cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prenatal Programming of Hypertension Induces Sympathetic Overactivity in Response to Physical Stress

Small-for-gestational-age infants are known to develop hypertension in adulthood. This prenatal programming of hypertension (PPH) can result from several insults including maternal dietary protein deprivation, uteroplacental insufficiency, and prenatal administration of glucocorticoids. The mechanisms underlying the development of hypertension remain unclear although the sympathetic nervous system has been indirectly implicated. This study was designed to directly measure renal sympathetic nerve activity both at rest and during physical stress in an animal model of PPH. The adult male offspring of rats fed either a 6% (PPH) or 20% protein diet (control) were investigated. Conscious systolic blood pressure measured by tail cuff was significantly higher in PPH compared with control (140 ± 3 versus 128 ± 3 mm Hg; P P P P
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder as an initial presentation of primary Sjögren's syndrome

Objectives Longitudinal myelitis in patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a rarely reported occurrence. Here, we present a patient with longitudinal myelitis who was found to have both primary SS and a positive antibody to aquaporin-4 (NMO-IgG). We review the recent literature concerning the overlap between primary SS-associated myelitis and the presence of NMO-IgG, suggestive of a neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Methods A patient with longitudinal myelitis, SS, and a positive NMO-IgG is presented. A review of the relevant English literature based on a PubMed and Embase search is then discussed. The keywords used were Sjogren's syndrome, myelitis (longitudinal and transverse), neuromyelitis optica, and Devic's disease. Results Our patient fulfills the criteria for both primary SS and NMOSD. Several small studies have shown that most SS patients with longitudinal myelitis are positive for the antibody to aquaporin-4. Additionally, minor salivary gland biopsies of patients with NMO or NMOSD have evidence of lymphocytic inflammation, suggesting that there may be an overlap in the mechanism of NMOSD and longitudinal myelitis secondary to primary SS. This overlap in mechanism may have important ramifications with regard to prognosis and treatment of SS-related myelitis. Conclusion The presentation of longitudinal myelitis in a patient with SS should be considered a possible NMOSD. Checking for the presence antiaquaporin-4 antibodies provides important prognostic information and may help to guide treatment decisions.
THE EFFECT OF AMBIENT LIGHT ON BLIND CAVE CRAYFISH: SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

This study investigated the social behaviors of blind cave-adapted crayfish and compared them to the behaviors of sighted crayfish. Because blind cave crayfish display phototactic behavior, presumably mediated by the caudal photoreceptors in the sixth abdominal ganglion, we tested whether light, a disturbance in the crayfish's normal cave environment, altered their normal social behaviors. Observations were made in infrared or dim-white light to quantify social interactions. Exposure to white light reduced the amount of interaction time as compared to infrared light. The results revealed that blind crayfish did not exhibit behaviors usually associated with visual displays and posturing (i.e., the raised meral spread was absent). Same-sized individuals, previously housed in isolated conditions for two weeks, were paired. Both individuals tended to tail flip or move apart immediately after initial antennae contact. This is the same behavior observed within the natural cave environment. After repeated interactions between them, the rapid tail flip behavior became less frequent, while avoidance became an automatic reaction. Ethograms were constructed to determine the differences in the observed behaviors between the aggressive and submissive cave crayfish.
The Mechanism of a C-H Bond Activation Reaction in Room-Temperature Alkane Solution

Chemical reactions that break alkane carbon-hydrogen (C–H) bonds are normally carried out under conditions of high temperature and pressure because these bonds are extremely strong (∼100 kilocalories per mole), but certain metal complexes can activate C–H bonds in alkane solution under the mild conditions of room temperature and pressure. Time-resolved infrared experiments probing the initial femtosecond dynamics through the nano- and microsecond kinetics to the final stable products have been used to generate a detailed picture of the C–H activation reaction. Structures of all of the intermediates involved in the reaction of Tp*Rh(CO)2 (Tp* = HB–Pz3*, Pz* = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) in alkane solution have been identified and assigned, and energy barriers for each reaction step from solvation to formation of the final alkyl hydride product have been estimated from transient lifetimes.
Uniqueness property of nonnegative invariant superharmonic functions on bounded domains in

In this note, invariant superharmonic functions with respect to the Bergman metric on a bounded domain in are considered. It proves a uniqueness theorem for nonnegative invariant superharmonic functions on a bounded domain with -boundary. In particular, the corresponding result on the unit ball is proved.
Abstract 650: Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 Deficiencies are Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Which Can Be Prevented by the Recruitment of the Wnt10b Signaling Pathway

Introduction: Studies have shown that there is a deficiency of folate and vitamin B12 in obese individuals compared with normal BMI controls. Folic acid reduces oxidative stress while vitamin B12 protects against superoxide injuries in endothelial cells. This suggests that increased levels of folate and vitamin B12 might attenuate vascular disease. Objective: We examined the hypothesis that folic acid and vitamin B12 regulate mesenchymal stem cell-derived adipocytes by up-regulating Wnt10b and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), thereby promoting the growth of small healthy adipocytes and reducing the number of large inflamed adipocytes. Methods: Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were used as a source of adipocytes. MSC-derived adipocytes were treated with either vehicle or one of four concentrations (0.1, 1.0, 10, or 100 μM) of either folic acid or vitamin B12. SiRNA of Wnt10b, DKK-1, and other related genes were also studied. Results: There was a decrease in adipocytes in a concentration-dependent manner with an optimal level of 10 μM (p Conclusion: These novel results demonstrate that increased levels of both folic acid and vitamin B12 attenuate adiposity via significant increases in Wnt10b and related proteins. Folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation is deemed viable in the prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity-associated diseases.
Financial Education for Bankrupt Families: Attitudes and Needs

This paper examines bankrupt families' attitudes toward, and need for, financial education. The data are derived from a longitudinal study of families who filed for personal bankruptcy. We examine the implications of bankrupt debtors' attitudes and experiences for the content and delivery of bankruptcy financial education, which in 2005 was made a prerequisite to consumer debtors' eligibility for discharge of their debts. We report the degree to which bankrupt families believed a financial education course would have helped them avoid bankruptcy and describe how these attitudes vary by demographic characteristics. We examine key financial difficulties that families face after bankruptcy and highlight ways in which bankruptcy financial education could be responsive to the realities of families' lives after they file bankruptcy.
Group B streptococcus alters properties of vaginal epithelial cells in pregnant women

Background Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in pregnancy is a major cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity. An understanding of the mechanisms responsible for GBS persistence in the genital tract, as well as recognition of host defenses employed to combat its presence, are crucial to our efforts to reduce maternal GBS colonization and prevent the acquisition of neonatal infections. However, alterations in vaginal immunity in response to GBS colonization in pregnant women remain incompletely defined. Whether GBS modulates autophagy, a major host defense mechanism and contributor to the control of intracellular microbial infections, also remains unclear. Objective We sought to identify differences in the extent of autophagy as well as in the concentration of biomarkers previously shown to be involved in vaginal innate immunity between GBS-positive and GBS-negative pregnant women. Study Design We performed a prospective cohort study of healthy pregnant women, who had vaginal secretions obtained at 35-37 weeks of gestation, just prior to the standard GBS rectovaginal sample collection. The contents of the swabs were released into tubes containing 1 mL of sterile phosphate-buffered saline. Samples were centrifuged, and supernatant and cell pellet fractions were collected and stored separately at –80°C until used for analysis. Epithelial cells were then lysed, and the extent of autophagy was determined by measuring the residual level of p62 remaining in the cytoplasm. p62 is a protein that is consumed during autophagy, and so its concentration detectable in the cytoplasm is inversely related to the extent of autophagy induction. The intracellular level of the inducible 70-kDa heat shock protein (hsp70), an inhibitor of autophagy, was also measured. The cell-free fraction was assayed for D- and L-lactic acid, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, alpha amylase, hyaluronan, and total protein. Laboratory personnel were blinded to all clinical data. Results There were 145 women included in the study, of which 45 (31%) were culture-positive for GBS. Vaginal cells from GBS-positive women had elevated intracellular levels of p62 (2.1 vs 0.7 pg/mL, P P = .03) as compared to GBS-negative women. The p62 and hsp70 levels were highly correlated in both groups of subjects ( P P = .01), MMP-8 (21.9 vs 11.1 pg/μg total protein, P = .01), and extracellular MMP inducer (8.8 vs 7.2 pg/μg total protein, P = .03) were highest in GBS-positive women. There were no differences in the concentrations of D- and L-lactic acid, alpha amylase, or hyaluronan between the 2 groups of women. Conclusion The inhibition of autophagy in vaginal epithelial cells by GBS-induced hsp70 production is associated with its persistence. Concurrently, alterations in components known to influence vaginal bacterial colonization or facilitate microbial passage to the upper genital tract also occur in relation to GBS carriage.
Double Whammy: Accessing, Recruiting and Retaining the Hidden of the Hidden

Recruitment of women who use crack is challenging in any environment, but especially in rural environments. The nature of rural environments, which limits confidentiality, coupled with conservative...
Number of Sperm Bundles in the Duplex of Tobacco Bud worms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as a Function of Age

With the first photophase after adult eclosion (≈6 h), eupyrene sperm bundles began to accumulate in the duplex of males of the tobacco bud worm, Heliothis virescens (F.). The movement of sperm bundles from the seminal vesicles to the duplex followed a daily cycle, and the increase in number of sperm bundles within the duplex was linear. Thus, by counting the number of bundles in the duplex, one could estimate the age of virgin males. The number of bundles in the duplex was similar among three strains of tobacco bud worms colonized from 1 to <15 generations. Further, the number of bundles in males reared from eggs collected from cotton, tobacco, or pigeon pea was similar to that of other males and did not differ with weekly collection (5 July-13 September). All the sperm bundles within the duplex were transferred to the female during mating. Thereafter, daily accumulation of sperm bundles within the duplex was cyclic and linear. Thus, one could estimate the number of days since mating by counting the sperm bundles in the duplex. The color of the material within the simplex indicated mating status. Males with a light-yellow or darker-color simplex were virgin. The material was clear or white in mated males.
The Kinetics of Ni-Al Spinel Growth Using Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy

Using a planar thin-film specimen geometry, the growth kinetics of the spinel in NiOAl2O3 system has been studied with Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. A thin-layer of Ni film is deposited by the electron-beam deposition technique onto single-crystal alumina substrates of different orientations including, (0001), {1120}, {1102} and {1100}. The subsequent heat-treatment in air then converts the Ni to NiO, thus producing a uniform layer of NiO with good adhesion between the NiO and the alumina. The kinetics of the Ni-Al spinel growth has been found to be different for different single-crystal substrate orientations. The kinetics behavior follows a parabolic growth-rate law for each orientation but shows a different reaction-rate constant. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy have been used as complementary techniques to confirm the phases that form at each stage of the heat treatment and the corresponding microstructures of the thin-film layers respectively.
Folgen der Cholestase und des gestörten Gallensäurenstoffwechsels für die Darmfunktion

Ein ungestorter enterohepatischer Kreislauf der Gallensauren stellt eine Voraussetzung fur den normalen Ablauf wichtiger Darmfunktionen dar [1]. Einige meiner Vorredner sind bereits auf die Physiologie des Gallensaurenstotffwechsels eingegangen, insbesondere auf die Rolle, die die Gallensauren bei der Fettverdauung spielen. Die enge Verknufung zwischen Gallensaurenstotffwechsels und Darmfunktion bedingt es, das auf der einen Seite Storungen des Gallensaurenstotffwechsels zu Storungen der Darmfunktion fuhren konnen, auf der anderen Seite aber auch Veranderungen im Milieu oder in der Anatomie des Darms Storungen des Gallensaurenstotffwechsels hervorrufen, die ihrerseits die Darmfunktion weiter beeintrachtigen. Die Storungen des Gallensaurenstotffwechsels manifestieren sich hauptsachlich als Diarrhoen, die mit einer Steatorrhoe und anderen Zeichen einer Fettmalabsorption verbunden sein konnen [2–4]. Ausgangspunkt fur derartige gastroenterologische Krankheitserscheinungen ist entweder 1. eine primare Veranderung des Gallensaurenstotffwechsels, die die Darmfunktion beeintrachtigt oder 2. eine Veranderung der Darmfunktion oder -anatomie, die sekundar zu Storungen des Gallensaurenstotffwechsels fuhrt, die ihrerseits wieder unerwiinschte Ruckwirkungen auf die Darmfunktion haben.
Atmospheric nitrogen evolution on Earth and Venus

Abstract Nitrogen is the most common element in Earth's atmosphere and also appears to be present in significant amounts in the mantle. However, its long-term cycling between these two reservoirs remains poorly understood. Here a range of biotic and abiotic mechanisms are evaluated that could have caused nitrogen exchange between Earth's surface and interior over time. In the Archean, biological nitrogen fixation was likely strongly limited by nutrient and/or electron acceptor constraints. Abiotic fixation of dinitrogen becomes efficient in strongly reducing atmospheres, but only once temperatures exceed around 1000 K. Hence if atmospheric N 2 levels really were as low as they are today 3.0–3.5 Ga, the bulk of Earth's mantle nitrogen must have been emplaced in the Hadean, most likely at a time when the surface was molten. The elevated atmospheric N content on Venus compared to Earth can be explained abiotically by a water loss redox pump mechanism, where oxygen liberated from H 2 O photolysis and subsequent H loss to space oxidises the mantle, causing enhanced outgassing of nitrogen. This mechanism has implications for understanding the partitioning of other Venusian volatiles and atmospheric evolution on exoplanets.
Present concepts of coronary atherosclerosis-thrombosis, therapeutic implications and perspectives

Our knowledge of the pathophysiology of coronary atherosclerosis has remarkably changed in the last few years. The types of atherosclerotic lesions, the mechanisms of progression of coronary atherosclerosis with plaque instability and disruption, and the subsequent thrombotic phenomenon leading to acute coronary syndromes are now better understood. Therapeutic strategies leading to atherosclerotic lesion stabilization and even regression, as well as new antithrombotic strategies to alleviate or prevent the thrombotic complications are being pursued. This review focuses on the coronary unstable atherosclerotic plaque and complicating thrombosis.
An Artificial Intelligence Approach to Nutritional Meal Planning for Cancer Patients

It is well-known that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy suffer from nausea at a time when it is important for them to receive proper nutrition to fight not only the cancer but the impact that chemotherapy has on their body. Yet due to the debilitating nature of both the cancer and the chemotherapy treatment, such patients often have little energy to spend on food selection and preparation. In this paper, an artificial intelligence approach is taken to generate meal plans for users who may or may not be suffering from nausea on any particular day. Specifically, a variety of preferences are applied to evaluate meal components (e.g., dinner entree, dinner side dish, lunch entree) in an attempt to generate a balanced, healthy and palatable meal plan for the user.
Gastroduodenal Disease in the Elderly Patient

Benign and malignant diseases of the stomach and duodenum are common in the elderly. Atypical presentations frequently are seen, making early diagnosis difficult. Aggressive surgical and medical management regimens are usually possible, giving cure rates comparable to those seen in the younger population.
A novel method to assess angle sensor performance for wearable exoskeletal joint kinematics

Full range of motion (ROM) at a joint is necessary for efficient and adaptive movement; as such, it is an essential clinical evaluation measure for assessing an individual's motor function, which can be affected by any number of musculoskeletal injuries and neuropathies. Measurement of joint ROM in the clinic has classically been accomplished statically through the use of a manual goniometer. More recent efforts in the fields of prosthetics and orthotics have demonstrated the potential utility of wearable systems (e.g., exoskeletons, orthoses) designed to control joint motion(s) and instrumented with sensors capable of capturing joint angle data dynamically. This paper presents a novel methodology to assess the performance of a variety of angle sensors in the context of wearable joint angle measurement, particularly for use in articulated ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs). Dynamic and static errors are considered, and a cost-benefit analysis of a variety of off-the-shelf and custom-built sensors is reported to provide comparative data for selecting a sensor to measure joint motion in wearable exoskeletal systems. All of the sensors considered reported angular errors below 5o across all tests, though the optical encoder consistently demonstrated the highest accuracy (<0.70) and precision, and both the resistive potentiometers exhibited the highest error in the dynamic tests (1.5o to 40). The anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor demonstrated the highest performance-to-cost ratio.
BORC Functions Upstream of Kinesins 1 and 3 to Coordinate Regional Movement of Lysosomes along Different Microtubule Tracks.

The multiple functions of lysosomes are critically dependent on their ability to undergo bidirectional movement along microtubules between the center and the periphery of the cell. Centrifugal and centripetal movement of lysosomes is mediated by kinesin and dynein motors, respectively. We recently described a multi-subunit complex named BORC that recruits the small GTPase Arl8 to lysosomes to promote their kinesin-dependent movement toward the cell periphery. Here, we show that BORC and Arl8 function upstream of two structurally distinct kinesin types: kinesin-1 (KIF5B) and kinesin-3 (KIF1Bβ and KIF1A). Remarkably, KIF5B preferentially moves lysosomes on perinuclear tracks enriched in acetylated α-tubulin, whereas KIF1Bβ and KIF1A drive lysosome movement on more rectilinear, peripheral tracks enriched in tyrosinated α-tubulin. These findings establish BORC as a master regulator of lysosome positioning through coupling to different kinesins and microtubule tracks. Common regulation by BORC enables coordinate control of lysosome movement in different regions of the cell.
The Many Hats of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Nervous System Development and Disease

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling occurs concurrently with the many processes that constitute nervous system development. Although Shh is mostly known for its proliferative and morphogenic action through its effects on neural stem cells and progenitors, it also contributes to neuronal differentiation, axonal pathfinding and synapse formation and function. To participate in these diverse events, Shh signaling manifests differently depending on the maturational state of the responsive cell, on the other signaling pathways regulating neural cell function and the environmental cues that surround target cells. Shh signaling is particularly dynamic in the nervous system, ranging from canonical transcription-dependent, to non-canonical and localized to axonal growth cones. Here, we review the variety of Shh functions in the developing nervous system and their consequences for neurodevelopmental diseases and neural regeneration, with particular emphasis on the signaling mechanisms underlying Shh action.
The MEK-Inhibitor Selumetinib Attenuates Tumor Growth and Reduces IL-6 Expression but Does Not Protect against Muscle Wasting in Lewis Lung Cancer Cachexia.

Cachexia, or wasting of skeletal muscle and fat, afflicts many patients with chronic diseases including cancer, organ failure, and AIDS. Muscle wasting reduces quality of life and decreases response to therapy. Cachexia is caused partly by elevated inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6). Others and we have shown that IL-6 alone is sufficient to induce cachexia both in vitro and in vivo. The mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor Selumetinib has been tested in clinical trials for various cancers. Moreover, Selumetinib has also been shown to inhibit the production of IL-6. In a retrospective analysis of a phase II clinical trial in advanced cholangiocarcinoma, patients treated with Selumetinib experienced significant gains in skeletal muscle versus patients receiving standard therapy. However, the use of Selumetinib as a treatment for cachexia has yet to be investigated mechanistically. We sought to determine whether MEK inhibition could protect against cancer-induced cachexia in mice. In vitro, Selumetinib induced C2C12 myotube hypertrophy and nuclear accretion. Next we tested Selumetinib in the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) model of cancer cachexia. Treatment with Selumetinib reduced tumor mass and reduced circulating and tumor IL-6; however MEK inhibition did not preserve muscle mass. Similar wasting was seen in limb muscles of Selumetinib and vehicle-treated LLC mice, while greater fat and carcass weight loss was observed with Selumetinib treatment. As well, Selumetinib did not block wasting in C2C12 myotubes treated with LLC serum. Taken together, out results suggest that this MEK inhibitor is not protective in LLC cancer cachexia despite lowering IL-6 levels, and further that it might exacerbate tumor-induced weight loss. Differences from other studies might be disease, species or model-specific.
Persistent spatial structuring of coastal ocean acidification in the California Current System

The near-term progression of ocean acidification (OA) is projected to bring about sharp changes in the chemistry of coastal upwelling ecosystems. The distribution of OA exposure across these early-impact systems, however, is highly uncertain and limits our understanding of whether and how spatial management actions can be deployed to ameliorate future impacts. Through a novel coastal OA observing network, we have uncovered a remarkably persistent spatial mosaic in the penetration of acidified waters into ecologically-important nearshore habitats across 1,000 km of the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. In the most severe exposure hotspots, suboptimal conditions for calcifying organisms encompassed up to 56% of the summer season, and were accompanied by some of the lowest and most variable pH environments known for the surface ocean. Persistent refuge areas were also found, highlighting new opportunities for local adaptation to address the global challenge of OA in productive coastal systems.
From Students to Colleagues: How the Legal Writing Classroom Can Create Conscientious and Empathetic Practitioners

This article describes the role of the legal writing class in helping students develop into the professionals that act with care and integrity.
The ‘Secular Designs’ of Wole Soyinka

This chapter examines Nigerian Nobel laureate playwright Wole Soyinka’s latest nonfiction work, Of Africa (Yale 2012), to argue for his use of traditional Yoruba religion as a conceptual resource for an innovative notion of the secular. In this derivation, the absence of dogma, the possibility of unbelief, stands out as a mark of the secular . I conclude by showing how acts of unbelief were thematized in one of Soyinka’s early plays, The Road (1965), and propose that the secular, thus reimagined, could serve as a critical category for a sustained exploration of much of his writing during his illustrious career.
Crimes, Punishments, and Bernard Shaw

Together with recapitulating the major points of the previous chapters, including Shaw’s view of Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler, this concluding chapter recognizes that Shaw does not require a theological conception of evil to recognize and cope with societal wickedness. He deals not with abstractions but with crimes and punishments in his world. None of his characters exemplify evil or good, even if they share his views. His burglar is more entrepreneurial than felonious, his socialist a liar and a petty thief. Swiftianly denouncing social injustices through wit, Shaw is a fool for Christ, a court jester who plays the fool in order to make people pay attention to his serious views.
Machine Learning for Placement-Insensitive Inertial Motion Capture

Although existing inertial motion-capture systems work reasonably well (≤10° error in Euler angles), their accuracy suffers when sensor positions change relative to the associated body segments (±60° mean error and 120° standard deviation). We attribute this performance degradation to undermined calibration values, sensor movement latency and displacement offsets. The latter specifically leads to incongruent rotation matrices in kinematic algorithms that rely on rotational transformations. To overcome these limitations, we propose to employ machine-learning techniques. In particular, we use multi-layer perceptrons to learn sensor-displacement patterns based on 3 hours of motion data collected from 12 test subjects in the lab over 215 trials. Furthermore, to compensate for calibration and latency errors, we directly process sensor data with deep neural networks and estimate the joint angles. Based on these approaches, we demonstrate up to 69% reduction in tracking errors.
Modeling branching morphogenesis using materials with programmable mechanical instabilities.

Abstract The architectural features of branching morphogenesis demonstrate exquisite reproducibility among various organs and species despite the unique functionality and biochemical differences of their microenvironment. The regulatory networks that drive branching morphogenesis employ cell-generated and passive mechanical forces, which integrate extracellular signals from the microenvironment into morphogenetic movements. Cell-generated forces function locally to remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM) and control interactions among neighboring cells. Passive mechanical forces are the product of in situ mechanical instabilities that trigger out-of-plane buckling and clefting deformations of adjacent tissues. Many of the molecular and physical signals that underlie buckling and clefting morphogenesis remain unclear and require new experimental strategies to be uncovered. Here, we highlight soft material systems that have been engineered to display programmable buckles and creases. Using synthetic materials to model physicochemical and spatiotemporal features of buckling and clefting morphogenesis might facilitate our understanding of the physical mechanisms that drive branching morphogenesis across different organs and species.
Investigation of ternary metal dodecaborides (M1M2M3)B12 (M1, M2 and M3 = Zr, Y, Hf and Gd)

Samples of metal borides with a nominal composition of ((M1)(1−x−z)(M2)(x)(M3)(z)) : 20B (M1, M2 and M3 = Zr, Y, Hf and Gd) were prepared by arc-melting and studied for phase composition (using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)) and mechanical properties (Vickers hardness). Ternary metal dodecaboride phases were successfully synthesized for the majority of compositions, including stabilization of two high-pressure (6.5 GPa) phases (cubic-UB12 structure), HfB12 and GdB12, in (Zr1−x−zHfxGdz) : 20B and (Y1−x−zHfxGdz) : 20B nominal alloy compositions. Unit cell refinement for the samples showed solid solution formation in most cases. Vickers hardness measurements indicated that most samples possess enhanced hardness in comparison to their parent phases, with the alloy (Zr0.50Y0.25Gd0.25) : 20B having a hardness of 46.9 ± 2.4 GPa compared to 41.3 ± 1.1 and 41.6 ± 1.3 GPa for alloy compositions of 1.0 Zr : 20B and 1.0 Y : 20B, respectively, at 0.49 N of applied load. Using the data from this manuscript as well as previous work, pseudo-ternary phase diagrams (at a constant boron content) have been constructed.
College Students’ Preference and Purchase Intention ofOnline Customized Sports Shoes

Mass customization, has been considered as a trend to increase brand value and market share. Since the first offer of customized product in the sportswear industry was launched in the late 1990s (Boer & Dulio, 2007), it has been developing at a high speed and nowadays top sportswear brands have their mass customization programs such as Nike iD, mi-Adidas and Reebok Custom. Boer and Dulio (2007) categorize three types of mass customization as: design, performance, and fit.
Supernovae Kicks in hierarchical triple systems

Most massive stars, if not all, are in binary configuration or higher multiples. These massive stars undergo supernova explosions and end their lives as either black holes or neutron stars. Recent observations have suggested that neutron stars and perhaps even black holes receive large velocity kicks at birth. Such natal kicks and the sudden mass loss can significantly alter the orbital configuration of the system. Here we derive general analytical expressions that describe the effects of natal kicks in binaries on hierarchical triple systems. We explore several proof-of-concept applications such as black hole and neutron stars binaries and X-ray binaries with either stellar or Supermassive Black Hole (SMBH) companions on a wide orbit. Kicks can disrupt the hierarchical configuration, although it is harder to escape the potential well of an SMBH. Some binary systems do escape the SMBH system resulting in hyper-velocity binary system. Furthermore, kicks can result in increasing or decreasing the orbital separations. Decreasing the orbital separation may have significant consequences in these astrophysical systems. For example, shrinking the separation post-supernova kick can lead to the shrinking of an inner compact binary that then may merge via Gravitational Wave (GW) emission. This process yields a supernova that is shortly followed by a possible GW-LIGO event. Interestingly, we find that the natal kick can result in shrinking the outer orbit, and the binary may cross the tertiary Roche limit, breaking up the inner binary. Thus, in the case of SMBH companion, this process can lead to either a tidal disruption event or a GW-LISA detection event with a supernova precursor.
Wood-Warbler Song Systems

Many songbird species have song repertoires divided into subsets of songs that are used in different situations. The song systems—the species-typical patterns of song use—of these species provide an opportunity to examine the evolution of songs or groups of songs that seem to be specialized for different functions, without the confounding effects of ecological differences inherent in interspecific comparisons. Among songbirds that use different songs in different circumstances, the wood-warblers (Parulinae) are particularly interesting as a relatively well-studied group among which patterns of song use are shared by related species. In this chapter, I review the literature on wood-warbler song with the hope of putting the singing behavior of individual species in perspective and of using comparative data to develop hypotheses about the evolution of wood-warbler song systems.
Defining solution boundaries for EDM Vis

Software-tutors like intelligent tutoring systems generate lots of student log-data. However making sense of this data is often difficult, because of the quantity generated. EDM Vis is a visualization tool for interacting, exploring and navigating software-tutor log-data, so educators can see what students are doing, and how they are doing it. New methods for clustering similar solution-approaches of students need to be developed so researchers can make better sense of what students are doing, in turn improving software-tutor log-data visualizations and intelligent tutoring systems.
Application of photorespiration concepts to whole stream productivity

We conducted two-station diel surveys of dissolved oxygen content to estimate whole-stream productivity in the experimental streams of the Monticello Ecological Research Station for two years following channel reconstruction. Community productivity measurements compare well to previous measurements in these streams, but apparent hysteresis in the P/I relation was measured in over two-thirds of the diel surveys. Apparent hysteresis in photosynthesis with solar irradiance is a characteristic of photorespiration, and modeling the effect of light on whole-stream respiratory rates reduced the magnitude of P/I curve hysteresis and improved the predictions of dissolved oxygen content (DO) in the stream. Stream productivity models normally assume respiratory rates measured at night are constant throughout the day, but when this assumption yields apparent hysteresis in the P/I curve, the inclusion of a photorespiration model in the analyses of whole-stream productivity facilitates the comparison of photosynthesis and respiratory rates between different streams. The computed total daily consumption of oxygen by photorespiratory processes is proportional to the total daily photosynthetic production of oxygen in the streams. We also found that the diel DO curves occurring in the experimental streams are best described by a photorespiration model that utilizes a four hour moving average of irradiance. Accounting for photorespiration in the streams increases the apparent efficiency of photosynthesis, improves the accuracy of DO predictions, and reduces uncertainty in photosynthesis and respiratory rate estimates.
Developmental Patterns in Disabled Infants and Preschoolers

In the review of evidence on the pattern of cognitive and socioemotional development of the young developmentally disabled child, three factors combine to make the job difficult. First, as will become obvious, although for some disabilities, such as retardation, there is ample evidence on developmental patterns across the life span, for other groups, such as the mutiply handicapped, there are large gaps in our knowledge base, particularly below the age of 5 years. Often, only a single study represents our knowledge of development in critical areas. This problem is compounded by the all-too-common practice of aggregating data for different disability conditions under the labels of handicapped or developmentally delayed, and comparing the performance of a heterogeneous group of handicapped children to that of the nonhandicapped (i.e., Mundy, Seibert, & Hogan, 1984). As will become obvious, this assumption that all handicapping conditions are functionally equivalent in their developmental patterns does not appear to be justified by the data. Further, even when supposedly homogeneous handicaps are used, children with differing degrees of handicaps are very often clumped together. Thus, it is not uncommon to find studies in which the term motor-impaired is used to designate children with and without central nervous system (CNS) etiology (i.e., Fishman & Palkes, 1974). As a result, even when consistent relationships are found, the degree of generalizability is unclear, as distinctions based on the degree of the etiology of the handicap are rarely made.
Separation of Radiolytic Species at the Boehmite–WaterInterface

The effects of radiation fields present in nuclear waste tanks on the structure and reactivity of Al-bearing phases, a major component of the solid waste inventory, and their implications for nucle...
Photooxygenation of the CN bond: a mild new method for oxidative CC cleavage

Abstract Upon photooxygenation in the presence of base, α-oximinocarbonyl compounds undergo clean oxidative CC cleavage giving rise to mixtures of esters and acids. The mechanism of these reactions involves some unusual peroxidic intermediates, including a 2,3,5-trioxapentanes.
Marriage and the Financial Knowledge Gender Gap

Prior studies of financial literacy find a significant knowledge gap between men and women. This has led some to speculate that women are either less interested in, or less able to understand, financial concepts. Household production and marital bargaining theory may explain why low earning married women with children will rationally choose to delegate financial decisions to their husband. Descriptive statistics show that higher earning women, single, and married women are more financially knowledgeable than men. In a multivariate model, we find that women with children have lower financial literacy scores than married men and that higher earning married women are more financially literate than lower earning married women. There is still evidence of a gender gap even among higher earning women with no children compared to married men, but this gap appears to be declining within the youngest age cohorts.
Corporate redemption and the seven deadly sins.

Competitive purgatory is the sorry state of too many formerly proud U.S. corporations. They are languishing from the devastating effects of seven familiar sins: inconsistent product quality; slow response to the marketplace; lack of innovative, competitive products; uncompetitive cost structure; inadequate employee involvement; unresponsive customer service; and inefficient resource allocation. To make matters worse, the maladies are mostly management-induced, and the remedies most managers are employing-shifting strategy, reallocating resources, focusing on operations--are proving ineffective. The cures don't address the cause of the disease: negative, risk-averse, bureaucratic work environments that flourished in decades of easy growth but today are undermining competitive performance. What's needed is a total reinvention of the soft side of the organization to produce a work environment that stresses speed, Spartanism, innovation, and marketplace focus. First, top managers must decide what their company stands for and convince their employees of this uniqueness. Second, they must set standards that drive their business to worldclass levels and be tough about enforcing and raising them. Third, they must push constantly to ensure that enough innovations take place to change the company's future significantly. Three other factors are crucial: the right talent, an effective reward system, and CEOs who can drive the desired changes personally. Creating a dynamic work environment is not easy: it takes perseverance, flexibility, and commitment. But these efforts will pay off: how people tackle problems, work together, and think about their jobs are the activities that make a company great.
Radiation dose escalation for locally advanced unresectable intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) remain challenging diseases to treat. The majority of patients present with advanced disease, and the tumors often cause life-threatening biliary obstruction and vascular compromise of the liver. Local control (LC) of these tumors has the potential to prolong life for patients. While escalated-dose radiation therapy (EDRT) has been demonstrated to be an effective, safe option to achieve LC of IHCC, data for EHCC suggest that EDRT with current techniques has limitations, often due to dose-limiting bowel structures in close proximity to the extrahepatic biliary system. Here we review the results of EDRT for IHCC and EHCC and point to potential directions to combine radiotherapy with novel agents. The molecular characterization of cholangiocarcinoma has particularly opened new avenues for clinical investigations of targeted therapies with EDRT and may point to ways to achieve both systemic and LC benefits for patients.
Rational genomic optimization of DNA detection for human papillomavirus type 16 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background We aimed to use genomic data for optimizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer/probe sets for detection of human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 in body fluids of patients with HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-HNSCC). Methods We used genomic HPV-HNSCC sequencing data from a single institutional and a TCGA cohort. Optimized primer/probe sets were designed and tested for analytical performance in CaSki HPV-16 genome and confirmed in salivary rinse samples from patients with HPV-HNSCC. Results The highest read density was observed between E5 and L2 regions. The E1 region contained a region that was universally present. Among candidate PCR primer/probe sets created, six reliably detected 30 HPV-16 copy number. In a CLIA certified laboratory setting, the combination of two novel primer/probe with E7 sets improved performance in salivary rinse samples with a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 100%. Conclusions PCR-based detection of HPV-16 DNA in HPV-HNSCC can be improved using rational genomic design.
Translating Knowledge into Action to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Medicare Expansion of the National Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Intervention.

Policy Points Although preventable chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes carry a significant cost and health burden, few lifestyle interventions have been scaled at a national policy level. The translation of the National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle intervention from research to a Medicare-covered service can serve as a model for national adoption of other interventions that have the potential to improve population health. The successful translation of the National Diabetes Prevention Program has depended on the collaboration of government agencies, academic researchers, community-based healthcare providers, payers, and other parties. Context Many evidence-based health interventions never achieve national implementation. This article analyzes factors that supported the translation and national implementation of a lifestyle change intervention to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in individuals with prediabetes. Methods We used the Knowledge to Action framework, which was developed to map how science is translated into effective health programs, to examine how the evidence-based intervention from the 2002 Diabetes Prevention Program trial was translated into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's large-scale National Diabetes Prevention Program, eventually resulting in payment for the lifestyle intervention as a Medicare-covered service. Findings Key findings of our analysis include the importance of a collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and payers to encourage early adopters; development of evidence-based, national standards to support widespread adoption of the intervention; and use of public input from community organizations to scale the intervention to a national level. Conclusions This analysis offers timely lessons for other high-value, scalable interventions attempting to move beyond the evidence-gathering phase and into translation and institutionalization.
Radiation-induced electron and hole traps in Ge 1 - x Sn x (x = 0-0.094)

The band structure of germanium changes significantly when alloyed with a few percent concentrations of tin, and while much work has been done to characterize and exploit these changes, the corresponding deep-level defect characteristics are largely unknown. In this paper, we investigate the dominant deep-level defects created by 2 MeV proton irradiation in Ge1 − xSnx (x = 0.0, 0.020, 0.053, 0.069, and 0.094) diodes and determine how the ionization energies of these defects change with tin concentrations. Deep-level transient spectroscopy measurements approximate the ionization energies associated with electron transitions to/from the valence band (hole traps) and conduction band (electron traps) in the intrinsic regions of p-i-n diode test structures. The prominent deep-level hole traps may be associated with divacancies, vacancy–tin complexes, and vacancy–phosphorous complexes (V2, V–Sn, and V–P, respectively), with the presumed V–P hole trap dominating after room temperature annealing. The ionization energy level of this trap (approximated by the apparent activation energy for hole emission) is close to the intrinsic Fermi level in the 0% and 2% Sn devices and decreases as the tin concentration is increased, maintaining an approximately fixed energy spacing below the indirect conduction band edge. The other hole traps follow this same trend, and the dominant electron trap ionization energies remain roughly constant with changes in tin concentrations, indicating they are likewise pinned to the conduction band edge. These results suggest a pattern that may, in many cases, apply more generally to deep-level defects in these alloys, including those present in the “as-grown” materials.The band structure of germanium changes significantly when alloyed with a few percent concentrations of tin, and while much work has been done to characterize and exploit these changes, the corresponding deep-level defect characteristics are largely unknown. In this paper, we investigate the dominant deep-level defects created by 2 MeV proton irradiation in Ge1 − xSnx (x = 0.0, 0.020, 0.053, 0.069, and 0.094) diodes and determine how the ionization energies of these defects change with tin concentrations. Deep-level transient spectroscopy measurements approximate the ionization energies associated with electron transitions to/from the valence band (hole traps) and conduction band (electron traps) in the intrinsic regions of p-i-n diode test structures. The prominent deep-level hole traps may be associated with divacancies, vacancy–tin complexes, and vacancy–phosphorous complexes (V2, V–Sn, and V–P, respectively), with the presumed V–P hole trap dominating after room temperature annealing. The ionization e...
Automated location correction and spot height generation for named summits in the coterminous United States

Spot elevations published on historical U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps were established as needed to enhance information imparted by the quadrangle’s contours. In addition to other feature...