cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of alkaline earth modifier ion on the optical, magnetic and electrical properties of lithium nickel borate glasses

Abstract Lithium nickel borate glasses were prepared by varying the modifier oxide from MgO to BaO by using the melt quenching technique. Characterization of the samples was carried out using FTIR, optical absorption and thermoluminescence (TL) techniques. The optical absorption studies point out that the octahedral positions of Ni 2+ ions seem to be dominant when the glass matrix contains barium oxide as the modifier. The glass sample containing BaO as the modifier possesses a higher concentration of laser emitting octahedral Ni 2+ ions ( 3 T 2g → 3 A 2g ) than the other modifier ions studied. Electrical measurements were carried out by impedance spectroscopy as a function of frequency and temperature over the frequency range of 10 Hz to 10 6 Hz and at a temperature range from 303 K to 523 K. Ion relaxation behavior of lithium nickel borate glasses was studied using the electric modulus formalism.
Radiative Capture and Bremsstrahlung of Bound Electrons Induced by Heavy Ions

X rays emitted during the radiative capture of target electrons into the $K$ shell of fast and highly stripped projectiles were observed. When using targets with strongly bound electrons, a high-energy x-ray tail was also found; this new process is a type of electron bremsstrahlung. The cross sections for both these processes can be explained quantitatively.
Guest-Assisted and Guest-Inhibited Shell Closures Provide Differently Shaped Carceplexes and Hemicarceplexes1,2

The syntheses are reported of ten new carceplexes, hemicarceplexes, or their free hosts by coupling different or similar pairs of cavitands at their rims with four O(CH2)nO or four m-(OCH2)2C6H4 br...
Ion Mobility-Mass Correlation Trend Line Separation of Glycoprotein Digests without Deglycosylation.

A high-throughput ion mobility mass spectrometer (IMMS) was used to rapidly separate and analyze peptides and glycopeptides derived from glycoproteins. Two glycoproteins, human α-1-acid glycoprotein and antithrombin III were digested with trypsin and subjected to electro-spray traveling wave IMMS analysis. No deglycosylation steps were performed; samples were complex mixtures of peptides and glycopeptides. Peptides and glycosylated peptides with different charge states (up to 4 charges) were observed and fell on distinguishable trend lines in 2-D IMMS spectra in both positive and negative modes. The trend line separation patterns matched between both modes. Peptide sequence was identified based on the corresponding extracted mass spectra and collision induced dissociation (CID) experiments were performed for selected compounds to prove class identification. The signal-to-noise ratio of the glycopeptides was increased dramatically with ion mobility trend line separation compared to non-trend line separation, primarily due to selection of precursor ion subsets within specific mobility windows. In addition, isomeric mobility peaks were detected for specific glycopeptides. IMMS demonstrated unique capabilities and advantages for investigating and separating glycoprotein digests in this study and suggests a novel strategy for rapid glycoproteomics studies in the future.
The Dynamics of Product Quality and International Competitiveness

Despite the appreciation of the exchange rate, the eight Central and Eastern European countries (the CEE-8) that entered the European Union in May 2004 have achieved a decade of impressive export growth, expanding significantly their shares of world markets. Does this mean that the real exchange rate is irrelevant? If not, what other factors compensated for the appreciation to explain the apparently strong competitiveness of these economies? And will these favorable factors continue to power export growth? This paper places in international context the achievements of the CEE-8 and helps more broadly to identify the determinants of international competitiveness. Building from data at the six-digit level of disaggregation, it shows that the CEE-8 made an impressive shift in product quality and in the technological intensity of exports, and that these shifts associated with the structural transformation were also associated with increased market share. The analysis strongly suggests that, when trading in international markets, countries benefit from higher product quality. However, while the structural transformation achieved was valuable in raising market shares, the easy gains from this process may be over.
New England Transportation Consortium: A Model for Management of a Multistate Cooperative Research Program

Six New England state transportation agencies are cooperating with six New England state land grant universities and FHWA in a program of transportation research. This joint venture is called the New England Transportation Consortium (NETC). NETC was formed as a regional approach to address transportation research needs of mutual concern to the New England states. Its purpose is to pool the region's financial, professional, and academic resources and to use them to research and develop improved methods of dealing with common problems in the planning, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and operation of transportation systems in the participating states. This paper discusses the following issues regarding NETC: description, funding, history, establishment and start-up, organization and management, project selection process, award of funding, strengths, and challenges. This paper also provides recommendations and guidelines for the establishment, operation, and sustained growth of an ...
Equatorial spread-F: recent results and outstanding problems

Abstract Recent results and outstanding problems in the field of equatorial spread-F are reviewed. The discussion is organized about four distinct wavelength regimes: long (≳ 20 km). intermediate (20 km–100 m). transitional (100 m–10 m) and short (≲ 10 m). The intermediate waves are best understood, although the enhanced turbulent power near 1 km wavelength needs explanation, as does the saturation mechanism itself. The role of shear flow and irregularity seeding by ‘geophysical noise’ in the neutral atmosphere form important future research topics at the longest scales. Identification of drift waves in the transitional wavelength range has been a major new step in explaining the full spread-F phenomenon. This drift wave turbulence in the transition regime will be actively studied in the near future, particularly with regard to its role in determining the saturated amplitude of the intermediate waves, as well as in the anomalous diffusion of plasma at high altitudes. Although waves as short as 11 cm have been unambiguously detected and linear theories exist, the origin and amplitude spectra of these short wavelength waves inside topside plumes remain in some doubt and should also be examined in more detail.
Citizenship Education in Elementary Schools.

As we approach the 200th anniversary of the Republic, there is considerable evidence to support the conclusion that we need to revitalize the civic curriculum of our elementary schools.' This must be accomplished by basing citizenship education upon the soundest knowledge about human political life available. At the same time, we must not bloodlessly intellectualize citizenship education nor limit it to the arbitrary boundaries of social science disciplines. Further, we must accomplish this important task without letting citizenship education become meanly politicized or degenerating into rambling discussion, enticing games or partisan pleading. In this essay, we suggest one approach for revitalizing citizenship training in the elementary schools. We term this an experience-based approach to citizenship education. We describe key characteristics of this approach and give examples of these characteristics. Then we briefly consider the implications of such an approach for citizenship education. We concern ourselves with the elementary school years for two reasons. First, childhood is an important phase in the process of citizenship education because it presents valuable, neverto-be repeated opportunities on which to build a guided and systematic civic education. During this period in children's intellectual, emotional and social development, their political selves are still being formed. When we postpone overt atRichard C. Snyder Mershon Center
SOURCE PARAMETERS OF EARTHQUAKES, AND DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN EARTHQUAKES AND NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS.

The first part of this study describes a technique by which the source parameters of an earthquake can be obtained from the spectrum of compressional waves. The source parameters defined are fault length, fracture velocity, and fault plane attitude. Two large, deep earthquakes are examined using this technique. The source parameters determined compare favorably with those obtained previously using different techniques. In the second section a method is proposed for discrimination between underground explosions and earthquakes. The technique utilizes the ratio of the spectrums of the two classes of events where the path of propagation is common to both. On the basis of the analysis of the SHOAL event and a nearby shallow earthquake it appears that the duration as determined from the spectral ratio is almost 10 times smaller for an explosion than it is for a comparable earthquake.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa hemolytic phospholipase C suppresses neutrophil respiratory burst activity

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a persistent pathogen in the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis from other causes and appears to have evolved strategies to survive the inflammatory response of the host. We hypothesized that the secreted hemolytic phospholipase C (PLC) of P. aeruginosa (PlcHR) would decrease neutrophil respiratory burst activity. We found that while intact wild-type P. aeruginosa cells stimulated moderate respiratory burst activity from human neutrophils, an isogenic mutant pseudomonas (DeltaHR strain) containing a targeted deletion of the plcHR operon induced a much more robust oxidative burst from neutrophils. In contrast, a second pseudomonas mutant (DeltaN) containing a disruption in the gene encoding the nonhemolytic PLC (PlcN) was not different from the wild type in stimulating neutrophil O2.- production. Readdition of purified PlcHR to the DeltaHR strain suppressed neutrophil O2.- production to levels stimulated by wild-type bacteria. Interestingly, purified PlcHR decreased phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)- but not formyl methionyl-leucyl-proline (fMLP)-induced respiratory burst activity, suggesting interference by PlcHR with a protein kinase C (PKC)-specific signaling pathway. Accordingly, the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide inhibited the oxidative burst induced by either PMA or intact pseudomonas, but not by fMLP, whereas the p38 kinase inhibitor SB-203580 fully inhibited the respiratory burst induced by fMLP or the PlcHR-replete wild-type bacteria, but not PMA or the PlcHR-deficient DeltaHR bacterial mutant. We conclude that expression of PlcHR by P. aeruginosa suppresses bacterium-induced neutrophil respiratory burst by interfering with a PKC-dependent, non-p38 kinase-dependent pathway.
Activation of Neurokinin 3 Receptors Stimulates GnRH Release in a Location-Dependent but Kisspeptin-Independent Manner in Adult Mice

GnRH neurons form the final common pathway for the central control of reproduction. GnRH release occurs from terminals in the external layer of the median eminence (ME) for neuroendocrine control of the pituitary, and near GnRH-GnRH fiber appositions within the preoptic area (POA). Whether or not control of GnRH secretion by neuromodulators is different in these 2 areas is unknown. Mutations in neurokinin B (NKB) or the neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R) are linked to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in humans, suggesting that NKB may regulate GnRH secretion. Using fast scan cyclic voltammetry through carbon-fiber microelectrodes, we examined real-time GnRH release in response to the NK3R agonist senktide in the ME and POA. Coronal brain slices were acutely prepared from adult gonad-intact GnRH-green fluorescent protein male mice, and carbon-fiber microelectrodes were placed either within green fluorescent protein-positive terminal fields of the ME or near GnRH-GnRH fiber appositions in the POA. Senktide induced G...
Azolla filiculoides Nitrogenase Activity Decrease Induced by Inoculation with Chlamydomonas sp.

Experiments were conducted to determine the influence of Chlamydomonas sp. on nitrogen fixation (C2H2 → C2H4) in Azolla filiculoides and on the nitrogen fixation and growth of free-living Anabaena azollae 2B organisms. Inoculation of azolla medium with Chlamydomonas sp. was associated with decreased nitrogenase activity in A. filiculoides and with increases in the density of a fungal population identified as Acremonium sp. Subsequent inoculation of azolla medium with this fungus was also accompanied by a significant decrease in nitrogenase activity of A. filiculoides. However, the extent of depression of nitrogenase activity was significantly higher when azolla medium was inoculated with Chlamydomonas sp. than when it was inoculated with Acremonium sp. Inoculation of nitrogen-free Stanier medium with either Acremonium sp. or Chlamydomonas sp. did not adversely affect the growth or nitrogenase activity of free-living A. azollae. Decreased nitrogenase activity in A. filiculoides is apparently related to the adverse influence of the green alga and the fungus on the macrosymbiont. The mechanisms that might be involved are discussed.
Robust sliding-mode control of electrostatic torsional micromirrors beyond the pull-in limit

This paper presents high-resolution control of torsional electrostatic micromirrors beyond their inherent pull-in instability using robust sliding-mode control (SMC). SMC enables compact realization of a robust controller tolerant of device characteristic variations, non-linearities, and many types of inherent instabilities. Robustness of the control loop is demonstrated through extensive simulations and measurements on MEMS with a wide range in their characteristics. Control of two-axis gimbaled micromirrors beyond their pull-in instability with overall 14 milli-degrees pointing accuracy is confirmed experimentally.
Extended multi-agent consensus protocols for the generation of geometric patterns in the plane

We propose a decentralized control law for multi-agent formations in two dimensions that allows the participating vehicles to display intricate periodic and quasi-periodic geometric patterns. Inspired by the “standard” consensus protocol x=−Lx, these controls rely only on the relative position between the networked agents which are neighbors in the underlying communication graph. Several examples are presented, resulting in non-trivial geometric patterns described by trochoidal curves, similar to those generated by kids around the world using a spirograph. These paths can be useful for coordinated, distributed surveillance and monitoring applications, as well as for the sake of their own aesthetical beauty.
Human drug hepatotoxicity: a contemporary clinical perspective.

Background: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) constitutes a significant medical challenge. The rising number of marketed drugs, aging population and polypharmacy make it imperative to understand the clinical presentation of DILI and the processes used in the assessment of causality and early detection. Objective: This article reviews the current clinical understanding of DILI including presentation patterns, causality assessment, risk factor ascertainment and early detection strategies including liver test monitoring. Significant initiatives such as the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN) are also discussed. Methods: A narrative review of clinical studies of DILI, with emphasis on clinical features, causality and surveillance. Conclusion: DILI remains a serious challenge in contemporary clinical practice. Further research and collaboration in the areas of epidemiology, causality and early detection are required to enhance the diagnosis and management of DILI.
A fuzzy model of signal detection incorporating uncertainty

A fuzzy model for signal detection in a noisy waveform was developed. Goals for the model were to incorporate uncertainty and to provide a mechanism to combine evidence that was not sensitive to estimates of probability distributions. Outcome sets were 'signal present,' 'signal absent', and 'uncertain.' The model incorporated two different parameters derived from the waveform, and a combined set membership was determined by taking the minimum of the set memberships based on the individual parameters. The model was applied to a set of brainstem auditory evoked potential waveforms, and its performance was compared to a Bayesian maximum likelihood classifier and to linear discriminant analysis. The effects of errors in estimates of the parameter statistics on classification performance were investigated. outcome set classification for the fuzzy and Bayesian models were similar to linear discriminant analysis, but the fuzzy model was less sensitive to errors in estimates of waveform parameter probabilities than the Bayesian model. >
Challenging Girls' Invisibility in Juvenile Court

Despite the fact that girls account for one of four arrests of juveniles, discussions of delinquency and juvenile justice generally ignore young women and their problems. A review of the nature of female delinquency as well as the juvenile justice system's long-documented bias against girls suggests that careful consideration of girls' issues would shed considerable light on the shortcomings of the juvenile justice system as a whole. Specifically, the unique problems of girls, like sexual abuse, were long ignored by a system that purported to seek "the best interests of the child." Instead, girls' survival strategies, like running away from home, were criminalized. Contemporary congressional efforts to reform juvenile justice, focused almost exclusively on boys' violence, are likely to produce changes that will result in the compounding of girls' problems due to contact with a system that ignores their unique situations.
The rendering architecture of the DN10000VS

The Appollo DN10000VS treats graphics as an integral part of the system architecture. Graphics requirements influence the entire system design. All floating-point computations for graphics are performed by the CPU(s), while rasterizing is handled by simplified hardware having no microcode. We decided to support alpha buffering, quadratic interpolation, and texture mapping directly in hardware. This partitioning reduces the cost of a high-end workstation, without sacrificing high rendering quality and performance. This paper describes some of the design trade-offs which led to the final system design.
Analysis of the decay of ρ− mesons produced in π−p interactions at 2.26 GeV/c

Abstract We have determined the spin density matrix elements for the decay of ρ − mesons produced at 2.26 GeV/ c . The data cannot be completely explained by the one-pion exchange model modified for absorption.
Visual correspondence using energy minimization and mutual information

We address visual correspondence problems without assuming that scene points have similar intensities in different views. This situation is common, usually due to nonLambertian scenes or to differences between cameras. We use maximization of mutual information, a powerful technique for registering images that requires no a priori model of the relationship between scene intensities in different views. However, it has proven difficult to use mutual information to compute dense visual correspondence. Comparing fixed-size windows via mutual information suffers from the well-known problems of fixed windows, namely poor performance at discontinuities and in low-texture regions. In this paper, we show how to compute visual correspondence using mutual information without suffering from these problems. Using a simple approximation, mutual information can be incorporated into the standard energy minimization framework used in early vision. The energy can then be efficiently minimized using graph cuts, which preserve discontinuities and handle low-texture regions. The resulting algorithm combines the accurate disparity maps that come from graph cuts with the tolerance for intensity changes that comes from mutual information.
An experimental evaluation of fire history reconstruction using dendrochronology in white oak (Quercus alba)

Dendrochronological analysis of fire scars on tree cross sections has been critically important for understanding historical fire regimes and has influenced forest management practices. Despite its...
Morphological features of identified trigeminocerebellar projection neurons in the border zone of rat trigeminal nucleus oralis.

The retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to assess the overall morphology of neurons in the dorsal half of the border zone (BZ) of rat trigeminal nucleus oralis (Vo) that project to ipsilateral orofacial portions of four major tactile areas (crura I and II, the paramedian lobule, and the uvula) of the cerebellar cortex. We wished to answer two important questions: (1) Does this group of cells consist of one or more morphologically distinct types, each projecting to different cerebellar tactile areas? (2) Does the overall morphology or morphologies of these BZ neurons resemble one or more of the five types of identified trigeminocerebellar neurons in the dorsomedial (DM) subdivision of Vo, or do these trigeminocerebellar cells represent an additional morphologically distinct type or types restricted to BZ? The morphology of BZ neurons innervating the orofacial portions of all four cerebellar tactile areas was similar and did not resemble that of any of the five types of DM cells. T...
Car-Following Models

The automobile is a pervasive feature of modern technological societies despite its accompanying problems of pollution, accidents, and congestion. In the last 25 years a vast amount of literature has been published which we might classify as “traffic science.” This science has attempted to understand through modeling and data gathering the traffic processes and how to modify, optimize, and control them.
Imaging of cerebral aneurysms: a clinical perspective

Neuroimaging is a critical element in evaluating and treating patients with cerebral aneurysms. Each neuroimaging technique has unique strengths, weaknesses, and current developments. In this review, we discuss the utility of two primary noninvasive radiological techniques—computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)—as well as of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for evaluation of cerebral aneurysms. These techniques allow comprehensive evaluation of aneurysm size, location, rupture status, and other imaging characteristics that guide clinicians to make appropriate and timely treatment recommendations.
Hexosemonophosphate shunt dehydrogenase activity in rat liver and leukocyte: effect of diet and thyroid status.

SummaryAn examination of hexosemonophosphate shunt dehydrogenase activity in the rat exudate polymorphonuclear leukocyte reveals an exceedingly high NADPH generating capacity which is not modified by changes in composition of diet or alterations in thyroid status of the animal. This is in marked contrast to the hepatic shunt dehydrogenases which show marked alterations in response to the above stimuli. Thus, leukocyte HMPS dehydrogenase activity cannot be used as a peripheral index of hepatic shunt dehydrogenase activity.
Multifunctional 1D magnetic and fluorescent nanoparticle chains for enhanced MRI, fluorescent cell imaging, and combined photothermal/chemotherapy.

While the assembled 1D magnetic nanoparticle (NP) chains have demonstrated synergistic magnetic effects from the individual NPs, it is essential to prepare new 1D NP chains that can combine the magnetism with other important material properties for multifunctional applications. This paper reports the fabrication and multifunctional investigation of a new type of 1D NP chains that combine the magnetic properties with fluorescent properties, photothermal conversion ability, and drug carrier function. The building block NPs are composed of magnetic Fe3O4 nanocrystals clustered in the core and fluorescent carbon dots embedded in the mesoporous carbon shell with hydroxyl/carboxyl groups anchored on their surface. These NPs can assemble under the induction of external magnetic field and form stable 1D NP chains of diameter ∼90 nm and length ∼3 μm via the hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking linkage of the carbon shell. The resulted 1D hybrid NP chains not only demonstrate much higher magnetic resonance imaging (MR...
In vitro efficacy of shampoos containing miconazole, ketoconazole, climbazole or accelerated hydrogen peroxide against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton species

Objectives The objective was to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of shampoo formulations of ketoconazole, miconazole or climbazole and accelerated hydrogen peroxide wash/rinse against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton species spores. Methods Lime sulfur (1:16)-treated control, enilconazole (1:100)-treated control, accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP 7%) 1:20 and a 1:10 dilution of shampoo formulations of miconazole 2%, miconazole 2%/chlorhexidine gluconate 2-2.3%, ketoconazole 1%/chlorhexidine 2%, climbazole 0.5%/chlorhexidine 3% and sterile water-untreated control were tested in three experiments. In the first, a suspension of infective spores and hair/scale fragments was incubated with a 1:10, 1:5 and 1:1 dilution of spores to test solutions for 10 mins. In the second, toothbrushes containing infected cat hair in the bristles were soaked and agitated in test solutions for 10 mins, rinsed, dried and then fungal cultured (n = 12×). In the third, a 3 min contact time combined with an AHP rinse was tested (n = 10×). Good efficacy was defined as no growth. Results Water controls grew >300 colony-forming units/plate and all toothbrushes were culture-positive prior to testing. For the suspension tests, all test products showed good efficacy. Miconazole 2%, ketoconazole 1% and AHP showed good efficacy after a 10 min contact time. Good efficacy was achieved with a shorter contact time (3 mins) only if combined with an AHP rinse. Conclusions and relevance Lime sulfur and enilconazole continued to show good efficacy. In countries or situations where these products cannot be used, shampoos containing ketoconazole, miconazole or climbazole are alternative haircoat disinfectants, with a 10 min contact time or 3 mins if combined with an AHP rinse.
Solutions to Intraoperative Wound Classification Miscoding in a Subset of American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Patients

Intraoperative wound classification is a predictor of postoperative infection. Therefore, accurately assigning the correct classification to a surgical wound is of particular importance. Our institution participates in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP), a national outcomes database that collects wound classification for all qualifying operative procedures, and we noted discrepancies when comparing ACS NSQIP wound classification coding with perioperative coding in our electronic medical record. We tested the effectiveness of an intervention that included staff educational sessions, informational posters, and postoperative debriefings on improving the accuracy of documented intraoperative wound classification. The χ(2) test was used to compare proportions of wound classification miscodings before and after educational sessions and debriefings commenced. Baseline data revealed misclassification of wounds occurred 21 per cent (30 of 141) of the time in predominately colorectal procedures performed by two surgeons from April through August 2012. Errors decreased to 9 per cent (13 of 147) from August to December 2012, after our intervention of education sessions with operating room staff and the surgeons incorporating a statement confirming the wound classification at the end of the case debriefing. The χ(2) statistic was 8.7589. The P value was significant at 0.003. Ensuring concordance of classification between the surgeon and nurse during a postprocedure debriefing as well as education of perioperative nursing staff through posters and seminars significantly improved the accuracy of intraoperative wound classification coding.
The system architect's workbench

This paper presents an overview of The System Architect's Workbench, a behavioral synthesis system under development at Carnegie Mellon University. This system converts an abstract behavioral description of a piece of hardware into a set of register-transfer components and a control sequence table. Two-synthesis methodologies are supported: one is tuned specifically to design microprocessors, and the other supports a more general design style. Results are presented here for both approaches.
Novel 3-Dimensional Image Fusion Software for Live Guidance of Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation

A 7-year-old patient (28 kg) born with aortic stenosis, having undergone the Ross procedure and a repeat surgical intervention including patch plasty of the stenosed conduit and mechanical valve implantation in the mitral position, presented with recurrence of right ventricular outflow tract conduit narrowing. Transthoracic echocardiography showed obstruction of the conduit (Vmax=4 m/s) with moderate pulmonary regurgitation. Cardiac computed tomography confirmed stenosis of the graft with a minimum diameter of 12×18 mm, unobstructed pulmonary arteries, and coronary arteries sufficiently separated from the graft. The computed tomography scan was uploaded to the dedicated workstation for processing with the novel VesselNavigator (Philips Healthcare) 3-dimensional (3D) image fusion software. The automatically created 3D reconstruction was manually modified with a single-click segmentation tool (Figure [A]) to …
Association of age with health-related quality of life in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: the Georgians Organized Against Lupus study.

Objective To examine whether older age was associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and whether differential disease-related damage and activity explained these associations. Methods We used cross-sectional data on 684 patients with SLE aged ≥20 years from the Georgians Organized Against Lupus cohort to estimate the associations between age (categorised as 20–39, 40–59 and ≥60 years) and HRQOL (Short Form-12 norm-based domain and physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores), using multivariable linear regression. We then examined the effect of disease-related damage and activity on these associations. Results The mean age of the cohort was 48.2±13.1 years (range, 20–88 years), with 28.0%, 52.9% and 19.1% of participants being aged 20–39, 40–59 and ≥60 years, respectively; 79.0% were African-American and 93.7% were female. The mean PCS score was 39.3 (41.8, 38.7 and 37.4 among those aged 20–39, 40–59 and ≥60 years, respectively), while the mean MCS score was 44.3 (44.2, 43.8 and 46.1, respectively). In general, lower physical but not mental HRQOL scores were associated with older age. With adjustment, older ages (40–59 and ≥60, respectively, vs 20–39) remained associated (β (95% CI)) with lower PCS (−2.53 (−4.58 to −0.67) and −3.57 (−6.19 to −0.96)) but not MCS (0.47 (−1.46 to 2.41) and 1.20 (−1.52 to 3.92)) scores. Associations of age with HRQOL domain and summary scores were not substantially changed by further adjustment for disease-related damage and/or activity. Conclusions Nearly one in five participants in this large, predominantly African-American cohort of patients with SLE was at least 60 years old. The associations of older age with lower physical, but not mental, HRQOL were independent of accumulated SLE damage and current SLE activity. The results suggest that studies of important geriatric outcomes in the setting of SLE are needed to inform patient-centred clinical care of the ageing SLE population.
Improving Dorsal Stream Function in Dyslexics by Training Figure/Ground Motion Discrimination Improves Attention, Reading Fluency, and Working Memory

There is an ongoing debate about whether the cause of dyslexia is based on linguistic, auditory, or visual timing deficits. To investigate this issue three interventions were compared in 58 dyslexics in second grade (7 years on average), two targeting the temporal dynamics (timing) of either the auditory or visual pathways with a third reading intervention (control group) using linguistic word building. Visual pathway training in dyslexics to improve direction-discrimination of moving test patterns relative to a stationary background (figure/ground discrimination) significantly improved attention, reading fluency, both speed and comprehension, phonological processing, and both auditory and visual working memory relative to controls, whereas auditory training to improve phonological processing did not improve these academic skills significantly more than found for controls. This study supports the hypothesis that faulty timing in synchronizing the activity of magnocellular with parvocellular visual pathways is a fundamental cause of dyslexia, and argues against the assumption that reading deficiencies in dyslexia are caused by phonological deficits. This study demonstrates that visual movement direction-discrimination can be used to not only detect dyslexia early, but also for its successful treatment, so that reading problems do not prevent children from readily learning.
Rack-level Congestion Control

Many data center traffic patterns exhibit abundant concurrent connections and high churn. In the face of these characteristics, server-centric congestion control is a poor fit—each connection, no matter how small, must start from scratch when testing when and how much to send along a given path. This is despite the fact that there are a large number of flows that may have already probed the same exact path, not just at a server level, but also at a rack level. Thus, we argue for rack-level congestion control in which all connections are tunneled through rack-to-rack JumboFlows. This design allows an entire rack’s connections to cooperate with one another for better fairness and performance, particularly for short flows. In this paper, we examine situations in which JumboFlows might be useful and present a preliminary design of a system (RackCC) that implements JumboFlows.
Modulation of voltage-gated conductances of retinal horizontal cells by UV-excited TiO2 nanoparticles

This study examines the ability of optically-excited titanium dioxide nanoparticles to influence voltage-gated ion channels in retinal horizontal cells. Voltage clamp recordings were obtained in the presence and absence of TiO2 and ultraviolet laser excitation. Significant current changes were observed in response to UV light, particularly in the -40 mV to +40 mV region where voltage-gated Na+ and K+ channels have the highest conductance. Cells in proximity to UV-excited TiO2 exhibited a left-shift in the current-voltage relation of around 10 mV in the activation of Na+ currents. These trends were not observed in control experiments where cells were excited with UV light without being exposed to TiO2. Electrostatic force microscopy confirmed that electric fields can be induced in TiO2 with UV light. Simulations using the Hodgkin-Huxley model yielded results which agreed with the experimental data and showed the I-V characteristics of individual ion channels in the presence of UV-excited TiO2.
INNOVATE, ENGAGE, AND IMPACT: EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CASE USED TO MEET NEW AACSB STANDARDS

In 2013, AACSB International published its revised Standards recognizing the dynamic environments of both business schools and the business world. The catalyst of change includes fantastical advances in technology combined with Generations Y,Z, and (yes) Alpha who have adapted as wireless, multi-tasking, multi-device savants. These students have developed amid a plethora of stimuli and expect the same from their business education environment. This paper describes the use of experiential learning via the innovative, in-the-cloud ProBanker Simulation that engages students thirst for new technological experiences and their competitive natures. During the process students recognize that the skills and analytics involved can be applied to any business entity not just a financial intermediary.
Foraging sparrows exhibit individual differences but not a syndrome when responding to multiple kinds of novelty

Lay Summary Organisms could treat sudden changes to their environment (novelty) either similarly or uniquely depending on context. We tested this idea in foraging house sparrows. Sparrows responded to several forms of novelty. Individuality existed in the speed to come to the food source and in initial responsiveness to a novel object, but not in the adjustment to objects as they became familiar or novel cues of food. Sparrows are highly flexible, which may explain their ability to coexist with humans.
Analysis of synthetic phenethylamine street drugs using direct sample analysis coupled to accurate mass time of flight mass spectrometry

Serious health complications and fatal overdoses have brought phenethylamine, otherwise known as 2C, drug abuse to the public’s attention. These compounds are 2C-X series analogs of mescaline. The name “2C” results from the two carbons in the ethyl chain. The substituents on these emerging drugs are constantly changed in order to avoid listing as controlled substances. These synthetic drugs are marketed as having affects similar to LSD and MDMA and are typically consumed sublingually via blotter paper. Twenty-six commercially available standards were analyzed using a direct sample analysis technique coupled to accurate mass time of flight mass spectrometry. Direct sample analysis is an ambient ionization technique employing direct charge transfer from nitrogen reagent gas resulting in ionization and in-source collision induced dissociation. Mass spectral analysis was used to determine the fragmentation patterns of the 2C compounds. While the mass spectral data for the compounds are similar in fragmentation, they also display differences that allow the analyst to distinguish which compound is present. The fragmentation patterns, high-resolution mass spectral data, and isotope ratios are used to qualitatively identify two blotter paper street samples that were extracted together. As these drugs are emerging substances of abuse, there are no generally accepted protocols for this analysis. Additionally, presumptive, or screening, tests have not been widely developed for these materials. Direct sample analysis allows for a quick screening of seized compounds resulting in a preliminary identification, which can then be analyzed and confirmed using other analytical techniques.
A theory of structured experience

ABSTRACTWe extend Duerden, Ward, and Freeman’s [2015. “Conceptualizing Structured Experiences.” Journal of Leisure Research 47 (5): 601–620] ‘structured experience’ framework by proposing a formal theory of structured experiences. The theory advances propositions about how leisure service providers may structure environments and interactions to facilitate specific subjective experiences for guests and participants. Following the Duerden, Ward, and Freeman (2015) paper, the theory of structured experience is an integration of literature from leisure studies, tourism, and marketing. Formal definitions are provided for four co-created subjective experiences: immersion, absorption, engagement, and deep structured experience. Propositions about specific strategies providers can use to facilitate these experiences and to promote perceived value, positive affective responses, and delight are also provided. The paper concludes with a discussion of select research topics that follow from the theory.
Anti-legal attitude toward abortion among abortion patients in the United States.

Abstract Objective To measure the prevalence of believing that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases among women obtaining an abortion in the United States and to identify correlates of holding this belief. Methods Study population was drawn from the nationally-representative 2008 Abortion Patient Survey. The primary outcome was having an anti-legal abortion attitude, defined as agreeing that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. We assessed potential correlates in bivariable and multivariable analyses using weights to account for the complex sampling. Results A total of 4769 abortion patients completed the survey module containing the question on abortion legality, of which 4492 (94.2%) had non-missing data for the outcome. Overall, 4.1% of patients ( N =183) reported an anti-legal abortion attitude. Correlates of having anti-legal attitude included being married, at Conclusions Abortion patients who do not believe abortion should be legal appear to differ substantially from women who are more supportive of legality. Findings raise important questions about this subset of patients, including whether possible discordance between patient beliefs and behavior could influence their use of medical abortion or other products. Implications Some abortion patients do not agree with abortion legality, and this subset could experience a degree of cognitive dissonance, which could influence the method by which they seek to abort.
Surgeon Reimbursement Relative to Hospital Payments for Spinal Fusion: Trends From 10-year Medicare Analysis.

Study Design.Retrospective, economic analysis.Objective.The aim of this study was to analyze the trend in hospital charge and payment adjusted to corresponding surgeon charge and payment for cervical and lumbar fusions in a Medicare sample population from 2005 to 2014.Summary of Background Data.Prev
Genetics of Morphology and Growth in Laminaria from the North Atlantic Ocean — Implications for Biogeography

F1 sporophytes produced by inter- and intraspecific crosses of North Atlantic Laminaria were reared in greenhouse culture conditions from February through June, 1989. Growth rates and morphometric variation among different families were assessed throughout this period in order to evaluate phenetic and distributional relationships. Significant differences in growth rates were observed among families, with slower rates associated with offspring from the Faeroe Islands and Helgoland, and maximum rates observed in Long Island Sound sporophytes. Between-site and interspecifically-derived offspring showed intermediate growth rates. Morphometric measurements also varied with the type of cross and source of isolates, but stipe length and blade width characteristics seem to be sex-linked. Although no sterility barriers were observed among isolates, and genetic contribution to the measured characters was demonstrated in Fj sporophytes, this study substantiates the presence of temperature races of L. saccharina and L. longicruris along the North Atlantic coast.
Can we equitably manage the end of the fossil fuel era

Abstract This paper tracks the development of climate justice discourse around leaving fossil fuels in the ground. It then looks forward to the questions of equity that calls for the decline of fossil fuel production raise. It argues, following the Lofoten Declaration for a Managed Decline of Fossil Fuel Production around the World, that global distributive justice requires rich countries, who have benefited the most from fossil fuel extraction, and who have most alternative available development pathways must lead in leaving fossil fuels in the ground. However, the paper shows that equitably managing the end of the fossil fuel era is complicated by how economic efficiency or the interests of frontline communities might at times diverge from global distributive justice. In response, the paper argues that a useful short-term strategy is to focus on how equity and economic efficiency both suggest that wealthy historically polluting countries should leave high-cost, carbon-intensive fossil fuels in the ground. Beyond that, the paper highlights how difficult questions and trade-offs emerge at points where considerations of equity and economic efficiency diverge. Such points of divergence represent a considerable challenge for advocates of an equitable decline of fossil fuel production, and are areas of significant interest for future research and advocacy.
Advances in supercomputer optimization of RF devices

An integrated environment for large scale multiparameter design optimization of RF devices is presented based on AFRL's Galaxy Simulation Builder (productivity tool for distributed high performance computing), Sandia Lab's DAKOTA (local and global optimization tool), NRL's CAPSTONE (meshing) [1], and Leidos' MICHELLE (electrostatic particle-in-cell code). The environment leverages high-end parallel computing resources for rapid optimization of complicated problems.
Interconnected impact: using CHAT to understand art museums as systems

The call for museums to change and move toward community-based practices has resounded across the field for the past few decades and is only increasing in volume and force, particularly surrounding...
Deficiency for Piwi results in transmission of a heritable stress that promotes longevity via DAF-16/Foxo

The C. elegans Piwi Argonaute protein PRG-1 and associated piRNAs protect the genomes of germ cells by suppressing the expression of transposons and potentially deleterious foreign nucleic acids. Deficiency for prg-1 compromises germ cell immortality, resulting in normal fertility for many generations followed by progressively reduced fertility and ultimately sterility. The sterility phenotype of prg-1 mutants was recently shown to be a form of reproductive arrest, which implies that prg-1 mutants may become sterile in response to a form of heritable stress. The DAF-16 stress resistance and longevity factor can promote germ cell immortality of prg-1 mutants by activating a systemic RNAi pathway. We found that this RNAi pathway was not required for the somatic longevity function of DAF-16. Given that prg-1 mutant germ cells may transmit a form of heritable stress, we studied the somatic longevity of prg-1 mutant adults. We found that early generation prg-1 mutants had normal lifespans, but that late-generation adults that displayed reduced fertility or sterility were long lived. Germ cells of long-lived late-generation prg-1 mutants gave rise to F1 cross progeny that were heterozygous for prg-1, fertile and also long lived. However, in the absence of DAF-16, the heritable stress transmitted by prg-1 mutant germ cells was deleterious and caused lifespan to shorten. We conclude that deficiency for the genomic surveillance factor PRG-1/Piwi results in germ cells that transmit a heritable stress that promotes somatic longevity via DAF-16/Foxo, which could be relevant transgenerational regulation of aging.
Learning Curve Analysis in a Large-Scale, Drill-and-Practice Serious Math Game: Where Is Learning Support Needed?

This paper applies data-driven methods to understand learning and derives game design insights in a large-scale, drill-and-practice game: Spatial Temporal (ST) Math. In order for serious games to thrive we must develop efficient, scalable methods to evaluate games against their educational goals. Learning models have matured in recent years and have been applied across e-learning platforms but they have not been used widely in serious games. We applied empirical learning curve analyses to ST Math under different assumptions of how knowledge components are defined in the game and map to game contents. We derived actionable game design feedback and educational insights regarding fraction learning. Our results revealed cases where students failed to transfer knowledge between math skills, content, and problem representations. This work stresses the importance of designing games that support students’ comprehension of math concepts, rather than the learning of content- and situation-specific skills to pass games.