cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidemiologic Measurements for the Determination of Genetic Risks

The tendency for epilepsy to aggregate in families has long been recognized While it is clear that some diseases for which seizures or epilepsy are included as part of a symptom complex will follow Mendelian patterns of inheritance, in these families the phenotypic expression of the seizures tend to be similar. Such patterns account for only a small proportion of all cases of seizure disorders. For these unique families, linkage studies and gene mapping is appropriate to determine the location of the abnormal gene. In addition, biochemical or other specialized studies are warranted to identify the underlying mechanisms by which seizures occur. Such studies may ultimately lead to clues for all cases of epilepsy.
Provider–Client Interaction in Methadone Treatment Clinics in China:

This study examines provider–client interactions in the context of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in China. Service providers were recruited from six methadone clinics. A total of 41 providers were enrolled in the study and participated in an assessment from February to March 2010. Descriptive and multiple regression analyses were performed. Providers with a higher level of negative attitude toward drug users were less likely than others to interact with clients. Female providers were less likely to have negative attitudes toward drug users as compared with their male counterparts. Doctors were more likely than others to have negative attitudes toward drug users. Knowledge of MMT was not related to either negative attitude toward drug users or to provider–client interaction. The findings indicate an urgent need to address the issue of provider attitudes, which can impact interactions with clients and influence efforts to maintain treatment retention and outcomes for drug users.
Prognostic value of dobutamine echocardiography in patients after Q-wave or non-Q-wave acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract We investigated the role of dobutamine echocardiography in predicting future spontaneous events in patients with Q-wave or non–Q-wave first acute myocardial infarction (AMI). DE was performed in 168 patients with a Q-wave AMI and 105 patients with a non–Q-wave AMI. Patients were observed for hard events (cardiac death and nonfatal reinfarction) and all spontaneous events (hard events and unstable angina). When compared to patients with a Q-wave AMI, patients with non–Q-wave AMI had a higher rate of positive dobutamine echocardiographic results (51.8% vs 80.0%, p
Substituted 2-Aminobenzoyl Derivatives of Methylhydrazine

Abstract Acylation of arylhydrazines gives acyl 2-arylhydrazides1 while acylation of alkylhydrazines yields either 1-alkyl or 2-alkylhydrazides depending on the choice of acylating agent. Earlier examples of the variability of acylation sites in the alkylhydrazines2,3 were systematically reinvestigated by Hinman4 and Moore5 who established that esters, with methylhydrazine, gave acyl 2-methylhydrazides while anhydrides yielded acyl 1-methyl-hydrazides.
The Physical and Electronic Structure of M 2 Quadruply Bonded Complexes: A Density Functional Theory Study

The electronic structures and the physical properties (vertical excitation energies, vibrational stretching frequencies, and bond lengths) of a variety of M–M quadruply bonded (M = Mo, W) complexes are investigated using density functional theory (DFT). By utilizing a variety of pure and hybrid exchange-correlation (XC) functionals and a number basis sets, we are able to recommend a theoretical methodology for most efficiently probing the electronic structures of homoleptic M2(O2CR)4 and bridged M2(O2C-X-CO2)M2 (R = organic group, typically H; X = conjugated organic group) complexes.
Bilateral BRVO in a patient with recurrent prostate cancer

Bilateral cases of branch retinal vein occlusions (BRVO) are infrequent and often related to systemic disease. A 72-year-old man with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer was referred for decreased vision in his left eye. Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography disclosed bilateral BRVO with patches of peripheral non-perfusion and macular oedema in the left eye. A systemic work up revealed elevated fibrinogen and reduced free protein S antigen, consistent with an underlying hypercoagulable state. Cancer is a well-known cause of hypercoagulability. We report the first case of bilateral BRVO related to biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer and a proven coagulation derangement.
Team Network Evolution While Undergoing a Lean Transformation: A Missing Success Indicator?

The Lean paradigm for production process management and improvement can be considered a benchmark for managing operations in many areas, from manufacturing to software development. Several studies found factors for the success or failure of Lean implementations, but these factors are aggregated or company-level and do not capture the nuances of teamwork at the shop floor level. In this paper it is contended that as companies embark along a lean transformation their work teams undergo a change in their collaboration patterns, and the degree of such transformation indicates and is correlated to how successful the implementation of Lean has been for that particular team. After developing propositions based on literature and practical experience, three hypotheses are tested with a small sample of work teams at an industrial company implementing Lean. Results support that as companies become Lean, there is an increase in communication among workers of a team, among different teams and between teams and management. These changes are more pronounced in more successful work teams. The conclusions may be helpful to understand a lean transformation as a communication network transformation, and hence open the game to improving the odds of a successful lean implementation by facilitating communication rather than by insisting in technical or tool-based skills.
The contribution of citrate to the ferroxidase activity of serum.

SummaryThe ferroxidase activity of ceruloplasmin has been demonstrated by other workers. In the present investigation, the ferroxidase activity of human serum was greater than that which could be accounted for by its ceruloplasmin content. The additional activity was due to a substance which was dialyzable, heat stable, separable from ceruloplasmin by immunoelectrophoresis, and not inhibitable by azide. The chromatographic properties of this substance were identical with those of citrate. Ferroxidase activity of citrate was demonstrated in the absence of other plasma factors. Furthermore, induced changes in serum citrate levels in vivo were correlated with changes in serum ferroxidase activity. Thus, citrate accounts for the nonceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity of serum.
Introduction to Special Issue on Advances and Applications of Surface Analysis Methods

Abstract: Introduction to the special issue on surface analysis, providing thumbnail sketches of several popular techniques. A table gives the capabilities of each technique.
Boron Doped A-Si,C:H Grown by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering from Doped Targets

We have deposited p+ a-Si,C:H films by reactive magnetron sputtering from boron doped target with 1 at.% B. We have investigated the influence of H2 pressure on the electrical and microstructural properties of the doped a-Si,C:H films. The boron concentration in the film is ~2-4×1020cm−3. The incorporation of B atoms decreases by a factor of 2 at the highest H2 pressure. We have obtained films of Taue bandgap ~1.8-1.84eV with dark conductivity 2-8×10−6Ω−1cm−1, thermal activation energy ~0.28-0.33eV and νμτe ~1-3×10−8cm2/V. This result is comparable with glow discharge B doped a-Si,C:H film. We discuss the film Microstructure, as reflected in infra-red & thermal H evolution spectra, vs. the absolute composition of sputtered boron doped a-Si,C:H films.
Premium Potential for Geographically Labeled, Differentiated Meat Products

Growing consumer demand for local foods and products grown under specialty production systems provides livestock producers with the opportunity to increase profits and reduce variability through production of high-value finished meat products, integration of additional species, and targeted marketing efforts. This study examines consumer preferences and willingness to purchase and pay premiums for origin-labeled differentiated beef, pork, and lamb products through a mail survey of Nevada residents. Logit model results show important differences in consumer preferences across meat products. Pricing premiums for differentiated pork and lamb products ranged from 11 to 15 percent, while those for beef products ranged from 22 to 40 percent. Additionally, premiums were higher for superior meat cuts. Product appearance attributes such as marbling, texture, and brand had a significant impact on consumer willingness to pay for all products, while product credence attributes, such as production method and origin, only had a significant impact on consumer willingness to pay for commonly known beef products. Target consumers for local differentiated pork and lamb products include higher-income, white married adults with children. Target consumers for beef products include higher-income, younger white adults. Study results show the importance of targeted consumer marketing for less commonly consumed products, such as lamb. Including information on the health benefits of specialized production methods in marketing materials would also be useful, especially if targeting seniors and ethnic groups.
Laboratory Test for Ice Adhesion Strength Using Commercial Instrumentation

A laboratory test method for evaluating ice adhesion has been developed employing a commercially available instrument normally used for dynamic mechanical analysis (TA RSA-III). This is the first laboratory ice adhesion test that does not require a custom-built apparatus. The upper grip range of ∼10 mm is an enabling feature that is essential for the test. The method involves removal of an ice cylinder from a polymer coating with a probe and the determination of peak removal force (Ps). To validate the test method, the strength of ice adhesion was determined for a prototypical glassy polymer, poly(methyl methacrylate). The distance of the probe from the PMMA surface has been identified as a critical variable for Ps. The new test provides a readily available platform for investigating fundamental surface characteristics affecting ice adhesion. In addition to the ice release test, PMMA coatings were characterized using DSC, DCA, and TM-AFM.
The Existing Problems and Optimization of the Bypass System of the China-made Generator Units

The design defects of the bypass system of the China-made generator units have a direct impact on its normal operation,which can not make the unit in operation adapt to the sudden load rejection situation.An analysis is made on the common problems of the China-made bypass systems,such as improper arrangement of the bypass steam control valves,no hot-standby function,and so on,and relevant optimization measures are proposed.The optimized bypass system can substantially improve the startup,and operation safety and flexibility of large generator units.
Bacterial growth inhibition by amniotic fluid: II. Reversal of amniotic fluid bacterial growth inhibition by addition of a chemically defined medium

Abstract By measuring the growth of E. coli spectrophotometrically, it has been possible to determine that a chemically defined medium supported growth of this organisms; however, when amniotic fluid was added to chemically defined medium before inoculation with the test organism, enhanced growth was observed although amniotic fluid alone failed to support detectable growth of E. coli . Reversal of bacterial growth inhibition in amniotic fluid was found to be related to phosphate in chemically defined medium. The reversal of growth inhibition was demonstrated with various phosphate containing compounds. It is proposed that phosphate interacts with a bacterial growth inhibitor in amniotic fluid which results in the loss of its bacterial growth-inhibiting ability.
United States National Report on Exchange of Information

This National Report was prepared for the 2014 Annual Congress of the European Association of Tax Law Professors, which took place in May 2014 at Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey. This National Report discusses administrative and legal mechanisms, especially the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), that the United States has deployed to obtain offshore tax information. Portions of this National Report were originally published in Joshua D. Blank and Ruth Mason, “Exporting FATCA,” 142 Tax Notes 1245 (2014).
Representing actions and state constraints in model-based diagnosis

In this paper we examine an important set of representation issues which have not been addressed by the model-based diagnosis community. In particular, we examine the problem of integrating a model-based diagnosis system description, SD, with a theory of action to parsimoniously represent the effect of actions on a system and the effects of system state on performing actions in the world. We employ the situation calculus, a first-order language, as our representation language. In the context of the situation calculus, SD presents an, often complex, set of state constraints. These state constraints implicitly define indirect effects of actions as well as indirectly imposing further preconditions on the performance of actions. As a consequence, SD presents further complications to addressing the frame, ramification and qualification problems. For the purposes of this paper, we examine a syntactically restricted SD, which commonly occurs in the axiomatization of model-based diagnosis domains. The contributions of this paper include: 1) a framework for integrating SD and a theory of action. 2) a procedure for compiling SD into a set of successor state axioms. These axioms capture the intended interpretation of SD, while providing a closed-form solution to the frame and ramification problems.
Why is this Woman Still Missing? Emily Pfeiffer, Victorian Poet

In 1929 Vita Sackville-West cited Emily Pfeiffer’s sonnet ‘Peace to the Odalisque’ as an example of feminist poetry of the 1870s, at ‘the very beginning of all this stirring about women’s rights, and women’s equality’.1 Social and political activism, feminist philosophy, artistic excellence, and connections with prominent writers have now earned many other Victorian women poets a place in the expanding literary canon. Yet in the 1990s, despite having all these same claims to fame, Emily Pfeiffer remains obscure.2 This essay will attempt to clarify Pfeiffer’s significance in literary history, and to demonstrate the aesthetic merit of her work.
3D Deep Learning for Multi-modal Imaging-Guided Survival Time Prediction of Brain Tumor Patients.

High-grade glioma is the most aggressive and severe brain tumor that leads to death of almost 50 % patients in 1–2 years. Thus, accurate prognosis for glioma patients would provide essential guidelines for their treatment planning. Conventional survival prediction generally utilizes clinical information and limited handcrafted features from magnetic resonance images (MRI), which is often time consuming, laborious and subjective. In this paper, we propose using deep learning frameworks to automatically extract features from multi-modal preoperative brain images (i.e., T1 MRI, fMRI and DTI) of high-grade glioma patients. Specifically, we adopt 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and also propose a new network architecture for using multi-channel data and learning supervised features. Along with the pivotal clinical features, we finally train a support vector machine to predict if the patient has a long or short overall survival (OS) time. Experimental results demonstrate that our methods can achieve an accuracy as high as 89.9 % We also find that the learned features from fMRI and DTI play more important roles in accurately predicting the OS time, which provides valuable insights into functional neuro-oncological applications.
Intrarailroad and Intermodal Competition Impacts on Railroad Wheat Rates

The issue addressed in this paper is more fully understanding the relationship of intrarailroad competition and rail rates for wheat in the largest wheat producing states, which are Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. The overall objective of the study is to investigate railroad pricing behavior for wheat shipments. The rate model was estimated with OLS in double-log specification utilizing the 2012 STB Confidential Waybill sample and other data.The research found that the distance from origin to destination and the total shipment weight had the expected negative relationships with railroad wheat rates and were statistically significant. The distance from origin to the nearest barge loading location had the expected positive relationship to railroad wheat rates and was also significant. The weight of each covered hopper car and the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index were both non-significant. However, the study used other data to determine that intrarailroad competition for wheat shipments within states appears to be present in most states.
The Company Core Data Sheet in Light of XML-Authoring and IDMP Master Data Implementation:

Labeling decisions for core labeling and/or local labeling capture the outcome of all discussions on the product statements that are necessary to ensure safe and effective handling of pharmaceutical products, with a special focus on the decision concerning known, suspected, or hypothetical risks. Such decisions may determine if a topic is to be included in the label or provide a rationale for exclusion from the label. The need to provide special advice to users and the type of advice (eg, contraindications, precautions) are subject to labeling decisions as well. While the problem is well known to pharmaceutical companies, and technical solutions such as XML-based authoring/coding systems try to offer support from the information technology sector to handle the business problem, the current identification of medicinal products (IDMP) requirements raised by health authorities worldwide have put a new focus on the problem. This article will elaborate on the basic business problem and its requirements with respect to a solution.
Yuliy Sannikov: Winner of the 2016 Clark Medal

Yuliy Sannikov is an extraordinary theorist who has developed methods that offer new insights in analyzing problems that had seemed well-studied and familiar: for example, decisions that might bring about cooperation and/or defection in a repeated-play prisoner's dilemma game, or that affect the balance of incentives and opportunism in a principal-agent relationship. His work has broken new ground in methodology, often through the application of stochastic calculus methods. The stochastic element means that his work naturally captures situations in which there is a random chance that monitoring, communication, or signaling between players is imperfect. Using calculus in the context of continuous-time games allows him to overcome tractability problems that had long hindered research in a number of areas. He has substantially altered the toolbox available for studying dynamic games. This essay offers an overview of Sannikov's research in several areas.
The role of exchange transfusions in the management of low-birth-weight infants with and without severe respiratory distress syndrome: II. Further observations and studies of mechanisms of action

Exchange transfusion, as a form of therapy, was contrasted with the use of fresh frozen plasma or conventional supportive care alone in the management of 19 infants with birth weights of less than 1,000 gm, without severe respiratory distress, and in the management of 82 infants, birth weights less than 2,000 gm, with severe respiratory distress whose disease manifested itself within the first 24 hours of life. Survival for more than five days was similar, regardless of therapy, in infants weighing less than 1,000 gm without severe RDS. In contrast, the use of exchange transfusion significantly decreased the case fatality rate of infants with severe RDS. In the groups receiving exchange transfusion, the mortality rate was 41%, whereas in the groups receiving either plasma or supportive care alone the mortality was 80%. Study of coagulation factors and red cell concentrations of fetal hemoglobin and of 2,3-DPG failed to demonstrate any relationship between either improvement in coagulation or oxygen unloading and the improved survival of infants receiving exchange transfusion. Following exchange transfusion there was a significant decrease in the ratio of F1O2 to PaO2, suggesting that pulmonary perfusion and/or ventilation was improved by the procedure.
Preclinical models of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can manifest as nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is often associated with progressive fibrosis which can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer (HCC). NASH is increasing as an etiology for end-stage liver disease as well as HCC. There are currently no approved therapies for NASH. A major barrier to development of therapeutics for NASH is the lack of preclinical models of disease that are appropriately validated to represent the biology and outcomes of human disease. There are many in vitro and animal models that have been developed. In vitro models do not fully capture the hepatic and extrahepatic mileu of human NASH and large animal models are expensive and logistically difficult to use. There is therefore considerable interest in the development and validation of mouse models for NAFLD including NASH. Several models based on varying genetic or dietary manipulations have been developed. The majority of models do not develop steatohepatitis as defined strictly by the presence of hepatocellular ballooning with or without Mallory-Denk bodies and accompanying inflammation in the presence of macrovesicular steatosis. Others lack validation against human disease. In this review, we describe the best practices in development of mouse models of NASH. We further review existing models and the literature supporting their use as a surrogate for human disease. Finally, data on models to evaluate protective genes are discussed. It is hoped these will provide guidance in the interpretation of data derived from mouse models and also in the development and validation of newer models.
Secukinumab and Apremilast Combination Therapy for Recalcitrant Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the skin and joints mediated by aberrant activity of Th1 and Th17 cells. It also has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of coronary a...
TEM/STEM study of Zircaloy-2 with protective FeAl(Cr) layers under simulated BWR environment and high-temperature steam exposure

Abstract FeAl(Cr) thin-film depositions on Zircaloy-2 were studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with respect to oxidation behavior under simulated boiling water reactor (BWR) conditions and high-temperature steam. Columnar grains of FeAl with Cr in solid solution were formed on Zircaloy-2 coupons using magnetron sputtering. NiFe2O4 precipitates on the surface of the FeAl(Cr) coatings were observed after the sample was exposed to the simulated BWR environment. High-temperature steam exposure resulted in grain growth and consumption of the FeAl(Cr) layer, but no delamination at the interface. Outward Al diffusion from the FeAl(Cr) layer occurred during high-temperature steam exposure (700 °C for 3.6 h) to form a 100-nm-thick alumina oxide layer, which was effective in mitigating oxidation of the Zircaloy-2 coupons. Zr intermetallic precipitates formed near the FeAl(Cr) layer due to the inward diffusion of Fe and Al. The counterflow of vacancies in response to the Al and Fe diffusion led to porosity within the FeAl(Cr) layer.
Review of Amsterdam’s Atlantic: Print Culture and the making of Dutch Brazil, by Michiel van Groesen

Amsterdam’s Atlantic: Print Culture and the making of Dutch Brazil, by Michiel van Groesen, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017.
Adaptively Biased Output Cap-Less NMOS LDO With 19 ns Settling Time

This paper presents an output external capacitor-less, fully integrated, fast settling NMOS low-dropout (LDO) regulator with adaptively biased error amplifier (EA) for system-on-chip core applications. The adaptive biasing technique increases both loop bandwidth and slew-rate of the LDO by 100% at full load condition without changing no-load quiescent current. Direct feedback to gate-to-source voltage of the NMOS regulation FET provides fast load transient response. The proposed LDO employs a cross-coupled common-gate input based EA, with transconductance boosting, achieving twice unity-gain bandwidth in comparison to a typical folded-cascode common-source input stage. Low output impedance of NMOS regulation stage and low input impedance of the EA reduce load dependent stability issue. The proposed regulator is designed and fabricated in a 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS technology with die-area of 0.21 mm2. The LDO generates a regulated output voltage of 1.4–1.6 V from an input voltage of 1.6–1.8 V, consumes 133 $\mu \text{A}$ quiescent current, and supports 0 pF to 50 pF load capacitance. Measured results show 166 mV undershoot with 19 ns settling time for a load step from 9 mA to 40 mA in 350 ps edge-time for zero-load capacitance. After using adaptive biasing, the settling time is reduced by 37% and 36% for 0 pF and 50 pF load, respectively.
The Hippocampus Serves a Role in Multimodal Information Processing, and Memory Consolidation

This chapter focuses on the role of the hippocampus in animal behavior and illustrates specific examples from the literature for each of the four categories of hippocampus function. The first three categories involve the role of the hippocampus in information processing and cognition. The hippocampus is involved in the perceptual processing of information regarding space, time, and relationships among objects. The chapter discusses the role of hippocampus in multimodal information processing. The fourth function of the hippocampus is that it is required for memory consolidation. The classic role of the hippocampus is to participate in the formation of long-term memories by helping to convert short-term sensory signals into long-term or permanently encoded memories. The hippocampus does not store information for extended periods of time but rather serves as an intermediate-duration memory buffer that is involved in maintaining memories until they are transferred for more permanent storage in various regions of the cerebral cortex. The hippocampus receives direct or indirect inputs from all the sensory areas of the cortex, including the areas of the cortex involved in the late stages of visual information processing, the auditory cortex, and the somatosensory cortex. Current hypotheses from several groups have put forward that hippocampus-dependent memory consolidation requires sleep or at least sleep-associated processes. Hippocampus-dependent long-term memory consolidation is also dependent on altered gene expression. The chapter discusses the way the hippocampus achieves its various functions as a signal indicator and as a transient cellular memory store for subsequent downloading of information to the longer term storage areas of the cortex.
Psychological Factors and Exercise

Exercise and fitness activities increase the level of physiologic and psychological functioning among all segments of the population, at all levels of physical conditioning. Improvements have been seen following adherence to exercise programs for almost all psychological variables. For individuals with mood disturbances or psychiatric difficulties, exercise has proved to be an important factor in their recovery, and for some, a major treatment modality related to improvement. As the area of exercise psychology expands, it will continue to touch the areas of health psychology, behavioral medicine, and rehabilitation. Exercise and fitness activities benefit not only one's physical health, but also one's psychological health and general well-being.
Polyploidy in Plant Taxa: Summary

The preceding seven papers deal with the distribution and evolutionary significance of Polyploidy in each of the major plant taxa. Polyploidy, the multiplication of entire chromosomal complements, is the most widespread and distinctive cytogenetic process affecting higher plant evolution. Approximately 36% of the species of flowering plants have gametic chromosome numbers which are multiples of the basic diploid number found within their respective genera, but between 70 and 80 percent may, in fact, have Polyploidy in their evolutionary history. The percent of intrageneric Polyploidy in ferns is even higher and the occurrence of intergeneric Polyploidy is equivalent to that in angiosperms. Studies to date have been largely confined to the aforementioned groups, especially the dicotyledonous angiosperms. However, the preceding papers suggest that Polyploidy may be an important aspect of evolution among at least certain groups of the thallophytes. The only group in which Polyploidy is con-spicuously rare is the gyminosperms.
Abstract TP16: Predictors for Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy With Balloon Guide Catheter Assistance

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has become the standard treatment for large vessel occlusion (LVO) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in well-selected patients. Although many devices and strategies exist,...
Cats use hollow papillae to wick saliva into fur

The cat tongue is covered in sharp, rear-facing spines called papillae, the precise function of which is a mystery. In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we use high-speed film, grooming force measurements, and computed tomography (CT) scanning to elucidate the mechanism by which papillae are used to groom fur. We examine the tongues of six species of cats from domestic cat to lion, spanning 30-fold in body weight. The papillae of these cats each feature a hollow cavity at the tip that spontaneously wicks saliva from the mouth and then releases it onto hairs. The unique shape of the cat’s papillae may inspire ways to clean complex hairy surfaces. We demonstrate one such application with the tongue-inspired grooming (TIGR) brush, which incorporates 3D-printed cat papillae into a silicone substrate. The TIGR brush experiences lower grooming forces than a normal hairbrush and is easier to clean.
Carbon nanotube – Carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites with extended fatigue life

Abstract In this study, uniform and patterned multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) forests were grown over carbon fiber fabrics utilizing a relatively non-destructive synthesis technique; graphitic structures by design (GSD). Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy polymer composites (CFRPs) were fabricated based on the carbon fibers with surface grown MWCNTs and examined under monotonic tensile tests. The fabricated composites were also examined under a tension-tension fatigue loading at three stress levels of 85, 90 and 95% of their monotonic strength using a cyclic stress ratio of 0.10 to investigate the effects of the various topologies of the surface grown MWCNTs on the fatigue damage progression and life of the CFRPs. Results revealed that the fatigue life of the CFRPs with patterned growth of MWCNTs exhibited a significant fatigue life improvement of 150%. The fractography analysis elucidated the role of MWCNTs in protecting the fiber yarn against the matrix cracks leading to significant fatigue life improvement.
Directional Asymmetry in Biphoton Correlations

We have demonstrated asymmetry in biphoton coherence functions that arises upon reversing the propagation direction of a pump laser coupled into a silicon microdisk. Oscillations in the coherence functions experience an almost total phase shift. © 2019 The Author(s)
EGFR amplification predicted selective sensitivity to PARP inhibitors with high PARP-DNA trapping potential in human GBM.

2047Background: Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) is an enzyme critical for regulating a variety of DNA damage repair mechanisms such as BER/SSBR, and PARP inhibitors have been shown to have single...
A Comparative Study of Perceptions and Use of Google Scholar and Academic Library Discovery Systems.

Google Scholar and academic library discovery systems are both popular resources among academic users for finding scholarly information. By conducting an online survey with 975 users from more than 20 public research universities across the United States, this study comparatively investigates how and why academic users use these two resources. Results show that the ways participants used both resources were similar, and both were perceived as highly accessible and useful . Academic library discovery systems’ perceived comprehensiveness , subjective norm , loyalty , and intended use were higher than Google Scholar, while Google Scholar’s perceived ease of use , system quality , and satisfaction were higher than that of academic library discovery systems.
Dynamic Graphs on the GPU

We present a fast dynamic graph data structure for the GPU. Our dynamic graph structure uses one hash table per vertex to store adjacency lists and achieves 3.4–14.8x faster insertion rates over the state of the art across a diverse set of large datasets, as well as deletion speedups up to 7.8x. The data structure supports queries and dynamic updates through both edge and vertex insertion and deletion. In addition, we define a comprehensive evaluation strategy based on operations, workloads, and applications that we believe better characterize and evaluate dynamic graph data structures.
Effect of Borrelia burgdorferi Outer Membrane Vesicles on Host Oxidative Stress Response.

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spherical bodies containing proteins and nucleic acids that are released by Gram-negative bacteria, including Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. The functional relationship between B. burgdorferi OMVs and host neuron homeostasis is not well understood. The objective of this study was to examine how B. burgdorferi OMVs impact the host cell environment. First, an in vitro model was established by co-culturing human BE2C neuroblastoma cells with B. burgdorferi B31. B. burgdorferi was able to invade BE2C cells within 24 h. Despite internalization, BE2C cell viability and levels of apoptosis remained unchanged, but resulted in dramatically increased production of MCP-1 and MCP-2 cytokines. Elevated secretion of MCP-1 has previously been associated with changes in oxidative stress. BE2C cell mitochondrial superoxides were reduced as early as 30 min after exposure to B. burgdorferi and OMVs. To rule out whether BE2C cell antioxidant response is the cause of decline in superoxides, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) gene expression was assessed. SOD2 expression was reduced upon exposure to B. burgdorferi, suggesting that B. burgdorferi might be responsible for superoxide reduction. These results suggest that B. burgdorferi modulates cell antioxidant defense and immune system reaction in response to the bacterial infection. In summary, these results show that B. burgdorferi OMVs serve to directly counter superoxide production in BE2C neurons, thereby ‘priming’ the host environment to support B. burgdorferi colonization.
SMARCA4-deficient uterine sarcoma: A case report and a concise review.

Abstract Background SMARCA4-deficient uterine sarcoma (SDUS) is a newly discovered undifferentiated uterine mesenchymal malignancy which has loss of expression of SMARCA4. Case A 46-year-old woman presented with heavy irregular vaginal bleeding over the previous 5 months. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a large pelvic mass centered within the uterus, suspicious of malignancy with regional metastatic lymphadenopathy. Biopsy confirmed SDUS and patient underwent chemotherapy. Her symptoms improved 3 months after treatment. Conclusion An extremely rare case of this newly described entity is reported. Recognizing the characteristic imaging and pathology findings of SDUS is essential for an accurate diagnosis, which may affect patient survival.
Quantifying the similarity of 2D images using edge pixels: an application to the forensic comparison of footwear impressions

We propose a novel method to quantify the similarity between an impression (Q) from an unknown source and a test impression (K) from a known source. Using the property of geometrical congruence in ...
PhysPort Use and Growth: Supporting Physics Teaching with Research-Based Resources since 2011.

PhysPort (www.physport.org) has become the go-to place for physics educators to learn to apply research-­based teaching and assessment in their classrooms. Usage (defined as the total number of visits) has doubled every two years since the site was released in 2011, and 20% of all U.S. physics faculty and 7% of U.S. high school physics teachers are now verified educators on PhysPort. The lead author conceived of PhysPort in 2007 after meeting many physics instructors interested in incorporating results of physics education research (PER) in their classrooms but with no idea where to start. At the time, most PER results were only available in research journals, which required instructors’ time and effort to find articles and read them, and there was no central place to learn about results and implications for classroom practice. Throughout its development, PhysPort has been based on user research: PhysPort staff interview physics instructors about their needs, design the site based on those needs, and conduct usability testing to see how they meet those needs. PhysPort is a joint product of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and Kansas State University (K-State), with contributions from many universities, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and a library within the ComPADRE.org digital library. The site (originally called the PER User’s Guide) was first funded by an NSF grant in 2009 and released in November 2011. This article presents an overview of resources on PhysPort, discussion of research and development of the site, and data on the continuing growth of site usage.
Energy characterization of graph workloads

Abstract Graph algorithms are critical components of the big-data analysis workflow. The graph kernel performance is highly dependent on the input data graphs. The inherently sparse nature of the input graphs often results in irregular memory access patterns, which may not suit the data-locality based cache optimizations featured in current high-performance processors. Much prior research has identified several optimization opportunities by characterizing graph kernels on existing hardware. However, current graph workload characterization studies focus on performance-related observations and optimizations, overlooking the energy implications. In this paper, we address this technology gap by presenting an exhaustive and systematic energy characterization study of graph kernels. We characterize the six GAP benchmark suite kernels with a variety of input graphs on a dual-socket x86-based system. We then analyze how the algorithms, graph characteristics (like graph scale and degree), and system effects (like parallelism, simultaneous multithreading, and multiprocessing) impact the energy. Based on our analysis, we derive observations and insights to develop a basic energy model. The discussions in the paper can enable researchers to advance new models and energy-efficient architectures for graph workloads.
Movement compensations during a step ascent task are associated with stair climbing performance in people with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Background The biomechanical mechanisms underlying stair climbing limitations are poorly understood in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Research Questions Are trunk and pelvis motion and lower extremity joint moments during step ascent different between MS and control groups? Are step ascent biomechanics and stair climbing performance associated in people with MS? Methods 20 people with MS (49 ± 12 years, EDSS range: 1.5–5.5) and ten control participants (48 ± 12 years) underwent three-dimensional motion analysis while ascending a 15.2-cm step and also completed a timed Functional Stair Test. Main effects of group (MS vs Control) and limb (Stronger/Dominant vs Weaker/Non-dominant) and interactions were assessed using two-way analyses of variance. Associations between movement patterns during the step ascent and Functional Stair Test performance were performed using Pearson’s correlations and backward stepwise linear regression. Results Significant group main effects were observed in greater sagittal pelvis excursion (p Significance In conclusion, despite the presence of proximal and distal lower extremity movement pattern compensations during a step ascent task, larger pelvis angular excursions are associated with impaired stair climbing performance in people with MS and may serve as targets for future rehabilitation interventions.
Customers’ Online Purchase Intentions and Customer Segmentation During the Period of COVID-19 Pandemic

Researchers have investigated the impact of various factors on customers’ online shopping behaviors. What is not yet clear is the influence of customers’ pandemic concerns on their purchase intenti...
The Relationship Between Students’ Casual Interest in Science and Their Perceptions of the Undergraduate Laboratory Environment

Science instructors assume that they have created their laboratory curriculum in such a way as to reflect an ideal science instructional laboratory, but students may not recognize this. A recent study used the Student Perceptions of the College Instructional Laboratory Survey (SPCILS) to examine students’ perceptions of their science instructional laboratory as intended by the instructors. What this study did not indicate, though, is whether students more interested in science perceive the science instructional lab as intended by the instructors. Because an appropriate instrument is not available, researchers have not been able to assess students’ casual interest in science. Interest, however, is considered one of the most effective motivational forces of learning. Hence, we developed the Casual Interest in Science Survey (CISS). Employing the CISS, this study used a quantitative design to examine undergraduate students’ perceptions of their science instructional laboratory with respect to their casual interest in science. Interest and perception data were collected at a Midwestern University in the USA. The findings suggest that undergraduate students are interested in science. Major status influenced students’ perceptions of their science instructional laboratory with respect to their casual interest in science. However, gender does not influence students’ perceptions of their science instructional labs with respect to casual interest in science. This study provides baseline data for future qualitative studies about how major and gender might be influencing students’ perceptions of their science instructional laboratory with respect to their casual interest in science.
Cooperative Containment of a High-speed Evader

A pursuit-evasion differential game where a group of slow pursuers cooperate in order to capture a high-speed evader is considered. Pursuit of a fast evader is a challenging problem and capture is not guaranteed given the arbitrary initial conditions. Further, cooperation among pursuers is necessary in order for successful encirclement and capture of the fast evader. A novel analysis based on Cartesian Ovals is provided which accurately separates the reachable regions of a pursuer and high-speed evader in the case where the pursuer is endowed with a positive capture radius.
Brightening of Dark States in CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots Caused by Light-Induced Magnetism

Lead halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) have shown great potential for optoelectronic and quantum photonic applications. Although controversy remains about the electronic fine structures of bulk perovskites due to the strong spin-orbit coupling affecting the conduction bands, compelling evidence indicates that the ground states of perovskite QDs remain dark, limiting their applications in optoelectronic devices. Here, it is demonstrated that photoexcitation can induce large intrinsic magnetic fields in Mn-doped CsPbBr3 perovskite QDs. Equivalent to applying an external magnetic field, the light-induced field causes giant Zeeman splitting to the bright triplet states and brightens the dark singlet ground state, thus effectively rendering a partially bright ground state in the doped QDs. These findings here may contribute to the understanding of the electronic fine structures in perovskite QDs and demonstrate a potential approach for creating semiconductor nanostructures that can serve as bright light sources.
Testing the Relationship Between Information and Knowledge in Computer-Aided Decision-Making

Information and knowledge are two foundational concepts in Information Systems (IS) research, but their relationship remains vague, and researchers continue to use them interchangeably in studies. This limits the ability to clearly specify what information is in the systems and how it is used for operations and decisions. We address the issue in the context of computer-aided decision-making. In contrast to the traditional view that information is the input of knowledge, we argue, from the knowledge-based view of information, that information is produced from knowledge and functions as the basis of decisions. Further, cognitive factors such as one’s general knowledge in the task domain and guidance in decision aids influence knowledge and information for decisions. An information-centric framework is developed and tested based on a popular production-planning decision task. The result supports the direct impact of information on decisions and the indirect impact of knowledge via its influence on information. This study is the first to empirically test the relationship between knowledge and information in IS research. It calls for more attention to the information concept and how it is processed in IS.
Consumer Job Journeys

This article introduces the consumer job journey as a more holistic perspective by which to understand consumption journeys undertaken to acquire and use goods and services. It aids scholars and ma...
Peptide Cross-β Nanoarchitectures: Characterizing Self-Assembly Mechanisms, Structure, and Physicochemical Properties

Diverse peptides and proteins undergo concentration-dependent self-assembly into one-dimensional cross-β fibril structures. Cross-β fibrils are characterized by self-assembled β-sheet peptides with an intermolecular hydrogen bond network between the constituent peptides that is parallel to the fibril axis with peptide side chains oriented perpendicular to the fibril axis. Cross-β nanoarchitectures are relevant to amyloid protein misfolding disorders, regulated biological structural elements, and designed functional biomaterials. The biological relevance of the cross-β motif has made this protein fold the subject of intense research interest focused on understanding the mechanisms of self-assembly, the structure of the resulting cross-β fibrils and prefibrillar aggregates, and the emergent biological and material properties of these aggregates. Cross-β fibrils are typically non-crystalline high molecular weight aggregates that are often, but not always, highly insoluble in water. These properties make cross-β fibrils challenging targets for analysis. This chapter provides an introduction to current strategies that are applied to interrogating mechanism of assembly, structure, and emergent properties of cross-β nanoarchitectures.