cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of the union in R&D

The performance of bargaining unit work by nonunion employees is prohibited under virtually all collective bargaining agreements. However, this prohibition generally does not apply under the condition that the work being performed is associated with research and development (R&D). It is suggested that, in unionized facilities, it behooves management and R&D personnel to clearly understand what constitutes R&D work and what the union's and employer's rights and responsibilities are when conducting such work. The author addresses these questions by examining and characterizing documented arbitration cases involving grievances in which assignment of R&D work has been a prime issue. >
Elevation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 mRNA expression following hormone replacement therapy

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible regulatory roles of insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) on postmenopausal endometrium in women undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Endometrial tissues and blood samples were collected from 25 postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding before and after HRT. As a control, blood and endometrial samples were also obtained at mid-luteal phase (days 18-23 of the menstrual cycle) from 10 women with benign uterine leiomyoma during surgical intervention. Expression of mRNA for IGF-I, IGF-II, type 1-IGF receptor, IGFBP-1, oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the endometrium was explored by a semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serum concentrations of IGFBP-1, oestradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were also determined. In the endometrium obtained from postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding (before HRT), expression of IGFBP-1 was undetectable, whereas PR expression was abundant. HRT significantly up-regulated expression of IGFBP-1 but down-regulated PR. Moderate expression of IGF-I, IGF-II, type 1-IGF receptor and ER was identified in the postmenopausal endometrium before HRT. HRT significantly down-regulated IGF-I, up-regulated IGF-II, but had no effects on expression of type 1-IGF receptor and ER. In conclusion, up-regulation of IGFBP-1 collaboratively with down-regulation of IGF-I may account for the protective effect of progesterone in HRT on the endometrium.
When Selling Your Personal Name Mark Extends to Selling Your Soul

Identifying one’s business with one’s personal name has long been a practice in the United States. As Personal Name Marks have become increasingly commodified, however, bargaining and deal-making has led more and more to transfers of rights which had previously been considered to be closely tied to the individual as a private person. This article posits that freedom of contract doctrine should not allow the complete alienation of all aspects of one’s name, but rather there should be limitations on how far parties may bargain, so that the purchaser cannot acquire the right to control the seller’s private activities. This article concludes that, in light of constitutional prohibitions, public policy grounds, administrative convenience and other considerations, when selling rights to one’s Personal Name Mark, the most reasonable balance requires placing some limits on the extent to which one may bargain away the personal freedoms associated with one’s name.
Remission Rates of Children and Adolescents with Thyrotoxicosis Treated with Antithyroid Drugs

The clinical course of 65 children with hyperthyrodism in whom antithyroid medication was initiated has been reviewed retrospectively. Fifty-five patients received only this projected medical therapy with propylthiouracil or methimazole. Sustained remission in excess of one year following cessation of drugs occurred in 31 patients (56%). All but two achieved that remission within 4.5 years. Of the 31 patients, 24 have been followed-up for more than two years off medication with only one relapse. Twenty-four patients are still under medical therapy, 14 for longer than 4.5 years. By methods of life-table analysis, the data on all 65 patients gave an estimate of 25% remitting within the first two years and a median remission time of 4 to 4.5 years. These results suggest a continuing remission rate of 25% every two years for up to six years of follow-up. Analysis of presenting variables (assessment of age at onset of disease, sex, family history, initial laboratory data, gland size, and degree of exophthalmos) that might have distinguished which patients were likely to undergo remission was attempted. There were no clearly significant differences with any of these variables although several suggestive differences emerged. These included a tendency toward earlier remission in patients older than 13 years, in boys of any age, and in patients of any age or sex in whom initial triiodothyronine (T3 RIA)
Charge Transport in 4 nm Molecular Wires with Interrupted Conjugation: Combined Experimental and Computational Evidence for Thermally Assisted Polaron Tunneling

We report the synthesis, transport measurements, and electronic structure of conjugation-broken oligophenyleneimine (CB-OPI 6) molecular wires with lengths of ∼4 nm. The wires were grown from Au surfaces using stepwise aryl imine condensation reactions between 1,4-diaminobenzene and terephthalaldehyde (1,4-benzenedicarbaldehyde). Saturated spacers (conjugation breakers) were introduced into the molecular backbone by replacing the aromatic diamine with trans-1,4-diaminocyclohexane at specific steps during the growth processes. FT-IR and ellipsometry were used to follow the imination reactions on Au surfaces. Surface coverages (∼4 molecules/nm2) and electronic structures of the wires were determined by cyclic voltammetry and UV–vis spectroscopy, respectively. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the wires were acquired using conducting probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) in which an Au-coated AFM probe was brought into contact with the wires to form metal-molecule-metal junctions with contact are...
The Inhibition of Human Isoagglutinins by a Polysaccharide from Ascaris Suum

largely carbohydrate in nature and similar to those carbohydrates isolated from microorganisms. Landsteiner1 has described substances in horse saliva and in commercial pepsin that reacted with immune serums specific for the human group substance A. The A substance was also isolated from commercial peptone by Goebel.2 Later, Beeson and Goebel3 described a carbohydrate obtained from Type XIV pneumococci that, when added to antipneumococcus horse serum, absorbed the hemagglutinins for all blood erythrocytes possessed by the serum. Further chemical studies by Goebel, Beeson and Hoagland4 revealed that the carbohydrate from Type XIV pneumococci was similar in its chemical structure to the A substance. Both of them appeared to be made up of acetyl glucosamine and galactose, though the A substance had a nitrogenous constituent not present in the bacterial polysaccharide. The B-specific substance was isolated from the gastric juice of human beings belonging to Group B5 and was described as consist-
Composite of LiFePO4 with Titanium Phosphate Phases as Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode Material

We report the synthesis of LiFePO4 (LFP) battery materials where during synthesis the iron has been substituted by up to 10 mol % with titanium. Analysis of the Ti-substituted materials revealed that at the substitution levels investigated, the Ti did not form a solid solution with the LFP, but rather minority phases containing Ti phosphates were formed and segregated at the nanoscopic scale. The minority phases were amorphous or not well-crystallized and accepted Li on first discharge in a lithium half cell, and solid state NMR spectra were consistent with one of the constituents being LiTi2(PO4)3. The Ti substituted materials had increased electrochemical capacities and discharge voltages relative to LFP prepared in an equivalent process, and the ability to accept Li on first discharge may find utility in using previously inaccessible capacity in battery cathode formulations and in balancing excess capacity from high energy cathode materials.
Effects of Diets Containing Helminthosporium maydis Blighted Corn on Growth Rate, Feed Conversion, Mortality and Blood Clotting Time of Broilers

Abstract THE severe infection of corn by Helminthosporium maydis has resulted in blighted corn of questionable value as the main food ingredient in poultry rations. There are a number of areas involving the blighted corn that need to be studied, but the question of most immediate importance is whether or not blighted corn of otherwise good quality can be incorporated into broiler rations without deleterious effects on growth. The present study was designed to determine if the feeding of diets containing moderately blighted corn (25% of kernels visibly infected with Helminthosporium maydis) would have a deleterious effect on growth rate or feed conversions of broiler chicks under field growing conditions. In addition, its possible effect on coagulation time was studied, since various toxins produced by microorganisms, particularly aflatoxins, (Forgacs et al., 1962) may interfere with blood coagulation and result in a hemorrhagic syndrome-type disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experimental diets (Table)…
EVALUATION ON MEASURES AND EFFECTIVENESS OF MALARIA CONTRAL AND ERADICATION OF FALCIPARUM MALARIA IN GUANGXI

Objective To study the malaria epidemic characteristics and control measures, so as to control malaria and eradicate falciparum malaria in Guangxi Autonomous Region of China. Methods During attack phase integrated measures were taken to control falciparum malaria in natural villages which were classified according to the prevalence of malaria; post control of malaria, the major control measure was seeking and getting rid of the malaria infection source through examining the fever patients and the annul blood examination rate was up to 10%. Results The malaria morbidity in Guangxi was reduced from 296.7 to 0.07; during 1997-2001 a total of 6 241 011 fever patients and foci residents were examined and only 485 cases of vivax malaria were found out, but falciparum malaria was not discovered. Conclusion The measures were very effective for basically eliminating malaria and falciparum malaria in Guangxi.
A Computational Study of Random Crack Nucleation in Polycrystalline Ice

The existence of load-induced cracks in polycrystalline S2 ice is investigated theoretically in terms of the pile-ups of grain boundary dislocations around grain triple points. The microstructural stresses due to the elastic anisotropy of ice crystals are taken into account. Considering a random microstructure, the numerical results show that: (i) both stable and unstable cracks can be nucleated during loading, (ii) the smallest crack nucleation stresses for both tension and compression are functions of the grain size and the lateral confinement, (iii) the sizes of the stable cracks obey a gamma-type distribution with a small mean and a large skewness.
Carol A. Fowler's Perspective on Language by Eye

ABSTRACTThis article considers highlights of Carol Fowler's development as a scientist against the background of major developments in the fields of ecological psychology, speech research, and the psychology of language. Beginning from her graduate student years, the focus is on those aspects of Fowler's research that pertain most directly to the relations between speech and reading.
Gastric Smooth Muscle, Nerve Sheath, and Related Tumors

Small gastric smooth muscle tumors are common in adults at autopsy. Meissner in 19441 observed them in almost 50% of such cases by careful manual examination of the stomach wall. More recently, microleiomyomas of 5 mm or less diameter were detected in 16.4% of resected stomachs, mostly in the upper half.2 Thus, the larger leiomyomatous tumors of the stomach must, in current parlance, be suspected of possessing increased receptor activity for certain undefined growth factors. Platelet- xderived growth factor (PDGF), a smooth muscle growth stimulant, might be involved.3 Estrogens, of course, stimulate uterine leiomyoma growth, which ceases in their absence, but estrogens do not appear to affect similar gastric tumors that are equally common in men and women. Clinically, gastric smooth muscle tumors, benign or malignant, are asymptomatic when small unless they ulcerate and bleed. Larger solid intramural stomach tumors are spheroidal and may bulge into the lumen, stretch the serosa, or both. The classic radiologic and endoscopic appearance of gastric leiomyoma or leiomyosarcoma is a protrusive hemispherical mass in the fundus or body of the stomach, which stretches the mucosa and has an apical central volcano-like cratered ulcer that bleeds.
Meniere’s disease an overview

The following is a brief overview of Meniere’s Disease (MD). It is important to recognize that MD is a diagnosis of exclusion. Although there are established histopathologic changes identified in MD, the exact pathophysiology remains controversial. There are various treatment options including diet modification and medical management that can help control symptoms. For patients who have intractable symptoms there are a number of surgical interventions that can be offered.
Reliability of fully-integrated nanoscale ReRAM/CMOS combinations as a function of on-wafer current control

Resistive random access memory (ReRAM) is a novel form of non-volatile memory expected to replace FLASH memory in the near future. As a further step toward use of ReRAM in computer architectures, we have developed a CMOS/ReRAM hybrid process, integrating ReRAM into a CMOS process flow. In this study, we investigate yield, reliability, endurance, threshold voltages (forming, set and reset voltages) of ReRAM devices implemented in the back end of the line (BEOL). The focus of this study is on single ReRAM devices operated with an external transistor (1T1R configuration). Yield and endurance of these 1T1R configured devices show a strong dependence on device position on the wafer, the device size, and the current compliance used during the initial forming and subsequent set sweeps. Elevated temperatures resulted in a shift of the optimum operation conditions and could be used to improve device performance. Variance in performance of the ReRAM devices was directly correlated with manufacturing issues and material properties to gain maximum information for future improvements
Mycorrhizas, Drought, and Host-Plant Mortality

Abstract As the Earth's climate changes, droughts are expected to become more intense, with consequences for plants and mycorrhizal fungi. We review recent studies examining the effects of drought on mycorrhizal fungi and the influence of mycorrhizal fungi on host plant–water relationships and drought tolerance. We also examine the consequences of drought-induced host mortality to mycorrhizal fungi and ecosystem processes using examples from the western United States. Mycorrhizal fungal abundance in roots and soil, as well as mycorrhizal fungal species composition, diversity, and activity are often affected by drought. Likewise both arbuscular (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi increase the drought tolerance of their host plants, with more pronounced beneficial effects as drought stress increases. Host-plant mortality related to drought appears to disproportionately affect EcM plant species, with potential consequences for EcM fungi, the regeneration of plant hosts and ecosystem properties such as carbon (C) sequestration and nutrient cycling.
Targeting Survivin with YM155 As a Potential Therapy in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract 2490 Background: Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) remains the most common pediatric malignancy. Despite advances in treatment and outcomes, there continue to be subsets of patients that are refractory to standard intensive chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Therefore, novel gene targets for therapy are needed to further advance treatment for this disease. Survivin, a member of the chromosome passenger complex and inhibitor of apoptosis has been shown to be over-expressed in malignant cells and in relapsed ALL. Therefore, survivin may be a potential target for therapy in pediatric ALL. The selective survivin suppressant, YM155 (Astellas) has been shown to inhibit survivin expression and activate cell death in multiple cell lines. Early phase I studies show promise in both tolerability and possible efficacy in B-cell malignancies. Therefore, this drug may have the potential of improving treatment for pediatric B-cell precursor ALL. Design/methods: Pediatric lymphoblastic cell lines, fresh primary lymphoblast cells from newly diagnosed patients with ALL and xenografted patient samples were used in this study. Cells were incubated in the presence of YM155 at doses ranging from 1nM to 10μM. Viability was measured using a standard methane-thiosulfonate viability assay. Activation of apoptosis was identified using the Guava nexin Annexin V binding assay for cell lines. Results: Treatment of ALL cell lines, primary patient samples and xenograft samples show a dose-dependent sensitivity to YM155 by both activation of apoptosis and by cell viability. IC 50 doses for the majority of the samples are in the low nanomolar range (Table). Interestingly, there is some variability amongst patient samples suggesting possible variable responses in vivo . Ectopic expression of survivin in cell lines treated with YM155 rescues the effect of the drug. Further, t(9;22) positive ALL samples, including primary patient, xenograft, and dasatinib resistant samples remain significantly sensitive to YM155. For dasatinib sensitive Ph+ALL samples, combination therapy suggest an additive effect by isobologram analysis. Conclusion: Pediatric ALL samples remain sensitive to treatment with YM155 in cell lines, primary patient and xenografted samples. The results of these experiments will be used as a foundation to develop a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of survivin dependence in pediatric ALL. Future studies will also be designed to develop YM155 as an additional therapy for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Disclosures: Druker: Cylene: ; MolecularMD: ; Novartis: ; Bristol-Myers-Squibb: .
Hitting a moving target: Glioma stem cells demand new approaches in glioblastoma therapy

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) continues to devastate patients and outfox investigators and clinicians despite the preponderance of research directed at its biology, pathogenesis and therapeutic advances. GBM routinely outlasts multidisciplinary treatment protocols, almost inevitably recurring in a yet more aggressive and resistant form with distinct genetic differences from the original tumor. Attempts to glean further insight into GBM point increasingly toward a subpopulation of cells with a stem-like phenotype. These cancer stem cells, similar to those now described in a variety of malignancies, are capable of tumorigenesis from a population of susceptible cells. Conclusions: Glioma stem cells have thus become a prevalent focus in GBM research for their presumed role in development, maintenance and recurrence of tumors. Glioma stem cells infiltrate the white matter surrounding tumors and often evade resection. They are uniquely suited both biochemically and environmentally to resist the best therapy currently available, intrinsically and efficiently resistant to standard chemo- and radiotherapy. These stem cells create an extremely heterogenous tumor that to date has had an answer for every therapeutic question, with continued dismal patient survival. Targeting this population of glioma stem cells may hold the long-awaited key to durable therapeutic efficacy in GBM.
Transport Processes in Metals and Semiconductors

Our simple theory of Chapter 1 shows that the thermoelectric figure of merit z depends on the absolute Seebeck coefficient α, the electrical conductivity σ, and the thermal conductivity κ. In this chapter the basic mechanisms that are responsible for the thermoelectric effects and for the conduction of heat and electricity will be explained and expressions for the quantities α, σ, and κ will be derived in terms of the fundamental physical parameters of a given conductor. This will allow us to see clearly the principles on which thermoelectric materials should be selected and how to optimise the properties of a given material. The discussion of the transport processes in a magnetic field is deferred until Chapter 4.
Toward an Intra-Agency Separation of Powers

This Essay responds to Jon Michaels’s argument for a form of agency fragmentation called the new “administrative separation of powers,” a structure consisting of three fundamental sets of actors: agency heads, civil society, and the civil service. According to Michaels, his thought-provoking idea has roots in the traditional separation of powers among the branches of government. Michaels also claims that these three intra-agency actors are able to maintain a “self-regulating ecosystem” that allows agencies to improve their functions similarly to the way that the constitutional checks and balances sharpen the operation of the political branches. For Michaels’s tripartite agency to be legitimately characterized as a form of separation of powers, however, there must be a meaningful connection between the two frameworks. As of now, the analogy is hindered by some essentials aspects in which Michaels’s agency players do not reflect the three branches of government. These include, for example, each administrative stakeholder’s relative inability to protect its own jurisdiction from encroachment by the others and constraints on agencies’ capacity to further rule of law values. These limitations render constitutional separation of powers principles less valuable to the development of Michaels’s theory, because they reduce the extent to which the tripartite agency might, in fact, behave like the political branches. In addition, both the use of Michaels’s model for executive-checking purposes and the ultimate success of his theory’s overall execution depend on the extent to which they are grounded in the concrete characteristics of agencies and the polity. Additional substantiation of Michaels’s tripartite could be furthered by analysis of the diversity among agency heads and civil servants across the executive branch and of the weaknesses in civil society’s ability to leverage its interests vis-a-vis government officials. Those seeking to realize the promise of Michaels’s model should also consider the impact of differences in administrative, political and societal structures, orientations and incentives on Michaels’s framework.
Cool Cities A Tangible User Interface for Thinking Critically about Climate Change

Understanding the relationship between human behavior and environmental impact is an important challenge for young learners. Children can benefit from learning experiences that enable them to actively consider and negotiate the complex tradeoffs that inform global issues. To address this challenge, we propose Cool Cities: a tangible user interface (TUI) game in which children aged 7-9 design environmentally friendly cities around different social and financial objectives. Learners place game pieces on the TUI to see their environmental and financial impact, which is reflected through a responsive display for learners to evaluate their decisions in real-time. We hope that by designing a constructivist learning experience in which learners practice the complex modeling and critical thinking needed for large-scale urban planning projects, they can better relate concepts of global warming to their lived experiences and discover powerful ideas for improving the world we live in
Remote measurement of river discharge using thermal particle image velocimetry (PIV) and various sources of bathymetric information

Abstract Although river discharge is a fundamental hydrologic quantity, conventional methods of streamgaging are impractical, expensive, and potentially dangerous in remote locations. This study evaluated the potential for measuring discharge via various forms of remote sensing, primarily thermal imaging of flow velocities but also spectrally-based depth retrieval from passive optical image data. We acquired thermal image time series from bridges spanning five streams in Alaska and observed strong agreement between velocities measured in situ and those inferred by Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), which quantified advection of thermal features by the flow. The resulting surface velocities were converted to depth-averaged velocities by applying site-specific, calibrated velocity indices. Field spectra from three clear-flowing streams provided strong relationships between depth and reflectance, suggesting that, under favorable conditions, spectrally-based bathymetric mapping could complement thermal PIV in a hybrid approach to remote sensing of river discharge; this strategy would not be applicable to larger, more turbid rivers, however. A more flexible and efficient alternative might involve inferring depth from thermal data based on relationships between depth and integral length scales of turbulent fluctuations in temperature, captured as variations in image brightness. We observed moderately strong correlations for a site-aggregated data set that reduced station-to-station variability but encompassed a broad range of depths. Discharges calculated using thermal PIV-derived velocities were within 15% of in situ measurements when combined with depths measured directly in the field or estimated from field spectra and within 40% when the depth information also was derived from thermal images. The results of this initial, proof-of-concept investigation suggest that remote sensing techniques could facilitate measurement of river discharge.
Callous-Unemotional Traits Moderate Genetic and Environmental Influences on Rule-Breaking and Aggression: Evidence for Gene × Trait Interaction.

Previous behavioral genetic research in children has found that conduct problems in the presence of high CU traits are more heritable than conduct problems in the presence of low CU traits—a gene ×...
ECCI, EBSD and EPSC characterization of rhombohedral twinning in polycrystalline α‐alumina deformed in a D‐DIA apparatus

Rhombohedral twinning in alumina (aluminium oxide, α-Al2O3) is an important mechanism for plastic deformation under high-temperature–pressure conditions. Rhombohedral twins in a polycrystalline alumina sample deformed in a D-DIA apparatus at 965 K and 4.48 GPa have been characterized. Three classes of grains were imaged, containing single, double and mosaic twins, using electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) in a field emission scanning electron microscope. These twinned grains were analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The methodology for twin identification presented here is based on comparison of theoretical pole figures for a rhombohedral twin with experimental pole figures obtained with EBSD crystal orientation mapping. An 85°〈02{\overline 2}1〉 angle–axis pair of misorientation was identified for rhombohedral twin boundaries in alumina, which can be readily used in EBSD post-processing software to identify the twin boundaries in EBSD maps and distinguish the rhombohedral twins from basal twins. Elastic plastic self-consistent (EPSC) modeling was then used to model the synchrotron X-ray diffraction data from the D-DIA experiments utilizing the rhombohedral twinning law. From these EPSC models, a critical resolved shear stress of 0.25 GPa was obtained for rhombohedral twinning under the above experimental conditions, which is internally consistent with the value estimated from the applied load and Schmid factors determined by EBSD analysis.
Descriptive Feedback: Student Voice in K-5 Classrooms.

In this article, the author argues the imperative of critical dialogue between learners and teachers on learners’ experiences in the classroom. This dialogical process is called “descriptive feedback”—feedback given by students to teachers on their (students’) experiences as learners. Drawing on the literature on feedback, descriptive feedback, and student voice, the author contends that descriptive feedback dialogues are not only rich sources of understanding of learning, teaching, and school, but offer a creative counter to a relentless, often dehumanizing, atmosphere of test prep and “coverage.” The results of this study point to the creation of space where students become teachers, teachers become learners, learners become learners of teaching, and both collaborate on creating curriculum. Within this space students develop a heightened sense of their own agency, and acquire new language with which to talk about learning. Teachers develop a curiosity about students’ point of view and come to trust in their capacity to contribute to both curricular content and pedagogical process.
Preferences for Freedom of, and From, Choice: Evidence from Australian Elections

Prior research indicates that individuals prefer greater freedom of choice, but also that they experience choice overload such that they are better off when they face fewer options. I investigate the inherent motivational conflict with respect to choice in an election context. My data consist of a rich array of measures of voting behaviors and corresponding ballot and voter population characteristics for a panel of electoral districts from three Australian federal election cycles. Using these, I examine how the number of candidates, parties, and voting tickets on the ballot affect the share of voters (1) opting for a simplified (and choice-limited) alternative to the baseline voting process; and (2) intentionally casting an invalid ballot. The results suggest that the individual voter’s utility observes an inverted U-shaped relationship to the number of options faced. My findings also reveal that voters act rationally to trade off choice variety against choice simplification.
Hands-on Station: Art and Science of Monopolar Electrosurgery – Case Studies of Metal-to-Metal Arcing and Single Port Cannula Surgery

Enhanced “artful” application of monopolar electrosurgery occurs only after a period of continued real-time study in animate in vivo models. The models outlined in the previous chapter (Chap. 14) with steak on a dispersive electrode are useful for outlining concepts and poorly understood principles. For example, the novice surgeon can demonstrate the various tissue effects of concentration of current at various wattages. Further demonstrations outlined how current can be inadvertently concentrated at unintended sites through inadvertent direct coupling, insulation failure, or induced/capacitive coupling. Enhanced art forms occur as a function of insightful study.
Role of Rho and myosin phosphorylation in actin stress fiber assembly in mesangial cells.

Treatment of renal glomerular mesangial cells with adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-elevating agents induces actin stress fiber disassembly, myosin light chain (MLC) dephosphorylation, loss of adhesion to the substratum and cell shape change [J. I. Kreisberg and M. A. Venkatachalam. Am. J. Physiol. 251 (Cell Physiol. 20): C505-C511, 1986]. Thrombin and vasopressin block the effects of cAMP. Because these agents are known to promote stress fiber formation via the small GTP-binding protein Rho, we investigated the effect of an activated variant of Rho on the response to cAMP elevation. Microinjecting V14-Rho completely blocked the effect of cAMP elevation on cell shape and the actin cytoskeleton, whereas inactivating Rho with botulinum C3 exoenzyme induced stress fiber disruption and cell retraction that was indistinguishable from that caused by elevations in intracellular levels of cAMP. Disruption of actin stress fibers by cAMP has previously been ascribed to MLC dephosphorylation; however, bot...
Mutual reference adaptive control of nonlinear uncertain systems

The popular model reference adaptive control (MRAC) technique is extended to the case of two nonlinear dynamical systems mutually tracking and/or avoiding each other in a specified sense, subject to bounded uncertainty of their parameters (MURAC). The error equation approach classical in MRAC is replaced by a different approach which may be called the product-state-space method. Signal adaptive feedback controllers and adaptive laws are proposed together with sufficient conditions for the required tracking and avoidance. Application to a mechanical system illustrates the results.
Implicit Learning and Creativity in Human Networks: A Computational Model

With rare exceptions, new ideas necessarily emerge in the minds of individuals through the recombination of existing ideas, but the epistemic repertoire for this recombination is supplied largely by ideas the individual has acquired from external sources, including interaction with peers. When agents hear new ideas and integrate them into their minds, they also implicitly create potential new ideas which can then become explicit as new ideas through later introspection. In this research, we use a multi-agent model to study such implicit learning in a social network and its relationship with the number of unique novel ideas actually expressed by agents in the network. We focus on the impact of two crucial factors: (1) The structure of the social network; and (2) The selectivity of agents in accepting ideas from their peers. We look at both latent ideas, i.e., those that are still implicit in the minds of individual agents, and novel expressed ideas, i.e., those that are expressed for the first time in the network. The results show that both network structure and the selectivity of influence have significant impact on the outcomes – especially in a system with misinformation.
Copper nanoparticles/polyaniline-derived mesoporous carbon electrocatalysts for hydrazine oxidation

Copper nanoparticles-decorated polyaniline-derived mesoporous carbon that can serve as noble metal-free electrocatalyst for the hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) is synthesized via a facile synthetic route. The material exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity toward HzOR with low overpotential and high current density. The material also remains stable during the electrocatalytic reaction for long time. Its good electrocatalytic performance makes this material a promising alternative to conventional noble metal-based catalysts (e.g., Pt) that are commonly used in HzOR-based fuel cells.
Imaging of the Gallbladder with Multi-energy CT

The goal of this review article is to provide an overview of applications of multi-energy CT as they pertain to gallbladder imaging. We discuss benefits and shortcomings of MECT of various gallbladder pathology, with an emphasis on the imaging of gallstones and cholecystitis. It also touches on promising areas that warrant further investigation. MECT has demonstrated improved sensitivity for cholelithiasis compared to conventional single-energy CT, with added value of MECT reconstructions, particularly virtual monoenergetic reconstructions, to detect isoattenuating gallstones. MECT iodine maps and virtual monoenergetic images potentially add value in evaluating other gallbladder pathologies, including detecting complications of acute cholecystitis, characterization of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and adenomyomatosis, and identifying and evaluating the extent of gallbladder carcinoma. MECT is emerging as a useful exam to evaluate the gallbladder, particularly in the setting of acute abdominal pain, and has the potential to eliminate the need for other imaging exams such as ultrasound.
Task-Based Design of Ad-hoc Modular Manipulators

The great promise of modular robots is the ability to create on demand robots; however, choosing the “right” design based on a task is still a challenging problem. In this paper, we present an approach to automatically synthesize both the design and control for modular robots from a task description. In particular, we focus on manipulators composed of one degree-of-freedom (DoF) modules. Our approach is able to handle partially infeasible tasks by either identifying the infeasible part and finding a design that satisfies the feasible part or searching for multiple designs that together satisfy the entire task. We compare our approach to a baseline genetic algorithm in a series of increasingly complex environments.
Evaluation of the hydroxyethyl starch stabilizing agent, Vetstarch, in the preservation of canine cerebrospinal fluid samples

Background A challenge of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is the time-dependent degradation of nucleated cells, impeding accurate interpretation. CSF additives have been used to delay cell degradation; however, stabilizing agents, including serum, can alter microprotein levels. Objectives This study aimed to determine if the hydroxyethyl starch, Vetstarch, is effective at preserving nucleated cell morphology in CSF compared with the saline diluent or serum without altering microprotein levels. Methods CSF samples were collected from 26 dogs. Samples were divided into four aliquots. One aliquot was analyzed immediately (control). The remaining three aliquots were mixed with either saline, fetal calf serum, or Vetstarch before storage at 4°C. Nucleated cell differentials, protein concentrations, and cell morphology scores were analyzed 48 hours later. A cell morphology score of 1 indicated no cellular degeneration; a score of 4 indicated severe degeneration. Results Samples stored in serum, saline, and Vetstarch exhibited poorer mean (±SD) morphology scores (2.4 ± 0.7, 2.6 ± 0.8, and 2.7 ± 0.9, respectively) compared with controls (1.9 ± 0.4). Samples stored in saline and Vetstarch demonstrated higher percentages of unrecognizable cells, with a median of 28 (range 0-100) and 27 (0-100), respectively; samples stored in serum had a median of 14 (range 0-67) unrecognizable. Microprotein levels of samples stored in Vetstarch were dependent on the method of protein analysis. Serum significantly increased microprotein levels. Conclusions Vetstarch does not reduce time-dependent cellular degeneration compared with the saline diluent or serum and is, therefore, not recommended as a stabilizing agent for canine cerebrospinal fluid.
FATCAT 2.0: towards a better understanding of the structural diversity of proteins.

FATCAT 2.0 server (http://fatcat.godziklab.org/), provides access to a flexible protein structure alignment algorithm developed in our group. In such an alignment, rotations and translations between elements in the structure are allowed to minimize the overall root mean square deviation (RMSD) between the compared structures. This allows to effectively compare protein structures even if they underwent structural rearrangements in different functional forms, different crystallization conditions or as a result of mutations. The major update for the server introduces a new graphical interface, much faster database searches and several new options for visualization of the structural differences between proteins.
What does it mean to be “mentally tough” as a NCAA division I collegiate coach?

The purpose of the present investigation was to investigate what being a mentally tough coach means to NCAA Division I collegiate coaches who see themselves as, or becoming, mentally tough coaches....
Local integrals of motion and the quasiperiodic many-body localization transition

We study the many-body localization (MBL) transition for interacting fermions subject to quasiperiodic potentials by constructing the local integrals of motion (LIOMs) in the MBL phase as time-averaged local operators. We study numerically how these time-averaged operators evolve across the MBL transition. We find that the norm of such time-averaged operators drops discontinuously to zero across the transition; as we discuss, this implies that LIOMs abruptly become unstable at some critical localization length of order unity. We analyze the LIOMs using hydrodynamic projections and isolating the part of the operator that is associated with interactions. Equipped with these data we perform a finite-size scaling analysis of the quasiperiodic MBL transition. Our results suggest that the quasiperiodic MBL transition occurs at considerably stronger quasiperiodic modulations and has a larger correlation-length critical exponent than previous studies had found.
How gender norms affect anemia in select villages in rural Odisha, India: A qualitative study.

Abstract Background In India, 50% of women of reproductive age, compared with 23% of men, have iron deficiency anemia. Extant research focuses on biological, not social, determinants of this disparity. Objectives The aim of this study was to examine how gender norms may affect anemia prevalence among women in rural India. Methods We conducted 16 focus group discussions (N = 124) with women of reproductive age, husbands, and mothers-in-law and 25 key informant interviews in four villages in Odisha, India. Results We identified the following themes that help explain how inequitable gender norms exacerbate anemia among women from different castes and tribes: Due to a double burden of work outside the home and completing the majority of unpaid work in the home, women lack time to visit health centers to get tested for anemia and to obtain iron supplements. Women are expected to prioritize the health of their family over their own, thus affecting their access to health care. Women's autonomy to leave the house to seek health care is limited. Men are the primary breadwinners for the family, but often spend their money on alcohol, rather than on iron-rich food for the household. Intra-household food allocation favors men, in-laws, and children, thus women serve their family first, often being left with little food. Conclusion Anemia reduction interventions need to include examination of the whole social context to successfully increase iron supplement use and iron-rich food intake. Understanding how gender norms contribute to anemia could change the narrative from a biomedical to a social justice issue.
Seesaw-Type Macromonomer Strategy: A Versatile Approach for the Preparation of “Perfect” Hyperbranched Polymers

In this chapter, we will mainly discuss our recently developed Seesaw-type macromonomer strategy and how to use this strategy to construct various Seesaw-type macromonomers [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The part of preparation of hyperbranched (co)polymers will be given in the next chapter.
Jugendarbeit in der Stadtentwicklung – ein Erfolgsmodell!

Winterthur hat rund 105‘000 EinwohnerInnen und ist nach der Stadt Zurich die zweitgroste Stadt des Kantons Zurich Die fruhere Industriestadt ist heute Dienstleistungs-, Bildungs-, Kultur- und Freizeitzentrum. Die Kooperation zwischen Jugendarbeit und Stadtentwicklung in der Stadt Winterthur wird von mehreren ExpertInnen als Erfolgsmodell fur eine funktionierende soziale Stadtentwicklung bezeichnet.
Measuring frailty using claims data for pharmacoepidemiologic studies of mortality in older adults: evidence and recommendations

Purpose Geriatric frailty is a common syndrome of older adults that is characterized by increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes and influences treatment choice. Pharmacoepidemiologic studies in older adults that rely on administrative claims data are limited by confounding due to unmeasured frailty. A claim-based frailty score may be useful to minimize confounding by frailty in such databases. We provide an overview of definitions and measurement of frailty, evaluated the claim-based models of frailty in literature, and recommend ways to improve frailty adjustment in claims analysis.
The Value of Supplementary Visual Information during Practice on Dynamic Kinesthetic Learning

Abstract Ninety male subjects were each given ten 1-min. trials on an apparatus that generated a varying mechanical force against a pivoted lever and recorded the counter force exerted by the subject. The task was to respond to changes in such a fashion as to keep the subject vs. lever differential force at a constant value of zero. The results were scored in terms of the accuracy of immediate corrective response to the changing force. All subjects performed the initial trials (1 and 2) and the final trials (9 and 10) blindfolded. The six intermediate trials were practiced by one-third of the subjects under purely kinesthetic conditions, by another third under automatic visual supplementation conditions, and by the remaining third under conditions of lesser automatic visual supplementation of the error information. It was concluded that little or no improvement in the criterion condition can be expected when practice involves kinesthetic error information only. In contrast, provision of appropriate amount...
Decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with inflammation and insulin resistance in non-diabetic haemodialysis patients.

Aim: Lower serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is associated with inflammation, insulin resistance and poor cardiovascular outcomes in the general population. However, in a large-scale study, the association between HDL and survival in haemodialysis patients was not present. The exact cause of lack of HDL-C protection in the dialysis population is still obscure. Methods: A total of 89 stable non-diabetic haemodialysis patients were recruited. Fasting serum biochemical parameters, complete blood counts and inflammatory markers were obtained before the mid-week dialysis. Insulin resistance was assessed by the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Results: The mean age was 58.2 ± 13.1 years, 37 (41.6%) patients were male. The mean HDL-C level was 56.3 ± 17.1 mg/dL. By bivariate correlation analysis, a lower serum HDL-C level was related to higher body mass index (r = −0.425; P < 0.001), higher triglyceride (r = −0.479; P < 0.001) and higher HOMA-IR (r = −0.211; P < 0.05) levels. The serum HDL-C level was also inversely related to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) (r = −0.297; P = 0.005) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (r = −0.295; P = 0.005) and directly correlated with adiponectin (r = 0.560; P < 0.001). In multivariate linear regression analysis, HDL-C was found to be directly correlated with adiponectin (β-coefficient = 0.569; P < 0.001) and inversely correlated with TNF-α (β-coefficient = −0.292; P = 0.001). Conclusion: A strong association between HDL-C, inflammatory surrogates, and insulin resistance in this non-diabetic, non-obese haemodialysis patient group is demonstrated. The HDL-C level is still a good parameter to screen high-risk patients.
The Scholarship Informing the Practice: Multicultural Teacher Education Philosophy and Practice in the United States.

This study examines the scholarly literature identified by multicultural teacher educators in the U.S. as most influential to their work. 220 multicultural teacher educators were surveyed about the books and the journals that have most influenced they ways the conceive and practice multicultural teacher education (MTE). Responses were tabulated, creating lists of the most-identified books and journals. These lists were analyzed around three primary questions: (1) What do these data suggest about the philosophical frameworks and operationalizations of MTE among multicultural teacher educators?; (2) What do they reveal about the issues multicultural teacher educators consider more or less integral to MTE?; and (3) What might they uncover about the “null curriculum” of MTE? Findings suggest that, in contrast with much of the existing scholarship, MTE practitioners do engage with critical approaches to MTE, even if this might not be reflected consistently in their practice. They suggest, as well, that MTE practitioners identify more strongly with literature concerning race and racism than with that concerning other identities and oppressions. Implications of these findings are discussed.