cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study on the preventive effect of different courses of inhaled glucocorticoids on asthma after bronchiolitis

Objective To compare the preventive effect of different courses of inhaled glucocorticoids on asthma after bronchiolitis.Methods From October 2010 to May 2011 in our hospital,113 patients with bronchiolitis were selected and divided into two groups,55 cases of the control group and 58 cases of observation group,they were given conventional therapy + inhaled β2 agonists + inhaled glucocorticoids,the control group stopped glucocorticoids at the end of treatment,and the observation group stopped glucocorticoids in a month after the end of the treatment,the clinical recovery situation of two groups were compared.Results At the end of treatment,the total effective rate of observation group was 94.8% and the control group was 92.7%,there was no significant difference between two groups(P 0.05);after treatment,the lung function of two groups were significantly improved(P 0.05);followed-up one year,the relapse rate and incidence of asthma of observation group were 5.2% and 1.7%,significantly lower than 18.2% and 14.5% of the control group,the differences were statistically significant between two groups(P 0.05).Conclusion Different courses of inhaled corticosteroids in the prevention of asthma after bronchiolitis are significant different,prolonging properly the application time of glucocorticoid has a better clinical effect,it is the preferred drug treatment programs.
Isotope studies of photocatalysis TiO2-mediated degradation of dimethyl phenylphosphonate

Abstract The initial step of TiO2-mediated photocatalytic degradation of dimethyl phenylphosphonate (DMPP), labeled with 18 O or deuteria in the methoxy groups, results in products due to ring hydroxylation and demethylation. The 18 O labeling experiments clearly demonstrate that the methyl group is lost, rather than a methoxy group, resulting in a labeled phosphonic mono-acid. Results from deuterium isotope experiments are more ambiguous.
On Information Processing of the Chinese Language

The development of science and technology has changed our way of life and work in many respects. Some people are always looking for whatever is novel. They collect and use varieties of newlyinvented gadgets. In their minds, technology can take the place of thought and therefore, their work is often flashy and superficial. Others are conservative by nature. They decline to make use of the new “bizarre technology and excessive ingeniousness”, and prefer to ignore the tools that can improve efficiency, which results in diminished potential. But more offen there are few opportunities or suitable conditions in which to apply the technology which saves both time and effort. For instance, xerox machines and telephones are much more popular in the United States than in China.
Reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide synergism of the reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide-dependent mixed-function oxidase system of hepatic microsomes. II. Role of the type I drug-binding site of cytochrome P-450.

Studies of the DPNH synergism of the TPNH-dependent mixed-function oxidase system of hepatic microscomes using a variety of substrates revealed that synergism occurred when the substrates were type I binding compounds (aminopyrine, benzphetamine, codeine, ethylmorphine, norcodeine), but not when the substrates were type II binding compounds (aniline, p -chloro- N -methylaniline). The role of type I binding in DPNH synergism of drug metabolism was investigated by employing microsomes which varied in their abilities to produce a type I binding spectrum with ethylmorphine. This was accomplished by selecting microsomes from different animal sources (male rats of different ages, female rats, 3-methyl cholanthrene-treated rats) or by subjecting microsomes from a given source to treatments known to diminish type I binding (treatment with SKF 525-A or with phospholipase C, storage). Using ethylmorphine as the substrate, type I binding was shown to be directly correlated with DPNH synergism and with DPNH utilization. The mean ratio of DPNH utilized to ethylmorphine metabolized by the various microsomes used in the study was 1.15. No correlation was seen between DPNH utilization and rate of hydroxylation of the type II compound, aniline. No increase in DPNH utilization above that seen in the absence of substrate was observed during aniline hydroxylation. The mechanism whereby type I substrates elicit DPNH synergism is postulated to occur as follows. The first of the 2 electrons required for drug oxidation is derived from TPNH and is utilized in the reduction of the oxidized cytochrome P-450-substrate complex. The second electron is derived from either TPNH or DPNH and is transported through cytochrome b 5 to the oxygenated, reduced cytochrome P-450-substrate complex, although the possibility remains that second electrons from TPNH may be contributed by a route that circumvents cytochrome b 5 . When type I substrates are introduced into the system, the rate of entry of first electrons is accelerated and second electrons from the electron pool provided by DPNH are drawn via cytochrome b 5 into the system to balance the elevated input of first electrons. When type II substrates are introduced into the system, the rate of entry of first electrons is not accelerated and there is neither the need nor the means for the system to utilize excess second electrons provided by DPNH. When only TPNH is present, the electron pool created at cytochrome b 5 is not large enough to match the pool of first electrons created by the addition of the type I substrate, and the over-all reaction is therefore slower than the DPNH-"synergized" reaction.
Hypofractionated image guided radiation therapy followed by prostate seed implant boost for men with newly diagnosed intermediate and high risk adenocarcinoma of the prostate: Preliminary results of a phase 2 prospective study.

Abstract Purpose A phase 2 protocol was designed and implemented to assess the toxicity and efficacy of hypofractionated image guided intensity modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) combined with low-dose rate 103 Pd prostate seed implant for treatment of localized intermediate- and high-risk adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Methods and materials This is a report of an interim analysis on 24 patients enrolled on an institutional review board–approved phase 2 single-institution study of patients with intermediate- and high-risk adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The median pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level was 8.15 ng/mL. The median Gleason score was 4 + 3 = 7 (range, 3 + 4 = 7 - 4 + 4 = 8), and the median T stage was T2a. Of the 24 patients, 4 (17%) were high-risk patients as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network criteria, version 2016. The treatment consisted of 2465 cGy in 493 cGy/fraction of IG-IMRT to the prostate and seminal vesicles. This was followed by a 103 Pd transperineal prostate implant boost (prescribed dose to 90% of the prostate volume of 100 Gy) using intraoperative planning. Five patients received neoadjuvant, concurrent, and adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy. Results The median follow-up was 18 months (range, 1-42 months). The median nadir prostate-specific antigen was 0.5 ng/mL and time to nadir was 16 months. There was 1 biochemical failure associated with distant metastatic disease without local failure. Toxicity (acute or late) higher than grade 3 was not observed. There was a single instance of late grade 3 genitourinary toxicity secondary to hematuria 2 years and 7 months after radiation treatment. There were no other grade 3 gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicities. Conclusions Early results on the toxicity and efficacy of the combination of hypofractionated IG-IMRT and low-dose-rate brachytherapy boost are favorable. Longer follow-up is needed to confirm safety and effectiveness.
Gain-of-Function Mutation in Ryanodine Receptor Type 1 Modulates Murine Thymocyte Calcium Signaling and Autoimmune Response in Mice

Gain-of-function mutations in gene encoding ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1), an endo/sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channel, are linked to a variety of skeletal muscular disorders. Other tissues, including cells of the immune system, have been shown to express RyR1. A previous study demonstrated enhanced immune responses in mice with gain-of-function RyR1 mutation (Vukcevic et al., 2013, J Cell Sci, 126: 3485-92). Here we report that after induction of an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease, the mice carrying gain-of-function RyR1 R163C mutation (R163C mice) displayed an earlier disease onset and augmentation of neurological symptoms compared with wild-type (WT) mice. In vitro studies revealed that splenocytes from the R163C mice have altered Ca2+ signaling compared with those from WT mice, which was revealed by challenging the cells with different concentrations of extracellular Ca2+ and Ca2+ mobilizing agent thapsigargin. No differences were found in the relative abundances of immune cell subtypes in spleens and lymph nodes from R163C and WT mice prior to the onset of the EAE. Nevertheless, immunostaining of the lumbar spinal cord sections after the onset of the clinical symptoms, revealed the larger pro-inflammatory infiltrate and axonal damage in the R163C mice compared with the WT mice, indicating that R163C mutation may affect immune cell trafficking to the CNS. These data indicate that altered Ca2+ handling in R163C mice immune cells may enhance these cells autoimmune responses and that gain-of-function mutations in RYR1 may represent a previously unknown risk factor for autoimmune diseases.
TRACING BACK TRAUMA

AbstractAlthough there are many, mostly male, contemporary writers in Brazil whose narratives of urban violence and social inequality implicitly reflect the impact and legacy of slavery on contemporary society, it is interesting that this shameful period, and shockingly brutal events which seem to prove wrong the myths of gentle colonization and harmonious racial democracy, should be chosen as subject matter by four women writers. While very different novels, Adriana Lisboa’s Os Fios da Memoria [The Threads of Memory] (1999), Conceicao Evaristo's Poncia Vicencio (2003), Ana Maria Goncalves's Um Defeito de Cor [A Defect in Colour] (2006) and Tatiana Salem Levy's Paraiso [Paradise] (2014) all deal frankly with the horrors of slavery and its aftermaths from the point of view of the most vulnerable member of colonial society: the enslaved African woman. This article analyses the ways in which these writers claim justice for their characters and remind readers that those excluded from official histories had na...
Zooplankton as a potential vector for white band disease transmission in the endangered coral, Acropora cervicornis

Coral diseases are a leading factor contributing to the global decline of coral reefs, and yet mechanisms of disease transmission remain poorly understood. This study tested whether zooplankton can act as a vector for white band disease (WBD) in Acropora cervicornis. Natural zooplankton communities were collected from a coral reef in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Half of the zooplankton were treated with antibiotics for 24 h after which the antibiotic-treated and non-antibiotic-treated zooplankton were incubated with either seawater or tissue homogenates from corals exhibiting WBD-like symptoms. A total of 15 of the 30 asymptomatic A. cervicornis colonies exposed to zooplankton incubated in disease homogenate in tank-based experiments showed signs of WBD, regardless of prior antibiotic incubation. These results indicate that in our experimental conditions zooplankton were a vector for coral disease after exposure to disease-causing pathogens. Given the importance of heterotrophy on zooplankton to coral nutrition, this potential mode of disease transmission warrants further investigation.
Unpacking Institutional and Individual Antecedents of Employees’ Internal Mobility Preferences

Evolving forms of intra-organizational mobility raise important questions about organizational institutions that influence employees’ decisions to pursue certain internal opportunities over others:...
Inhabiting the Anthropocene back loop

Working across earth and social sciences, this article reevaluates resilience’s conceptual framework, drawing out alternative pathways for understanding and responding to the dislocations of the An...
Effects of systemic cholinergic antagonism on reinforcer devaluation in macaques.

Abstract The capacity to adjust actions based on new information is a vital cognitive function. An animal’s ability to adapt behavioral responses according to changes in reward value can be measured using a reinforcer devaluation task, wherein the desirability of a given object is reduced by decreasing the value of the associated food reinforcement. Elements of the neural circuits serving this ability have been studied in both rodents and nonhuman primates. Specifically, the basolateral amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and mediodorsal thalamus have each been shown to play a critical role in the process of value updating, required for adaptive goal selection. As these regions receive dense cholinergic input, we investigated whether systemic injections of non-selective nicotinic or muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists, mecamylamine and scopolamine, respectively, would impair performance on a reinforcer devaluation task. Here we demonstrate that in the presence of either a nicotinic or muscarinic antagonist, animals are able to shift their behavioral responses in an appropriate manner, suggesting that disruption of cholinergic neuromodulation is not sufficient to disrupt value updating, and subsequent goal selection, in rhesus macaques.
The ensemble diversity of non-coding RNA structure is lower than random sequence

Abstract In addition to energetically optimal structures, RNAs can fold into near energy suboptimal conformations that may be populated and play functional roles. The diversity of this structural ensemble can be estimated using a metric derived from the calculated RNA partition function: the ensemble diversity. In this report, 10 classes of functional RNAs were analyzed: the 5.8S and 5S rRNAs, ribozyme, RNase P, snoRNA, snRNA, SRP RNA, tmRNA, Vault RNA and Y RNA. Representative sequences from each class were mutagenized in two ways: firstly, all possible point mutations were generated and secondly, wild type sequences were randomized to generate multiple scrambled mutants. Compared to the mutants, the native RNA ensemble diversity was predicted to be lower. This finding held true when all available sequences (378,455 sequences) for each RNA class (archived in the RNAcentral database) were analyzed. This suggests that a compact structural ensemble is an evolved characteristic of functional RNAs.
Getting ahead of the curve: cities as surrogates for global change.

Urbanization represents an unintentional global experiment that can provide insights into how species will respond and interact under future global change scenarios. Cities produce many conditions that are predicted to occur widely in the future, such as warmer temperatures, higher carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations and exacerbated droughts. In using cities as surrogates for global change, it is challenging to disentangle climate variables—such as temperature—from co-occurring or confounding urban variables—such as impervious surface—and then to understand the interactive effects of multiple climate variables on both individual species and species interactions. However, such interactions are also difficult to replicate experimentally, and thus the challenges of cities are also their unique advantage. Here, we review insights gained from cities, with a focus on plants and arthropods, and how urban findings agree or disagree with experimental predictions and historical data. We discuss the types of hypotheses that can be best tested in cities, caveats to urban research and how to further validate cities as surrogates for global change. Lastly, we summarize how to achieve the goal of using urban species responses to predict broader regional- and ecosystem-level patterns in the future.
Die Frage nach dem Methodologischen Charakter der die Dreischichtung der Apophantischen Analytik Begründenden Untersuchungen

Die Frage nach dem Verhaltnis zwischen dem I. und dem II. Abschnitt der Logik last sich in der Tat zugleich als eine Frage nach dem Verhaltnis zwischen der formalen und der transzendentalen Logik stellen. Die Frage nach dem Verhaltnis zwischen der formalen und der transzendentalen Logik wiederum last sich am besten dadurch beantworten, das man von der Frage nach der methodologischen Beschaffenheit der die Dreischichtung der formalen Apophantik bzw. apophantischen Analytik begrundenden Untersuchungen als Leitfaden ausgeht.
Dummy Performance in Crash Simulations Environments

A test procedure is presented whereby dummies can be subjected to a controlled and reproducible environment which is independent of the sled facility used. Essentially, a set of straps with slack in them couple the sled to the dummy. The deceleration phase of the sled occurs during the time that the slack is taken up, and a difference in velocity is established between sled and dummy. The straps then decelerate the dummy in a specific fashion independent of the shape of the deceleration time pulse of the sled. Results of measurements on four dummies subjected to such a test are presented. Both side facing and forward impacts were simulated, each at two different energy levels.
Critical Professional Discourses About Information and Communications Technologies and Social Life in the U.S.

Looking back over the 1990s, it is also easy to see the widespread troubles of many ventures that depended upon advanced IT applications, including business process reengineering projects, enterprise systems, knowledge management projects, distance education courses, and famously — some of the dot-corn businesses of the 1990s. These “troubles” vary from substantial underperformance (ie. projects that were much more costly and/or produced much less social or business value than most of the participating IT professionals anticipated) and many outright failures. Many of these ‘troubles“ could have been avoided (or at least ameliorized) if the participating IT professionals had much more reliable and critical understanding of the relationships between IT configurations, socio-technical interventions, social behavior of other participants in different roles, and the dynamics of organizational and social change. Social Informatics is the name for the field that studies and theorizes this topic, and I will discuss it in more detail below. The key issue addressed in this paper is who will produce social informatics research for IT professionals, and where will they learn about important findings, theories, design approaches, etc.? The paper examines the record of computer science in the U.S. as a major contributor to the relevant research and teaching. It also examines the possibilities for new kinds of academic programs — sometimes called ”information schools“ and ”IT Schools“ — that are being developed to expand beyond the self-imposed boundaries of computer science and to integrate some organizational and social research as sites for social informatics.
CERVICAL CANCER: DEVELOPMENTS IN SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF THE ABNORMAL PAP SMEAR

Of the more than 50 million Pap smears performed annually in the United States, about 5% of them are abnormal. Although the need for treatment of high-grade lesions is clear, the appropriate management of low-grade lesions remains controversial. New methods of screening for cervical cancer have become available, including testing for the human papilloma virus and improved methods of administering and evaluating the Pap smear. This review addresses new developments in cervical cancer screening and management strategies for when an abnormality is detected.
Some Results on Non-Resonant Non-Linear Delay Differential Equations

We study the non-linear delay differential equation x′(t) + g(x(t), x (t−τ))= f(t) under a non-resonance condition which assures the existence of a unique bounded solution. Using the algebra structure of the space of bounded continuous functions we investigate the properties of this solution. We discuss some generalizations and the initial value problem.
Competition to Catch the Capital Flight

The study examines the nature and trends of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI hereafter) flows in India and China since their economic reforms, especially after the sub-prime crisis 2008. A comparative perspective is outlined to delineate the structure, conduct and performance of FDI regimes. We conduct an empirical estimation using Granger Causality test to examine the relationship between FDI inflows and economic growth and find that economic growth to be imperative for FDI inflow. The paper also tries to address vital issues in the management of FDI in the new era of globalization in India and China.
Stochastic ejection of nanocontact droplet solitons via drift instability

The magnetic droplet soliton is a large-amplitude, coherently precessing wave state that exists in ferromagnetic thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. To effectively sustain a droplet, magnetic damping can be locally compensated in a nanocontact region that imparts spin-transfer torque; this has been successfully deployed in experiment to directly image the droplet and probe its dynamics electrically. However, theory predicts and experiments indicate the existence of a drift instability whereby the droplet is ejected from the spin-transfer-torque-active region and subsequently decays, an effect that may be enhanced or possibly induced by thermal fluctuations. Using soliton perturbation theory and large-deviation theory, this work determines the soliton ejection rate and the most likely path an ejected soliton tracks in the presence of thermal fields. These results lead to an effective lower bound on the stability of magnetic droplet solitons in spin-transfer-torque nanocontact devices operating at finite temperature and point to ways in which droplets can be made more robust.
Contribution of ApoCIII to Diabetic Dyslipidemia and Treatment With Volanesorsen

Diabetic dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is characterized by elevated levels of triglycerides (TG), decreased levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), elevated levels of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLC), and the predominance of small and dense LDL particles (sdLDL). The mechanism underlying diabetic dyslipidemia remains unclear. Insulin resistance is believed to be an important determinant. Mechanisms underlying insulin resistance-induced diabetic dyslipidemia seem to be related to apolipoprotein CIII (ApoCIII), a known inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase. The concentration of very low density lipoprotein1 (VLDL1) with a higher TG content and abundant ApoCIII was found to be significantly elevated in patients with T2DM. Recently, volanesorsen as a promising ApoIII inhibitor was shown to improve the lipid profile in patients with diabetic dyslipidemia. Herein, this paper will review recent advance in pathophysiology of diabetic dyslipidemia and the role of ApoCIII in this condition, with focus on describing a novel drug volanesorsen as potential treatment strategy.
Personalized and typical concurrent risk of limitations in social activity and mobility in older persons with multiple chronic conditions and polypharmacy.

Abstract Purpose We define personalized concurrent risk (PCR) as the subject-specific probability of an index outcome within a defined interval of time, while currently at risk for a separate outcome, where the outcomes are not mutually exclusive and can be jointly modeled with a shared random intercept. We further define typical concurrent risk as the risk obtained by setting the random intercept to null. Methods Drawing data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (cohorts 2008–2013), we jointly model limitations in social activity and mobility over two years among older community-dwelling persons with both hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The joint model uses inverse probability of treatment weighting based on each participant's baseline propensity of polypharmacy (≥5 classes of medication). Results Even among participants with the same covariates, older persons with multiple chronic conditions exhibit wide-ranging heterogeneity of the treatment effect from polypharmacy, a risk factor for negative health outcomes among older persons. The magnitude of the PCRs is dominated by the value of the subject-specific random effect. Conclusions Estimates of PCR and typical concurrent risk can be calculated from national or institutional data sets and may facilitate the practice of personalized care for older patients with multiple chronic conditions.
Causal Language in Health Warning Labels and US Adults’ Perception: A Randomized Experiment

Objectives. To examine US adults' reactions to health warnings with strong versus weak causal language.Methods. In 2018, we randomly assigned 1360 US adults to answer an online survey about health warnings for cigarettes, sugar-sweetened beverages, or alcohol. Participants rated 4 warning statements using different causal language variants ("causes," "contributes to," "can contribute to," and "may contribute to") displayed in random arrangement.Results. Most participants (76.3%) selected the warning that used "causes" as the 1 that most discouraged them from wanting to use the product. "Causes" was also selected most often (39.0% of participants) as the warning that participants most supported implementing. By contrast, most (66.1%) chose "may contribute to" as the warning that least discouraged them from wanting to use the product. We found few demographic differences in these patterns.Conclusions. Warnings with stronger causal language are perceived to be effective and are supported by the public.
Le trauma colonial: une enquête sur les effets psychiques et politiques contemporains de l’oppression coloniale en Algérie

Karima Lazali’s book under review is a groundbreaking study that combines literary analysis with historical reflection and psychoanalytic introspection, to delve into the little-understood, long-te...
Patient's Perspectives of Experimental HCV-Positive to HCV-Negative Renal Transplantation: Report from a Single Site.

Background: With growing transplant wait times, clinical trials are evaluating the safety and efficacy of transplanting HCV-infected donor (HCV+) organs into HCV-noninfected recipients (HCV D+/R-)....
Proliferating Predation: Reverse Redlining, the Digital Proliferation of Inferior Social Welfare Products, and How to Stop It

Society is waking up to surveillance capitalism, the influence of digital advertising platforms on democracy, and discriminatory algorithms. However, academics have yet to emphasize the civil rights and consumer harm that results from ad-targeting for inferior and harmful versions of essential consumer goods and services. This Article aims to fill that gap. It analyzes how reverse redlining — predatory and discriminatory targeting for harmful products — occurs through segmentation, targeting, and ad-delivery. Providers of inferior social welfare products leverage these tools to manipulate low-income people and consumers of color to buy their products at a staggering efficiency and scale. The advertising platforms often play a role in reverse redlining through the process of optimizing the delivery of advertisements for particular audiences and amplifying advertisers’ message through look-alike tools. Using the for-profit education industry as a case study, this Article decodes the technology, considers legal challenges to the harms that result, and proposes strengthening civil rights and consumer protections. For-profit education offers a paradigmatic example of an inferior social welfare product, because its higher price points and worse outcomes indicate that for-profit colleges and universities (“FPCUs”) can hardly compete for students without manipulative advertising. This Article offers new evidence of the ways for-profit universities identify consumers, leverage advertising platforms to find those consumers, and manipulate them to purchase a poor product, harming hundreds of thousands of consumers. Civil rights, consumer protection, and privacy laws each offer avenues to redress the harms that result, but a patchwork legal regime built in a different era makes redress difficult. In conclusion, the article builds on the foundation of civil rights protections for social welfare products like housing, employment services, and credit to propose new laws to limit the reverse redlining of predatory products. Specifically, it recommends banning targeting, amplification, and ad-delivery optimization, increased transparency, clarified platform liability, and an updated civil rights regime. This social welfare product approach is designed to address First Amendment concerns and to be narrowly tailored to allow for beneficial uses of the technology.
Chapter 19 – Alpha Oscillations

In this chapter, we introduce the terminology used for describing alpha oscillations, delineate what is known about the underlying mechanisms of alpha oscillations, discuss the possible functional roles of alpha oscillations, and conclude with an outlook on noninvasive brain stimulation paradigms that can modulate alpha oscillations.
Children's Social Information Seeking is Sensitive to Referential Ambiguity.

We examined children's spontaneous information seeking in response to referential ambiguity. Children ages 2-5 (n = 160) identified the referents of familiar and novel labels. We manipulated ambiguity by changing the number of objects present and their familiarity (Experiments 1 and 2), and the availability of referential gaze (Experiment 2). In both experiments, children looked to the face of the experimenter more often while responding, specifically when the referent was ambiguous. In Experiment 2, 3- to 4-year olds also demonstrated sensitivity to graded referential evidence. These results suggest that social information seeking is an active learning behavior that could contribute to language acquisition in early childhood.
Shallow and Deep States of Beryllium Acceptor in GaN: Why Photoluminescence Experiments Do Not Reveal Small Polarons for Defects in Semiconductors.

Currently, only one shallow acceptor (Mg) has been discovered in GaN. Here, using photoluminescence (PL) measurements combined with hybrid density functional theory, we demonstrate that a shallow effective-mass state also exists for the ${\mathrm{Be}}_{\mathrm{Ga}}$ acceptor. A PL band with a maximum at 3.38 eV reveals a shallow ${\mathrm{Be}}_{\mathrm{Ga}}$ acceptor level at $113\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{meV}$ above the valence band, which is the lowest value among any dopants in GaN reported to date. Calculations suggest that the ${\mathrm{Be}}_{\mathrm{Ga}}$ is a dual-nature acceptor with the ``bright'' shallow state responsible for the 3.38 eV PL band, and the ``dark,'' strongly localized small polaronic state with a significantly lower hole capture efficiency.
Renal Artery Stenosis

As a result of the recent highly publicized but poorly designed randomized trials, renal artery angioplasty and stenting have become underutilized as the treatment of choice even in carefully selected patients with hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis due to atheroma and/or fibromuscular dysplasia. Such patients are frequently and nihilistically medically managed until they are sometimes unsalvageable by revascularization. Indications for renal artery catheter-based interventions include hemodynamically significant renal artery stenosis, particularly when associated with renal dysfunction, poorly controlled hypertension, or recurrent pulmonary edema. Careful selection of patients as above and expert conduct of intervention are key issues to the clinical proof of benefit of this important treatment option for organ preservation, alleviation of renal failure, and long-term control of secondary hypertension.
Natural History Miscellany Temporal but Not Spatial Environmental Variation Drives Adaptive Offspring Sex Allocation in a Plural Cooperative Breeder

Cooperatively breeding birds have been used frequently to study sex allocation because the adaptive value of the sexes partly depends upon the costs and benefits for parents of receiving help. I examined patterns of directional sex allocation in relation to maternal condition (Trivers-Willard hypothesis), territory quality (helper com- petition hypothesis), and the number of available helpers (helper repayment hypothesis) in the superb starling, Lamprotornis superbus, a plural cooperative breeder with helpers of both sexes. Superb star- lings biased their offspring sex ratio in relation to prebreeding rainfall, which was correlated with maternal condition. Mothers produced relatively more female offspring in wetter years, when they were in better condition, and more male offspring in drier years, when they were in poorer condition. There was no relationship between off- spring sex ratio and territory quality or the number of available helpers. Although helping was male biased, females had a greater variance in reproductive success than males. These results are con- sistent with the Trivers-Willard hypothesis and suggest that although females in most cooperatively breeding species make sex allocation decisions to increase their future direct reproductive success, female superb starlings appear to base this decision on their current body condition to increase their own inclusive fitness.
The experiences of social workers in NCAA Division I athletic departments

There has been increased attention to mental health programing in collegiate athletics. Social workers are one type of professional that can provide mental health care in the collegiate athletics, ...
Evaluation of systemic estrogen for preventing urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women.

Importance Current guidelines for postmenopausal recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) prevention recommend the use of vaginal topical estrogen products but not systemic estrogens. Studies show that vaginal estrogen decreases the risk of rUTI, but evidence against use of systemic estrogen is less convincing. Objective We performed a comprehensive literature review to evaluate the effect of systemic estrogen on UTI occurrence among postmenopausal women. Evidence review MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched for manuscripts published in English between January 1990 and July 2020. The search terms were "urinary tract infection" and "estrogen." Inclusion criteria were studies of postmenopausal women who received systemic estrogen therapy (any regimen) that reported UTI frequency during any follow-up period. Case studies, commentaries, and reviews were excluded. A priori specifications of seven study criteria were set representing the ideal study for assessing efficacy of systemic estrogen for rUTI prevention and were used to evaluate each included study. Findings Searches identified 281 results, and after deduplication and review, 8 studies met inclusion criteria: 4 randomized controlled trials, 1 secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, 1 prospective cohort study, 1 case-control study, and 1 cross-sectional study. Of the eight included studies, only two enrolled postmenopausal women with a rUTI diagnosis, four had sufficient sample size to detect a clinically meaningful difference between systemic estrogen versus placebo, two used dosage regimens anticipated to achieve a therapeutic effect, and three assessed UTI rates for an adequate duration of 6 months or more (the standard minimum duration of time needed to make a diagnosis of rUTI). Overall, none of the studies met all predefined criteria for the ideal study to assess the efficacy of systemic estrogen for rUTI prevention. Conclusions and relevance UTIs will continue to be a significant cause of morbidity and hospitalizations in postmenopausal women unless more research is done to better understand the role of estrogen on UTI rates. The evidence arguing use (or abandonment) of systemic estrogen for the prevention of rUTI is based on few studies with substantial methodologic limitations; there is significant room for improvement.
Boots Unlimited: Getting a Foot in the Door (A)

BootsUnlimited.com (BU) is a website offering custom-made footwear. Customers can choose from a wide variety of styles and can also create new styles based on their exact specifications. The company instructs customers on how to provide 20 different foot and calf measurements, and from those measurements, the footwear is made in a Thai production facility. BU products cater to the custom boot market and to very different segments, and the brothers who co-own the family business have designed a Google AdWords campaign for their company to target each segment. Because they were starting with a limited budget, and because BU catered to such niche markets, the Rosens decided to start with very specific keywords that would require lower bids. They believed that starting this way would keep them from running out of money too soon. Excerpt UVA-M-0970 Rev. Feb. 24, 2020 Boots Unlimited: Getting a Foot in the Door (A) Introduction Ryan Rosen typed "sexy boots for men" into the Google search bar and sighed. He was working with his brother, Robert, to boost online sales at their family-owned boots shop, BootsUnlimited.com (BU) using a Google AdWords campaign. BU was not a retail shoe store where customers came in to try on shoes, buy the ones that fit best, and then left with their purchase. Instead, Ryan and Robert worked with a factory in Thailand to create one-of-a-kind boots using customized measurements. Other members of their family ran the factory, which helped the business in terms of communications and trust. See Figure 1 for an example of BU's boots. Figure 1. Example of BU custom boots. . . .
Modulation of the Conductive Filament Growth During the Electroforming Process in Metal Oxide-Based RRAM

Metal oxide-based Resistive Random-Access Memories (RRAM) exhibit multiple intermediate resistive states, due to the formation/rupture of a conductive filament (CF) inside a switching layer. While there have been extensive studies on the resistive switching behavior caused by a pre-existing CF, the initial stage of the formation and growth of a CF, i.e., the electroforming process has been less understood. In this work, we developed a physical model to fundamentally understand the formation and growth behavior of a CF in a metal oxide layer constrained by the top/bottom electrodes. It is revealed that the CF formation is assisted by the supply of oxygen vacancies at the anode and the oxygen vacancies transport in the oxide layer. The effects of the external conditions (the oxygen exchange rate j 0 and the applied voltage) and the physical properties of the oxides (the electrical σ and thermal conductivity k th ) on the CF morphology evolution, current density evolution, and local temperature and electrical potential distribution have been systematically explored. It is found that larger oxygen vacancy exchange rate and relatively small voltage sweep rate result in a more uniform CF. Furthermore, by choosing oxides with lower Lorenz number (ratio of k th and σ ), CF with more homogeneous morphology can be realized. This work provides a fundamental understanding of the kinetic behaviors of the CF formation and growth during the electroforming process, and could potentially guide the oxide and electrode materials selection, synthesis and working conditions for switching to achieve improved RRAM stability and functionality.
The Theory of Drive: The Dual Legacy of Leibniz’s Theory of Appetition

Leibniz’s metaphysics has been cited as a source of the dynamic and organic worldview of romantic Naturphilosophie. This chapter evaluates that claim by examining two distinct lineages of Leibniz’s metaphysical conception of dynamic appetition. On one hand, by demonstrating the existence of a “vis viva” in inanimate objects and by ascribing two distinct powers—perception and appetition—to all plants and animals as well as to his incorporeal “monads,” Leibniz seemed to restore force to physics and experience and intentionality to animals. On the other hand, on account of the publication history of his writings, Leibniz’s pre-established harmony and preformation theory were seen by most philosophers before Herder and Schelling as reducing humans as well as animals to machines without free-will and their development to a mechanically predetermined succession of states. While appreciation of Leibniz’s views on activity and creativity in nature did increase towards the end of the century, other philosophical antecedents for the “drive” motif in German philosophy should be considered.
Ultra-broadband SERS substrates for “all” excitation wavelengths

We developed an ultra-broadband super-absorbing metasurface substrate for SERS sensing. In contrast to conventional substrates working for limited excitation wavelengths, this structure can work for almost “all” available laser lines from 450-nm to 1000-nm.
Chapter 3 Specialized properties of colonic epithelial membranes: Apparent permeability barrier in colonic crypts

Publisher Summary This chapter presents several observations that describe heterogeneity in the permeability of plasma membranes of the rabbit proximal colon and stomach. The mammalian large intestine has several functions and the epithelial cells lining the colon have specialized transport properties that reflect these functions. The colon plays a major role in fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. In addition, the colon is a fermentation compartment that controls the disposal of digestive waste material. In health, the colon absorbs substantial amounts of water, serving to dehydrate feces. The normal human colon absorbs Na + , Cl – , and water and secretes K + and HCO3 – . The apical membrane of the colonic crypt appears to possess a diffusion barrier to weak acid, weak base, and gas movement that serves to maintain the intracellulax pH (pH i ) of crypt epithelial cells relatively constant. In view of the high concentration of weak acids and bases produced by colonic microflora from nonabsorbed dietary material, a diffusion barrier would be crucial for the less mature crypt cells because proliferative functions are especially pH sensitive.
Use of models to simulate the effects of agricultural practices on nitrate loss with drainage water

Two computer simulation models were used to determine the effects of different nitrogen (N) management practices and crop production systems on the loss of nitrate-nitrogen (NO"3@?N) with drainage waters from agricultural watersheds. The results of this simulation study show that larger applications of N fertilizer resulted in larger NO"3@?N losses through subsurface drainage. When the N application rate was increased from 75 to 225 kg/ha (a 200% increase), NO"3@?N loss with drainage water increased by an average of about 300%. Multiple applications of N fertilizer could reduce NO"3@?N leaching losses from 10 to 35% in comparison with single N applications. Also, NO"3@?N leaching losses were considerably less under a corn-soybean rotation than under a continuous corn production.
Statistical modeling and MAP estimation for body fat quantification with MRI ratio imaging

We are developing small animal imaging techniques to characterize the kinetics of lipid accumulation/reduction of fat depots in response to genetic/dietary factors associated with obesity and metabolic syndromes. Recently, we developed an MR ratio imaging technique that approximately yields lipid/{lipid + water}. In this work, we develop a statistical model for the ratio distribution that explicitly includes a partial volume (PV) fraction of fat and a mixture of a Rician and multiple Gaussians. Monte Carlo hypothesis testing showed that our model was valid over a wide range of coefficient of variation of the denominator distribution (c.v.: 0-0:20) and correlation coefficient among the numerator and denominator (r 0-0.95), which cover the typical values that we found in MRI data sets (c.v.: 0:027-0:063, r: 0:50-0:75). Then a maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate for the fat percentage per voxel is proposed. Using a digital phantom with many PV voxels, we found that ratio values were not linearly related to PV fat content and that our method accurately described the histogram. In addition, the new method estimated the ground truth within +1.6% vs. +43% for an approach using an uncorrected ratio image, when we simply threshold the ratio image. On the six genetically obese rat data sets, the MAP estimate gave total fat volumes of 279 ± 45mL, values a 21% smaller than those from the uncorrected ratio images, principally due to the non-linear PV effect. We conclude that our algorithm can increase the accuracy of fat volume quantification even in regions having many PV voxels, e.g. ectopic fat depots.
Does Space Matter? International Comparisons of the Prices of Tradables and Nontradables

One view of the consequence of trade among countries is that it tends to equalize prices of tradable goods in different countries. This paper reexamines this view when both geographic proximity and trade flows are taken into account. Two hypotheses are presented. The first is that distance is more strongly associated with countries' relative prices than the extent of trade between them. The second hypothesis is that, at given income levels, countries that are strong trading partners will have more similar prices. In both cases, this appears to be true for nontradables and even more so for low income countries. Additionally, much of the nontradable price difference can be captured by geographic variables. The implication is that a spatial component would enhance conventional approaches to the study of prices and incomes at the national level, particularly studies that include nontradable goods and services.
The fate of the placid poor

InRegulating the Poor Piven and Cloward touched off controvery among academicians when they argued that the poor benefitted from civil turmoil. Those who believed that violence of any sort was wrong were inclined to believe that violence must also be ineffective. Studies done on the thesis repeatedly concluded that civil turmoil did help to advance the interests of the poor. Pluralists continued to argue that government responded to needs, not demands. For the twenty years following publication ofRegulating the Poor nothing like the urban riots of the sixties occurred in U.S. cities. Piven and Cloward had argued that “a placid poor hardly constitute a political constituency whose interests must be taken seriously”.1 To what extent has recent history shown that the state will respond to the needs of the poor even in the absence of turmoil?
Retrospectroscope-contributions of the vacuum tube to early electrophysiological research

Modern-day bioelectric recorders such as the ECG and EEG are common, providing useful clinical information. However, their present-day perfection had to await the generation of knowledge about fundamental bioelectric events, which required the creation of sensitive and rapidly responding potential recorders. Despite the initial lack of such devices, a considerable amount of electrophysiological knowledge was acquired with quite primitive instruments. However, addition of the vacuum tube amplifier to these early instruments and to the Braun (cathode-ray) tube provided the first clinical electrographic instruments. This article recounts some of this early background and traces the evolution of the amplifier from the Edison lamp to the Fleming valve (diode) to the DeForest Audion (triode) and to the first amplifiers used for electrocardiography and electroencephalography.