cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of neuropsychological impairment and vocational outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis patients

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are chronic immunologic diseases that can cause cognitive dysfunction. MS is a central nervous system (CNS) disease characterized by demyelination and progressive brain atrophy. SLE is an autoimmune disease capable of damaging multiple organ systems, including the CNS. Cognitive disturbances are seen in both SLE and MS. The present study is concerned with understanding the similarities and differences between the cognitive profiles of SLE and MS as well as the relationship between cognitive impairment and vocational disability in these patients. We examined 47 SLE patients, 47 MS patients, and 44 healthy controls. The groups were well matched on demographics and the patient groups were also matched on disease duration and severity. Group comparisons revealed that generative verbal fluency and visual-spatial memory are more profoundly affected in MS than SLE; whereas depression, fatigue, and working memory deficits are similarly involved in both diseases. Logistic regression analysis revealed that executive function, in particular, was predictive of vocational outcomes in SLE and MS patients. (JINS, 2012, 18, 530–540)
Macrophage content of oil-induced peritoneal exudate in rats and rabbits.

Summary1. Albino rats and rabbits were injected intraperitoneally with sterile mineral oil to produce peritoneal exudates.2. Peritoneal exudates of rats contained greater numbers of white blood cells than rabbit exudates.3. There was a significantly greater mononuclear phagocyte response to the same stimulus in rats than in rabbits. It can be postulated that this response may be related to the native resistance of the rat to tuberculosis.We wish to thank Miss Mary Louise Wilcox for her technical assistance throughout this study.
Interfacial Atomic Number Contrast in Thick Samples

A quantitative method to simulate the electron scattering at the interface of two material layers in thick samples is presented here. The samples are analyzed by Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) in a Tecnai F30 using a High Angle Annular Dark-Field (HAADF) detector with a collection range 55 mrad to 245 mrad. At the interface of a high-density and low-density material an increase in the HAADF signal for thick TEM samples can be observed. We report here the simulated HAADF detector intensity across the interface of two materials using Python programming language and its comparison with experimental results. The electron atomic scattering factor f e (s) for a complex potential is given by:
Inversion of Multi-channel Data With Rotated Kernels

Statistical de-noising methods such as Principal Component Analysis modify data in a way not constrained by physics. In much the same way as frequency-filtered data must incorporate altered frequency content into numerical interpretation, so must statistically rotated data include the rotation operator in inversion processes. We propose a method of accounting for statistical reduction of data in non-linear inversions (such as for electromagnetic data) through an incorporation of the rotation operator into the kernels and sensitivity matrix. We show a generalized linear inversion to demonstrate the necessity of rotating the inversion kernels in this abstract and will present a nonlinear parametric example from an unexploded ordnance application.
Privacy protection and advertising in a networked world

The phenomenal growth of networking infrastructure over the past couple of decades has led to the emergence of the Internet as the ubiquitous channel for information sharing and dissemination. This has created a whole new set of research challenges, while giving a new spin to some existing ones. In this thesis, we address problems from two areas: (a) protection of data privacy, and (b) sale of advertisement space on Internet web sites. The first part of the thesis deals with privacy issues involved in the exchange of information between non-trusting entities. We first consider the problem of anonymizing databases before dissemination, in order to safeguard the privacy of the individuals described by the databases. For the privacy framework of k-Anonymity, we present approximation algorithms that anonymize databases while maximizing the utility of the anonymized database. Then, we study the problem of enabling two or more parties to securely and efficiently compute the kth-ranked element of a set split between them, without revealing any information not implied by the value of the output. We present protocols with polylogarithmic overhead for this purpose, improving upon the linear overhead of earlier solutions. In the second part of the thesis, we consider the problem of selling advertisement space on the Internet. We observe that the use of a truthful selling mechanism would considerably simplify the task of bidding, potentially attracting more advertisers to the online advertising market. We first consider the problem of selling a single advertisement slot on a web page over the course of a day. We present a truthful auction that is competitive with respect to an optimal omniscient pricing scheme that obeys a natural monotonicity property. The second problem we study is that of selling multiple advertisement slots on a web page. This problem is more closely aligned with the problem faced by search engines. We present an auction that is truthful when the advertisers are not budget-constrained. Moreover, under some reasonable assumptions, we show that its revenue is equivalent to the non-truthful auctions currently being used by search engines.
Fusion Competent Synaptic Vesicles Persist upon Active Zone Disruption and Loss of Vesicle Docking

In a nerve terminal, synaptic vesicle docking and release are restricted to an active zone. The active zone is a protein scaffold that is attached to the presynaptic plasma membrane and opposed to postsynaptic receptors. Here, we generated conditional knockout mice removing the active zone proteins RIM and ELKS, which additionally led to loss of Munc13, Bassoon, Piccolo, and RIM-BP, indicating disassembly of the active zone. We observed a near-complete lack of synaptic vesicle docking and a strong reduction in vesicular release probability and the speed of exocytosis, but total vesicle numbers, SNARE protein levels, and postsynaptic densities remained unaffected. Despite loss of the priming proteins Munc13 and RIM and of docked vesicles, a pool of releasable vesicles remained. Thus, the active zone is necessary for synaptic vesicle docking and to enhance release probability, but releasable vesicles can be localized distant from the presynaptic plasma membrane.
2.5D quasi-axisymmetric finite difference frequency domain modeling

A new 2.5D quasi-axisymmetric Finite Difference Frequency Domain (FDFD) algorithm for sources with arbitrary locations and polarizations greatly extends strict 2D axisymmetric modeling which requires on-axis or azimuthally-symmetric source distributions. Field expansions in sinusoidal modes are required, so multiple discretized Helmholtz operators A(m) must be constructed and inverted for each mode index m. Although convergence of the background and total fields can be relatively slow, particularly in the vicinity of the ring sources used in the expansion, convergence of scattered fields is reasonably fast. Excellent agreement with both analytic solutions and existing 2D axisymmetric FDFD simulations is demonstrated.
Inverse Generalized Perturbation Theory in Reactor Core Constrained Calculations

Perturbation theory has been conceived to determine the effect of an external perturbation on the reactivity or, in its general formulation, on any other observable quantity, if it can be expressed...
Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of adenosine and adenosine monophosphate photodeactivation dynamics in water microjets.

The excited state relaxation dynamics of adenosine and adenosine monophosphate were studied at multiple excitation energies using femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy in a liquid water microjet. At pump energies of 4.69–4.97 eV, the lowest ππ* excited state, S1, was accessed and its decay dynamics were probed via ionization at 6.20 eV. By reversing the role of the pump and probe lasers, a higher-lying ππ* state was excited at 6.20 eV and its time-evolving photoelectron spectrum was monitored at probe energies of 4.69–4.97 eV. The S1 ππ* excited state was found to decay with a lifetime ranging from ∼210 to 250 fs in adenosine and ∼220 to 250 fs in adenosine monophosphate. This lifetime drops with increasing pump photon energy. Signal from the higher-lying ππ* excited state decayed on a time scale of ∼320 fs and was measureable only in adenosine monophosphate.The excited state relaxation dynamics of adenosine and adenosine monophosphate were studied at multiple excitation energies using femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy in a liquid water microjet. At pump energies of 4.69–4.97 eV, the lowest ππ* excited state, S1, was accessed and its decay dynamics were probed via ionization at 6.20 eV. By reversing the role of the pump and probe lasers, a higher-lying ππ* state was excited at 6.20 eV and its time-evolving photoelectron spectrum was monitored at probe energies of 4.69–4.97 eV. The S1 ππ* excited state was found to decay with a lifetime ranging from ∼210 to 250 fs in adenosine and ∼220 to 250 fs in adenosine monophosphate. This lifetime drops with increasing pump photon energy. Signal from the higher-lying ππ* excited state decayed on a time scale of ∼320 fs and was measureable only in adenosine monophosphate.
Dynamic Measurements on Miniature Springs for Flaw and Damage Detection

Small components are becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society. Springs are a commonly found piece-part in many mechanisms, and as these components become smaller, so do the springs inside of them. Because of their size, small manufacturing defects or other damage to the spring may become significant: a tiny gouge might end up being a significant portion of the cross-sectional area of the wire. However, their small size also makes it difficult to detect such flaws and defects in an efficient manner. This work aims to investigate the effectiveness of using dynamic measurements to detect damage to a miniature spring. Due to their small size, traditional instrumentation cannot be used to take measurements on the spring. Instead, the non-contact Laser Doppler Vibrometry technique is investigated. Natural frequencies and operating shapes are measured for a number of springs. These results are compared against springs that have been intentionally flawed to determine if the change in dynamic properties is a reasonable metric for damage detection.
Estrogen Receptor Signaling and Crosstalk with the Ah Receptor in Endometrial Cancer Cells

Common risk factors for the development of endometrial and breast cancer include early menarche, late menopause, null parity, and later age at first birth, indicating that “lifetime” exposure to estrogens increases the incidence of both tumors. In contrast, smoking protects against the development of endometrial cancer, whereas the role of smoking in breast cancer incidence is equivocal and may be dependent on the timing and duration of smoking. Constituents of cigarette smoke bind and activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and research in this laboratory has focused on characterizing the inhibitory AhR-estrogen receptor (ER) a crosstalk in endometrial and breast cancer cell lines. Both Ishikawa and ECC1 endometrial cancer cells express the AhR and ERoc proteins by Western blot analysis. Moreover, AhR ligands such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and/or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induce CYP1A1-dependent activity or reporter gene activity in cells transfected with constructs containing dioxin-responsive elements as promoters. Estrogen responsiveness was also confirmed in these cells, as evidenced by gene/reporter gene assay and the induction of cell proliferation by 17β-estradiol (E2). Inhibitory AhR-ERα crosstalk studies have shown that TCDD and/or BaP inhibit E2-induced growth of endometrial cancer cells and also block hormone-activated reporter gene/gene responses. Although there are several possible mechanisms for the interaction between AhR and ERα signaling pathways, the role of AhR-mediated downregulation of ERα will be discussed as one possible mechanism. In addition, selective AhR modulators have been developed for the treatment of breast and endometrial cancer and the potential use of these compounds alone or in combination with tamoxifen will be outlined.
The European Hamster

Publisher Summary This chapter studies the history, management, behavior, and the research utility of the European hamster, which is known as Cricetus cricetus. It has a chromosome diploid number 22. European hamsters are the largest of all hamsters, bearing a size resemblance to the guinea pig, and their bodies are yellow-red brown to grayish brown on the dorsal and lateral surfaces. European hamsters are well acclimated to the laboratory setting and though they are naturally very aggressive, those in captivity show slightly reduced aggression to their kind and to man. They are not typical nocturnal rodents because they are active only during the dark cycle with limited or no seasonal differences in activity. The European hamster is not a widely used research laboratory animal. It was first used in the study of thermoregulation and hibernation and was later developed as a research model when it was found to have bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma. The majority of biomedical research using the European hamster is in the field of chronobiology and involves study of hibernation, circadian rhythm, and circannual cycles.
Data Monitoring Experience in the AIDS Toxoplasmic Encephalitis Study

The toxoplasmic encephalitis (TOXO) study was designed to determine whether primary prophylaxis with pyrimethamine (25 mg thrice weekly) or clinidamycin (300 mg twice daily) would reduce the incidence of toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) among HIV-infected patients considered at risk for the opportunistic infection. Using a modified double-blind design, patients were randomized to clindamycin or matching placbo (2 : 1) or to pyrimethamine or matching placebo (2 : 1). The clindamycin arm of the study was terminated after a median follow-up of three months due to dose-limiting toxcities; the pyrimethamine arm was terminated after a median follow-up of eight months due to a very low TE event rate in the placebo and pyrimethamine groups and a higher death rate among patients assigned pyrimethamine.
B-HT 920

Talipexole (B-HT 920) is an agonist at alpha-2 adrenergic and D 2 dopamine receptors. It is a weak partial agonist at alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. B-HT 920 is marketed as a treatment for Parkinson's disease.
Conodont thermochronology of exhumed footwalls of low-angle normal faults: A pilot study in the Mormon Mountains, Tule Springs Hills, and Beaver Dam Mountains, southeastern Nevada and southwestern Utah

Abstract (U-Th)/He thermochronology is a well-established dating technique used to understand the temperature-time histories of rocks in a wide range of geologic settings. The technique is presently restricted to rocks that contain specific accessory minerals, such as apatite or zircon. Marine carbonates and shales typically lack these accessory phases in quantities and sizes practical for (U-Th)/He dating and thus present a challenge for application of the method. Here, we explore the utility of biogenic apatite from conodonts as a (U-Th)/He thermochronometer at a well-studied calibration site located in eastern Nevada and southwestern Utah. We performed (U-Th)/He thermochronometry, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray micro-computed tomography, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on specimens with conodont color alteration indices (CAI) of 1.5–3, extracted from carbonate rocks in the footwalls of low-angle normal faults in the Mormon Mountains, Tule Spring Hills, and Beaver Dam Mountains. Conodont (U-Th)/He (CHe) dates have high scatter; dates are commonly reproducible to 20% of sample means but can deviate up to 150%. All CAI 1.5–2.5 conodonts produce CHe dates younger than 240 Ma, consistent with thermal resetting of samples; however, most CAI 3 conodonts give ages 2–6× older than Mississippian and Permian deposition. Average U, Th, and rare earth element (REE) concentrations depend on porosity and permeability differences between albid and hyaline conodont tissue and range from We propose that microstructural changes associated with increasing CAI influence CHe dates. Parent isotope loss occurs during the post-cooling stage, either in the outcrop or in the laboratory. Our hypothesis is that the double-buffered formic acid procedure for dissolving dolomitized carbonates may accelerate this loss in thermally altered, higher CAI conodonts.
Quantifying the spread in crystallographic textures due to transients in strain path in shot-peening

Abstract The present work combines electron and X-Ray diffraction to delineate effects of transients in strain paths on spread in crystallographic textures produced by shot-peening and mechanical attrition. The mechanics of shot-peening was studied using finite elements and explicitly coupled with the visco-plastic self-consistent framework to simulate evolution of crystallographic textures. It was seen that peening involves highly stochastic mechanics, which results in highly diffuse crystallographic textures, this quantified as the negentropy of its orientation distribution function. Sources of this spread were found in spatially gradient mechanics of unit impacts in peening and attrition. These gradients naturally resulted from discrete, i.e. non-uniform locations of unit impacts on the treated surface. Additional sources of gradients were also found by likening the geometry of unit impacts to spherical indentations, this naturally suggesting formation of dead-metal zones close to the surface directly underneath unit impacts, followed by plastically deformed zones at larger depths. Effects of impacting media size were delineated in the context of resulting dead-metal zone dimensions. A constitutive model for predicting the spread in crystallographic textures was formulated and validated with numerically simulated simple deformation histories.
Spectroelectrochemical investigations of nickel cyclam indicate different reaction mechanisms for electrocatalytic CO2 and H+ reduction

Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide continue to motivate the development of catalysts that can efficiently convert CO2 to useful products in water without substantial amounts of H2 formed as a byproduct. In addition to synthetic efforts, mechanistic investigations on existing catalysts are necessary to understand the molecular factors contributing to activity and selectivity, which can guide rational improvements and increase catalyst robustness. [Ni(cyclam)]2+ (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) is one such catalyst, known for decades to be capable of selective CO2 reduction to CO in water, but with little mechanistic information experimentally established or catalytic intermediates characterized. To better understand the mechanisms of aqueous H+ and CO2 reduction by [Ni(cyclam)]2+, spectroelectrochemical investigations were performed in conjunction with activity assays. Both large surface area glassy carbon and amorphous graphite rod working electrodes were tested, with the latter found to be significantly more active and selective for CO production. Optical, resonance Raman, and EPR spectroelectrochemical experiments on [Ni(cyclam)]2+ during catalysis under N2, CO2, and CO gases show the appearance of a single species, independent of electrode used. Identical signals are observed under oxidizing potentials. Spectroscopic and electrochemical analysis coupled with density functional theory calculations suggest that the signals observed originate from [Ni(cyclam)(H2PO4)]2+. The generation of a NiIII species under catalytic, reducing conditions suggests an ECCE mechanism for H+ reduction by [Ni(cyclam)]2+, which differs from the proton-coupled, ECEC pathway proposed for CO2 reduction. The divergent mechanisms seen for the two reactions may underlie the differential reactivity of [Ni(cyclam)]2+ towards each substrate, with implications for the design of increasingly selective molecular catalysts. This observation also highlights the substantial impact of buffer and electrode choice when characterizing and benchmarking the catalytic properties of new compounds.
Community clinical practice patterns and mortality in patients with intermediate oncotype DX recurrence scores: Who benefits from chemotherapy?

BACKGROUND The Oncotype DX recurrence score (RS) is used as a tool for making decisions about chemotherapy for patients who have hormone receptor (estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. There is no benefit from chemotherapy among patients aged ≥50 years who have lymph node-negative disease and an RS from 11 to 25, but the benefit of chemotherapy in the lymph node-positive group remains unknown. METHODS On the basis of data from the National Cancer Data Base between 2010 and 2014, a nationwide, retrospective cohort study included 73,185 women who had stage I through IIIA breast cancer and an RS between 11 and 30. RESULTS Receipt of chemotherapy was associated with a reduced risk of death among patients who had lymph node-positive breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR] 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-0.74; P < .001) after adjusting for other prognostic factors in a multivariable Cox model. The 5-year survival gain ranged from 1.3% (RS 11-17 subgroup), to 3.3% (RS 18-25 subgroup), and to 6.7% (RS 26-30 subgroup). Among patients who had lymph node-negative disease, chemotherapy was associated with a reduced risk of death for those with an RS from 25 to 30 (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.48-0.96; P = .03; 5-year survival gain, 1.8%), but there was no benefit from chemotherapy for patients who had an RS from 11 to 17 (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.61-1.55; P = .90), and there was a marginally significant benefit for women who had an RS from 18 to 25 (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.62-1.00; P = .05). Similar results were observed using propensity score-matching method. CONCLUSIONS The benefit of chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer who have an intermediate RS is driven in a nonlinear fashion by RS: the higher the RS, the larger the absolute benefit. Findings from this study underscore the utility of real-world data to inform joint decision making in practice.
Cognitively Demanding Object Negotiation While Walking and Texting.

Cell phone related pedestrian injuries are increasing, but the underlying causes remain unclear. Here, we studied how cell phone use directly affected obstacle avoidance ability. Thirty healthy adults participated. Cognitive capacity was quantified using standard tests. Participants walked on a treadmill in a virtual reality environment with and without performing a texting-like cell phone task. Participants also navigated either ‘no’, ‘simple’ or ‘complex’ object negotiation tasks that directly manipulated the cognitive complexity of this object negotiation task. Cell phone use led to more collisions, delayed responses, and increased variability of responses when navigating objects. Mean object avoidance responses were further delayed for the cognitively more complex object negotiation task. Individuals’ baseline attentional capacity inversely predicted the number of object collisions when participants used the cell phone. Individuals with higher cognitive flexibility (i.e., better ability to switch between tasks) performed better on the cell phone task when they had to negotiate obstacles. Importantly, cognitive ability predicted performance only when both tasks (texting and negotiating objects) were being performed. Thus, using a cell phone while walking introduces a visual distraction that impairs healthy adults’ ability to respond to cognitively demanding object negotiation tasks in their environment.
Comparative Ecology of Bartonella and Brucella Infections in Wild Carnivores

Phylogenetic sister clades Bartonella and Brucella within the order Rhizobiales present some common biological characteristics as well as evident differences in adaptations to their mammalian reservoirs. We reviewed published data on Bartonella and Brucella infections in wild carnivores to compare the ecology of these bacteria in relatively similar host environments. Arthropod vectors are the main mechanism for Bartonella species transmission between mammalian hosts. The role of arthropods in transmission of Brucella remains disputed, however experimental studies and reported detection of Brucella in arthropods indicate potential vector transmission. More commonly, transmission of Brucella occurs via contact exposure to infected animals or the environment contaminated with their discharges. Of 26 species of carnivores tested for both Bartonella and Brucella, 58% harbored either. Among them were bobcats, African lions, golden jackals, coyotes, wolves, foxes, striped skunks, sea otters, raccoons, and harbor seals. The most common species of Bartonella in wild carnivores was B. henselae, found in 23 species, followed by B. rochalimae in 12, B. clarridgeiae in ten, and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii in seven. Among Brucella species, Br. abortus was reported in over 30 terrestrial carnivore species, followed by Br. canis in seven. Marine carnivores, such as seals and sea lions, can host Br. pinnipedialis. In contrast, there is no evidence of a Bartonella strain specific for marine mammals. Bartonella species are present practically in every sampled species of wild felids, but of 14 Brucella studies of felids, only five reported Brucella and those were limited to detection of antibodies. We found no reports of Bartonella in bears while Brucella was detected in these animals. There is evident host-specificity of Bartonella species in wild carnivores (e.g., B. henselae in felids and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii in canids). A co-adaptation of Brucella with terrestrial wild carnivore hosts is not as straightforward as in domestic animals. Wild carnivores often carry the same pathogens as their domesticated relatives (cats and dogs), but the risk of exposure varies widely because of differences in biology, distribution, and historical interactions.
Transforming Teacher Education for Social Justice

Crafting new ways of thinking has become the central focus of teacher education with a focus on improving instructional competencies of future teachers in handling hot-point issues such as diversity in lived experience, religion, culture, and race to mention a few. This work is a review of a book on social justice-oriented teacher education, which focuses on helping future teachers develop an understanding of the community conditions and addressing the learning needs of students while working alongside members of the community.
Outcomes of routine upper gastrointestinal series screening and surveillance after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Esophageal dilatation and dysmotility are known complications of the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB), but their incidence varies widely in the literature. There are no formal recommendations guiding surveillance for these potentially underdiagnosed pathologies. This study demonstrates the utility and outcomes of a yearly upper gastrointestinal series screening protocol to detect and manage esophageal dysfunction after LAGB. We reviewed charts for all patients presenting for an outpatient surgical encounter related to LAGB between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017. Exclusion criteria included failure to undergo UGIS 6 months or more after band placement, or having undergone band placement in combination with another bariatric procedure. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize demographics, imaging findings and surgical outcomes. All imaging classifications were based on final radiologist report. Means were compared using a Student’s t test. A total of 322 records were reviewed with 39 patients excluded; 31 without UGIS and 8 with concomitant gastric bypass. 85% were female with an average age of 50 years. 66.8% identified as white or Caucasian with 24.7% black/African-American. Greater than 75% of the cohort had at least 5-year follow-up interval. UGIS was performed for symptoms in 66.1% and for routine screening in 33.9%. Of asymptomatic patients, 47.9% demonstrated esophageal dilatation or dysmotility on UGIS, similar to 51.3% of symptomatic patients. 96.8% of all patients went on to band removal. Sixty-four patients had repeat UGIS an average of 8 months following band removal, of which 40.6% were persistently abnormal. The incidence of esophageal pathology was significantly higher than most reported series, as was the number of patients with persistently abnormal UGIS despite band removal. The data supports our policy of yearly UGIS for all post-LAGB patients, with strong recommendation for band removal if esophageal dilatation or dysmotility is found.
The Bottom of the Barrel

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently noted, “In the United States, a significant proportion of new teachers come from the bottom third of their college class…” This chapter examines some of the reasons that would lead him to say such a worrisome thing. Education majors have some of the lowest intelligence (IQ) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores of any major in college. Students who go into education are intellectually in the bottom half of their class. Despite this fact, education majors have among the highest grade point average (GPA) of any major, leading many to conclude that education classes and teacher training are not intellectually challenging. The chapter then explores some reasons why education attracts such non-academic students. The chapter makes a connection between the lack of adventure/high purpose and over-management described in earlier chapters and the kind of student who finds a career in such system attractive. Simply put, the field is designed to attract uncurious individuals who prefer to be told what to do. The chapter concludes by examining how education could be changed to attract more academically oriented students.
Self-Efficacy to Limit Drinking Mediates the Association between Attitudes and Alcohol-Related Outcomes.

Personal attitudes toward alcohol consumption are reliable predictors of alcohol use and related problems, with emerging work suggesting that one’s favorable attitude toward limited drinking (i.e.,...
Assessment of Dynamic Fracture in Ultra-High Performance Concrete Using Synchrotron X-ray Source

Ultra-high-performance concretes (UHPCs) retain higher ultimate (compressive) strengths and greater durability relative to traditional concrete materials. As a result, they are enabling construction materials for blast resistant structures, where a higher capacity for energy absorption is required. In past investigations, the strength of UHPCs was shown to retain a dependency on strain rate. Still, the failure mechanisms which govern this rate dependency have yet to be completely elucidated. In the current study, the dynamic fracture behavior of Cor-tuf UHPC was assessed, in-situ, using a Synchrotron X-ray source in phase contrast imaging (PCI) mode. Prior to testing, the material’s morphology was characterized using X-ray computed tomography (CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A polychromatic pulsed X-ray source, high-speed camera and Kolsky bar apparatus were used in tandem, to observe the transient failure modes. A pin was placed at the end of the incident bar to control the location of damage initiation, and tests were performed at a constant velocity of ~6 m/s. These test conditions were observed to yield cracks with median and/or cone like geometries. Despite the variation in the crack paths, a significant difference in peak load was not observed. The failure mode was also observed to depend on the microstructure of the concrete samples.
A comparison of amplified and restriction fragment length polymorphism in wheat

The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was assessed for its effectiveness as a marker system in wheat, a hexaploid species with a large genome (1.6 × 1010 bp per haploid). The degree of polymorphism detected by AFLP among 11 pure lines of wheat was determined and compared with the polymorphism detected by RFLP. Cost comparison between AFLP and RFLP techniques was also made. The appropriate amount of wheat genomic DNA as template in pre-amplification was first determined. All 20 AFLP primer pairs tested resulted in amplification of bands which were polymorphic between all pairwise genotype comparisons. On average, 106 products per genotype were amplified, and for each primer pair used, more than 25 polymorphic fragments detected polymorphism among the 11 genotypes. In comparison, only 61% of 18 RFLP probes tested detected polymorphism among 10 of the 11 lines and each polymorphic probe detected an average of only three bands showing polymorphism between genotype pairs. The AFLP technique is more efficient but less expensive and requires less labor than the RFLP technique in wheat.
Retaining Hispanics: Lessons From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

We aimed to examine the retention of Hispanics/Latinos participating in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a prospective cohort study of 16,415 adults in 4 US cities who were enrolled between 2008 and 2011. We summarized retention strategies and examined contact, response, and participation rates over 5 years of annual follow-up interviews. We then evaluated motivations for participation and satisfaction with retention efforts among participants who completed a second in-person interview approximately 6 years after their baseline interview. Finally, we conducted logistic regression analyses estimating associations of demographic, health, and interview characteristics at study visit 1 (baseline) with participation, high motivation, and high satisfaction at visit 2. Across 5 years, the HCHS/SOL maintained contact, response, and participation rates over 80%. The most difficult Hispanic/Latino populations to retain included young, single, US-born males with less than a high school education. At visit 2, we found high rates of motivation and satisfaction. HCHS/SOL participants primarily sought to help their community and learn more about their health. High rates of retention of Hispanics/Latinos can be facilitated through the employment of bilingual/bicultural staff and the development of culturally tailored retention materials.
Fetal Neurobehavioral Development: The Role of Maternal Psychosocial, Pathological, and Pharmacological Stress

Maternal-fetal stressors during the gestational period, such as psychosocial stress, disease burden, and medication use, have been shown to significantly affect the neurological and biological development of the fetus. To our knowledge, no previous study in the literature has synthesized the role of these various stressors in neurodevelopment into a single concise review article. Maternal psychosocial stress has been shown to raise levels of stress hormones, such as corticotropin-releasing hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone, which in turn signal the release of glucocorticoids (eg, cortisol) along with catecholamines in the mother and fetus. These cascades could potentially have significant effects on fetal neurodevelopment. Further, this article highlights that certain maternal infectious disease states, such as influenza and Toxoplasma gondii, are associated with increased risk of psychiatric disorders among offspring, including schizophrenia and neurocognitive delay. Investigators have also found that antibodies from autoimmune disease have direct neurotoxic effects on neural cell receptors, manifesting in future cognitive performance deficits. Additionally, we note that the effects of opioid analgesics on fetal neurodevelopment are not well elucidated but some existing literature has found increased rates of neural tube defects and delays in central nervous system development. In summary, there is a need for increased prenatal screening for a wide breadth of maternal stressors to mitigate negative effects on fetal neurodevelopment.
Isothermal Crystallization Kinetics of α-Olefin Molecular Bottlebrushes

The isothermal crystallization kinetics of a series of poly(α-olefin) bottlebrushes, with side-chain lengths (Nsc) ranging from 10 to 16 carbons, was systematically investigated via differential sc...
Suicidal ideation among transgender and gender diverse adults: A longitudinal study of risk and protective factors.

Abstract Introduction Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people experience greatly heightened levels of suicidal ideation (SI) compared to the general population. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the risk and protective factors for SI within this population. Methods The present study explored how victimization, discrimination, community connectedness, and pride impact SI cross-sectionally and longitudinally in a sample of TGD adults (N = 180, 55% transgender women, 76.7% Caucasian, M age = 26.01 years). Results Cross-sectional results showed that experiencing more types of victimization and discrimination at baseline predicted higher SI severity at baseline, while community connectedness and pride at baseline were not predictive of SI severity at baseline. Longitudinal analyses showed that experiencing fewer types of victimization and discrimination during the 1-month follow-up period were associated with a decrease in SI severity from baseline to follow-up. Medium and high levels of community connectedness were also associated with a decrease in SI severity from baseline to follow-up. Pride was not associated with change in SI from baseline to follow-up. Limitations Limitations include the limited racial/ethnic diversity of the sample and that frequency of experiencing victimization and discrimination was not assessed. Conclusions These results suggest victimization and discrimination are strong predictors of SI severity within this population, and the factors of victimization, discrimination, and TGD-community connectedness impact change in SI severity across time. These findings provide evidence for the importance of anti-discrimination laws that apply to TGD people, as well as the utility of connecting TGD clients to the TGD community.
A Malady in Search of a Cure: The Increase in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement Actions Against Health Care Companies

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA") enforcement actions against companies for making improper payments to foreign officials in order to obtain or retain business were once thought to entangle only resource extraction companies operating in the third world. However, several recent FCPA enforcement actions and inquiries demonstrate that U.S. enforcement agencies are "casting a wider net" across many different industries in an effort to combat foreign corruption and bribery. These enforcement actions and inquiries also demonstrate that health care companies will not be immune from increased FCPA scrutiny as they continue to expand into overseas markets.For this reason, any health-care company doing business or seeking to do business in a foreign market must recognize, understand, and appreciate the risk of doing business internationally in terms of FCPA compliance. In fact, FCPA compliance in the health-care industry poses a unique risk and challenge given the number of foreign hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and medical providers that are state-owned or state-controlled. Failure to recognize the unique FCPA risks of doing business or seeking to do business with state-owned or state-controlled entities can expose health-care companies and their personnel to significant criminal and civil liability under U.S. law, as well as harsh collateral sanctions and damage to a company's reputation. Thus, any health-care company with an international presence or seeking to do business in a foreign country should have in place effective, comprehensive, and well-communicated FCPA compliance policies and procedures. This article explores the unique FCPA risks and challenges for health-care companies doing business or seeking to do business in foreign markets. While the risks and challenges are numerous, they are not unmanageable and the key to FCPA compliance is to adopt effective, comprehensive, and well-communicated FCPA compliance policies and procedures. While such policies and procedures will not guarantee a "clean bill of health," they may well prevent FCPA maladies from occuring in the first place.
Coherent, Inc.: Coherent Light Engines for Flow Cytometry

In this video, learn how Coherent combines lasers with opto/mechanical/electro components to provide compact laser engines with user-adjustable alignment and excellent unit-to-unit repeatability. Instead of spending overhead cost and effort to combine individual lasers and steer the beam where it's needed, the OBIS CellX does all this for you. State-of-the-art bioinstrumentation devices can be created in a challenging time frame with this universal light engine.
Lessons from the Storm: Emotions, Meaning-Making & Leadership During Transition

Emotions influence the cognition, motivation, and behavior of an individual. However, the role of leaders’ emotions in navigating organizational change remains relatively underexplored. This study examines the role of emotions in educational leadership during a period of organizational crisis through a case study analysis of an assistant superintendent who successfully used emotional awareness to confront challenges and facilitate positive change. The findings, which reveal the effective use of emotional responses to promote positive organizational change, provide guidance for educational leadership preparatory programs which must cultivate future leaders’ emotional regulation skills. This study addresses a notable gap in the literature by examining a leader’s effective employment of self-awareness, emotional management, and emotional impact for meaning-making in order to navigate organizational change.
The supernumerary B chromosome of maize: drive and genomic conflict.

The supernumerary B chromosome of maize is dispensable, containing no vital genes, and thus is variable in number and presence in lines of maize. In order to be maintained in populations, it has a ...
Use of self 101: The case for teaching personal development in the entrepreneurship curriculum

Entrepreneurship education is rapidly growing, both in the number of schools offering programs and in the range of courses. But, survey data shows that entrepreneurship education is more likely to focus on how to evaluate business opportunities, write a business plan, present a proposal to investors, and conduct analytical exercises to determine value. The success of a venture begins with the entrepreneur, and as students become entrepreneurs, they will need to wear a variety of “hats” and serve as the primary finance, marketing, human resources, and operations person. High self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, and well-developed interpersonal skills have been shown to equate to a firmʼs success.These skills are rarely polished and perfected in the classroom. But, because they are so critical, more concentration on their development is needed in the entrepreneurship curriculum. This article presents the case and provides a model for developing “Use of Self” skills in the entrepreneurship classroom.
“The Silence Itself Is Enough of a Statement”: The Day of Silence and LGBTQ Awareness Raising

This ethnographic study of a high school gay–straight alliance club examines unintended consequences of silence during the Day of Silence, a day of action aimed at addressing anti-LGBTQ bias in schools. While this strategy calls for students to engage in intentional silences to raise awareness of anti-LGBTQ bias, it does not necessarily lead others to address harassment or silences around gender and sexuality. Rather, silence makes students more defenseless in the face of verbal harassment. [LGBTQ youth, homophobia, harassment, Day of Silence, gay–straight alliance]
Lunar periodicity with reference to live births

Abstract A half-million live births, occurring during 37 synodic lunar months and constituting virtually all known births in New York City for 1961–1963, were plotted on the synodic lunar cycle of 29.53 days. The half cycle with the highest birth rate began the day after first quarter (FQ+1) and thus almost coincided with the brightest half of the lunar month (centered at full moon). This birth rate was 1.01 per cent greater than that for the half cycle beginning the day after last quarter. These findings are compared with those reported in this Journal in 1959. Literature dealing with lunar periodicity in the sexual or reproductive cycle of other mammals is briefly cited.
Optimum Design of Laminated Composite Structures

Because of their superior mechanical properties compared to single phase materials, laminated fibrous composite materials are finding a wide range of applications in structural design, especially for lightweight structures that have stringent stiffness and strength requirements. Designing with laminated composites, on the other hand, has become a challenge for the designer because of a wide range of parameters that can be varied, and because the complex behavior and multiple failure modes of these structures require sophisticated analysis techniques. Finding an efficient composite structural design that meets the requirements of a certain application can be achieved not only by sizing the cross-sectional areas and member thicknesses, but also by global or local tailoring of the material properties through selective use of orientation, number, and stacking sequence of laminae that make up the composite laminate. The increased number of design variables is both a blessing and a curse for the designer, in that he has more control to fine-tune his structure to meet design requirements, but only if he can figure out how to select those design variables. The possibility of achieving an efficient design that is safe against multiple failure mechanisms, coupled with the difficulty in selecting the values of a large set of design variables makes structural optimization an obvious tool for the design of laminated composite structures.
Adsorption and heats of immersion of n-alkanes on model silica gel

Grand canonical ensemble Monte Carlo simulations are performed with configurational bias to investigate the adsorption behavior of n-alkanes on a model microporous silica gel. The qualitative shape of the adsorption isotherm is seen to change with increasing alkane chain length. A transition from continuous pore filling to layering of molecules at the surface is observed between n-octane and n-dodecane. In addition, heats of immersion are calculated for the model adsorbents in alkanes via computer simulation. This quantity, which to our knowledge has not been calculated in this manner previously, provides a convenient point of contact between simulation and experiment. Agreement between experimental and calculated heats is quite good, provided careful accounting is made of the accessible pore volume and surface area.