cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Self-heating of silicon microwires: Crystallization and thermoelectric effects

We describe experiments on self-heating and melting of nanocrystalline silicon microwires using single high-amplitude microsecond voltage pulses, which result in growth of large single-crystal domains upon resolidification. Extremely high current densities (>20 MA/cm2) and consequent high temperatures (1700 K) and temperature gradients (1 K/nm) along the microwires give rise to strong thermoelectric effects. The thermoelectric effects are characterized through capture and analysis of light emission from the self-heated wires biased with lower magnitude direct current/alternating current voltages. The hottest spot on the wires consistently appears closer to the lower potential end for n-type microwires and to the higher potential end for p-type microwires. The experimental light emission profiles are used to verify the mathematical models and material parameters used for the simulations. Good agreement between experimental and simulated profiles indicates that these models can be used to predict and design optimum geometry and bias conditions for current-induced crystallization of microstructures.
Displacement response, detection limit, and dynamic range of fiber-optic lever sensors

The authors present the evaluation of the displacement response, detection limit, and dynamic range of fiber-optic lever sensors in a general format to establish their dependence on fiber sizes, optoelectronic detector specifications, input power, and other relevant parameters. The formations for the normalized reflected optical power change are derived for the evaluation of the optimal sensor response, the linearity range, and the minimum detectable displacement. The theoretical models are verified by an experiment which determines sensor response, modulation index, reflected optical power change, and linear response range through dynamic measurement. The application of this theoretical model to the study of a fiber-optic microphone for acoustic pressure detection is considered. >
Use of the Initial Trauma CT Scan to Aid in Diagnosis of Open Pelvic Fractures

Open pelvic disruptions represent high-energy injuries. The prompt identification and management of these injuries decreases their associated morbidity and mortality. Computed tomography (CT) scans are routinely obtained in the initial evaluation of patients with pelvic injuries. The purpose of this study is to identify the incidence and source of air densities noted on computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdominal and pelvic region in patients with pelvic fractures and evaluate the use of initial CT imaging as an adjunctive diagnostic tool to identify open injuries. A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was performed at a single institution. Seven hundred and twenty-two consecutive patients with a pelvic disruption over a two-year period were included. Review of initial injury CT scans was performed using bone and lung viewing algorithms to identify the presence of extra-luminal air. The primary outcome was the presence, location and source of air identified on pre-operative CT scans. Secondary measurements were identification of air by plain radiograph and correlation between identified air densities on CT and clinically diagnosed open pelvic fractures. Ninety-eight patients were identified as having extra-luminal air densities on CT scans. Eighty-one patients were included in the final analysis following application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Air was noted by the radiologist in forty-five (55.6%) instances. Six patients (7.4%) were clinically diagnosed with an open pelvic ring disruption; in two patients (2.4%) this diagnosis was delayed. In all patients, the CT was able to track air from its origin. In patients with pelvic disruptions, the injury CT should also be evaluated for the presence and source of extra-luminal air. In some patients, this finding may represent an open pelvic ring disruption. A complete physical exam and CT evaluation should be used to decrease the missed or delayed diagnosis of an open pelvic ring injury.
Stuttering and Phonological Disorders in Children: Examination of the Covert Repair Hypothesis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the Covert Repair Hypothesis (CRH; Postma & Kolk, 1993), a theory designed to account for the occurrence of speech disfluencies in adults who stutter, can also account for selected speech characteristics of children who stutter and demonstrate disordered phonology. Subjects were 9 boys who stutter and exhibit normal phonology (S + NP; mean age = 61.33 months; SD = 10.16 months) and 9 boys who stutter and exhibit disordered phonology (S + DP; mean age = 59.11 months; SD = 9.37 months). Selected aspects of each child's speech fluency and phonology were analyzed on the basis of an audio/videotaped picture-naming task and a 30-min conversational interaction with his mother. Results indicated that S + NP and S + DP children are generally comparable in terms of their basic speech disfluency, nonsystematic speech error, and self-repair behaviors. CRH predictions that utterances produced with faster articulatory speaking rates or shorter response time latencies are more likely to contain speech errors or speech disfluencies were not supported. CRH predictions regarding the co-occurrence of speech disfluencies and speech errors were supported for nonsystematic ("slip-of-the-tongue"), but not for systematic (phonological process/rule-bases), speech errors. Furthermore, neither S + NP nor S + DP subjects repaired their systematic speech errors during conversational speech, suggesting that systematic deviations from adult forms may not represent true "errors, " at least for some children exhibiting phonological processes. Findings suggest that speech disfluencies may not represent by-products of self-repairs of systematic speech errors produced during conversational speech, but that self-repairs of nonsystematic speech errors may be related to children's production of speech disfluencies.
Low‐temperature modeling of the time‐temperature shift factor for polycarbonate

Functions are proposed to model the time-temperature shift factor at temperatures below the glass transition temperature (Tg) for certain amorphous polymers, which increases linearly with the decrease of temperature at temperatures just below Tg in a log-linear plot, but shows an inflection with the slope concave downward at lower temperatures further below Tg. These functions have a varying number of parameters and offer different behaviors with increasing complexity. Three of the functions are tested with the experimental data of two grades of polycarbonate. The tests show that these functions may be suitable for different sets of experimental data. This study is not intended to model the structural recovery of glassy polymers. Instead, it is intended to provide empirical equations that may be useful for modeling equilibrium and nonequilibrium behaviors of the glassy polymers. Coupled with structural recovery theory, the proposed equations may be incorporated into simulations to predict long-term properties of polymers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 24: 278–287, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.20049
New directions for dMiCE - a depth-of-interaction detector design for PET scanners.

Our laboratory has been developing a depth-of- interaction (DOI) detector design based on light sharing between pairs or quadlets of crystals. Work to date has been utilizing 2 times 2 mm cross section crystals carefully positioned on a multi-anode PMT. However, there is still significant light sharing in the PMT glass envelope and current PMT designs do not allow one-on-one coupling for arrays of smaller cross section crystals. One-on-one coupling is optimal for implementing the DOI estimator. An alternative to PMTs is to take advantage of progress in fabrication of metal resistive-layer semiconductor photodetectors to provide arrays with one-on-one crystal coupling. We report on our initial tests of one manufacturer's devices. The photodetector (MAPD) and scintillator combination (LFS-3) are both products of Zecotek. The LFS-3 crystal is a variant of LFS that has a better spectral match to the MAPD. Measurements show performance equivalent to or better than that obtained with PMTs and LSO, LFS, or LYSO crystals. For example, 2 times 2 times 20 mm crystals are providing 11% energy resolution. The high gain of such devices allow flexibility in designs for both the array and the supporting electronics. We are proceeding with the dMiCE development based on the use of MAPD and LFS-3 arrays.
Assessing the impact of healthy work organization intervention

This research evaluates a healthy work organization intervention implemented in a retail setting. Using a participatory process, employee teams in I I intervention stores developed customized plans for improving work organization at their sites. Ten comparable stores served as controls. Employee surveys were administered prior to the intervention and twice again at 12-month intervals. Business results were compiled monthly for each store. The baseline data were used by the teams to identify needs and establish action priorities for their stores. Most study outcomes declined across time for all stores, due primarily to internal corporate events and a generally adverse economic environment. However, the intervention process appeared to buffer some of these declines; intervention stores fared better in terms of selected aspects of organizational climate and psychological work adjustment. Intervention stores also performed better than controls on general indices of perceived health and safety and two of the four business outcomes: employee turnover and sales per labour hour. These results are discussed in terms of the challenges involved in evaluating organizational-level interventions in work settings.
Modeling Gas Nucleation and Condensation Using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method

*† A general kinetic nucleation and condensation model is proposed and implemented in the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. Both gas and clusters are treated as particles in this model, and clusters possess internal energy and potential energy. Nucleation and condensation processes are treated as collision events, and the probability for possible nucleation or condensation is determined from the nucleation rate and sticking coefficient. Literature review shows that there are many uncertainties in gas nucleation and condensation theory. The proposed model is then very useful for parametric studies. Our parametric studies show that both nucleation rate and sticking coefficient affect properties of the gas and clusters. Simulation of supersonic flow in an expansion nozzle shows that the proposed model is able to simulate complicated flows involving clusters.
Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) for MR-guided noninvasive therapeutic ultrasound applications

In the last decade, noninvasive therapeutic ultrasound guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has increased in popularity for diseases such as cancer and heart arrhythmias. While piezoelectric transducers are the dominant technology for therapeutic ultrasound applications, recently capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) have demonstrated competitive performance and ease of fabrication. In this paper, we present a CMUT design for MR-guided therapeutic ultrasound, with circular cells and center mass (piston) that fulfills the requirements for therapy of upper abdominal cancers, i.e. 1 MPa peak to peak output pressure at 2.5 MHz. In particular, we discuss the choice of cell shape and membrane topography and their influences on output pressure of the device.
An evaluation of PHEV contributions to power system disturbances and economics

As fossil fuels prices climb higher, the search for alternative modes of transportation intensifies. Several solutions have been proposed: increase fuel economy of current vehicles, expand use of ethanol, enlarge the current hybrid electrical vehicle fleet, create a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, or create a more effective electric vehicle. One other possible solution is the transformation of current hybrid electric vehicles into larger capacity plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). It has become a promising advancement in technology with a small amount of innovation. Pluggable hybrids provide a completely new way to store mass amounts of energy from the power grid. With larger battery storage, the PHEV has the ability to run in all-electric mode for commuters, switch to conventional gasoline engine for longer trips, and provide support to the power grid needed in emergency situations. This paper explores the benefit of using a heavy penetration of PHEVs to act as support to the grid during contingencies and also the costs incurred with security constrained control.
Informant Discrepancy in Perceptions of Sickle Cell Disease Severity

Objectives To evaluate whether informants (children, caregivers, and physicians) differ in their perceptions of chronic disease severity and the extent to which these differences can be explained by objective indices of disease severity, and adjustment of the caregiver. Methods Participants were 58 children and adolescents between the ages of 8 and 18 years diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Information on perceptions of disease severity, caregiver adjustment, and biological markers of disease severity was obtained at a routine clinic follow-up appointment. Results Analyses indicated significant differences in perceptions of disease severity. Psychological adjustment of the caregiver and biological indices of disease severity were significant predictors of these differences. Conclusion Implications for the association between chronic disease and adjustment are discussed.
Variation in Abundance and Efficacy of Tadpole Predators in a Neotropical Pond Community

Abstract Variation in predation risk plays an important role in shaping prey behavior, morphology, life history, population dynamics, and community structure in freshwater systems. Anuran larvae are important prey in freshwater communities and spatiotemporal variation in risk can arise from changes in the number and identity of predators; however, our understanding of variation in abundance, identity, and foraging rates for natural predator assemblages in tropical pond communities is limited. We surveyed ponds near Gamboa, Panama in 2004 and 2010 to estimate variation in predator communities of tadpoles over space and time. We also conducted short-term predation trials with the 10 most common predators using hatchling tadpoles of two widespread Neotropical frog species, Red-Eyed Treefrogs (Agalychnis callidryas) and Pantless Treefrogs (Dendropsophus ebraccatus). Predator abundance varied nearly threefold across ponds within a single year and as much as 19-fold within a pond across years. Dominant taxa als...
Effect of Arthroscopic Evaluation of Acute Ankle Fractures on PROMIS Intermediate-Term Functional Outcomes.

Background:Following open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of unstable ankle fractures, some patients have persistent pain and poor outcomes. This may be secondary to intra-articular injuries that occur at the time of fracture, which occur in up to 88% of fractures. Ankle arthroscopy at the time of ORIF has been proposed to address these intra-articular injuries. This study compared patient-reported functional outcomes in patients who underwent ankle ORIF with and without ankle arthroscopy.Methods:An institutional database was used to retrospectively identify 93 patients who underwent ORIF for an unstable ankle fracture with an intact medial malleolus between 2002 and 2013. Forty-two patients had ankle arthroscopy at the time of ORIF and 51 did not. Functional outcomes between groups were compared using Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function and pain interference computerized adaptive tests at a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Outcomes were also measured with th...
Abduction Contracture of the Shoulders and Hips Secondary to Fibrous Bands

The first case of fibrosis of the gluteal muscles causing abduction contracture of the hips associated with fibrous bands in the deltoid muscles causing abduction deformity of the shoulders is reported. As with other cases of fibrous bands, surgical excision provided complete relief.
The role of learning institutions in Ptolemaic Alexandria

Hellenistic monarchs were fervently competitive with one another in the pursuit of political and cultural dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean. These rulers used their power, influence, and patronage to promote themselves as worthy successors of Alexander by building massive monuments and glorious capital cities; this is how they legitimized their rule. The ruler’s attempt to outshine their opponents became a key feature of Hellenistic urbanism, typified in the city of Alexandria. One of the key reasons why Alexandria was able to become the dominant city in the Hellenistic World was the existence of learning institutions such as the Great Library, Mouseion, and Serapeum, all fostered by the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Rival libraries, sponsored by foreign royal patrons, challenged the Great Libraries’ supremacy in the scholastic realm. These libraries were paradigms of Hellenism in many ways. This thesis will explore the role of these learning institutions within the city of Alexandria itself, as well as their wider implications in Hellenistic society.
Growth and endocrine function in children with acute myeloid leukaemia after bone marrow transplantation using busulfan/cyclophosphamide.

Longitudinal studies of growth and endocrine function of children with AML transplanted with BUCY are limited. We report a cohort of 23 children with AML transplanted (15 autologous and eight allogeneic) following a single chemotherapy protocol and surviving at least 2 years after BMT. Busulfan was given as a single daily dose. Growth and endocrine function was evaluated yearly from one up to 10 years post transplant (median 4.9 years). The mean height standard deviation score (HtSDS) of the entire group decreased from 0.01 (s.e.m. +/- 0.25) at diagnosis to -0.38 (+/- 0.28) at BMT (P = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between HtSDS at BMT and yearly HtSDS from 1 to 5 years post BMT. There was no significant relationship between age at BMT and subsequent change in HtSDS. To date, five of six girls have needed sex steroid replacement. Six of 12 evaluable boys had abnormal gonadotrophins, but none required sex steroid replacement. Children with AML who undergo BMT with BUCY show no significant growth impairment, but gonadal dysfunction is prominent, particularly in girls. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000).
Mass Distribution in the Fission of Np 237 and Pu 239 by Intermediate-Energy Helium Ions

Cross sections have been determined for 25 representative fission products in the fission of ${\mathrm{Np}}^{237}$ by 20.0-, 25.0-, 28.4-, 32.5-, 37.5-, and 40.5-MeV helium ions and for ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$ by 21.5- and 32.0-MeV helium ions. Mass distribution curves have been constructed from the data and the fission and total reaction cross sections determined. Various nuclear parameters are calculated and compared with other fission systems, and with theory.
Design and development of western-style Nigerian apparel†

ABSTRACTThis study focused on developing a western-style collection incorporating Ankara textiles for Nigerian women of varying body shapes. The collection was specifically designed for women participating in formal social events. The Functional, Expressive, Aesthetic (FEA) Consumer Needs model provided the conceptual framework for the study [Lamb, J., & Kallal, M. (1992). A conceptual framework for apparel design. Clothing and Textile Research Journal, 10(2), 42–47]. During Phase One of the study, 113 Nigerian women responded to an online survey. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 55, with the majority ages 25–35 years. Respondents reviewed preliminary designs; their responses influenced refinements in the final designs. Phase Two included design refinements, creation of three final designs, and an exhibition. Based on respondents’ comments, the final designs emphasised fit, comfort, and modesty with a strong influence on Nigerian culture. This study demonstrates the applicability of the FEA model in d...
Relationship of diastolic function to new or persistent electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy

AbstractBackground: Persistence or development of Cornell product left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with increased heart failure (HF) risk that is partly explained by greater LV systolic dysfunction. However, whether new or persistent Cornell product LVH during antihypertensive treatment is associated with worse LV diastolic function is unclear.Methods: Left ventricular diastolic function was examined in relation to year-3 ECG LVH in 377 hypertensive patients with a preserved LV ejection fraction (>45%) at year-3. Cornell product >2440 mm·ms defined ECG LVH.Results: In multivariate models adjusting for age, sex, change from baseline to year-3 systolic blood pressure, and baseline and change from baseline to year-3 Sokolow–Lyon voltage, persistent or new Cornell product LVH at year-3 remained associated with year-3 abnormal half filling time (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.04–2.55 p = 0.034), with a trend toward higher odds of abnormal third filling time (OR 1.51, 95% CI 0.087 p = 0.087) and total fillin...
Genetic Analysis Reveals the Essential Role of Nitrogen Phosphotransferase System Components in Sinorhizobium fredii CCBAU 45436 Symbioses with Soybean and Pigeonpea Plants

The nitrogen phosphotransferase system (PTS(Ntr)) consists of EI(Ntr), NPr, and EIIA(Ntr). The active phosphate moiety derived from phosphoenolpyruvate is transferred through EI(Ntr) and NPr to EIIA(Ntr). Sinorhizobium fredii can establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the legume crops soybean (as determinate nodules) and pigeonpea (as indeterminate nodules). In this study, S. fredii strains with mutations in ptsP and ptsO (encoding EI(Ntr) and NPr, respectively) formed ineffective nodules on soybeans, while a strain with a ptsN mutation (encoding EIIA(Ntr)) was not defective in symbiosis with soybeans. Notable reductions in the numbers of bacteroids within each symbiosome and of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate granules in bacteroids were observed in nodules infected by the ptsP or ptsO mutant strains but not in those infected with the ptsN mutant strain. However, these defects of the ptsP and ptsO mutant strains were recovered in ptsP ptsN and ptsO ptsN double-mutant strains, implying a negative role of unphosphorylated EIIA(Ntr) in symbiosis. Moreover, the symbiotic defect of the ptsP mutant was also recovered by expressing EI(Ntr) with or without the GAF domain, indicating that the putative glutamine-sensing domain GAF is dispensable in symbiotic interactions. The critical role of PTS(Ntr) in symbiosis was also observed when related PTS(Ntr) mutant strains of S. fredii were inoculated on pigeonpea plants. Furthermore, nodule occupancy and carbon utilization tests suggested that multiple outputs could be derived from components of PTS(Ntr) in addition to the negative role of unphosphorylated EIIA(Ntr).
2‐D MR Spectroscopy Combined with 2‐D/3‐D Spatial Encoding

In addition to detecting water and lipids in human tissues using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a number of metabolite resonances have been recorded noninvasively using one (chemical shift)-dimensional (1-D) proton (1H) magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy (MRS) on whole-body MRI scanners (1.5 and 3 T). However, severe overlap of resonances in 1-D MRS limits the unambiguous identification of many metabolites. Different versions of spectral editing sequences allow detection and quantification of selected metabolites. This approach, too, is limited in that it detects only one metabolite per acquisition, and many metabolites still cannot be detected owing to severe overlap. Adding another spectral dimension can overcome this limitation by providing resolution of metabolite resonances along the second dimension, thereby reducing the ambiguity, especially for quantifying J-coupled metabolites. In this article, we review progress with two-dimensional (2-D) MRS such as localized J-resolved spectroscopy (JPRESS) and localized correlated spectroscopy (L-COSY and their multidimensional versions, namely echo-planar-correlated spectroscopic imaging EP-COSI) and echo-planar J-resolved spectroscopic imaging (EP-JRESI), where 2-D spectral encoding is combined with two- or three-dimensional spatial encoding. These ‘4-D’ or ‘5-D’ spectroscopic imaging sequences can be extremely time consuming. However, acquisition using nonuniform undersampling (NUS) strategies and compressed sensing (CS) accelerates their acquisition times. Keywords: magnetic resonance spectroscopy; 2-D J-resolved spectroscopy (JPRESS); localized correlated spectroscopy (L-COSY); echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI); echo-planar correlated/J-resolved spectroscopic imaging; NAA; creatine; choline; nonuniform undersampling; compressed sensing
Prevalence of colonic neoplasia in patients with Barrett's esophagus

Recent reports have suggested that there might be an increased risk of colonic adenomas and cancer in patients with Barrett's esophagus. We conducted a controlled prospective study investigating the risk of colonic neoplasia in 17 patients with Barrett's esophagus. Six additional patients with previous colonoscopy were considered separately. The prevalence of colonic neoplasia in these patients was compared with that in a group of 25 asymptomatic subjects participating in a screening colonoscopy study. There were three adenomas (17.6%) in the Barrett's group and 11 (44%) in the control group. Including the six Barrett's patients with previous colonoscopy, the rate was 30.4%. No cancers were found in either group. We conclude that the rate of colonic adenomas is no higher in a group of patients with Barrett's esophagus than in a group of matched asymptomatic subjects. The presence of Barrett's esophagus does not justify a special colonoscopic surveillance program.
A cycle of Zap70 kinase activation and release from the TCR amplifies and disperses antigenic stimuli

Cell-surface-receptor pathways amplify weak, rare and local stimuli to induce cellular responses. This task is accomplished despite signaling components that segregate into nanometer-scale membrane domains. Here we describe a 'catch-and-release' mechanism that amplified and dispersed stimuli by releasing activated kinases from receptors lacking intrinsic catalytic activity. Specifically, we discovered a cycle of recruitment, activation and release for Zap70 kinases at phosphorylated T cell antigen receptors (TCRs). This turned the TCR into a 'catalytic unit' that amplified antigenic stimuli. Zap70 released from the TCR remained at the membrane, translocated, and phosphorylated spatially distinct substrates. The mechanisms described here are based on widely used protein domains and post-translational modifications; therefore, many membrane-associated pathways might employ similar mechanisms for signal amplification and dispersion.
Necroeconomics: The Political Economy of Post-Communist Capitalism

Vladimer Papava’s book discusses the state of post-Communist economies with an emphasis on the nation of Georgia. His views are especially anti-central planning at least in part because the economies which were under the “thumb” of the central planners were left for “dead” at the end of the Communist era: they were necro-economies. Papava discusses the state of these economies, reform policies in general, and Georgia in particular. Papava has a strong preference for conservative economic ideas, many of them “brought to life” in the U.S.
“To Crush the Serpent”: James Baldwin, the Religious Right, and the Moral Minority

In the 1980s, James Baldwin recognized that a major transformation had occurred in the socio-political functions of religion. His critique adapted accordingly, focusing on the ways in which religion—particularly white evangelical Christianity—had morphed into a movement deeply enmeshed with mass media, conservativepolitics, and late capitalism. Religion in the Reagan era was leveraged, sold, and consumed in ways never before seen, from charismatic televangelists, to Christian-themed amusement parks, to mega-churches. The new movement was often characterized as the “religious right” or the “Moral Majority” and was central to both Reagan’s political coalition as well as the broader culture wars. For Baldwin, this development had wide-ranging ramifications for society and the individual. This article draws on Baldwin’s final major essay, “To Crush the Serpent” (1987), to examine the author’s evolving thoughts on religion, salvation, and transgression in the context of the Reagan era.
Understanding the FRET Signatures of Interacting Membrane Proteins

FRET is an indispensable experimental tool for studying membrane proteins. Currently, two models are available for researchers to determine the oligomerization state of membrane proteins in a static quenching FRET experiment: the model of Veatch and Stryer, derived in 1977, and the kinetic theory-based model for intraoligomeric FRET, derived in 2007. Because of confinement in two dimensions, a substantial amount of FRET is generated by energy transfer between fluorophores located in separate oligomers in the two-dimensional bilayer. This interoligomeric FRET (also known as stochastic, bystander, or proximity FRET) is not accounted for in either model. Here, we use the kinetic theory formalism to describe the dependence of the FRET efficiency measured in an experiment (i.e. the "total apparent FRET efficiency") on the interoligomeric FRET due to random proximity within the bilayer and the intraoligomeric FRET resulting from protein-protein interactions. We find that data analysis with both models without consideration of the proximity FRET leads to incorrect conclusions about the oligomeric state of the protein. We show that knowledge of the total surface densities of fluorophore-labeled membrane proteins is essential for correctly interpreting the measured total apparent FRET efficiency. We also find that bulk, two-color, static quenching FRET experiments are best suited for the study of monomeric, dimerizing, or dimeric proteins but have limitations in discerning the order of larger oligomers. The theory and methodology described in this work will allow researchers to extract meaningful parameters from static quenching FRET measurements in biological membranes.
Addressing the "Replication Crisis": Using Original Studies to Design Replication Studies with Appropriate Statistical Power

Psychology is undergoing a replication crisis. The discussion surrounding this crisis has centered on mistrust of previous findings. Researchers planning replication studies often use the original ...
Government Policies and Their Implications for Housing Finance

This chapter develops a framework to clarify the roles of the private and public sectors in expanding formal housing finance markets. It examines the reasons for government intervention in housing markets and the types of regulatory and subsidy interventions that may improve market outcomes for different market segments.
HRI coordinates translation by eIF2αP and mTORC1 to mitigate ineffective erythropoiesis in mice during iron deficiency

Iron deficiency (ID) anemia is a prevalent disease, yet molecular mechanisms by which iron and heme regulate erythropoiesis are not completely understood. Heme-regulated eIF2α kinase (HRI) is a key hemoprotein in erythroid precursors that sense intracellular heme concentrations to balance globin synthesis with the amount of heme available for hemoglobin production. HRI is activated by heme deficiency and oxidative stress, and it phosphorylates eIF2α (eIF2αP), which inhibits the translation of globin messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and selectively enhances the translation of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) mRNA to induce stress response genes. Here, we generated a novel mouse model (eAA) with the erythroid-specific ablation of eIF2αP and demonstrated that eIF2αP is required for induction of ATF4 protein synthesis in vivo in erythroid cells during ID. We show for the first time that both eIF2αP and ATF4 are necessary to promote erythroid differentiation and to reduce oxidative stress in vivo during ID. Furthermore, the HRI-eIF2αP-ATF4 pathway suppresses mTORC1 signaling specifically in the erythroid lineage. Pharmacologic inhibition of mTORC1 significantly increased red blood cell counts and hemoglobin content in the blood, improved erythroid differentiation, and reduced splenomegaly of iron-deficient Hri-/- and eAA mice. However, globin inclusions and elevated oxidative stress remained, demonstrating the essential nonredundant role of HRI-eIF2αP in these processes. Dietary iron repletion completely reversed ID anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis of Hri-/- , eAA, and Atf4-/- mice by inhibiting both HRI and mTORC1 signaling. Thus, HRI coordinates 2 key translation-regulation pathways, eIF2αP and mTORC1, to circumvent ineffective erythropoiesis, highlighting heme and translation in the regulation of erythropoiesis.
Roots of Neglect of the Long-Term Mentally Ill

A pattern of neglect of the severely mentally ill, then outrage and movements for reform, followed again by a lapse into neglect has been characteristic of the mental health professions and society generally. This article explores the possibility that neglect of the mentally ill may be rooted in professionals' dissatisfaction with meeting chronic dependency needs, a moral disapproval of dependency and passivity, a distaste for the lower social classes, and an inclination, like that in the larger society, to exclude the mentally ill. The discussion then turns to the problem of the overselling of rehabilitation and the observation that despite the powerful dependency needs and limited tolerance for stress of the mentally disabled, when attention is finally turned to them, neglect often gives way to unrealistic expectations of rehabilitation. The paper concludes with recommendations for alleviating these problems.
Epigenetics and the maintenance of developmental plasticity: extending the signalling theory framework.

Developmental plasticity, a phenomenon of importance in both evolutionary biology and human studies of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), enables organisms to respond to their environment based on previous experience without changes to the underlying nucleotide sequence. Although such phenotypic responses should theoretically improve an organism's fitness and performance in its future environment, this is not always the case. Herein, we first discuss epigenetics as an adaptive mechanism of developmental plasticity and use signaling theory to provide an evolutionary context for DOHaD phenomena within a generation. Next, we utilize signalling theory to identify determinants of adaptive developmental plasticity, detect sources of random variability - also known as process errors that affect maintenance of an epigenetic signal (DNA methylation) over time, and discuss implications of these errors for an organism's health and fitness. Finally, we apply life-course epidemiology conceptual models to inform study design and analytical strategies that are capable of parsing out the potential effects of process errors in the relationships among an organism's early environment, DNA methylation, and phenotype in a future environment. Ultimately, we hope to foster cross-talk and interdisciplinary collaboration between evolutionary biology and DOHaD epidemiology, which have historically remained separate despite a shared interest in developmental plasticity.
Dietary Phytochemicals and Chemoprevention of Solar Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced Skin Cancer

Preclinical, clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that exposure of skin to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces harmful effects and leads to various skin diseases including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Solar UV radiation-induced skin cancers are caused by depletion in antioxidant defense system, inflammation, DNA damage, oxidation of lipids and proteins, disturbances in apoptotic machinery, deregulation of signaling pathways, mutation in critical target genes and immunosuppression. Therefore, for reducing the incidence of skin cancer the use of phytochemicals that possess the abilities to inhibit these events is gaining considerable attention as photoprotective agents. These phytochemicals are widely distributed in plant kingdom which includes fruits, vegetables, seeds, flowers and bark; and belong to several classes that include polyphenols, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, proanthocyanidins, phytoalexins, anthocyanidins and carotenoids. This chapter presents and discusses key findings from studies on the photoprotective effects of some selected phytochemicals, such as, green tea polyphenols, pomegranate fruit extract, grape seed proanthocyanidins, silymarin, resveratrol, genistein, honokiol, quercetin, delphinidin, curcumin, sulforaphone, lycopene and lutein/zeaxanthin on UV-induced skin inflammation, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, DNA damage and dysregulation of important cellular signaling pathways for the management of skin cancer.
Nonlinear dependence in gold and silver futures: Is it chaos?

We test for the presence of low-dimensional chaotic structure in the gold and silver futures markets. While we find strong evidence of nonlinear dependencies, the evidence is not consistent with chaos. Our test results indicate that ARCH-type processes, with controls for contract-maturity effects, generally explain the nonlinearities in the data. We also make a case that employing seasonally adjusted price series is important to obtaining robust results via some of the existing tests for chaotic structure.
Treatment disparities affect outcomes for patients with stage I esophageal cancer: a national cancer data base analysis.

Background: To examine patterns of care and outcomes for patients with stage I esophageal cancer (EC) in the United States. Methods: We identified patients in the National Cancer Data Base diagnosed with stage I EC from 2004 to 2012 and grouped them by primary treatment: esophagectomy (Eso), local excision (LE), concurrent chemoradiation (CRT), or observation (Obs). Multinomial logistic regression was used to predict receipt of treatments. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods adjusted for inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and Cox proportional hazard regressions. Results: Of 5,480 patients, 2,312 (42%) underwent Eso, 1,250 (23%) LE, 758 (14%) CRT, and 1,160 (21%) Obs. LE use increased over time from 17% to 29% while Obs declined from 26% to 19%. Patients least likely to undergo surgery were older, had greater comorbidity, were uninsured, were treated at non-academic centers, and were Black. The rate of surgery for Black patients was half of that for White patients (33% vs. 67%). Postoperative mortality rates were higher after Eso vs. LE at 30 days (2.9% vs. 0.5%; P<0.001) and at 90 days (5.5% vs. 1.4%, P<0.001). Five-year OS was 59% with Eso, 63% LE, 29% CRT, and 31% Obs (P<0.001). On multivariate analysis, outcomes were best after LE [ vs. Eso: hazard ratio (HR) =1.15, 95% CI: 1.01–1.30, P=0.037; CRT: HR =2.41, 95% CI: 2.09–2.78, P<0.001; Obs: HR =3.79, 95% CI: 3.33–4.32, P<0.001). Conclusions: Disparities are evident in the care of patients with stage I EC throughout the United States. LE was associated with favorable outcomes compared to Eso, CRT, and Obs.
Defining Punk: Queerness and the LA Punk Scene, 1977–1981

Forty years have passed since the inception of punk, yet interest in punk history has intensified within the last decade or so. Along with a proliferation of memoirs, scholarship, and exhibitions, students of the genre have seen a decided shift toward the documentation and analysis of local scenes.
Low carbon growth in China: The role of emissions trading in a transitioning economy

Abstract China’s leaders are increasingly committed to low-carbon economic development. Although China’s economy has dramatically transformed since the initiation of economic reforms in 1978, it is still structurally different from post-industrial, high-income countries, and economic reform is ongoing. At the same time, China is taking major steps towards regulating its carbon dioxide emissions. China is currently preparing to implement a national carbon dioxide emissions trading system (ETS), which will be the largest ETS in the world. Our analysis demonstrates how these major economic and emissions policies are linked in China’s economy. We use a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of China’s economy to simulate the interaction between a structural transition policy and a national ETS. We demonstrate an important policy instrument – the household savings rate – for stimulating economic transition. We show that by increasing consumption in lower emissions-intensity sectors, China can sustain growth in its economy while reducing emissions and transitioning to a more OECD-like economic structure. In addition, emissions reductions from an ETS regulation can be achieved at a lower cost for regulated firms when taking into account the changing structure of the economy.
Microbial loads on selected fresh blueberry packing lines

Abstract Foodborne outbreaks have been linked to the consumption of blueberries contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. The microbial quality of blueberries could be influenced by the conditions of hygiene prevailing during post harvest handling. This study evaluated the hygienic conditions of 6 selected fresh blueberry packing lines. Five of the packing lines were sampled twice and the remaining one was sampled once during the summer of 2015 and the summer of 2017. A delimited area (100 cm2) on each of the ten selected sites of the packing lines was swabbed with sterile sponges before the packing started (AM samples), during lunchtime break (NOON samples), and at the end of a packing day (PM samples). The sponges were thoroughly rinsed with Dey-Engley neutralization broth which was subsequently sampled for total aerobes, yeasts and molds, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and enterococci. Results showed that sample site and sampling time had a significant influence (P ≤ 0.05) on total aerobic, yeast and mold, and total coliform counts. The PM samples had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) total aerobic and yeast and mold counts than the NOON samples which had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) counts than the AM samples. Fourty-six out of the 310 (14.8%) collected samples tested positive for enterococci while 27 (8.7%) samples tested positive for fecal coliforms. Berry lugs, rubber belts on color sorters, and premature berry disposing areas had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) microbial counts than the other sites. The study suggests that some sites along fresh blueberry packing lines could become contaminated by microorganisms during packing. Whether these contaminated sites will become a food safety concern depends on the incidence of pathogen presence in the microbial community and efficacy of routine sanitizing treatments.
Louisville v. Duke and Its Implications for Breached College Football Scheduling Agreements

This article examines the increasingly frequent occurrence of NCAA Division I universities breaching college football scheduling agreements. Despite the havoc that these breaches inflict on universities’ football schedules, courts and commentators have yet to develop a suitable framework to apply in resulting litigation. This article addresses this deficiency in the current literature by identifying the competitive and financial concerns that future courts should consider when deciding cases involving breached scheduling agreements. The framework proposed in this article represents a significant advance over the approach recently utilized by the court in University of Louisville v. Duke University, a decision wholly inconsistent with the realities of modern college football scheduling. The proposed framework will allow future courts to more accurately assess the damages arising from a breached scheduling agreement, and in the process help ensure that the affected school is more fully and fairly compensated for its harm. Additionally, the article also discusses measures that universities can take when drafting future settlement agreements in order to protect themselves against the Louisville v. Duke precedent.
A Partial Coherent Interferometry for measuring the thickness of a dynamic liquid sheet

Abstract This work presents a non-invasive technique, Partial Coherent Interferometry, for measuring the thickness distribution of a dynamic liquid sheet. It utilizes the linear relationship between the degree of coherence and the optical path difference to determine the thickness of the sheet. In an interferometer using a partial coherent laser, the interference patterns before and after the liquid sheet insertion are digitally recorded. The relative thickness distribution is determined by applying a phase unwrapping process to the recorded interference pattern. By measuring the change of the degree of coherence introduced by the sheet, the absolute thicknesses at the reference points are determined. By matching the relative thickness to the absolute thicknesses at different points, the absolute thickness distribution is retrieved. To verify the reliability of this method, a glass sample and a static ethanol film, both with nominal thicknesses (152.4 µm), are measured first. The results, a nearly uniform thickness of 148.8 ± 1.8 µm for glass and a varying thickness distribution around 154.6 µm for static ethanol film, show the capability of this method to measure a two-dimensional thickness distribution of a thin liquid sheet. Then a dynamic impinging sheet formed by the two ethanol jets with Reynolds number 763 and Weber number 143 is measured by Partial Coherent Interferometry. The thickness distribution ranges from 26 to 38 µm with an uncertainty of 2.1 µm.
Reducing Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by the Targeted Delivery of Nitric Oxide from Magnetic-Field-Induced Localization of S-Nitrosothiol-Coated Paramagnetic Nanoparticles

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important factor during an ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Protective actions of NO during I/R are attributed to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as cel...
Xylindein: Naturally Produced Fungal Compound for Sustainable (Opto)electronics.

Organic semiconductors are of interest for (opto)electronic applications due to their low cost, solution processability, and tunable properties. Recently, natural product-derived organic pigments a...
First there were 10: the case for and against South Sudan’s new states using discourse analysis and argumentation theory

In 2015, South Sudan increased the number of its states from 10 to 28, followed by four more states in 2017. The redrawing of internal borders came through presidential decree as South Sudan's violent civil war continued to unfold. This development has led to two ardent voices: one arguing to maintain the new states, and another advocating to reverse them. Applying argumentation theory and critical discourse analysis to news articles, analysis pieces, and press releases collected from Gurtong and Sudan Tribune from July 2015 to April 2017, this article assesses the argument advanced by both camps and evaluates their implications for peace in South Sudan. In examining the claim, the counter-claim, and their underlying premises, the article finds areas of contention and convergence between the two camps and argues for the compatibility of the values which undergird both positions.
Visibly Invisible: TribalCrit and Native American Segregated Schooling:

The significant racial project known as Brown v. Board of Education has been the subject of numerous articles related to critical race theory scholarship and sociological analysis. But what of the ...