cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between sediment clay minerals and total mercury

A group of 262 sediment samples were collected from various lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and bayous of Louisiana. All samples were analyzed for total mercury. Twenty nine of the samples with total mercury content ranging from 11 to 401 ppb (μg/kg) were analyzed for clay minerals and other sediment physical and chemical properties. Clay content in sediments varied from 3 to 72%. Clay minerals were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Identification of clay minerals was determined by MacDiff software and quantification of clay minerals was obtained by Peak Height Percentage (PHP) calculation. The dominant clay mineral was Hydrated Interlayer Vermiculite (HIV), which represented 51–83% of the total clay mineral. Significant linear correlations were observed between Hg and total clay content (r= 0.538**). However Smectite was the only individual clay type correlated (r= 0.465**) with mercury in sediment. Cation exchange capacity (r= 0.404*), organic matter (r= 0.577**), and sulfur (r= 0.676**) were ...
Fine-scale variation of historical fire regimes in sagebrush-steppe and juniper woodland: An example from California, USA

Coarse-scale estimates of fire intervals across the mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle) alliance range from decades to centuries. However, soil depth and texture can affect the abundance and continuity of fine fuels and vary at fine spatial scales, suggesting fire regimes may vary at similar scales. We explored variation in fire frequency across 4000 ha in four plant associations with differing soils in which mountain big sagebrush and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis subsp. occidentalis Hook.) were diagnostic or a transitory component. We reconstructed fire frequency from fire-scarred ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson) in one association. The other three associations lacked fire-scarred trees so we inferred fire frequency from establishment or death dates of western juniper and a model of the rate of post-fire succession we developed from current vegetation along a chronosequence of time-since-fire. Historical fire frequency varied at fine spatial scales in response to soil-driven variation in fuel abundance and continuity and spanned the range of frequencies currently debated. Fire intervals ranged from decades in areas of deep, productive soils where fine fuels were likely abundant and continuous, to centuries in areas of shallow, coarse soils where fine fuel was likely limited.
Brain–computer interfaces as new brain output pathways

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) can provide non-muscular communication and control for people with severe motor disabilities. Current BCIs use a variety of invasive and non-invasive methods to record brain signals and a variety of signal processing methods. Whatever the recording and processing methods used, BCI performance (e.g. the ability of a BCI to control movement of a computer cursor) is highly variable and, by the standards applied to neuromuscular control, could be described as ataxic. In an effort to understand this imperfection, this paper discusses the relevance of two principles that underlie the brain's normal motor outputs. The first principle is that motor outputs are normally produced by the combined activity of many CNS areas, from the cortex to the spinal cord. Together, these areas produce appropriate control of the spinal motoneurons that activate muscles. The second principle is that the acquisition and life-long preservation of motor skills depends on continual adaptive plasticity throughout the CNS. This plasticity optimizes the control of spinal motoneurons. In the light of these two principles, a BCI may be viewed as a system that changes the outcome of CNS activity from control of spinal motoneurons to, instead, control of the cortical (or other) area whose signals are used by the BCI to determine the user's intent. In essence, a BCI attempts to assign to cortical neurons the role normally performed by spinal motoneurons. Thus, a BCI requires that the many CNS areas involved in producing normal motor actions change their roles so as to optimize the control of cortical neurons rather than spinal motoneurons. The disconcerting variability of BCI performance may stem in large part from the challenge presented by the need for this unnatural adaptation. This difficulty might be reduced, and BCI development might thereby benefit, by adopting a ‘goal-selection’ rather than a ‘process- control’ strategy. In ‘process control’, a BCI manages all the intricate high-speed interactions involved in movement. In ‘goal selection’, by contrast, the BCI simply communicates the user's goal to software that handles the high–speed interactions needed to achieve the goal. Not only is ‘goal selection’ less demanding, but also, by delegating lower-level aspects of motor control to another structure (rather than requiring that the cortex do everything), it more closely resembles the distributed operation characteristic of normal motor control.
How toddlers represent enclosed spaces

Abstract Recent findings indicate that toddlers can use geometric cues to locate an object hidden in a corner of a rectangular room after being disoriented [Cognition 61 (1996) 195]. It has been suggested that locating the object involves reestablishing one’s initial heading. The present experiments examine search behavior after disorientation. We find that toddlers go directly to a particular corner, indicating that they do not have to reestablish their original heading. It also has been suggested that toddlers ability to use geometric cues is limited to surrounding spaces. We find that toddlers can locate an object from outside as well as from inside a space, although the task is harder from outside. Based on these results, we argue that while toddlers do not represent their position relative to a particular portion of a space, they nevertheless may represent their position relative to the entire space (i.e., outside vs. inside).
Antioxidant-induced changes in oxidized DNA

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a strong antioxidant, has antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic properties currently being investigated in clinical trials. NAC detoxifies free radicals (e.g., the hydroxyl radical, ·OH) that cause DNA changes implicated in disease (e.g., cancer). The ·OH reacts with purines to form mutagenic 8-hydroxypurine (8-OH) and putatively nonmutagenic formamidopyrimidine (Fapy) lesions. Fapy lesions inhibit DNA synthesis likely modulating the mutagenic potential of the 8-OH lesions, which would suggest that the ratio of these oxidized bases is biologically important. However, little is known about how NAC modifies oxidized DNA structure or how such modifications may affect cellular processes, such as replication and transcription. By using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, we found that dietary NAC (5% in the diet for 14 days) affected ·OH-induced structural changes in DNA of the hind leg of the BALB/c mouse. For example, mutagenic 8-hydroxyguanine (8-OH-Gua) was reduced ≈50% (P = 0.02) in mice fed NAC compared with controls. NAC reduced the log10 (8-OH-Gua/FapyGua) ratio from 0.58 ± 0.15 to essentially zero, a virtually neutral redox status. DNA from control mice had a remarkably high variance compared with mice fed NAC. Moreover, the DNA from treated and control mice was distinct with respect to base structure and vertical base-stacking interactions. The findings showing that NAC lowered the concentration of 8-OH-Gua, the log ratio, and the variance (previously associated with neoplastic changes) suggest that NAC reduces the mutagenic potential of oxidized DNA. These benefits could be offset by the other structural changes found after NAC exposure, which may affect the fidelity of DNA synthesis.
The Differential Relations of Maternal and Paternal Support and Control to Adolescent Social Competence, Self-Worth, and Sympathy.

The goal of this study was to examine how the parenting dimensions of both mothers and fathers independently and together predict adolescent outcomes in three domains: sympathy, self-worth, and social competence. One-hundred eight adolescents completed self-report measures on their perceived relationship with parents, sympathy, social competence, and self-worth. Perceived maternal supportandrigid control were the most consistent predictors of adolescent adjustment. High levels of perceived maternal support and low levels of maternal rigid control were related to adolescents’reports of sympathy, social competence, and self-worth. In contrast, support and control from fathers was generally unrelated to adolescent adjustment. The one exception was in predicting sympathy, where father support interacted with maternal support in predicting sympathy. When perceived support from fathers was high, maternal support was unrelated to sympathy. In contrast, when perceived supportfrom fathers was low, perceived matern...
Effects of spanwise rotation on the structure of two-dimensional fully developed turbulent channel flow.

Experiments on fully developed turbulent flow in a channel which is rotating at a steady rate about a spanwise axis are described. The Coriolis force components in the region of two-dimensional mean flow affect both local and global stability. Three stability-related phenomena were observed or inferred: (1) the reduction (increase) of the rate of wall-layer streak bursting in locally stabilized (destabilized) wall layers; (2) the total suppression of transition to turbulence in a stabilized layer; (3) the development of large-scale roll cells on the destabilized side of the channel by growth of a Taylor-Gortler vortex instability. Local effects of rotational stabilization, such as reduction of the turbulent stress in wall layers, can be related to the local Richardson number in a simple way. This paper not only investigates this effect, but also, by methods of flow visualization, exposes some of the underlying structure changes caused by rotation.-
Volume minimization for permanent-magnet structures

A method for designing permanent-magnet structures that minimizes the volume of magnetic material is described. The desired characteristics of the magnetic field are specified by a set of M linear constraints. This paper shows that minimum volume configurations can be determined by solving a system of M+1 nonlinear equations. A key feature of the method is that it always produces a global minimum. The method's use is illustrated by the design of a helical undulator for a free-electron laser.
Elevational Ranges of Montane Birds and Deforestation in the Western Andes of Colombia

Deforestation causes habitat loss, fragmentation, degradation, and can ultimately cause extinction of the remnant species. Tropical montane birds face these threats with the added natural vulnerability of narrower elevational ranges and higher specialization than lowland species. Recent studies assess the impact of present and future global climate change on species’ ranges, but only a few of these evaluate the potentially confounding effect of lowland deforestation on species elevational distributions. In the Western Andes of Colombia, an important biodiversity hotspot, we evaluated the effects of deforestation on the elevational ranges of montane birds along altitudinal transects. Using point counts and mist-nets, we surveyed six altitudinal transects spanning 2200 to 2800m. Three transects were forested from 2200 to 2800m, and three were partially deforested with forest cover only above 2400m. We compared abundance-weighted mean elevation, minimum elevation, and elevational range width. In addition to analysing the effect of deforestation on 134 species, we tested its impact within trophic guilds and habitat preference groups. Abundance-weighted mean and minimum elevations were not significantly different between forested and partially deforested transects. Range width was marginally different: as expected, ranges were larger in forested transects. Species in different trophic guilds and habitat preference categories showed different trends. These results suggest that deforestation may affect species’ elevational ranges, even within the forest that remains. Climate change will likely exacerbate harmful impacts of deforestation on species’ elevational distributions. Future conservation strategies need to account for this by protecting connected forest tracts across a wide range of elevations.
An Exploration of the Themes and Content on Family Health in the Social Work Literature

This study is an exploratory study of the social work literature focusing on family health reported in the Social Work Abstracts from 1977 to the present. The findings suggest that the social work literature offers an extensive number of articles on topics related to family health. The implications of the findings for future research are offered.
Natural Circulation Response of Pressurized Water Reactors

The system responses of pressurized water reactors during the natural circulation mode of decay heat removal are analyzed and evaluated. Selected data from fourteen events at twelve operating plants are presented which compare the thermal-hydraulic responses of Westinghouse, Babcock & Wilcox, and Combustion Engineering designed nuclear steam supply systems to a loss of forced circulation. Most of the events were initiated by a loss of offsite power transient. The first known comparisons of RELAP5 calculations to actual plant data during natural circulation cooling for the various vendor designs are discussed. The results of these comparisons provide criteria that can be used by the operators to confirm that natural circulation has been established and show how operator actions affect natural circulation response.
Medical concerns in underwater sports.

The author examines the prevention and treatment of some of the more common and more serious problems among swimmers and divers. Included in the discussion are loss of consciousness because of breath-holding, ear squeeze, air embolism, decompression sickness, nitrogen narcosis, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Also presented is a description of snorkeling and scuba diving, with guidelines for the preparticipation examination.
Trends and Patterns in Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) Charges

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects individuals aged 40 years and over from discrimination throughout the employment process. Using data on ADEA charges from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1993 to 2010, we present labor force-adjusted charge rates demonstrating that the highest charge rates are among those in the preretirement age range, and only the rate of charges among those aged 65 years and older has not decreased. We examine characteristics of ADEA charges including the prevalence of different alleged discriminatory actions (or issues) and highlight the increasing proportion of age discrimination charges that are jointly filed with other antidiscrimination statutes. Through a regression analysis, we find that the likelihood of citing various issues differs by charging party characteristics, such as age, gender, and minority status, and on charges that cite only age discrimination as compared to those that are jointly filed. Implications of these findings for employers are discussed.
O-linked oligosaccharides of glycophorins A and B in erythrocytes of two individuals with the Tn polyagglutinability syndrome

Tn polyagglutinability syndrome is an acquired condition where erythrocytes express Tn neo-antigen and become susceptible to hemagglutination by the naturally occurring anti-Tn present in normal sera. Early studies had indicated that O-linked N-acetyl galactosamine was the sole serologic Tn determinant, but more recently O-linked NeuNAc alpha 2, 6GalNAc also has been implicated as a Tn antigen (sialosyl-Tn). However, none of these studies were performed on purified glycoproteins. In this report we examine oligosaccharides of glycophorins A and B purified from Tn erythrocytes of two affected individuals to establish how N- and O-linked saccharides differ from normal. Analysis of carbohydrate composition and treatment with N- glycanase showed that the Asn-linked unit of glycophorin A was not affected. O-linked oligosaccharides were obtained by beta-elimination in the presence of tritiated sodium borohydride. The reduced radiolabeled products were fractionated by Bio-Gel P-2 chromatography, and their structures were investigated by comparison with standards, by monosaccharide quantification, and by neuraminidases of known specificities. The results show that Tn glycophorins from both donors contain intact and truncated forms of trisaccharide and tetrasaccharide NeuNAc alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,3GalNAc and NeuNAc alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,3- (NeuNAc alpha 2,6)GalNAc usually present in glycophorins A and B. The truncated forms include the protein O-linked monosaccharide, GalNAc and disaccharide, NeuNAc alpha 2,6GalNAc (major isomer). The presence of intact glycans in the total population of Tn erythrocytes was confirmed by their susceptibility to T activation after treatment with neuraminidase. The proportion of the four species was not identical in glycophorins of these two donors but, in both, the truncated units predominated and the amount of the disaccharide was approximately one half of that of the monosaccharide. The data are consistent with alterations in UDPGal:GalNAc beta 1,3galactosyl transferase that may have multiple molecular origins and with induction of a specific GalNAc protein alpha 2,6 sialosyl transferase in Tn hematopoietic precursor cells. The molecular basis for these alterations awaits further study.
Managers’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Cash vs. Non-Cash Awards for Sales and Customer Service Employees

A survey of 235 managers found that, overall, non-cash awards were felt to be more effective for most organizational objectives assessed in this study. However, cash awards were seen as being more effective for increasing sales and to some extent for improving customer acquisition and referrals.
The Work of Art and Other Things

In the Ion Plato writes: a poet is a light and winged thing and holy, and never able to compose until he has become inspired, and is beside himself, and reason is no longer in him (534b).
Keynote: Deep learning for audio-based music recommendation

The advent of deep learning has made it possible to extract high-level information from perceptual signals without having to specify manually and explicitly how to obtain it; instead, this can be learned from examples. This creates opportunities for automated content analysis of musical audio signals. In this talk, I will discuss how deep learning techniques can be used for audio-based music recommendation, with which we can tackle the item cold-start problem that burdens the prevailing collaborative filtering approaches.
Yaw Stability Control System for an Automobile Via Steer-by-Wire

In this paper, we present a yaw stability control system of a steer-by-wire vehicle that utilizes steering to stabilize the vehicle. By using a two track linearized vehicle model as a reference, a PID control system was designed with road wheel steer angle as control input. Simulation results show that the proposed controller performed reasonably well.
The Effect of Victimization Severity on Perceived Risk of Victimization: Analyses Using an International Sample

ABSTRACTIn this article, we explored the effect of prior victimization severity on perceived risk using a cross-national sample. We extracted data for all variables from the International Criminal Victimization Survey (ICVS) and the European Survey on Crime Safety (EU ICS). Using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression for both pooled data and individual countries, we found that, in addition to numerous control and prior victimization variables, our key independent variable—perceived severity of victimization—generally influences levels of perceived risk. Discussion of the results and limitations of the study are also included.
Cutaneous extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma mimicking cellulitis an HIV positive patient without lymphopenia.

We present the case of a 28-year-old male with a history of HIV with a 1-month history of a steadily enlarging, firm painful lesion on the right posterior shoulder. The patient was initially treated for cellulitis given his clinical picture. Histopathologic examination revealed an angiocentric and dermal proliferation of markedly atypical lymphoid cells with numerous mitoses and apoptotic bodies along with broad zones of necrosis. Biopsy revealed the presentation to be consistent with NK/T-cell lymphoma. The cutaneous lesions from NK/T-cell lymphoma can often be initially mistaken for cellulitis, therefore this malignancy should be included on the differential in a patient HIV/AIDS.
Terahertz dielectric analysis and spin-phonon coupling in multiferroic GeV 4 S 8

We present an investigation of the multiferroic lacunar spinel compound ${\mathrm{GeV}}_{4}{\mathrm{S}}_{8}$ using time-domain terahertz spectroscopy. We find three absorptions which either appear or shift at the antiferromagnetic transition temperature, ${T}_{N}=17\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, as $S=1$ magnetic moments develop on vanadium tetrahedra. Two of these absorptions are coupled to the magnetic state and one only appears below the N\'eel temperature, and is interpreted as a magnon. We also observe isosbestic points in the dielectric constant in both the temperature and frequency domains. Further, we perform an analysis on the isosbestic features to reveal an interesting collapse into a single curve as a function of both frequency and temperature, behavior which exists throughout the phase transitions. This analysis suggests the importance of spectral changes in the terahertz range which are linear in frequency and temperature.
Prediction of bike rental using model reuse strategy

This paper describes the methodology used for ECMLPKDD 2015 Discovery Challenge on Model Reuse with Bike Rental Station Data (MoReBikeS). The challenge was to predict the number of bikes in the new stations three hours in advance. Initially, the data for the first 25 new stations (station 201 to 225) was provided and various prediction methods were utilized on these test stations and the results were updated every week. Then the full test data for the remaining 50 stations (station 226 to 275) was given and the prediction was made using the best method obtained from the small test challenge. Several methods like Ordinary Least Squares, Poisson Regression, and Zero Inflated Poisson Regression were tried. But reusing the linear models learnt from the old stations (station 1 to 200) with lowest mean absolute error proved to be the simple and effective solution.
A Nonheme, High-Spin {FeNO}8 Complex that Spontaneously Generates N2O.

One-electron reduction of [Fe(NO)-(N3PyS)]BF4 (1) leads to the production of the metastable nonheme {FeNO}8 complex, [Fe(NO)(N3PyS)] (3). Complex 3 is a rare example of a high-spin (S = 1) {FeNO}8 and is the first example, to our knowledge, of a mononuclear nonheme {FeNO}8 species that generates N2O. A second, novel route to 3 involves addition of Piloty’s acid, an HNO donor, to an FeII precursor. This work provides possible new insights regarding the mechanism of nitric oxide reductases.
Bottom-Up Control of Parasites

Parasitism is a fundamental ecological interaction. Yet we understand relatively little about the ecological role of parasites compared to the role of free-living organisms. Bottom-up theory predicts that resource enhancement will increase the abundance and biomass of free-living organisms. Similarly, parasite abundance and biomass should increase in an ecosystem with resource enhancement. We tested this hypothesis in a landscape-level experiment in which salt marshes (60,000 m2 each) received elevated nutrient concentrations via flooding tidal waters for 11 yr to mimic eutrophication. Nutrient enrichment elevated the densities of the talitrid amphipod, Orchestia grillus, and the density and biomass of its trematode parasite, Levinseniella byrdi. Strikingly, L. byrdi prevalence increased over time, up to 13 times higher in nutrient-enriched marshes (30%) relative to the mean prevalence in reference marshes (2.4%). The biomass density of infected amphipods was, on average, 11 times higher in nutrient-enriched marshes (1.1 kg/ha) than in reference marshes (0.1 kg/ha), when pooling across all years. Orchestia grillus biomass comprises 67% of the arthropod community biomass; thus, nutrient enrichment elicits a substantial surge in parasitized biomass in the arthropod community. If our results are typical, they suggest that eutrophication can increase parasite abundance and biomass with chronic resource enhancement. Therefore, minimizing aquatic nutrient pollution may prevent outbreaks of parasites with aquatic hosts.
Quality control management of clinical PET/CT cancer trials

1627 Objectives Using investigator initiated and multi-institutional PET/CT oncology trials, we performed an analysis of all components from protocol preparation to endpoint assessment identifying critical challenges and areas of non-compliance Methods A quality control (QC) process was implemented in a standardized operating procedure (SOP) driven environment adhering to good practice guidelines. The process components include: trial protocol development, equipment validation, investigator and staff training, patient recruitment, acquisition compliance, data transfer, data management, data analysis, and reader performance. A semi-automatic software environment was developed to facilitate mega data processing and to generate automatic QC reports. All steps of the clinical trial process are regularly audited and documented with verification to protocol guidelines Results A total of 309 patients with 831 examinations from over 50 sites are included in this assessment. The most common protocol violation has been non-compliance with the time between injection and initiation of emission scanning (~33%). The 2nd most common area of non-compliances are inconsistencies between the baseline and follow-up studies such as: emissions timing (~22%), arm positioning ( Conclusions Understanding the real world challenges in clinical imaging trials enables the development of more robust protocols by identifying the areas impacting compliance. Appropriate training and qualification of the team performing clinical trials, leads to the highest levels of compliance
Citellus citellus (Ground squirrel)

These karyotypes came from tissue cultures of animals captured in Yugoslavia. They are gifts of Dr. Zivkovic. Five different subspecies had identical chromosome morphology. Pairs 17 and 19 are considered acrocentrics, others have more prominent short arms.
WEATHER FORECASTING | Severe Weather Forecasting

Severe weather is any type of violent or extreme weather event that represents a hazard to public safety and welfare, including tornadoes, damaging windstorms, flash floods, lightning, and hailstorms. The societal costs of severe weather events are very high, involving injuries, lost lives, and property damage. Accurate severe weather forecasts help reduce the loss of life and mitigate economic loss. The severe weather forecasting process requires knowledge of climatology and incorporates the techniques of pattern recognition and parameter evaluation as applied to both observations and numerical weather prediction model forecasts.
Esophageal Adenocarcinoma with Extensive Metastasis to Unexpected Sites: A Case Report

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) with unexpected metastasis (UM) to unusual sites have been increasingly reported. EC with metastasis in general has a very high mortality and morbidity rate, and those with UM to unusual sites present another specific field that needs to be further studied in order to understand and manage the presentation. An extensive systematic review was recently completed regarding this field which identified characteristics and findings concerning patients with EC with UM sites. Case Presentation: We report a 61 year old Hispanic male who had an EC, adenocarcinoma subtype, with UM to an extensive number of sites such as the soft tissue of the cheek, subcutaneous forehead and scalp with penetration of the calvarium, occipital bone, base of tongue, neck muscles, paraspinal and iliopsoas musculature and, more typically, to an adrenal gland followed by a questionable new-onset finding of subcutaneous shoulder and flank nodules not initially identified by imaging. Discussion/Conclusion: The case reports a patient who not only had EC with UM to unusual sites, but also to a considerable number. The patient correlated well in terms of clinical features identified by the systematic review of this particular field, but his case also showed a new finding, another unexpected metastasis site. This case also shows an example of why the type of imaging is important when dealing with UM sites. With this, we hope to further add to the data in this particular field and provide some opinion on this matter.
Toward Increasing Collaboration Awareness in Software Engineering Teams

This Research Full Paper investigates collaborative personality traits in undergraduate software engineering teams. Online tools, such as Slack.com, provide team engagement and project management. While metrics can be defined for team and individual performance, it is difficult to measure collaboration and its impacts. Specifically, the forms of collaboration that lead to a successful software product should have associated metrics that correlate with individual performance, peer assessments, and project outcomes. Given the difficulty of assembling teams that best exemplify collaborative personality traits, it may be more beneficial for team members to recognize these traits so that their positive aspects can be exploited toward a successful product outcome. We employ IBM WatsonTM Personality Insights service to analyze team Slack.com posts collected from forty students across ten teams and two semesters of the capstone class. We correlate thirteen traits recognized for influencing collaboration with team grades, Sprint meeting check-in quality, and peer evaluations. The correlations show that each trait is related to at least one performance metric during at least one of the Sprints. We discuss the potential meaning of different traits emerging at different times during the semester and how that can inform strategies for software developer collaboration awareness and reward.
Synthesis, applications and potential photoluminescence mechanism of spectrally tunable carbon dots

Due to the prominent characteristics of carbon-based luminescent nanostructures (known colloquially as carbon dots), such as inexpensive precursors, excellent hydrophilicity, low toxicity, and intrinsic fluorescence, these nanomaterials are regarded as potential candidates to replace traditional quantum dots in some applications. As such, research in the field of carbon dots has been increasing in recent years. In this mini-review, we summarize recent progress in studies of multicolor carbon dots focusing on potential photoluminescence (PL) mechanisms, strategies for effective syntheses, and applications in ion/molecule and temperature sensing, light emitting diodes and high-resolution bioimaging techniques.
Differences between occupational and non-occupational-related motor vehicle collisions in West Virginia: A cross-sectional and spatial analysis.

Background Motor vehicle collisions comprise the majority of occupational-related fatalities in the United States and West Virginia has one of the highest occupational-related fatality rates in the nation. The purpose of this study was to compare work and non-work-related collisions, crash locations, and the characteristics of in-state and out-of-state drivers ≥18 years of age who were fatally injured in work-related collisions in West Virginia. Methodology Data were from the 2000–2017 Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Work and non-work-related crashes and characteristics in-state vs. out-of-state drivers were compared using binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Crash locations were compared via spatial analyses using kernel density estimations. Results Among the 5,835 individuals fatally injured in crashes, 209 were designated ‘at work’. The odds of being a work-related crash were 85% lower [Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04, 0.49] among those testing positive for alcohol, but 2.5 times greater (OR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.16, 5.65) among those holding a commercial driver’s license. The odds of being an in-state driver were 75% lower (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.53) among those wearing a safety belt, but 2.7 times greater among workers testing drug positive (OR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.10, 6.52). In-state drivers were also less likely to be driving a large truck or be involved in single vehicle collisions and less likely to experience crashes on weekends, nights, or on highways. Spatial patterns of crash locations varied slightly between workers and non-workers. Conclusions Work-related crashes differed greatly from non-work-related crashes in West Virginia. Stark differences existed between in-state and out-of-state workers and their crashes. Various avenues for workplace safety interventions exist, including seatbelt initiatives and drug testing policies for non-commercial drivers, which could help mitigate West Virginia’s elevated, occupational-related, traffic fatality rate.
The Emergence of Transdisciplinary Research and Disaster Science

This article intends to bring attention to the emerging specialty of disaster science (DS), as well as to introduce a newly created system of computer simulation to facilitate transdisciplinary int...
The Irrelevance of ESG Disclosure to Retail Investors: Evidence from Robinhood

Using an hourly dataset on retail investor security positions from Robinhood Markets, we find that ESG disclosures are irrelevant to retail investors’ portfolio allocation decisions. The response to ESG press releases by retail investors is no different than the routine portfolio adjustments that occur on non-event days. In contrast, these same investors make economically meaningful changes to their portfolios in response to press releases that do not pertain to ESG, especially those that pertain to earnings announcements. Our findings are not due to a lack of statistical power or other data shortcomings. Our conclusions contrast with evidence from experimental studies that retail investors respond favorably to ESG disclosures. In addition, while prior ESG studies have generally viewed investors as a single homogeneous group, our findings suggest that it is important to distinguish between retail and institutional investors.
Impact of Visibility and Accessibility on Healthcare Workers' Hand-Hygiene Behavior: A Comparative Case Study of Two Nursing Units in an Academic Medical Center.

Objectives:This study aims to explore the impacts of visibility and accessibility of alcohol gel-based hand sanitizer dispensers (HSDs) on healthcare workers’ hand-hygiene (HH) behaviors.Background...
Guillain-Barré Syndrome in a COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report and Review of Management Strategies

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in an immune mediated disease that affects peripheral nerves with possible life-threatening complications. GBS has multiple subtypes including acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP), acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN), which can make GBS difficult to diagnose. GBS commonly presents after viral infections such as influenza virus, campylobacter jejuni, and zika virus. GBS commonly presents with a prolonged clinical course leading to increased morbidity among affected patients. It is not surprising that COVID-19 has been connected with multiple cases of GBS, which may alter the recovery course for several patients post-COVID. In this report, we present a case of 69-year-old-female who presented with progressive motor weakness and loss of sensation in her extremities after testing positive for antibodies to COVID-19 one-month prior to presentation. Her presentation and treatment of GBS in the setting of COVID-19 is an example of one of the many COVID-19 complications and sheds light on the prolonged recovery course that we may experience as clinicians in the wake of this pandemic.
Mobilized Response of Piles Subjected to Downdrag

Abstract This paper presents a model that allows the evaluation of the mobilized response of piles subjected to downdrag and drag forces. The presented technique couples the soil and pile settlemen...
Payoff: The Hidden Logic That Shapes Our Motivations

Every day we work hard to motivate ourselves. We spend much of our time trying to motivate the people working for us, with us and in business with us. In our personal lives we try to motivate our friends, partners and children. From the economic point of view, motivation is based on a very simple trade-off: we need and want things, and we work to get them. We're more likely to do something if we get money for it, and the more money we get, the more motivated we are. But what if our understanding of motivation and money is all wrong? In Payoff, Dan Ariely investigates the true nature of motivation and our partial blindness to the way it works. He digs to the root of money motivation, and explains how understanding it can help us to successfully approach different choices in our lives. Along the way, Ariely explores complex questions like: * Why are we willing to part with money on some occasions and not others? * Should we motivate children to do chores by giving them money? * Is there any correlation between performance efficiency and pay? * What are the taboos surrounding money and should they be challenged? We often, mistakenly, think that our motivations are simple and one dimensional. But motivations are about the essence of what pushes us forward, what make us human. Payoff explores the complex motivations that drive us, giving insight into what we really want in life and what we can do to get and give more of it more often.
Effects of Organic Acids on Drug Release From Ternary Polypeptide Nanoparticles Entrapping Carfilzomib.

Abstract Carfilzomib (CFZ) is an FDA-approved proteasome inhibitor with antineoplastic properties against various cancers, yet its short blood retention time after intravenous injection ( 1 mg/mL), allowed for lyophilization and easy reconstitution in various buffers, enhanced drug retention (> 60% post 24 h incubation), and suppressed burst drug release in the first 6 h following solubilization. These results demonstrate that organic acid stabilized tPNPs are useful as an injection formulation of CFZ, which may expand the utility of the proteasome inhibitor.
Merger and Acquisition Stress: Fear and Uncertainty at Mid-Career

Abstract In recent years merger and acquisition activity has increased significantly in the United States. Such activity can be stressful for all employees, particularly those at mid-career. This article examines the stress potential of mergers and acquisitions, with a particular focus on the mid-career employee. It provides a framework for examining merger and acquisition stress and discusses four approaches for stress prevention and management: realistic merger and acquisition previews, individual counseling, merger and acquisition stress management training, and outplacement services.
A Method for the Control of Robot Arms Constrained by Contact with the Environment

A hybrid position/force control method for a robot constrained by contact with the work surface is presented. The effective stiffness and accuracy of a robot end effector may be significantly increased by coupling the end effector to the work surface through a device referred to as a jig hand. However, a more sophisticated controller is needed to generate the appropriate end effector trajectories in order to conform to the kinematic constraint imposed by the jig hand and to regulate the contact force. A hybrid position/force control method is devised and applied to a conventional commercially available robot which makes the effect of the constraint transparent to the control of the task.
Nanotubes mediate niche–stem-cell signalling in the Drosophila testis

Stem cell niches provide resident stem cells with signals that specify their identity. Niche signals act over a short range such that only stem cells but not their differentiating progeny receive the self-renewing signals. However, the cellular mechanisms that limit niche signalling to stem cells remain poorly understood. Here we show that the Drosophila male germline stem cells form previously unrecognized structures, microtubule-based nanotubes, which extend into the hub, a major niche component. Microtubule-based nanotubes are observed specifically within germline stem cell populations, and require intraflagellar transport proteins for their formation. The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor Tkv localizes to microtubule-based nanotubes. Perturbation of microtubule-based nanotubes compromises activation of Dpp signalling within germline stem cells, leading to germline stem cell loss. Moreover, Dpp ligand and Tkv receptor interaction is necessary and sufficient for microtubule-based nanotube formation. We propose that microtubule-based nanotubes provide a novel mechanism for selective receptor-ligand interaction, contributing to the short-range nature of niche-stem-cell signalling.
Metaphors and methodologies: living beyond the systems machine

Metaphors are the cognitive lenses we use to make sense of all situations. Intimately interconnected with the way we think, metaphors are fundamental in shaping reality. Building on work about metaphors in organizational life, this paper examines the language of information systems users in 16 different organizations. The results confirm the existence of six main metaphors (journey, war, game, organism, society, and machine) and adds three metaphors that also emerged from the language of IS users (family, zoo, and jungle). Dramatistic analysis was used to reveal that seven of these principal metaphors are found in commonly used systems development methodologies. For example, the systems development life cycle draws upon the "game" metaphor, and structured methodologies and CASE tools are akin to the "machine" metaphor. Analysts who are aware of the existence of these metaphors (both in the user organization and within the methodologies themselves) will begin to see the systems development process in an entirely different light. Caution must be undertaken, however, when using this approach. First, analysts should lead the systems development process by selecting a methodology to match user metaphors, not the other way around. Second, analysts must see, rather than suppress, the paradoxical richness of metaphors. Third, analysts should not limit the number of metaphors because it limits the usefulness of this approach. Fourth, analysts should be adequately trained in a variety of systems development methodologies. Finally, analysts should use metaphorical analysis in conjunction with other approaches. Using the recommendations and findings for guidance, analysts can begin to develop the power of metaphorical analysis to better understand and communicate with users during the development process.
Continuous utility functions in consumer theory: A set of duality theorems

Abstract The aim of this paper is to characterize, in terms of primitives, the class of expenditure functions and the class of indirect utility functions that are associated with the class of continuous utility functions. Once the duality results are established, the theory is extended by theorems which provide useful methods for identifying these classes of expenditure and indirect utility functions.
Submitting Illuminations For Review

As educators, we are continually designing new methods and procedures to enhance learning. During this process, good ideas are frequently generated and tested, but the extent of such activities may...
Comparative effects of growth factors on fibroblasts of Dupuytren's tissue and normal palmar fascia

Recent experimental evidence implicates various growth factors in the pathophysiology of Dupuytren's disease. This study describes a technique to produce an in vitro cell culture system from both normal palmar fascia and Dupuytren's fascia. The cells were separately exposed to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), after which the effects of these growth factors on proliferation rate and collagen production were determined. Basic FGF and PDGF were found to be mitogenic for both cell types, and TGF-beta was a potent stimulator of collagen production for both cell types. There were quantitative and qualitative differences between the cell types, with Dupuytren cells being more metabolically active and more sensitive to the growth factors tested. We present a theoretical model based on previous investigations and incorporating the contribution of growth factors as it relates to the pathophysiology of Dupuytren's disease.
Influence and Selection In the Friend-adolescent Relationship: Findings from Studies of Adolescent Smoking and Drinking1

The importance of friend influence as a determinant of adolescent behavior has primarily been inferred from research that has repeatedly demonstrated the behavior of friends to be similar. Homogeneity among peers, however, could also be due to a selection process whereby adolescents choose and keep friends whose behavior is similar to their own. Most previous studies have used cross-sectional designs that cannot delineate the source of peer homogeneity; this study employed sociometric data from longitudinal research on adolescent smoking and drinking to separate and examine the selection and influence processes. Although the findings indicate some support for the friend influence model, the acquisition hypothesis from the selection model accounts for substantially more of the adolescent-friend relationship. The implications of these results for past and future research concerning the role of peers in adolescence are discussed.
Comminution of single particles in a rigidly-mounted roll mill part 3: particle interaction and energy dissipation

With increasing feed rate to the rigidly-mounted roll mill, the stipulation of single-particle comminution begins to break down as crushed piles of solids in the grinding zone of the rolls interact with each other and with incoming feed particles. The total energy required to comminute particles under these conditions is analyzed as a function of the feed rate. The resulting model equation is employed to isolate that component of the energy input which is dissipated by interaction and ensuing friction. The experimental results indicate that the interaction energy depends on the feed size, compression ratio and the deformation rate. The sum of the interaction energy and the single-particle comminution energy provides a rough estimate of the energy consumption in confined particle-bed grinding, such as in the high-pressure roll mill or under uniaxial compression in a piston-die press. The predicted values agree reasonably well with the experimental results, especially in regard to the fact that the energy consumption in particle-bed grinding tends to be twice as much as that in the single-particle crushing mode.