cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transforming growth factor-β1 induced alteration of skeletal morphogenesis in vivo

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is expressed in the growth plate and is an important regulator of chondrocyte maturation. Loss of function results in premature chondrocyte maturation both in vitro and in vivo. While TGF-beta inhibits chondrocyte maturation in cell cultures, the effect of increased TGF-beta has not been well characterized in an in vivo development model. Addition of Affi-gel agarose beads loaded with TGF-beta1 (10 ng/microl) to developing stage 24-25 chick limb buds resulted in limb shortening and altered morphology. In situ hybridization studies showed down regulation of Indian hedgehog (ihh), bone morphogenetic protein 6 (bmp6), and collagen type X (colX) expression, markers of chondrocyte maturation, in TGF-beta1 treated limbs. TGF-beta1 also decreased chondrocyte proliferation in the developing anlage. The findings confirm a critical role for TGF-beta during skeletal development. A more complete understanding of the role of TGF-beta and its down-stream signals will lead to improved understanding and treatment of cartilage diseases.
Hidden Markov Models With Stick-Breaking Priors

The number of states in a hidden Markov model (HMM) is an important parameter that has a critical impact on the inferred model. Bayesian approaches to addressing this issue include the nonparametric hierarchical Dirichlet process, which does not extend to a variational Bayesian (VB) solution. We present a fully conjugate, Bayesian approach to determining the number of states in a HMM, which does have a variational solution. The infinite-state HMM presented here utilizes a stick-breaking construction for each row of the state transition matrix, which allows for a sparse utilization of the same subset of observation parameters by all states. In addition to our variational solution, we discuss retrospective and collapsed Gibbs sampling methods for MCMC inference. We demonstrate our model on a music recommendation problem containing 2250 pieces of music from the classical, jazz, and rock genres.
Saying Good-bye to the Direct Argument the Right Way

In "The Incompatibility of Responsibility and Determinism," Peter van Inwagen (1980) introduced the alluring Direct Argument. The Direct Argument tells us that moral responsibility is incompatible with determinism because, at a determined world, nonresponsibility for the facts of the past and the laws of nature results in nonresponsibility for what one does. The Direct Argument differs from other arguments for the same conclusion in that it does not attempt to show that determinism is incompatible with some feature perhaps necessary for moral responsibility, such as the ability to do otherwise. Rather, it fixes directly on moral responsibility and argues that, under the assumption of determinism, no one is morally responsible. How so? Nonresponsibility transfers across deterministic relations. If the facts of the past and the laws of nature entail every truth about what one does, as the thesis of determinism would have it, and no one is even in part morally responsible for the past and the laws, then no one is even in part morally responsible for what one does.
Role of asparagine-111 at the active site of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum as explored by site-directed mutagenesis.

Crystallographic studies of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Rhodospirillum rubrum suggest that active-site Asn111 interacts with Mg2+ and/or substrate (Lundqvist, T., and Schneider, G. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 12604-12611). To examine possible catalytic roles of Asn111, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to replace it with a glutaminyl, aspartyl, seryl, or lysyl residue. Although the mutant proteins are devoid of detectable carboxylase activity, their ability to form a quaternary complex comprised of CO2, Mg2+, and a reaction-intermediate analogue is indicative of competence in activation chemistry and substrate binding. The mutant proteins retain enolization activity, as measured by exchange of the C3 proton of ribulose bisphosphate with solvent, thereby demonstrating a preferential role of Asn111 in some later step of overall catalysis. The active sites of this homodimeric enzyme are formed by interactive domains from adjacent subunits (Larimer, F. W., Lee, E. H., Mural, R. J., Soper, T. S., and Hartman, F. C. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 15327-15329). Crystallography assigns Asn111 to the amino-terminal domain of the active site (Knight, S., Anderson, I., and Branden, C.-I. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215, 113-160). The observed formation of enzymatically active heterodimers by the in vivo hybridization of an inactive position-111 mutant with inactive carboxyl-terminal domain mutants is consistent with this assignment.
Racially Discriminatory Service in Full-Service Restaurants: The Problem, Cause, and Potential Solutions

Most of the scholarly and popular discourse to date on the topic of racial discrimination within the restaurant industry has centered on the unjust treatment experienced by employees who are racial...
Hardware-assisted software clock synchronization for homogeneous distributed systems

A clock synchronization scheme that strikes a balance between hardware and software solutions is proposed. The proposed scheme is a software algorithm that uses minimal additional hardware to achieve reasonably tight synchronization. Unlike other software solutions, the guaranteed worst-cast skews can be made insensitive to the maximum variation of message transit delay in the system. The scheme is particularly suitable for large partially connected distributed systems with topologies that support simple point-to-point broadcast algorithms. Examples of such topologies include the hypercube and the mesh interconnection structures. >
Electromechanical models of the ventricles

Computational modeling has traditionally played an important role in dissecting the mechanisms for cardiac dysfunction. Ventricular electromechanical models, likely the most sophisticated virtual organs to date, integrate detailed information across the spatial scales of cardiac electrophysiology and mechanics and are capable of capturing the emergent behavior and the interaction between electrical activation and mechanical contraction of the heart. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the latest advancements in multiscale electromechanical modeling of the ventricles. We first detail the general framework of multiscale ventricular electromechanical modeling and describe the state of the art in computational techniques and experimental validation approaches. The powerful utility of ventricular electromechanical models in providing a better understanding of cardiac function is then demonstrated by reviewing the latest insights obtained by these models, focusing primarily on the mechanisms by which mechanoelectric coupling contributes to ventricular arrythmogenesis, the relationship between electrical activation and mechanical contraction in the normal heart, and the mechanisms of mechanical dyssynchrony and resynchronization in the failing heart. Computational modeling of cardiac electromechanics will continue to complement basic science research and clinical cardiology and holds promise to become an important clinical tool aiding the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease.
Design of a wheelchair with legs for people with motor disabilities

A proof-of-concept prototype wheelchair with legs for people with motor disabilities is proposed, with the objective of demonstrating the feasibility of a completely new approach to mobility. The authors' prototype system consists of a chair equipped with wheels and legs, and is capable of traversing uneven terrain and circumventing obstacles. The important design considerations, the system design and analysis, and an experimental prototype of a chair are discussed. The results from the analysis and experimentation show the feasibility of the proposed concept and its advantages.
Classification and evolutionary history of the single-strand annealing proteins, RecT, Redβ, ERF and RAD52

Background The DNA single-strand annealing proteins (SSAPs), such as RecT, Redβ, ERF and Rad52, function in RecA-dependent and RecA-independent DNA recombination pathways. Recently, they have been shown to form similar helical quaternary superstructures. However, despite the functional similarities between these diverse SSAPs, their actual evolutionary affinities are poorly understood.
Selective growth, in vitro and in vivo, of individual T cell clones from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes obtained from patients with melanoma.

In recent clinical trials in patients with metastatic melanoma, adoptive transfer of tumor-reactive lymphocytes mediated the regression of metastatic tumor deposits. To better understand the role of individual T cell clones in mediating tumor regression, a 5′ RACE technique was used to determine the distribution of TCR β-chain V region sequences expressed in the transferred cells as well as in tumor samples and circulating lymphocytes from melanoma patients following adoptive cell transfer. We found that dominant T cell clones were present in the in vitro-expanded and transferred tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte samples and certain T cell clones including the dominant T cell clones persisted at relatively high levels in the peripheral blood of the patients that demonstrated clinical responses to adoptive immunotherapy. However, these dominant clones were either undetected or present at a very low level in the resected tumor samples used for tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte generation. These data demonstrated that there was selective growth and survival, both in vitro and in vivo, of individual T cell clones from a relatively small number of T cells in the original tumor samples. These results suggest that the persistent T cell clones played an active role in mediating tumor regression and that 5′ RACE analysis may provide an important tool for the analysis of the role of individual T cell clones in mediating tumor regression. A similar analysis may also be useful for monitoring autoimmune responses.
ON THE INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANIMAL AMYLASES IN RELATION TO ENZYME SOURCE

Enzymes from various animal sources responsible for amylolytic activity as measured by a precise viscosimetric method have been investigated with regard to individual characteristics in relation to enzyme source. The principal criteria have been the course of spontaneous inactivation of preparations from different sources alone and in mixtures, and comparison of variations of relative activity with change in pH. It is strongly indicated that the observed amylolytic activity of hog pancreatin, and that of the serum of a depancreatized dog are attributable to single chemical individuals, while that of human saliva is caused principally if not entirely by a single individual, which appears to be subject to reversible dissociation. These three individuals are clearly distinguishable from each other. The amylolytic activity of dog pancreatic extract is due to the same individual found in the serum of a depancreatized dog, while that of human pancreatic extract and of human serum are due to the same chemical individual found in human saliva. Thus it may be said of the amylases studied, that specificity depended upon species source rather than organ source. Evidence of similar variations in activity with change in pH and equal sensitivity to ultraviolet light furnish strong indication that hog and human amylases have a common amylolytic radical.
Learnability and the Acquistion of Extraction in Relative Clauses and Wh -Questions

Learnability theory is an investigation of the cognitive principles that determine developmental stages and eventual success in language acquistion. The focus of this study is on the learning principles within learnability theory that account for developmental stages in adult second language acquisition. Three learning principles, cumulative development, continuity, and conservatism, predict a complex sequence of development in the acquisition of relative clauses and wh-questions in English. They predict an early no-prep stage, gradual development through two additional stages of greater embeddedness of the extracted noun, stranded before nonstranded prepositional structures, and the likelihood of resumption at early stages. These predictions are confirmed by data from previous studies and are further investigated in this study by means of elicited production data collected from 35 Japanese learners of English and 17 native speakers of English. The data show the expected stages of development and confirm the relevance of learning principles to a comprehensive theory of learnability in second language acquisition (SLA).
Rat α6β2δ GABAA receptors exhibit two distinct and separable agonist affinities

The onset of motor learning in rats coincides with exclusive expression of GABAA receptors containing α6 and δ subunits in the granule neurons of the cerebellum. This development temporally correlates with the presence of a spontaneously active chloride current through α6-containing GABAA receptors, known as tonic inhibition. Here we report that the coexpression of α6, β2, and δ subunits produced receptor–channels which possessed two distinct and separable states of agonist affinity, one exhibiting micromolar and the other nanomolar affinities for GABA. The high-affinity state was associated with a significant level of spontaneous channel activity. Increasing the level of expression or the ratio of β2 to α6 and δ subunits increased the prevalence of the high-affinity state. Comparative studies of α6β2δ, α1β2δ, α6β2γ2, α1β2γ2 and α4β2δ receptors under equivalent levels of expression demonstrated that the significant level of spontaneous channel activity is uniquely attributable to α6β2δ receptors. The pharmacology of spontaneous channel activity arising from α6β2δ receptor expression corresponded to that of tonic inhibition. For example, GABAA receptor antagonists, including furosemide, blocked the spontaneous current. Further, the neuroactive steroid 5α-THDOC and classical glycine receptor agonists β-alanine and taurine directly activated α6β2δ receptors with high potency. Specific mutation within the GABA-dependent activation domain (βY157F) impaired both low- and high-affinity components of GABA agonist activity in α6βY157Fδ receptors, but did not attenuate the spontaneous current. In comparison, a mutation located between the second and third transmembrane segments of the δ subunit (δR287M) significantly diminished the nanomolar component and the spontaneous activity. The possibility that the high affinity state of the α6β2δ receptor modulates the granule neuron activity as well as potential mechanisms affecting its expression are discussed.
A Facile Synthesis of Carbamoylsilanes, -boranes and -phosphane Oxides – Isolation of the First Uncomplexed Carbamoylborane

C-(Trimethylsilyloxy)-, C-(triisopropylsilyloxy)-, C-(diphenylboryloxy), C-[bis(diisopropylamino)boryloxy]- and C-(di-tert-butylphosphoryloxy)-N,N-diisopropylaldiminium salts are readily prepared in good to excellent yields from either diisopropylformamide or (chloromethylene)diisopropylammonium chloride. Deprotonation of these aldiminium salts leads to transient (amino)(oxy)carbenes, which cleanly rearrange to carbamoyl derivatives. This synthetic methodology gives access to sterically hindered carbamoylsilanes, -boranes and phosphane oxides that are hardly accessible by other routes.
DISENTANGLING THE IMPACTS OF DIVERSITY ON ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING IN COMBINATORIAL EXPERIMENTS

Biodiversity includes both taxonomic and functional aspects, each of which can play significant roles in ecosystem functioning. The number of functional groups, specifically intratrophic group (e.g., plant or herbivore) functional richness (F), serves as a simple index of ecological diversity, while species richness (S) serves as a simple index of taxonomic diversity. F and S are, however, roughly correlated measures of biodiversity, and disentangling the relative influence of one over the other on ecosystem functioning (H) requires a multivariate index. Appropriate multivariate biodiversity indices can be derived by applying principal component analyses to the set of possible combinations of S and F in an experimental design. The first principal component (PCAI) represents covariation between F and S, while the second principal component (PCAII) provides information on functioning that is associated with the independent effects of F and S. Thus, one can replace the conventional model H = f(F, S) with H =...
Symbolic substitution system for data compression

A new application of symbolic substitution is presented for string matching with the goal of data compression. A temporal sequence of input symbols is mapped onto a two-dimensional array that contains a tree structure, which in turn is mapped into another array for string generation. A symbolic substitution system and the necessary rules are developed to implement the mapping of the input mapping and the generation of an output sequence. A nonadaptive scheme of compression and decompression is described first, followed by an adaptive scheme with additional rules for the dynamic adaptation process.
SEAVE: a mechanism for verifying user presuppositions in query systems

Every information system incorporates a database component, and a frequent activity of users of information systems is to present it with queries. These queries reflect the presuppositions of their authors about the system and the information it contains. With most query processors, queries that are based on erroneous presuppositions often result in null answers. These fake nulls are misleading, since they do not point out the user's erroneous presuppositions (and can even be interpreted as their affirmation). This article describes the SEAVE mechanism for extracting presuppositions from queries and verifying their correctness. The verification is done against three repositories of information: the actual data, their integrity constraints, and their completeness assertions. Consequently, queries that reflect erroneous presuppositions are answered with informative messages instead of null answers, and user-system communication is thus improved (an aspect that is particularly important in systems that often are accessed by naive users). First, the principles of SEAVE are described abstractly. Then, specific algorithms for implementing it with relational databases are presented, including a new method for storing knowledge and an efficient algorithm for processing queries against the knowledge.
Comparative study of the binding characteristics to and inhibitory potencies towards PARP and in vivo antidiabetogenic potencies of taurine, 3-aminobenzamide and nicotinamide

Background: Poly(ADP-ribose) is a NAD + -requiring, DNA-repairing, enzyme playing a central role in pancreatic b-cell death and in the development of endothelial dysfunction in humans and experimental animals. PARP activation is also relevant to the development of complications of diabetes. Hence, agents capable of inhibiting PARP may be useful in preventing the development of diabetes and in slowing down complications of diabetes. Methods: PARP inhibition was assessed with a colorimetric assay kit. Molecular docking studies on the active site of PARP were conducted using the crystalline structure of the enzyme available as Protein Data Bank Identification No. 1UK1. Type 2 diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats with streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg, i.p.). The test compounds (3-aminobenzamide = 3-AB, nicotinamide = NIC, taurine = TAU) were given by the i.p. route 45 min before STZ at 2.4 mM/kg (all three compounds) or 1.2 and 3.6 mM/kg (only NIC and TAU). Blood samples were collected at 24 hr after STZ and processed for their plasma. The plasma samples were used to measure glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and glutathione levels using reported methods. Results: 3-AB, NIC and TAU were able to inhibit PARP, with the inhibitory potency order being 3-AB>NIC>>TAU. Molecular docking studies at the active site of PARP showed 3-AB and NIC to interact with the binding site for the nicotinamide moiety of NAD + and TAU to interact with the binding site for the adenine moiety of NAD + . While STZ-induced diabetes elevated all the experimental parameters examined and lowered the insulin output, a pretreatment with 3-AB, NIC or TAU reversed these trends to a significant extent. At a dose of 2.4 mm/kg, the protective effect decreased in the approximate order 3-AB>NIC≥TAU. The attenuating actions of both NIC and TAU were dose-related except for the plasma lipids since NIC was without a significant effect at all doses tested. Conclusions: At equal molar doses, 3-AB was generally more potent than either TAU or NIC as an antidiabetogenic agent, but the differences were not as dramatic as would have been predicted from their differences in PARP inhibitory potencies. NIC and TAU demonstrated dose-related effects, which in the case of TAU were only evident at doses ≥2.4 mM/kg. The present results also suggest that in the case of NIC and TAU an increase in dose will enhance the magnitude of their attenuating actions on diabetes-related biochemical alterations to that achieved with a stronger PARP inhibitor such as 3-AB. Hence, dosing will play a critical role in clinical studies assessing the merits of NIC and TAU as diabetes-preventing agents.
Predictability of a class of supervised one-dimensional systems

A one-dimensional discrete-time system for which the transition map is state dependent is analyzed. For each transition a controller selects from among N transition maps according to a function of the current state. For the case in which the maps are contractions, sufficient conditions under which the system behavior can be modeled by a finite-state automaton are demonstrated. In this case the transient and steady-state behavior of the system can be computed. The feedback scheduling policy will have a periodic state, and the actual state of the system will converge exponentially to a periodic orbit. An example using a three-buffer switched server is given. >
Nuclear Giant Resonances — a Historical Review

A brief review of nuclear giant resonances is given, beginning with the landmark paper of Goldhaber and Teller. The properties of the giant dipole resonance are surveyed, giant resonances of other multipolarities are discussed, and certain new developments and some of their implications for future research are noted.
Multi-baryon systems

In this talk I review the challenges related to calculations of properties of interacting baryons on the lattice. I present the progress made addressing the problem of calculating the large number of Wick contractions necessary to compute states with the quantum numbers of many baryons in lattice QCD. Examples of correlation functions computed using these techniques are shown for the quantum numbers of the light nuclei, He-4, Be-8, C-12, O-16 and Si-28.
Do You Receive a Lighter Prison Sentence Because You Are a Woman or a White? An Economic Analysis of the Federal Criminal Sentencing Guidelines

Using data obtained from the United States Sentencing Commission’s records, we examine the extent to which the Federal Criminal Sentencing Guidelines curbed judicial sentencing preferences based on gender, race, and ethnicity. Our structural utility maximization model of judicial sentencing and a new generalized nonlinear decomposition methodology allow us to conduct a counterfactual exercise examining the impact of the guidelines on sentences during our period of study. Our results indicate that under the guidelines, and after controlling for circumstances such as the severity of the offense and past criminal history, judicial preferences strongly favor women while also disadvantaging Black men. In most of our estimates, we find that in the absence of the guidelines, judicial preferences would have increased the unexplained gap. Our findings stand up to a wide variety of robustness checks.
Enhanced Passive Thermal Management of Grid-Scale Power Routers Utilizing Ionic Wind

This paper presents a numerical model assessing the potential of ionic wind as a heat transfer enhancement method for the cooling of grid distribution assets. Distribution scale power routers (13–37 kV, 1–10 MW) have stringent requirements regarding lifetime and reliability, so that any cooling technique involving moving parts such as fans or pumps are not viable. Increasing the air flow — and thereby enhancing heat transfer — through Corona discharge could be an attractive solution to the thermal design of such devices. In this work, the geometry of a rectangular, vertical channel with a corona electrode at the entrance is considered. The multiphysics problem is characterized by a set of four differential equations: the Poisson equation for the electric field and conservation equations for electric charges, momentum and energy. The electrodynamics part of the problem is solved using a finite difference approximation (FDA). Solutions for the potential, electric field and free charge density are presented for a rectangular control volume with mixed boundary conditions.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The Flag above Me

I am not a Communist. The protestors, however, have branded me as one. They have stood outside my liquor store now for the past three days, crowding the sidewalk and the parking lane, their mass hiding the parking meters, and I can barely see the tops of cars as they slow down, wondering why people are boycotting my place. Their curiosity creates drivers behind them to honk their horns, and they too slow down when it is their turn to hear the chanting, see the fists pumping, the fingers pointing, the backs of signs. The protestors chant different slogans every day, bear the same signs, though more of them have appeared in the past couple of days; sons and daughters, who are too young to understand their history to even care, stand alongside or in front of the elders, repeating what they are told. Some of the children hold their signs tilted to the side, rather than high above their heads, while others stand with arms crossed, mouths closed, and I take their silence to mean they do not even speak their par...
Observation and nursing care of CABG with and without extracorporeal circulation

Chinese Journal of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine, 2003, 12 (3): 277 Abstract; Objective: Comparing the effect of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between with and without extracorporeal circulation. Methods; A total of 215 CABG patients were divided into with extracorporeal circulation group (109 cases) and without extracorporeal circulation group (106 cases). Operative complication, mortality rate, custodial time in ICU and post-operative days of hospitalization were observed in two groups. Results: Compared with without extracorporeal circulation group, the low cardiac output syndrome, renal failure, chest complication, cases of application intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), mortality rate, custodial time in ICU, time of assisted respiration, post-operative days of hospitalization significantly decreased, P0. 01 all except chest complication (P 0. 05). Conclusion: CABG without extracorporeal circulation is better than CABG with extracorporeal circulation.
The Analysis of Several Questions in the Research about Chen Ziang

"Chen Ziang is the pioneer in the history of Tang poetry".His life has been researched by many former scholars.However,there are still many unsolved mysteries left for us to solve.Such as the relationship with Wu Youyi and as a spokesman of people,that help us to?acquaint a living Cheng Ziang.At the same time,there are many interpretations on his death.To solve this question can help us to learn his real living environment at the end of his life.
Accelerating the Accelerator Memory Interface with Access-Execute and Dataflow

The Memory Access Dataflow execution model and hardware architecture combine principles of decoupled access and execution, dataflow computation, and event-condition-action rules to redevelop the main primitives of an out-of-order core in a power-efficient way that targets memory accesses that naturally occur in programs or get induced when some work is offloaded to an accelerator. Such a mechanism can allow in-core accelerators to integrate with high- or low-performance cores without compromising performance, run at low power by turning off the core during such phases, and provide high energy savings.
Structural response to desolvation in a pyridyl-phenanthrene diarylethene-based metal–organic framework

A phenanthrene-based diarylethene linker with linear pyridyl connectivity, 4,4′-(9,10-bis(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)phenanthrene-2,7-diyl)dipyridine linker (TPDPy) was prepared and subsequently used to synthesize an air-stable metal–organic framework, UBMOF-3 (Zn3(BDC)3(TPDPy)1(DMF)1.5, BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide). Upon irradiation with ultraviolet light, this photo-responsive framework, composed of terephthalate, TPDPy, and zinc pinwheels, exhibits strong linear dichroism consistent with the crystal structure. Activation (desolvation) of the crystal leads to a significant change in the crystal structure that improves the ability to crystallographically resolve the photochromic linker.
Family composition and marital dissolution in rural Nepal, 1945-2008

The presence, number, sex, and age composition of children within families can have important influences on couples' marital outcomes. Children are valued across settings, but their value in settings where there is an absence of formalized social security is distinctive. This paper explores the influences of childlessness, and different number, age, and sex compositions of children, on the odds of marital dissolution among couples in rural Nepal. Results reveal that childless couples face significantly higher odds of dissolution than couples with at least one child, and each additional child-up to three children-reduces couples' odds of dissolution. Furthermore, having a child aged under two reduces couples' odds of marital dissolution, but interactions reveal that this age effect only holds at parity one. Surprisingly, despite a history of son preference in this setting, there is no evidence that children's within-parity sex composition is associated with the odds of marital dissolution.
Designing Sustainable Funding for College Promise Initiatives

College promise programs are spreading throughout this United States. These programs fund tuition and/or fees for eligible students who are actively progressing toward earning postsecondary certificates and undergraduate degrees. While existing college promise programs have varying designs, each one appears to be seeking continuous and long-term financial sustainability. The existing programs appear to be aimed toward ensuring that the promise of college tuition and fees can be fulfilled for future generations of students. Towards that end, ETS and the College Promise Campaign convened the “Designing Sustainable Funding for College Promise Initiatives” conference on June 2 and 3, 2016, for the primary purpose of reviewing and refining five models. This report contains the five papers that the appointed design teams presented.
Characteristics of OMVPE grown GaAsBi QW lasers and impact of post-growth thermal annealing

Laser diodes employing a strain-compensated GaAs1−xBix/GaAs1−yPy single quantum well (SQW) active region were grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE). High resolution x-ray diffraction, room temperature photoluminescence, and real-time optical reflectance measurements during the OMVPE growth were used to find the optimum process window for the growth of the active region material. Systematic post-growth in situ thermal anneals of various lengths were carried out in order to investigate the impacts of thermal annealing on the laser device performance characteristics. While the lowest threshold current density was achieved after the thermal annealing for 30 min at 630 °C, a gradual decrease in the external differential quantum efficiency was observed as the annealing time increases. It was observed that the temperature sensitivities of the threshold current density increase while those of lasing wavelength and slope efficiency remain nearly constant with increasing annealing time. Z-contrast sca...
Local Dynamics, Correlation, and Phase Transitions N-Body Versus Nonlinear Quantum Optics

A microscopic theory of the quantum optics of N two level atoms interacting with a resonant radiation field is applied to the problems of superradiance, photon echoes and absorptive bistability. This linear theory correctly describes these phenomena which were previously explained in terms of disparate, nonlinear theories and also predicts new ones that mean field theories are inherently incapable of treating. A new, stable pseudospin locked phase that could lead to ultrafast optical switches follows from a model hypothesis. This microscopic approach is possible because of a fundamental ansatz we make which has its origins in the quantum theory of measurement.
Failure Criteria for Soils and Rocks

This chapter discusses the failure criteria for soils and rocks. The two properties that enable soil or rock mass to remain in equilibrium when forces are acting to disturb it to resist the gravitational forces produced by its own weight, to sustain the stress concentrations produced around an excavation, or to support the weight of a structure erected upon it are its shear strength and tensile strength. If earth material yields to these applied forces, it can only be through the medium of deformation and fracture processes. If the material is to fail, then the cohesion of its mineral and particulate constituents must be overcome by forces of tension or pressure acting from within or by forces of shear. In general, earth materials such as rocks are not as ductile as the metals, and seldom as brittle as glass, but they display failure characteristics intermediate between the two extremes. The stronger rocks with high silica content and crystalline composition are usually more brittle than the porous sediments, and most rocks appear to have a discernible yield point before they rupture. The Coulomb criterion may be applied to brittle solids if it is postulated that on the plane of failure, the shear strength is reinforced by a frictional component of resistance to shear.
Cooperative Financial Performance and Board of Director Characteristics: A Quantitative Investigation

This article empirically tests the hypothesis that cooperative boards of directors and board size, specifically, can influence firm performance. Most existing studies of cooperative governance rely on qualitative data to draw inferences; however, this chapter uses several USDA data sets and a survey of co-op managers to determine whether above-average board size has a negative impact on co-op performance. This approach is comparable to those found in the corporate governance literature; however, it contributes to the cooperative literature by providing statistically-based findings on optimal board size. Specifically, this study finds that additional board members do eventually reduce some measures of performance; however, board size must be quite large.
Structure and function of copper-containing proteins: Current Opinion in Structural Biology 1991, 1: 895–904

Abstract Insight gained from three-dimensional structures of several cupredoxins has led to site-directed mutagenesis of copper ligands and of adjacent residues relevant to the electron-transfer function of these molecules. Results from these studies have shown that the methionine ligand can be modified and will not perturb function greatly, whereas a conserved hydrophobic patch is important to function. A new X-ray structure of nitrite reductase shows that it a trimer with unexpected sequence and structural similarity to ascorbate oxidase, another multicopper protein of known structure. Each of these multicopper proteins has domain folds like that of the cupredoxins (and superoxide dismutase). The structure of galactose oxidase reveals a three-domain structure which includes one domain with a fold related to the cupredoxin fold, and one with a fold related to that of methylamine dehydrogenase. This structural study also reveals a novel covalent linkage of a cysteine to a tyrosine ligand of the copper center. This linked pair is believed to be the source of a tyrosine radical important to the function of the molecule.
Improving Parent-Child Relationships Through the Use of Video Technology

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based treatment for child behavior problems. However, families living in rural areas may have limited access to this treatment. The present study outlines a collaboration between a university-based PCIT research group and community agencies providing services to parents to explore the use of a video to educate parents about labeled praise, a fundamental concept taught in PCIT. We developed a training video, conducted focus groups with young mothers, and evaluated the use of praise before and after viewing the video by a small group of parents seeking treatment at a rural mental health practice. Focus group participants found the video helpful and intended to increase their use of praise, and participants at the mental health practice significantly increased their use of labeled praise after viewing the video. Challenges faced during this collaboration offer lessons for other researchers seeking to build similar partnerships.
Soft Snake Robots: Investigating the Effects of Gait Parameters on Locomotion in Complex Terrains

Compliant materials used to create soft robots can better replicate biological structures than typical rigid materials. We can look to nature for developing locomotion strategies for these soft-bodied robots. In this work, snakes were used as inspiration to create an inextensible, soft robot which was used as a platform to test gaits in terrain composed of granular media ranging from fine sand to stone. Snakes vary the speed and amplitude of the traveling wave used in lateral undulation to navigate different environments. We used these gait parameters to develop and test a set of custom gaits that varied the phase offset of the sequence of waves as well as using the best performing gait to test how the amplitude of the wave effects locomotion over the selected terrains. These tests provide preliminary evidence that altering these parameters effects the robot's ability to traverse different terrains. The developed robot is also tested in environments specific to applications for snake robots to show how a soft snake robot can be potentially more effective in these environment. The highest performing gait-curvature combination was the half-activation gait (where the back actuator was activated half as long as the front)with a 135° swept angle. It reached a velocity of 2.2 mm/s or 0.011 body-lengths/s on paper, which was the best performing terrain.
AN UNCOMMON CAUSE OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Psa) endocarditis is an uncommon cause of infective endocarditis (IE) representing less than 1.8% of cases. Psa IE is commonly right-sided and related to intravenous drug use (IVDU). Psa IE non-IVDU related is rare. A 44-year-old male with diabetes and end-stage renal
"I was really, really nervous posting it": Communicating about Invisible Chronic Illnesses across Social Media Platforms

People with invisible chronic illnesses (ICIs) can use social media to seek both informational and emotional support, but these individuals also face social and health-related challenges in posting about their often-stigmatized conditions online. To understand how they evaluate different platforms for disclosure, we interviewed 19 people with ICIs who post on general social media about their illnesses, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We present a cross-platform analysis of how platforms varied in their suitability to achieve participants' goals, as well as the challenges posed by each platform. We also found that as participants' ICIs progressed, their goals, challenges, and social media use similarly evolved over time. Our findings highlight how people with ICIs select platforms from a broader ecology of social media and suggest a general need to understand shifts in social media use for populations with chronic but changing health concerns.
Correction to: Linking Abiotic Variables with Macrofaunal and Meiofaunal Abundance and Community Structure Patterns on the Gulf of Mexico Continental Slope

The Deep Gulf of Mexico Benthos (DGoMB) program was designed to determine patterns of abundance and diversity of meiofauna and macrofauna in the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope between 300 m and 3700 m depth. Abundance of all taxa was significantly influenced by the particulate organic carbon (POC) flux. The abundance of meiofauna, macrofauna, crustaceans, and mollusks increased with increasing clay content, but clay had no significant effect on harpacticoid or polychaete abundance. Polychaete diversity was significantly correlated to POC flux, but mollusk diversity was correlated to sediment properties. Polychaetes had the highest average abundance and species richness. Harpacticoids were the least abundant of the four taxa, but had the highest values of Hill’s diversity index and Pielou’s evenness index. Harpacticoids and Crustaceans had high species turnover rates, resulting in low similarities of the respective faunas between sampling stations, whereas mollusks and polychaetes were more similar between different sampling stations. Overall, there were interannual differences in abundance patterns of meiofauna and macrofauna, similar community structure patterns among the taxa, and unique distributions of diversity with respect to depth and longitude.
A Comparison of Collegiate Women’s Court and Beach Volleyball Injury Data: A Three Year Retrospective analysis:

Objectives:NCAA Division I beach volleyball is a recently introduced sport that has been played for 3 seasons to date. Since the introduction of this new level of athletic participation for women’s...
Biventricular Pacing for Patients with Complete Heart Block

Complete heart block (CHB) is defined by the failure of atrial impulses to propagate through the conduction system to the ventricles. Pacemakers are indicated therapies for the treatment of nonreversible CHB, and traditionally this has been achieved with right ventricular (RV) transvenous devices. During the past two decades, biventricular pacing with a left ventricular (LV) pacing lead, or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), has emerged as an alternative therapy with proven benefit in patients with heart failure due to systolic dysfunction and preexisting intraventricular conduction delay. Data are most clear to support a clinical benefit of CRT over traditional RV pacing (RVP) in patients with CHB and LVEF ≤35%, along with favorable data in patients with CHB and intermediate LVEF 36–49%. In patients with CHB and preserved LVEF ≥50%, there is less evidence to support the practice of de novo CRT over RVP. Other populations of interest include patients with congenital heart block and post-AV node ablation. In this comprehensive review, we provide a summary of the evidence for CRT versus traditional RVP in each of these subgroups and offer a suggested clinical approach to evaluating a patient with CHB for CRT.
An integrated and automated electronic system for point-of-care protein testing

Protein testing in blood is important for clinical analysis. Traditional blood tests are performed in centralized laboratories and are slow to provide results. In contrast, point-of-care devices deliver rapid results in non-laboratory settings, allowing timely analysis and in turn reducing healthcare costs. Successful point-of-care platforms require seamless integration of chemical assays, fluid management and signal readout. In this regard, we present an integrated, compact and automated electronic system for point-of-care protein sensing. The system comprises of a microfluidics-based electrochemical biosensor, amperometry circuitry and automated microfluidic fluid handling circuitry. This platform utilizes magnetic microbeads to expedite an electronic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and microfluidics to manage small volumes and automate assay operations. A commercial single-chip potentiostat is utilized for amperometry measurements and microfluidics control. Using this all-electrical system, we demonstrate an integrated and automated assay for human interleukin-6.
On Step 1 Mania, USMLE Score Reporting, and Financial Conflict of Interest at the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Though intended to inform a binary decision on initial medical licensure, the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) is frequently used for screening candidates for residency positions. Some have argued that reporting results as pass/fail would honor the test's purpose while preventing inappropriate use. To date, the USMLE's sponsor organizations have declined to make such a change. In this Perspective, the authors examine the history and mission of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), trace the rise of "Step 1 mania," and consider the current financial incentives for the NBME in implementing a pass/fail score reporting policy.The NBME was founded in 1915 to address the lack of interstate reciprocity in medical licensure examination. With the creation of the USMLE in 1992, a single pathway for licensure was established, and the organization's original mission was achieved. Yet even after fulfilling its primary purpose, the NBME-classified as a nonprofit organization-has seen its revenues rise dramatically over the past two decades. Much of the increased revenue is derived from test products and services not required for medical licensure, with sales driven by the increasing importance of Step 1 scores in residency selection. Revenue from these products and services would likely decline if the NBME reported Step 1 results as pass/fail.A financial conflict of interest occurs when a judgment concerning a primary interest may be influenced by a secondary interest, such as financial gain. The data presented here demonstrate that the NBME has a conflict of interest in its current score reporting policy. Possible remedies, such as disclosure, recusal, divestiture, and restructuring, are considered.
A3-A3 Bypass for Giant Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Large fusiform anterior cerebral artery aneurysms often require revascularization to allow for the treatment of the aneurysm and preservation of distal perfusion. The A3-A3 side-to-side anastomosis maintains ipsilateral distal perfusion. The inflow to the fusiform segment can then be clip occluded to treat the diseased vessel segment. This procedure is illustrated by the case in this video. The patient had a large right anterior cerebral artery fusiform aneurysm. An anterior interhemispheric craniotomy with the right side down was utilized for the approach. Postprocedural angiography demonstrated occlusion of the aneurysmal segment and patent distal perfusion within the ipsilateral distal segment. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.