cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Penetration and splash protection of six disposable gown materials against fifteen antineoplastic drugs

Introduction. Six commercially available, disposable protective gown materials were tested for splash protection and penetration against 15 antineoplastic drugs and five control solutions.Materials. The commercially available drugs in standard concentrations included etoposide, teniposide, docetaxel, paclitaxel, carmustine, topotecan, irinotecan, doxorubicin, liposomal doxorubicin, vinorelbine, cisplatin, carboplatin, mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, and fluorouracil. Control solutions included water, saline, 10% ethanol, fluorescein aqueous, and fluorescein in 25% ethanol.Methods. A6 3 6 cm gown sample was placed on an absorptive pad on the work surface of a biological safety cabinet. A single drop of each solution was dropped onto the gown from a height of 20 cm to simulate a simple splash. Each dispensed drop was observed for 1 minute. Two endpoints were used: (a) absorption into the gown material versus beading on the gown surface and (b) visible detection of the drug on the opposite side of the gown.R...
Effects of Alcohol Intoxication and Victimization History on Women's Sexual Assault Resistance Intentions: The Role of Secondary Cognitive Appraisals:

This study used an experimental paradigm to investigate the role of secondary cognitive appraisals in women's sexual assault resistance and whether these appraisals mediated influences of alcohol and prior victimization. After consuming a beverage (control, placebo, moderate, or high dose), 351 women projected themselves into a simulated interaction with a sexually aggressive man. Four types of secondary appraisals (shock at the man's behavior, concern about his feelings, uncertainty in the situation, conflict about what to do) and three resistance strategies (assertive, polite, passive) were examined. Path modeling revealed that, as expected, intoxication and prior sexual victimization influenced secondary appraisals, which in turn influenced intended resistance. Prior adult sexual assault (ASA) and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) also had direct effects: ASA negatively predicted assertive resistance and CSA positively predicted passivity. Findings suggest that secondary appraisals are key targets for intervention to facilitate effective resistance, thereby reducing the risk of adult sexual victimization.
Radiation exposure to operating room personnel and patients during endovascular procedures.

Objective To characterize radiation exposure to patients and operating room personnel during fluoroscopic procedures. Methods Patient dose information was collected from the imaging equipment. Real-time dosimetry was used to measure doses to the operators, scrub nurse, radiologic technologist (RT), and anesthesiologist in 39 cases of endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair using fenestrated endografts. Overall equivalent doses and dose rates at time points of interest were noted and compared with the corresponding patient doses. Results The dosimeter on the anesthesia equipment received 143 μSv (38-247) more radiation per case than the average operator, and the scrub nurse and RT received 106 μSv (66-146) and 100 μSv (55-145) less, respectively. Adjusting for protective lead aprons by the Webster methodology, the average operator received an effective dose of 38 μSv. Except for the RT, personnel doses were well correlated with patient dose as measured by kerma area product (KAP) ( r = .82 for average operator, r = .85 for scrub nurse, and r = .86 for anesthesia; all P r = .47; P r = −.56; P r = .99; P r = .54 and r = .44; both P Conclusions Personnel doses were best correlated with KAP and less well correlated with fluoroscopy time or CAK. The dosimeter on the anesthesia equipment recorded the highest doses attributable to ineffective shielding. Operators can reduce the effective dose to themselves, the patient, and other personnel by minimizing the use of digital subtraction acquisitions, avoiding lateral angulation, using higher magnification levels when possible, and being diligent about the use of shielding during fluoroscopy cases.
Automated design of application specific superscalar processors: an analytical approach

Analytical modeling is applied to the automated design of application-specific superscalar processors. Using an analytical method bridges the gap between the size of the design space and the time required for detailed cycle-accurate simulations. The proposed design framework takes as inputs the design targets (upper bounds on execution time, area, and energy), design alternatives, and one or more application programs. The output is the set of out-of-order superscalar processors that are Pareto-optimal with respect to performance-energy-area. The core of the new design framework is made up of analytical performance and energy activity models, and an analytical model-based design optimization process.For a set of benchmark programs and a design space of 2000 designs, the design framework arrives at all performance-energy-area Pareto-optimal design points within 16 minutes on a 2 GHz Pentium-4. In contrast, it is estimated that a naive cycle-accurate simulation-based exhaustive search would require at least two months to arrive at the Pareto-optimal design points for the same design space.
Early language patterns of toddlers on the autism spectrum compared to toddlers with developmental delay

This study characterized early language abilities in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders (n = 257) using multiple measures of language development, compared to toddlers with non-spectrum developmental delay (DD, n = 69). Findings indicated moderate to high degrees of agreement among three assessment measures (one parent report and two direct assessment measures). Performance on two of the three measures revealed a significant difference in the profile of receptive-expressive language abilities for toddlers with autism compared to the DD group, such that toddlers with autism had relatively more severe receptive than expressive language delays. Regression analyses examining concurrent predictors of language abilities revealed both similarities in significant predictors (nonverbal cognition) and differences (frequency of vocalization, imitation) across the diagnostic groups.
Microbial community transcriptional networks are conserved in three domains at ocean basin scales

Planktonic microbial communities in the ocean are typically dominated by several cosmopolitan clades of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya characterized by their ribosomal RNA gene phylogenies and genomic features. Although the environments these communities inhabit range from coastal to open ocean waters, how the biological dynamics vary between such disparate habitats is not well known. To gain insight into the differential activities of microbial populations inhabiting different oceanic provinces we compared the daily metatranscriptome profiles of related microbial populations inhabiting surface waters of both a coastal California upwelling region (CC) as well as the oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG). Transcriptional networks revealed that the dominant photoautotrophic microbes in each environment (Ostreococcus in CC, Prochlorococcus in NPSG) were central determinants of overall community transcriptome dynamics. Furthermore, heterotrophic bacterial clades common to both ecosystems (SAR11, SAR116, SAR86, SAR406, and Roseobacter) displayed conserved, genome-wide inter- and intrataxon transcriptional patterns and diel cycles. Populations of SAR11 and SAR86 clades in particular exhibited tightly coordinated transcriptional patterns in both coastal and pelagic ecosystems, suggesting that specific biological interactions between these groups are widespread in nature. Our results identify common diurnally oscillating behaviors among diverse planktonic microbial species regardless of habitat, suggesting that highly conserved temporally phased biotic interactions are ubiquitous among planktonic microbial communities worldwide.
Statistical sources on women: A critical evaluation

In a paper published in 1986, Helen B. Josephine and Deborah K. Blouin discuss four areas where new reference works in women's studies were needed: statistical sources, encyclopedias, yearbooks, and abstracting and indexing services. Using modified criteria outlined in Josephine's and Blouin's article, this article evaluates print statistical sources that specifically cover women and that were published in English during the 1990s. Evaluations discuss titles in terms of their inclusion of comparisons based on gender, age, race/ethnicity, and time period (historical) in both statistical material and indexing. Evaluations also mention the variety of sources cited, scope, and the presence or absence of introductory material, narrative highlights, bibliographies of sources, full citation for each statistic, and explanatory footnotes. Evaluation of the accuracy of the statistics themselves or the adequacy of statistical methodology is beyond the scope of this article.
A brief history of the Graduate Studies Program at The New York Botanical Garden

The New York Botanical Garden initiated its Graduate Studies Program through a cooperative agreement with Columbia University in 1896. This arrangement continued until the late 1960s, when the Biology Department at Columbia chose to emphasize laboratory-related research and discontinued its organismal programs. At the time a new partnership was formed with what was to become Lehman College of the City University of New York—a program that has continued through the present. Since the inception of its Graduate Studies Program 100 years ago, the Garden has provided sponsorship, guidance, and resources to help more than 200 studients receive graduate degrees. In recent years the Garden has expanded its graduate program to include four additional university affiliates: the Department of Biology at New York University, the Institute of Systematic Botany at Cornell University, the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University, and, in a new agreement with an old partner, the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation at Columbia University.
Effect of Post-Chill Deboning on Tenderness of Broiler Breast Fillets

Abstract Because of consumer demand for consistency in product texture, food manufacturers are demanding that variations in the texture of meat ingredients be minimized. While aging carcasses for 2 to 3 hr post-chill before deboning reduced average fillet toughness, food manufacturers report that some fillets remained unacceptably tough for some applications. This study examines the effect of post-chill aging time on the toughness of breast fillets.
SECTORS MAY USE MULTIPLE TECHNOLOGIES SIMULTANEOUSLY: THE RECTANGULAR CHOICE-OF-TECHNOLOGY MODEL WITH BINDING FACTOR CONSTRAINTS

We develop the rectangular choice-of-technology model with factor constraints, or RCOT, a linear programming input–output model for analysis of the economy of a single region. It allows for one or more sectors to operate more than one technology simultaneously, with the relatively lowest-cost one supplemented by others if it encounters a binding factor constraint. The RCOT model solves for sector outputs, goods prices that are set by the highest-cost technologies in use, and scarcity rents that correspond to binding factor constraints experienced by the lower-cost technologies. The model is motivated by the fact that mineral deposits of different qualities may be exploited simultaneously, as may primary and recycled sources for the same materials or irrigated and rain-fed techniques for producing the same crop. RCOT generalizes Carter's square choice-of-technology model, in particular adding the factor constraints that allow several alternatives to operate simultaneously. The Appendix gives a numerical ex...
New Species of Calyptranthes (Myrtaceae) from Ecuador and Peru

Abstract. Two new species of Calyptranthes (Myrtaceae) are described and illustrated: Calyptranthes carinata from Peru and C. nervata from Ecuador.
Androgen Receptor Regulation of Prostate Cancer Progression and Metastasis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed non-cutaneous malignancy and the second most lethal cancer in men amongst the United States. Localized tumors are effectively treated via radical prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy, however disseminated disease contributes greatly to patient morbidity. At present, therapeutic intervention for metastatic disease capitalizes on the addiction of these tumors to the androgen receptor (AR). The AR signaling axis regulates cell growth, proliferation, and migration of cancer cells, which makes understanding the contribution of AR toward these signaling pathways integral for PCa eradication. Several key signaling molecules are currently known to be controlled by AR and promote migration and invasion in castrate-resistant PCa (CRPC). This concept will be explored with regard to the interplay between AR and chemokine receptors, chromosomal fusions, oncogenes, and microRNAs. Additionally, current and preclinical AR-directed therapeutics used for treatment of metastatic PCa, which impinge on these pathways, and overall AR activity, will be discussed.
Search-and-matching analysis of high unemployment caused by the zero lower bound ✩

Abstract A basic principle of macroeconomics holds that an excessive real interest rate is the cause of high unemployment at the zero lower bound on the nominal interest rate. Absent the bound, the rate could be negative and the real rate could be low enough to restore full employment. Models backing up this principle make controversial assumptions about price-stickiness and the failure of market-clearing in the product market and sometimes in the labor market. This paper generates realistic effects of the zero lower bound without those assumptions, by substituting a search-and-matching setup in both the product and labor markets.
Ectopic copora lutea

Summary 1. Corpora lutea may become partially or totally separated from theovary. 2. Twenty-four cases of this anomaly have been published previouslyin the European literature; six additional eases are presented, illustratingdifferent degrees of "displacement." 3. The term "ectopic corpora lutea" is proposed for this anomaly. 4. The inhibiting influence of ectopic corpora lutea on menstruationand ovulation has not been definitely established and requires furtherclinical and pathologic observation.
New medications for heart failure

Heart failure is common and results in substantial morbidity and mortality. Current guideline-based therapies for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, including beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and aldosterone antagonists aim to interrupt deleterious neurohormonal pathways and have shown significant success in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure. Continued efforts to further improve outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction have led to the first new-in-class medications approved for heart failure since 2005, ivabradine and sacubitril/valsartan. Ivabradine targets the If channels in the sinoatrial node of the heart, decreasing heart rate. Sacubitril/valsartan combines a neprilysin inhibitor that increases levels of beneficial vasodilatory peptides with an angiotensin receptor antagonist. On a background of previously approved, guideline-directed medical therapies for heart failure, these medications have shown improved clinical outcomes ranging from decreased hospitalizations in a select group of patients to a reduction in all-cause mortality across all pre-specified subgroups. In this review, we will discuss the previously established guideline-directed medical therapies for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, the translational research that led to the development of these new therapies, and the results from the major clinical trials of ivabradine and sacubitril/valsartan.
Structural comparison of copper(I) and copper(II) complexes with tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligand.

Copper(I) complexes with the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPMA) ligand were synthesized and characterized to examine the effect of counteranions (Br(-), ClO(4)(-), and BPh(4)(-)), as well as auxiliary ligands (CH(3)CN, 4,4'-dipyridyl, and PPh(3)) on the molecular structures in both solid state and solution. Partial dissociation of one of the pyridyl arms in TPMA was not observed when small auxiliary ligands such as CH(3)CN or Br(-) were coordinated to copper(I), but was found to occur with larger ones such as PPh(3) or 4,4'-dipyridyl. All complexes were found to adopt a distorted tetrahedral geometry, with the exception of [Cu(I)(TPMA)][BPh(4)], which was found to be trigonal pyramidal because of stabilization via a long cuprophilic interaction with a bond length of 2.8323(12) A. Copper(II) complexes with the general formula [Cu(II)(TPMA)X][Y] (X = Cl(-), Br(-) and Y = ClO(4)(-), BPh(4)(-)) were also synthesized to examine the effect of different counterions on the geometry of [Cu(II)(TPMA)X](+) cation, and were found to be isostructural with previously reported [Cu(II)(TPMA)X][X] (X = Cl(-) or Br(-)) complexes.
Abstract 1391: Simultaneous knockdown of MMP-9 and uPAR/cathepsin B retards α9β1 integrin-mediated cell migration via SSAT and potassium channel pathway in glioma xenografts

The α9β1 integrin accelerates cell migration through the binding of α9 cytoplasmic domain to spermidine/spermine-N 1 -acetyltransferase (SSAT), which catalyzes the catabolism of higher order polyamines, spermidine and spermine, to the lower order polyamine, putrescine. Our recent studies have clearly demonstrated the role of α9β1 integrin in MMP-9, uPAR and cathepsin B-mediated cell migration in glioma xenograft cells (4910 and 5310). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms through which MMP-9 and uPAR/cathepsin B knockdown inhibits α9β1 integrin-mediated migration in glioma xenograft cells. Western blot, RT-PCR and immunofluorescence analyses revealed downregulation of SSAT levels both at the mRNA and protein levels by siRNA-mediated simultaneous knockdown of MMP-9 and uPAR/cathepsin B. In addition, we noted a prominent reduction in the expression of SSAT with MMP-9 and uPAR/cathepsin B knockdown in the tumor regions of 5310 injected nude mice brains. Co-localization of α9 integrin with kir4.2, an inward rectifier potassium channel, was observed in both 4910 and 5310 xenograft cells. However, MMP-9 and uPAR/cathepsin B knockdown in these cells prominently reduced the co-localization of α9 with kir4.2. Interestingly, MMP-9, uPAR and cathepsin B overexpression in these xenograft cells significantly elevated SSAT mRNA and protein levels. Further, the migratory potential of MMP-9/uPAR/cathepsin B overexpressed 4910 and 5310 cells was not affected by either glybenclamide or tertiapin-Q but instead was significantly inhibited by either barium or kir4.2 siRNA treatments. Taken together, our results from the present and earlier studies clearly demonstrate that α9β1 integrin-mediated cell migration utilizes SSAT and kir4.2 potassium channel pathway, and inhibition of the migratory potential of these glioma xenograft cells by simultaneous knockdown of MMP-9 and uPAR/cathepsin B could be attributed to the reduced SSAT levels and co-localization of α9 integrin with kir4.2 potassium channels. Based on these findings, we conclude that the simultaneous knockdown of MMP-9 and uPAR/cathepsin B retards SSAT and potassium channel pathway-mediated cell migration through the α9β1 integrin. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1391. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1391
Blood group substances in canine gastric mucus and acid secretion.

SummaryCanine gastric secretions—both fluid acid and viscous non-acid—and hexosamine-rich fractions derived therefrom, were assayed for blood group substance activity in canine and in human test systems. None of the specimens tested was active in the canine test systems, but all exhibited A and H activity in the human test systems; no human B activity was detected. Hexosamine-rich fractions obtained by peptic digestion and phenol extraction of canine gastric secretion were largely of the neutral mucoid type, and were active in human A and H systems at the microgram level.
Teachers’ Perspectives in Using Disney Songs in the Music Classroom:

Integrating popular music as part of the public school music curriculum has been a topic of debate among many educators and researchers. Songs from the Disney Corporation, specifically from movies,...
Chemical Mixtures in Potable Water in the U.S.

In recent years, regulators have devoted increasing attention to health risks from exposure to multiple chemicals. In 1996, the US Congress directed the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study mixtures of chemicals in drinking water, with a particular focus on potential interactions affecting chemicals' joint toxicity. The task is complicated by the number of possible mixtures in drinking water and lack of toxicological data for combinations of chemicals. As one step toward risk assessment and regulation of mixtures, the EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have proposed to estimate mixtures' toxicity based on the interactions of individual component chemicals. This approach permits the use of existing toxicological data on individual chemicals, but still requires additional information on interactions between chemicals and environmental data on the public's exposure to combinations of chemicals.
Selected features of metamaterials with near-zero parameters

Metamaterials with near-zero parameters exhibit unique features that enable the exploration of qualitatively different physics in classical and quantum electrodynamics. In our presentation, we will present a review of some of the most relevant phenomena and our ongoing efforts in this area. In particular, we will emphasize the geometry-invariant properties that arise from the decoupling of spatial and temporal field variations, leading, for example, to the excitation of bound states whose eigenfrequency is independent of the geometry of the external boundary. We also specifically address the reversible decay dynamics experienced by a two-level system coupled to these bound eigenmodes, even under the deformation of the external boundary of the cavity.
Differential Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions

This chapter describes functions, limits, and continuity in the case of vector-valued functions through examples. f is vector valued and f 1 …, f m are called the coordinate functions or components of f . The range or image of f is the set of m -vectors obtained as X varies over D , which is the domain of f . The chapter presents a generalization of the idea of differentiability, previously defined for real valued functions, to vector valued functions. It discusses the chain rule. Vector functions of the form F : R n → R n occur in so many applications that a special name is given to them. These are called vector and scalar fields. A vector field is a vector valued function F, whose domain and range are both subsets of R n . A real valued function f : R n → R is called a scalar field. The chapter discusses the gradient as a vector field, divergence of a vector field, the Laplacian of a scalar field, and curl of a vector field. It presents the implicit functions theorem for vector valued functions.
Multimedia Exhibition Teaches Undergraduate Students About Sustainable Fashion

Fashion industry leaders and academic scholars have indicated that there is a great need in higher education to teach fashion students about sustainable fashion because fashion students simultaneously represent a group of fashion consumers and future industry professionals. The limited research published on this topic has concluded that there are significant gaps in fashion students’ knowledge of sustainable fashion, which creates a fundamental need for finding ways to effectively educate fashion students about sustainability. Students currently enrolled in higher education represent the “Millennial Generation.” Previous research has indicated that Millennials learn best when they are able to connect abstract concepts with concrete examples, using experiential learning techniques. In light of this, the purpose of this study was to test the validity of such research findings by examining the effect that experiential learning, utilizing multimedia learning tools, has on fashion students’ knowledge of sustainability in fashion manufacturing. The experiential learning activity was an educational exhibit titled Fashion & Sustainability. The exhibit provided students with an opportunity to experience social, environmental, and economic sustainability related to the fashion industry in a learning space specifically designed to exemplify the various facets of sustainable fashion through the utilization of multimedia learning tools, including visuals, video, and hands-on activities. To better understand the effect that the experiential techniques had on students’ learning, the study measured the learning outcomes between two groups of undergraduate students enrolled in fashion courses in the Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors at The University of Georgia. Survey questionnaires were used to measure students’ learning and were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed using t-tests and theme identification. The first group included students that were enrolled in an introductory fashion course, TXMI 3210, which covered the basic principles of sustainable fashion. The second group of students only attended the exhibition and learned about sustainable fashion through the exhibit alone. Ultimately, there was minimal difference between the acquired knowledge of students that participated in the course and attended the exhibition, compared to the students that only attended the exhibition, which suggests that through experiential learning methods, students are able to learn just as much, if not more, about sustainable fashion.
Modeling Tanimoto Similarity Value Distributions and Predicting Search Results

Similarity searching using molecular fingerprints has a long history in chemoinformatics and continues to be a popular approach for virtual screening. Typically, known active reference molecules are used to search databases for new active compounds. However, this search has black box character because similarity value distributions are dependent on fingerprints and compound classes. Consequently, no generally applicable similarity threshold values are available as reliable indicators of activity relationships between reference and database compounds. Therefore, it is generally uncertain where new active compounds might appear in database rankings, if at all. In this contribution, methods are discussed for modeling similarity value distributions of fingerprint search calculations using Tanimoto coefficients and estimating rank positions of active compounds. To our knowledge, these are the first approaches for predicting the results of fingerprint-based similarity searching.
Spectral wave dissipation by submerged aquatic vegetation in a back-barrier estuary

Submerged aquatic vegetation is generally thought to attenuate waves, but this interaction remains poorly characterized in shallow-water field settings with locally generated wind waves. Better quantification of wave–vegetation interaction can provide insight to morphodynamic changes in a variety of environments and also is relevant to the planning of nature-based coastal protection measures. Toward that end, an instrumented transect was deployed across a Zostera marina (common eelgrass) meadow in Chincoteague Bay, Maryland/Virginia, U.S.A., to characterize wind-wave transformation within the vegetated region. Field observations revealed wave-height reduction, wave-period transformation, and wave-energy dissipation with distance into the meadow, and the data informed and calibrated a spectral wave model of the study area. The field observations and model results agreed well when local wind forcing and vegetation-induced drag were included in the model, either explicitly as rigid vegetation elements or implicitly as large bed-roughness values. Mean modeled parameters were similar for both the explicit and implicit approaches, but the spectral performance of the explicit approach was poor compared to the implicit approach. The explicit approach over-predicted low-frequency energy within the meadow because the vegetation scheme determines dissipation using mean wavenumber and frequency, in contrast to the bed-friction formulations, which dissipate energy in a variable fashion across frequency bands. Regardless of the vegetation scheme used, vegetation was the most important component of wave dissipation within much of the study area. These results help to quantify the influence of submerged aquatic vegetation on wave dynamics in future model parameterizations, field efforts, and coastal-protection measures.
Managing Legacy and the Paralympic Games

“We aim to build on the legacy of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and encourage more youngsters in the continent to try and compete in para-sport” (Andrew Parsons, Head of Brazilian Paralympic Committee 2016, IPC, p. 3). In recent years, cities hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games have used the rhetoric of legacy for the host community as a way to demonstrate the broader value of hosting such a mega-event (Horne 2015; Grix 2013). While much of the legacy literature has focused on the Olympic Games, there is an emergence of research centred on the Paralympic Games and the potential value offered from hosting the Games. Unfortunately, legacy has become a “catch-all” term that seems to apply to anything intended or unintended leftover from hosting the event. This idea holds little value for host communities seeking to support broader social outcomes through event hosting. In the context of the Paralympic Games, however, the relative infancy of such a movement and the discussions about impacts offers a unique place to consider the role of the Games in influencing specific legacy and related effects. In this chapter, I will offer a perspective of managing Paralympic legacy based on the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) approach to creating broad social legacies for people with disabilities, examine how this area has been explored in the scholarly literature, and offer some direction on evaluating and considering the role of legacy planning in Paralympic movement.
Analytical structure of the generalized λ-deformation

Abstract We explore the analytical structure of the generalized λ-deformation of AdS p × S p spaces and construct new integrable backgrounds which depend on ( p + 1 ) continuous parameters.
Functional properties of silicone/ethanol soft-actuator composites

Abstract In the present work, we assess functional properties of silicone/ethanol elastomer composites, recently suggested by us as a novel approach to soft actuation. Our approach allows replacement of massive actuation solutions by self-contained composite material, thus making its detailed characterization extremely important. Here, we describe the composite actuation mechanism using microstructural, thermal and compositional analysis of the material comprising of 0–20 vol% ethanol. As a part of our investigation, we also performed mechanical testing aimed at determining the optimal composition, force and strain characteristics for soft actuation. Specifically, we examined the material performance in different soft actuation scenarios pertinent to the soft robotics applications, namely unidirectional piston-like actuator, and radially expanding McKibben artificial muscle. The results were compared in terms of the maximal force and strain developed in the linear portion of the force/time and strain/time scale. The effects of sample size and internal temperature on the mechanical properties of the material were also investigated. Based on the characterization findings, we formulated operational recommendations for utilizing the composites as soft actuators, and drew directions for the further research.
The ATPase activity of E. coli RecA prevents accumulation of toxic complexes formed by erroneous binding to undamaged double strand DNA

The E. coli RecA protein catalyzes the central step of homologous recombination using its homology search and strand exchange activity. RecA is a DNA-dependent ATPase, but its homology search and strand exchange activities are independent of its ATPase activity. ATP hydrolysis converts a high affinity DNA binding form, RecA-ATP, to a low affinity form RecA-ADP, thereby supporting an ATP hydrolysis-dependent dynamic cycle of DNA binding and dissociation. We provide evidence for a novel function of RecA dynamic behavior; RecA ATPase activity prevents accumulation of toxic complexes caused by direct binding of RecA to undamaged regions of dsDNA. We show that a mutant form of RecA, RecA-K250N, previously shown to be toxic to E. coli, is a loss-of-function ATPase-defective mutant. We use a new method for detecting RecA complexes involving nucleoid surface spreading and immunostaining. The method allows detection of damage-induced RecA foci; STED microscopy revealed these to typically be between 50 and 200 nm in length. RecA-K250N, and other toxic variants of RecA, form spontaneous DNA-bound complexes that are independent of replication and of accessory proteins required to load RecA onto tracts of ssDNA in vivo, supporting the hypothesis that expenditure of ATP by RecA serves an error correction function.
Building Community Capacity to Guide University Stewardship

Virtually all communities have issues to address or opportunities to develop that would benefit from the knowledge and resources of higher education. How a specific university or college can best serve a community is not, however, an easy question to answer.
Code Parallelisation On Massively Parallel Machines

The motivation for parallel computing has now been well-known for over a decade. As we reach the physical limits of how fast an individual computation can be made to run, we seek to speed up the overall computation by running as many operations as possible in parallel. The search for concurrency becomes a key element of computational science.
On the Correlation of Electrical Conductivity Properties of Porous Systems with Viscous Flow Transport Coefficients

Abstract This study emphasizes the role that surface conductivity plays in electrical transport processes in porous media. It shows that this term has to be included in the calculations where phase distributions or porosities are to be deducted from formation factor type measurements even in clean formations when electrolyte concentrations are low. in applying a parallel resistance model of conduction processes through porous media, it can be demonstrated that the pertinent parameters are a conductivity ratio function k s /k f = f(C) and the extent of the internal specific pore surface area S p . The conductivity ratio function will also depend on the nature of the internal surface area which determines the mechanism of charge fixation at the solid-solution interface. Based on the assumption that electrical and viscous flow paths in the porous medium are identical, the electrical transport coefficients can be -connected to viscous flow parameters by way of introducing the Kozeny-Carman hydraulic radius concept of porous interstices and linking the internal surface area term to the permeability of the medium.
Crime, Delinquency and Intelligence: A Review of the Worldwide Literature

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the worldwide literature on crime, delinquency, and its relation to intelligence. The chapter begins with the historically troubled story of an inverse relationship between intelligence and delinquent and criminal behavior, and argues that even today criminologists tend to downplay the role of intelligence. The chapter presents, in the form of two tables, an updated review of intelligence–criminality relationships, one for intelligence in general, the other for intellectual imbalances among linguistic and non-linguistic components. The inverse IQ–crime and the intellectually imbalanced-crime relationships are confirmed, usually with the linguistic component being the weaker.. The chapter then draws attention to moral maturation theory, hemispheric functioning theory, and explores the role of evolutionary forces in explaining the observations, supplemented by the genetic influence hypothesis.
Short Flow Characterization Vehicle (Test Chip) Usage in Advanced Technology Development and Yield Improvement

Short flow Characterization Vehicles® can be used at early development phase and offer short learning cycles. Their main usage is to support patterning scheme, validate and freeze design rules, identify and solve major integration and process issues. They have been proven to work for BEOL, FEOL, MOL, and for BEOL-integrated embedded memory elements.
Sex Pistols: Poison in the Machine

When even knowledgeable listeners discuss the Sex Pistols, it is difficult to avoid entertaining a degree of the lore so characteristic of the band’s location in musical discourse: the establishmen...
Intersection of race and religion for youth in foster care: Examining policy and practice

Abstract Religion and race are primary forces affecting both individuals' identities and social relations. Consequently, their impacts on child welfare systems, and the clients of the system, are important to understand. In addition to protections against discrimination on the basis of religion and race, positive affirmations and connection to relevant communities are also needed to achieve client well-being. This analysis examines both historical and contemporary approaches to addressing religion and race in child welfare policy and practice, with a particular focus on adolescent youth. Our primary focus is on Blacks and Christians because these groups have received predominant attention in the literature. We argue that because racial/ethnic and religious identity development are critical to adolescent well-being, race and religion must receive explicit and consistent attention in child welfare practice. Moreover, the importance of religion has often been overlooked, particularly in its intersection with race. Quality practice needs more explicit attention to religion, but this also raises cautions in the current political environment.
Indirect pulsed electrochemical detection following high-performance reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Abstract For detection using pulsed electrochemical detection (PED), analytes must preadsorb to the working gold electrode. Indirect pulsed electrochemical detection (InPED) exploits this requirement by including a PED-active reagent in the mobile phase. The background signal provided by oxidation of this reagent is attenuated by the adsorption of analyte molecules to the electrode. In this paper, a method has been developed to allow the use of InPED in combination with high-performance reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC). Biotin was used as a probe molecule to determine that the use of acetonitrile as the organic modifier in the mobile phase provided superior results to the use of methanol. In addition, a silica-based, high surface area C18 column (i.e., Varian Pursuit XRs) was found to give better results than a polymer-based reversed-phase column (i.e., Dionex IonPac NS1). Optimized experimental conditions were used todetermine lipoic acid, tiopronin, and penicillamine, obtaining detection limits of ≤1 μM (30 pmol injected). The analytical utility of RPLC-InPED was demonstrated by an assay of an over-the-counter-formulation containing lipoic acid.
Relationship Between State Policy and Anesthesia Provider Supply in Rural Communities.

Background There is a significant geographic variation in anesthesia provider supply. Lower supply in rural communities raises concerns about access to procedures that require anesthesia in rural areas. State policies related to certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) practice may help to alleviate rural supply concerns. Objectives To estimate the association between state CRNA policy and anesthesia provider supply especially in rural communities. Research design Repeated cross-sectional design using ordinary least squares and 2-stage least squares regressions. Subjects All counties in the United States from 2010 to 2015. Measures Dependent variables include anesthesia provider counts per 100,000 people, calculated separately for anesthesiologists, CRNAs, and their sum. Key variables of interest include state-level CRNA policy based on scope of practice (SOP) regulations and Medicare opt-out status. Results Opt-out status and less restrictive SOP regulations were consistently correlated with a greater supply of CRNAs, especially in rural counties. Furthermore, we found that anesthesiologists and CRNAs tend to be complements to each other, but less restrictive SOP and opt-out status tend to weaken the importance of this relationship. Conclusions State regulations may lead to increased supply of CRNAs in rural communities. However, the design of our study makes causality difficult to assert. So, it is also possible that states set CRNA policy as a response to counts of anesthesia providers in rural areas. Furthermore, given supply of anesthesiologists and CRNAs are complementary to one another, improving access to anesthesia services may require addressing issues pertaining to the supply of all anesthesia provider types.
Polymeric biomaterials and nanomedicines

This overview intends to demonstrate the close relationship between the design of smart biomaterials and water-soluble polymer-drug conjugates. First, the discovery and systematic studies of hydrogels based on crosslinked poly(meth)acrylic acid esters and substituted amides is described. Then, the lessons learned for the design of water-soluble polymers as drug carriers are highlighted. The current state-of-the-art in water-soluble, mainly poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacylamide (HPMA), polymer-drug conjugates is shown including the design of backbone degradable HPMA copolymer carriers. In the second part, the modern design of hybrid hydrogels focuses on the self-assembly of hybrid copolymers composed from the synthetic part (backbone) and biorecognizable grafts (coiled-coil forming peptides or morpholino oligonucleotides) is shown. The research of self-assembling hydrogels inspired the invention and design of drug-free macromolecular therapeutics - a new paradigm in drug delivery where crosslinking of non-internalizating CD20 receptors results in apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. The latter is mediated by biorecognition of complementary motifs; no low molecular weight drug is needed.
Perceived Need for Reform in Field-Wide Methods and the Teaching of Replication, Interpretation, and Transparency:

Despite discussion and institution of new reforms in psychology research, little is known about how much reform psychologists believe is still needed across various research practices and whether i...
Probing the Dynamics of Sibling Interactions in Relation to Musical Development

In considering the role of the family in early childhood music development and engagement, researchers have documented the parent-child relationship; however, sibling interactions also play a key role in musical development. From older children providing novel musical soundscapes for younger siblings, to younger siblings’ interest and admiration spurring older children in their musical achievement, to siblings purposefully distinguishing themselves from one another through musical preference and activity choices, siblings influence one another musically. In this chapter, we present three interdisciplinary frameworks to use in probing the dynamics of sibling relationships and influences on musical development. First is the interplay of complementary and reciprocal facets of sibling relationships described by Dunn in 1983, and utilized by subsequent researchers in analyzing the role of sibling interactions in various developmental arenas. Second is Minuchin’s (Families and family therapy. Tavistock, London, 1974) family systems theory as explored in the context of emotional understanding and regulation by Kramer (Early Educ Dev 25(2):160–184, 2014). Finally, we outline the theory of communicative musicality from Trevarthen and Malloch (Musicality and musical culture: sharing narratives of sound from early childhood. In: McPherson GE, Welch GF (eds) The Oxford handbook of music education, vol 1. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 248–260, 2012), frequently cited within music education research, and we critique the absence of work on siblings within this theory. Using these three frameworks, we share examples of musical interactions and influences of siblings drawn from fieldwork with three families over 10 years, arguing that sibling relationships exhibit similarities and differences to parent-child relationships and are crucial to understanding the musical development of children with siblings.
Pushing Participatory Sensing Further to the Edge

Participatory sensing uses both local devices for data collection and cloud-based servers for processing. However, transferring the collected data to the cloud can lead to draining device battery power and cause network bandwidth bottlenecks, especially for large multimedia files. In this paper, we report on the experiences of designing, implementing, and evaluating a sensing system that constructs indoor maps by recognizing door signs. A distinguishing characteristic of our system is an almost exclusive use of edge-based processing for tasks that include ML-based image recognition, human-assisted data verification, and data model retraining. Our evaluation shows that our system architecture effectively leverages the available edge resources, while greatly reducing network traffic.
Modified Septostomy in d-Transposition of Great Arteries With Aneurysmal and Intact Atrial Septum.

A male term patient was delivered electively due to prenatal diagnosis of d-transposition of great arteries. Postpartum arterial saturation measured 65%. Transthoracic echo revealed an extremely an...
[Analysis of genetic etiology of a female with 47,XXY syndrome].

Objective To explore the genetic cause of a female case with intellectual development disorder. Methods G banding karyotyping was performed for the patient. Following DNA extraction, the coding sequence of SRY gene was amplified with PCR and subjected to Sanger sequencing. qPCR was used to detect the copy numbers of the SRY gene. Results The karyotype of the patient was 47, XXY. PCR and qPCR analyses of the SRY gene showed a large deletion with null copy number. Conclusion The female phenotype of the patient is probably due to deletion of the SRY gene on the Y chromosome. This is the first report of 47, XXY female case with deletion of the SRY gene in China. Key words: XXY syndrome; SRY gene; Copy number variation
Chapter 12 – Prostate Cancer

In personalized medicine (PM), the aim is to provide individual risk assessment for medical conditions, or to predict the efficacy of measures intended to monitor, prevent, or treat these conditions (http://www.personalizedmedicinecoalition.org). The approaches of PM could be important in addressing clinical and public health issues involved in a variety of diseases, including cancers that are detected via population-level screening. This is particularly relevant to prostate cancer (PCa), where concerns have been raised regarding prostate-specific antigen screening, subsequent overdiagnosis of low-grade diseases, and ultimately overtreatment of many indolent cancers. These interrelated issues have prompted a significant effort to identify markers that can effectively differentiate individuals who have different risks for PCa onset or progression. Improved risk estimation may help to address this major public health problem, as the prostate is the most common site of cancer diagnosis, accounting for approximately 26% of all new cancer diagnoses and 9% of cancer deaths in US men. This translates to an estimated 220,800 PCa diagnoses and 27,540 deaths in US men each year (Siegel et al., 2015. CA Cancer J Clin).