cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computing motion using analog VLSI vision chips: an experimental comparison among four approaches

The authors have designed, built and tested a number of analog CMOS VLSI circuits for computing 1D motion from the time-varying intensity values provided by an array of on-chip phototransistors. The authors present experimental data for three such circuits and discuss their relative performance. One circuit approximates the correlation model, one the gradient model, while a third chip uses resistive grids to compute zerocrossings to be tracked over time by a separate digital processor. All circuits integrate image acquisition with image processing functions and compute velocity in real time. Finally, for comparison, the authors also describe the performance of a simple motion algorithm using off-the-shelf components. >
Differential Modulation by Cations of Sigma and Phencyclidine Binding Sites in Rat Brain

AbstractThe present investigation attempted to differentiate haloperidol-sensitive sigma sites (σH) from phencyclidine (PCP) binding sites in rat brain membranes. We studied the effects of several cations at physiologically relevant concentrations on the binding of radioligands selective for σH sites ([3H]haloperidol, [3H](+)3-PPP**), and [3H](+)SKF10,047), or for PCP sites ([3H]PCP and [3H]TCP). The PCP sites displayed a markedly greater sensitivity to cations than σH sites. This property was reflected by a greater extent of inhibition of the binding of PCP-selective relative to σH-selective ligands at a given cation concentration, as well as by lower IC50's and by steeper slopes of the cation dose-response curves. Divalent cations were approximately 100 times more potent than monovalent cations. All cations were inhibitory, except Sr2+ and Ba2+ which, at micromolar concentrations, enhanced PCP binding but not σsH binding. Thus, PCP-selective sites appeared to be distinct from σH sites with regards to se...
Conditional Instability and Shear for Six Hurricanes over the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract One hundred and thirty Omega dropwindsondes deployed within 500-km radius of the eye of six North Atlantic hurricanes are used to determine the magnitudes and trends in convective available potential energy, and 10–1500-m and 0–6-km shear of the horizontal wind as a function of radius, quadrant, and hurricane intensity. The moist convective instability found at large radii (400–500 km) decreases to near neutral stability by 75 km from the eyewall. Vertical shears increase as radius decreases, but maximum shear values are only one-half of those found over land. Scatter for both the conditional instability and the shear is influenced chiefly by hurricane intensity, but proximity to reflectivity features does modulate the pattern. The ratio of the conditional instability to the shear (bulk Richardson number) indicates that supercell formation is favored within 250 km of the circulation center, but helicity values are below the threshold to support strong waterspouts. The difference between these oce...
Numerical second-kind-integral-equation solutions of electromagnetic scattering problems

A new, highly accurate numerical method based on secondkind integral equations has been developed to solve electromagnetic scattering problems for closed conducting bodies in two dimensions. The method is approximately fourth-order convergent, owing to the use of accurate new quadrature formulas.
Are there first-mover advantages in B2B ecommerce technologies?

Recently, "dot-com " startups relied on the well-known concept of "first-mover advantage" to justify huge marketing expenses and large financial losses. The idea was that once the firm had gathered customers, it would keep those customers because it had a first-mover advantage. But was that assumption valid? We analyzed whether first-mover advantage actually occurred in 19 information technology product categories that enable B2B ecommerce (and 6 that enable B2C ecommerce). Consistent with earlier studies in other industries, we found that, in half the product categories, the current leaders were among the first three entrants. However, we identified an important refinement. In at least 80% of the product categories in our sample, the first movers lost their initial advantage. This paper presents detailed results, including pioneer lead times and leader lag. It also presents implications for strategic management practitioners, as well as suggestions for further research.
Making new history from old standards

The winds of change are blowing strongly in the International System of Units (known since 1960 as the SI). Already gone is the meter bar, artfully constructed of a platinum-iridium alloy so many years ago, an end-on X-shaped bar carefully scribed by the denizens of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Sevres, France.
Cascade Inequalities for Forced-Dissipated Geostrophic Turbulence

Abstract Analysis of spectral kinetic energy fluxes in satellite altimetry data has demonstrated that an inverse cascade of kinetic energy is ubiquitous in the ocean. In geostrophic turbulence models, a fully developed inverse cascade results in barotropic eddies with large horizontal scales. However, midocean eddies contain substantial energy in the baroclinic mode and in compact horizontal scales (scales comparable to the deformation radius Ld). This paper examines the possibility that relatively strong bottom friction prevents the oceanic cascade from becoming fully developed. The importance of the vertical structure of friction is demonstrated by contrasting numerical simulations of two-layer quasigeostrophic turbulence forced by a baroclinically unstable mean flow and damped by bottom Ekman friction with turbulence damped by vertically symmetric Ekman friction (equal decay rates in the two layers). “Cascade inequalities” derived from the energy and enstrophy equations are used to interpret the numeri...
Genetic polymorphisms and response to medications for alcohol use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: To assess whether response to medications for alcohol use disorders varies by genotype. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: We found no studies that assessed the clinical utility of genotype-guided dosing strategies or genotype-guided medication selection, and none randomized by genotype. All included studies assessed the association between genotype and response to medication. Of 15 included studies, eight (n = 1365 participants) assessed variation in naltrexone response and polymorphisms of OPRM1. Our meta-analyses for return to heavy drinking found no significant difference between A allele homozygotes and those with at least one G allele, both without (risk difference: 0.26; 95% CI: -0.01–0.53; n = 174) and with inclusion of studies rated as high or unclear risk of bias (risk difference: 0.14; 95% CI: -0.03–0.3; n = 382). For all other polymorphism–medication pairs, we found just one eligible study. Conclusion: Estimates of effect for return to heavy drinking suggest it is poss...
Induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase by uropathogenic bacteria attenuates innate responses to epithelial infection

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the chief cause of urinary tract infections. Although neutrophilic inflammation is a hallmark of disease, previous data indicate that UPEC promotes local dampening of host innate immune responses. Here, we show that UPEC attenuates innate responses to epithelial infection by inducing expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a host enzyme with previously defined roles in adaptive immune regulation. UPEC induced IDO expression in human uroepithelial cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in vitro and in bladder tissue during murine cystitis via a noncanonical, interferonindependent pathway. In the bladders of UPEC-infected IDO-deficient mice, we observed augmented expression of proinflammatory cytokines and local inflammation, correlated with reduced survival of extracellular bacteria. Pharmacologic inhibition of IDO also increased human PMN transepithelial migration. Stimulation of IDO expression therefore represents a pathogen strategy to create local immune privilege at epithelial surfaces, attenuating innate responses to promote colonization and the establishment of infection. A significant component of mammalian evolution has been the development of means to detect and respond to microbial intrusion. Host–pathogen interactions are characterized by competition for essential nutrients as well as a balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. Thus, ancient metabolic enzymes have often gained novel immunity functions beyond nutrient acquisition. The innate immune system is the first line of microbial defense, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN; neutrophils) are considered first responders. Beyond killing invading microbes, PMN mediate inflammatory signaling by coordinating cues from the site of infection with the recruitment of additional immune cells. Illuminating the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling is critical to understanding the host–pathogen interaction, and manipulation of this equilibrium by pathogens is essential for productive infection.
Use of Neuman's Lines of Defense and Resistance in Nursing Research: Conceptual and Empirical Considerations

The generation of testable nursing theory requires operationalization of the broad concepts embedded in nursing's conceptual models or grand theories. Operationalization of the Neuman systems model concepts, the flexible line of defense and the lines of resistance, are explored in this article. Conceptual and empirical concerns imposed on the researcher when employing the model are discussed.
Equibiaxial strain stimulates fibroblastic phenotype shift in smooth muscle cells in an engineered tissue model of the aortic wall.

Many cells in the body reside in a complex three-dimensional (3D) environment stimulated by mechanical force. In vitro bioreactor systems have greatly improved our understanding of the mechanisms behind cell mechanotransduction. Current systems to impose strain in vitro are limited either by the lack of uniform strain profile or inability to strain 3D engineered tissues. In this study, we present a system capable of generating cyclic equibiaxial strain to an engineered vascular wall model. Type I collagen hydrogels populated with rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) were created either as a compacting disk or constrained hemisphere. Both models were adhered to silicone membranes precoated with collagen I, fibronectin, or Cell-Tak and assayed for adhesion characteristics. The best performing model was then exposed to 48 h of 10% strain at 1 Hz to simulate wall strain profiles found in vascular aneurysms, with static cultures serving as controls. The finite strain profile at the level of the membrane and the free surface of the construct was quantified using microbeads. The results indicate that the hemisphere model adhered with Cell-Tak had the most stable adhesion, followed by fibronectin and collagen I. Disk models did not adhere well under any coating condition. Uniform strain propagation was possible up to a maximum area strain of 20% with this system. RASMC responded to 10% equibiaxial strain by becoming less elongated, and immunohistochemistry suggested that stretched RASMC shifted to a more synthetic phenotype in comparison to static controls. These results suggest that equibiaxial strain may induce smooth muscle cell differentiation. We conclude that this system is effective in stimulating cells with cyclic equibiaxial strain in 3D cultures, and can be applied to a variety of biomaterial and tissue engineering applications.
A 5.5GS/s 28mW 5-bit flash ADC with resonant clock distribution

A 65nm CMOS 5.5GS/s non-interleaved 5-bit flash ADC with resonant clocking is presented. An on-chip 0.77nH inductor resonates the entire clock distribution network to achieve energy-efficient operation. The ADC occupies 0.035mm2 and consumes 28mW when operating at 5.5GHz, yielding 396fJ per conversion step. The clock network dissipates only 10.7% of total power, consuming 54% lower energy over CV2. By comparison, in a typical flash ADC design, 30% of total power is clock-related. From measurement results, ENOB is 4.56b and 4.11b with f in at 440MHz and 2.04GHz, respectively.
Latent Customer Needs Elicitation by Use Case Analogical Reasoning From Sentiment Analysis of Online Product Reviews

Different from explicit customer needs that can be identified directly by analyzing raw data from the customers, latent customer needs are often implied in the semantics of use cases underlying customer needs information. Due to difficulties in understanding semantic implications associated with use cases, typical text mining-based methods can hardly identify latent customer needs, as opposite to keywords mining for explicit customer needs. This paper proposes a two-layer model for latent customer needs elicitation through use case reasoning. The first layer emphasizes sentiment analysis, aiming to identify explicit customer needs based on the product attributes and ordinary use cases extracted from online product reviews. Fuzzy support vector machines are developed to build sentiment prediction models based on a list of affective lexicons. The second layer is geared towards use case analogical reasoning, to identify implicit characteristics of latent customer needs by reasoning the semantic similarities and differences analogically between the ordinary and extraordinary use cases. Case-based reasoning is utilized to perform case retrieval and case adaptation. A case study of Kindle Fire HD 7 inch tablet is developed to illustrate the potential and feasibility of the proposed method.
Form Follows Function: A Pragmatic Approach to Access-To-Space for Space Technology Experiments

The form of access-to-space for NASA space missions is often dictated before they are designed. Typically, solicitations specify the form - i.e., the launch vehicle to be used. The investigator then tries to design a mission within the given form and cost limits. This study adopts a more pragmatic point of view: that the form of access should follow from the function of the mission. Given the function, the form of space access is then optimized. The functions of a broad range of space technology experiments and current forms of space technology experiments and current forms of space access were analyzed. Results show that there might be a more effective approach to access-to-space.
A Numerical Investigation on the Variation in Hip Injury Tolerance With Occupant Posture During Frontal Collisions

Objective: More than half of occupant lower extremity (LEX) injuries during automotive frontal crashes are in the knee–thigh–hip (KTH) complex. The objective of this study is to develop a detailed and biofidelic finite element (FE) occupant LEX model that may improve current understanding of mechanisms and thresholds of KTH injuries. Methods: Firstly, the pelvis, thigh–knee–hip, and foot models developed in our previous studies were connected into an occupant lower limb model. Further validations, including posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) stretching, thigh lateral loading, KT, and KTH impact loading were then performed to verify the injury predictability of the model under complex frontal and lateral loading corresponding to automotive impacts. Finally, a sensitivity study was performed with the whole lower limb model to investigate the effect of the hip joint angle to acetabulum injury tolerance in frontal impacts. Results: The whole lower limb model proved to be stable under severe impacts along the k...
Moral Principles or Consumer Preferences? Alternative Framings of the Trolley Problem

We created paired moral dilemmas with minimal contrasts in wording, a research strategy that has been advocated as a way to empirically establish principles operative in a domain-specific moral psychology. However, the candidate "principles" we tested were not derived from work in moral philosophy, but rather from work in the areas of consumer choice and risk perception. Participants were paradoxically less likely to choose an action that sacrifices one life to save others when they were asked to provide more reasons for doing so (Experiment 1), and their willingness to sacrifice lives depended not only on how many lives would be saved, but on the number of lives at risk (Experiment 2). The latter effect was also found in a within-subjects design (Experiment 3). These findings suggest caution in the use of artificial dilemmas as a key testbed for revealing principled bases for moral judgment.
Extended-Infusion Eptifibatide to Prevent Stent Thrombosis in a Patient Undergoing Orthopedic Surgery

Objective:To report the use of extended-infusion eptifibatide in a patient who had undergone placement of a drug-eluting stent and required repeat intervention of a hip fracture following mechanical failure.Case Summary:An 82-year-old female with an extensive history of coronary disease who had undergone placement of a drug-eluting stent was admitted following continued problems with her surgically repaired right hip. Radiographic imaging of the area revealed mechanical failure of the surgically repaired hip, requiring intervention. Clopidogrel and aspirin therapy was discontinued and intravenous eptifibatide 1 μg/kg/min was initiated prior to surgery; the drugs were then discontinued 4 hours before the procedure. During this admission, the patient received a total of 155 hours of eptifibatide to prevent acute coronary stent thrombosis white awaiting surgical intervention. Postoperatively, the patient experienced anemia and severe thrombocytopenia and required 11 units of packed red blood cells, but displ...
Distributed manipulation by superposition of logarithmic-radial potential fields

Many distributed manipulation systems are capable of generating planar force fields which act over the entire surface of an object to manipulate it to a stable equilibrium within the field. Passive air flow fields, previously introduced by the authors generate force fields through the linear superposition of logarithmically varying radial potential fields. The main advantage of these fields Is that they are realizable through very simple actuation. However, they do not lend themselves to analytical prediction of net forces or equilibria. The paper presents an efficient means of numerically computing the net force and moment exerted by such fields on objects composed of multiple simple shapes, as well as efficient means of finding equilibrium points on these fields.
Fumaric Acid Salts as Hydrogogue Cathartics.

SummaryThe laxative action of sodium, magnesium, and calcium fumarates has been compared with that of sodium potassium tartrate in 143 chronically constipated patients. The fumarates have been found as satisfactory as Rochelle Salts as a laxative agent.
Effects of source and concentration of thrombin, and divalent cations, on thrombin time of heparinized plasma.

The effects of the source and concentration of thrombin, and those of divalent cations, on the thrombin time (TT) of heparinized plasma were investigated. A correlation between TT and the heparin concentration was obtained only when the thrombin was of human origin and when it was reconstituted in divalent cation solutions. Relatively small variations in thrombin concentration resulted in marked differences in TT of heparinized plasma. Bovine thrombin gave a very prolonged TT of heparinized plasma compared with human thrombin, though the two thrombins gave identical TT’s for non-heparinized control plasma. Divalent cation solution, in which thrombin was reconstituted, had a profound influence on TT of heparin plasma. When thrombin was reconstituted in 0.1 M MnCl2 solution, the TT of a plasma containing 0.5 unit heparin per ml. was the same as that of a plasma containing no heparin. The reliability of the thrombin time test as a means of monitoring heparin anticoagulation must be established by individual laboratories via extensive testing of clinical samples.
Photovoice: a Link between Research and Practice for Prostate Cancer Advocacy in Black Communities

Persisting high rates of prostate cancer incidence and mortality in Black communities have led to the development of many community-based interventions aimed at raising knowledge levels among these communities. There is limited research examining how advocates are reaching out to communities, or how advocates see their work impacting the communities. Using photovoice methods, four self-identified Black prostate cancer advocates were invited to document their experiences through photographs about what advocacy means to them and how they advocate. Meaningful photographs were taken by advocates and accompanied by powerful narratives. The advocates focused their projects on reaching men on their level, advocacy as an active process, and providing insight into the experiences surrounding prostate cancer. These photographs also have potential to be integrated in future outreach interventions. This project promotes further understanding of how these men advocate for prostate cancer awareness within Black and underserved communities, and how the research method of photovoice can be leveraged in future outreach programs and interventions.
How does difficulty communicating affect the social relationships of older adults? An exploration using data from a national survey

Abstract Healthy social relationships are important for maintaining mental and physical health in later life. Less social support, smaller social networks, and more negative social interactions have been linked to depression, poorer immune functioning, lower self-rated health, increased incidence of disease, and higher mortality. Overwhelming evidence suggests that communication disorders adversely affect social relationships. Much less is known about whether some or all aspects of social relationships are negatively affected by a communication disorder. The relative impact of a communication disorder on social relationships, as compared to other kinds of disability, is also poorly understood. Data were analyzed from a representative national sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older living in the continental United States ( n = 742). Results from multiple regressions indicated that difficulty communicating was significantly associated with several parameters of social relationships even after controlling for age, gender, partnership status, health, functional limitations, and visual impairment. Communication difficulty was a significant predictor of smaller social network size, fewer positive social exchanges, less frequent participation in social activities, and higher levels of loneliness, but was not a significant predictor of negative social exchanges. These findings suggest that communication disorders may place older adults at increased risk for mental and physical health problems because of social isolation, reduced social participation, and higher rates of loneliness. In addition, it appears that communication disorders may have a greater impact on positive, rather than negative, aspects of social relationships. Learning outcomes : As a result of this activity, the following learning outcomes will be realized: Readers will be able to (1) describe changes in the social relationships of older adults that occur as part of normal aging, (2) identify the aspects of social relationships that were significantly impacted by a communication difficulty, and (3) discuss possible reasons for these findings including potential clinical implications.
Causes of Within-Species Variations in Seed Dormancy and Germination Characteristics

This chapter discusses the inheritance of seed dormancy, dormancy breaking, and germination requirements. It also covers variations in germination responses of seeds from different populations of the same species. Environmental factors are known to influence the mother plant, thereby causing changes in the germination characteristics of the progeny (seeds). However, the kinds of changes that can occur in seeds, as they develop under varying environmental conditions, also need to be considered. The chapter illustrates seed polymorphism, and cleistogamous or chasmogamous seeds representing interplay of genetics, environment, and genetics X environmental factors along with a discussion of their consequences on seedling recruitment. It explores the reasons for variation in seed dormancy breaking and germination requirements within a species. Genetics and the environment of the mother plant during the time of seed maturations are two most important factors controlling this variation. Thus, research is often required to determine the relative importance of each of these two factors in the variation in seed dormancy and germination of a particular species.
Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800–1850. By Andrew J. Torget

Seeds of Empire: Cotton, Slavery, and the Transformation of the Texas Borderlands, 1800–1850 . David J. Weber Series in the New Borderlands History. By Andrew J. Torget. (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2015. xiii + 353 pp. Illustrations, maps, charts, tables, appendices, notes, bibliography, index. $34.95.) As Andrew J. Torget accurately insists, Anglo-American historians of Texas have long resisted laying the republic’s independence at the feet of the slavery-driven cotton economy that bloomed in what he calls the “Texas borderlands” of the 1820s and 1830s. To the contrary, he argues, cotton is at the root of Spanish-Indian relations in the first decades of the nineteenth century, Tejano (Mexican Texans) support for Anglo-American immigration in the 1820s and 1830s, the growing hostility between Texas and both Mexico City and Coahuila, the protracted failure of the Republic of Texas, … delateja{at}txstate.edu
Effects of coccidiosis vaccination administered by in ovo injection on the hatchability and hatching chick quality of broilers

Effects of the in ovo injection of a commercial coccidiosis vaccine on the hatchability and hatching chick quality variables of Ross × Ross 708 broilers were examined. Four treatment (TRT) groups were represented on each of 7 replicate tray levels of a single-stage incubator (28 TRT-replicate groups). Each TRT-replicate contained 63 eggs (1,764 total eggs). On d 18.5 of incubation, eggs were subjected to one of 4 TRT using a commercial multi-egg injector. Three control groups (non-injected, dry-punch, and diluent-injected) and one TRT group (injected with diluent containing Inovocox EM1 vaccine) were used. On d 18.5 of incubation, the site of injection and stage of embryo development were determined. On d 21.5 of incubation (d zero post hatch), hatchability of injected eggs (HI), chick BW, and yolk sac, intestine, and liver weights were determined. On d zero post hatch, 20 chicks from each of the 28 TRT-replicate groups (560 total birds) were placed in corresponding isolated wire-floored battery cages. On a daily basis, from d zero to 14 post hatch, pooled fecal samples from each individual replicate cage were collected for oocyst output determination. There was no significant difference among TRT for HI or chick BW on d 21.5 of incubation. In the non-injected control and vaccine-treated groups, mean HI was 93.1 and 89.4%, respectively, and chick BW were 43.4 and 43.8 g, respectively. The mean embryonic stage score was 2.09, and 84.8 and 15.3% of in ovo injections were in the amnion and embryo, respectively. Oocyst shedding began 4 d post hatch (d 6 post injection), and reached a peak at d 7 post hatch (d 10 post injection). It was concluded that the in ovo injection of Inovocox EM1 vaccine did not have a significant detrimental effect on broiler embryogenesis or hatching chick quality.
Two dimensional optical lattice filters with gain: Fabrication and experimental results

A scalable adjustable photonic integrated circuit is developed. A key enabling component is a nanophotonic coupler requiring very high aspect ratio InP etching. The measured filter response of the device agrees well with theory.
The Faux Debate in North American Suffrage History

The history of the US women’s suffrage campaign in the twentieth century has often devolved into a debate about whether mainstream politics or militant agitation won the day. This article argues th...
Positron Annihilation in γ- and α-Cerium

The $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\alpha}$ phase transition of cerium has been investigated by measurement of the positron lifetime and angular correlation of positron-annihilation radiation in the two phases. The lifetime in the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ phase was observed to be 8% shorter than the lifetime in the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ phase when the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ phase was produced by the application of pressure; and it was observed to be 5% longer when the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ phase was produced by lowering the temperature. The angular correlation from $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-cerium produced by pressure was observed to be slightly broader than that from $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-cerium, in contrast to the narrowing previously observed when $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-cerium was produced by lowering the temperature. Since the observed changes are much smaller than predicted by models which explain the $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\alpha}$ transition by assuming a transfer, or partial transfer, of the $4f$ electron to the conduction band, it is concluded that such electronic promotion does not occur.
Animal Home Ranges

Animals rarely move in random manner, and instead typically restrict their movements to a particular area known as their home range. This chapter reviews the ecology of animal home ranges. Topics covered include: methods used to characterize animal home range patterns, ecological factors influencing home range size, shape and spatial distribution, the evolutionary significance of differences in home range behavior, and the consequences of patterns of space-use by individuals at the population and community level.
Viral Vectors in the CNS

Viral vectors have been designed to take advantage of the efficiency of viruses at entering and inserting genetic material into cells while removing pathological functions. The most commonly used application of viral vectors in the central nervous system (CNS) is gene therapy, which in most cases involves delivery of a normal copy of a defective gene but may also involve the knockdown of deleterious functions. Viral vectors are also used as experimental tools to overexpress proteins or knockdown specific genes to study function, for visualization of specific cell types in vivo, for tract tracing, for experimental activation of specific neurons, and for experimental manipulations during development.
PSUzzle: web-based introduction to programming practice: demonstration

PSUzzle is a web application where students using programming concepts to solve puzzles. The application is geared towards students taking CS 0 and CS 1 courses and do not have previous programming experience. The puzzles incrementally take students through the process of building small programs to solve problems by using visual programming. Students start with a simple sequence of statements. As they progress they are introduced to conditionals, loops, and functions and are challenged to solve puzzles with the new components as they are introduced. The application also supports exercises where the students translate the visual programs to and from textual representations. The application tracks each student's progress and generates the puzzles based on their current level of achievement. The goal of the application is to give students confidence and experience in creating programs.
Tumor hypoxia modulation dynamics using intra-tumoral, intra-peritoneal and intra-venous oxygen microbubbles administrations — In vivo real-time measurements via spectroscopic absorbance on a rat subcutaneous fibrosarcoma model

Solid tumor hypoxia is a poor outcome predictor for radiotherapy, chemotherapy and also surgical treatment options. Recently, oxygen microbubbles (OMB) have shown promise as an adjuvant therapy to relieve such tumor hypoxia. However, a key limiting factor remains the lack of available data in vivo of the dose-response and time-dynamics of this OMB-induced reoxygenation. Here we study the kinetics of OMB-induced hypoxia-modulation by continuously measuring tumor hypoxia in vivo before, during and after OMB administration.
A surprising role for COX-2 signaling in promoting IL-22 in the absence of IL-33 or TLR9 during invasive aspergillosis (INC4P.326)

IL-33 is a proallergic cytokine thought to play a role in severity of fungal asthma whereas TLR9 signaling has been previously reported to constrain lung immune responses to invasive aspergillosis (IA). We have previously reported a critical role for IL-22 in host defense during IA and therefore questioned whether IL-33 or TLR9 signaling affected IL-22-mediated immune responses. Results show that mice deficient in the receptor for IL-33 (Il1rl1-/- mice) demonstrated enhanced clearance of A. fumigatus from the lungs, which correlated with elevated IL-22 production independent of elevated IL-23 levels. Similar results were observed with mice deficient in TLR9 ( Tlr9-/- mice). To this end, we show that PGE2 was induced at higher levels in both Il1rl1-/- and Tlr9-/- mice. In contrast, PGD2 was not detected in either Il1rl1-/- and Tlr9-/- mice whereas PGF2α was observed to be higher in Il1rl1-/-, but not Tlr9-/-, mice. Moreover, treatment of normal mice with IL-33 resulted in attenuated IL-22 induction after A. fumigatus exposure, which correlated with lower PGE2 production. Finally, treating either Il1rl1-/- or Tlr9-/- mice with Celecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug which inhibits COX-2 (PGE2/PGF2α induction), attenuated IL-22 production and eliminated the enhanced fungal clearance. These data suggest that signaling via IL1RL-1 and TLR9 regulates COX-2 mediated IL-22 during lung infection with A. fumigatus .
Ionization of Wood During Previsual Stages of Wood Decay

The wood decay process has both visual and previsual stages. Visual stages include both wood discoloration and the loss of structural integrity. Prior to the appearance of visual stages, wood undergoing the decay process is altered. These previsual alterations affect wood properties such as the accumulation of ions and decay resistance in vitro (Shortle and Smith, 1987; Smith, 1987).
Mesoscale variability of summer and winter daily solar radiation in Arizona, U.S.A.

In the south-western U.S.A. solar climate region there is less spatial variability of daily solar radiation compared to higher latitudes and/or more humid regions. Correlation coefficients and coefficients of variability of pairwise satellite-interpreted and solar ground sites in Arizona are utilized to produce this finding. At daily time scales and at mesoscales (e.g. state-wide areas) there remains interpolation error which must be considered in solar-related climate problems. Extrapolation distances for various statistical levels of confidence and preferred error tolerances of solar specification are displayed and related to several climatic problems of importance in arid regions.
Chitosan nanoparticles: Polyphosphates cross-linking and protein delivery properties

Nanoparticles from chitosan, in general, can be prepared through ionotropic gelation, physical crosslinking, with anionic polyphosphates. Tripolyphosphate (TPP) is widely used for such purpose especially in drug delivery applications. TPP is a small ion with a triple negative charge throughout the physiologically acceptable pH range. However, the stability of size and surface charge of the particles still challenging. In the current work, the utilization of Hexametaphosphate (HMP) instead of Tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a cross-linking agent is being investigated. HMP is hexavalent molecule in the neutral and slightly basic medium which offers more binding sites readily available for interaction with chitosan. It is thought that increasing the availability of the binding sites in the HMP molecule would result in stronger ionic complexation with chitosan cationic charges. Consequently, such stronger binding improves particles' stability and lead to average size reduction. A comparative study between chitosan/TPP and chitosan/HMP nanoparticles under different complexation conditions was conducted to investigate the effect of HMP on nanoparticles formation. Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) was applied as a protein model drug to explore the drug loading efficiency, 96.3%, is higher than its TPP, 91.87%, counterparts. However, TPP cross-linked particles showed superior stability upon storage.
Prenatal metyrapone treatment modulates neonatal cerebrovascular structure, function, and vulnerability to mild hypoxic-ischemic injury

This study explored the hypothesis that late gestational reduction of corticosteroids transforms the cerebrovasculature and modulates postnatal vulnerability to mild hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury. F...
Thin-film deposition

Introduction Thin-film deposition can be regarded as a phase change from a gas phase to a solid phase on a substrate [1, 2]. Typically, we need to know the growth rate, the purity, and the microstructure of the deposited film. The growth rate is controlled by the flux equation, to be discussed in the next section. For a high-purity film, it will require ultrahigh vacuum deposition, to be discussed in Section 2.7. The consideration of microstructure of the film, e.g. whether it is amorphous, polycrystalline, or epitaxial single crystal, will require specification of the deposition conditions or the selection of deposition parameters to be discussed in Section 2.11. Fig. 2.1 depicts the two key parts in a vacuum chamber in film deposition; they are the target and the substrate. Let us assume that they are of the same material. The target is kept at temperature T 1 and the substrate is kept at temperature T 2 , and T 2 1 . At the equilibrium condition, there are fluxes of atoms departing from and returning to the target surface, as there are on the substrate surface on the basis of the principle of micro-reversibility. These fluxes establish an equilibrium pressure, P 1 and P 2 , on the target and the substrate surfaces, respectively, and P 2 1 . Due to the pressure difference or pressure gradient, it will lead to a flow of gas or mass transport via the gas state from the target to the substrate.
Evolution of Do-It-Yourself Remote Monitoring Technology for Type 1 Diabetes:

Background:The Nightscout Project is a leading example of patient-designed, do-it-yourself (DIY), open-source technology innovations to support type 1 diabetes management. We are unaware of studies...
Cultural and Contextual Affordances in Language MOOCs: Student Perspectives

This case study explores cultural and contextual affordances in language massive open online courses (LMOOCs), especially the extent to which an LMOOC effectively promotes optimal language learning. Participants included 15 language student teachers of English as a second or foreign language in a spring technology elective course at a private university on the East Coast. Student teachers enrolled in language MOOCs and tracked and evaluated their learning process and progress through weekly logs and surveys. Data was collected from weekly reflection logs and pre- and post-surveys. Results indicate that the cultural affordances were more salient in the advanced Spanish MOOC and the Hindi MOOC, while in the beginning-level LMOOCs, contextual factors were lacking overall.
A thermo-elastoplastic self-consistent homogenization method for inter-granular plasticity with application to thermal ratcheting of TATB

A novel thermo-elastoplastic self-consistent homogenization model for granular materials that exhibit inter-granular plasticity is presented. The model, TEPSCA, is made possible by identifying a new inter-granular plastic Eshelby-like tensor. A micromechanical model of interfacial yielding between grains of a Mohr–Coulomb type is provided, which is relatable to the description of imperfect interfaces within the paradigm of self-consistent homogenization. The local grain constitutive laws are consistent with the description of an interphase layer comprised of local pore volume between grains, such that inelastic inter-particle displacements are directly relatable to changes in bulk porosity, i.e., dilation. The model was developed for the purpose of modeling thermally induced plasticity—the phenomenon known as thermal ratcheting or “ratchet growth”—of composites made from the high explosive triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB). Model simulations are compared to ratchet growth measurements during cyclic thermal loading of a TATB pellet under stress-free conditions.
Modeling and measurements using polarimetric lidar

A combination of experimental lidar results and shape-dependent scatter amplitude matrix calculations are used to explore the utility of polarimetric lidars for aerosol characterization. Solutions are developed for the induced polarization vector response of skewed spheroidal particles and the scatter is then computed using an improved anomalous diffraction approximation method. Experimental data was collected on biological simulant, chemical simulant, and interferent aerosol clouds using a 1047 nm micropulse lidar designed to measure the simultaneous depolarization using a linearly polarized source. Depolarization signatures obtained during testing show a clear difference between wet and dry biological simulant aerosols, wet chemical simulant releases, and some interferents. Combining these measurements with the shape-dependent model calculations help us understand the unique polarimetric signatures that may be exploited for aerosol characterization using stand-off lidar techniques.
Divergent bitter and sweet taste perception intensity in chronic rhinosinusitis patients

BACKGROUND Bitter and sweet taste receptors are present in the human upper airway, where they have roles in innate immunity. Previous studies have shown that 1 of the 25 bitter receptors, TAS2R38, responds to specific bacterial signaling molecules and evokes 1 type of a defense response in the upper airway, whereas ligands of sweet receptors suppress other types of defense responses. METHODS We examined whether other bitter taste receptors might also be involved in innate immunity by using sensory responses to bitter compounds that are not ligands of TAS2R38 (quinine and denatonium benzoate) to assess the sensitivity of other bitter receptors in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. CRS patients with (n = 426) and without (n = 226) nasal polyps and controls (n = 356) rated the intensity of quinine, denatonium benzoate, phenylthiocarbamide (PTC; a ligand for TAS2R38), sucrose, and salt. RESULTS CRS patients rated the bitter compounds denatonium benzoate and quinine as less intense and sucrose as more intense than did controls (false discovery rate [FDR] 0.05). PTC bitter taste intensity differed between patient and control groups but were less marked than those previously reported. Though differences were statistically significant, overall effect sizes were small. CONCLUSION CRS patients report bitter stimuli as less intense but sweet stimuli as more intense than do control subjects. We speculate that taste responses may reflect the competence of sinonasal innate immunity mediated by taste receptor function, and thus a taste test may have potential for clinical utility in CRS patients.
Leukopenia is a biomarker for effective temozolomide dosing and predicts overall survival of patients with glioblastoma

The median survival time of patients with glioblastoma is 14-16 months with a 5-year overall survival rate of 9.8%. Standard of care treatment includes radiation with concomitant temozolomide followed by cyclic temozolomide. If the patient develops myelosuppression (thrombocytopenia, leukopenia or anemia), the dose of temozolomide is reduced or stopped to avoid bleeding or infections. Recent studies have demonstrated that mild leukopenia is associated with increased overall survival in patients with glioblastoma. To confirm prior results showing that leukopenia is associated with increased overall survival as a primary outcome in patients with glioblastoma, the present study retrospectively collected complete blood counts from 141 patients with glioblastoma treated at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, USA) between January 2012 and December 2017. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis with a log-rank test, the presence of leukopenia was associated with increased overall survival (P=0.008). Furthermore, patients with grade 2 leukopenia (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0) survived longer than those without myelosuppression (P=0.024). There was no difference in overall survival between patients with grade 1, 3 or 4 leukopenia and those without myelosuppression. Leukopenia was associated with longer survival independent of age or extent of surgery in Cox proportional hazards regression modeling (P=0.00205). A possible interpretation is that grade 2 leukopenia is a biomarker of adequate temozolomide dosing in a population with diverse DNA repair function, which may be the consequence of variable O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity. A prospective dose escalation trial is necessary to determine if treatment-induced leukopenia is beneficial for all patients receiving temozolomide.
Elevated Temperatures Cause Transposon-Associated DNA Damage in C. elegans Spermatocytes.

Sexually reproducing organisms use meiosis to generate haploid gametes and faithfully transmit their genome to the next generation. In comparison to oogenesis in many organisms, spermatogenesis is particularly sensitive to small temperature fluctuations, and spermatocytes must develop within a very narrow isotherm [1-4]. Although failure to thermoregulate spermatogenetic tissue and prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures are linked to male infertility in several organisms, the mechanisms of temperature-induced male infertility have not been fully elucidated [5]. Here, we show that upon exposure to a brief 2°C temperature increase, Caenorhabditis elegans spermatocytes exhibit up to a 25-fold increase in double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) throughout meiotic prophase I and a concurrent reduction in male fertility. We demonstrate that these heat-induced DSBs in spermatocytes are independent of the endonuclease SPO-11. Further, we find that the production of these heat-induced DSBs in spermatocytes correlate with heat-induced mobilization of Tc1/mariner transposable elements, which are known to cause DSBs and alter genome integrity [6, 7]. Moreover, we define the specific sequences and regions of the male genome that preferentially experience these heat-induced de novo Tc1 insertions. In contrast, oocytes do not exhibit changes in DSB formation or Tc1 transposon mobility upon temperature increases. Taken together, our data suggest spermatocytes are less tolerant of higher temperatures because of an inability to effectively repress the movement of specific mobile DNA elements that cause excessive DNA damage and genome alterations, which can impair fertility.