cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interrogating Gender Divides in Technology for Education and Development: the Case of the One Laptop per Child Project in Ghana

The One Laptop per Child (OLPC) project aims to make low-cost computers accessible to the “world’s poorest children,” presuming that the gadgets will support their empowerment via education. The project’s success globally, however, has been mixed at best, with many countries terminating their purchases due to cost, inadequate infrastructure, and negative side effects. In October 2010, Ghana suspended the country’s 3-year participation. This study examines the complex history and failure of OLPC Ghana in two pilot schools, one urban and one rural, with particular attention to gender bias. The analysis draws on interviews with government personnel, students, and teachers in the pilot classes. Despite lacking electric power in the rural community, UNDP’s Millennium Villages Project played a strong support role, making OLPC somewhat more effective with less of a gender divide in the rural school than in the urban school in Accra. Both pilot schools faced severe sustainability challenges raising decade-old questions about modernity and technological determinism. Further, in both schools, particularly the urban school, a digital divide by gender was evident.
Seventeen Interviews With Virginia Tech CALS Faculty: State of Research and How Information Professionals Can Help

ABSTRACTThis article is a report of the 17 interviews conducted in 2016 at Virginia Tech by the agriculture librarian to examine the current state of research and how information professionals can support agricultural researchers. This is one of the reports connected with the larger Ithaka S+R Agriculture Project.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy of warm dense matter with betatron x-ray radiation (Conference Presentation)

Betatron x-ray radiation, driven by electrons from laser-wakefield acceleration, has unique properties to probe high energy density (HED) plasmas and warm dense matter. Betatron radiation is produced when relativistic electrons oscillate in the plasma wake of a laser pulse. Its properties are similar to those of synchrotron radiation, with a 1000 fold shorter pulse. This presentation will focus on the experimental challenges and results related to the development of betatron radiation for x-ray absorption spectroscopy of HED matter at large-scale laser facilities. A detailed presentation of the source mechanisms and characteristics in the blowout regime of laser-wakefield acceleration will be followed by a description of recent experiments performed at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). At LCLS, we have recently commissioned the betatron x-ray source driven by the MEC short pulse laser (1 J, 40 fs). The source is used as a probe for investigating the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum at the K- or L-edge of iron and silicon oxide driven to a warm dense matter state (temperature of a few eV and solid densities). The driver is either LCLS itself or an optical laser. These experiments demonstrate the capability to study the electron-ion equilibration mechanisms in warm dense matter with sub-picosecond resolution.
Introductory Dialogue and the Köhler Effect in Software-Generated Workout Partners.

Abstract Objectives This study explored the Kohler motivation gain effect utilizing adults and software-generated partners (SGPs) during an abdominal exercise regimen and compared the type of participant-SGP introductory dialogue as a moderator. The Kohler effect applies interdependent team dynamics in which group performance is dependent upon the weaker member. The third objective was to examine if this motivation paradigm would result in adverse consequences to secondary variables: exertion, enjoyment, and self-efficacy beliefs. Design Adults (Mage = 38.8 ± 7.7) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: Interactive Partner SGP (IP), Linear Dialogue Partner SGP (LDP), or individual control (IC), to complete a series of abdominal exercises. The experiment used a 3 (condition) x 2 (gender) ANCOVA design, with a baseline block of exercises as a covariate. Method Participants completed abdominal exercises individually and, after a rest, repeated the same exercises with either an SGP programmed to be moderately stronger or individually (IC). Prior to the second exercise block, IP participants interacted with the SGP using a dialogue tree optional-response format. The LDP participant introduction was a linear, scripted exchange of basic information. Results The LDP and IP conditions persisted significantly longer than IC, generating moderate effect sizes (d = 0.62; d = 0.76). The mean difference between partnered conditions was not significant. Conclusions The Kohler motivation exercise paradigm resulted in a considerable increase in persistence (Madj = 28.9, SE = 10.6) in the first study to use middle-aged adults with superior SGPs. Differences between introductory dialogue methods were not significant.
RESEARCH, PRODUCTIVITY, AND OUTPUT GROWTH IN U.S. AGRICULTURE

This article reviews the current debate on whether U.S. agricultural productivity growth is slowing. It also assesses recent research on how productivity is related to long-term investment in research and development (R&D). It describes significant changes taking place in the U.S. agricultural research system, including the growing role of private agribusiness as a main developer of new agricultural technologies and what this implies for agricultural science policy. The conclusion has suggestions for future research on these issues.
Cross-Correlation of Heart Rate and Oxygen Saturation in Very Low Birthweight Infants: Association with Apnea and Adverse Events.

Background Analysis of subtle vital sign changes could facilitate earlier treatment of acute inflammatory illnesses. We previously showed that high cross-correlation of heart rate and oxygen saturation (XCorr-HR-SpO 2 ) occurs in some very low birthweight (VLBW) infants with sepsis, and hypothesized that this corresponds to apnea. Methods In 629 VLBW infants, we analyzed XCorr-HR-SpO 2 in relation to central apnea with bradycardia and desaturation (ABD), BD with or without central apnea (BD), and percent time in periodic breathing (PB) throughout the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay (75 infant-years). We reviewed 100 days with extremely high XCorr-HR-SpO 2 (>0.7) and control days for clinical associations. Next, we identified all cases of late-onset septicemia (LOS) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and analyzed change in XCorr-HR-SpO 2 before diagnosis. Results Mean XCorr-HR-SpO 2 was ∼0.10, and increasing XCorr-HR-SpO 2 was associated with increasing ABD, BD, and PB (correlation coefficients >0.93). Days with maximum XCorr-HR-SpO 2 >0.7 were more likely to have an adverse event than control days (49% versus 13%). In 93 cases of LOS or NEC, there was a 67% increase in XCorr-HR-SpO 2 in the 24-hour period prior to diagnosis compared with the previous day ( p Conclusion High XCorr-HR-SpO 2 is associated with apnea and adverse events including LOS and NEC.
Role of respiratory terminal oxidases in the extracellular electron transfer ability of cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria are used as anode catalysts in photo-bioelectrochemical cells to generate electricity in a sustainable, economic, and environmental friendly manner using only water and sunlight. Though cyanobacteria (CB) possess unique advantage for solar energy conversion by virtue of its robust photosynthesis, they cannot efficiently perform extracellular electron transfer (EET). The reasons being, unlike dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria (that are usually exploited in microbial fuel cells to generate electricity), (1) CB do not possess any special features on their outer membrane to carry out EET and, (2) the electrons generated in photosynthetic electron transport chain are channeled into competing respiratory pathways rather than to the anode. CB, genetically engineered to express outer membrane cytochrome S (OmcS), was found to generate ∼nine-fold higher photocurrent compared to that of wild-type cyanobacterium in our previous work. In this study, each of the three respiratory terminal oxidases in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 namely bd-type quinol oxidase, aa3 -type cytochrome oxidase, and cbb3 -type cytochrome oxidase was knocked-out one at a time (cyd- , cox- , and cco- respectively) and its contribution for extracellular ferricyanide reduction and photocurrent generation was investigated. The knock-out mutant lacking functional bd-type quinol oxidase (cyd- ) exhibited greater EET by reducing more ferricyanide compared to other single knock-out mutants as well as the wild type. Further, cyd- omcs (the cyd- mutant expressing OmcS) was found to generate more photocurrent than the corresponding single knock out controls and the wild-type. This study clearly demonstrates that the bd-quinol oxidase diverted more electrons from the photosynthetic electron transport chain towards respiratory oxygen reduction and knocking it out had certainly enhanced the cyanobacterial EET.
Pediatric Pain Management.

Nearly 20 years ago, standards were established for hospitals to assess and treat pain in all patients. Research continues to demonstrate evolving trends in the measurement and effective treatment of pain in children. Behavioral research demonstrating long-lasting effects of inadequate pain control during childhood supports the concepts of early and adequate pain control for children suffering from painful conditions in the acute care setting. The authors discuss pain concepts, highlighting factors specific to the emergency department, and include a review of evidence for pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments.
The Arab Spring of 2011: A Perspective

Stability is often used in linear analysis as an excuse for suppressing unobserved risks and system volatility. This is in order to sustain systemic order through artificial engineering beyond its natural collapse. In public policy, decision-makers follow this dangerous path that often results in crisis, and then try to explain causality by looking at the last event as a catalyst. Blaming the bubble is an example during the financial crisis or the rise in the prices of goods or unemployment as the catalyst for the revolutions in the Middle East. This naive analysis avoids looking at the entire system, especially the ups and downs caused by systemic volatility and observation low-probability risks under the surface that may not appear on the horizon but eventually makes the system extremely fragile and bring it to collapse.
Incorporating Expert Knowledge in Decision-Support Models for Avian Conservation

Bird abundance in the United States has been declining for more than half a century, likely as a result of habitat changes (Valiela and Martinetto 2007 ; North American Bird Conservation, U.S. Committee 2009 ). In the Southeastern United States, habitat and management changes including deforestation, reforestation, urban growth, and fi re suppression have reduced the availability of high-quality habitats and have increased habitat fragmentation (Wear 2002 ; Griffi th et al. 2003 ; Van Lear et al. 2005 ). Short-term projections suggest that urbanization will continue to reduce forest areas and increase their fragmentation (Wear et al. 2004 ). In the long term, climate change will alter precipitation and temperature patterns, and rising sea levels will reduce coastal habitat (IPCC 2007 ). It is therefore important to conserve what is currently available (species, habitats, and ecosystems) and plan for future conservation. To effectively protect or increase bird populations in this context, conservation must maintain or increase habitat quality and quantity. However, given limited resources, it is important to focus efforts where they have the greatest benefi t rather than where land is economically unimportant (Pressey et al. 1996 ). Furthermore, complex systems with multiple species and habitats may require trade-offs among confl icting conservation objectives.
Environmental Degradation of Engineered Nanomaterials: Impact on Materials Design and Use

Nanotechnology is widely recognized on a global scale as one of the twenty-first century’s most influential and transformative technologies [ The initiative and its implementations plan , 2000]. Heralded as the next industrial revolution, the ubiquity of nanotechnology is becoming more apparent in industry, government, and academia. Following its debut in electronics, nanotechnology has shaped the semiconductor industry and has now expanded into other applications including health and beauty products, sustainable energy, food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, surface and decorative finishes, and many more [ www.nanotechproject.org/filedownload/208 ]. As of March 2011, the inventory of manufacturer-identified, nanotechnology-enabled products has grown by nearly 521% (from 212 to 1,317 products) since March 2006 [ http://www.nanotechproject.org/process/assets/files/6112/pen11_keiner.pdf ]. The growth of nanotechnology-related product development has been modeled recently as a two-phase process—the first (2001–10) being a developmental stage of interdisciplinary research and the second (2011–20) being a phase of general-purpose and mass use of nanotechnology and complex nanosystems, driven by socioeconomic considerations [ J Nanopart Res 2011; 13 :427–45]. The National Science Foundation estimates a global nanotechnology workforce of 2 million by 2018 and an industrial market of 1 trillion dollar by 2015.
The Killing Trap: Cynical realpolitik and the unwanted

Thus far in this part, their use of cynical realpolitik has identified permitting agents of the Holocaust and of the genocide of the Armenians and Tutsi that undoubtedly increased the magnitude of the killing. Yet policies dictated by cynical realpolitik go beyond this relatively small company of leaders and include even the enemies of Nazism who were ultimately, at great cost, to defeat Nazi Germany in World War II. The story of this chapter is the callous disregard of the Jewish plight in virtually all potential national sites of refuge and its likely impact on the genesis and, most importantly, the magnitude of the Holocaust. Here, the cynical version of realpolitik is played out on the world stage. The United States and Great Britain were the principal actors in this drama, for they were the main destinations sought by the Jews as the Nazi persecution worsened. Other places of potential refuge such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were also implicated. As might be expected, the United States was the leading actor and, “During the Holocaust, Britain's policy – much of it made in conjunction with the United States government – continued to put self-interest first, leaving minimal scope for humanitarian action.” Self-interest dictated by considerations of realpolitik, punctuated by occasional short-lived bursts of humanitarianism, was to characterize the policies of both countries.
Analysis of Consequent Pole Spoke Type Vernier Permanent Magnet Machine With Alternating Flux Barrier Design

The mechanism of torque production in the Vernier machine is difficult to understand since the stator teeth originating flux modulation effects, upon which the torque is produced, are usually minor factors, which are ignored in normal synchronous machines. This paper begins with an analytical study of a spoke type Vernier permanent magnet machine (SVPM), which has a generic number of stator slots per pole per phase, upon which the key sizing equations are developed. An equivalent winding factor is defined to model stator teeth originating flux modulation phenomena and resulting multiharmonic field coupling effects. Performance predictions and design observations concerning SVPMs are then obtained. A new topology for an SVPM using ferrite magnets is proposed where a consequent pole design having an alternating leakage flux blocking ability is developed for the rotor. Overall, this improved SVPM design significantly boosts the back electromotive force compared to conventional SVPM, and the torque production even surpasses that of a benchmark rare earth interior permanent magnet machine (IPM) although with a slightly lower power factor.
Post-sovereign power and leadership

Power and leadership are typically theorized as exercises of sovereignty in the western tradition of thought. This essay takes up Michel Foucault’s challenge to escape the ‘spell of monarchy’ in our thinking in order to move beyond sovereign models of power. Interdisciplinary scholarship on complex adaptive systems provides fertile ground for this endeavor, illustrating the dynamics of post-sovereign power and opportunities for post-sovereign leadership. Viewing human organizations as complex adaptive systems helps us to theorize leadership without over-simplifying its nature or exaggerating its potential. It also undermines the prevailing identification of sovereign power as the only antidote for anarchy.
Regulation of the Hippo Pathway by Phosphatidic Acid-Mediated Lipid-Protein Interaction.

Summary The Hippo pathway plays a crucial role in organ size control and tumor suppression, but its precise regulation is not fully understood. In this study, we discovered that phosphatidic acid (PA)-related lipid signaling is a key regulator of the Hippo pathway. Supplementing PA in various Hippo-activating conditions activates YAP. This PA-related lipid signaling is involved in Rho-mediated YAP activation. Mechanistically, PA directly interacts with Hippo components LATS and NF2 to disrupt LATS-MOB1 complex formation and NF2-mediated LATS membrane translocation and activation, respectively. Inhibition of phospholipase D (PLD)-dependent PA production suppresses YAP oncogenic activities. PLD1 is highly expressed in breast cancer and positively correlates with YAP activation, suggesting their pathological relevance in breast cancer development. Taken together, our study not only reveals a role of PLD-PA lipid signaling in regulating the Hippo pathway but also indicates that the PLD-PA-YAP axis is a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
Pharmacodynamics of the agents used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the most common complaints encountered by the practicing urologist, particularly when treating older men. The last 20 years have represented a pivo...
PET beyond Deauville in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

In this issue of Leukemia & Lymphoma, Islam et al. report the results of their retrospective study of 55 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) receiving frontline therapy with R-CHOP....
How to Keep the Republic (Before It’s Too Late): Why a New Constitution Is Necessary to Strengthen Liberal Democracy in the United States

Recent scholarly discussion of the authoritarian threat Donald Trump’s presidency poses to constitutional democracy in the United States either underestimates the danger or fails to consider whether the existing constitutional system has failed and fundamental change is needed to strengthen democracy. In this chapter, Edelson proposes a test to determine whether constitutional failure has occurred and evaluates possible authoritarian action Trump has taken in several areas. Edelson concludes that Trump’s presidency reveals the failure of the current constitutional system, and Edelson proposes a new constitution to strengthen liberal democracy in the United States.
Betwixt and Between Competition and Cooperation: Manager Interpretations of Identifying Coopetitors

How firms identify competitors and cooperators is vital for understanding interorganizational relations and therefore is an important issue for organizational scholars. In this study, we focus on m...
Survey Statistics in Social Program Evaluation

Substantial resources are applied annually to the evaluation of government programs, primarily Federal Government programs in health, welfare, education, housing, and manpower. The survey statistician feels right at home in the massive data-collection efforts which accompany some of these evaluations. But the traditionally trained statistician feels uncomfortable in working with the conceptual design and the analysis of evaluations which, with few exceptions, do not employ principles of randomization in the assignment of effect to cause. This paper identifies some of the problems from the viewpoint of the statistician, provides an example of a data-adjustment problem, and makes a plea for greater participation by statisticians in the process of social program evaluation.
BB0326 is responsible for the formation of periplasmic flagellar collar and assembly of the stator complex in Borrelia burgdorferi

Borrelia burgdorferi is a highly motile spirochete due to its periplasmic flagella. Unlike flagella of other bacteria, spirochetes' periplasmic flagella possess a complex structure called the collar, about which little is known in terms of function and composition. Using various approaches, we have identified a novel protein, BB0326, as a key component of the collar. We show that a peripheral portion of the collar is diminished in the Δbb0326 mutant and restored in the complemented bb0326+ cells, leading us to rename BB0326 as periplasmic flagellar collar protein A or FlcA. The ΔflcA mutant cells produced fewer, abnormally tilted and shorter flagella, as well as diminished stators, suggesting that FlcA is crucial for flagellar and stator assemblies. We provide further evidence that FlcA interacts with the stator and that this collar-stator interaction is essential for the high torque needed to power the spirochete's periplasmic flagellar motors. These observations suggest that the collar provides various important functions to the spirochete's periplasmic flagellar assembly and rotation.
Inspiring Medical Students to Choose Primary Care Through Lifestyle Medicine Education

Despite a growing interest in lifestyle medicine, students at most medical schools in the United States are not receiving enough nutrition education and training in the principles of lifestyle modification to be effective at applying this knowledge to real-world clinical practice. Moreover, the rising prevalence of chronic lifestyle-related diseases and the increasing deficit of primary care providers is overwhelming the US health care system. The need for primary care physicians is being circumvented by medical students' diminishing interest in primary care partly due to concerns about salary, prestige, and being too broad in focus. Students may also recognize that the pharmaceutically based management of chronic conditions and supplemental lifestyle recommendations are often fraught with nonadherence, resulting in the progression of disease states. However, some medical schools have incorporated the concepts and practice of lifestyle medicine into their curriculums. This integration has the potential to inspire medical students to choose a primary care specialty, because students become more adept at addressing and treating the root causes of chronic disease. Lifestyle medicine education can empower students interested in primary care to fulfill their initial desires to treat and heal that may have inspired them to want to become doctors in the first place.
Immunotherapy targeting the Streptococcus pyogenes M protein or streptolysin O to treat or prevent influenza A superinfection

Viral infections complicated by a bacterial infection are typically referred to as coinfections or superinfections. Streptococcus pyogenes, the group A streptococcus (GAS), is not the most common bacteria associated with influenza A virus (IAV) superinfections but did cause significant mortality during the 2009 influenza pandemic even though all isolates are susceptible to penicillin. One approach to improve the outcome of these infections is to use passive immunization targeting GAS. To test this idea, we assessed the efficacy of passive immunotherapy using antisera against either the streptococcal M protein or streptolysin O (SLO) in a murine model of IAV-GAS superinfection. Prophylactic treatment of mice with antiserum to either SLO or the M protein decreased morbidity compared to mice treated with non-immune sera; however, neither significantly decreased mortality. Therapeutic use of antisera to SLO decreased morbidity compared to mice treated with non-immune sera but neither antisera significantly reduced mortality. Overall, the results suggest that further development of antibodies targeting the M protein or SLO may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of invasive GAS diseases, including IAV-GAS superinfections, which may be particularly important during influenza pandemics.
Preoperative Type and Screen is Unnecessary in Elective Anatomic Lung Resection and Esophagectomy.

Abstract Background Preoperative type and screen (TS) is routinely performed before elective thoracic surgery. We sought to evaluate the utility of this practice by examining our institutional data related to intraoperative and postoperative transfusions for two common, complex procedures. Materials and methods A single-center, retrospective review of a prospective thoracic surgery database was performed. Patients who underwent consecutive elective anatomic lung resection (ALR) and esophagectomy from January 2015 to April 2018 were included. Perioperative characteristics between patients who received transfusion of packed red blood cells and those who did not were compared. The rates of emergent and nonemergent transfusions were evaluated. Cost data were derived from institutional charges and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services fee schedules. Results Of 370 patients, 16 (4.3%) received a transfusion and four (1.1%) were deemed emergent by the surgeons and 0 (0%) by blood bank criteria. For ALR (n = 321), 13 (4.0%) received a transfusion, and four (1.2%) were emergent. For esophagectomies (n = 49), three (6.1%) received a transfusion, and none were emergent. Patients who underwent ALR requiring a transfusion had a lower preoperative hemoglobin (11.7 versus 13.4 gm/dL, P = 0.001), higher estimated blood loss (1325 versus 196 mL, P Conclusions Emergent transfusion in ALR and esophagectomy is rare. Routine preoperative TS is most likely unnecessary for these cases. These results will be used in a quality improvement initiative to change practice at our institution.
Winkler Solution for Seismic Earth Pressures Exerted on Flexible Walls by Vertically Inhomogeneous Soil

AbstractA solution for the response of flexible retaining walls excited by vertically propagating shear waves in inhomogeneous elastic or viscoelastic soil is obtained using the weak form of the go...
The Likelihood that College Degrees Are Not 'Worth It'

In this paper, we estimate the likelihood that workers without a college degree will earn more than those who completed higher education. The resulting figures are highly relevant to the decision-making process regarding college enrollment. Our approach involves the estimation of probabilistic models applied to census data that includes forty-two country-year samples covering economies across the development spectrum. Three sets of results stand out. First, we find a remarkable heterogeneity concerning the estimated probabilities. Among our samples, the estimates range from a little more than 13 percent to almost 40 percent. Second, we document a steady drop in the probability levels for the United States starting in 1980. The U.S. series falls more than 10 percentage points from its maximum in 1980 to its minimum in 2015. Third and finally, we show both theoretically and empirically that there is a strong and negative relationship between our proposed probability metric and commonly-used measures of the college premium, such as the mean and median earnings differentials. These results provide scholars and policymakers with valuable information about the chances of the non-college path being more profitable than the higher education path.
Laser nanobubbles induce immunogenic cell death in breast cancer

ABSTRACT Recent advances in immunotherapy have highlighted a need for therapeutics that initiate immunogenic cell death in tumors to stimulate the body’s immune response to cancer. This study examines whether laser-generated bubbles surrounding nanoparticles (“nanobubbles”) induce an immunogenic response for cancer treatment. A single nanosecond laser pulse at 1064 nm generates micron-sized bubbles surrounding gold nanorods in the cytoplasm of breast cancer cells. Cell death occurred in cells treated with nanorods and irradiated but not in cells with irradiation treatment alone. Cells treated with nanorods and irradiation had increased damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), including increased expression of chaperone proteins human high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). This enhanced expression of DAMPs led to the activation of dendritic cells. Overall, this treatment approach is a rapid and highly specific method to eradicate tumor cells with simultaneous immunogenic cell death signaling, showing potential as a combination strategy for immunotherapy.
A Predictive Thermodynamic Model for Complex High Temperature Solution Phases XI

A computer-based model has been developed that predicts phase compositions of simple and complex multicomponent, non-ideal, high temperature solutions. Component activities in liquid and solid solutions, and gas phase partial pressures can also be determined from the model. The applicability of the model has been demonstrated for representative test cases with solutions of compounds containing up to eight elements. Examples considered here include various silicate, aluminate, aluminosilicate, and lime aluminosilicates, in addition to soda lime and borosilicate glasses, calcined dolomite and illite minerals, and an alkali-rich coal slag. The model results are compared with mass spectrometrically determined vapor species identities and partial pressures and/or activities. The model has, as its basis, the assignment of complex or associated solution components (e.g., Na2SiO3(l) and Na2Si205(l) in Na20-SiO2mixtures) that account for the known nonideal interactions. Gibbs energies of formation functions (ΔfG(T)) for the oxide components, present as simple and complex phases, are explicitly included in an extensive database for use with multicomponent equilibrium codes. Although the components are included explicitly, it is assumed that in most cases, the components model short range order and do not necessarily represent discrete molecular, ionic, or other structural entities.
Is There Color or Sex Behind the Mask and Sterile Blue? Examining Sex and Racial Demographics Within Academic Surgery.

Background The lack of underrepresented minorities has been a persistent issue within the surgical workforce. Equal sex representation has also been a problem in surgery. Underrepresented minorities females face the unique challenge of being a minority in both race and sex. Objective The objective of this retrospective cross-sectional study is to determine the racial and sex demographics of medical trainees and faculty and determine the degree to which minority women are underrepresented at higher ranks and leadership. Methods Race and sex demographic data for all medical students, surgical residents and faculty was extracted from the AAMC data files. This data was compared to the US population using chi squared tests. Race and sex breakdowns of the different surgical subspecialties was also analyzed using chi squared tests. Demographics of surgical faculty at various ranks are also reported. Results White men made up 37% of all surgical residents. Black men made up only 1.9% of all surgical residents whereas Black women made up 2.6%. The subspecialty with the smallest percentage of Black women was Orthopedic Surgery with 0.6%. The specialty with the highest representation of Black women was Ob/Gyn with 6.2%. There was a decrease in representation of Black women with each increase in professional rank, with 2.8%, 1.6%, and 0.7% for assistant, associate, and full professor, respectively, as compared to Black men, who as a percentage, remained stable at the various ranks with 2.1%, 2.4%, and 2.1% for assistant, associate, and full professor, respectively. Conclusions There is a striking lack of minority women in surgery. This trend is amplified as surgeons progress from student, to resident, to attending, and then to leadership positions.
Infant weight-for-length gain associated with autonomic nervous system reactivity.

Background Research suggests that children's health and well-being are supported by core adaptive systems, including the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Despite evidence for the importance of adulthood ANS regulation in the development of disease, few studies have examined how early development may influence emerging ANS function. Therefore, we examined how infant adiposity gain during early infancy related to ANS regulation at 6 months. Methods Infant weight and length were abstracted from birth records and measured during the 6-month assessment in a low-income, racially/ethnically diverse sample (N = 60). WHO-standardized weight-for-length-gain change was calculated across the first 6 months of life. ANS reactivity was measured as the combined sympathetic (i.e., pre-ejection period) and parasympathetic (i.e., respiratory sinus arrhythmia) nervous system responses during the developmentally challenging Still Face Paradigm (SFP). ANS "classic reactivity" response was characterized by paired sympathetic activation and parasympathetic withdrawal. Results Lower weight-for-length gain in the first 6 months predicted classic reactivity during still face. However, greater weight-for-length gain predicted "classic reactivity" during the reunion, when infants were expected to recover, suggesting autonomic dysregulation. Conclusions These findings suggest an association between early life adiposity gain and the development of infant ANS regulation. Impact Adiposity gain during early infancy was associated with autonomic nervous system regulation at 6 months. This study identifies early adiposity gain (greater than average infant weight-for-length gain) as a risk for ANS dysregulation. This research focuses on a critical developmental period of ANS plasticity. If confirmed, findings can be used to inform early intervention programs targeting obesity prevention and to promote self-regulation.
How to kill Treg cells for immunotherapy

Achieving depletion of regulatory T cells while sparing tumor-specific effector T cells has long remained an elusive goal of immunotherapy. A new study describing the development of an antibody to the cytokine receptor CD25 optimized to ensure depletion of regulatory T cells without blocking binding of the cytokine IL-2 will reinvigorate interest in this therapeutic avenue.
Graphing and Charting

Graphs and charts are undoubtedly the most highly used features in MS Excel. There are numerous types of graphing and charting in Excel, which are illustrated in this chapter. Here, an in-depth demonstration has been provided for line chart, column chart, pie chart, gauge chart, bar chart, area chart, scatter chart, a combination of several charts, stock chart, surface chart, radar chart, Gantt chart, Pareto chart, thermometer chart, sparkline, and pivot chart. All these different types of charts are discussed in this chapter with relevant details. At the end of this chapter, some examples have been incorporated to visualize electrical engineering data. However, these are very basic and can be comprehended by anyone studying science. The examples will help attain a precise idea about using the various Excel charts in practical cases. Exercises have been included within the chapter following the topic the exercise covers. This chapter is of the intermediate level but a must-read for all those who want to master MS Excel and utilize the true potential of MS Excel.
USING FREE AND OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE TO TEACH UNIVERSITY GIS COURSES ONLINE: LESSONS LEARNED DURING A PANDEMIC

Abstract. During the remote learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, university GIS students did not always have home access to the kinds of software and hardware that they would ordinarily get in their on-campus lab facilities. In this situation, the free and cross-platform nature of FOSS opened the door for some students to continue their GIS education uninterrupted. In this article, I describe how one university allowed students to choose FOSS such as QGIS, PostGIS, and GeoDa as alternatives to proprietary software in upper-division GIS coursework. These were used to teach techniques such as point pattern analysis, visibility analysis, hydrological modeling, proximity surfaces, LISA analysis, process modeling, open data access, and data summation. I share specific software tools, commands, and plugins used to apply these techniques in lab assignments. I discuss how these approaches can form a lasting part of the GIS curriculum beyond the pandemic, and how students can position these FOSS skills as they prepare for the GIS job market.
A window of opportunity: Sustained excellence in academic library response to the challenges of COVID-19

An integral part of the higher education enterprise, academic libraries found themselves at the epicenter of the response to the impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak in early spring 2020. This...
Therapeutic impact of the ethyl acetate extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F on nephritis in NZB/W F1 mice

This study was designed to examine the potential use of the ethyl acetate (EA) extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), a Chinese herbal medicine, in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. A total of 48 28-week-old female NZB/W F1 mice were randomly divided into three groups and orally administered vehicle or the EA extract of TwHF at 18.25 mg/kg (EAlow) or 36.5 mg/kg (EAhigh) for 14 weeks. Proteinuria and serum anti-double-stranded (ds)DNA antibody titers were assayed before and after treatment. At the end of treatment, all animals were sacrificed and pathological changes in the kidneys were examined by observers blinded to the treatment regimens. Immunohistological studies were carried out on kidneys and spleens. At 28 weeks of age, proteinuria (>30 mg/dl) and anti-dsDNA antibodies were found in all mice in the three groups. Fourteen, sixteen and fifteen mice in the vehicle, EAlow and EAhigh groups, respectively, completed at least four weeks of treatment. At the end of treatment, the mean proteinuria of the EAlow and EAhigh groups was significantly less than that of the vehicle group and no different from proteinuria at the onset of treatment. Histological evidence of glomerulonephritis, glomerular deposition of IgG and complement 3 and cellular infiltration in the interstitium and perivascular regions were significantly less severe in the EA extract treated mice than in vehicle treated mice. Treatment with the EA extract significantly inhibited the progression of kidney disease in NZB/W F1 mice, though had no significant effect on the levels of anti-dsDNA antibody.
Tritium Effects on Fracture Toughness of Stainless Steel Weldments

The effects of tritium on the fracture toughness properties of Type 304L and Type 21-6-9 stainless steel weldments were measured. Weldments were tritium-charged-and-aged and then tested in order to measure the effect of the increasing decay helium content on toughness. The results were compared to uncharged and hydrogen-charged samples. For unexposed weldments having 8-12 volume percent retained delta ferrite, fracture toughness was higher than base metal toughness. At higher levels of weld ferrite, the fracture toughness decreased to values below that of the base metal. Hydrogen-charged and tritium-charged weldments had lower toughness values than similarly charged base metals and toughness decreased further with increasing weld ferrite content. The effect of decay helium content was inconclusive because of tritium off-gassing losses during handling, storage and testing. Fracture modes were dominated by the dimpled rupture process in unexposed weldments. In hydrogen and tritium-exposed weldments, the fracture modes depended on the weld ferrite content. At high ferrite contents, hydrogen-induced transgranular fracture of the weld ferrite phase was observed.
Theory of nuclear multifragmentation: III. Pre-transition nucleon radiation

Abstract Within the framework of a previously developed transition-state theory for nuclear multifragmentation, we study the effect of pre-transition radiation of nucleons on the partial widths for breakup into specified multifragment channels. Typically, a considerable portion of the mass and energy of the source is radiated during the evolution of the system from a spherical compound nucleus towards the conditional saddle configuration, thus causing a significant reduction of the multifragmentation width.
A note on Besov regularity of layer potentials and solutions of elliptic PDE’s

Let L be a second order, (variable coefficient) elliptic differential operator and let u ∈ B p,p α (Ω), 1 0, satisfy Lu = 0 in the Lipschitz domain Ω. We show that u can exhibit more regularity on Besov scales for which smoothness is measured in L τ with r < p. Similar results are valid for functions representable in terms of layer potentials.
High-toned [il] in Korean: Phonetics, intonational phonology, and sound change

Abstract This study investigates recent changes in Korean intonation where an Accentual Phrase-initial [il] syllable is produced with a High tone by some speakers, introducing an exception to the model of intonational phonology of Seoul Korean ( Jun, 1993 , Jun, 1996 , Jun, 2006 ). Data from eighty speakers of Seoul Korean born between 1952 and 1990 show that this phenomenon, found most often when [il] means ‘Number 1’, is employed by Seoul speakers born since 1970, and is not triggered by glottalization at vowel onset. It is proposed that enhancing a perceptual distinction between two similar-sounding morphemes is one of the major motivations for this phenomenon, and various factors affecting this High-toned-[il] phenomenon are examined. In the discussion, the tonal change on [il] is compared with the changes in the VOT values in Korean stops which have been claimed to have been initiated by the same age groups in the same dialect. Finally, individual variation and the implications of this phenomenon for the model of intonational phonology of Seoul Korean are discussed.
Molecular Genetics of Cryptopleurine Resistance in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: Expression of a Ribosomal Protein Gene Family

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae CRY1 gene encodes the 40S ribosomal subunit protein rp59 and confers sensitivity to the protein synthesis inhibitor cryptopleurine. A yeast strain containing the cry1-delta 1::URA3 null allele is viable, cryptopleurine sensitive (CryS), and expresses rp59 mRNA, suggesting that there is a second functional CRY gene. The CRY2 gene has been isolated from a yeast genomic library cloned in bacteriophage lambda, using a CRY1 DNA probe. The DNA sequence of the CRY2 gene contains an open reading frame encoding ribosomal protein 59 that differs at five residues from rp59 encoded by the CRY1 gene. The CRY2 gene was mapped to the left arm of chromosome X, centromere-proximal to cdc6 and immediately adjacent to ribosomal protein genes RPS24A and RPL46. Ribosomal protein 59 is an essential protein; upon sporulation of a diploid doubly heterozygous for cry1-delta 2::TRP1 cry2-delta 1::LEU2 null alleles, no spore clones containing both null alleles were recovered. Several results indicate that CRY2 is expressed, but at lower levels than CRY1: (1) Introduction of CRY2 on high copy plasmids into CryR yeast of genotype cry1 CRY2 confers a CryS phenotype. Transformation of these CryR yeast with CRY2 on a low copy CEN plasmid does not confer a CryS phenotype. (2) Haploids containing the cry1-delta 2::TRP1 null allele have a deficit of 40S ribosomal subunits, but cry2-delta 1::LEU2 strains have wild-type amounts of 40S ribosomal subunits. (3) CRY2 mRNA is present at lower levels than CRY1 mRNA. (4) Higher levels of beta-galactosidase are expressed from a CRY1-lacZ gene fusion than from a CRY2-lacZ gene fusion. Mutations that alter or eliminate the last amino acid of rp59 encoded by either CRY1 or CRY2 result in resistance to cryptopleurine. Because CRY2 (and cry2) is expressed at lower levels than CRY1 (and cry1), the CryR phenotype of cry2 mutants is only expressed in strains containing a cry1-delta null allele.
Current Perspectives in Immunotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the first immune checkpoint inhibitor to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration was nivolumab, based on a survival advantage over docetaxel in recurrent squamous NSCLC, a difficult-to-treat histology. In addition, several other immune checkpoint inhibitors are also in late-stage development. Most of these agents inhibit the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathway, targeting either the PD-1 receptor or its ligand, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). In addition to nivolumab, pembrolizumab is a PD-1 inhibitor under investigation in NSCLC, and atezolizumab (MPDL3280A), durvalumab (MEDI4736), and avelumab (MSB0010718C) are PD-L1 inhibitors under investigation. The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) immune checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab and tremelimumab are also under investigation in NSCLC, largely as part of combination approaches rather than as monotherapy. PD-L1 expression as a potential biomarker to select patients most likely to respond to inhibitors of the PD-1 pathway has been widely studied.
Memorable Messages and Newcomer Socialization on Campus: Messages About Body Image Among Student Athletes, Sorority Members, and Freshmen

College females report greater body dissatisfaction than in high school, and a majority of college women report engaging in occasional to regular extreme measures of weight control. The college cam...
STUDIES IN EXPERIMENTAL EXTRACORPOREAL THROMBOSIS VII. EXTRACORPOREAL THROMBOSIS IN EXPERIMENTAL OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE AND AFTER THE INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF BILE ACIDS.

In experimental obstructive jaundice in rabbits, thrombosis is definitely delayed in the extracorporeal loop. White thrombi are laid down at the normal rate in many instances; in others there is a delay in deposition of platelets, while in still others cauliflower-like masses of platelets are rapidly deposited and tend to slow or even stop the blood stream before much fibrin is apparent. Fibrin deposits and formation of the red thrombus usually appear late in the experiment and often only at the ends of the collodion tubes. In vigorous animals, the thrombi rarely tend to obstruct and usually cease growing when they have made up the difference between the lumen of the glass tube and of the collodion tube. On the other hand, if the animal's general condition is poor and its circulation depressed, red thrombus forms more rapidly and tends to encroach progressively on the lumen until obstruction takes place. Even in such cases circulation through the loop persists for periods much longer than in the normal animal. Judging from the gross appearance of the thrombus the quantity and quality of fibrin seem deficient. Single injections of bile salts yield pictures similar to those seen in experimental obstructive jaundice. White thrombi are deposited but obstruction of the lumen is delayed because of inadequate formation of fibrin. The continuous intravenous injection of bile salts resulted in a progressive increase of the clotting time and in the level of bile acids of the blood. The state of the extracorporeal loop was likewise similar in many respects to that seen in obstructive jaundice. There was, however, a definite decrease in the size and numbers of white thrombi deposited on the collodion membrane. From the evidence presented it is obvious that the processes of blood coagulation and of thrombosis in the extracorporeal loop are definitely delayed in experimental obstructive jaundice and in animals that have received intravenous injections of bile salts. No attempt is made to explain the changes found in jaundice on the basis of the increased levels of bile acids in the blood although these experiments would indicate that such a possibility has not been ruled out.