cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Male Calling Behavior in Response to Playback of Conspecific Advertisement Calls in Two Bufonids

ABSTRACr.-Previously it has been hypothesized that male anurans in breeding aggregations vocalize asynchronously to reduce acoustic overlap with neighbors. The prediction was tested that in Bufo woodhousei and B. punctatus a male will lower his call rate in response to playback of conspecific advertisement calls. Male B. woodhousei reduced their call rates in response to playback of both high and low rate recordings, although call rates were lowered to a significantly greater degree during playback of high rate recordings. Contrastingly, male B. punctatus did not reduce their call rates in response to playback of conspecific calls. Male B. woodhousei reduced their rate of calling, apparently to avoid acoustic overlap with playback recordings. Male B. punctatus, however, usually initiated a call during each call broadcast during playback, resulting in extensive acoustic overlap. In B. woodhousei, mean call rate of males in a chorus was negatively correlated with chorus size. None of the current hypotheses concerning the significance of call alternation in anurans explains these results satisfactorily.
Applications of thermal analysis to studies of field aged distributton cables

Studies of changes with aging of distribution cables involve determining the effects of electrical, thermal and environmental stresses on the entire cable system. Changes in the dielectric insulation material are subtle. The materials employed are polyethylene and EP rubber. Differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry have been employed extensively in studies of changes of the morphology of such cables. The degree of crystallinity has been shown to change with aging under stress. Although the reasons are not completely understood such changes are significant in that they markedly affect the solubility, particularly of water, which in turn is associated with the phenomena of water treeing. Other uses for DSC and DTA include estimation of the amount of remaining antioxidant. Additional analysis of the cable system, particularly the inner and outer conduction shields, is facilitated by use of DTA and DSC. Thermogravimetric analysis is regularly used to determine the amount of filler in filled cables as well as to give an estimate of the thermal stability of the polymeric dielectric. These permit comparison of various materials and the estimation of the effect of additives. Thermal analysis can also give insight into the amount of residual stress in the cable resulting from previous mechanical mishandling of the cable.
Discriptive study of air contaminants such as TVOC in kindergartens in Guangming new district of Shenzhen

Objective:To investigate the air quality of kindergatens in Guangming new district in Shenzhen,and provide scientific basis for the government to develop relevant health policies,improving the teaching environment and health condition.Methods:Stratified sampling method was adopted to select 6 kindergartens,7 indicators such as CO,CO2,formaldehyde,TVOC,IP,noise,illumination which were measured by field-monitoring equipment on 62 classes(classroom).Results:①The maximum of IP was 0.553 mg/m3 which was over 2.69 times of national standard.The maximum of TVOC was 1.32 mg/m3,over 1.2 times of standard.②The total qualified rate was 55.53 percent,and that of noise was zero.Conclusion:In Guangming new district,the environmental problems of teaching should be valued,took effective measures to protect the health of children.
Cyberstalking as (Mis)matchmaking

Online technologies, such as online matchmaking services, are increasingly becoming a normal and normative medium through which relationships are initiated, developed, maintained, and ended. This chapter examines the phenomenon of stalking and obsessive relational intrusion, with special emphasis on cyberstalking as one variant that is particularly likely in the online matchmaking environment. To elaborate these processes, the interrelationship of impression management theory, socioevolutionary theory, and relational goal pursuit theory are examined as they inform an understanding of relationship matchmaking, and mismatchmaking, in the online environment.
Modeling and robust controlling of laser welding process on high strength titanium alloy using fuzzy basis function networks and robust Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller

The purpose of this paper is to present and implement a novel approach to data-driven modeling and robust control of a laser keyhole welding process. The objective is to maintain the penetration depth of the laser welding process at a desired value under system uncertainties. A framework was proposed to estimate the keyhole diameter and the keyhole penetration depth in real time by type-1 and type-2 fuzzy basis function networks, and an adaptive divided difference filter. A robust Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller was implemented to adjust the laser power of the welding process. Experimental results demonstrated that the fuzzy models provided an accurate estimation of both the welding geometry and its variations due to uncertainties, and the robust Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller successfully reduced the penetration depth variation and improved the quality of the welding process.
The Physiome Project: A View of Integrative Biological Function

The Physiome Project comprises a worldwide effort to provide a computational framework for understanding human and other eukaryotic physiology. The aim is to develop integrative models at all levels of biological organization from genes to the whole organism. This is achieved via gene regulatory networks, protein pathways, integrative cell function, and tissue and whole organ structure/function relations. A key hallmark of the Physiome is that it covers many physical scales of description, from molecule-molecule interactions to whole cell behaviour to whole organ descriptions. This talk will stress the computational and semantic layers of the Physiome, the mathematical and logical “glue” that allows the various physiological scales to communicate and work with one another. The first knowledge domain is Ontologies. Ontology is a specific expression of known facts about the real world. Work on ontologies is being undertaken in order to organize biological data and knowledge at the different levels of the biological continuum. An additional and important component of this work is to facilitate easy and effective access to a range of databases, and to facilitate automated reasoning that can simultaneously extract information from many databases.
Observation of a new superfluid phase for 3 He embedded in nematically ordered aerogel

In bulk superfluid 3He at zero magnetic field, two phases emerge with the B-phase stable everywhere except at high pressures and temperatures, where the A-phase is favoured. Aerogels with nanostructure smaller than the superfluid coherence length are the only means to introduce disorder into the superfluid. Here we use a torsion pendulum to study 3He confined in an extremely anisotropic, nematically ordered aerogel consisting of ∼10 nm-thick alumina strands, spaced by ∼100 nm, and aligned parallel to the pendulum axis. Kinks in the development of the superfluid fraction (at various pressures) as the temperature is varied correspond to phase transitions. Two such transitions are seen in the superfluid state, and we identify the superfluid phase closest to Tc at low pressure as the polar state, a phase that is not seen in bulk 3He. Anisotropic disorder is predicted to change the stability of the superfluid state in3He and leads to new phases. Here, Zhelev et al. report signatures of the phase transitions in 3He confined in an extremely anisotropic ordered aerogel including a new polar phase.
mGluR5 Exerts Cell-Autonomous Influences on the Functional and Anatomical Development of Layer IV Cortical Neurons in the Mouse Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Glutamate neurotransmission refines synaptic connections to establish the precise neural circuits underlying sensory processing. Deleting metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in mice perturbs cortical somatosensory map formation in the primary somatosensory (S1) cortex at both functional and anatomical levels. To examine the cell-autonomous influences of mGluR5 signaling in the morphological and functional development of layer IV spiny stellate glutamatergic neurons receiving sensory input, mGluR5 genetic mosaic mice were generated through in utero electroporation. In the S1 cortex of these mosaic brains, we found that most wild-type neurons were located in barrel rings encircling thalamocortical axon (TCA) clusters while mGluR5 knock-out (KO) neurons were placed in the septal area, the cell-sparse region separating barrels. These KO neurons often displayed a symmetrical dendritic morphology with increased dendritic complexity, in contrast to the polarized pattern of wild-type neurons. The dendritic spine density of mGluR5 KO spiny stellate neurons was significantly higher than in wild-type neurons. Whole-cell electrophysiological recordings detected a significant increase in the frequencies of spontaneous and miniature excitatory postsynaptic events in mGluR5 KO neurons compared with neighboring wild-type neurons. Our mosaic analysis provides strong evidence supporting the cell-autonomous influence of mGluR5 signaling on the functional and anatomical development of cortical glutamatergic neurons. Specifically, mGluR5 is required in cortical glutamatergic neurons for the following processes: (1) the placement of cortical glutamatergic neurons close to TCA clusters; (2) the regulation of dendritic complexity and outgrowth toward TCA clusters; (3) spinogenesis; and (4) tuning of excitatory inputs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Glutamatergic transmission plays a critical role in cortical circuit formation. Its dysfunction has been proposed as a core factor in the etiology of many neurological diseases. Here we conducted mosaic analysis to reveal the cell-autonomous role of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). We found that mGluR5 is required for several key steps in wiring up the thalamocortical connections to form the cortical somatosensory map. mGluR5-dependent processes during early postnatal brain development affect the following: (1) placement of activity-directed cortical neurons; (2) regulation of polarized dendritic outgrowth toward thalamocortical axons relaying sensory information, (3) synaptogenesis; and (4) development of functional connectivity in spiny stellate neurons. Perturbing mGluR5 expression could lead to abnormal neuronal circuits, which may contribute to neurological and psychiatric disease.
Improved Immune Reconstitution After Bortezomib-Based Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis for HLA-Mismatched Unrelated Donor Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Allogeneic Transplantation.

Abstract 48 We recently reported on the use of the proteasome-inhibitor bortezomib as a novel strategy to control acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). We evaluated bortezomib, tacrolimus and mini-methotrexate for GVHD prophylaxis after reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with unrelated donors mismatched at 1-2 HLA loci (-A, -B, -C, -DRB1). The regimen was safe, with zero non-relapse mortality. There was a 13% incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD. We analyzed immune reconstitution in the bortezomib cohort (n=24) [Bort] vs. i) 8/8 matched-related donor (-A, -B, -C, -DRB1) RIC HSCT cohort (n=96) [MRD]; ii) 8/8 matched-unrelated donor RIC HSCT cohort (n=139) [MUD]; and iii) 1-2 HLA mismatched-unrelated donor RIC HSCT cohort (n=24) [MMUD]. Comparator groups received sirolimus, tacrolimus and mini-methotrexate GVHD prophylaxis. All received fludarabine/busulfan conditioning and G-CSF mobilized adult-donor peripheral blood stem cells. All groups had rapid hematopoietic engraftment and >90% median donor-chimerism by day +45 post-HSCT. They were not different with regards to age (p=0.53), sex (p=0.39) and acute grade II-IV GVHD (p=0.63). There was a difference in the proportion of good-risk disease: [Bort] (46%), [MRD] (21%), [MUD] (14%) and [MMUD] (21%) (p=0.005). Chronic GVHD was also different: [Bort] (41%), [MRD] (39%), [MUD] (53%) and [MMUD] (67%) (p=0.03). Peripheral blood cells incubated with directly conjugated monoclonal antibodies defining distinct lymphocyte populations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Lymphocyte subsets included T (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) B (CD19+, CD20+) NK (CD56+CD16+) NK-T (CD56+CD3+) and regulatory-T (Treg; CD4+CD25+) cells. Unadjusted analyses revealed no significant differences in B, NK, NK-T or Treg recovery. In contrast, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell reconstitution was significantly higher in the bortezomib group, especially at 3 months post-HSCT. T-cell immune reconstitution parameters are improved after HLA-mismatched RIC HSCT and bortezomib-based GVHD prophylaxis. Importantly this can be accomplished with rapid hematopoietic engraftment and without increased GVHD incidence in patients without HLA-matched donors. Disclosures: Off Label Use: bortezomib for GVHD control.
Differences in Attitudes Towards People with Disabilities: Examining the Effects of the Presence of an Assistance Dog

DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDES TOWARDS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: EXAMINING THE EFFECT OF THE PRESENCE OF AN ASSISTANCE DOG By: Jennifer A. Coleman, M.A. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2013 Major Director: Kathleen M. Ingram, J.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs Department of Psychology Individuals with disabilities face various types of social stigma. Research suggests that the presence of an assistance dog leads to an increase in social interactions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether people’s attitudes toward individuals with disabilities differ when pairing that person with an assistance dog. Undergraduate students (N = 244) were randomly assigned to view an individual with a disability either alone or with an assistance dog. Participants rated their attitudes toward the individual, completed a newly developed Implicit Association Test, and answered behavioral intention questions. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that individuals with more positives attitudes toward dogs had significantly more positive social attitudes toward the individual with a disability paired with a dog, after accounting for gender and dog ownership history. Additionally, individuals had an implicit bias toward an individual with a disability paired with an assistance dog over the individual alone.
Involvement of a Rac1-Dependent Macropinocytosis Pathway in Plasmid DNA Delivery by Electrotransfection.

Electrotransfection is a widely used method for delivering genes into cells with electric pulses. Although different hypotheses have been proposed, the mechanism of electrotransfection remains controversial. Previous studies have indicated that uptake and intracellular trafficking of plasmid DNA (pDNA) are mediated by endocytic pathways, but it is still unclear which pathways are directly involved in the delivery. To this end, the present study investigated the dependence of electrotransfection on macropinocytosis. Data from the study demonstrated that electric pulses induced cell membrane ruffling and actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Using fluorescently labeled pDNA and a macropinocytosis marker (i.e., dextran), the study showed that electrotransfected pDNA co-localized with dextran in intracellular vesicles. Furthermore, electrotransfection efficiency could be decreased significantly by reducing temperature or treatment of cells with a pharmacological inhibitor of Rac1 and could be altered by changing Rac1 activity. Taken together, the findings suggested that electrotransfection of pDNA involved Rac1-dependent macropinocytosis.
Coherence and dynamics of a metallo-dielectric nanolaser

We conducted the second-order intensity-correlation measurement on a high-β metallodielectric nanolaser under nanosecond pulse pumping. Our results confirm fully coherent emission can be achieved and dynamical hysteresis can be observed via the width of the emission pulse.
A novel anatomic severity grading score for acute Type B aortic dissections and correlation to aortic reinterventions after thoracic endovascular aortic repair

We introduce a novel preoperative anatomic severity grading system for acute type B aortic dissections and validate the system in a cohort of patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair. We identified a cohort of patients who received thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute type B aortic dissection from 2008 to 2014. We developed an anatomic severity grading score (ASG) to measure attributes of aortic anatomy that we hypothesized may affect difficulty or durability of repair. Measurements were made using computed tomography angiography images and based on hypothesized severity, giving a potential score range of 0-38. We analyzed the computed tomography angiography images on a cohort of 30 patients with acute type B aortic dissection who underwent TEVAR. We created an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) using anatomic severity grading to predict aortic-related reinterventions. The AUROC was 0.72 (95% CI 0.39 to 1.1). Guided by the AUROC, we divided patients into two groups: a low-score group with anatomic severity grading scores <23 (n = 22), and a high-score group with scores ≥23 (n = 8). With this cutoff, anatomic severity grading exhibited 80% sensitivity and 84% specificity in predicting aortic-related reinterventions, with reinterventions in 50% of high-score patients and 4.5% of low-score patients (P = 0.011). The high score group also had significantly greater blood loss (200 vs 100 mL, P = 0.038), fluoroscopy time (36.0 vs 16.6 min; P = 0.022), and a trend for increased procedure time (164 vs 95 min; P = 0.083) than the low-risk group. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the high-score group had a significantly decreased freedom from aortic-related reinterventions than the low-score group (38% vs 100% at 12-month followup; log rank P = 0.001). A preoperative anatomic severity grading score for acute type B aortic dissections consists of analysis of the proximal landing zone, curvature and tortuosity of the aorta, dissection anatomy, aortic branch vessel anatomy, and supraceliac aorta anatomy. Anatomic severity grading scores ≥23 are an excellent predictor of aortic-related reinterventions.
Developing skills: A training method for long-duration exploration missions

Human error is defined as “an action or decision which was not intended, which involved a deviation from an accepted standard, and which led to an undesirable outcome,” and has been attributed to mishaps within and outside of NASA. Although users that have direct interaction with the hazardous process are usually deemed the cause of human error, inefficient support or guidance present in organizations can be the root of the problem (Drews, 2012). Specifically, training is a latent process that may enhance or mitigate human error, which is amplified in extreme environments involving extraterrestrial exploration. Because of the transition from low-Earth orbit (LEO) to long-duration exploration missions (LDEMs), there must be a significant shift in the training process. For LDEMs, the crew will be required to be trained more efficiently, there will be a much longer lag between training on the ground and when trained activities are performed during the mission, and the crew must be even more adaptable and resilient. As such, training must shift from knowledge-to skill-based, where skills may be transferred and generalized to multiple situations that require problem-solving. Crews in LDEMs will also deal with more stress due to the higher risk of exploration, requiring training to involve exposing trainees to the stressful environments that they may face, which will supplement the development of skills. Therefore, we recommend Stress Training (S tress Inoculation Training, Stress Exposure Training) to produce salient skill-based behaviors that will provide safety and success for future LDEMs.
List randomization for soliciting experience of intimate partner violence: application to the evaluation of Zambia's unconditional child grant program

Social scientists have increasingly invested in understanding how to improve data quality and measurement of sensitive topics in household surveys. We utilize the technique of list randomization to collect measures of physical intimate partner violence in an experimental impact evaluation of the Government of Zambia's Child Grant Program. The Child Grant Program is an unconditional cash transfer, which targeted female caregivers of children under the age of 5 in rural areas to receive the equivalent of US $24 as a bimonthly stipend. The implementation results show that the list randomization methodology functioned as planned, with approximately 15% of the sample identifying 12-month prevalence of physical intimate partner violence. According to this measure, after 4 years, the program had no measurable effect on partner violence. List randomization is a promising approach to incorporate sensitive measures into multitopic evaluations; however, more research is needed to improve upon methodology for application to measurement of violence.
Volcanology: When less water means more fire

Partial desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea may have boosted magmatism during the Messinian epoch.
Synthesizing a frequency-diverse aperture for security-screening applications

We demonstrate the design of a frequency-diverse aperture for imaging of human size objects. Frequency-diversity is an all-electronic technique, allowing the imaging to be performed without any mechanical moving parts or active circuit components. Leveraging computational imaging algorithms, the concept of frequency-diverse imaging offers a simplified alternative to conventional techniques limited in key metrics, such as data acquisition speed, system complexity and cost. It is shown that the synthesized-frequency diverse aperture can reconstruct good quality images of a human-size target by means of a simple frequency sweep over the K-band frequency regime.
Evaluating the News: (Mis)Perceptions of Objectivity and Credibility

The introduction and popularity of politically biased news sources represents a significant historical shift in the media environment, with important unexplored consequences. Evidence points to partisan segmentation in the contemporary news market, but while assumptions abound, the mechanism driving consumers to sort along party lines is unclear. I develop a framework for news choice based on perceptions of objectivity and credibility and report a test of its central mechanism using a nationally representative survey experiment. I find support for a congenial media effect, where news content from an unfamiliar source is seen as more credible and less biased when it is consistent with existing beliefs, while balanced news content may be dismissed as less credible and biased. Previous studies have examined how perceptions of bias in identical news content can change when it is attributed to different sources. In today’s media world however, access to more news sources generally and the ease with which content from those sources can be shared makes it increasingly likely people will be exposed to news content from either unknown or potentially fake news sources. This study contributes to the literature by identifying the unique effect of message content on perceptions of news bias and source credibility, while holding source constant. Paradoxically, my findings indicate that political selective exposure may arise out of individuals’ genuine desire for unbiased news.
Correlation of motor-evoked potential response to ischemic spinal cord damage.

The prevalence of morbidity is a major deterrent to the success of aortic aneurysm replacement operations. We have developed a model of spinal cord ischemia, based on the amplitude reduction of the motor-evoked potential, which produces approximately a 90% prevalence of paraplegia. Regional blood flow was studied with the use of radioactive microspheres, and results showed that there was a significant decrease in flow to the lumbar cord (85% reduction) during aortic occlusion, followed by a twofold to threefold hyperemia that persisted for 24 hours. Histopathologic examination of the cord revealed that the greater portion of microgliosis, spongiosis, and neuronal damage was confined to the gray matter of the cord, and its severity increased as one progressed caudally. The somatosensory-evoked potential disappeared before the motor-evoked potential L-2 signal in all dogs, with a mean disappearance time of 10.9 ± 5.6 minutes, compared with 21 ± 6.6 minutes for the motor-evoked potential. Both the sensory-evoked potential and the motor-evoked potential cord signal were present 24 hours later in all dogs tested. The peripheral nerve motor-evoked potential disappeared within 1 minute of cord ischemia, was not present 24 hours later, and hence appears to be too sensitive to use as an indicator of spinal cord damage. Plotting spinal cord motor-evoked potential amplitude reduction versus both histopathologic damage and regional blood flow revealed a positive correlation between motor-evoked potential amplitude reduction, decreased cord perfusion, and increased histopathologic damage. In addition, it may be possible to make inferences about the neurologic status of a subject based on the magnitude and time-course of the motor-evoked potential's amplitude reduction and wave morphology. (J T horac C ardiovasc S urg 1992;104:262-72)
Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Joint Infection: An Algorithmic Approach to Patients

Identification of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is critical, as the treatment between infected and noninfected arthroplasties is fundamentally different and missing the diagnosis will lead to recurrent failure. Yet in the absence of a true gold standard, the diagnosis of PJI can often be elusive. Although every clinical scenario requires clinical judgment, by maintaining an algorithmic approach to the diagnosis of PJI, the clinician can most effectively use the battery of tests that are available for diagnosis. Relying on a patient’s risk factors, physical exam, and plain radiographs allows a particular patient to be stratified into either a high-probability or a low-probability category for PJI, which will allow better interpretation of subsequent tests and guide how aggressively the diagnosis of PJI is pursued. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) should be obtained in all patients where a revision is planned or if a source for pain is being sought. If positive or if the clinical suspicion for PJI is high, a joint aspiration should be performed and the fluid sent for a synovial fluid white blood cell (WBC) count, differential, and culture. Intraoperative testing can be performed in cases where the diagnosis of PJI has not been confirmed or excluded preoperatively. Given the rising incidence of this problem and the growing infection burden anticipated in coming years, much effort is being put toward improving diagnostic tests for PJI. Emerging technology, such as synovial fluid biomarker analysis, PCR, and sonication, as well as the increasing availability of serum markers, such as IL-6, may improve our ability to identify PJI in the future.
Morphology of Block Copolyurethanes. II. FTIR and ESCA Techniques for Studying Surface Morphology

Block copolymers form a domain-matrix morphology due to the chemical and steric incompatibilities of the chemically different blocks or segments. The unusual range of the physical and chemical properties associated with block copolyurethanes result from this unique morphological separation. However, multiple (AB)n block copolymers such as block copolyurethanes may or may not have as complete phase separation as the simpler AB block copolymers. Bulk morphologies of block copolyurethanes have been studied by many investigators during the last decade via electron microscopy (1,2), temperature-modulus (3,4,5) and infrared spectroscopy (6–11). More recent studies have shown the bulk and surface chemical and morphological structures of block copolyurethanes may be quite different, and are affected by both synthetic alterations of the polymeric repeat unit and by fabrication variables (12–15). Since several block copolyurethanes have shown both compatibility and mechanical properties needed for vascular implants, it is important to determine the chemical and morphological structures of these materials. A block copolyetherurethane-urea and associated model compounds and homopolymers have been studied by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) in order to determine the chemical and morphological structures of the surface of the block copolyurethane as compared to the bulk.
Computational modeling of the large deformation and flow of viscoelastic polymers

Deformation of soft polymeric materials often involves complex nonlinear or transient mechanical behaviors. This is due to the dynamic behaviors of polymer chains at the molecular level within the polymer network. In this paper, we present a computational formulation to describe the transient behavior (e.g., viscoelasticity) of soft polymer networks with dynamic bonds undergoing large to extreme deformation. This formulation is based on an Eulerian description of kinematics and a theoretical framework that directly connects the molecular-level kinetics of dynamic bonds to the macroscopic mechanical behavior of the material. An extended finite element method is used to discretize the field variables and the governing equations in an axisymmetric domain. In addition to validating the framework, this model is used to study how the chain dynamics affect the macroscopic response of material as they undergo a combination of flow and elasticity. The problems of cavitation rheology and polymer indentation under extreme deformation are investigated in this context.
Predictable Behavior of GFRP-Reinforced Bridge Decks: Formulation of a Strain-Based Capacity Model

This paper proposes a reliability analysis framework for glass fiber-reinforced polymer- (GFRP-) reinforced concrete systems with uncertain capacities and demands over time. Unfortunately, there has been limited discussion or research done related to the potential change of failure modes over time. Therefore, a rational approach is needed to integrate multiple failure modes in a single analysis framework, considering uncertainties of time-variant demands and capacities. To account for multiple failure modes, this study proposes the limit state function to estimate the safety margin, based on strain values of GFRP-reinforcing bars. A proposed limit state function can capture the likelihood of both shear and flexural failure modes, simultaneously. In this study, seven typical bridge deck configurations (e.g., varied deck thickness, girder spacing, and bar size) were exposed to various ambient temperatures. Simulation results show that reliability indices of 100-year exposure exhibit significant variance, ranging from 2.35 to 0.93, with exposure temperatures ranging from 13 to 33°C. Exposure temperature and time are the dominant factors influencing the reliability indices, so are the ones that need to be changed. As exposure time and/or exposure temperature increase, the flexural capacity model plays an important role to determine the reliability indices. When flexural and shear failure modes are equally dominant, reliability indices can capture risks of both failures, using the proposed strain-based approach.
Perceived Benefits and Barriers to Free Summer Meal Participation Among Parents in New York City.

Abstract Objective To examine perceived benefits and barriers of summer meal participation among lower-income families who participate in school lunch programs during the year. Design Semistructured phone interviews were conducted with parents of elementary-aged children, including both participants and nonparticipants in summer meals. Setting Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn, NY. Participants Participants were lower-income, racially/ethnically diverse parents of elementary-aged children. Of 20 participants, 17 were minorities (85%), 16 were women (80%), and 11 had an annual household income Phenomenon of Interest Interviews explored parents’ experiences with summer meals programs, the impact on food provisioning in the summer, and benefits and barriers. Analysis Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically. Results Five themes emerged, including 3 benefits of summer meals: reducing stress for parents, fostering social support and connection, and the opportunity to develop healthier eating habits; and 2 barriers to participation: lack of cultural inclusivity and lack of widespread knowledge about summer meals. Conclusions and Implications The main purpose of summer meals is to reduce food insecurity, but the programs also provide social and psychological benefits valued by lower-income families in New York, although participation barriers persist.
SENSITIVITY OF SUBSTITUTION TO THE EXTENT OF SELF-IMMOLATIVE CHIRALITY TRANSFER DURING REACTION CASCADES ORIGINATING FROM SQUARATE ESTERS

Reaction cascades induced by the addition to diisopropyl squarate of at least one cycloalkenyl anion possessing an oxygenated leaving group have been examined for the purpose of evaluating the level of chirality transferred to several new stereogenic centers as the original one is destroyed through β-elimination. A methoxy group alone necessarily resides too far from the bonding sites involved in conrotatory ring closure of the coiled octatetraene intermediate to have a large impact, viz. greater than 22% ee. The situation is considerably improved if a (tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy (OTBS) substituent is positioned nearer to this key helical biasing site. The relative rates of ring closure from the two helices of different pitch now become sufficiently different (>100:1) that mechanistic control by OTBS dominates completely. Finally, an example of overwhelming steric bias is detailed (see 30), showing that electrocyclic control can also be achieved in this manner.
Citations Gone #Social: Examining the Effect of Altmetrics on Citations and Readership in Communication Research:

Altmetrics are a relatively new phenomenon in research. These metrics measure the attention that research articles receive from nontraditional venues such as social media and the Internet. This stu...
Changes in odor characteristics of pulse protein isolates from germinated chickpea, lentil, and yellow pea: Role of lipoxygenase and free radicals

Abstract In this study, pulse protein isolates (PPIs) were extracted from 0, 1, 3, and 5 days germinated chickpea, lentil, and yellow pea flours by alkaline extraction–isoelectric precipitation method. The germination time had negligible impact on the proximate composition of PPIs. In total, 67 volatiles in PPIs were identified via HS-SPME–GC–MS/O. Among all the identified volatile components, seven of them, including hexanal (11), (E)-2-octen-1-ol (7), (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal (17), 3-octen-2-one (33), 3,5-octadien-2-one (34), 2-methoxy-3-isopropylpyrazine (56), and 2-methoxy-3-(1-methylpropyl)pyrazine (57), contributed to the beany-related odor of PPIs but much less than that in raw flours. However, the overall beany-related odor of PPIs increased when the germination time exceeded 1 day. Both the activity of lipoxygenase and the free radical populations in PPIs were positively related to the overall beany-related odor. Our findings are crucial for the preparation of germinated pulse proteins with improved functionality but without increasing undesirable odor.
Effects of frequent marijuana use on risky decision-making in young adult college students.

Abstract Introduction Marijuana (MJ) is the most widely used illicit substance among adolescents and young adults. Frequent MJ use has been associated with impairments in cognitive flexibility and inhibition, both of which play important roles in decision-making. However, the impact of frequent MJ use on decision-making performance is mixed and not well understood. The current study examined the influence of frequent MJ use on risky decision-making in college students, 18–22 years old. Methods: From 2017 to 2019, data was collected from young adult college students (n = 65) consisting of 32 healthy controls (HC) and 33 frequent marijuana users (MJ+). Participants completed the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), a measure of risky decision-making, and net IGT scores (advantageous-disadvantageous decisions) were used as a measure of optimal decision-making. Results: The main finding indicated there was a significant effect of group on net IGT scores (p = 0.018), which remained significant when sex was included in the model (p = 0.006), such that MJ+ had lower net IGT scores than HC. Conclusions: These findings highlight potential differences in risky decision-making between MJ+ and HC, but it is uncertain whether these differences are pre-existing and increase vulnerability for frequent MJ use or if they are related to the effects of frequent MJ use on decision-making.
Chronic activation of endothelial MAPK disrupts hematopoiesis via NFKB dependent inflammatory stress reversible by SCGF

Inflammatory signals arising from the microenvironment have emerged as critical regulators of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function during diverse processes including embryonic development, infectious diseases, and myelosuppressive injuries caused by irradiation and chemotherapy. However, the contributions of cellular subsets within the microenvironment that elicit niche-driven inflammation remain poorly understood. Here, we identify endothelial cells as a crucial component in driving bone marrow (BM) inflammation and HSC dysfunction observed following myelosuppression. We demonstrate that sustained activation of endothelial MAPK causes NF-κB-dependent inflammatory stress response within the BM, leading to significant HSC dysfunction including loss of engraftment ability and a myeloid-biased output. These phenotypes are resolved upon inhibition of endothelial NF-κB signaling. We identify SCGF as a niche-derived factor that suppresses BM inflammation and enhances hematopoietic recovery following myelosuppression. Our findings demonstrate that chronic endothelial inflammation adversely impacts niche activity and HSC function which is reversible upon suppression of inflammation. Myelosuppressive injuries lead to chronic MAPK activation and impair blood reconstitution. Here, the authors show that chronic activation endothelial MAPK impairs hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function through NFkB signaling, and that post-myelosuppressive HSC defects can be reversed by administration of Stem Cell Growth Factor SCGFa.
Fine Tuning Sparsity Penalties to Improve Structural Variant Detection

Genomic variation shared by members of the same species that are longer than a single nucleotide are commonly called structural variants (SVs). Though relatively rare, they represent an increasingly important class of variation as SVs have been associated with diseases and susceptibility to some types of cancer. Computational approaches for detecting SVs often involve parameters that describe certain relevant biological phenomena. In our work, such parameters relate the incidence of inherited and novel SVs to probabilistic models of observing these SVs. In the work presented here, we investigate the sensitivity of our computational framework to these parameters. In particular, we demonstrate the robustness of our method by identifying a wide range of parameter values that lead to high-accuracy SV predictions in simulated data.
Metamodel-assisted sensitivity analysis for controlling the impact of input uncertainty

Given finite real-world data, input models are estimated with error. Thus, the system performance estimation uncertainty includes both input and simulation uncertainties. Built on the global sensitivity analysis proposed by Oakley and O’Hagan, we develop a metamodel-assisted Bayesian framework to quantify the contributions from simulation and input uncertainties. It further estimates the impact from each source of input uncertainty and predicts the value of collecting additional input data, which could guide the data collection to efficiently improve the system response estimation accuracy. The empirical study demonstrates that our approach has promising performance.
Physical Properties of MEA + Water + CO2 Mixtures in Postcombustion CO2 Capture: A Review of Correlations and Experimental Studies

The knowledge of physicochemical properties of a mixture of amine, water, and CO2 is beneficial in evaluating the postcombustion CO2 capture process and process equipment design. This study reviews the literature of density, viscosity, and surface tension measurements with the evaluated measurement uncertainties and proposed correlations for monoethanol amine (MEA), water, and CO2 mixtures. Adequate research has been performed to measure and develop correlations for pure MEA and aqueous MEA mixtures, but further studies are required for CO2-loaded aqueous MEA mixtures. The correlations fit measured properties with an acceptable accuracy, and they are recommended to use in process equipment design, mathematical modelling, and simulations of absorption and desorption.
Étienne de la Boétie on Tyranny in Voluntary Servitude

La Boetie on tyranny in Voluntary Servitude. The elaboration of a concept of humanity in the sixteenth century entailed not only a critique of slavery (Aristotle) but also of servitude. Masters, kings, and other wielders of power coerce, seduce, or somehow attract individuals to accept inequality. The people fall into a deep forgetfulness of freedom. The king rules for his own benefit, not for the common weal.
Analyzing voter support for California’s local option sales taxes for transportation

Local and regional governments in the U.S. rely increasingly on voter-approved local option sales taxes (LOSTs) to fund transportation capital investments, maintenance, and operations. LOSTs typically present voters with lists of local transportation projects and programs to be funded by a ¼ to 1 percent sales tax increase. Most research on LOSTs are case studies, which make generalizations about LOSTs difficult. We conducted a comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional analysis of LOST measures in California, the U.S. state with the greatest number of LOST measures. We examined 76 LOST measures put to voters between 1976 and 2016 to assess factors associated with voter support. LOSTs in California are enacted by counties, which we examined in addition to smaller intra-county geographies using both regression models and case studies. We tested several explanatory variables for association with voter support including macroeconomic and political context, planned measure expenditures, voter characteristics, and spatial distribution of proposed projects. We found that funding dedicated to public transit and returned to local jurisdictions predicts support at the county level, and that LOSTs that create new taxes—as opposed to extending or renewing existing taxes—are less popular with voters, all else equal. Our analyses of sub-county geographies revealed that political party affiliation is the strongest predictor of local voter support for LOSTs and that voters living adjacent to funded projects tended to be more supportive of LOSTs.
Quality of Life in Female Adolescents with Bleeding Disorders

Inherited bleeding disorders in adolescent girls often manifest as heavy menstrual bleeding and impact quality of life, especially health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Currently there are many validated tools to assess bleeding severity, as well as measure menstrual blood loss; however, the metrics to measure quality of life in adolescents are lacking. Furthermore, the metrics used for adults do not necessarily apply to the adolescent population. In this chapter, we have explained and outlined the available metrics for measuring HRQOL, their pros and cons, and the areas that need more research in this particular population.
Finding Soldiers of Peace: Three Dilemmas for UN Peacekeeping Missions: by Gary Uzonyim, Washington, DC, Georgetown University Press, 2020, ISBN-13: 978-1626167735

Uzonyi’s (2020) book Finding Soldiers of Peace: Three Dilemmas for UN Peacekeeping Missions, analyzes the factors that drive states to contribute to United Nations peacekeeping missions, with a par...
Human-Nature Meaning-Making: Mothers and Daughters Rethinking Humans' Relationship with Nature through Critical Constructionist Design

As its core, the environmental crisis demands humans to critically reflect on their relationship to the natural environment. This case study explores how three mothers and daughters from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds understand nature as they express their relationship with it in the context of a low-tech maker workshop. The maker activity used Critical Constructionist Design to engage participants in a cycle of connecting back to personal and family histories, reflecting on personal circumstances in order to project forward to design alternative futures. Results show how the experience provided participants with opportunities to uncover, reflect on, and re-shape their relationship with nature in search of more fluid and less dualistic ways of coexistence. The findings contribute to understanding how critical frames of making can engage people in critically thinking about today's pressing environmental challenges and underlying human-nature history of separation.
Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Determinants of Practice Change in Skilled Nursing Facility Rehabilitation: Adapting to and Sustaining Value With Postacute Reform.

Background and purpose Postacute care reform is driving physical and occupational therapists in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to change how they deliver care to produce better outcomes in less time. However, gaps exist in understanding determinants of practice change, which limits translation of evidence into practice. This study explored what determinants impacted change in care delivery at 2 SNFs that implemented a high-intensity resistance training intervention. Methods We used a mixed-methods, sequential explanatory design to explain quantitative findings using qualitative methods with a multiple-case study approach. Quantitative data were collected on therapists' attitudes toward evidence-based practice and aspects of intervention implementation. We conducted focus groups with therapists (N = 15) at 2 SNFs, classified as either high- (SNF-H) or low-performing (SNF-L) based on implementation fidelity and sustainability. Results and discussion Determinants of SNF rehabilitation practice change included the organizational system, team dynamics, patient and therapist self-efficacy, perceptions of intervention effectiveness, and ability to overcome preconceived notions. A patient-centered system, positive team dynamics, and ability to overcome preconceived notions fostered practice change at SNF-H. While self-efficacy and perception of effectiveness positively impacted change in practice at both SNFs, these determinants were not enough to overcome challenges at SNF-L. To adapt to changes and sustain rehabilitation value, further research must identify the combination of determinants that promote application of evidence-based practice. Conclusions This study is the first step in understanding what drives change in SNF rehabilitation practice. As SNF rehabilitation continues to face changes in health care delivery and reimbursement, therapists will need to adapt, by changing practice patterns and adopting evidence-based approaches, to demonstrate value in postacute care.