cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strengthening routine immunization systems to improve global vaccination coverage

Background: Global coverage with the third dose of diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis vaccine among children under 1 year of age stagnated at ∼83–84% during 2008–13. Sources of data: Annual World Health Organization and UNICEF-derived national vaccination coverage estimates. Areas of agreement: Incomplete vaccination is associated with poor socioeconomic status, lower education, non-use of maternal-child health services, living in conflict-affected areas, missed immunization opportunities and cancelled vaccination sessions. Areas of controversy: Vaccination platforms must expand to include older ages including the second year of life. Immunization programmes, including eradication and elimination initiatives such as those for polio and measles, must integrate within the broader health system. Growing points: The Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) 2011–20 is a framework for strengthening immunization systems, emphasizing country ownership, shared responsibility, equity, integration, sustainability and innovation. Areas timely for developing research: Immunization programmes should identify, monitor and evaluate gaps and interventions within the GVAP framework.
Plasma Coenzyme Q10 levels and Prostate Cancer Risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study

Background: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is considered to be a potential anti-cancer agent, but epidemiological evidence regarding CoQ10 and prostate cancer risk is lacking. We examined the association of circulating CoQ10 levels with prostate cancer risk using pre-diagnostic blood samples. Methods: Each of the 307 cases was individually-matched to approximately 2 controls on age, ethnicity, geographic location, date/time of specimen collection, and hours of fasting, for a total of 596 controls. Logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: There was no overall statistically significant association of plasma CoQ10 levels with prostate cancer risk (Ptrend = 0.50). However, after matched sets in which controls had possible undiagnosed prostate cancer (PSA > 4.0) were excluded, the odds ratios for quintiles 2-5 were all <1.0. Conclusions: The results suggest the possibility that moderate levels of circulating CoQ10 may be optimal for the reduction of prostate cancer risk; however, the findings were weak and not statistically significant. Since this is the first epidemiologic study of the association between CoQ10 and prostate cancer, further research on this topic is needed. Impact: If a nutritional factor like CoQ10 were determined to reduce prostate cancer risk, it would have considerable public health significance because of the very high incidence of this cancer.
Ingara: an integrated airborne imaging radar system

The Ingara airborne imaging radar system is a technology demonstrator aimed at evaluating the application of multi-mode radar to broad area land surveillance. An integrated system has been developed that includes an X-Band radar with SAR and MTI modes, real-time signal processing system, air-to-ground data link, automated target detection algorithms and a simple image analysis geographical information system.
A Unique Software System for Simulation-to-Flight Research

Simulation-to-Flight is a research development concept to reduce costs and increase testing efficiency of future major aeronautical research efforts at NASA. The simulation-to-flight concept is achieved by using common software and hardware, procedures, and processes for both piloted-simulation and flight testing. This concept was applied to the design and development of two full-size transport simulators, a research system installed on a NASA B-757 airplane, and two supporting laboratories. This paper describes the software system that supports the simulation-to-flight facilities. Examples of various simulation-to-flight experimental applications were also provided.
The effect of simulator motion on pilot training and evaluation

This study empirically examined the effect of simulator platform motion on airline pilot recurrent training and evaluation. It is driven by the need for sound scientific data on the relationship between certain key modern device features and their effect on the transfer of pilot performance and behavior to and from the respective airplane. The experiment utilized an FAA qualified Level C simulator with six-degree-of-freedom synergistic motion and a wide angle high quality visual system. Experienced airline pilots were evaluated and trained in the simulator, half of them with and the other half without motion. Then the transfer of skills acquired by both groups during this training was tested in the simulator with the motion system turned on as a stand- in for the airplane (quasi-transfer). Every effort was made to avoid deficiencies in the research design identified in a review of prior studies, by measuring pilot stimulation and response, testing both maneuvers and pilots that are diagnostic of a need of motion, avoiding pilot and instructor bias, and ensuring sufficient statistical power to capture operationally relevant effects. The results of the analyses as well as their implications are presented in this paper.
The Epidemiology of Childhood Leukemia with a Focus on Birth Weight and Diet

Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer and a major source of morbidity and mortality. The etiology of childhood leukemia remains largely unknown. Cytogenetic abnormalities determine disease subtypes, prognosis, clinical presentation, and course and may help in discovering etiological factors. Epidemiologic investigations of leukemia are complicated by many factors, including the rarity of the disease, necessitating careful study design. Two emerging areas of interest in leukemia etiology are birth weight and diet. High birth weight has been associated with increased risk of childhood leukemia. The biological mechanism behind this association may involve insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), which is associated with high birth weight. IGF-I may act by increasing the absolute number of stem cells available for transformation, stimulating the growth of cells that are already transformed, or a combination of effects. Diet has been linked with leukemia. Maternal dietary DNA topoisomerase II (DNAt2) inhib...
SPERM PENETRATION OF THE ZONA PELLUCIDA OF THE PIG EGG.

1. Pig eggs were examined with the ordinary and phase-contrast microscope in search for clues about the process of sperm penetration of the zona pellucida. 2. The following observations were made, (i) The zona pellucida consists of three concentric layers--the inner-zona, the middle-zona, and the outer-zona. (ii) The fertilizing spermatozoon makes a narrow slit in the zona by penetrating through it. The slit has a particular shape referred to as ‘the penetration curve’. (iii) Extra spermatozoa (i.e. spermatozoa other than the fertilizing spermatozoon) enter the zona and follow a course very similar to that of the fertilizing spermatozoon, but they can penetrate it only as far as the middle-zona. Extra spermatozoa have not been observed in the inner-zona, indicating that in this layer the ‘zona reaction’ is normally absolute, (iv) A filament extending from the apex of the sperm head has been observed in spermatozoa embedded in the zona. It is suggested that the sperm path through the zona is determined by this filament, which is therefore termed the sperm-penetration filament (SPF). 3. On the basis of these observations the following sequence of events in the passage of a spermatozoon through the zona is suggested. First, the spermatozoon attaches to the zona; it then ejects into the zona the SPF. The SPF, in turn, guides the spermatozoon on its curved course through the zona.
Modules Over Endomorphism Rings as Homotopy Classes

Let R be an associative ring with identity, fix a right R-module A, and let E = End R (A) be he ring of R-module endomorphisms of A. View as an E-R-bimodule, and let M T denote the category of right modules over a ring T. To emphasize the arbitrary selection of R, module will mean right R-module and Hom = Hom R throughout this paper.
The Public Warehouse an Essential Tool in Wholesale Distribution

ECAL storage space, delivery facilities and other services necessary for getting merchandise onto the shelves of retailers or into the hands of industrial consumers are commonly found necessary by every major manufacturer. Individual concerns vary in their practices. Some have many branch storerooms while others use public warehouses exclusively. Whatever may be the method of meeting the problem, all face the need of spot stocks so allocated as to supply every market with goods. Every manufacturer has peculiar difficulties which determine his particular solution to the problem. Nevertheless, the widespread use of public warehouses during the depression and the adaptation of the public warehouse industry to modern business needs are significant in present day distributive trends. In the following pages will be described the major changes in public warehouse practice of the last few years which tend to facilitate the prompt and convenient movement of merchandise from factory to retailer. 1. The public warehouse and small-lot buying. The midget radio may be regarded as merely one of the thousand evidences that the diminutive idea has struck the American people. With shrunken incomes, individuals have taken smaller apartments, and, in smaller quarters, minute equipment is essential. Retail business has suffered from the same ailment. Minimum store fronts and tiny inventories are the result. For years, the retailer has had inventory control and increased turnover drummed into him. Since 1930, economic necessity has forced dealers to welcome this advice, possibly to take it even too seriously. Small-lot buying by retailers is a seemingly permanent outcome of the depression. The concept of small stocks and avoidance of dead merchandise has permeated our marketing. Today's merchant believes that a retail store is a place to sell goods. Storing should be done elsewhere. So intent have dealers become on these ideas that inventories have been sometimes reduced to such low minimums that customers cannot be properly served. The goal for which retailers are striving is so to improve stock control that their assortments of merchandise are constantly replenished. Day-to-day sales must not void their stock, yet the merchandise on hand must not exceed the requirements of a week. Reordering must be done systematically and frequently. Daily orders have become the
Epigomphus Crepidus a New Dragonfly (Odonata: Gomphidae) from Nayarit, Mexico with Notes on the Genus

The specimens (5 ♂ ♂, 1 ♀) of the new species of Epigomphus came to the writer in a small collection of Odonata purchased from Ward‗s Natural Science Establishment, Rochester, New York. These were from Victoria Compostela, Nayarit on the west coast of Mexico and had been collected in July and August, 1934, by two of Ward's field men.
Preliminary Report-The Long Leg Cast With a Pelvic Band: A Novel Approach to Treatment of Pediatric Femur Fractures.

Objectives The aim of the study was to describe the long leg cast with a pelvic band (LLCPB), a novel alternative to spica casting for treating femur fractures in patients aged 6 months to 6 years which requires no casting above the waist, allows for hip flexion adjustments after it is applied, and does not require an operating room for placement. Methods Seven children aged 7.9 months to 3.7 years with femur fractures treated with the LLCPB at a single institution were retrospectively studied. All children were casted in the emergency department under conscious sedation. Radiographic and subjective outcomes were recorded. Results All 7 children achieved acceptable reduction of their fractures without the need for re-reduction or cast wedging. Five of the 7 children were discharged from the emergency department; 1 child required 1 night of hospitalization and another child required 2 nights of hospitalization. There were no complications. The cost of placing an LLCPB at our institution was $430.46. The cost of placing a spica cast in the operating room was $5427.54 to $6465.00. Conclusions The long leg cast with a pelvic band seems to be an acceptable treatment for children aged 8 months to 4 years with spiral femur fractures. This technique has significant advantages over traditional and modified spica casts including allowing for uninhibited toileting, weight bearing on the unaffected leg, adjustment of hip flexion at any point after placement, and easier access to the perineum, abdomen, and chest for hygienic and medical purposes. Furthermore, treatment with an LLCPB presents significant potential for cost savings.
Isolating a functionally relevant guild of fungi from the root microbiome of Populus

Plant roots interact with a bewilderingly complex community of microbes, including root-associated fungi that are essential for maintaining plant health. To improve understanding of the diversity of fungi in the rhizobiome of Populus deltoides, Populus trichocarpa and co-occurring plant hosts Quercus alba and Pinus taeda, we conducted field and greenhouse studies and sampled, isolated, and characterized the diversity of culturable root-associated fungi on these hosts. Using both general and selective isolation media we obtained more than 1800 fungal isolates from individual surface sterilized root tips. Sequences from the ITS and/or D1– D2 regions of the LSU rDNA were obtained from 1042 of the >1800 pure culture isolates and were compared to accessions in the NCBI nucleotide database and analyzed through phylogenetics for preliminary taxonomic identification. Sequences from these isolates were also compared to 454 sequence datasets obtained directly from the Populus rhizosphere and endosphere. Although most of the ectomycorrhizal taxa known to associate with Populus evaded isolation, many of the abundant sequence types from rhizosphere and endosphere 454 datasets were isolated, including novel species belonging to the Atractiellales. Isolation and identification of key endorrhizal fungi will enable more targeted study of plant-fungal interactions. Genome sequencing is currently underway for a subset of our culture library with the aim of understanding the mechanisms involved in host-endophyte establishment and function. This diverse culture library of fungal root associates will be a valuable resource for metagenomic research, experimentation and further studies on plant-fungal interactions.
Inhibition of Acetylcholine Synthesis in Vitro

The concentration of acetylcholine (ACh) in brain is maintained within narrow limits even though the turnover rate is several fold that estimated for other neurotransmitters (16). The precise mechanisms regulating ACh metabolism are complex and there is considerable disagreement as to which factor(s) is rate-limiting to synthesis. Regulation of ACh levels can be separated into several categories, no one of which by itself is controlling but collectively can regulate ACh synthesis: 1) Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity; 2) Availability of its precursors, choline or AcCoA and; 3) Indirectly, by changes in ACh release.
Teaching modern control theory to undergraduates using a state space model of a synchronous generator

Modern control system analysis and design uses state space methods to develop models of both physical systems and their respective controllers. However, teaching state space to undergraduate students is often difficult due to the mathematical complexity and lack of visual validation when compared to classical control system design. The authors in this paper have employed state space analysis to design controllers for a reduced-order model of a synchronous generator to demonstrate the advantages of state space techniques over classical control design. The information in this paper was presented to both Electrical Engineering (EE) as well as Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology (ECET) students as an out-of-class assignment to implement the various controller designs and reflect on the results. A survey was administered to these students after completion of the assignment to assess their active and reflective learning. This survey included both Likert scale as well as open-ended questions to gauge their ability to both build and simulate the control system as well as reflect on the importance of state space. Based on the survey results provided, students were generally able to implement the various controllers but the ECET students had difficulty relating their results to a more general understanding of the importance of state space.
Declining Ice Thickness on an Alpine Lake is Generated by Increased Winter Precipitation

A 20-year record of ice thickness in late-March on an alpine lake in the Colorado Front Range shows a consistent thinning of the ice cover at 2.0 cm/yr(r = −0.931; N = 16; p < 0.01) during a period of increasing precipitation. The correlation between ice thickness and precipitation in the preceding Oct.–Mar. period is –0.439 (N = 16; p < 0.10),reflecting the insulating effect of an increase in snow cover on the lake. A second effect derived from increased precipitation occurs through additional water storage in the lake's catchment during the previous summer. This leads to a corresponding increase in groundwater flow to the lake during the winter, with a correlation between ice thickness and groundwater storage at the end of the preceding September of –0.656 (N = 16; p < 0.01). Whencombined, these two effects account for 50% of the variability in ice thickness(R = 0.714; N = 16; p < 0.01). Thus, much of the decline in ice thicknessin March is explained by two influences derived from an increase in winter precipitation: one associated with the current winter's precipitation and one with that of the previous winter.
Assessing kinematics and kinetics of functional electrical stimulation rowing

Hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES) rowing has positive effects on cardiovascular fitness, producing significantly greater aerobic power than either upper body or FES exercise alone. However, there is minimal information on the kinematics, kinetics, and mechanical efficiency of FES-rowing in the spinal cord injured (SCI) population. This study examined the biomechanics of FES-rowing to determine how motions, forces, and aerobic demand change with increasing intensity. Six individuals with SCI and six able-bodied subjects performed a progressive aerobic capacity rowing test. Differences in kinematics (motion profiles), kinetics (forces produced by the feet and arms), external mechanical work, and mechanical efficiency (work produced/volume of oxygen consumed) were compared in able-bodied rowing vs. SCI FES-rowing at three comparable subpeak workloads. With increasing exercise intensity (measured as wattage), able-bodied rowing increased stroke rate by decreasing recovery time, while FES-rowing maintained a constant stroke rate, with no change in drive or recovery times. While able-bodied rowers increased leg and arm forces with increasing intensity, FES-rowers used only their arms to achieve a higher intensity with a constant and relatively low contribution of the legs. Oxygen consumption increased in both groups, but more so in able-bodied rowers, resulting in able-bodied rowers having twice the mechanical efficiency of FES-rowers. Our results suggest that despite its ability to allow for whole body exercise, the total force output achievable with FES-rowing results in only modest loading of the legs that affects overall rowing performance and that may limit forces applied to bone.
Precision Experimental Verification of Special Relativity

We compare the results of precision electron $g$-factor experiments at low energy and at 110 keV. The agreement between these measurements constitutes the most precise laboratory confirmation to date of the predictions of special relativity. Relativistic electromagnetic theory and Thomas precession are verified in this test. We also consider limits on possible effects of acceleration.
Perceived Versus Actual Computer Skills of Pre-service Physical Educators

Within the service area of a small urban university center, the authors found that few physical educators at all levels, from elementary teachers to college professors, know how to use updated versions of conventional Microsoft technology in their classrooms. A survey instrument was designed and field-tested that would measure the difference between self-perceived versus actual computerskills of pre-service physical education teachers. A survey of perceived computer skills was distributed to twenty (N=20) physical education students enrolled in a pre-service physical education class in a mid-size university. The students were then given a performance based computer test. The findings of this small sample suggested that students tend to be over-confident of their knowledge and skills in using up-to-date technology. It further suggested that the instrument be applied to larger samples to see if students continue in 2009 to overestimate their abilities in all critical skill areas tested. The findings also suggest a need for greater selfmonitoring on the part of pre-service physical educators with a critical eye toward self-improvement.
Invariance, Optimality and a 1-Observation Confidence Interval for a Normal Mean

In a 1965 Decision Theory course at Stanford University, Charles Stein began a digression with “an amusing problem”: is there a proper confidence interval for the mean based on a single observation...
Power Analysis Attack of an AES GPU Implementation

In the past, Graphics Processing Unities (GPUs) were mainly used for graphics rendering. In the past 10 years, they have been redesigned and are used to accelerate a wide range of applications, including deep neural networks, image reconstruction and cryptographic algorithms. Despite being the accelerator of choice in a number of important application domains, today’s GPUs receive little attention on their security, especially their vulnerability to realistic and practical threats, such as side-channel attacks. In this work we present our study of side-channel vulnerability targeting a general purpose GPU. We propose and implement a side-channel power analysis methodology to extract all the last round key bytes of an AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) implementation on an NVIDIA TESLA GPU. We first analyze the challenges of capturing GPU power traces due to the degree of concurrency and underlying architectural features of a GPU, and propose techniques to overcome these challenges. We then construct an appropriate power model for the GPU. We describe effective methods to process the GPU power traces and launch a correlation power attack (CPA) on the processed data. We carefully consider the scalability of the attack with increasing degrees of parallelism, a key challenge on the GPU. Both our empirical and theoretical results show that parallel computing hardware systems such as a GPU are vulnerable to power analysis side-channel attacks, and need to be hardened against such threats.
Periods of Ehrhart Coefficients of Rational Polytopes

Let P⊂R^n be a polytope whose vertices have rational coordinates. By a seminal result of E. Ehrhart, the number of integer lattice points in the kth dilate of P (k a positive integer) is a quasi-polynomial function of k — that is, a "polynomial" in which the coefficients are themselves periodic functions of k. It is an open problem to determine which quasi-polynomials are the Ehrhart quasi-polynomials of rational polytopes. As partial progress on this problem, we construct families of polytopes in which the periods of the coefficient functions take on various prescribed values.
Re-focusing the Image of the “Superwoman” with “No Colour”: “Writing Back to the Centre” from a Globalised View

Neoliberal globalisation demands that postfeminist scholars consider critical questions about the relationships among culture, embodiment and media images of the body. In this chapter, first, I discuss how the media’s current representation of the normative “superwoman” circulates an image of a “healthy looking body” embedded in ideals of aesthetics and Whiteness. Second, I argue that postfeminist scholars advance a social-justice agenda by re-focusing the image of the “new girl” in a “different” direction, hoping to give voice to marginalised, Black, indigenous people. I then conclude by advocating for postcolonial research with and for ethnic minority girls’ visual self-representations of their embodiment to subvert and resist the normative White “look,” “writing back to the centre” from a globalised view to open up possibilities for social change.
Collaborative Forecasting and Its Impact on Supply Chain Performance

In recent years, electronic data sharing has become an industry standard. Starting as a tool to cut costs through elimination of expensive paperwork and reduction in human errors, electronic data interchange (EDI) evolved during the last two decades into an enabler for the creation of new supply chain business models. For example, managers realized that by cutting lead times they can bring their products to the market faster and thus save much in inventory costs and at the same time reduce lost sales. This gave rise to important practices such as quick response (QR) (Hammond 1990, Frazier 1986) and Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) (Kurt Salomon Associates 1993). Visibility turned quickly into a popular word in the supply chain manager’s vocabulary: For example, by providing suppliers with access to inventory and Point-of-Sale (POS) data, companies such as Wal-Mart gained a substantial increase in the level of product availability due to the ability of their vendors to better plan and execute their logistics processes — hence, replacing costly inventory by information. In recent years, rapid evolution in electronic commerce and information technology has paved the way for the implementation of a variety of coordination mechanisms in supply chains, and in many cases it has provided the necessary means for supply chain partners to restructure the way they conduct business (Andersen Consulting 1998, Magretta 1998). Visibility through EDI is, for instance, at the backbone of advanced collaborative manufacturing and e-trade concepts (i2 TradeMatrix 2001).
A New Obstetric Unit: E. H. Crump Women’s Hospital and Perinatal Center, Memphis, Tennessee

The opening of a new women’s hospital is described, placing special emphasis on features that proved helpful in managing a large obstetric service and on design deficiencies that have been identified for correction.
Do right-wing and left-wing authoritarianism predict election outcomes?: Support for Obama and Trump across two United States presidential elections

Abstract Recent research suggests authoritarianism may play a key role in election outcomes, yet that work has focused almost exclusively on right-wing authoritarianism. In the present work, we compare the ability of Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) and Left-Wing Authoritarianism (LWA) to predict support for candidates during two U.S. Presidential elections (total n = 1582). Samples of Americans who reported their support for each candidate after both the 2008 (n = 467) and 2016 (n = 1115) elections revealed that LWA was a better predictor of support for Obama during the 2008 election, whereas RWA was a better predictor of support for Trump during the 2016 election. LWA and RWA were both weaker predictors of the candidate that ultimately lost in each election. Implications for current understanding of (1) the connection between authoritarianism and election outcomes, and (2) the predictive power of authoritarianism (as distinguished from self-reported political identity) are both discussed.
Exponential Characteristic Spatial Quadrature for Discrete Ordinates Radiation Transport in Slab Geometry

The exponential characteristic spatial quadrature for discrete ordinates neutral particle transport in slab geometry is derived and compared with current methods. It is similar to the linear charac...
Sex Differences and Effects of Predictive Cues on Delayed Punishment Discounting

Abstract The majority of the research studying punishment has focused on an aversive stimulus delivered immediately after an action. However, in real-world decision-making, negative consequences often occur long after a decision has been made. This can engender myopic decisions that fail to appropriately respond to consequences. Whereas discounting of delayed rewards has been well studied in both human and animal models, systematic discounting of delayed consequences remains largely unexplored. To address this gap in the literature, we developed the Delayed Punishment Decision-making Task (DPDT). Rats chose between a small, single pellet reinforcer and a large, three pellet reinforcer accompanied by a mild foot shock. The shock was preceded by a delay, which systematically increased throughout the session (0s, 4s, 8s, 12s, 16s). On average, rats discounted the negative value of delayed punishment, as indicated by increased choice of the large, punished reward as the delay preceding the shock lengthened. Female rats discounted delayed punishment less than males, and this behavior was not influenced by estrous cycling. The addition of a cue light significantly decreased the undervaluation of delayed consequences for both sexes. Finally, there was no correlation between the discounting of delayed punishments and a traditional reward delay discounting task for either sex. These data indicate that the ability of punishment to regulate decision-making is attenuated when punishment occurs later in time. This task provides an avenue for exploration of the neural circuitry underlying the devaluation of delayed punishment and may assist in developing treatments for substance use disorders. Significance Statement Consequences that occur long after a decision are often undervalued, particularly in substance use disorder. However, “delayed punishment discounting” is widely understudied in decision neuroscience. Here, we present a novel delayed punishment decision-making task in rats that reveals robust sex differences, demonstrates the efficacy of punishment predictive cues for reducing punishment discounting, and shows that punishment discounting is independent of reward-discounting. This provides critical information regarding a cognitive process that can contribute to maladaptive decision-making.
Novel Internal Wave Paradigm Strongly Nonlinear Scale Separated Interactions

Abstract : My long-term goal is to understand and predict spectral energy density of internal waves in the ocean, and the effects of internal waves on oceanic large scale motions. First-Principle theory of strongly nonlinear wave-wave interactions for internal waves. Present study is based on the extension of the wave turbulence theory to the internal waves in the ocean. In particular, we will go beyond traditional wave turbulence assumptions of weak nonlinearity and resonant interactions. This study is characterized by strong synergy with the work by Dr. Kurt Polzin (WHOI).
Beyond the Fetters of Colonialism: Du Bois, Nkrumah, and a Pan-African Critical Theory

This article seeks to explore the Pan-Africanism of W.E.B. Du Bois (1868–1963) and its interconnections with the Pan-African thought and practice of Kwame Nkrumah (1909–1972) with respect to the ca...
Elaborating reflective abstraction for instructional design in mathematics: Postulating a Second Type of Reflective Abstraction

The goal of our research program is to explicate the learning of mathematical concepts in ways that are useful for instructional design and to develop design principles based on those explications....
Propranolol Reverses Impaired Fracture Healing Response Observed With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Treatment

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants worldwide and recent data show significant impairment of fracture healing after treatment with the SSRI fluoxetine in mice. Here, we provide evidence that the negative effects of SSRIs can be overcome by administration of the beta-blocker propranolol at the time of fracture. First, in vitro experiments established that propranolol does not affect osteogenic differentiation. We then used a murine model of intramembranous ossification to study the potential rescue effect of propranolol on SSRI-induced impaired fracture healing. Micro-CT analysis revealed that fluoxetine treatment resulted in a smaller bony regenerate and that this decrease in bone formation can be overcome by co-treatment with propranolol. We then tested this in a clinically relevant model of endochondral ossification. Fluoxetine-treated mice with a femur fracture were treated with propranolol initiated at the time of fracture, and a battery of analyses demonstrated a reversal of the detrimental effect of fluoxetine on fracture healing in response to propranolol treatment. These experiments show for the first time to our knowledge that the negative effects of SSRIs on fracture healing can be overcome by co-treatment with a beta-blocker. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Teacher Education and ESD in the United States: The Vision, Challenges, and Implementation

Education for sustainable development (ESD) is not yet a prominent feature of teacher education in the United States. However, in a growing number of programs, teacher educators have begun addressing ESD in the preservice and advanced professional development of teachers. This chapter investigates the larger context and challenges associated with reorienting teacher education to address sustainable development. The chapter also discusses key considerations that likely will need to be addressed to reorient teacher-education programs in the United States to address sustainable development.
Quick and Easy: Use Screen Capture Software to Train and Communicate

Screen capture (screen cast) software can be used to develop short videos for training purposes. Developing videos is quick and easy. This article describes how these videos are used as tools to reinforce face-to-face and interactive TV curriculum training in a nutrition education program. Advantages of developing these videos are shared. Suggestions for how these videos can be used in other ways are offered. What Is Screen Capture Software? Screen capture software has the capacity to record screen activity from the desktop into a movie file or video format (Educause Learning Initiative, 2006). Audio narration is added, and sometimes annotation may be available. Screen capture is sometimes also known as "screen casting" or "screen recording." Initially screen capture was developed to demonstrate software features or to provide step-by-step instructions while demonstrating on-screen. Why Use Screen Capture to Train and Communicate with Nutrition Educators? There are over 150 educators statewide employed with the University of Missouri Extension nutrition education programs. Over 120 educators work in schools, and they are heavily scheduled in classrooms from late August through May or June. Training opportunities include statewide conferences, local training by regional coordinators, and interactive television (ITV). Educators have over 20 different curricula to choose from, each curriculum has 11 to 21 teaching materials (visuals, handouts, videos) available to enhance the curriculum. How can educators (and those who conduct curriculum trainings) keep updated regarding the myriad of materials that enhance each curriculum and where to find the teaching materials? How can educators get the most current information about how to use a curriculum and what audience it is intended for? How Screen Capture Is Used as a Training and Communication Tool Quick and Easy: Use Screen Capture Software to Train and Communicate 08/29/11 08:07:18
Evident phase separation and surface segregation of hydrophobic moieties at the copolymer surface using atomic force microscopy and SFG spectroscopy.

Abstract Hypothesis Copolymers are developed to enhance the overall physical and chemical properties of polymers. The surface nature of a copolymer is relevant to creating efficient materials to improve adhesion and biocompatibility. We hypothesize that the improved adhesion, as a surface property, is due to phase separation, surface segregation, and the overall molecular organization of different polymer components at the copolymer surface. Experiments The surface structure of a copolymer composed of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomer and 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate (PhEMA) monomer was analyzed in comparison to the polyHEMA and polyPhEMA homopolymers using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy. Findings The contrast in the phase images was due to the variance in the hydrophobic level provided by the hydroxyl and phenoxy modified monomers in the copolymer. The distribution of the adhesion values, supporting the presence of hydrophobic moieties, across the polymer surface defined the surface segregation of these two components. SFG spectra of the copolymer thin film showed combined spectral features of both polyHEMA and polyPhEMA thin films at the polymer surface. The tilt angles of the alpha-methyl group of homopolymers using the polarization intensity ratio analysis and the polarization mapping method were estimated to be in the range from 48° to 66°.
A Community Activist, a Cultural Anthropologist, and an Archaeologist Walk into a Cemetery: Re-establishing Community Pride After a Jim Crow Atrocity

In 1914, following the passage of Jim Crow segregation laws, over a dozen African American graves were exhumed from the primarily White Cedar Grove Cemetery in New Bern, North Carolina and reburied...
Precision Scheduled Railroading and the Need for Improved Estimates of Yard Capacity and Performance Considering Traffic Complexity

Multiple North American freight railroads have adopted concepts of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) that attempt to reduce costs by maximizing train length and minimizing railcar transit time....
Running the full human developmental clock in interspecies chimeras using alternative human stem cells with expanded embryonic potential

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can generate specialized cell lineages that have great potential for regenerative therapies and disease modeling. However, the developmental stage of the lineages generated from conventional hPSC cultures in vitro are embryonic in phenotype, and may not possess the cellular maturity necessary for corrective regenerative function in vivo in adult recipients. Here, we present the scientific evidence for how adult human tissues could generate human–animal interspecific chimeras to solve this problem. First, we review the phenotypes of the embryonic lineages differentiated from conventional hPSC in vitro and through organoid technologies and compare their functional relevance to the tissues generated during normal human in utero fetal and adult development. We hypothesize that the developmental incongruence of embryo-stage hPSC-differentiated cells transplanted into a recipient adult host niche is an important mechanism ultimately limiting their utility in cell therapies and adult disease modeling. We propose that this developmental obstacle can be overcome with optimized interspecies chimeras that permit the generation of adult-staged, patient-specific whole organs within animal hosts with human-compatible gestational time-frames. We suggest that achieving this goal may ultimately have to await the derivation of alternative, primitive totipotent-like stem cells with improved embryonic chimera capacities. We review the scientific challenges of deriving alternative human stem cell states with expanded embryonic potential, outline a path forward for conducting this emerging research with appropriate ethical and regulatory oversight, and defend the case of why current federal funding restrictions on this important category of biomedical research should be liberalized.
Predictors of Academic Neurosurgical Career Trajectory among International Medical Graduates Training Within the United States.

BACKGROUND Within the literature, there has been limited research tracking the career trajectories of international medical graduates (IMGs) following residency training. OBJECTIVE To compare the characteristics of IMG and US medical school graduate (USMG) neurosurgeons holding academic positions in the United States and also analyze factors that influence IMG career trajectories following US-based residency training. METHODS We collected data on 243 IMGs and 2506 USMGs who graduated from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited neurosurgery residency programs. We assessed for significant differences between cohorts, and a logistic regression model was used for the outcome of academic career trajectory. RESULTS Among the 2749 neurosurgeons in our study, IMGs were more likely to pursue academic neurosurgery careers relative to USMGs (59.7% vs 51.1%; P = .011) and were also more likely to complete a research fellowship before beginning residency (odds ratio [OR] = 9.19; P < .0001). Among current US academic neurosurgeons, USMGs had significantly higher pre-residency h-indices relative to IMGs (1.23 vs 1.01; P < .0001) with no significant differences between cohorts when comparing h-indices during (USMG = 5.02, IMG = 4.80; P = .67) or after (USMG = 14.05, IMG = 13.90; P = .72) residency. Completion of a post-residency clinical fellowship was the only factor independently associated with an academic career trajectory among IMGs (OR = 1.73, P = .046). CONCLUSION Our study suggests that while IMGs begin their US residency training with different research backgrounds and achievements relative to USMG counterparts, they attain similar levels of academic productivity following residency. Furthermore, IMGs are more likely to pursue academic careers relative to USMGs. Our work may be useful for better understanding IMG career trajectories following US-based neurosurgery residency training.
An Online Assessment Strategy to Improve Student Engagement, Performance, and Retention: Certification-based Retesting

Many courses still utilize a traditional one chance testing model to assess student understanding. If the purpose of assessment is to reflect the mastery a student has in a course, then there is benefit for students to have multiple opportunities to show mastery. This paper outlines the results of a course policy of full grade replacement retesting that required students to first pass a “recertification” quiz. The goal of this policy was to adopt a pedagogical style that more readily reflected the opportunity of continued learning that many workers experience in the professional world while simultaneously aiming to engage students in an online course during the COVID-19 pandemic. A hypothesis test was conducted to determine if this retake policy helped to improve student grades during the course. The results indicate there was a statistically significant difference between the mean score on the first exam and the retest where, on average, students who utilized the exam retake increased their score. Time was found to have a positive relation with retest scores, but even after accounting for time, retesting was found to have a practical and significant effect on student performance. Retesting policies consistently show positive impacts on grades (e.g. Roszkowski & Spreat, 2016; Herman et al., 2019) and should be more widely considered when developing and updating course policies.
Investigation and optimization of N-polar GaN porosification for regrowth of smooth hillocks-free GaN films

This work investigates the process of planar electrochemical etching of pores in n-type nitrogen-polar GaN and the effect of pore morphology on regrown GaN film surface quality. An increase in the anodization voltage was found to increase the pore diameter and reduce the density of pores with inclined sidewalls near the surface of the porosified films. Simultaneously, a decrease in the hexagonal hillock size and number following GaN regrowth was observed. It is proposed that vertical pore sidewalls are essential to demonstrate high quality film coalescence. For smooth hillock-free 100 nm GaN regrowth, an optimal bias of 17 and 13 V for Ti-contacted N-polar GaN:Si with a Si doping of 4.5 × 1018 and 8 × 1018 cm−3, respectively, was found.
Novel use of poly-L-lactic acid filler for the treatment of facial cutaneous atrophy in patients with connective tissue disease

Background Patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) often suffer from facial cutaneous defects and resultant facial asymmetry. Unfortunately, these issues have been known to be difficult-to-treat, and concern exists regarding the use of cosmetic procedures in this patient population due to the theoretical risk of disease flare-up or reactivation. Injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is one type of filler that has been used to treat skin atrophy in patients with morphea and lupus erythematous panniculitis. However, overall, there is a dearth in literature regarding the safety and efficacy of PLLA filler in patients with CTDs. Aims This case series intends to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PLLA filler in treating facial atrophy in patients with CTDs. Patients/methods Three patients underwent various treatment courses involving the use of PLLA filler to treat facial atrophy. Results Two patients demonstrated significant improvement in facial atrophy following their treatment course. No patient experienced reactivation or exacerbation of their CTD following PLLA injection. Conclusion PLLA filler appears to have good viability as a safe and potentially effective treatment for facial atrophy in patients with CTDs.
The Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Warmups for Lower Extremity Injury Prevention in Basketball: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND Neuromuscular warmups have gained increasing attention as a means of preventing sports-related injuries, but data on effectiveness in basketball are sparse. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence of the effectiveness of neuromuscular warmup-based strategies for preventing lower extremity injuries among basketball athletes. METHODS PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched in February 2019. Studies were included if they were English-language randomized controlled, non-randomized comparative, or prospective cohort trials, tested neuromuscular and/or balance-focused warmup interventions among basketball players, and assessed at least one type of lower extremity injury as a primary outcome. Criteria developed by the USPSTF were used to appraise study quality, and GRADE was used to appraise the body of evidence for each outcome. Due to heterogeneity in the included studies, meta-analyses could not be performed. RESULTS In total, 825 titles and abstracts were identified. Of the 13 studies which met inclusion criteria for this review, five were balance interventions (3 randomized controlled trials) and eight were multicomponent interventions involving multiple categories of dynamic neuromuscular warmup (5 randomized controlled trials). Authors of four of the studies were contacted to obtain outcome data specific to basketball athletes. Basketball specific results from the studies suggest significant protective effects for the following lower extremity injuries: ankle injuries (significant in 4 out of the 9 studies that assessed this outcome); ACL injuries (2 of 4 studies); knee injuries generally (1 of 5 studies); and overall lower extremity injuries (5 of 7 studies). All but one of the non-significant results were directionally favorable. Evidence was moderate for the effect of multicomponent interventions on lower extremity injuries generally. For all other outcomes, and for balance-based interventions, the quality of evidence was rated as low. CONCLUSION Overall, the evidence is supportive of neuromuscular warmups for lower extremity injury prevention among basketball players. However, most studies are underpowered, some used lower-quality research study designs, and outcome and exposure definitions varied. Due to the nature of the study designs, effects could not be attributed to specific intervention components. More research is needed to identify the most effective bundle of warmup activities.