of patients with metastatic breast cancer to address this gap. Methods: We partnered with the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network to field an online survey of metastatic breast cancer patients over a fourteen-day period using Qualtrics. The survey required approximately 20 minutes to complete, and participants were offered a $10 Amazon gift card. Survey items included sociodemographic information, health insurance status, cost-related communication with providers, post-treatment financial burden, financial coping strategies, and emotional well-being. We report financial outcomes stratified by health insurance status, as insurance is an important protective mec...
A New Semiparametric Approach to Finite Mixture of Regressions using Penalized Regression via Fusion.

For some modeling problems a population may be better assessed as an aggregate of unknown subpopulations, each with a distinct relationship between a response and associated variables. The finite mixture of regressions (FMR) model, in which an outcome is derived from one of a finite number of linear regression models, is a natural tool in this setting. In this article, we first propose a new penalized regression approach. Then, we demonstrate how the proposed approach better identifies subpopulations and their corresponding models than a semiparametric FMR method does. Our new method fits models for each person via grouping pursuit, utilizing a new group-truncated L1 penalty that shrinks the differences between estimated parameter vectors. The methodology causes the individuals' models to cluster into a few common models, in turn revealing previously unknown subpopulations. In fact, by varying the penalty strength, the new method can reveal a hierarchical structure among the subpopulations that can be useful in exploratory analyses. Simulations using FMR models and a real-data analysis show that the method performs promisingly well.
Facilitating fourth-grade students’ written argumentation: The use of an argumentation graphic organizer

Literacy instruction in the 21st century must bolster students’ ability to critically process text and craft well-reasoned written argumentation. The authors investigated changes in fourth-grade st...
A CONSTRUCT MATURES: TIME PERSPECTIVE’S MULTIDIMENSIONAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, AND MODIFIABLE QUALITIES

Human development approaches to time perspective that are life-span and include multiple developmental periods are largely lacking in the literature even though the topic has received wide attention from many scholars. Extant studies have focused on specific age groups or have compared younger and older adults. This introduction addresses these issues and provides on overview of the multidimensional, developmental, and modifiable qualities of time perspective. The four contributions focus on distinct age groups including adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. The papers included several conceptualizations of time perspective, diverse participants, and age-specific outcomes. Collectively, this work sets the stage for the next era of age-related research on time perspective.
Innovative Panel Plating for Heterogeneous Integration

Abstract Panel plating requirements are much more demanding as more applications migrate from silicon to panel assembly such as Panel Level Fan Out (PLFO) to leverage the large sizes of the panels....
Ineffective Organizational Responses to Workers’ Secondary Traumatic Stress: A Case Study of the Effects of an Unhealthy Organizational Culture

Organizations play a vital role in preventing or ameliorating secondary traumatic stress (STS) among helping professionals. This qualitative case study investigated one organization’s response to w...
Finite volume modeling of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes with application to brine migration in salt

The disposal of heat-generating nuclear waste in salt host rock generates a thermal gradient around the waste package that may cause brine inclusions in the salt grains to migrate toward the waste package. In this study, a dual-continuum model is developed to analyze such a phenomenon. In this model, fluid flow in terms of advective and diffusive fluxes in the interconnected pore space and diffusive and thermal-diffusive fluxes in the salt grains is considered. Due to the very distinct behavior of fluid flow in the interconnected pore space versus in the salt grains, this process is simulated based on a dual-continuum model. In the dual-continuum model, the mass balance of salt and water in the two continua is separately considered, and the coupling between the two continua is represented by flux associated with brine migration in one medium and out of another. The energy balance is simulated assuming thermal equilibrium among different components and phases in the whole system. For mechanical analysis, a new formulation (extended finite volume method, XFVM) is proposed and is applied with a Voronoi tessellated mesh. The coupling between the hydraulic and mechanical fields in terms of pore-volume effects is consistent with Biot’s theory, while thermal and mechanical fields are linked in terms of thermal expansion. The resulting fully coupled THM model is capable of modeling strongly nonlinear features, involving salt concentration effects on fluid mass associated with advection, and thermal effects on brine migration. A Newton-Raphson iteration formula is used to generate the linearized equations for this nonlinear problem. The model was verified step by step for each component of the coupling terms, including thermal-hydraulic (TH) and hydro-mechanical (HM) couplings, and was applied to analyze diffusion in single continuum and dual continua, small-scale brine migration, and large-scale brine migration induced by thermal gradient. The results show that the model is able to quantify brine under different conditions and thermal gradients, making it a valuable tool for performance assessment for nuclear waste disposal in salt.
Trend of incidence and mortality on prostate cancer from 2009 to 2014 in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province

Objective To analyze the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer and its time trend from 2009 to 2014 in Shaoxing of Zhejiang province. Methods The data of prostate cancer in Shaoxing from 2009 to 2014 was collected to calculate the incidence, age-standardized incidence rate by Chinese standard population (ASR China) or by world standard population (ASR world) and percentage change (PC) of incidence. The annual percentage change (APC) of incidence was estimated by linear regression based on the logarithm of the incidence rates observed. Results During 2009-2014, a total of 1 417 new cases in Shaoxing were diagnosed as prostate cancer, and the average age was 74.14±9.20 years. The crude incidence of prostate cancer was 10.74/100 000 (ASR China 4.06/100 000, ASR World 5.94/100 000). Mortality of prostate cancer in Shaoxing was 499 with the crude mortality rate of 3.78/100 000 (ASR China 1.25/100 000, ASR World 2.03/100 000), and the average age was 75.57±8.21 years. The crude incidence of prostate cancer increased from 6.66/100 000 in 2009 to 17.00/100 000 in 2014 (APC=21.41%, P 0.05) and 14.57% (P>0.05), respectively. In Shaoxing, new cases and deaths of prostate cancer were never found among men younger than 40 years, but the incidence and mortality rate began to rise from the age of 40, with a rapid rise appearing after 50 years of age, and the incidence and mortality rate both reached the peak value (158.11/100 000 and 111.42/100 000) in the group of older than 85 years at last. Conclusions Although the incidence and mortality rate of prostate cancer were low in Shaoxing, but they had increased by time from 2009 to 2014. Elderly male population was the people at high risk of prostate cancer; specific corresponding measures should be taken to strengthen the prevention and control of prostate cancer. Key words: Prostatic neoplasms; Carcinoma; Incidence; Mortality; Time trend
Nonlocal Uniform-Mode Ferromagnetic Resonance Spin Pumping.

Nonlocal spin transport using lateral structures is attractive for spintronic devices. Typically, a spin current is generated by a ferromagnetic (FM) or a heavy metal (HM) electrode in a nonlocal s...
Surface functionalization of silica nanoparticles with swine manure-derived bio-binder to enhance bitumen performance in road pavement

Abstract Bitumen in road pavement is susceptible to oxidative aging, which negatively impacts its performance and reduces its service life. While surface-modified silica nanoparticles (SNPs) with silane coupling agents have shown to be promising additives to delay oxidative aging of bitumen, silane coupling agent is a costly option for large scale construction projects. Herein we introduced a sustainable and economic bio-binder made from hydrothermal liquefaction of swine manure for surface functionalization of SNPs. The bio-binder functionalized SNPs (BB-SNPs) were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Efficacy of BB-SNPs to enhance performance of bitumen including anti-aging, rutting resistance, susceptibility to fatigue cracking and low-temperature properties at relatively high loading (4 wt%) was valuated under low shear rate (900 rpm), low temperature (135 °C) and short time (30 min) mixing and compared with those of pristine and silane functionalized SNPs. BB-SNPs demonstrated superior capability to delay aging of bitumen while being economically viable. The research outcome highlighted sustainable resource for chemical functionalization of SNPs to enhance bitumen performance for road surfacing and roofing.
A protocol for rapid pericyte differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Summary Pericytes play a critical role in promoting, regulating, and maintaining numerous vascular functions. Their dysfunction is a major contributor to the progression of vascular and neurodegenerative diseases, making them an ideal candidate for large-scale production for disease modeling and regenerative cell therapy. This protocol describes the rapid and robust differentiation of pericytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) while simultaneously generating a population of hiPSC-derived endothelial progenitor cells. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zhang et al. (2017) .
The mechanical puzzle of crush-resistant beetles

![Graphic][1] The dangers of becoming someone's lunch can weigh heavily on a tiny insect, but the diabolical ironclad beetle ( Phloeodes diabolicus ) handles the pressure with ease. This flightless beetle is able to withstand crushing blows that would pulverize other species. Jesus Rivera
The impact of glycine on the zeta potential of calcite at different temperatures and brine compositions

Abstract This study presents zeta potential (ZP) measurements of synthetic calcite in glycine solutions using the electrophoretic method. We tested samples with glycine concentrations of 1, 3, and 5 wt% at 25°C, while the ZP of 5 wt% glycine solutions was also measured at 50 and 75°C. The first set of measurements consisted of single-component brines prepared with CaCl2, MgCl2, Na2SO4, and NaCl salts with an ionic strength of 0.05 M. The second set of measurements consisted of formation brine (FB) with an ionic strength of 6.37 M and FB diluted 2-, 10-, and 100-times (2dFB, 10dFB, 100dFB, respectively). Results show that the effect of glycine on calcite’s ZP depended on its initial ZP value. Moreover, the increase in temperature significantly decreased calcite’s ZP in most samples. The ZP values in CaCl2 and MgCl2 brines were initially positive and decreased with the addition of glycine. Conversely, the ZP values of calcite in NaCl and Na2SO4 brines were initially negative and increased with the addition of glycine. The trends of ZP versus glycine concentration for 2dFB and 10dFB were analogous to the ones with CaCl2 and MgCl2 brines. Similar trends were observed between 100dFB, NaCl, and Na2SO4 brines. Finally, the increase of temperature from 25°C to 50°C and 70°C significantly reduced the ZP of calcite’s particles in CaCl2, Na2SO4, and NaCl brines, while the ZP of FB and its dilutions slightly decreased at 50°C. This is the first time the ZP measurements of calcite in glycine solutions were reported, to the best of our knowledge. Results are mainly explained by (1) the adsorption of glycine anion onto the calcite’s surface, (2) the decrease of the brine’s pH from the addition of glycine, and (3) the complex formation of glycine with divalent ions. Given the ubiquity and abundance of calcite in nature, we expect this study to increase the understanding of the electrostatic interactions between amino acids and calcite in phenomena such as wettability alteration and biomineralization.
Wellness and Motivation in a Physical Education Course Over a Semester: Examining the Interaction Effects that Motivation has on Wellness Outcomes

Objective: This study reports the results that physical education classes have on college students' overall wellbeing and motivation over the course of a semester. This study examines the pre/post outcomes of a physical education course on 12 dimensions of wellness and motivation from the start of the semester to the end of the semester. Participants: College students ( N = 1193) taking Physical Education 101 (PED101) over the course of a semester. Methods: Beginning (pre) and end (post) of the semester assessments for wellbeing and motivation were conducted using the Wellness Inventory. Quantitative outcomes from the Wellness Inventory were compared pre/post as well as demographic variables (e.g., gender & exercise frequency). Regression analysis was also conducted to examine how motivation may affect wellness. Results: All 12 dimensions of wellness and motivation showed increases from the start of the semester to the end of the semester. Motivation was also positively correlated with increases in wellness scores. The results found statistically significant changes between the pre- and post-assessments for all dimensions of wellness outcomes and motivation scores. There were also significant changes between the pre- and post-assessments when investigating differences based on sex. Conclusion: PED101 courses can be useful interventions to help move college students towards wellness.
Rapid intraoperative perfusion assessment of parathyroid adenomas with ICG using a wide-field portable hand-held fluorescence imaging system

Abstract Background Fluorescence angiography (FA) using indocyanine green dye (ICG) has recently been introduced for real-time identification of parathyroid adenomas. However, time to peak fluorescence has not yet been critically evaluated. Methods This was a retrospective review of parathyroidectomies with ICG FA over a one-year period. Results There were 66 patients with average age of 64 years. The average time to initial fluorescence was 26.7 s and to peak fluorescence was 38.0 s. The time to saline flush administration significantly correlated with times to initial and peak fluorescence (p Conclusions ICG FA is a rapid and effective adjunct for the intraoperative identification of parathyroid adenomas.
Total fusion yield measurements using deuterium–tritium gamma rays

The deuterium–tritium (DT) fusion reaction, D(T,γ)5He, has a rare (4.2 ×10−5) branching ratio that releases a ∼16 MeV gamma ray instead of the more common 14.1 MeV fusion neutron. These fusion gamma rays can be used as a complementary source of measuring the net fusion yield of experiments. Fusion gamma rays have the advantage of having negligible Doppler broadening, being isotropic and less down-scattered compared to fusion neutrons. At the National Ignition Facility, the DT fusion gamma rays are measured by the Gamma Reaction History diagnostic that thresholds to only measure >10 MeV gamma rays. After removing a ∼12% contribution from neutron capture interactions in deuterium, D(n,γ)T, and carbon, 12C(n,γ)13C, the deviation between GRH measurements and neutron-based yield measurements has been reduced to 10%. Further improvements are needed for detailed physics comparison.
Policy to Practice: A Look at National and State Implementation of School Resource Officer Programs

Abstract In response to questions related to school safety, in the 1990s the school resource officer (SRO) program gained prominence as an effective intervention strategy. Despite the widespread utilization of SROs in America's public schools, there exists a lack of meaningful research related to practices and effectiveness of SRO programs. A school resource officer is a sworn police officer assigned to a school or a group of schools during the school year. The SRO presence in a school is intended to increase school safety for students, staff, and community members. However, little is actually known about the SRO program and its ability to increase school safety. SRO assignment patterns are documented in this study along with the use of memorandums of understandings (MOU), or other intergovernmental agency agreements, and the role of the MOU in promoting a safe learning environment. School officials interested in increasing school safety through the use of the SRO program are encouraged to develop meaning...
Puritanos modernos: caráter nacional e ideologia religiosa na sociedade estadunidense

This essay addresses the shaping influence of Protestant Puritanism on the essential ways of acting and thinking of the U.S. population. Although ostensibly secular, the cultural traits of the society under study are in fact rooted in the religious values of the past. In the broader sense, they represent the approach to the rationalization of life relied on by the group.
Methods for the design and administration of web-based surveys

This paper describes the design, development, and administration of a Web-based survey to determine the use of the Internet in clinical practice by 450 dental professionals. The survey blended principles of a controlled mail survey with data collection through a Web-based database application. The survey was implemented as a series of simple HTML pages and tested with a wide variety of operating environments. The response rate was 74.2 percent. Eighty-four percent of the participants completed the Web-based survey, and 16 percent used e-mail or fax. Problems identified during survey administration included incompatibilities/technical problems, usability problems, and a programming error. The cost of the Web-based survey was 38 percent less than that of an equivalent mail survey. A general formula for calculating breakeven points between electronic and hardcopy surveys is presented. Web-based surveys can significantly reduce turnaround time and cost compared with mail surveys and may enhance survey item completion rates.
Circular geometry liquid crystal adaptive lens with Fresnel lens phase profile

The liquid crystal adaptive lens (LCAL) is an electro-optical device using a set of electrodes to grade the refractive index across its aperture. We report initial efforts at developing an LCAL using circular electrodes to provide a simpler architecture and faster response than previous devices based on linear electrodes. A Fresnel lens phase profile is applied to yield a lens with a useful F-number. Numerical simulation is developed to study the aberration of the LCAL and predict its performance with a circular electrode geometry. The LCAL is designed with a set of high density electrodes in the conductive ladder meshing configuration which results in a small number of externally controlled electrodes. A new feedback auto-focusing system based on LabVIEW software has been developed to optimize control output voltages using signals from a CID camera. The application of LCAL in microscope imaging systems for focus adjustment without lens motion is described. A prototype LCAL is being designed that has a 7.86 mm diameter aperture and a focal length adjustable from 0.38 m to infinity. It is fabricated on a glass substrate with two layers of transparent electrodes, insulating layers, and vias to connect the two conducting layers. The special fabrication challenges involved will be reviewed.