cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A case study comparison of four declarative programming languages

A case study comparison is made of four declarative programming languages: Miranda,1 Fp, Equations and Prolog. The case study is used as a vehicle to assess both expressiveness and performance aspects of these languages. In expressive power, Miranda is judged to be superior, Equations and Prolog are rated about even in second place, and Fp is judged least expressive. Performance was quite poor for all the available implementations. Reasons for this are explored and the implications are discussed.
Cognitive Skills Development Among International Students at Research Universities in the United States

Set in the context of a statewide research university system, this study attempted to improve our understanding of cognitive skills development among international students. Specifically, this study examined how the patterns and predictors of cognitive skills development among this population differ from their domestic counterparts. The study utilized data from the 2010 University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES). This study identified unique patterns in both cognitive skills development and college experiences among international students. Findings also suggest that some college experiences, such as research engagement with faculty and satisfaction with advising, can possibly facilitate greater gains in cognitive skills among international students. The study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.
Taxonomic review of the species of Neocorynura (Hymenoptera: Halictidae: Augochlorini) inhabiting Argentina and Paraguay.

A review of the species of the bee genus Neocorynura occurring in Argentina and Paraguay is provided. Four new species are described: Neocorynura tangophyla, Neocorynura gaucha, Neocorynura guarani, and Neocorynura sophia. The name Neocorynura pseudobaccha (Cockerell) is resurrected, it had previously been synonymized under Neocorynura jucunda (Smith). In total, eight species are known to occur in these two countries. Even though six additional species of Neocorynura have been considered to also be distributed in Argentina and Paraguay, their dubious occurrence in these countries may be due to imprecise information in the primary references or to collection data (specimen’s deposition). No specimens of such species were available in any of the collections consulted for this taxonomic study. Comments on the systematics and biogeography (including new distribution records), as well as species identification keys, are presented.
Assessment of financial savings from peer reviews of in-progress projects: A case study from the Department of Energy's Hydrogen Program

Results of a study to assess the financial savings to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrogen Program due to decisions made from peer reviews.
Lawn enforcement: How municipal policies and neighborhood norms influence homeowner residential landscape management

Abstract As urban areas expand in population and geographic spread, residential landscapes become more pervasive, which is often associated with an increase in turfgrass that can contribute to changes in water use and nutrient flows. Management of these landscapes is influenced at multiple scales—municipal policies, individual homeowner decision-making, and neighborhood norms, and municipal policies. Most municipalities implement policies that encourage (i.e., weed and grass height ordinances) and restrict (i.e., irrigation ordinances) lawn management. But what is the relationship between yard ordinances, homeowner awareness of these ordinances, and neighborhood yard norms? We explored this question through homeowner interviews and a review of yard ordinances in 17 cities in the Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Area as well as interviews with code enforcement officers. We found most municipalities have lawn irrigation restrictions and weed or grass height ordinances, yet generally rely on complaints from neighbors to enforce these lawn management policies. This may be helpful when it comes to policies reinforcing agreed upon social norms—like grass height ordinances—but may be difficult with policies acting against the norm—like lawn irrigation restrictions. Additionally, homeowners in suburban areas posted high rates of awareness of local policies. Homeowner comments suggest social norms regarding lawn management are present across the urban gradient; weed-free and mowed lawns were most commonly identified. These findings have implications for policy development moving forward as cities face issues related to water scarcity or try to accommodate changing resident desires for natural landscaping.
Penetration of chemicals into the Malus leaf cuticle : An ultrastructural analysis.

The adaxial leaf cuticle of Malus pumila was examined by electron microscopy to determine possible avenues for transcuticular movement of foliarly applied chemicals. Cutin-embedded polysaccharide microfibrils originated at the outer epidermal cell wall and occasionally extended to the cuticle surface. Lamellae, ca. 4 nm wide, usually were oriented parallel to the cuticle surface. When oriented perpendicular to the surface, they extended nearly to the subjacent wall layer from the surface. Aqueous solutions of uranyl acetate, silver nitrate and phenyl mercuric acetate applied to the cuticle surface of leaf segments floated on solutions of phosphate salts or thiocarbohydrazide (TCH) reacted within the cuticle to form insoluble electron-opaque deposits indicative of their avenues of transcuticular movement. Uranyl phosphate deposits were observed only in the polysaccharide microfibrils of chloroform: methanolextracted leaves. Silver-TCH deposits were observed in the microfibrils of both extracted and nonextracted leaf cuticles. Phenyl mercuric acetate-TCH deposits were randomly dispersed throughout the extracted cuticle and not associated with the polysaccharide microfibrils.
Preparation and Assay of Mammotropic Hormone

ConclusionA niethod has been described for extracting mammotropic hormone from sheep pituitaries involving its solubility in HC1-acetone and NH3-acetone, and its precipitation with isoelectric protein at pH 5.5. A fraction made by the same procedure hut precipitated at pH 6.5 has heen shown to contain relatively little mammotropin, and is identified in the following paper as the adrenocorticotropic hormone. The “local” intradermal squab test has several advantages over the “systemic” tests of Riddle, et nl., when only mammotropic hormone is to be tested for, but the latter test has the very great advantage of allowing one to assay for the gonadotropic, thyrotropic, adrenotropic and mammotropic hormones on the same bird.
Advocacy Coalition for Historic Preservation in the U.S.: Changes in Motivations

As the policy discussions of historic preservation have become complicated in recent years, the advocacy for the use of heritage is now even more important, and the number of coalitions for promoting the economic value of heritage has been on the rise. This research provides a historical view of the development of advocacy coalition networks that actively pursue the benefits of heritage resources. Through this context, the article then examines a case study of the Wheeling National Heritage Area. The case exemplifies the framework of how coalition networks can provide the structure necessary to push preservation policy in government.
A retrospective review of demographics and stage of triple-negative breast cancer

e11553 Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a recently recognized subtype of breast cancer, notable to metastasize early. It accounts for 15–20% of all breast cancers, and is more prevalent in African-American and Hispanic women, and women younger than 40 years of age. Continual decline in breast cancer deaths since 1990 has been attributed to earlier detection, better treatment including hormonal blockade in estrogen- and progesterone-receptor positive cancers, as well as the addition of Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the Her2/neu receptors. These hormone receptors are not found in TNBC, and therefore the traditional targets for endocrine manipulation cannot be therapeutically exploited. While lower socioeconomic status and racial predisposition to this disease have been observed, there exists a paucity of research into other demographic risk factors. We reviewed data between January 2000 to December 2005 from our tumor registry with particular attention to age, race, ...
366 MEDIAL MALLEOLAR STRESS FRACTURE IN AN INTERCOLLEGIATE FOOTBALL PLAYER

Stress fractures of the medial malleolus are rare injuries associated with substantial morbidity. These debilitating fractures represent a diagnostic challenge, as they are often mistaken for ligamentous or syndesmotic injuries. The proper management of medial malleolar stress fractures is also unclear, however there is a substantial body of literature describing the need for open reduction and internal fixation using cancellous screws in elite athletes. We report a case of a 20-year-old Division I football player sustaining a medial malleolar stress fracture that was successfully treated nonoperatively with no time missed from games. Case B.H., a 20-year-old Division I Football tight end was attempting to block another player when he sustained a forced hyper-dorsiflexion injury to his right ankle. He could not sprint for the remainder of practice and any attempt to push off was also painful. On clinical exam, he demonstrated 5/5 strength and full range of motion with pain at full passive dorsiflexion. He did not demonstrate a joint effusion and was negative for talar tilt, anterior drawer, and squeeze tests. Radiographs taken the next morning were negative, however one month later he was seen by team physicians for persistent anterior ankle pain during running activities and during squats in the weight room. Repeat right ankle radiographs were significant for a subtle linear lucency of the medial distal tibia, and MRI demonstrated diffuse marrow edema extending through the medial tibial plafond with a partial tear of the tibiocalcaneal component of the deltoid ligament. CT scans confirmed a fracture of the anterior cortex of the medial distal tibia. The athlete was restricted to a walking boot for all activities of daily living and practices were modified to limit impact loading and sprinting. He was placed on a bone stimulator for four weeks and received rehabilitation including strengthening, proprioceptive work, and lower extremity stretching. He began to improve over the next several weeks and was able to participate fully on game-days throughout his injury. He was followed with serial radiographs. At the end of the season, (8 weeks s/p injury) he was placed in a fiberglass cast and non-weightbearing on crutches. Twelve days later the cast was removed and he was then placed in a walking boot. Follow-up CT scan at this time revealed progressive healing. As he was asymptomatic, he was weaned from the walking boot and is now participating fully in spring football.
Statistical Power: Derivation, Development, and Data-Analytic Implications

In 1933, Neyman and Pearson introduced the interrelated concepts of statistical power and Type II error in response to a fundamental asymmetry in the hypothesis testing process. With few exceptions, however, statistical power did not become a regular textbook inclusion until some 30 years later. Modern concern for power evolved naturally from the “significance test controversy,” and was further stimulated by Cohen’s (1962) review in the Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. To date, eight power-analytic surveys have been conducted. Generally, the average power estimates derived from these analyses have been quite low. Providing sufficient power serves to decrease the commission of Type II errors, and may prevent misinterpretations of nonsignificant results. Including statistical power in the design and analysis of an experiment requires an a priori estimate of the effect size, as well as calculating obtained effect size. The obtained effect size reflects the relationship between the independent and dependent variables, and as such provides a better characterization of the research effort than does reporting only the significance level.
Gallium arsenide heterostructures

Publisher Summary Gallium arsenide (GaAs) heterostructures are ultrathin heteroepitaxial layers of binary, tertiary, quaternary, or quinary III–V semiconductor alloys grown on GaAs substrates. Heterostructures are commonly classified into single quantum wells (SQWs), double quantum wells (DQWs), multiple quantum wells (MQWs), and superlattices (SLs). Metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition (MOCVD) has evolved as a major technology for the growth of GaAs heterostructures. Three techniques are introduced in the chapter to improve the MOCVD growth processes: plasma-enhanced MOCVD (PE-MOCVD), atomic layer epitaxy (ALE), and low-temperature MOCVD (LT-MOCVD) methods. The chapter discusses the crystal growth and physical properties of GaAs-based quantum well structures and superlattices. In a conventional metal–semiconductor field effect transistor (FET), the active channel below the gate is bulk-doped. The application to high-speed digital or high-frequency analog operations demands short length and shallow channel FETs and the use of the highest possible doping level. The difference in electron affinities translates into a discontinuity in the conduction band at the heterojunction. The most common GaAs-based heterostructure optoelectronic devices are lasers, photodetectors, and modulators. Gallium arsenide heterostructure-based photodetectors offer high speed, high sensitivity, high quantum yield, and low intrinsic noise. Some photodetectors rely on interband transitions and are designed for the visible region, while others utilize intersubband transitions and are designed to operate in the mid and far infrared.
Rapid total volatile organic carbon quantification from microbial fermentation using a platinum catalyst and proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry

A novel analytical system was developed to rapidly and accurately quantify total volatile organic compound (VOC) production from microbial reactor systems using a platinum catalyst and a sensitive CO2 detector. This system allows nearly instantaneous determination of total VOC production by utilizing a platinum catalyst to completely and quantitatively oxidize headspace VOCs to CO2 in coordination with a CO2 detector. Measurement of respiratory CO2 by bypassing the catalyst allowed the total VOC content to be determined from the difference in the two signals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first instance of a platinum catalyst and CO2 detector being used to quantify the total VOCs produced by a complex bioreactor system. Continuous recording of these CO2 data provided a record of respiration and total VOC production throughout the experiments. Proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) was used to identify and quantify major VOCs. The sum of the individual compounds measured by PTR-MS can be compared to the total VOCs quantified by the platinum catalyst to identify potential differences in detection, identification and calibration. PTR-MS measurements accounted on average for 94 % of the total VOC carbon detected by the platinum catalyst and CO2 detector. In a model system, a VOC producing endophytic fungus Nodulisporium isolate TI-13 was grown in a solid state reactor utilizing the agricultural byproduct beet pulp as a substrate. Temporal changes in production of major volatile compounds (ethanol, methanol, acetaldehyde, terpenes, and terpenoids) were quantified by PTR-MS and compared to the total VOC measurements taken with the platinum catalyst and CO2 detector. This analytical system provided fast, consistent data for evaluating VOC production in the nonhomogeneous solid state reactor system.
Cubic Spline Interpolation Reveals Different Evolutionary Trends of Various Species

Instead of being uniform in each branch of the biological evolutionary tree, the speed of evolution, measured in the number of mutations over a fixed number of years, seems to be much faster or much slower than average in some branches of the evolutionary tree. This paper describes an evolutionary trend discovery algorithm that uses cubic spline interpolation for various branches of the evolutionary tree. As shown in an example, within the vertebrate evolutionary tree, human evolution seems to be currently speeding up while the evolution of chickens is slowing down. The new algorithm can automatically identify those branches and times when something unusual has taken place, aiding data analytics of evolutionary data.
Nonexistence of perfect 2-error-correcting Lee codes in certain dimensions

The GolombWelch conjecture states that there are no perfect e-error-correcting codes in Zn for n3 and e2. In this note, we prove the nonexistence of perfect 2-error-correcting codes for a certain class of n, which is expected to be infinite. This result further substantiates the GolombWelch conjecture.
Chapter 8 Reactive Oxygen Species and Endothelial Permeability

Alterations in endothelial permeability are a defining feature of diverse processes including arteriosclerosis, inflammation, ischemia/reperfusion injury, angiogenesis, pulmonary edema in acute lung injury and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Endothelial monolayer permeability increases as a result of both disruption of endothelial cell–cell contacts and EC contraction. Disruption of endothelial cell–cell junctions occurs concomitantly with the redistribution and tyrosine phosphorylation of the VE-cadherin-containing adherens junction (AJ) protein complexes. Little is known about mechanisms of how endothelial permeability is regulated. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide (O2−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generated by activated polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNs) and endothelial cells (ECs) impair endothelial barrier integrity by promoting loss of cell–cell adhesions and reorganization of actin cytoskeleton. These responses are involved in promoting transendothelial migration of PMNs and endothelial permeability. Major source of ROS in PMNs and ECs is NADPH oxidase. Phagocyte NADPH oxidase consists of membrane-bound gp91phox and p22hox as well as cytosolic components such as p47phox, p67phox and small GTPase Rac. Recently, several novel homologues of gp91phox (Nox2) of NADPH oxidase (Nox) have been cloned in non-phagocytic cells. In ECs Nox1, Nox2, Nox4 and Nox5 are functionally expressed. NADPH oxidase in ECs is activated by inflammatory cytokines, thrombogenic agents, growth factors, G-protein coupled receptor agonists and shear stress. ROS derived from NADPH oxidase function as signaling molecules to activate various redox signaling pathways through modulating activity of kinases and phosphatases, which may contribute to increase in endothelial permeability. Understanding mechanisms by which ROS regulate endothelial permeability is important for the development of novel therapeutic approaches against various diseases such as inflammation, atherogenesis and acute lung injury.
Patatin-like phospholipases in microbial infections with emerging roles in fatty acid metabolism and immune regulation by Apicomplexa

Summary Emerging lipidomic technologies have enabled researchers to dissect the complex roles of phospholipases in lipid metabolism, cellular signaling, and immune regulation. Host phospholipase products are involved in stimulating and resolving the inflammatory response to pathogens. While many pathogen-derived phospholipases also manipulate the immune response, they have recently been shown to be involved in lipid remodeling and scavenging during replication. Animal and plant hosts as well as many pathogens contain a family of patatin-like phospholipases, which have been shown to have phospholipase A2 activity. Proteins containing patatin-like phospholipase domains have been identified in protozoan parasites within the Apicomplexa phylum. These parasites are the causative agents of some of the most widespread human disease. Malaria, caused by Plasmodium spp., kills nearly half a million people worldwide each year. Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium infect millions of people each year with lethal consequences in immunocompromised populations. Parasite-derived patatins are likely effective drug targets and progress in the tools available to the Apicomplexan field will allow for a closer look at the interplay of lipid metabolism and immune regulation during host infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Effects of Cover Crops on Soil Quality: Selected Chemical and Biological Parameters

ABSTRACTCover crops improve soil quality properties and thus land productivity. We compared soil chemical and biological changes influenced by hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) and cereal rye (Seca...
The role of cytokines in lymphocyte homeostasis.

The size of lymphocyte populations is regulated by replication and death. Cytokines produced by non-lymphoid cells provide key survival and replication signals for several lymphocyte subpopulations...
Therapeutic targets for altering mitochondrial dysfunction associated with diabetic retinopathy.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Retinopathy remains as one of the most feared blinding complications of diabetes, and with the prevalence of this life-long disease escalating at an alarming rate, the incidence of retinopathy is also climbing. Although the cutting edge research has identified many molecular mechanisms associated with its development, the exact mechanism how diabetes damages the retina remains obscure, limiting therapeutic options for this devastating disease.Areas covered: This review focuses on the central role of mitochondrial dysfunction/damage in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, and how damaged mitochondria initiates a self-perpetuating vicious cycles of free radicals. We have also reviewed how mitochondria could serve as a therapeutic target, and the challenges associated with the complex double mitochondrial membranes and a well-defined blood-retinal barrier for optimal pharmacologic/molecular approach to improve mitochondrial function.Expert opinion: Mitochondrial dysfunction provide...
Stepwise impairment of neural stem cell proliferation and neurogenesis concomitant with disruption of blood-brain barrier in recurrent ischemic stroke

Abstract Stroke patients are at increased risk for recurrent stroke and development of post-stroke dementia. In this study, we investigated the effects of recurrent stroke on adult brain neurogenesis using a novel rat model of recurrent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) developed in our laboratory. Using BrdU incorporation, activation and depletion of stem cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) and subventricular zone (SVZ) were assessed in control rats and rats after one or two strokes. In vitro neurosphere assay was used to assess the effects of plasma from normal and stroke rats. Also, EM and permeability studies were used to evaluate changes in the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) of the SGZ after recurrent stroke. We found that proliferation and neurogenesis was activated 14 days after MCAO. This was correlated with increased permeability in the BBB to factors which increase proliferation in a neurosphere assay. However, with each stroke, there was a stepwise decrease of proliferating stem cells and impaired neurogenesis on the ipsilateral side. On the contralateral side, this process stabilized after a first stroke. These studies indicate that stem cells are activated after MCAO, possibly after increased access to systemic stroke-related factors through a leaky BBB. However, the recruitment of stem cells for neurogenesis after stroke results in a stepwise ipsilateral decline with each ischemic event, which could contribute to post-stroke dementia.
For Better and Worse: Border Fixity, State Capacity, and the Geography of War

Recent scholarship suggests interstate war is on the decline. In fact, some scholars claim that war is nearly obsolete. But is this decline universal? Using newly coded data, we show that the general decline in the phenomenon of interstate war is not evenly distributed across regions of the world. We argue that this geographic shift of warfare is impacted by the interaction of the international norm of border fixity, a proscription of the forceful conquest and annexation of homeland territory, and state capacity. We examine current scholarship on the issue and explore cases that demonstrate several mechanisms that link our explanation to the shifting geography of war.
An analysis of the safety effectiveness of pavement marking retroreflectivity

It has been shown in previous research that greater longitudinal pavement marking retroreflectivity levels increase drivers’ visibility and detection distance. However, increased visibility may also cause drivers to feel too comfortable during nighttime conditions and drivers may then pay less attention and/or operate at unsafe speeds. Before-and-after studies have been conducted on pavement marking improvements such as repainting stripes or changing to a more durable marking material. Studies have also used models to estimate the retroreflectivity based on the date of installment, the vehicle exposure, or assumed a linear reduction in retroreflectivity over time. Only two studies have related measured pavement marking retroreflectivity to safety performance (crash) data. This study analyzes the relationship between 3 years of pavement marking retroreflectivity data collected by the Iowa DOT on all state primary roads and corresponding crash and traffic data. This study developed a spatial-temporal database using measured retroreflectivity data to account for the deterioration of pavement markings over time along with a statewide crash data to attempt to quantify a relationship. Three different sets of data were analyzed: the complete database, two-lane roads, and records with low retroreflectivity values (≤ 200 mcd/m/lx) only. The distributions and models of the entire database and the two-lane records did not show that poor pavement marking retroreflectivity correlating to a higher crash probability. When looking at records with low retroreflectivity values only, a statistically significant relationship was determined. However, the correlation was so small it does not have practical significance.
Passive H+/OH- permeability in epithelial brush border membranes.

Passive H+/OH− permeability across epithelial cell membranes is rapid and leads to partial dissipation of H+/OH− gradients produced by H+ pumps and ion gradient-coupled H+/OH− transporters. A heterogeneous set of H+/OH− transport mechanisms exist in biological membranes: lipid solubility/diffusion, protein-mediated transport by specific proteins or by slippage through ion-coupled H+/OH− transporters, and transport at the protein/lipid interface or through protein-dependent defects in the lipid structure. A variety of methods are available to study protein transport mechanisms accurately in cells and biomembrane vesicles including pH electrode recordings, pH-sensitive fluorescent and magnetic resonance probes, and potentiometric probes. In brush border vesicles from the renal proximal tubule, the characteristics of passive H+/OH− permeability are quite similar to those reported for passive H+/OH− permeability through pure lipid bilayers; slippage of protons through the brush border Na+/H+ antiporter or through brush border water channels is minimal. In contrast, passive H+/OH− permeability in brush border vesicles from human placenta is mediated in part by a stilbene-sensitive membrane protein. To demonstrate the physiological significance of passive renal brush border H+/OH− transport, proximal tubule acidification and cell pH regulation mechanisms are modeled mathematically for states of normal and altered H+/OH− permeabilities.
Cross Over Protocols: Connecting Online and In Class Discussions

Crossover protocols extend learning activities across online and face to face courses by explicitly connecting ideas generated online and in person. These protocols are designed to help instructors, across disciplines, facilitate stronger conversations among students resulting in meaningful, insightful and sometimes unexpected connections between ideas and concepts. An example protocol will be shared and participants will learn ways they can incorporate these into their discipline courses. _____________________________________________________________ FULL ABSTRACT: Crossover protocols extend learning activities across online and face to face courses by explicitly connecting ideas generated online and in person. These protocols are designed to help instructors, across disciplines, facilitate stronger conversations among students resulting in meaningful, insightful and sometimes unexpected connections between ideas and concepts (Perrow, 2017). Crossover protocols draw deliberately on the learning affordances of both online and face to face modalities resulting in the thoughtful fusion of the two to enhance the student learning experience. The pedagogical power of crossover protocols lies in the intersection of the affordances of online and face to face modalities giving blended learning a new meaning. I have been implementing crossover protocols in EDIT 730 for several years not knowing they had a specific label until I read Perrow's paper. In this presentation, I will demonstrate how crossover protocols can be designed and implemented to support higher order thinking in a graduate level course. Specifically, I will show how learning activities can be extended across the two modalities, online and face to face, by capitalizing on the benefits of each medium. Examples will include how online discussion can be complemented with in class discussions to sharpen communication, enhance collective thinking, and build knowledge; how working in groups can begin in person and extend online to enhance collaborative problem solving and social negotiation; and how blogs can support writing, thinking, and talking about ideas. I will demonstrate how online and face to face learning activities can be intentionally threaded or connected using crossover protocols to create a learning experience that enables students to think productively, individually, and collectively. Perrow, M. (2012). Strengthening the Conversation in Blended and Face to Face Courses Connecting Online and In Person Learning with Crossover Protocols. College Teaching, 65(3), 97-105.
Migration of fluorinated alkyd and fluorinated tung oil additives for partially self-stratifying coatings

Abstract A high solids alkyd coating was developed with surface active polymers to improve performance at the surface, while maintaining adhesion at the substrate. A fluorinated long oil alkyd (FLOA) was prepared through a partial polyol substitution of 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1,6- hexanediol for glycerol with phthalic anhydride and linseed oil in a long oil alkyd (LOA). A previously synthesized fluorinated tung oil (FTO) reactive diluent was also synthesized via a Diels- Alder reaction with 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate. The alkyd and reactive diluent were characterized with 1H-NMR and MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. The FLOA was used as an additive up to 40 wt.% of the total alkyd, in increments of 10 wt.%. The FTO was used as an additive up to 10 wt.% of the total alkyd, in increments of 2.5 wt.%. The film formation was examined using scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) to show phase separation and domains of the low surface energy additive. Analysis of a cross-section of the coating showed an increase in fluorine concentration of 40% at the surface, compared to substrate, which preserves adhesion. A variety of coatings tests were performed to evaluate hardness, adhesion, mechanical strength and flexibility of the coating. The contact angle of FLOA/FTO coatings shifted from hydrophilic to hydrophobic surface energy. An increase in corrosion protection for FLOA/FTO coatings was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).
On the maximum small-world subgraph problem

Abstract A clique (or a complete subgraph) is a popular model for an “ideal” cluster in a network. However, in many practical applications this notion turns out to be overly restrictive as it requires the existence of all pairwise links within the cluster. Thus, the researchers and practitioners often rely on various clique relaxation ideas for more flexible models of highly connected clusters. In this paper, we propose a new clique relaxation model referred to as a small-world subgraph, which represents a network cluster with “small-world” properties: low average distance and high clustering coefficient. In particular, we demonstrate that the proposed small-world subgraph model has better “cohesiveness” characteristics than other existing clique relaxation models in some worst-case scenarios. The main focus of the paper is on the problem of finding a small-world subgraph of maximum cardinality in a given graph. We describe a mixed integer programming (MIP) formulation of the problem along with several algorithmic enhancements. For solving large-scale instances of the problem we propose a greedy-type heuristic referred to as the iterative depth-first search (IDF) algorithm. Furthermore, we show that the small-world subgraphs identified by the IDF algorithm have an additional property that may be attractive from the practical perspective, namely, 2-connectivity. Finally, we perform extensive computational experiments on real-world and randomly generated networks to demonstrate the performance of the developed computational approaches that also reveal interesting insights about the proposed clique relaxation model.
Animal acts through the looking-glass: art, theater, and a Zoopoetic possibility for performance

In a hall of mirrors there is no way to turn your back on yourself. (Henry Miller 322)There is a sort of nervousness that emerges when humans watch the “performing” nonhuman animal. An unease in th...
A Veteran-Centric Model of Care: Crossing the Cultural Divide.

Although most U.S. physicians train at Veterans Health Administration hospitals, few have served in the military. The author, a veteran and physician, discusses how failure to appreciate the differ...
A Twist on Broken U(3) × U(3) Supersymmetry

What symmetry breaking would be required for gauginos from a supersymmetric theory to behave like left-handed quarks of the Standard Model? Starting with a supersymmetric SU(3)xSU(3)xU(1)xU(1) gauge theory, the 18 adjoint-representation gauginos are replaced with 2 families of 9 gauginos in the (3,3*) representation of the group. After this explicit breaking of supersymmetry, two-loop quadratic divergences still cancel at a unification scale. Coupling constant unification is supported by deriving the theory from an SU(3)xSU(3)xSU(3)xSU(3) Grand Unified Theory (GUT). Sin^2 of the Weinberg angle for the GUT is 1/4 rather than 3/8, leading to a lower unification scale than usually contemplated, ~10^9 GeV. After spontaneous gauge symmetry breaking to SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1), the theory reproduces the main features of the Standard Model for two families of quarks and leptons, with gauginos playing the role of left-handed quarks and sleptons playing the role of the Higgs boson. An extension to the theory is sketched that incorporates the third family of quarks and leptons.
The relationship of the diet to the self-regulatory defense mechanism: I. Hydrogen-Ion concentration and bacterial flora

The addition of dehydrated apple to the diet of the rabbit gives results similar to those obtained by other workers using fruit. The animals receiving apple had an increased hydrogen-ion concentration in the intestinal contents. The intestinal flora was changed from one in which Esch. coli predominated to one ir. which the acidophilic type of organism was dominant. Furthermore, the number of gas-producing organisms was considerably reduced. The addition of apple to the diet of both rabbits and rats for a period of 42 days did not alter the cellulose splitting flora of either of these groups.
A thematic analysis of international teaching assistants’ stigma experience in a U.S. university: English-proficiency determinism

The current study adopted a thematic-analysis approach to investigate 14 international teaching assistants’ (ITAs) stigma experience in a U.S. university. Link and Phelan’s (2001. Conceptualizing s...
Factors Associated with Diabetes Control in Predominately African American and Hispanic Population with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes.

This study characterizes factors affecting glycemic control in a predominately African American and Hispanic population with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Retrospective longitudinal cohort study of 1638 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM to determine factors associated with improved HbA1c (ΔHbA1c ≤ − 0.5%) and achieving target HbA1c < 7%. At baseline, mean age 51.7 ± 11.5 years, males 52.9%, mean BMI 33.9 ± 7.8 kg/m2, median HbA1c 9.9 (7.6–12.1)%. At study end, median follow-up duration 27 (13–54) months, median HbA1c 7.0 (6.2–8.7)%, 69.6% with improved HbA1c, 48.3% achieved target HbA1c < 7%, 88.4% monitored blood glucose, 40.1% used insulin, and 72.4% reported not missing medications. In multivariate analysis, improved HbA1c significantly correlated with glucose monitoring (OR = 2.65), higher initial HbA1c (OR = 1.85), and medication adherence (OR = 1.66) and inversely correlated with insulin use (OR = 0.38) and follow-up duration (OR = 0.99). Achieving HbA1c < 7% significantly correlated with glucose monitoring (OR = 2.14), medication adherence (OR = 1.88), more provider visits (OR = 1.04), and older age (OR = 1.03). It inversely correlated with insulin use (OR = 0.47), initial HbA1c (OR = 0.93), and follow-up duration (OR = 0.98). In those with newly diagnosed T2DM, achieving better glycemic control was mainly related to patient self-management behaviors and inversely related to insulin use. Emphasis on patients’ diabetes education and empowerment are critical to improved glycemic control.
Cannabinoids in the management of frontotemporal dementia: a case series.

Background: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is characterized by progressive deterioration in behaviors, executive function and/or language. The behavioral variant (Bv) is characterized by disinhibition and obsessive/compulsive behaviors. These symptoms are sometimes resistant to medications. This series examines patients suffering with treatment-resistant Bv-FTD who were prescribed cannabinoid and related compounds for other indications. Case presentation: Three FTD cases from a dementia clinic were identified. These patients had disability due to behavior despite typical pharmacologic management. These patients were prescribed marijuana for comorbidities (anxiety, insomnia and pain). In all cases, use of cannabinoid products showed significant improvements in behavior and in the primary indication for prescription. Conclusion: Review of these cases demonstrates potential for the use of cannabinoids in the management of treatment-resistant Bv-FTD.
Dielectric, energy storage, and loss study of antiferroelectric-like Al-doped HfO2 thin films

Antiferroelectric thin films have properties ideal for energy storage due to their lower losses compared to their ferroelectric counterparts as well as their robust endurance properties. We fabricated Al-doped HfO2 antiferroelectric thin films via atomic layer deposition at variable thicknesses (20 nm or 50 nm) with varying dopant concentrations (4 at. % or 8 at. %). 50 nm thick 8 at. % Al-doped HfO2 showed a maximum energy storage density of 63 J/cm3 while maintaining an efficiency of 85%. A study comparing these thin films revealed thicker films allowed for higher operating electric fields and thus higher energy storage densities at operating voltage. The loss tangents of the thin films at operating voltage were under 2% over the range of −4 to 4 MV/cm and at frequencies ranging from 500 Hz to 100 kHz. Reliability studies showed the thin films endure up to 106–107 cycles and the breakdown field of the films yielded Weibull moduli greater than 6 for all our thin films. The Weibull modulus provides a measurement of the consistency of the breakdown strength from sample to sample, with higher moduli indicating a more invariable result. These electrical characteristics along with the thin film's cycling endurance and reliability make antiferroelectric-like Al-doped thin films a promising material for energy storage applications.
Adsorption kinetic modeling using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order rate laws: A review

Abstract Adsorption for water and wastewater treatment has been the subject of many research in the scientific community, focusing mainly on either equilibrium or kinetic studies. Adsorption kinetics are commonly modeled using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order rate laws. Analyses of published works in the past two decades indicated that the pseudo-second order is considered to be the superior model as it can represent many adsorption systems. However, critical assessment of modeling techniques and practices suggests that its superiority could be a consequence of currently acceptable modeling norms which tend to favor the pseudo-second order model. The partiality was due to several modeling pitfalls that are often neglected. In addition, commonly used model validation tools are often used haphazardly and redundantly. As such, they cannot sufficiently provide any kind of certainty on the validity of a model. To eliminate modeling biasness, a new validation method was proposed and was then employed to re-examine previously published adsorption kinetic data.
Mental Health Issues in Children

Children and adolescents who come to the emergency department (ED) with a psychiatric crisis are a concern for all ED professionals. Their visits tend to absorb more prehospital and ED resources than other classes of a pediatric patient, as well as leading to higher rates of admission from the ED [1, 2]. Some studies suggest their numbers may be growing [3, 4].
Advancing Accuracy of Shooting and Bouncing Rays Method for Ray-Tracing Propagation Modeling Based on Novel Approaches to Ray Cone Angle Calculation

We propose and evaluate several improvements to the accuracy of the shooting and bouncing ray (SBR) method for ray-tracing (RT) electromagnetic modeling. We propose per-ray cone angle calculation, with the maximum separation angle between rays calculated for every individual ray, based on a set of local neighbors rather than a single global maximum. This allows the smallest theoretical error of the SBR method, adaptive ray spawning procedures, and a unique analysis of the effect of ray cone sizes on the accuracy of the method. For the conventional uniform angular distribution of rays, a less general and versatile but more expeditious approach, we derive an analytical expression for the optimal choice of cone angle to again maximize the overall accuracy of the SBR computation. Both approaches are derived using icosahedral ray spawning geometry and adjacent ray sets, which are also used for our double counted rays identification and removal technique that avoids complicated ray path searches. The results demonstrate that the advanced shooting and bouncing RT method—-using both proposed ray cone generation approaches—-can perform wireless propagation modeling of tunnel environments with the same accuracy as image theory RT, a dramatically less efficient but traditionally considerably more accurate solver.
Contributions of Pediatric Oncology Nursing to Advance Care and Reduce Disparities Among Children and Adolescents with Cancer: Introduction.

Abstract Objective Highlight examples of pediatric oncology nursing's accomplishments during the past 2 decades with attention to specialized practice, patient/family education, research/evidence-based practice, and advocacy and how these efforts can be leveraged to reduce disparities in the cure and care of children and adolescents with cancer. Data Sources Review of currently published literature, guidelines, and websites documenting pediatric oncology nursing's contributions. Conclusion Over the past 20 years, the collective work of pediatric oncology nurses across the world has improved the care of children with cancer and their families and brought attention to areas of disparities. Implications for Nursing Practice: Although work remains to reduce disparities, current evidence from nursing science and practice is available to address disparities and guide advocacy efforts for children and their families as well as the nurses who care for them.
Ubiquitous Production of Organosulfates During Treatment of Organic Contaminants with Sulfate Radicals.

Oxidation of organic contaminants by sulfate radical (SO4•-) is becoming more popular for the treatment of hazardous waste sites by in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) and industrial wastewater by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). It is well documented that SO4•- can produce similar oxygen-containing transformation products as hydroxyl radical-based treatment processes, but SO4•- also has the potential to produce organosulfates by radical addition. Experiments conducted with a suite of 23 aromatic and 5 aliphatic compounds, including several contaminants typically detected at hazardous waste sites, demonstrated the formation of at least one stable sulfate-containing product for 25 of the compounds. These compounds likely exhibit higher mobility in the subsurface due to a lower affinity for surfaces (e.g., aquifer solids, activated carbon) than most other transformation products. Although the health risks associated with organosulfates are still uncertain, some aromatic organosulfates produced in this study (i.e. phenyl sulfate and p-cresyl sulfate) are known to be harmful uremic toxins. Further study of organosulfate formation, fate, and toxicity is needed before SO4•--based treatment processes are more widely employed.
Impact of COVID-19 Shelter-In-Place orders on pediatric device use, outdoor activity and eye symptoms

Purpose : The COVID-19 pandemic caused the implementation of public health measures globally, including a call to Shelter-In-Place (SIP). In most cases, traditional classroom teaching became remote, pediatric outdoor programs such as organized sports were halted and parks closed. This study primarily aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 SIP orders on pediatric habitual device use, outdoor activity, and reported eye symptoms. Methods : Eligible participants included English and Spanish speaking UCSF pediatric ophthalmology patients aged 5-10 years with no history of ocular disease, surgery or trauma. A parental survey was administered electronically or over the phone by a trained examiner. The survey included questions regarding their child's average daily device use, outdoor activity and how often their child typically reported eye symptoms before and during SIP. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests to examine changes in behaviors before and during SIP. Results : 42 participants (n=17 female, mean age 6.6 ± 1.3 years) were enrolled in the study. 98% (n = 41) of those surveyed reported that their child was in remote online learning during SIP, with the majority (56%) using a laptop as their main device for remote learning. On average, laptop and hand-held device (smartphone or tablet) use increased significantly during SIP for both weekdays and weekends (Laptops: ~3 hour increase weekdays and 1 hour increase weekends, p <0.001;Hand-held devices: ~1 hour increase weekdays and weekends p <0.002). Outdoor activity decreased on average by approximately 1 hour on both weekdays and weekends (p <0.008). Despite the increase in device use, there was only a slight increase in 'eyes feeling uncomfortable or tired' (from never to occasionally, on average). None of the other eye symptoms surveyed (seeing words moving, jumping, swimming, or floating;headache;dry eyes;blurry vision) were reported to change during SIP. Conclusions : This study provides insights into how COVID-19 SIP orders impact habitual pediatric device use and outdoor activity. Despite children spending significantly increased time on devices during SIP, there was a low prevalence of reported eye symptoms in our cohort. Further work is warranted to determine the potential longer term impacts of these behavior modifications on pediatric eye health.