cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Growth and Transfer of Seamless 3D Graphene–Nanotube Hybrids

Seamlessly connected graphene and carbon nanotube hybrids (GCNTs) have great potential as carbon platform structures in electronics due to their high conductivity and high surface area. Here, we introduce a facile method for making patterned GCNTs and their intact transfer onto other substrates. The mechanism for selective growth of vertically aligned CNTs (VA-CNTs) on the patterned graphene is discussed. The complete transfer of the GCNT pattern onto other substrates is possible because of the mechanical strength of the GCNT hybrids. Electrical conductivity measurements of the transferred GCNT structures show Ohmic contact through the VA-CNTs to graphene—evidence of its integrity after the transfer process.
Bacterial chemotaxis-enabled autonomous sorting of nanoparticles of comparable sizes.

High throughput sorting of micro/nanoparticles of similar sizes is of significant interest in many biological and chemical applications. In this work, we report a simple and cost-effective sorting technique for separation of similarly-sized particles of dissimilar surface properties within a diffusion-based microfluidic platform using chemotaxis in Escherichia coli bacteria. Differences in surface chemistry of two groups of similarly-sized nanoparticles in a mixture were exploited to selectively assemble one particle group onto motile E. coli, through either specific or non-specific adhesion, and separate them from the remaining particle group via chemotaxis of the attached bacteria. To enable optimal operation of the sorting platform, the chemotaxis behavior of E. coli bacteria in response to casamino acids, the chemoeffector of choice was first characterized. The chemical concentration gradient range within which the bacteria exhibit a positive chemotactic response was found to be within 0.25 × 10−7–1.0 × 10−3 g ml−1 mm−1. We demonstrate that at the optimum concentration gradient of 5.0 × 10−4 g ml−1 mm−1, a sorting efficiency of up to 81% at a throughput of 2.4 × 105 particles per min can be achieved. Sensitivity of the sorting efficiency to the adhesion mechanism and particle size in the range of 320–1040 nm was investigated.
Skin manifestations associated with kidney cancer

Kidney cancer is a heterogenous disease encompassing several distinct clinicopathologic entities with different underlying molecular aberrations and clinical outcomes. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been shown to evoke immunologic responses that can impact the natural history of disease and clinical presentation. It is important to recognize atypical presentations of disease, including cutaneous manifestations. The incidence of skin metastases from RCC is low, yet needs to be appreciated in the appropriate setting; clinical presentation for these lesions is reviewed briefly. There are several hereditary syndromes that present with well characterized cutaneous lesions and are associated with an increased risk for RCC, including Von Hippel-Lindau and Birt-Hogg-Dube syndromes. Given that these skin lesions may be the first presenting sign for RCC, timely recognition is of essence and both are discussed in some detail. Several therapeutic options based on immunomodulation are approved for the treatment of advanced RCC. Dermatologic toxicities observed with these agents are also briefly discussed.
Berg’s Answer to Frege’s Puzzle

Berg seeks to defend the theory that the meaning of a proper name in a belief report is its reference against Frege’s puzzle by hypothesizing that when substituting coreferential names in belief reports results in reports that seem to have different truth values, the appearance is due to the fact that the reports have different metalinguistic implicatures. I review evidence that implicatures cannot be calculated in the way Grice or Berg imagine, and give reasons to believe that belief reports do not have the implicatures Berg attributes to them. I also argue that even if belief reports did have such implicatures, they would not explain why the belief reports in Frege’s puzzle seem to have different truth values. I point out that Berg has no reason to believe that Lois Lane believes Clark Kent is a reporter and Lois Lane believes Superman is a reporter are both true rather than both false, and that Leibniz’s Law cannot be used to defend substitutivity in belief reports because belief reports are not relational in the requisite way. Finally, I observe that some of the linguistic data Berg uses to argue for substitutivity in belief reports concerns the transparent interpretation of belief reports, whereas Frege’s puzzle concerns the opaque interpretation.
Freedom of Information Act (1966); Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws (Encyclopedia Articles)

Encyclopedia articles on the Freedom of Information Act (1966) and on Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws.
Development of a Methodology for Pseudo-Rigid-Body Models of Compliant Beams with Inserts, and Experimental Validation

Compliant mechanisms have shown a great deal of potential, in just a few decades of its development, in providing innovative solutions to design problems. However, their use has been limited due to challenges associated with the materials. With ever increasing focus on the applications of compliant mechanisms, it is necessary to find alternatives to the existing material usage and methods of prototyping. This paper presents a methodology for the design of compliant segments and compliant mechanisms with improved creep resistance and fatigue life properties using the current state-of-the-art materials. The methodology proposes using a stronger material at the core of a softer casing. The paper provides an equivalent pseudo-rigid-body model and a closed-form elliptic integral formulation for a fixed-free compliant segment with an insert. The equivalent pseudo-rigid-body model is verified experimentally for the prediction of beam end point displacements. The paper also presents experimental results that show improvements obtained in the creep recovery properties as expected using the proposed design philosophy.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Thermodynamically consistent force fields for the assembly of inorganic, organic, and biological nanostructures: the INTERFACE force field.

The complexity of the molecular recognition and assembly of biotic–abiotic interfaces on a scale of 1 to 1000 nm can be understood more effectively using simulation tools along with laboratory instrumentation. We discuss the current capabilities and limitations of atomistic force fields and explain a strategy to obtain dependable parameters for inorganic compounds that has been developed and tested over the past decade. Parameter developments include several silicates, aluminates, metals, oxides, sulfates, and apatites that are summarized in what we call the INTERFACE force field. The INTERFACE force field operates as an extension of common harmonic force fields (PCFF, COMPASS, CHARMM, AMBER, GROMACS, and OPLS-AA) by employing the same functional form and combination rules to enable simulations of inorganic–organic and inorganic–biomolecular interfaces. The parametrization builds on an in-depth understanding of physical–chemical properties on the atomic scale to assign each parameter, especially atomic ch...
Stealing What's Free: Exploring Compensation to Body Parts Sources for their Contribution to Profitable Biomedical Research

At first blush, donating body parts in the name of science appears to be a beautiful solution to the problem of scarce body parts for research advancements. But a closer investigation reveals an ugly fact: the philanthropic donors—referred to as “Sources” in this article—are subjected to physical and financial exploitation. Sources play a crucial and indispensable role in biotechnology. Without human body parts, most medical discoveries would not have been possible. Handsome profits can be derived from successful discoveries. But currently in the United States, when a Source provides body parts for research purposes, the researcher, research foundation, and outside investors are only a few of the parties who may claim a financial stake in the profits of this research. The Source is the only party excluded from being financially compensated for his contribution. Despite being a key player in ground-breaking medical discoveries, legal and political rhetoric block Sources from rightful compensation. In this article, “Source compensation” will refer to a proportionate share of the research profits set aside for the Source as a result of his contribution. Today, Source compensation is prohibited. Laws are slow in reacting to technological change and resulting societal needs. The progress of Source compensation is hampered by stubborn, archaic attitudes about
Design and Application of Informationalized System for Sewage Treatment at Coal Mine

Based on a case of engineering application,this paper introduces the situations of sewage treatment systems at a coal mine.To improve the informationalized level of sewage treatment,the system of sewage treatment informtization is constructed by the combination of industrial fiber optic Ethernet,OPC and monitoring software.The system can accomplish centralized management,decentralized control and shared informations of several sewage treatment subsystems,and raises the levels of automation and informatization for sewage treatment.
The gluteal free flap breast reconstruction. Making it work.

The gluteal free flap represents a useful alternative for autologous tissue breast reconstruction in select patients. The safety and reliability of the inferior gluteal flap have been demonstrated in 25 consecutive cases. To make the free gluteal flap work, careful evaluation and preparation of recipient vessels with the liberal use of vein grafts and proper insetting should ensure overall success.
Subpicosecond photoconductors using low temperature MBE growth of InP and GaAs based materials

Low temperature molecular beam epitaxial (LT-MBE) growth of III-V compound semiconductors offers a unique approach for obtaining subpicosecond photoconductive response in these materials. We report the results on both InP and GaAs based material systems. External electrooptic sampling and femtosecond transient reflectivity measurements were used to characterize the photoexcited carrier response, which was observed to be of subpicosecond duration. Preliminary investigations of temperature dependent response suggest the possibility of shallow traps and/or amorphouslike behavior to be responsible for the electrical characteristics. The effect of the epitaxial growth conditions on the photoconductive response is also discussed.
A multi-species 13-moment model for moderately collisional plasmas

Fluid-based models of collisional transport in multi-species plasmas have typically been applied to parameter regimes where a local thermal equilibrium is assumed. While this parameter regime is valid for low temperature and/or high density applications, it begins to fail as plasmas enter the collisionless regime and kinetic effects dominate the physics. A plasma model is presented that lays the foundation for extending the validity of the collisional fluid regime using an anisotropic 13-moment fluid model derived from the Pearson type-IV probability distribution. The model explicitly evolves the pressure tensor and heat flux vector along with the density and flow velocity to capture dynamics usually restricted to kinetic models. Each particle species is modeled individually and collectively coupled through electromagnetic and collisional interactions.
A multi-agent based technique for fault location, isolation and service restoration

This paper presents a communication-assisted fault localization, isolation and restoration method for microgrids based on a multiagent system (MAS). The proposed system comprises distributed agents, located in the middle and at the two ends of a protection section, which will detect a fault through phase angle comparison of current signals at both sides of a given distribution line. The agents then send trip signal to corresponding circuit breakers accordingly. The importance of the proposed protection technique is twofold: first, it eliminates the use of voltage transformers and thus reduces costs. Second, it does not require transfer of data along long distances which decreases the delay time for fault isolation. Power restoration processes following the fault clearance considering voltage, frequency and power flow constraints in the microgrid under study was also performed. Simulation of the proposed protection methodology was presented followed by experimental verification. The experimental results showed excellent agreement with the simulated protection scheme.
Drivers and deterrents of entrepreneurial enterprise in the risk‐prone Global South

Through the case of Guinea-Bissau, this article considers how small-scale, often cross-border entrepreneurs mitigate risk and establish resilient businesses able to cope with ongoing political and economic shocks. Nineteen interviews and 153 surveys were conducted over two months with business leaders and regulators within the commercial centers and markets of Guinea-Bissau to assess entrepreneurial profiles and activities. Findings show that small-scale private investment from the Global South is increasing. Through thematic analysis, 18 different drivers of foreign business and 23 impediments to foreign entrepreneurship and investment were identified within this risk-prone environment. Limited assets imply limited opportunities, suggesting a need to mobilize all available resources to achieve entrepreneurial success. The implications of this research are that resiliency for these foreign investors has improved and risks are mitigated through established social capital that can be converted into financial capital, linked social–business networks across borders, microenvironmental knowledge, and maintaining relatively small businesses able to fly “under the radar.” In understanding foreign entrepreneurs' motives, the social and structural undergirding of South–South investment is exposed.
Longitudinal study of hope, meaning/peace (M/P), and quality of life (QOL) in patients (pts) with ovarian cancer (OC).

9134 Background: M/P may be the most valued end point of life. How hope, faith, physical and psychological factors impact M/P is unknown. We evaluated factors affecting M/P in pts with OC. Methods:...
Preoperative Cardiovascular Evaluation and Management

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) including transplant candidates and recipients. Although transplantation improves cardiovascular risk in the long term compared with dialysis, cardiovascular diseases in aggregate comprise the most common cause of death in patients with functioning allografts at all times after kidney transplant. Achieving clinically and cost-effective management of cardiovascular disease in kidney transplant candidates is a challenging endeavor due to the large size of the target population, prevalent disease burden, and the often extended waiting periods between initial candidate evaluation and transplantation surgery. Further, there is a paucity of randomized clinical trials addressing the efficacy of cardiac screening, surveillance, coronary revascularization, and medical management among patients with ESRD, and extrapolation from trials performed in other populations or observational studies is often necessary to formulate practice recommendations. Recently, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Foundation convened a working group including cardiologists, nephrologists, and intensivists to compose a Scientific Statement on “Cardiac Disease Evaluation and Management Among Kidney and Liver Transplantation Candidates.” The current chapter provides a practical summary of some of the key recommendations in this Scientific Statement relevant to kidney transplant candidates, focused as a practical guide for the clinician. Our synthesis includes a final algorithm emphasizing the importance of history and physical examination to assess for active cardiac conditions, use of resting echocardiography in dialysis patients to evaluate ventricular function and screen for valvular disease and pulmonary hypertension, and use of noninvasive stress testing in asymptomatic transplant candidates with three or more coronary disease risk factors to target screening on the subgroup with the highest pretest probability of prognostically significant coronary artery disease. Moving forward, we believe that pursuit of more evidence, ideally from randomized clinical trials, is an urgent priority to strengthen the evidence base for pretransplant cardiac evaluation and the management of cardiovascular disease before, during, and after transplant.
Response Functions for Strongly Driven Systems

The coupling of an atom to the quantized electromagnetic field, in the electric dipole approximation, may be described in terms of the correlation or “response” function $$\left\langle {\mu \left( t \right)\mu \left( {t'} \right)} \right\rangle $$ (1) where μ is the atomic electric dipole moment operator.
The role of visualization in tele-rehabilitation: A case study

Recent developments in the field of wearable computing have enabled the deployment of wearable sensors in many area, such as health care and sports. Continuous monitoring of a person's physical activity and movement data facilitates a physician's — or another care giver's — ability to simultaneously monitor multiple patients remotely. Care givers can access real-time data acquired from different sensors, allowing them to offer an appropriate intervention. However, collecting, analyzing, and visualizing the vast amounts of raw data in order to extract and provide valuable information is still a challenge. Recent technologies embedded in smartphones enable sensing the motions of a person. This paper aims to study methods to analyze a patient's physical activity and progress by visualizing her/his motion data. We provide insight into data gathered from multiple sensors built into a smartphone through visualization. We have conducted a case study to evaluate subjects' upper limb movements using data acquired while they were executing various rehabilitation exercises over a period of time. In this paper we present interactive visualizations to better understand the subjects' motion during that period of time. These visualizations offer better insight into the data, as compared to text-only reports. Such analysis and visualization of rich data stand to offer improvements and cost-savings to healthcare. Likewise, they can offer value to many other fields that need to analyze large amounts of data.
Optic Neuropathy in Atypical Chediak-Higashi Syndrome with a Neurodegenerative Phenotype (P02.253)

OBJECTIVE: To characterize visual involvement in 3 siblings with Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS). BACKGROUND: Mutations in the LYST gene, the protein product of which controls lysosomal exocytosis, cause CHS. The typical phenotype is characterized by childhood immunological and hemophagocytic dysfunction. Rarely, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder follows the childhood illness, but adult onset neurodegenerative disease in the absence of childhood disease is reported. Visual disturbances have not been well characterized, with one short report suggesting retinal dysfunction. DESIGN/METHODS: Three siblings (40 yo woman – patient 1, 38 yo man – patient 2, 32 yo man – patient 3) with genetically-confirmed CHS and adult-onset neurological disease underwent neuro-ophthalmological exam and electrophysiology. RESULTS: Patient 1 had progressive cognitive decline and parkinsonism with abnormal hypopigmented skin patches; patient 2 had cognitive decline and parkinsonism; and patient 3 had a history of a spinal arteriovenous malformation. None reported vision loss. Acuity was normal in all, with exception of 20/40 OS in patient 2. Color vision was reduced in patient 1 (control only OD, 2/14 OS Ishihara plates) -normal in patients 2 and 3. Contrast sensitivity was reduced in all 3 patients. Patient 1 had severe optic nerve pallor, patient 2 mild pallor, and patient 3 had normal optic discs. All had normal retinae. Goldmann fields revealed central loss in all 3, with additional peripheral constriction in patient 2. Nerve fiber layer thinning by OCT was present in patients 1 and 2. Macular OCT revealed an usual 9third line9 of unclear significance between the ellipsoid and RPE lines in all 3 patients. In patients 1 and 3, electroretinogram was normal and visual evoked potentials revealed delayed P100. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lack of subjective vision loss in 3 siblings with late-onset neurodegenerative CHS, all had evidence of optic nerve involvement as the primary cause of contrast sensitivity and visual field loss. Disclosure: Dr. Rucker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cho has received personal compensation for activities with Merz Pharma, CogniMed/Annenberg Health Sciences, and US WorldMeds as a consultant. Dr. Weisfeld-Adams has nothing to disclose. Dr. Brodie has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Case Reports, and the Americas for Documenta Ophthalmologica.
Increasing positive attitudes toward individuals with disabilities through community service learning.

Abstract Providing equal-status contact between those with and without disabilities can improve attitudes and reduce discrimination toward individuals with disabilities. This study investigated community service learning as a means by which to provide college students with equal-status contact with individuals with disabilities and increase their positive attitudes toward those with disabilities. A total of 166 college students in one university in the United States enrolled in an Introduction to Disability course received content on disability in society and participated in community service involving 20 h of direct contact with individuals with disabilities. Findings indicated that college students who had prior contact with individuals with disabilities had more positive attitudes toward individuals with disabilities than college students who did not have prior contact at the start of the course. For the college students who did not have any prior contact, their attitudes toward individuals with disabilities became significantly more positive at the end of the community service learning course. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Thermal Stability Measurement of Alternative Jet Fuels Using Ellipsometry

Thermal stability is an important characteristic of alternative fuels that must be evaluated before they can be used in aviation engines. Thermal stability refers to the degree to which a fuel breaks down when it is heated prior to combustion. This characteristic is of great importance to the effectiveness of the fuel as a coolant and to the engine’s combustion performance. The thermal stability of Sasol IPK, a synthetic alternative to Jet-A, with varying levels of naphthalene has been studied on aluminum and stainless steel substrates at 300 to 400 °C. This was conducted using a spectroscopic ellipsometer to measure the thickness of deposits left on the heated substrates. Ellipsometry is an optical technique that measures the changes in a light beam’s polarization and intensity after it reflects from a thin film to determine the film’s physical and optical properties. It was observed that, as would be expected, increasing the temperature increased the deposit thickness for a constant concentration of naphthalene on both substrates. The repeatability of these measurements was verified using multiple trials at identical test conditions. Lastly, the effect of increasing the naphthalene concentration at a constant temperature was found to also increase the deposit thickness.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
Eosinophils and eosinophil-associated diseases: An update

The goal of this series is to offer a survey of the latest literature for clinicians and scientists alike, providing a list of important recent advances relevant to the broad field of allergy and immunology. This particular assignment was to cover the topic of eosinophils. In an attempt to highlight major ideas, themes, trends, and advances relevant to basic and clinical aspects of eosinophil biology, a search of articles published since 2015 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and other high-impact journals was performed. Articles were then reviewed and organized, and then key findings were summarized. Given space limitations, many outstanding articles could not be included, but the hope is that what follows provides a succinct overview of recently published work that has significantly added to our knowledge of eosinophils and eosinophil-associated diseases.
Determining the Optimal Number of Core Needle Biopsy Passes for Molecular Diagnostics.

The number of core biopsy passes required for adequate next-generation sequencing is impacted by needle cut, needle gauge, and the type of tissue involved. This study evaluates diagnostic adequacy of core needle lung biopsies based on number of passes and provides guidelines for other tissues based on simulated biopsies in ex vivo porcine organ tissues. The rate of diagnostic adequacy for pathology and molecular testing from lung biopsy procedures was measured for eight operators pre-implementation (September 2012–October 2013) and post-implementation (December 2013–April 2014) of a standard protocol using 20-gauge side-cut needles for ten core biopsy passes at a single academic hospital. Biopsy pass volume was then estimated in ex vivo porcine muscle, liver, and kidney using side-cut devices at 16, 18, and 20 gauge and end-cut devices at 16 and 18 gauge to estimate minimum number of passes required for adequate molecular testing. Molecular diagnostic adequacy increased from 69% (pre-implementation period) to 92% (post-implementation period) (p < 0.001) for lung biopsies. In porcine models, both 16-gauge end-cut and side-cut devices require one pass to reach the validated volume threshold to ensure 99% adequacy for molecular characterization, while 18- and 20-gauge devices require 2–5 passes depending on needle cut and tissue type. Use of 20-gauge side-cut core biopsy needles requires a significant number of passes to ensure diagnostic adequacy for molecular testing across all tissue types. To ensure diagnostic adequacy for molecular testing, 16- and 18-gauge needles require markedly fewer passes.
Math is More Than Numbers: Examining Beginning Bilingual Teachers' Mathematics Teaching Practices and Their Opportunities to Learn

In this article, the author provides results from a 3-year, longitudinal study that examined two novice bilingual teachers' mathematics teaching practices and their professional opportunities to learn to teach. Primary data sources included videotaped mathematics lessons, teacher interviews, and field notes of their teacher preparation methods courses. Findings revealed that the teachers were oriented toward differing views of learning that shaped how they organized students' learning of language and mathematics during classroom instruction. While both teachers used similar teaching strategies to support students' development of mathematics specific literacies, there were variances in how the learners were positioned within the classroom community and how and which repertoires of language practices were available and used during mathematics instruction. The teachers' differing orientations toward learning are traced to their own professional opportunities to learn to teach. The significance of recognizing both the acquisition and participation metaphors of learning and the development of linguistically and culturally relevant teacher education are discussed.
Analysis of Security Vulnerability and Analytics of Internet of Things (IOT) Platform

The Internet of Things (IOT) has become an attractive and inviting technology that enables gathering information about all interconnected devices on real-time. These interconnected physical devices have a unique identifiers and the ability to communicate each other using its sensor technology and transfer data over a network. The collected information also provide significant opportunity for different businesses to have insight about these data by applying effective data analytics on them. Internet of Things have also revealed a huge security vulnerability that range from its authentication to its trust management, and a threat to its embedded devices. This research paper explores and discusses the challenges of Internet of things (IOT) that includes: its vulnerability, security and Privacy of IOT, current analytics of IOT, Imminent ownership threat, trust management, IOT Models, its road map, and make recommendation on how to resolve its security challenges.
Analysis of pesticides in surface water, stemflow, and throughfall in an agricultural area in South Georgia, USA.

Abstract To study spray drift contributions to non-targeted habitats, pesticide concentrations in stemflow (water flowing down the trunk of a tree during a rain event), throughfall (water from tree canopy only), and surface water in an agriculturally impacted wetland area near Tifton, Georgia, USA were measured (2015–2016). Agricultural fields and sampling locations were on the University of Georgia's Gibbs Research Farm, Tifton, GA. Samples were screened for more than 160 pesticides, and cumulatively, 32 different pesticides were detected across matrices. Data indicate that herbicides and fungicides were present in all types of environmental samples analyzed while insecticides were only detected in surface water samples. The highest pesticide concentration observed was 10.50 μg/L of metolachlor in an August 2015 surface water sample. Metolachlor, tebuconazole, and fipronil were the most frequently detected herbicide, fungicide, and insecticide, respectively, regardless of sample origin. The most frequently detected pesticide in surface water and stemflow samples was metolachlor (0.09–10.5 μg/L), however, the most commonly detected pesticide in throughfall samples was biphenyl (0.02–0.07 μg/L). These data help determine the importance of indirect chemical exposures to non-targeted habitats by assessing inputs from stemflow and throughfall into surface waters.
Ethical Issues in Experiential Learning

Experiential activities are a powerful pedagogical tool that have grown in popularity. But there are a series of ethical issues (the “shadow side”) that such activities raises. These include (a) in...
Tactile facial action units toward enriching social interactions for individuals who are blind

Social interactions mediate our communication with others, enable development and maintenance of personal and professional relationships, and contribute greatly to our health. While both verbal cues (i.e., speech) and non-verbal cues (e.g., facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language) are exchanged during social interactions, the latter encompasses more information (~65%). Given their inherent visual nature, non-verbal cues are largely inaccessible to individuals who are blind, putting this population at a social disadvantage compared to their sighted peers. For individuals who are blind, embarrassing social situations are not uncommon due to miscommunication, which can lead to social avoidance and isolation. In this paper, we propose a mapping between visual facial expressions, represented as facial action units, which may be extracted using computer vision algorithms, to haptic (vibrotactile) representations, toward discreet and real-time perception of facial expressions during social interactions by individuals who are blind.
Metformin treatment of locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) patients induces an anti-tumorigenic immune response.

6037Background: Metformin is a biguanide, widely used oral hypoglycemic agent. Metformin has also shown to inhibit tumor growth and progression in a wide variety of cancers including Head and Neck ...
Oxoammonium Salts. 6.1 4-Acetylamino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxoammonium Perchlorate: A Stable and Convenient Reagent for the Oxidation of Alcohols. Silica Gel Catalysis

4-Acetylamino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxoammonium perchlorate, 1, is a stable, nonhygroscopic oxoammonium salt that is easily prepared and can be used for the oxidation of alcohols to keton...
Supplemental Breast Imaging Utilization After Breast Density Legislation in North Carolina.

Abstract Purpose Breast density notification laws are increasingly common but little is known of how they affect supplemental screening use. The aim of this study was to investigate supplemental screening before and after density notification in North Carolina, where notification has been required since 2014. Methods Breast screening data from Carolina Mammography Registry participants aged 40 to 79 years with no personal histories of breast cancer or breast implants were evaluated. Supplemental screening was defined as a nondiagnostic digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), whole-breast ultrasound, or breast MRI performed within 3 months of negative or benign results on screening mammography (2-D or DBT). Supplemental screening before (2012-2013) and after (2014-2016) the notification law was compared using logistic regression. Results During the study period, 78,967 women underwent 145,279 index screening mammographic examinations. Supplemental screening use was similar before and after the notification law, regardless of breast density (dense breasts: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-1.75; nondense breasts: aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.38-1.04). Although there was no change in supplemental screening, new use of any screening DBT from 2014 to 2016 was greater for women with dense breasts (versus nondense breasts; aOR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.08-1.23). Conclusions Data suggest that supplemental screening use in North Carolina did not change after enactment of a breast density notification law, though the increase in new use of any screening DBT was greater for women with dense breasts. The short-term lack of change in supplemental screening should be considered as additional notification laws are developed.
‘It’s my responsibility’: perspectives on environmental justice and education for sustainability among international school students in Singapore

This article analyzes students’ perspectives on sustainable development, environmental justice, and concomitant environmental education programs at two international schools in Singapore. Data incl...
Control of algal growth on greenhouse surfaces using commercial algaecides

ABSTRACT Greenhouses and nurseries provide ideal environments for facilitating the formation of nuisance algal mats. Algal growth poses safety concerns to horticulturists and stimulates the propagation of unwanted plant pests and pathogens. To date, few strategies and data are available to effectively manage algal problems. The effectiveness of five algaecides was tested on two varying surfaces of greenhouses in situ to elucidate the efficacy of chemical methods of removing algae. Moreover, Nostoc commune (Vaucher ex Bornet & Flahault) was treated on ceramic tiles in vitro , as it is a common alga in greenhouses and nurseries. We found that each algaecide had different effects, depending on the chemical applied, the surface to which the chemical was applied, and finally the types of algae that were targeted. Algaecides across the surfaces tested demonstrated that algal cell characteristics and communal makeup played an important role in algaecide efficacy, where mucilaginous algae were replaced by sheath-forming filamentous cyanobacteria. We found sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate to be the most effective chemical in terms of controlling Nostoc on tarp, gravel, and ceramic surfaces.
Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulations of Twisted Stacked Tape Cables

Different magnet applications require compact high current cables. Among the proposed solutions, the twisted stacked-tape cable (TSTC) is easy to manufacture and has very high tape length usage efficiency. In this kind of cables the tapes are closely packed, so that their electromagnetic interaction is very strong and determines the overall performance of the cable. Numerical models are necessary tools to precisely evaluate this interaction and to predict the cable's behavior, e.g. in terms of effective critical current and magnetization currents. For this purpose, we developed a fully three-dimensional model of a TSTC, which not only takes into account the twisted geometry of these cables, but is also able to account for the contact resistances of the current terminations. The latter can have profound influence on the way the current is partitioned among the tapes, especially on short laboratory prototypes. In this paper, we first use the numerical model to compute the critical current and the magnetization AC loss of a twisted tape, showing the differences with the case of a straight tape. Then, we use it to calculate the current distribution in a TSTC cable, comparing the results with those experimentally obtained on a cable composed of four straight stacked tapes. The results show the ability of the model to simulate twisted conductors and constitutes a first step toward the simulation of TSTC in high-field magnet applications. The presented modeling approach is not restricted to the TSTC geometry, but may be used for any cable configuration with periodical translational symmetry.
Book Review: “From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America”

The great extent of federal involvement in local criminal justice matters was not established overnight, but over the course of several decades. This is the primary subject of Elizabeth Hinton’s book, _From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America,_ wherein she catalogs the vast increases in federal spending on grants to state and local governments for policing and prison initiatives that occurred during the presidential administrations of John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan. Chapter after chapter simply describe the activities of the federal government in influencing local law enforcement and the expansion of prisons over the relevant time period. But the lack of any overarching argument leaves the reader feeling as though he is just reading a long series of facts.
“So Close to the Banks of Oblivion” An American Master is Rediscovered:

Inattention has doomed too many masters. Without provenance, context or an appreciation for cultural continuity, artistic treasures become disposable bric-a-brac. And so it nearly was for two compa...
Timing, delays and pathways to diagnosis of endometriosis: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction Pathways to diagnosis for women with endometriosis are frequently characterised with delays. Internationally, women face significant barriers and times to diagnosis. The prolonged time without a diagnosis may result in treatment delay, with clinical implications of chronic pain and an unknown effect on fertility outcomes. As delays in diagnosis extend, those suffering from endometriosis incur more cost and frequently experience a reduction in quality of life. The scoping review described in this protocol will (1) map current international scientific peer-reviewed and grey literature investigating pathways, timing, and delay of diagnosis of endometriosis, (2) define common concepts used in the literature, and (3) identify gaps for future examination and intervention development. Methods and analysis This protocol outlines a scoping review to investigate the current research focused on pathways, timing, and delays in endometriosis diagnosis. The scoping review uses the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology. The researchers applied the Population, Concept, Context approach to form the research questions. A search string of key terms and Medical Subject Headings will be used to systematically search the PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. We will also search ClinicalTrials.gov and grey literature sources. The original search was performed in July 2020, and it will be rerun prior to the manuscript submission. Finally, the reference lists of included works will be reviewed for additional studies. The search results will be screened and reviewed according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data will be extracted from the studies identified for final inclusion using a predetermined tool. The resulting data will be analysed to report the state of the science. Ethics and dissemination The proposed scoping review does not require review or approval by an ethical board. The researchers will disseminate the study results via conference presentations and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Enrollment in the Supported Employment Demonstration: An Employment Intervention for Denied Disability Benefits Applicants with a Mental Impairment.

The Supported Employment Demonstration enrolled denied Social Security Disability Benefits applicants with alleged or documented mental impairment into an employment and health intervention. Recruiters attempted to contact 21,003 applicants located near participating community mental health agencies, and enrolled 2960 eligible applicants from November 2017 through March 2019. Among potentially eligible enrollees, 26.2% enrolled. We use regression analysis incorporating disability application data, local area economic characteristics, and benefits receipt information to assess probability of enrollment. Complementary qualitative data were drawn from ethnographic interviews with enrollees and non-enrollees. Quantitative results suggest males, people with limited work experience, and people with higher educational attainment were more likely to enroll. SSA denial based on assessment that the applicant could find alternative work in the national economy also strongly predicted enrollment. Denied applicants were also more likely to enroll if their local unemployment rate was high and if average wages in their county were rising rapidly. Qualitative interviews suggest that enrollees joined because they felt the study would improve their lives, although some enrollees reported they enrolled for the financial incentives of interview participation. Key reasons for non-enrollment include (1) lack of interest in work and (2) the perception that subjects’ health prevented them from working. Comparisons between the sample selected for contact and the sample not selected for contact showed the two groups were largely identical. The SED achieved considerably higher recruitment rates than comparable studies. Applicant and local economic characteristics relate to the likelihood of enrollment. Clinical Trials Registration: This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: registration number NCT03682263. This study follows the Mixed Methods guidelines.
Public Interest in Refractive Diseases and Treatments During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Google Trends Analysis.

Purpose To assess national internet search trends/public interest in refractive diseases and treatments during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A Google Trends search for refractive terms was performed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Refractive terms were divided into disease and treatment terms. Relative search volume (RSV) indices were assessed in the United States from the initial lockdown period (March 1 - June 28), summer reopening period (July 5 - November 1), and winter case surge/vaccine rollout period (November 8 - February 28). A t-test of two independent samples assuming unequal variances was utilized in comparing the pandemic year to pooled data of overlapping weeks between 2016-2019. Results The majority of disease and treatment terms showed a significant decrease in RSV during the initial lockdown period (p<0.05). There was a significant increase in RSV for cataract, astigmatism, cataract surgery, and photorefractive keratotomy (PRK) (p<0.05), accompanied by a significant decrease in RSV for contact lens during the summer reopening period. There was a significant increase in RSV for cataract, astigmatism, glasses, and PRK, accompanied by a significant decrease in RSV for hyperopia, keratoconus, contact lens, and LASIK during the winter case surge/vaccine rollout period. Conclusion There was a significant decrease in the public interest in refractive diseases and treatments during the lockdown period, accompanied by an increase in interest later in the year. Decreased public interest can lead to delays in care, poorer health literacy, and potentially worse outcomes. Strategies to enhance public interest and care during the pandemic may prove to be beneficial.
Improving in-service teachers’ effectiveness: K-12 academic literacy for the linguistically diverse

This study investigates how in-service teachers’ learning of a functional linguistic approach for instructional design contributes to linguistic sensitivity, knowledge acquisition, skill development, and classroom practice for their students’ development in content/discipline specific literacy. Twenty-three K-12 teachers with teaching experience ranging from 1 to 12 years, from one urban and three rural school districts, took part in this study. The mixed-method approach includes interviews, baseline and post intervention measures related to instructional planning, and classroom practice observations. The professional development intervention resulted in statistically significant changes in means on all measures. Thematic analysis of interview data showed an increase in the teachers’ knowledge of linguistic sensitivity for linguistically and culturally responsive instruction. Implications for the findings include a need for increased linguistic sensitivity among teachers through teacher preparation programs at colleges, or in professional development for advanced teachers.
Ab initio study of the vibrational and electronic properties of CdGa2S4 and CdGa2Se4 under pressure

The vibrational spectra of CdGa2S4 and CdGa2Se4 under pressure were calculated with an ab initio technique and compared to the experimental results of Ursaki et al (Ursaki V V, Burlakov I I, Tiginyanu I M, Raptis Y S, Anastassakis E and Anedda A 1999 Phys. Rev. B 59 257). The comparison is good even though the conclusions are different. Ursaki et al concluded that CdGa2S4 and CdGa2Se4 are disordered under pressure while here these materials remained ordered. The pressure dependence of the band gap is calculated to help clarify whether or not the disordering is occurring.
Chattering handling for variable structure control systems

Variable structure control (VSC) has been known theoretically as a powerful control technique capable of providing very robust control, even invariant under certain conditions, with respect to system parameter variations and external disturbances. However, the technique has not had wide spread acceptance in the control engineering community, largely because of the worry of chattering which is ever-existing in any VSC system. In this paper, two approaches are proposed to handle different types of chattering. One makes use of plant augmentation and the other makes use of a fuzzy technique. Simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of these methods. >
Biodegradation of venlafaxine (LB289)

The antidepressant venlafaxine (VEN) is being detected in surface waters in high concentrations relative to other detected pharmaceuticals. The high concentrations of VEN in surface waters are the ...
Connections: Life on Earth and Atoms in the Universe

Virtually all electrons and nuclei of the atoms that are or have been part of living matter on Earth have reached us from almost all stars in our and nearby galaxies and even from all other galaxies in the Universe that have produced observed high-energy gamma rays. However, a standard 70 kg human is always making about 73He, 60040Ca, and 300014N nuclei every second by radioactive decay of H, 40K and 14C, respectively.
Low insertion-loss and high isolation polymeric Y-branching thermo-optic switch with partitioned heater

A thermo-optic switch with low insertion-loss and high isolation was realized using a polymeric Y-branching waveguide. The partitioned heater greatly improves the isolation. Over 40dB isolation was achieved with the low insertion loss of 1.8dB.