cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neural network-based taxonomic clustering for metagenomics

Metagenomic studies inherently involve sampling genetic information from an environment potentially containing thousands of distinctly different microbial organisms. This genetic information is sequenced producing many short fragments (<500 base pair (bp)); each is tentatively a small representative of the DNA coding structure. Any of the fragments may belong to any of the organisms in the sample, but the relationship is unknown a priori. Furthermore, most of these organisms have not been identified and correspondingly are not represented in any of the publicly available search databases. Our goal is to be able to predict the taxonomic classification of an organism based on the fragments obtained from an environmental sample that may include many (some previously unidentified) organisms. To elucidate the diversity and composition of the sample, we first use a supervised naive Bayes classifier to score the fragments of known genomes, followed by an unsupervised clustering to group fragments from similar organisms together. We are then free to analyze each cluster separately. This is challenging since we are not interested in similar sequences, but sequences that come from similar genomes, which are known to vary widely intra-genomically. Our dataset comprises of an extremely challenging scenario involving clustering fragments at the phyla level, where none of the phyla have been previously seen or identified. We present two variations of our proposed approach, one based on ART and K-means. We show that ART can cluster 500bp fragments from 17 novel phyla at an overall isolation/grouping that is 10% better than K-means and nearly 7 times over chance.
THIS IS NOT B. F. SKINNER'S BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS: A REVIEW OF HAYES, STROSAHL, AND WILSON'S ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999) is an important addition to and extension of the growing field of clinical behavior analysis. The book provides a comprehensive introduction to a new therapy that is rooted in functional contextualistic philosophy and a “post-Skinnerian” behavior-analytic theory of verbal behavior. It begins with the assertion that language or verbal processes are at the heart of psychopathology and human suffering and goes on to describe a therapeutic approach that seeks to undermine these verbal processes and facilitate clients' active commitment to value-driven behavior change. Along the way, the book provides a compelling behavior-analytic account of a number of important but neglected issues in behavior analysis, including human suffering, the nature and function of private events, the self, suicide, anxiety, depression, values, responsibility, and commitment. In so doing, the book cogently challenges the unfortunately common but erroneous assertion that behaviorism does not and perhaps cannot address the complexity of the human condition. The present review provides a general overview of the book, summarizes its chapters, and raises a number of questions that might be addressed in future research.
Studying Software Implementations of Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) provides a similar level of security to conventional integer-based public-key algorithms, but with much shorter keys. ECC over binary field is of special interest because the operations in binary field are thought more space and time efficient. However, the software implementations of ECC over binary field are still slow, especially on low-end processors that are used in small computing devices such as sensor nodes. In this paper, we study the software implementations of ECC on processors with different word sizes. With a set of algorithms that we identified, we can perform 163-bit ECC in 13.9 seconds on an 8-bit processor at a clock rate of 8 MHz.
Signaling networks in aging.

Aging – long considered to be solely the result of wear and tear – is in fact regulated by specific genetic pathways. Simple changes in the environment (e.g. dietary restriction) can drastically extend lifespan, suggesting that several of these genetic pathways control longevity in response to
Chemical Changes in an Industrial Waste Liquid During Post-Injection Movement in a Limestone Aquifer, Pensacola, Florida

An industrial waste liquid containing organonitrile compounds and nitrate ion has been injected into the lower limestone of the Floridan aquifer near Pensacola, Florida since June 1975. Chemical analyses of water from monitor wells and backflow from the injection well indicate that organic carbon compounds are converted to CO2 and nitrate is converted to N2. These transformations are caused by bacteria immediately after injection, and are virtually completed within 100 m of the injection well. The zone near the injection well behaves like an anaerobic filter with nitrate respiring bacteria dominating the microbial flora in this zone. Sodium thiocyanate contained in the waste is unaltered during passage through the injection zone and is used to detect the degree of mixing of injected waste liquid with native water at a monitor well 312 m (712 ft) from the injection well. The dispersivity of the injection zone was calculated to be 10 m (33 ft). Analyses of samples from the monitor well indicate 80 percent reduction in chemical oxygen demand and virtually complete loss of organonitriles and nitrate from the waste liquid during passage from the injection well to the monitor well. Bacterial densities were much lower at the monitor well than in backflow from the injection well.
Rejoinder: The “ambiguity aversion literature: A critical assessment”

The pioneering contributions of Bewley, Gilboa and Schmeidler highlighted important weaknesses in the foundations of economics and game theory. The Bayesian methodology on which these fields are based does not answer such basic questions as what makes beliefs reasonable, or how agents should form beliefs and expectations. Providing the initial impetus for debating these issues is a contribution that will have the lasting value it deserves.
Zeuslite: a tool for botnet analysis in the classroom

The security of information systems depends not only on technology, but also on the knowledge of practitioners. Botnets, which are networks of compromised computers, are among the foremost threats to computer security. As a major security problem, it is important for current and future practitioners to understand the threat. However, it is difficult to gain practical experience with botnets due to the arduous process of setting up and analyzing them. In this paper, we introduce ZeusLite, a lightweight and user-friendly tool for setting up and analyzing Zeus, one of the Internet's largest and most notorious botnets. ZeusLite intentionally limits Zeus's functionality, making it useful for study but not malicious purposes. The tool includes two main parts: (1) a modified version of the original Zeus binary with select features removed, and (2) a reverse-engineered version of its command and control (C&C) server. ZeusLite can be set up in only a few minutes, allowing students to easily gain hands on experience responding to malware incident. Based on ZeusLite, we also outline a set of possible lab exercises that would teach students how to recognize and remove a Zeus infection.
The MHC of Peromyscus Leucopus (Mhc-Pele) Illustrates Large- and Small-Scale Expansion in the Phylogeny of MHC Loci

Our current understanding of the Peromyscus leucopus major histocompatibility complex (MhcPele) genes is reviewed. Several Pele class I loci appear to have undergone duplications relative to class I genes of the H-2. In addition, short-tract sequence reiteration in the transmembrane domain-encoding exon of Pele class I genes and several otehr mammalian class I genes is observed. Thus, class I genes of Pele reflect evolutionary expansion of class I loci at widely disparate levels.
Epistemology of Social Inquiry

The contention of this critique is that the tools of inquiry forwarded by the dominant methodological tradition of mainstream social science, i.e., logical positivism/ empiricism (LP/E) have limited utility for any study which tries to relate understanding of social phenomenon to the historical, political and socio-economic settings which produce it, and give it meaning. LP/E rests on a particular implicit meta-theoretic understanding of the context of social reality which retards a comprehensive understanding of the same. These meta-theoretic assumptions are pregnant with political implications, which remain implicit and unacknowledged. Indeed these methodological tools are incapable of deciphering these implications. This paper argues that means and modes of enunciation and knowledge production operate within the fabric of social ideology, dialectically related to the economic and political structures of a social formation. There is no epistemological approach which is value-free and neutral. An alternative approach is suggested that sees ontological and epistemological questions as having a direct bearing upon each other. This approach rules out any fundamental division between empirical and normative theory. It proposes that data of social phenomena are constituted by the manner in which we interpret reality, and concepts derive their meaning from the rules which emerge out of the political, economic and ideological contexts in which they are used. Such an approach forces us to politicize the word/object relationship, by explicitly examining the context of their deployment. It calls for deciphering the normative and evaluative advocacies embedded in the conventional theories which are presented, and are generally accepted, as value-free and neutral scientific explanations. The world view and the pre-theoretic conceptual constructs on which social theories are based become potential areas of investigation.
Calcium and phosphate solubility in neonatal parenteral nutrient solutions containing Aminosyn PF

Factors affecting the solubility of calcium and phosphate in neonatal total parenteral nutrient (TPN) solutions containing a new amino acid formulation were studied. Six TPN solutions containing various concentrations of Aminosyn PF, an amino acid solution for infants and children, were prepared in 10% dextrose injection. Some of the solutions also contained cysteine hydrochloride 40 mg per gram of protein. Various concentrations of calcium gluconate and monobasic and dibasic potassium phosphate were added to 20-mL samples of the TPN solutions. A total of 27 samples of each TPN solution was prepared. Samples were visually inspected after 18 hours at 25 degrees C and again after 30 minutes in a water bath at 37 degrees C. Clear samples at this time were also examined microscopically. Solubility curves were prepared by plotting the concentrations at which either visual or microscopic precipitation occurred. Solubility curves for TPN formulations containing Aminosyn PF revealed a decrease in calcium solubility of 5 to 15 meq/L and a decrease in phosphate solubility of 5 to 15 mmol/L compared with previously published calcium-phosphate solubility curves for another similar amino acid solution, TrophAmine. Calcium and phosphate solubilities were also influenced by temperature and the time after solution preparation. In these TPN formulations containing Aminosyn PF as the amino acid source, the solubilities of calcium and phosphate were substantially less than reported in a previous study of solutions containing TrophAmine.
Vancomycin clearance in overweight and obese patients

We read with interest the recent article by Leong et al.[1][1] concerning the use of adjusted body weight (AdjBW) for determining clearance (CL) of vancomycin in overweight and obese patients. Several previous publications involving the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in this population have
Linderina macrospora from forest soil of the southeastern United States

(1971). Linderina Macrospora from Forest Soil of the Southeastern United States. Mycologia: Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 410-412.
Extremely low NA Yb doped preforms (<0.03) fabricated by MCVD

We report the fabrication of extremely low NA preforms (<0.03), highly doped with Yb using a conventional Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD) system. Our lowest NA preform (0.025 NA) was drawn to a 52um core step-index double-clad fiber operating in a single mode regime (M2=1.04). The fiber had a mode field diameter (MFD) and an effective area (Aeff) greater than 35um and 1000um2 respectively. In a fiber laser configuration, the efficiency was greater than 85% without any sign of photodarkening. To the best of our knowledge, by using our extremely low NA preforms we have demonstrated the largest MFD and Aeff to date for a single-mode step index double–clad Yb doped fiber without involving any micro-structuration.
Prevention of bird flu and application of SPS agreement

In the development of international trade,more attention is paid to the problems concerning the life and health of human beings,plants and animals.Bird flu is a case in point.However,the stories behind bird flu are rarely known to the world.SPS is a specialized agreement in WTO dealing with multi-lateral trade.So,SPS's application in law plays a very important role in solving such problems.
The effect of postexsanguination infusion of beef on composition, tenderness, and functional properties.

Ninety culled dairy cows were used in this study and were paired by weight and conformation similarity. Forty-five cows were arterially infused immediately after bleeding with 10% volume by weight of a solution composed of dextrose (.23%), glycerin (.21%), a phosphate blend (.14%) and maltose (.1%). The remaining cows (45) served as controls. In infused carcasses, some quantity of solution retained was in the following order: supraspinatus, chuck greater than longissimus, loin greater than semitendinosus, round muscles. Accordingly, percentage of protein, ether-extractable fat, and protein fat-free amounts were lowered (P less than .05) and percentage of moisture and moisture protein ratio were raised (P less than .05) in the supraspinatus muscle. Tenderness (P less than .01) and protein extractability (P less than .15) were improved. No difference was observed in water-holding capacity between infused and control carcasses. Percentages of moisture fat-free (r = .85) and protein fat-free (r = -.97) were highly correlated to moisture-protein ratio. Moisture percentage of the fat-free tissue was shown to be a more consistent indicator of added moisture in infused whole carcasses compared with moisture:protein ratio and percentage of protein fat-free. Very low correlations were observed between tenderness, percentage of moisture, percentage of water-holding capacity, and ether-extractable fat. The economics of the infusion process to the beef industry is discussed.
Particle Displacement in Aqueous Suspension Arising from Incident Radiant Energy

Colloidal particles in aqueous suspension generally sediment uniformly. By contrast, we found that suspensions of latex microspheres in polystyrene Petri dishes deviated sharply from the expected pattern when various objects were positioned immediately outside those dishes. When small coin-like metal discs were positioned immediately beneath the Petri dish, the microspheres sedimented to a point just above those discs. Other materials, including glass and wood, produced similar results, though less pronounced. After the microspheres had sedimented, shifting the metal to another position beneath the dish caused the microspheres to follow. Various control experiments ruled out trivial explanations. In concordance with earlier results, it appears that the infrared energy generated by the various materials draws microspheres, resulting in the unusual sedimentation patterns. The results have significant implications for the mechanism of sedimentation, particularly for the role of charge in that process.
Gemcitabine‐(5’‐phosphoramidate)‐[anti‐IGF‐1R]: Molecular Design, Synthetic Organic Chemistry Reactions, and Antineoplastic Cytotoxic Potency in Populations of Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (A549)

Introduction One molecular-based approach that increases potency and reduces dose-limited sequela is the implementation of selective “targeted” delivery strategies for conventional small molecular weight chemotherapeutic agents. Descriptions of the molecular design and organic chemistry reactions that are applicable for synthesis of covalent gemcitabine-monophosphate immunochemotherapeutics have to date not been reported. Materials-and-Methods The covalent immunopharmaceutical, gemcitabine-(5’-methyl-dihydrogenphosphoramide)-[anti-IGF-1R] was synthesized by reacting gemcitabine with a carbodiimide reagent to form a gemcitabine carbodiimide phosphate ester intermediate which was subsequently reacted with imidazole to create amine-reactive gemcitabine-(5’-methyl-dihydrogen- phosphorylimidazolide) intermediate. Monoclonal anti-IGF-1R immunoglobulin was combined with gemcitabine-(5’methyl-dihydrogen-phosphorylimidazolide) resulting in the synthetic formation of gemcitabine-(5’-phosphoramidate)-[anti-IGF-1R]. Results The gemcitabine molar-incorporation-index for gemcitabine-(5’-phosphoramidate)-[antiIGF-R1] was 2.67:1. Cytotoxicity Analysis- dramatic increases in anti-neoplastic cytotoxicity were observed at and between the gemcitabine-equivalent concentrations of 10-9 M and 10-7 M where lethal cancer cell death increased from 0.0% to a 93.1% maximum (100.% to 6.93% residual survival) respectively. Discussion Advantages of the organic chemistry reactions in the multi-stage synthesis scheme for gemcitabine(5’-phosphoramidate)-[anti-IGF-1R] include their capacity to achieve high chemotherapeutic molar incorporation ratios; option of producing an amine-reactive chemotherapeutic intermediate that can be preserved for future synthesis applications; and non-dedicated organic chemistry reaction scheme that allows substitutions of either or both therapeutic moieties, and molecular delivery platforms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
In‐situ isothermal micro‐Raman spectroscopy reveals the activation energy of dehydration in α‐FeOOH

A real-time, isothermal micro-Raman spectroscopy was developed as a single technique for monitoring the solid state kinetics of dehydration and measuring its activation energy. The technique comprises of acquisition and numerical analysis of a set of isothermal time-dependent Raman spectra. α-FeOOH transformation to Fe2O3 in N2 atmosphere was continuously monitored for up to 16 h at three temperatures. Dehydration activation energy of 1.4(1) eV was estimated. The Raman band evolution of two modes with different symmetries (B1g ~ 240 cm−1 and Ag ~ 400 cm−1) and the intensity decay of B1g mode at ~540 cm−1 are analyzed independently utilizing kinetic model-free approach. The study opens new possibilities for developing versatile solid state chemical and bio-chemical Raman sensors and advances the field of analytical micro-Raman spectroscopy. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stepladder to Hindsight: An Almost Memoir

Life writing scholars know Richard Freadman, a long-time professor of literature at Latrobe University in Melbourne, as one of the academics who have made Australia ‘the promised land of autobiogra...
Tutorial on Neural Systems Modeling.

Thomas J. Anastasio states in the preface of Tutorial on Neural Systems Modeling that the book is “intended for readers who want to develop an understanding of neural systems modeling, but who lack specialized backgrounds in mathematics, computer programming, or neuroscience.” This textbook does provide an excellent introduction to modeling for students with little or no mathematical or programming background. However, for a student with a computational background, or even one with working MATLAB knowledge, the text can be tedious at times. Each chapter begins by introducing a topic within neuroscience. For example, the chapter on lateral inhibition begins by introducing general concepts in visual processing before focusing on vision in Limulus, a well-known example of a visual system that utilizes lateral inhibition. These introductions place the neural models to be discussed in the chapter into a biological framework. The chapters then continue on to model the biological system using basic mathematical concepts and MATLAB scripts. But for a student with a working MATLAB knowledge, the line-by-line descriptions of commands and changes to variables are often tedious and take away from the overall point of the modeling exercise. On the other hand, such detailed descriptions would be very useful for a student without MATLAB knowledge. The models described in the text of each chapter are supported by figures, MATLAB boxes, and math boxes. The figures show both the biological data on which a model is based as well as the MATLAB output expected from the modeling of that data. Each MATLAB box contains the text of the script that generates the neural model discussed in that section. These scripts are also available for download from the book’s companion website. Math boxes explain mathematical concepts presented in the text in more detail. These boxes describe an array of topics, from eigenmode analysis to vector multiplication to solving systems of linear equations. While the Math boxes cannot describe these concepts in full detail, they serve their purpose well; they make the reader aware of the mathematics required to create each model and provide a basis for further study, if the reader chooses. Each chapter ends with a list of exercises. These exercises require the student to take the models created in the chapter one step farther and evaluate the models for himself. These exercise questions are well-written and address the main points of each chapter. In the end, Tutorial on Neural Systems Modeling makes neural models both accessible and interesting for students of any background. Just be sure to read the text while sitting at a computer with MATLAB running.
Apical Periodontitis, a Predictor Variable for Preeclampsia: A Case-control Study.

Abstract Introduction Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after the 20th week of gestation. There is an association between systemic inflammation and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as PE. Therefore, for the first time, the present study aimed to investigate the possible association between maternal apical periodontitis (AP) and PE. Methods In this case-control study, 50 mothers who were diagnosed with PE during pregnancy were included in the experimental group. The control group consisted of 50 matched mothers with a normal course of pregnancy. The endodontic and periodontal status of all participants was reviewed using the digital panoramic radiographs that were available before pregnancy. The number of remaining teeth and the presence of AP in all teeth and endodontically treated teeth were recorded using the periapical index. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the possible association between AP and PE (α = 0.05). Results AP in at least 1 tooth was found in 27 of the mothers who developed PE (54%) and in 16 of the control patients (32%) (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4, P Conclusions AP was significantly more prevalent in the experimental group. For the first time, this study has provided evidence that maternal AP may be a strong independent predictor of PE. Considering the high occurrence of PE, particularly in developing countries, it could be suggested that the risk of PE may be reduced through comprehensive dental examinations for detecting and treating any source of inflammation, including AP, before pregnancy.
Dietary Supplementation with Methylseleninic Acid Inhibits Mammary Tumorigenesis and Metastasis in Male MMTV-PyMT Mice

Male breast cancer, which makes up approximately 1% of all breast cancers, is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis. We investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with selenium in the form of methylseleninic acid [(MSeA) 2.5 mg selenium/kg] on mammary tumorigenesis in male MMTV-PyMT mice. The mammary tumor latency was 14.6 weeks for the MSeA-fed group and 13.8 weeks for the controls fed the AIN93G diet (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with MSeA, versus the control, resulted in a 72% reduction in tumor progression, a 46% reduction in both final volume and weight of mammary tumors, and a 70% reduction in the number of lung metastases. Mammary tumorigenesis in MMTV-PyMT mice, versus non-tumor-bearing wild-type mice, resulted in significant increases in concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, urokinase plasminogen activator, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor, but not aromatase and estrogen, in the plasma. Concentrations of all variables mentioned above in both plasma and mammary tumors were lower in MSeA-fed mice. Mammary tumorigenesis reduced plasma levels of adiponectin compared to non-tumor-bearing controls. Adiponectin concentrations in mammary tumors, but not in plasma, were higher in MSeA-fed mice than in controls. In summary, dietary supplementation with selenium in the form of MSeA inhibits mammary tumorigenesis and its pulmonary metastasis in male MMTV-PyMT mice.
Bone Marrow Harvest in Pediatric Sibling Donors: Role of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Priming and CD34+ Cell Dose

Abstract To ensure optimal clinical outcomes for patients while retaining adequate protection for donors, the National Marrow Donor Program developed guidelines specifying that up to 20 mL/kg of bone marrow can be harvested from donors. These guidelines, originally developed for unrelated adult donors, are followed in children as well. We studied the impact of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) priming on the cellular composition of harvested bone marrow, sought to develop an algorithm to optimize bone marrow harvest volume from pediatric matched sibling donors, and studied the impact of CD34+ cell dose on clinical outcomes. We analyzed data from 92 bone marrow harvests and clinical outcomes for 69 sibling recipient-donor duos, The mean age of recipients was 9.85 ± 5.90 years, and that of donors was 11.85 ± 6.36 years. G-CSF priming was not associated with higher yield of CD34+ cells/µL. The median CD34+ cell count obtained from donors was 700 cells/µL (range, 400-1700 cells/µL) in donors age 12 years (P
Game-theoretic approach for smartgrid energy trading with microgrids during restoration

The involvement of self-organizing microgrids to support the distributed network restoration makes the application of centralized power dispatching control led by utility impractical. This paper presents a game-theoretic approach to provide decision support during load restoration on energy price for utility as well as on energy dispatching for microgrids. A two-layer game structure is built to model the interaction between the utility and microgrids. The first layer is the Nash game to formulate the non-cooperative relationship between two self-organizing microgrids. The second layer is the Stackelerg game led by the utility to determine the electricity price during the energy trading with microgrids. The system voltage stability level, which is a critical factor during the system restoration, is counted into the payoff function of each player. Voltage collapse power index (VCPI) is calculated to evaluate the voltage stability level in every time step using a newly-developed line sensitivity factor method to obviate the conventional power flow calculation. The proposed decision making approach is applied in the IEEE 6-bus test system with a different load restoration profile and the effect of considering voltage stability factor on restoration decision-making results is evaluated.
"Cooperation in Groups: Psychological, Economic, and Biological Perspectives on Cooperation"

Cooperation is critical to teamwork in organizational contexts. However, despite the importance of cooperation to organizational success, and in the lives of individuals and groups in general, many...
Herbs for Upper Digestive Overgrowth of Flora

Abstract Herbal medicine has a major therapeutic role in patients with upper digestive overgrowth of flora (UDOF), often incompletely called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Here, the use of ...
Experimental Designs: Fractionals

Multivariate methods of data collection and analysis extend to experimental designs, most particularly to the fractional factorials. This paper is an exposition of the various forms of these designs and their analysis.
On the Two Factors Affecting Information Systems Success in the Extreme Event Context

This study examines the impact of perceived risk and organizational resilience on information systems success process in the context of hospitals. The research model was tested with the data collected from three of the hospitals in the Western New York area that were affected by a major snowstorm that was labeled as a federal disaster. The analysis and results appear. Theoretical and practical implications of this study and future research directions are discussed.
Disordered Nanoparticle Packings under Local Stress Exhibit Avalanche-Like, Environmentally Dependent Plastic Deformation

Nanoindentation experiments on disordered nanoparticle packings performed both in an atomic force microscope and in situ in a transmission electron microscope are used to investigate the mechanics of plastic deformation. Under an applied load, these highly porous films exhibit load drops, the magnitudes of which are consistent with an exponential population distribution. These load drops are attributed to local rearrangements of a small number of particles, which bear similarities to shear transformation zones and to the T1 process, both of which have been previously predicted for disordered packings. An increase in the relative humidity results in an increase in the number of observed load drops, indicating that the strength of the particle interactions has a significant effect on the modes of plastic deformation. These results suggest how disordered nanoparticle packings may be expected to behave in devices operating under varying environments.
Oxidation resistance of a Mo-W-Si-B alloy at 1000–1300 °C: The effect of a multicomponent Mo-Si-B coating

Abstract The oxidation behavior and microstructures of a three phase Mo50W20Si15B15 alloy containing (Mo, W) solid solution, (Mo, W)5Si3 and (Mo, W)5SiB2 were investigated over the 1000–1300 °C temperature range. At 1300 °C, the alloy exhibited a large initial mass loss and eventually transitioned to a steady state behavior associated with the development of an amorphous borosilica scale. The oxidation resistance at lower temperature was unsatisfactory due to the pesting of Mo and W. Grazing Incident Angle X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) measurements during the initial transient stage of oxidation identified the evolution of surface oxide products that were responsible for the large weight loss and pesting behavior. In order to address the large initial weight loss and the low temperature pesting behavior, the alloy was coated with a Mo-Si-B based coating by employing the pack cementation process followed by a conditioning treatment at 1450 °C. The microstructures of the coatings and the interlayer between the base alloy and the coating were studied, and the oxidation resistance of the coated alloys was evaluated over the 800–1300 °C temperature range. The coated alloy showed improved oxidation resistance with nearly zero mass change for extended period of time over the entire range of temperatures studied.
Interdisciplinary Mitigation of Opioid Misuse in Musculoskeletal Patients

Background The opioid prescribing patterns of orthopedic surgeons have been shown to play a role in exacerbating rates of opioid misuse among post-surgical patients. Demonstrable success has been appreciated by combining policy-level approaches and clinical education–based strategies to inform patients of alternative modalities of post-operative analgesia.
Dynamic contextual variables and the directives of persons with mental retardation.

We examined the ability of 14 persons with mental retardation and of 14 children without mental retardation to adjust the linguistic form of their directives as a function of their listener's affective state (happy or sad) and activity level (busy or idle). Directives were elicited by requiring the subjects to obtain toys from an adult listener. We found that both groups of subjects to obtain toys from an adult listener. We found that both groups of subjects were sensitive to these dimensions of the communicative context. However, the directive forms used by the subjects with mental retardation were more imposting overall
Low-Pressure Lumbar Provocation Discography According to Spine Intervention Society/International Association for the Study of Pain Standards Does Not Cause Acceleration of Disc Degeneration in Patients With Symptomatic Low Back Pain: A 7-Year Matched Cohort Study.

Study design Retrospective matched cohort study. Objective To determine if low-pressure lumbar provocation discography (PD) results in long-term accelerated disc degeneration, internal disc disruption, or disc herniation in patients with symptomatic low back pain (LBP). Summary of background data Study of subjects without clinically-significant LBP suggests that high-pressure PD may accelerate disc degeneration. Methods Consecutive patients with symptomatic LBP who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), PD, and repeat MRI more than 7 years later, but did not undergo subsequent spinal fusion surgery, were included. Punctured discs were matched (1:2 to 1:4) to corresponding discs in a control cohort by age, BMI, Pfirrmann score (±2), and presence of disc herniation; control cohort inclusion required MRIs for symptomatic LBP, separated by more than 7 years. The primary outcome of the study was a progression in Pfirrmann score category (I-II, III-IV, V). MRI disc-to-CSF T2 signal-intensity ratio, disc height, disc herniations, high intensity zones (HIZs), and Modic changes were assessed. Results Baseline and follow-up MRIs were available for 77 discs exposed to PD, and for 260 discs in the matched control cohort. There was no difference in the proportion of punctured discs that advanced in Pfirrmann score category in the PD group (17%, 95% CI 9-27%) compared with corresponding discs in the Control group (21%, 95% CI 17-27%), P = 0.3578, or in non-punctured discs in the PD group (35%, 95% CI 21-51%) compared with corresponding discs in the Control group (34%, 95% CI 27-42%), P = 0.1169. There were no differences in disc-to-CSF T2 signal-intensity ratio, presence of disc herniations, HIZs, or Modic changes following puncture in the PD versus matched cohort discs or in the non-punctured PD cohort discs versus corresponding control cohort discs (P > 0.05). Conclusion Patients with symptomatic LBP who underwent low-pressure PD, but who did not undergo a subsequent spinal fusion surgery, developed disc degeneration and new disc herniations at a similar rate to corresponding discs in matched control patients. Level of evidence 3.
An Electrochemical Investigation of Interfacial Electron Uptake by the Sulfur Oxidizing Bacterium Thioclava electrotropha ElOx9

Abstract Extracellular electron transfer (EET) allows microbes to acquire energy from solid state electron acceptors and donors, such as environmental minerals. This process can also be harnessed at electrode interfaces in bioelectrochemical technologies including microbial fuel cells, microbial electrosynthesis, bioremediation, and wastewater treatment. Improving the performance of these technologies will benefit from a better fundamental understanding of EET in diverse microbial systems. While the mechanisms of outward (i.e. microbe-to-anode) EET is relatively well characterized, specifically in a few metal-reducing bacteria, the reverse process of inward EET from redox-active minerals or cathodes to bacteria remains poorly understood. This knowledge gap stems, at least partly, from the lack of well-established model organisms and general difficulties associated with laboratory studies in existing model systems. Recently, a sulfur oxidizing marine microbe, Thioclava electrotropha ElOx9, was demonstrated to perform electron uptake from cathodes. However, a detailed analysis of the electron uptake pathways has yet to be established, and electrochemical characterization has been limited to aerobic conditions. Here, we report a detailed amperometric and voltammetric characterization of ElOx9 cells coupling cathodic electron uptake to reduction of nitrate as the sole electron acceptor, even in the absence of any added inorganic carbon source. By comparing this cellular activity to spent media controls and using medium exchange experiments, we demonstrate that one of the pathways by which ElOx9 facilitates inward EET is by a direct-contact mechanism through a redox center with a formal potential of −94 mV vs SHE, rather than soluble intermediate electron carriers. In addition to the implications for understanding microbial sulfur oxidation in marine environments, this study highlights the potential for ElOx9 to serve as a convenient and readily culturable model organism for understanding the molecular mechanisms of inward EET.
Astrocytes in Huntington's Disease.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease that results in motor, cognitive and psychiatric dysfunction. It is caused by a polyglutamine repeat expansion mutation in the widely expressed HTT protein. The clinical manifestations of HD have been largely attributed to the neurodegeneration of specific neuronal cell types in the brain. However, it has become clear that other cell types, including astrocytes, play important roles in the pathogenesis of HD. The mutant HTT (mHTT) protein is present in neuronal and non-neuronal cell types throughout the nervous system. Studies designed to understand the contribution of mHTT expression in non-neuronal cell types to HD pathogenesis has lagged considerably behind those focused on neurons. However, the role of astrocytes in HD has received more attention over the last 5–10 years. In this chapter we present an overview of HD and our current understanding of astrocytic involvement in this disease. We describe the neuropathological features of HD and provide evidence of morphological and molecular changes in mHTT expressing astrocytes. We review data from animal models and HD patients that implicate mHTT expressing astrocytes to the progression of HD.
The bilingual [dis]advantage

Most assessments of cognitive abilities are language bound (e.g., directions presented orally or written), even when not assessing linguistic ability. Understanding the relationship between bilingual language acquisition and outcomes on tests of cognitive abilities is critical, given the reliance on intelligence assessment for learning disability accommodations and intellectual disability diagnoses. Research has been mixed regarding the presence of a bilingual advantage or disadvantage on cognitive performance. Thus, the purpose of this review is to examine differences between several types of language users (i.e., early/late, simultaneous/sequential, English dominant / Spanish dominant/balanced), focusing on the relation between level of language acquisition and use and implications for outcomes on tests of cognitive abilities. To conduct the systematic review, guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were used (Liberati et al., 2009). Fifty-two articles met eligibility criteria and are included in this review. Results from the systematic review suggest that bilinguals perform differently than monolinguals in several domains and may be considered neurologically unlike monolinguals. The paper concludes by advocating for the need for appropriate assessment instruments and norms specific for bilingual speakers, as currently available measures cannot reliably and accurately differentiate monolinguals with a language impairment from typically developing bilinguals.
Open-Air Plasma-Deposited Multilayer Thin Film Moisture Barriers for Perovskite Solar Cells

A scalable, open-air plasma process has been developed to deposit alternating layers of conformal organosilicate and dense SiO 2 thin film barriers to prevent moisture ingress. The in-situ low temperature process is suitable for direct deposition on thermally sensitive perovskite devices and is compatible with flexible polymeric substrates. When deposited directly on perovskite solar cells, they retain over 80% of their initial performance for over 660 hours in a 50°C 50%RH accelerated aging environment. Using optical calcium testing, low water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) on the order of 10−3 g/m2/day at an accelerated aging condition of 38°C and 90% relative humidity (RH) are achieved. The ability of the multilayer barrier to enable device resistance to humid environments is crucial towards realizing longer operating lifetimes.
Series-Resonator Buck Converter—Viability Demonstration

The series-capacitor buck converter doubles the duty ratio, and equalizes the current between two phases. A series-resonator buck converter is realized by adding a resonant tank in series with the series capacitor Cs . All switches turn on at zero voltage, and the low-side switches turn off at zero current. The resonant tank generates additional loss and increases the voltage stress of the low-side switches. A 2-MHz prototype with a peak efficiency of 98.5%, 48 V at the input and 7 V, 20 A at the output was built to demonstrate the viability of the topology.
Analysis of the Learning-Centeredness of Physical Chemistry Syllabi

Students’ negative perceptions of physical chemistry courses are well-known and are likely impacting their learning and performance in this upper-division course for majors. The syllabus can be the first interaction students have with a course and instructor and can be central to the expectations student set for the learning experience. While syllabi are not necessarily evidence of enacted classroom practice, their focus may be related to the enacted course design and instructional practices. Additionally, developing and modifying the document gives an instructor an opportunity to reflect on those same enacted practices, potentially facilitating a more learning-centered experience for students. In this study, we collected physical chemistry syllabi from across the United States and evaluated the learning-centeredness of this document using the Measuring the Promise syllabus rubric. Physical chemistry syllabi from 2017 to 2019 were largely content-focused. Analysis of the specific components of syllabi revealed potential improvements that may shift the focus of physical chemistry syllabi toward the learning end of the learning-centeredness spectrum. These include communicating learning goals and objectives across a wide range of dimensions, introducing transparency about the alignment of assessments with objectives, and creating supportive classroom climates via the syllabus.
Exploring Sensemaking: A View Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

OECD (A systemic resilience approach to dealing with Covid-19 and future shocks, p. 14, 2020 [1]) argues that ‘The excuse that dangers are clear only in hindsight does not stand up to objective scrutiny. Major simulation exercises in OECD countries predicted accurately how a crisis like Covid-19 could unfold, but they were not acted on, or not sufficiently, judging by what has happened’. Heyman et al. (Lancet 385:1884–1901, 2015 [2]) argue that, “the world is ill-prepared” to handle any “sustained and threatening public-health emergency”. The complex threat and risk landscape that shapes our security and safety experience is characterized by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA) conditions. For example the recent COVID 19 pandemic reflects how unexpected events often audit our resilience (Weick and Sutcliffe in Managing the unexpected: resilient performance in an age of uncertainty. Wiley, San Francisco, 2007 [3]). Such surprising events often reflect an organization’s inability to recognize evidence of new vulnerabilities, sense weak signals or the existence of ineffective countermeasures (Woods in Resilience engineering. Ashgate Publishing, Aldershot, 2006 [4]). Public health emergencies stemming from infectious disease outbreaks are creating a serious threat to global health security and have significant National Security implications. Viewed as a black swan or an elephant in the room, this pandemic point to the requirement to be sensitive to the extremes: to those events that lie outside of what we consider predictable (Masys in Homeland security cultures: enhancing values while fostering resilience. Rowman & Littlefield International, London/Lanham, 2018 [5]; Masys in Disaster forensics: understanding root cause and complex causality. Springer Publishing, 2016 [6]; Taleb in The black swan: the impact of the highly improbable. Penguin Books Ltd., London, 2007 [7]). Weick [8] refers to sensemaking in terms of ‘… how we structure the unknown so as to be able to act in it. Sensemaking involves coming up with a plausible understanding—a map—of a shifting world; testing this map with others through data collection, action, and conversation; and then refining, or abandoning, the map depending on how credible it is’ (Ancona in Handbook of teaching leadership. Sage, Thousand Oaks, pp. 3–20, 2011 [9]). Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop and context for this chapter, sensemaking thought leadership will be explored leveraging the seminal work of Weick [8].
Indoor Air Quality for Poor Families: New Evidence from Bangladesh

Indoor air pollution (IAP) from cooking and heating is estimated to kill a million children annually in developing countries. To promote a better understanding of IAP, the authors investigate the determinants of IAP in Bangladesh using the latest air monitoring technology and a national household survey. The study concludes that IAP is dangerously high for many poor families in Bangladesh. Concentrations of respirable airborne particulates(PM10) 300 ug/m3 or greater are common in the sample, implying widespread exposure to a serious health hazard. Poor households in Bangladesh depend heavily on wood, dung, and other biomass fuels. The econometric results indicate that fuel choice significantly affects indoor pollution levels: Natural gas and kerosene are significantly cleaner than biomass fuels. However, household-specific factors apparently matter more than fuel choice in determining PM10 concentrations. In some biomass-burning households, concentrations are scarcely higher than in households that use natural gas. The results suggest that cross-household variation is strongly affected by structural arrangements - cooking locations, construction materials, and ventilation practices. The authors' analysis also suggests that poor families may not have to wait for clean fuels or clean stoves to enjoy significantly cleaner air. Within their sample household population, some arrangements are already producing relatively clean conditions, even when "dirty" biomass fuels are used. Since these arrangements are already within the means of poor families, the scope for cost-effective improvements may be larger than is commonly believed. This paper - a product of the Infrastructure and Environment Team, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to identify appropriate policies for the improvement of environmental quality.