cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fluid Uptake and Solvent Extraction Increased Oxidation Measurement in Remelted UHMWPE

Introduction: The solvent extraction step applied in conventional oxidation measurement protocols for UHMWPE retrievals resulted in an elevated oxidation index (OI) in remelted highly cross-linked UHMWPE (RM-HXLPE). The present study seeks to confirm the effect of solvent extraction on OI measurement and to understand the relationships among soak-aging, fluid uptake, and resulting OI from various test protocols. Materials and Methods: Two materials were tested, representing legacy gamma-in-air sterilized (GammaAir-PE, GUR4150, 30 kGy) and remelted highly cross-linked (RM-HXLPE, GUR1050, 100 kGy, 147°C/5h) UHMWPE. Concave discs approximately 19 millimeters (mm) in diameter and 3 mm in dome thickness were machined from both materials prior to soak-aging. Soak-aging consisted of a combination of: (1) ASTM F2003 accelerated aging (5 atm O 2 , 70 °C for 14 days), and (2) either static soaking (SS, for 11.57 days) or dynamic load-soaking (LS, 2280 N at 1 Hz for 1 million cycles) in bovine synovial fluid at 37 °C to simulate the combination of shelf and in-vivo aging, respectively. Unsoaked samples were used as control (C) group. Thin films (150 μm) were harvested from cross-sections of all groups and were subjected to two solvent extraction protocols using Sohxlet (Heptane for 6 h (HEP6) or Hexane for 16 h (HEX16)) prior to be analyzed by two OI analyses using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). FTIR analyses (128 scans/spectra, 4 cm −1 resolution) were carried out using both peak height at and peak area centering 1714 cm −1 for OI and 1734 for fluid uptake index (FI); carbon-carbon vibration at 1368 cm −1 was used for normalization. All GammaAir-PE data was further normalized using prewash control while RM-HXLPE data used computed results. The paired t-test was used with a significance level of p Results: Fluid uptake was evident in soak-aged GammaAir-PE and RM-HXLPE samples prior to extraction. FI of RM-HXLPE significantly increased after HEP6 and HEX16 extractions while FI of GammaAir-PE slightly increased after HEP6 but remained unchanged after HEX16 extraction (Fig. 1). Solvent extraction using either HEP6 or HEX16 increased OI measurement in all RM-HXLPE groups. A similar trend was observed in SS GammaAir-PE but not in LS samples (Fig. 2). Furthermore, oxidation measurement using peak area (A) yielded higher OI than that obtained from peak height (H), likely due to the proximity of fluid ketone vibration at 1734 cm −1 to oxidation ketone vibration at 1714 cm −1 (Fig. 3). Discussion: Aged GammaAir-PE and RM-HXLPE absorbed synovial fluid after a short period soaking at 37°C. The fluid uptake appeared to contribute to the elevated OI measurement when peak area analysis was used. Solvent extractions used in contemporary retrieval analysis increased OI measurement in RM-HXLPE significantly. These results confirmed the artificial impact of synovial fluid, solvent extraction, and conventional OI analysis on oxidation measurement of PE. Investigation of alternative methodology is necessary to improve OI measurement in UHMWPE retrievals.
Indirect drive ignition at the National Ignition Facility

This paper reviews scientific results from the pursuit of indirect drive ignition on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) and describes the program's forward looking research directions. In indirect drive on the NIF, laser beams heat an x-ray enclosure called a hohlraum that surrounds a spherical pellet. X-ray radiation ablates the surface of the pellet, imploding a thin shell of deuterium/tritium (DT) that must accelerate to high velocity (v > 350 km s−1) and compress by a factor of several thousand. Since 2009, substantial progress has been made in understanding the major challenges to ignition: Rayleigh Taylor (RT) instability seeded by target imperfections; and low-mode asymmetries in the hohlraum x-ray drive, exacerbated by laser-plasma instabilities (LPI). Requirements on velocity, symmetry, and compression have been demonstrated separately on the NIF but have not been achieved simultaneously. We now know that the RT instability, seeded mainly by the capsule support tent, severely degraded DT implosions from 2009–2012. Experiments using a 'high-foot' drive with demonstrated lower RT growth improved the thermonuclear yield by a factor of 10, resulting in yield amplification due to alpha particle heating by more than a factor of 2. However, large time dependent drive asymmetry in the LPI-dominated hohlraums remains unchanged, preventing further improvements. High fidelity 3D hydrodynamic calculations explain these results. Future research efforts focus on improved capsule mounting techniques and on hohlraums with little LPI and controllable symmetry. In parallel, we are pursuing improvements to the basic physics models used in the design codes through focused physics experiments.
Autonomic Storage Management at Scale

Cloud data centers use enormous amounts of storage, and it is critical to monitor, manage, and optimize the storage autonomically configuring storage is difficult because storage workloads are very diverse and change over time. Data centers measure running workloads, but this measurement data stream is itself quite large. We present some real world case studies in the use of big data techniques, sampling, and optimization to manage storage in data centers.
Theoretical physics implications of gravitational wave observation with future detectors

Gravitational waves encode invaluable information about the nature of the relatively unexplored extreme gravity regime, where the gravitational interaction is strong, nonlinear and highly dynamical. Recent gravitational wave observations by advanced LIGO have provided the first glimpses into this regime, allowing for the extraction of new inferences on different aspects of theoretical physics. For example, these detections provide constraints on the mass of the graviton, Lorentz violation in the gravitational sector, the existence of large extra dimensions, the temporal variability of Newton's gravitational constant, and modified dispersion relations of gravitational waves. Many of these constraints, however, are not yet competitive with constraints obtained, for example, through Solar System observations or binary pulsar observations. In this paper, we study the degree to which theoretical physics inferences drawn from gravitational wave observations will strengthen with detections from future detectors. We consider future ground-based detectors, such as the LIGO-class expansions $\mathrm{A}+$, Voyager, Cosmic Explorer and the Einstein Telescope, as well as space-based detectors, such as various configurations of eLISA and the recently proposed LISA mission. We find that space-based detectors will place constraints on general relativity up to 12 orders of magnitude more stringently than current aLIGO bounds, but these space-based constraints are comparable to those obtained with the ground-based Cosmic Explorer or the Einstein Telescope ($\mathrm{A}+$ and Voyager only lead to modest improvements in constraints). We also generically find that improvements in the instrument sensitivity band at low frequencies lead to large improvements in certain classes of constraints, while sensitivity improvements at high frequencies lead to more modest gains. These results strengthen the case for the development of future detectors, while providing additional information that could be useful in future design decisions.
Post-kidney Transplant Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Ureteral (Donor-receiver) Anastomosis for Kidney Graft Reflux or Stricture Disease.

Objective To report our experience with robot-assisted ureteral anastomosis for kidney graft. Kidney graft complex ureteral strictures or symptomatic vesicoureteral reflux may require complex reconstruction. This is classically done through an open surgical access, which adds to the morbidity of kidney transplantation. The da Vinci robot enables performance of complex laparoscopic procedures and may hence be used for such reconstructions. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing robotic surgical revision for stricture or reflux disease over a 3-year period. Contemporary patients who underwent open surgery were used as a control group. Results Ten patients underwent a robotic attempt, of whom 4 needed conversion to open surgery. Seven patients underwent an open surgery. Preoperative demographics were similar in both groups. The median operative time was 293 minutes, with a shorter operative time in the open group. The group of patients who could be completed robotically had a significantly lower postoperative length of stay (5 vs 9 days), quicker return to normal food intake (postoperative day 1 vs 3), and quicker control of pain without opiates (postoperative day 1 vs 4) than the converted or open group. Morbidity was comparable with 1 late Clavien IIIb complication in each subgroup (open, converted, and robotic group). After a median follow-up of 43 months, renal function was stable and there were no recurrent graft infections. Conclusion Robotic ureteral reconstruction for kidney graft patients is feasible and efficient, and offers the classical advantages of minimally invasive surgery with outcomes comparable with open series.
Mixed-mode fracture characteristics of a laminated metal matrix composite

In this study, the fracture behavior of a laminated composite, composed of layers of metal matrix composite having 20 vol% particulate SiC and 2014-aluminum matrix and 6061-aluminum as the ductile layers, was investigated under mixed-mode (mode-I and mode-II) loading. The results indicate that the increase in the fracture toughness of the metal matrix composite due to lamination with more ductile 6061-aluminum under pure mode-I loading condition diminishes significantly with increasing load-mixity. The interfacial behavior of the layers is shown to be the reason for this reduction in the fracture toughness values. The predicted growth directions of the cracks during the fast fracture agree reasonable well with experimental observations, in spite of the laminated microstructure of the composite.
Inhibition of the proteasome partially attenuates atrophy in botulinum neurotoxin treated skeletal muscle.

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is used as a therapeutic tool to induce chemical denervation of spastically contracted muscles, yet the neurotoxin can also cause skeletal muscle atrophy. The underlying proteolytic mechanisms that induce this atrophy remain unclear. Our previous work has highlighted increased ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) activity in soleus muscle of male Sprague Dawley rats following hind limb injection of BoNT/A, with the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20s proteasome the most active. Thus, we chose to inhibit 20s proteasome activity in BoNT/A injected hind limb to determine the effect on soleus muscle atrophy. Epoxomicin is commonly used to inhibit the proteasome in vivo, binding specifically and irreversibly to the 20s proteasome catalytic subunits. Daily subcutaneous injections of epoxomicin abolished BoNT/A-induced elevations in 20s chymotrypsin-like activity both 3 days and 10 days post BoNT/A injection. Furthermore, BoNT/A-induced elevations in polyubiquitination remained elevated in BoNT/A + epoxomicin treated muscle, presumably due to epoxomicin's inhibition of the proteasome causing a back-up of polyubiquitinated proteins. Despite inhibition of the proteasome, epoxomicin was insufficient to significantly attenuate soleus muscle fiber atrophy 3 days following BoNT/A injection however, 10 days of daily epoxomicin injection was sufficient to spare ∼20% of muscle wasting. The mechanism of the remaining 80% of BoNT/A-induced atrophy presumably occurs via mechanisms outside of the 20s proteasome.
Advances in Heparins and Related Research. An Epilogue

The discovery of heparin in 1916 by Jay McLean, a medical student at Johns Hopkins University, not only provided a universal anticoagulant, but also laid the foundation for the discipline of hemostasis and thrombosis[...].
Rigid Peptide Macrocycles from On-Resin Glaser Stapling.

Peptide macrocycles are widely utilized in the development of high affinity ligands, including stapled α-helices. The linear rigidity of a 1,3-diynyl linkage provides an optimal distance (7 A) between β-carbons of the i,i+4 amino acid side chains, thus suggesting its utility in stabilizing α-helical structures. Here, we report the development of an on-resin strategy for an intramolecular Glaser reaction between two alkyne-terminated side chains by using copper chloride, an essential bpy-diol ligand, and diisopropylethylamine at room temperature. The efficiency of this ligation was illustrated by the synthesis of (i,i+4)-, (i,i+5)-, (i,i+6)-, and (i,i+7)-stapled BCL-9 α-helical peptides using the unnatural amino acid propargyl serine. Overall, this procedurally simple method relies on inexpensive and widely available reagents to generate low molecular weight 23-, 26-, 29-, and 32-membered peptide macrocycles.
Undiagnosed Kidney Injury in Uninsured and Underinsured Diabetic African American Men and Putative Role of Meprin Metalloproteases in Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease. African Americans are disproportionately burdened by diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and end stage renal disease (ESRD). Disparities in DKD have genetic and socioeconomic components, yet its prevalence in African Americans is not adequately studied. The current study used multiple biomarkers of DKD to evaluate undiagnosed DKD in uninsured and underinsured African American men in Greensboro, North Carolina. Participants consisted of three groups: nondiabetic controls, diabetic patients without known kidney disease, and diabetic patients with diagnosed DKD. Our data reveal undiagnosed kidney injury in a significant proportion of the diabetic patients, based on levels of both plasma and urinary biomarkers of kidney injury, namely, urinary albumin to creatinine ratio, kidney injury molecule-1, cystatin C, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin. We also found that the urinary levels of meprin A, meprin B, and two kidney meprin targets (nidogen-1 and monocytes chemoattractant protein-1) increased with severity of kidney injury, suggesting a potential role for meprin metalloproteases in the pathophysiology of DKD in this subpopulation. The study also demonstrates a need for more aggressive tests to assess kidney injury in uninsured diabetic patients to facilitate early diagnosis and targeted interventions that could slow progression to ESRD.
Team-Reward Fit: Examining the Interaction Effects of Reward Target and Self-Construal on Conflict, Identity, Satisfaction, and Performance

Team-based rewards have been advanced as a way of encouraging cooperation among team members, reducing conflict, and improving member satisfaction, but empirical results have been mixed. The two studies reported in this paper show evidence that the effectiveness of team-based rewards depends on team members’ self-construals. Specifically, across two different tasks and different operationalizations of self-construal, we find that better outcomes are associated with a match between the target of the reward and members’ self-construal. Teams composed of members with interdependent self-construals experienced less conflict and were more identified and satisfied with their teams when they received team-based rewards. In contrast, teams composed of members with independent self-construals experienced less conflict and were more identified and satisfied with their teams when they received individually-based rewards.
Influence of Age, Auditory Conditioning, and Environmental Noise on Sound-Induced Seizures and Seizure Threshold in Mice

Experimental seizures may be evoked in animals by electrical, chemical, or sensory technics. Sound is the most frequently employed sensory stimulus. With sufficient stimulus intensity, all the technics produce a maximal seizure characterized by a sequence of tonic flexion and tonic extension; the pattern of submaximal seizure activity varies with the type of evoking stimulus and its intensity (1,2). Because of their simplicity and reliability, electroshock and chemoshock tests have been widely employed to study the convulsive process and to evaluate drug activity. Several tests, e.g., maximal electroshock seizure and low frequency electroshock seizure tests, are well standardized and have a reasonable neurophysiological explanation (1,2).
Transcript-Dependent Speaker Recognition using Mixer 1 and 2

Transcript-dependent speaker-recognition experiments are performed with the Mixer 1 and 2 read-transcription corpus using the Lincoln Laboratory speaker recognition system. Our analysis shows how widely speaker-recognition performance can vary on transcript-dependent data compared to conversational data of the same durations, given enrollment data from the same spontaneous conversational speech. A description of the techniques used to deal with the unaudited data in order to create 171 male and 198 female text-dependent experiments from the Mixer 1 and 2 read transcription corpus is given.
Chicken Antibody Response to Salmonella enteritidisVaccine in Advanced Intercross Lines and Parental Lines

In five pure genetic lines of chickens, along with the Iowa Salmonella Response Resource Population (ISRRP) AIL-F13 generation, antibody levels to an antiSalmonella vaccine were measured as an estimate of early immune response to bacterial infections. Knowledge of the early immune response and its genetic control factors may aid in understanding host-pathogen interactions and, therefore, improve vaccine development strategies. Using vaccines in poultry facilitates control and reduces the prevalence of bacterial infections in animals and humans.
The Relationship Between Maladaptive Personality and Social Role Impairment in Depressed Older Adults in Primary Care

Objective: Personality pathology is associated with impaired social functioning in adults, though further evidence is needed to examine the individual contributions of personality traits and proces...
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: clinical presentation and in vivo diagnosis

Exposure to repetitive head impacts from contact sport participation (e.g., American football, boxing, soccer) is associated with the neurodegenerative disorder known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The neuropathology of CTE is becoming well defined, and diagnostic criteria have been developed and are being refined. The critical next step in this emerging field is the diagnosis of CTE during life. The objective of this chapter is to describe what is currently known about the clinical presentation and in vivo diagnosis of CTE. This chapter reviews studies in which clinical manifestation of CTE was examined through retrospective telephone interviews with informants of individuals whose brains were donated and were diagnosed with CTE through neuropathologic examination. In vivo research examining the long-term neurobehavioral consequences of repetitive head impacts is also reviewed, followed by a comparison of the existing provisional clinical diagnostic criteria for CTE, as well as preliminary research on possible fluid and neuroimaging biomarkers. An illustrative case study of CTE is presented, and the chapter concludes with a discussion of gaps in knowledge and future directions.
Age and Frailty Influence Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Reimbursement in a Bundled Payment Care Improvement Initiative.

Abstract Background The Bundled Payment Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative aims to improve quality of patient care while mitigating cost. How patient age and frailty affect reimbursement after hip and knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is not known. This study evaluates if patient age and frailty affect cost of care. Methods A retrospective review of prospectively collected data of 1821 patients undergoing TJA at our institution under the BPCI initiative was performed from 2013 to 2016. We recorded demographics for patients and calculated their modified frailty index (mFI). Cost of care was obtained for each patient. Statistical analyses included t-test and analysis of variance to evaluate age and frailty as independent categorical variables. Beta coefficients were utilized to evaluate age as a continuous variable. Multivariate linear regression models evaluated age and frailty’s combined contribution to cost. Results Age was evaluated as a categorical variable, with the median age of our sample population the categorical cutoff. Age ≥72 years and increasing mFI score were associated with statistically significant increased cost. Increasing age demonstrated a statistically significant increase in cost of 0.68% per incremental age increase. Multivariate evaluation of increasing age and mFI revealed a statistically significant increase in cost for mFI score ≥2. Conclusion Increasing age and frailty increase cost associated with TJA. The BPCI initiative over-simplifies the cost associated with TJA. Concerningly, this information could deincentivize care to older, higher risk patients. Objective patient-specific and risk-adjusted stratification of BPCI pricing is necessary to be considered as a valid financial model.
Gaussian Process Regression for Improving the Performance of Self-powered Time-of-Occurrence Sensors

In our previous work, we had demonstrated a CMOS timer-injector integrated circuit for self-powered sensing of time-of-occurrence of mechanical events. While the sensor could achieve an improved time-stamping accuracy by averaging the output across over multiple channels, the mismatch between the channels made the calibration process cumbersome and time-consuming. In this paper, we propose the use of non-parametric machine learning techniques to achieve more robust and accurate event reconstruction. This is demonstrated using training and testing data that were obtained from fabricated prototypes on a $0.5-\mu \mathrm {m}$ CMOS process; the model trained using Gaussian process regression can achieve an average recovery accuracy of 3.3% on testing data, which is comparable to the performance of using an averaging technique on calibrated injection results. The experimental results also validate that scalable performance can be achieved by employing more injection channels.
Articulating value and missing links in ‘Geographies of Dissociation’:

In the spirit of Ibert et al.’s ‘Geographies of Dissociation: Value Creation, “Dark” Places, and “Missing” Links’, we briefly suggest several ways in which ‘Geographies of Dissociation’ itself elid...
Exploring the Role of Culture in Advertising: Resolving Persistent Issues and Responding to Changes

Research over the years has delved into the role of culture in advertising from various perspectives using both cross-country comparisons and within-country investigations. An assessment of recent ...
Does Category A Anchor Text Improve Category B Results

Abstract : We merged results obtained from the Category B index with results obtained from the index built over complete (Category A) anchor text. However, we were unable to improve over Category B results in either the ad hoc or the diversity task.
Label-retention expansion microscopy

Expansion microscopy (ExM) improves the resolution of fluorescence microscopy by physically expanding the sample embedded in a hydrogel. Since its invention, ExM has been successfully applied to a wide range of cell, tissue and animal samples. Still, fluorescence signal loss during polymerization and digestion limits molecular-scale imaging using ExM. Here we report the development of label-retention ExM (LR-ExM) with a set of trifunctional anchors that not only prevent signal loss but also enable high-efficiency protein labeling using enzymatic tags. We have demonstrated multicolor LR-ExM for a variety of subcellular structures. Combining LR-ExM with super-resolution Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM), we have achieved 5 nm resolution in the visualization of polyhedral lattice of clathrin-coated pits in situ.
Selective Oxidative Cracking of n‐Butane to Light Olefins over Hexagonal Boron Nitride with Limited Formation of COx

In recent years, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has emerged as an unexpected catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes. Here, the versatility of hBN was extended to alkane oxidative cracking chemistry by investigating the production of ethylene and propylene from n-butane. Cracking selectivity was primarily controlled by the ratio of n-butane to O2 within the reactant feed. Under O2 -lean conditions, increasing temperature led to increased selectivity to ethylene and propylene and decreased selectivity to COx . In addition to surface-mediated chemistry, homogeneous gas-phase reactions likely contributed to the observed product distribution, and a reaction mechanism was proposed based on these observations. The catalyst showed good stability under oxidative cracking conditions for 100 h time-on-stream while maintaining high selectivity to ethylene and propylene.
Spontaneous aortic thrombosis in neonates: a case report and review of literature

Neonatal aortic thrombosis is a rare occurrence but can be life-threatening. Most aortic thrombosis in neonates is related to umbilical artery catheters. A case of a neonate with a spontaneous aortic thrombosis is described here along with a comprehensive review of the literature for cases of neonatal aortic thrombosis not related to any intravascular device or procedure. The aetiologies of these spontaneous thromboses and the relevance of hypercoagulable disorders are discussed. The cases were analysed for odds of death by treatment method adjusted for era. The reference treatment method was thrombolysis and anticoagulation. No other treatment modality had significantly lower odds than the reference. Surgery alone had higher odds for death than the reference, but this may be confounded by severity of case. The management recommendations for clinicians encountering neonates with spontaneous neonatal aortic thrombosis are discussed.
Contesting the Great Compression: The National Labor Relations Board and Skilled Workers’ Struggle to Control Wage Differentials, 1935–1955

This article argues that federal labor policy was a factor in causing the Great Compression, the dramatic compression of skill-based wage differentials that occurred in the 1940s, and in bringing it to an end. By giving the National Labor Relations Board the power to determine the appropriate collective-bargaining unit, New Dealers gave industrial unions the means with which to build a more egalitarian wage structure. Unskilled and semiskilled workers seized the opportunity and voted themselves big pay raises. Skilled craftsmen responded by petitioning the NLRB for permission to form their own craft bargaining units, a process known as “craft severance.” As conservatives gained influence in Washington in the 1940s, the board adopted a bargaining-unit policy more favorable to craft unions. By the early 1950s, skilled craftsmen had regained control of their wage demands and thereby helped bring the Great Compression to a halt.
The Impact of Varying Levels of Advance Care Planning Engagement on Perceptions of the End-of-Life Experience Among Caregivers of Deceased Patients With Cancer.

Context Advance care planning (ACP) is used to prepare patients and caregivers for future "in the moment" decisions at the end-of-life. Patients with cancer generally do not engage in all 3 components of ACP (documented living will, health-care surrogate, end-of-life discussions); however, little is known about the impact of these varying levels of ACP engagement on caregivers postdeath. Objective To examine the relationship between varying levels of ACP engagement and caregivers' perceptions of cancer decedents' end-of-life experiences. Methods A secondary analysis of the 2002 to 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study data using structural equation modeling was conducted. Five levels of ACP engagement were defined: full (discussions/documents), augmented discussions, documents only, discussions only, and no engagement. Results Among the 2172 cancer death cases, the analyzed sample included 983 cases where end-of-life decisions occurred. Compared to no ACP, all levels of ACP were significantly associated with caregivers' positive perceptions of cancer decedents' end-of-life experiences (P ≤ .001), controlling for sex, race, and Hispanic ethnicity (R 2 = .21). However, the relative impact of each level of ACP engagement was not equal; full engagement (β = .61) was associated with a greater impact compared to each of the partial levels of engagement (augmented discussions [β = .33], documents only [β = .17], discussions only [β = .17]). Conclusion Partial ACP engagement, not just nonengagement, serves as an important clinically modifiable target to improve the end-of-life care experience among patients with cancer and the perceptions of those experiences among bereaved caregivers.
Environmental estrogen exposure disrupts sensory processing and nociceptive plasticity in the cephalopod Euprymna scolopes.

Endogenous estrogens affect multiple sensory systems, including those involved in processing noxious and painful stimuli. Extensive evidence demonstrates that estrogenic environmental pollutants have profound, negative effects on growth and reproductive physiology, but there is limited information about how estrogenic pollutants might affect sensory systems known to be modulated by endogenous estrogens. Here, we show that ethinyl estradiol, the most common artificial estrogen found in coastal marine environments, disrupts normal behavioral and neural responses to tissue injury in the sepiolid, Euprymna scolopes (Hawaiian bobtail squid), which inhabits shallow tropical waters close to dense human habitation. Behavioral hypersensitivity and neural plasticity that occur normally after tissue injury were impaired both under chronic estrogen exposure beginning during embryogenesis, or after a single, high dose co-incident with injury. This suggests that these naturally selected responses to injury, which function to protect animals from predation and infection risk, may be impaired by anthropogenic pollution.
Canoes in context: An Ojibwa maritime cultural landscape

A birch-bark canoe often conjures up images of French and British fur traders but its most important context comes from an association with the Native communities that invented the craft. This article describes Ojibwa birch-bark canoes’ place in a culture that was influenced by the lakes, ponds, rivers and streams that made up their environment throughout the Great Lakes region and Canada. Just as importantly, Ojibwa canoes offer an excellent device for exploring the multitude of ways that water influenced identity, cosmology and day-to-day life.
Examining the Dimensionality of Trust in the Inpatient Setting: Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Trust in healthcare providers is associated with important outcomes, but has primarily been assessed in the outpatient setting. It is largely unknown how hospitalized patients conceptualize trust in their providers. To examine the dimensionality of a measure of trust in the inpatient setting. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Hospitalized patients (N = 1756; 76% response rate) across six hospitals in the midwestern USA. The sample was randomly split such that approximately one half was used in the EFA, and the other half in the CFA. The Trust in Physician Scale, adapted for inpatient care. Based on the Kaiser-Guttman criterion and parallel analysis, EFAs were inconclusive, indicating that trust may be comprised of either one or two factors in this sample. In follow-up CFAs, a 2-factor model fit best based on a chi-squared difference test (Δχ2 = 151.48(1), p < .001) and a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) difference test (CFI difference = .03). The overall fit for the 2-factor CFA model was good (χ2 = 293.56, df = 43, p < .01; CFI = .95; RMSEA = .081 [90% confidence interval = .072–.090]; TLI = .93; SRMR = .04). Items loaded onto two factors related to cognitive (i.e., whether patients view providers as competent) and affective (i.e., whether patients view that providers care for them) dimensions of trust. While measures of trust in the outpatient setting have been validated as unidimensional, in the inpatient setting, trust appears to be composed of two factors: cognitive and affective trust. This provides initial evidence that inpatient providers may need to work to ensure patients see them as both competent and caring in order to gain their trust.
Effect of a single cold stress exposure on the reproductive behavior of male crickets.

Abstract Cold stress is an important abiotic factor that can impact insect physiology, behavior, and overall fitness. Upon exposure to cold temperature, many insects enter a reversible state of immobility called chill coma. If the cold stress is brief and mild enough, insects can recover and regain full mobility upon return to warmer temperatures. However, the long-term impact of sublethal cold stress on insect behavior has been understudied. Here, sexually naive adult male Acheta domesticus crickets were exposed to a single 0 °C cold stress for 6 h. One week later, the ability of these males to mate with a female was examined. For mating trials, a cold stressed male cricket was paired with a non-cold stressed, control female. Control pairs were comprised of a non-cold stressed control male and control female. Cold exposed males were less successful at mating than control males because most did not carry a spermatophore at the time of their mating trials. However, when these cold stressed males were allowed 1 h of chemosensory contact with a female, most produced a spermatophore. Males that produced spermatophores were given the opportunity to mate once with a female, and stressed males that successfully mated sired as many offspring as did control males. However, our results support that a single cold stress exposure can negatively impact the reproductive fitness of male crickets since it reduced their capacity to carry spermatophores and, as a consequence, to attract females.
What explains the technical efficiency of banks in Tunisia? Evidence from a two-stage data envelopment analysis

In this study we examine the potential determinants of technical efficiency for the Tunisian commercial banking sector over the period of 1995–2017. First, we estimate banking technical efficiency with a radial and non-radial bootstrap data envelopment analysis. For the radial technique, we use an input-oriented approach and for non-radial we use the Range Adjusted Measure (RAM). Second, we use a double bootstrapping regression technique to estimate the influence of a set of eventual determinants on technical efficiency. Finally, based on all possible regressions, we gauge the overall effect of each determinant. Our results reveal that the input-oriented and RAM approach gave somewhat similar results. We found that the return on equity, the expense to income ratio, the loan to deposit ratio, and the growth rate are insignificant to Tunisian banking technical efficiency. In particular, banking technical efficiency increases with capitalization and inflation, whereas, it decreases with size, number of bank branches, management to staff ratio, and loan to asset ratio. In addition, we identified evidence supporting the moderate success of the last decade of reforms and a noticeable one for the post-revolution reforms in helping improve banking technical efficiency. The post-revolution reforms, largely revolving around reinforcing the rules of good governance and banking supervision, coupled with the restructuring of public banks, were found to be insufficient to raise overall banking technical efficiency despite improvement in the technical efficiency of private banks.
Teaching design effectively in the introductory programming courses

Teaching program design in an introductory programming course is a big challenge for instructors. Over the past few years many studies have been performed on how and when to apply design in CS 1. Some researchers suggest that design methodologies and problem solving techniques should be introduced before any programming is taught, while others believe in the gradual integration of design into programming courses. We believe that the gradual integration of design into programming courses can be done effectively provided that appropriate measures of implementation are included. In this paper we present an approach to integrate design into the first programming course. The outcome of this integration is also presented.
Optical spectra of calcium atoms in inert matrices: A new red absorption for Ca2

Abstract Calcium atoms codeposited with N2, Ar, Kr, and Xe on a sapphire plate at 10, 17, or 29 K exhibited very strong, sharp absorptions due to the resonance transition of isolated Ca atoms and broad bands in the green region which show Ca concentration dependence characteristic of aggregated species. A red absorption contained sharp vibronic fine structure with 117 cm−1 spacings in solid krypton which decreased to 111 cm−1 with 44Ca deposition. The structured absorption is assigned to the A 1 Σ u + ( 1 S + 1 P) ← X 1 Σ g + ( 1 S + 1 S) transition of Ca2.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Decreases Human Macrophage IFN-γ Responsiveness through miR-132 and miR-26a

IFN-γ-activated macrophages play an essential role in controlling intracellular pathogens; however, macrophages also serve as the cellular home for the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Based on previous evidence that M. tuberculosis can modulate host microRNA (miRNA) expression, we examined the miRNA expression profile of M. tuberculosis-infected primary human macrophages. We identified 31 differentially expressed miRNAs in primary human macrophages during M. tuberculosis infection by NanoString and confirmed our findings by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. In addition, we determined a role for two miRNAs upregulated upon M. tuberculosis infection, miR-132 and miR-26a, as negative regulators of transcriptional coactivator p300, a component of the IFN-γ signaling cascade. Knockdown expression of miR-132 and miR-26a increased p300 protein levels and improved transcriptional, translational, and functional responses to IFN-γ in human macrophages. Collectively, these data validate p300 as a target of miR-132 and miR-26a, and demonstrate a mechanism by which M. tuberculosis can limit macrophage responses to IFN-γ by altering host miRNA expression.
Delayed diagnosis of subdural hematoma following normal computed tomography scan

We report the cases of three patients with subdural hematoma following minor closed-head trauma in whom the initial neurologic examinations and cranial computed tomography (CT) scans were normal. In each case, the patient was re-evaluated clinically several times (average of four times) due to persistence of posttraumatic symptoms. The development of focal neurologic signs, which eventually led to a correct diagnosis, was significantly delayed in all three cases (average of 47 days). All three patients had large subdural hematomas requiring surgical drainage. The timely diagnosis of subdural hematoma may be difficult despite the appropriate use of CT scan in the immediate post-traumatic period. Repeat CT scan may be indicated in patients suffering minor head trauma with persistent symptoms. These patients seem to recover without deficit following neurosurgical treatment despite a significant delay in diagnosis.
Ab Initio Study of the Oxidation Reaction of CO by ClO Radicals

The oxidation of carbon monoxide by ClO radicals was studied by ab initio molecular orbital theory calculations. Geometry optimizations and vibrational frequencies were computed using two methods: Moller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2), and quadratic configuration interaction in the space of single and double excitations (QCISD). Single-point energy calculations were performed at the QCISD level with triple excitations treated perturbatively (QCISD(T)) and the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. Canonical transition state theory was used to predict the rate constants as a function of temperature (550-2500 K), and three-parameter Arrhenius expressions were obtained by fitting to the computed rate constants. The possible impact of the title reaction in combustion chemistry is also discussed.
Total synthesis of (±)-desepoxy-4,5-didehybromethylenomycin A

Abstract The total synthesis of (±)-desepoxy-4,5-didehydromethylenomycin A employing a retrolactonization strategy has been achieved.
Group representation and procedural justice in multigroup decision-making bodies

Representation of groups in policy-making bodies is increasingly at the center of intergroup conflicts in plural societies. This paper proposes a social psychological approach to the issue of group representation which is based on procedural justice and intergroup-relations research and on cross-national analyses of constitutional arrangements. The allocation of representation is central in intergroup relations because it determines the relative control various groups have in important decision-making processes. It is, however, not the only determinant of control. After discussing the principles that people believe to be relevant in the allocation of representation, the paper presents a quantitative model describing how the distribution of control in two-group decision-making bodies varies as a function of both group representation and decision rule. This model is then extended to cases of multigroup decision-making bodies.
A generalized plotting program, written in BASIC for scientific data

Abstract A software package for the hardcopy graphic display of two-dimensional data has been developed. It is written in BASIC and is compatible with a microcomputer interfaced to an intelligent digital plotter. The core of the package is a plotting program. It features a command menu that displays 15 user-controlable parameters. Most of these parameters are automatically tabulated and can be changed in an interactive manner. The data which is plotted is either entered by hand or read from pre-existing data files. The package has several other important features. One subroutine within the plotting program determines and draws the best fit of a curve through a set of points. Using another program, the user can edit and manipulate the information contained in data files. All the program commands are written in simple and precise language, therefore the user needs no previous experience with computers. Furthermore the programs can be easily modified to suit personalized needs.
Formation of iminium (C = NH2) species from cyanogen (C2N2) and hydrogen on Pt(111)

Fourier transform reflection−absorption infrared spectroscopy (FT-RAIRS) was used to study the chemistry of cyanogen (C2N2) and hydrogen on Pt(111). The partial dissociative adsorption of cyanogen at 300 K results in the formation of the well-known molecularly adsorbed α state and dissociatively adsorbed β1 and β2 states. The α and β2 states were found to undergo hydrogenation at this temperature, forming the respective iminium (CNH2) containing species diaminoethylene ((CNH2)2) and aminomethylidyne (CNH2), while the β1 state is shown to be inert toward hydrogenation. Isotopic substitution experiments utilizing 13C and 15N show diaminoethylene to be the hydrogenation product of C2N2 that forms on Pt(111), while incremental 2H exchange reactions confirm that (CNH2)2 possesses a high degree of symmetry and a likely μ2η2-bridge bound configuration. Diaminoethylene undergoes partial decomposition at ∼377 K, forming a mixture of CNH2 dimers, CNH2 monomers, and possibly HNC. These secondary decomposition produc...
Seasonal and spatial patterns of sedimentary denitrification rates in the Chukchi sea

Abstract Recent constructions of the global nitrogen budget estimate that at least half of the ocean's fixed nitrogen is lost by sedimentary denitrification, the majority of which occurs in continental shelves. The Arctic contains approximately 20% of the world's continental shelf, suggesting it is a substantial contributor to the global sedimentary denitrification rate. During two cruises in the summer and spring of 2002 and 2004, respectively, denitrification rates were calculated from the downward diffusive flux of nitrate in the shelf and slope sediments of the Chukchi Sea in the western Arctic. Additionally, in the spring of 2004, denitrification rates were determined by whole-core incubations in which the flux of nitrogen gas out of the sediments was measured. Measurements were made along three transects crossing the shelf and slope (50–3000 m), each transect having different overlying water characteristics. Denitrification rates generally decreased with increasing water depth: rates varied from about 1.6 mmol N m−2 d−1 for the shallow-water sediments to undetectable in deep-water sediments. Rates showed little variation between the two seasons. However, rates were found to correspond with differences in annual overlying primary productivities and particulate organic carbon export fluxes. An extrapolation to the whole Arctic yielded an average Arctic sedimentary denitrification rate of 13 Tg N yr−1. Taken in the context of the global nitrogen budget, it is about 4–13% of the total sink of fixed nitrogen in the ocean.
Raman scattering from fluid hydrogen to 2500 amagats

Results of Raman scattering experiments carried out on fluid n-H/sub 2/ at room temperature at pressures up to 4.6 GPa are reported. Observed frequency shifts of rotational and vibrational lines are consistent with those observed at lower densities. Line broadening of the S/sub 0/(0) and S/sub 0/(1) rotational lines and the Q/sub 1/(1) and Q/sub 1/(2) vibrational lines exhibits a nonlinear density dependence. The linewidth of the Q/sub 1/(1) line saturates at around 2.2 GPa, the pressure at which frequency degeneracy of the Q/sub 1/(1) and the Q/sub 1/(2) lines occurs. Results are compared to the impact theory of Fiutak and Van Kranendonk.
Dust overloading of the lungs: update and appraisal.

This article reviews recent studies which involve, or impact on, the condition of dust overloading in the lungs of several species, especially the Fischer 344 rat. Its main purpose is to provide an update of the overload concept and new information of possible mechanistic relevance. At present, the most likely general explanation for the suppression of particle transport by the alveolar macrophage (AM) and the development of concurrent events, e.g., increased interstitial dust uptake and prolonged inflammatory response, is the persistent, possibly excessive, elaboration of chemotactic and chemokinetic factors by the AM. The induction of these interrelated events is hypothesized as related to the volume of dust phagocytized by the AM pool. The review concludes, inter alia, that information is badly needed on dust overload in nonrodent species and on the normal role of the AM in dust removal from the human lungs.
Analysis of recrystallized volume fractions in uranium using electron backscatter diffraction

Electron backscatter diffraction was used to examine the recrystallization behaviour of warm, clock-rolled uranium. A new uranium preparation method was developed, resulting in acceptable specimen surface finishes nearly every time, even for as-rolled specimens. Recrystallized fractions were differentiated from unrecrystallized fractions using differences in the grain average misorientation, a measure of the internal level of misorientation within a grain. This new approach better estimates the recrystallized fraction than hardness measurements, and has the advantage over standard metallographic techniques of providing texture information.