cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
QUANTITATIVE FILLING MODEL FOR CONTINENTAL EXTENSIONAL BASINS WITH APPLICATIONS TO EARLY MESOZOIC RIFTS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

In many half-graben, strata progressively onlap the hanging wall block of the basins, indicating that both the basins and their depositional surface areas were growing in size through time. Based on these constraints, we have constructed a quantitative model for the stratigraphic evolution of extensional basins with the simplifying assumptions of constant volume input of sediments and water per unit time, as well as a uniform subsidence rate and a fixed outlet level. The model predicts (1) a transition from fluvial to lacustrine deposition, (2) systematically decreasing accumulation rates in lacustrine strata, and (3) a rapid increase in lake depth after the onset of lacustrine deposition, followed by a systematic decrease. When parameterized for the early Mesozoic basins of eastern North America, the model's predictions match trends observed in late Triassic-age rocks. Significant deviations from the model's predictions occur in Early Jurassic-age strata, in which markedly higher accumulation rates and greater lake depths point to an increased extension rate that led to increased asymmetry in these half-graben. The model makes it possible to extract from the sedimentary record those events in the history of an extensional basin that are due solely to the filling of a basin growing in size through time and those that are due to changes in tectonics, climate, or sediment and water budgets.
Effect of oxandrolone therapy on adult height in Turner syndrome patients treated with growth hormone: a meta-analysis

Turner syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality in which there is complete or partial absence of the X chromosome. Turner syndrome effects 1 in every 2000 live births. Short stature is a cardinal feature of Turner Syndrome and the standard treatment is recombinant human growth hormone. When growth hormone is started at an early age a normal adult height can be achieved. With delayed diagnosis young women with Turner Syndrome may not reach a normal height. Adjuvant therapy with oxandrolone is used but there is no consensus on the optimal timing of treatment, the duration of treatment and the long term adverse effects of treatment. The objective of this review and meta-analysis is to examine the effect of oxandrolone on adult height in growth hormone treated Turner syndrome patients. Eligible trials were identified by a literature search using the terms: Turner syndrome, oxandrolone. The search was limited to English language randomized-controlled trials after 1980. Twenty-six articles were reviewed and four were included in the meta-analysis. A random effects model was used to calculate an effect size and confidence interval. The pooled effect size of 2.0759 (95 % CI 0.0988 to 4.0529) indicates that oxandrolone has a positive effect on adult height in Turner syndrome when combined with growth hormone therapy. In conclusion, the addition of oxandrolone to growth hormone therapy for treatment of short stature in Turner syndrome improves adult height. Further studies are warranted to investigate if there is a subset of Turner syndrome patients that would benefit most from growth hormone plus oxandrolone therapy, and to determine the optimal timing and duration of such therapy.
STS-74/Mir Photogrammetric Appendage Structural Dynamics Experiment Preliminary Data Analysis

The Photogrammetric Appendage Structural Dynamics Experiment was designed, developed, and flown to demonstrate and prove measurement of the structural vibration response of a Russian Space Station Mir solar array using photogrammetric methods. The experiment flew on the STS-74 Space Shuttle mission to Mir in November 1995 and obtained video imagery of solar array structural response to various excitation events. The video imagery has been digitized and triangulated to obtain response time history data at discrete points on the solar array. This data has been further processed using the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm modal identification technique to determine the natural vibration frequencies, damping, and mode shapes of the solar array. The results demonstrate that photogrammetric measurement of articulating, non-optically targeted, flexible solar arrays and appendages is a viable, low-cost measurement option for the International Space Station.
InAs1-xSbx Alloys with Native Llattice Parameters Grown on Compositionally Graded Buffers: Structural and Optical Properties

GaInSb and AlGaInSb compositionally graded buffer layers grown on GaSb by MBE were used to develop unrelaxed InAs1-xSbx epitaxial alloys with strain-free native lattice constants up to 2.1% larger than that of GaSb. The in-plane lattice constant of the strained top buffer layer was grown to be equal to the native, unstrained lattice constant of InAs1-xSbx with given x. The InAs0.56Sb0.44 layers demonstrated a photoluminescence (PL) peak at 9.4 μm at T = 150 K. The minority carrier lifetime measured at 77 K for InAs0.8Sb0.2 was 250 ns.
Fine-mapping of the type 1 diabetes locus (IDDM4) on chromosome 11q and evaluation of two candidate genes (FADD and GALN) by affected sibpair and linkage-disequilibrium analyses

Previous studies have identified a susceptibility region for insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus on chromosome 11q13 (IDDM4). In this study, 15 polymorphic markers were analyzed for 382 affected sibpair (ASP) families with type 1 diabetes. Our analyses provided additional evidence for linkage for IDDM4 (a peak LOD score of 3.4 at D11S913). The markers with strong linkage evidence are located within an interval of approximately 6 cM between D11S4205 and GALN. We also identified polymorphisms in two candidate genes, Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) and galanin (GALN). Analyses of the data by transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) and extended TDT (ETDT) did not provide any evidence for association/linkage with these candidate genes. However, ETDT did reveal significant association/linkage with the marker D11S987 (P=0.0004) within the IDDM4 interval defined by ASP analyses, suggesting that IDDM4 may be in the close proximity of D11S987.
Historical Contingency in Community Assembly: Integrating Niches, Species Pools, and Priority Effects

The order and timing of species immigration during community assembly can affect species abundances at multiple spatial scales. Known as priority effects, these effects cause historical contingency in the structure and function of communities, resulting in alternative stable states, alternative transient states, or compositional cycles. The mechanisms of priority effects fall into two categories, niche preemption and niche modification, and the conditions for historical contingency by priority effects can be organized into two groups, those regarding regional species pool properties and those regarding local population dynamics. Specifically, two requirements must be satisfied for historical contingency to occur: The regional pool contains species that can together cause priority effects, and local dynamics are rapid enough for early-arriving species to preempt or modify niches before other species arrive. Organizing current knowledge this way reveals an outstanding key question: How are regional species ...
INVERSE GAUSSIAN CONTROL CHARTS

summary Control charts typically used to monitor process centrality and dispersion either assume normally distributed output or appeal to the viability of the central limit theorem. This appeal to the central limit theorem is frequently made on behalf of samples consisting of 10 or fewer items. Control charts for centrality and dispersion are presented for processes with inverse Gaussian distributed output.
Reliable broadcasting in faulty hypercube computers

A nonredundant broadcasting algorithm for faulty hypercube computers is proposed. The concept of unsafe nodes is introduced to identify those nonfaulty nodes that will cause a detour or backtracking because of their proximity to faulty nodes. It is assumed that each healthy node, safe or unsafe, knows the status of all the neighboring nodes. The broadcasting is optimal, meaning that a message is sent to each node via a Hamming distance path if the broadcasting is initiated from a safe node. It is also shown that when the source node is unsafe and there is an adjacent safe node, then the broadcasting can be achieved with only one more time step than the fault-free case. >
Sedentary lifestyle and obesity in adults

Excessive time spent on sedentary behavior (SB) can increase the risks of obesity, regardless of engagement in physical activity (PA). Subjective and objective measures are both available to assess SB but little is known about the relative utility of these measures for epidemiological research. The purposes of this dissertation were to 1) evaluate the accuracy of 24-hour Physical Activity Recall (24PAR) relative to SenseWear Armband (SWA) for assessing SB, 2) characterize the context of SB by demographic indicators, and 3) determine the independent/joint associations of SB and PA with obesity by the 24PAR versus SWA. The first study demonstrated that the 24PAR had small errors for estimating total sedentary time, but larger errors for other definitions of SB (i.e. non-sleep, and non-sleep nonlying sedentary time). Moreover, extremely or minimally sedentary individuals had larger errors than moderately sedentary individuals. Older and/or heavier individuals tended to underestimate sedentary time more than younger and/or lighter individuals. The second study provided unique insights about the context of SB. Individuals with varying levels of socio-demographic variables exhibited differential patterns of ‘where’ and ‘why’ they spent time being sedentary. The third study found detrimental effects of excessive SB and beneficial effects of sufficient PA on obesity based on the objective estimates from the SWA. Analyses based on the subjective estimates from the 24PAR revealed significant associations with the PA outcome but these associations were weaker than the associations with the SWA. These results demonstrate that the objectivity and validity of the measures influences the ability to examine health outcomes. This dissertation advances understanding about the underlying nature of sedentary lifestyles and its relation to obesity at the population level. The study utilized two promising measurement tools to obtain both objective and subjective measures of SB. The objective tool
Source / drain contacts in organic polymer thin film transistors

Organic polymer based thin-film transistors (OP-TFTs) look very promising for flexible organic electronics. In this paper, we describe devices based on a gate-planarized structure and using spin-coated organic polymer. We have analyzed the role of the device source and drain contacts and we present data indicating Schottky behavior of the contacts in OP-TFTs. In addition, we describe a quantitative evaluation of the source drain series resistances and extract the OP-TFT intrinsic electrical parameters.
Jet injection of a monoclonal antibody: A preliminary study

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent a major group of biotherapeutics. The high concentration and volume of drug administered together with a shift to administration via the subcutaneous route have generated interest in alternative delivery technologies. The feasibility of using a novel, highly controllable jet injection technology to deliver a mAb is presented. The effect of delivery parameters on protein structure were evaluated and compared with delivery using a conventional needle and syringe. Injection of mAb into a rat model showed that jet injection using the device resulted in more rapid absorption and longer duration of exposure.
Devolution, not decarceration: The limits of juvenile justice reform in Texas:

Across the USA, a number of states have been reducing the number of juveniles sent to state-run corrections institutions. Findings from a case study on juvenile justice in Texas indicate that the e...
On the Mechanisms of Calcification.

SummarySpecimens of skin, tendon, and cortical bone from the calf were exhaustively demineralized with EDTA at pH 7.4. These tissues were then equilibrated with solutions of varying calcium and phosphorus content. All 3 tissues, presumably because of their collagen content, were able to induce formation of hydroxy apatite crystals from otherwise stable solutions. In contrast to skin and tendon, bone removed calcium from all solutions, but all three tissues were equally efficient in crystal seeding.
Future Exponential Economic Growth in Space

The human population and economy are now limited by the land area, materials and energy available on Earth. As explained by Malthus, human effort can increase this population limit only gradually and linearly at any fixed level of technology. The unexpected exponential increase in population since Malthus time is due to the even greater exponential increase in agricultural and industrial productivity due to modern technology. Current opinion is divided between the limiters who see fast approaching unavoidable limits to growth and growthers who expect continuing innovation and expansion. Given the minimum energy and food needed to support each human, the population of Earth is necessarily bounded. The past human exponential expansions were based on the invention of agriculture and industry. Continued expansion could occur with future colonization of the solar system. The initial occupation of near-Earth space would probably be for immediate military and economic gains rather than to escape the limits to growth on Earth. Space habitats could exploit solar system energy, materials, and living space, first in the Earth-moon system and later throughout the solar system. Space habitats would be supported by robotic power stations, mining, manufacturing, and transportation. These could travel to the stars with the addition of propulsion and nuclear power. Human expansion into the galaxy would allow continuing exponential growth and could establish a vast interconnected galactic civilization.
Flow-synchronized ventilation of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

Abstract Asynchrony of delivered and spontaneous breaths in mechanically ventilated infants may impair gas exchange and prolong the need for assisted ventilation. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of a patient-triggered, flow-synchronized ventilator on 30 preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome who weighed between 1100 and 1500 gm at birth. Entry criteria included radiographic evidence of respiratory distress syndrome and the need for mechanical ventilation and surfactant replacement therapy. Patients were assigned to either conventional time-cycled, pressure-limited ventilation or patient-triggered, flow-synchronized ventilation in an assist/control mode. Otherwise clinical management was identical. Time to extubation was the primary outcome measure. Patients treated with flow-synchronized ventilation were weaned more rapidly and had a significantly shorter mean time to extubation than those treated with time-cycled, pressure-limited ventilation, 119 versus 271 hours, p = 0.0152. In addition, there was no difference in the rate of complications between the two groups. There were, however, considerable reductions in patient charges of $4344 per patient in the flow-synchronized ventilation group.
Therapeutic Options for the Management of Upper Tract Calculi

SUMMARY The cry of “ESWL for all” was heard at the 84th Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association, 15 and actually, this is not far from the truth. Those physicians who are not familiar with percutaneous techniques, or who do not have the necessary equipment available, may actually attempt ESWL for all calculi regardless of stone burden or location. Patients who are interested in avoiding manipulation may request ESWL, even if the results may not be as good as those obtained with concomitant manipulation or with percutaneous procedures. Nevertheless, indications still exist for percutaneous techniques, and these procedures will not become obsolete even as ESWL technology advances. Studies are being conducted to identify the ideal treatment for all varieties of stones in the genitourinary system. As ESWL and endoscopic technology continue to advance, the treatment of stone disease will continue to change.
The Depressive Cognition Scale: Further Psychometric Evaluation

Depressive cognitions often precede the development of affective and behavioral symptoms of depression. Cognitive factors have been shown to influence the development of depression in older adults and thus identification of depressive cognitions is important for prevention of clinical depression and early intervention. The Depressive Cognition Scale (DCS) assesses cognitions that may precipitate clinical depression, and it has been found to be internally consistent and to demonstrate construct validity with measures of psychosocial development. This psychometric investigation was designed to further examine the construct validity of the DCS through comparison with measures of hypothetically related constructs. An alpha of .78 indicated acceptable internal consistency. Construct validity was demonstrated by significant correlations with measures of depression, resourcefulness, adaptive functioning, and life satisfaction. The study, conducted with 160 healthy elders, provides additional support for the reliability and validity of the DCS and yields promising evidence of its usefulness with elderly persons.
Child Abuse and Neglect: Are Cases Increasing or Decreasing After 50+ Years of Paediatric Attention?

After more than 5 decades of attention to child abuse and neglect or more generically, child maltreatment, in the peer reviewed literature, the question remains, “have we made a dent in the number of children who are abused or neglected?” In order, to construct an answer that is straightforward question, we need to start with clear definitions and trustworthy statistics so that we can be clear about what cases we are measuring and what trends we are comparing. Towards that end, there are two authoritative publically available data sources that provide clear definitions of the different forms of child maltreatment and which provide rigorously collected data on these forms of child maltreatment. They are:
BdG Equations in Tight-Binding Model

In this chapter, I give an alternative derivation of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations for superconductors. It is based on a tight-binding model. A general symmetry of the equations is discussed. A few physically measurable quantities are derived in terms of the BdG eigenfunctions. The solutions to the BdG equations in the uniform case are provided. Finally, I also make its connection to the lattice Abrikosov-Gorkov equations.
Membrane Organization of Anacystis Nidulans Following Iron Deprivation and Heme Deficiency

The cyanobacterium, Anacystis nidulans, has been used to study the synthesis, insertion, and assembly of lipid-protein complexes into photosynthetic membranes. A topological model of these membranes was recently presented (J.A. Guikema, L.A. Sherman, 1982), as were the changes in membrane architecture induced by iron deficiency (J.A. Guikema, L.A. Sherman, 1983b). Iron deficiency yielded cells with a reduced thylakoid content, and containing reduced concentrations of photosynthetically important polypeptides. Polypeptides with heme, iron, or chlorophyll as ligands were especially influenced. Importantly, the addition of iron to deficient cultures caused the resynthesis of thylakoids, and provided a method for studying membrane biosynthesis in these cells.
Human Rights and Imposed Constitutions

Are there advantages in imposing constitutions on nations? Or are such impositions wrong as a matter of international law, unwise as an instrument of national policy, and useless in terms of achieving desired results? This Article is an exploration of these questions from the perspective of human rights advocacy, especially the promotion of democracy and the rule of law. It is a response to part of an Article, Imposed Constitutionalism, by Professor Noah Feldman.
MRGPRX2, atopic dermatitis, and red man syndrome

Vancoymycin causes red man syndrome, an itchy erythematous eruption involving the face, neck, and upper torso. Atopic dermatitis also manifests itch and erythema, and staphylococcus δ-toxin contributes to this process. The antibiotic and toxin each provoke mast cell degranulation but the mechanism h
Estimating the Proportion of True Null Hypotheses for Multiple Comparisons

Whole genome microarray investigations (e.g. differential expression, differential methylation, ChIP-Chip) provide opportunities to test millions of features in a genome. Traditional multiple comparison procedures such as familywise error rate (FWER) controlling procedures are too conservative. Although false discovery rate (FDR) procedures have been suggested as having greater power, the control itself is not exact and depends on the proportion of true null hypotheses. Because this proportion is unknown, it has to be accurately (small bias, small variance) estimated, preferably using a simple calculation that can be made accessible to the general scientific community. We propose an easy-to-implement method and make the R code available, for estimating the proportion of true null hypotheses. This estimate has relatively small bias and small variance as demonstrated by (simulated and real data) comparing it with four existing procedures. Although presented here in the context of microarrays, this estimate is applicable for many multiple comparison situations.
Selective-area growth and controlled substrate coupling of transition metal dichalcogenides

Developing a means for true bottom-up, selective-area growth of two-dimensional (2D) materials on device-ready substrates will enable synthesis in regions only where they are needed. Here, we demonstrate seed-free, site-specific nucleation of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with precise control over lateral growth by utilizing an ultra-thin polymeric surface functionalization capable of precluding nucleation and growth. This polymer functional layer (PFL) is derived from conventional photoresists and lithographic processing, and is compatible with multiple growth techniques, precursors (metal organics, solid-source) and TMDs. Additionally, we demonstrate that the substrate can play a major role in TMD transport properties. With proper TMD/substrate decoupling, top-gated field-effect transistors (FETs) fabricated with selectively-grown monolayer MoS2 channels are competitive with current reported MoS2 FETs. The work presented here demonstrates that substrate surface engineering is key to realizing precisely located and geometrically-defined 2D layers via unseeded chemical vapor deposition techniques.
Perceived Perfectionism from God Scale: Development and Initial Evidence

In this study, the Perceived Perfectionism from God Scale (PPGS) was developed with Latter-day Saints (Mormons) across two samples. Sample 1 (N = 421) was used for EFA to select items for the Perceived Standards from God (5 items) and the Perceived Discrepancy from God (5 items) subscales. Sample 2 (N = 420) was used for CFA and cross-validated the 2-factor oblique model as well as a bifactor model. Perceived Standards from God scores had Cronbach alphas ranging from .73 to .78, and Perceived Discrepancy from God scores had Cronbach alphas ranging from .82 to .84. Standards from God scores were positively correlated with positive affect, whereas Discrepancy from God scores was positively correlated with negative affect, shame and guilt. Moreover, these two PPGS subscale scores added significant incremental variances in predicting associated variables over and above corresponding personal perfectionism scores.
C–H···O Hydrogen Bonding in Pentamers of Isatin

Self-assembled monolayers of 1H-indole-2,3-dione (isatin), 3-methyl 2-oxindole, and 7-fluoroisatin are observed on the Au(111) surface via scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). We observed that isatin forms pentamers with density functional theory providing support for a cyclic structure stabilized by both N–H···O and C–H···O hydrogen bonds between neighboring molecules. The C–H···O bond is made between the 7-position C–H acting as the hydrogen bond donor and the 3-position carbonyl as the hydrogen bond acceptor, and calculations show that the isatin pentamer structure is 12 kJ/mol more stable than the dimer. When the 3-position carbonyl is removed and replaced with a methyl group (3-methyl 2-oxindole), we observe a monolayer with a mixture of catemer chains and pentameric clusters that are qualitatively different from those of isatin. Pentamer formation is completely broken when the 7-position hydrogen is removed and replaced with fluorine; the monolayer of 7-fluoroisatin is composed of a mixture of close...
Achieving Empirical Progress in an Undefined Field

Investigators’ practice of sampling from different populations has hindered the progress of empirical entrepreneurship research. Reaching agreement on a narrowed definition of the field would alleg...
Crowdsourcing Multi-Objective Recommendation System*

Crowdsourcing is an approach whereby employers call for workers online with different capabilities to process a task for monetary reward. With a vast amount of tasks posted every day, satisfying the workers, employers, and service providers who are the stakeholders of any crowdsourcing system is critical to its success. To achieve this, the system should address three objectives: (1) match the worker with suitable tasks that fit the worker's interests and skills and raise the worker's rewards and rating, (2) give the employer more acceptable solutions with lower cost and time and raise the employer's rating, and (3) raise the rate of accepted tasks, which will raise the aggregated commissions to the service provider and improve the average rating of the registered users (employers and workers) accordingly. For these objectives, we present a mechanism design that is capable of reaching holistic satisfaction using a multi-objective recommendation system. In contrast, all previous crowdsourcing recommendation systems are designed to address one stakeholder who could be either the worker or the employer. Moreover, our unique contribution is to consider each stakeholder to be self serving. Considering selfish behavior from every stakeholder, we provide a more qualified recommendation for each stakeholder.
Interfacial bonding mechanism and mechanical properties of micro friction stir blind riveting for multiple Cu/Al ultra-thin layers

Abstract In this research, bonding mechanisms and mechanical properties were investigated for a newly developed multilayer dissimilar material joining technique, micro friction stir blind riveting (viz. μFSBR), where the multilayer micro joint was made consisting of one Cu layer and three Al layers (each layer having 0.203 mm thickness) connected through Al rivet. Different microscopy techniques were employed (i.e. scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy) to unearth the bonding mechanisms of the three interfaces (i.e. Al rivet and Cu sheet interface, Cu sheet and Al sheet interface, and Al rivet and Al sheet interface) which revealed intricate yet distinct bonding phenomenon for each interface. A nano-scale diffusion layer in addition to two-way material flow consequential heterogeneous lamellar structures and mechanical interlocking was formed at the Al rivet and Cu sheet interface; Cu particles diffused into a non-uniform thickness thin oxide layer at the Cu sheet and Al sheet interface; and Al sheet experienced grain refinement near the interface close to Al rivet with a nano-scale gap. These observations revealed that both mechanical and metallurgical bonding occurred simultaneously in μFSBR. The formation of different bonding mechanisms resulted in superior bonding strength and absorbed energy compared to conventional micro blind riveting joints, which was further confirmed through layer by layer tensile tests.
Computations of the Resistance of a Short Antenna in a Warm Plasma

The input resistance of a shon filamental antenna in a warm isotropic plasma is computed for several antenna lengths and for a wide range of frequencies. These computations, which are based on kinetic theory, are compared with the result of the hydrodynamic equations. The comparison shows that the hydrodynamic result is incorrect below the plasma frequency, but is a good approximation above the plasma frequency if the antenna is long compared to a Debye length. For antenna lengths comparable to a Debye length, however, the hydrodynamic result is valid only at frequencies far above the plasma frequency.
New Trends at 25 Years: An American Board of Surgery Academic Certifying Examination Review Course.

Background In the 1980s, a small research group began identifying variables affecting applicant success on the American Board of Surgery (ABS) Certifying Examination (CE). We now report success and trends as we complete 25 years. We had multiple challenges as identified through faculty focus groups and participant feedback that needed to be addressed: increase the national optics of the program, integrate new innovative experiences, maintain the integrity of the collected data on excel files, incorporate national trends in surgery, attract experienced clinical volunteer faculty and staff, security of capital, and schedule management. Method The primary purpose of the program is to define the root cause interfering with success on the ABS CE. All of the listed changes in course design (2012-2016) were entered into excel files along with participants demographics, including results of the pretesting modules, the communication inventory, all self-reported stressors, and interview results to track the effect of faculty interventions, trends and ABS outcomes. Results The profiles of the participants have changed over time, including: marital status, presence of DSM-5 stressors, gender, fellowship training, study habits, financial burdens, and international graduate status. International graduates demonstrated communication issues that were present, though rarely addressed, during residency training. The gradual absorption of junior faculty allowed a seamless transition over time as part of the succession plan. Although the national success rates on the CE were 72% to 80%, this program's success rate still remained in the 90 percentile (94%-97%) for those who followed their education improvement plan. Deidentified excel files will be converted to REDCap for preservation and analysis. Discussion The small course design has continued to be effective at identifying variables that interfere with success on the CE examination. The inclusion of additional PhD education scientists facilitated focused individual interventions. A pilot program for international graduate status residents is in development.
Does Using a Course Design Framework Better Engage our Online Nursing Students

Abstract Nursing programs seek to develop innovative active learning strategies as a better way to meet student-learning outcomes in nursing education. Online delivery is one strategy many nursing educators have adopted. Quality of these online offerings and development of strategies that engage the student in learning is a primary focus. An innovative approach to enhancing and standardizing online course design is the Quality Matters framework. This study sought to evaluate whether using a course design framework better engages nursing students.
Metal Oxide/(oxy)hydroxide Overlayers as Hole Collectors and Oxygen-Evolution Catalysts on Water-Splitting Photoanodes.

Solar water splitting provides a mechanism to convert and store solar energy in the form of stable chemical bonds. Water-splitting systems often include semiconductor photoanodes, such as n-Fe2O3 and n-BiVO4, which use photogenerated holes to oxidize water. These photoanodes often exhibit improved performance when coated with metal-oxide/(oxy)hydroxide overlayers that are catalytic for the water-oxidation reaction. The mechanism for this improvement, however, remains a controversial topic. This is, in part, due to a lack of experimental techniques that are able to directly track the flow of photogenerated holes in such multicomponent systems. In this Perspective, we illustrate how this issue can be addressed by using a second working electrode to make direct current/voltage measurements on the catalytic overlayer during operation in a photoelectrochemical cell. We discuss examples where the second working electrode is a thin metallic film deposited on the catalyst layer, as well as where it is the tip of ...
Recent Progress Towards Light Hydrocarbon Separations Using Metal–Organic Frameworks

Industrial hydrocarbon separations are performed on an immense scale, accounting for a significant fraction of global energy consumption. Supplanting thermally driven separation processes (e.g., distillation) with adsorbent-based technologies could greatly reduce energy expenditures and production costs associated with these commodity chemicals. Significant effort has been expended towards the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as adsorbents for this purpose, owing to their high surface areas and crystallinity, as well as their structural and chemical tunability. This review presents some of the recent progress made in MOF material design to accomplish separations of C2–3 hydrocarbons, which are crucial to the production of high-grade ethylene and propylene.
Rhetorical Imitation and Civic Diversity

ABSTRACTThe value of imitatio as a pedagogical tactic in rhetorical education has been attested to for millennia. But within the context of a culture of diversity, imitation becomes potentially pro...
Tissue engineering of small-diameter vascular grafts

Abstract This chapter describes the current approaches toward small-diameter tissue-engineered vascular grafts. The outstanding problem of failure for grafts smaller than 4 mm diameter remains a challenge and requires a multidisciplinary approach. The perspectives of tissue engineering, surface modification, bioengineering, and emerging technology are discussed. The unifying themes are to mimic the native extracellular matrix, provide a favorable surface for cell proliferation, and develop a functional and confluent blood-contact surface. Continued efforts to produce a demonstrably functional small-diameter vascular graft are desperately needed.
Insight into the Oxidation Mechanism of Furanic Compounds on Pt(111)

Partial oxidation of multifunctional oxygenates is of interest for the production of high-value chemicals, but the understanding of the mechanism on Pt catalysts is lacking. To probe the effects of...
Autologous fibroblasts for vocal scars and age-related atrophy: A randomized clinical trial.

Objectives/hypothesis To assess the safety and efficacy of autologous cultured fibroblasts (ACFs) to treat dysphonia related to vocal fold scar and age-related vocal atrophy (ARVA). Study design Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-institutional, phase II trial. Methods ACFs were expanded from punch biopsies of the postauricular skin in each subject; randomization was 2:1 (treatment vs. placebo). Three injections of 1-2 × 107 cells or placebo saline was performed at 4-week intervals for each vocal fold. Follow-up was performed at 4, 8, and 12 months. The primary outcome was improved mucosal waves. Secondary outcomes included Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-30, patient reported voice quality outcomes, and perceptual analysis of voice. Results Fifteen subjects received ACF and six received saline injections. At 4, 8, and 12 months after ACF treatments, a significant improvement in mucosal wave grade relative to baseline was observed in both vocal scar and ARVA groups. Relative to control group, mucosal waves were significantly improved in the ARVA group at 4 and 8 months. Perceptual analysis significantly improved in the vocal scar group 12 months after ACF treatments compared to controls. Vocal scar group reported significantly improved vocal quality from baseline. VHI and expert rater voice grade improved in both groups, but did not achieve significance. No adverse events related to fibroblast injections were observed. Conclusions In this cohort, injection of ACFs into the vocal fold lamina propria (LP) was safe and significantly improved mucosal waves in patients with vocal scar and ARVA. ACF may hold promise to reconstruct the LP. Level of evidence 1 Laryngoscope, 130:2650-2658, 2020.
Phase equilibria and diffusion coefficients in the Fe-Zn binary system

Abstract Phase diagram and diffusion coefficients of the Fe-Zn binary system are required to predict and control the microstructure of galvanized zinc coatings and thus were systematically investigated in the temperature range from 700 to 1100 °C using nine novel Fe/Zn liquid-solid diffusion couples (LSDCs). The equilibrium compositions of the α and Γ phases of the Fe-Zn system were determined and agree well with the recently established Fe-Zn phase diagram. The extracted interdiffusion coefficients in α-Fe at temperatures between 700 and 1100 °C and in Γ at 750 and 700 °C using the forward-simulation analysis (FSA) extend the experimental interdiffusivity measurements to the whole solubility range of these two phases. Three impurity diffusion coefficients of Zn in paramagnetic α-Fe were also determined by the FSA and show good agreement with the literature data. The temperature dependence of the Zn impurity diffusion coefficients in both the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic α-Fe phases across the Curie temperature TC was established by analyzing the reliable experimental results as well as by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The newly measured phase equilibrium and diffusivity data provide reliable inputs for future thermodynamic and kinetic modeling of the Fe-Zn system.
Seismic character and progression of explosive activity during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska

Bogoslof volcano, in the central Aleutian arc, experienced a major eruption between December 2016 and August 2017 that was characterized by explosive activity (Volcanic Explosivity Index 2 to 3) and the extrusion of lava domes. The Alaska Volcano Observatory tracked the activity in real time using seismicity observed on distant stations as well as infrasound, lightning, satellite data, and occasional visual observations. In this study, we measure the duration of seismic signals associated with individual explosive events to track their progression during the two explosive phases of the eruption. Seismic recordings of Bogoslof explosions show complex waveforms that suggest both individual explosive events and sequences of several explosions separated by lower amplitude tremor. The lack of local seismic monitoring (stations at distances of 1 km to 15 km distance) unfortunately limits our ability to closely observe seismicity and to interpret changing conditions at the vent such as position, the presence of a lava dome or plug, and the role of seawater associated with the eruption. We use the rate of explosive activity, seismic waveform character, and repose time between explosions to infer the conditions within the conduit.
Factors that influence the use of community assets by people with physical disabilities: results of participatory mapping in Envigado, Colombia

Disability is an evolving concept that results from the complex interaction between a person with an impairment and the context in which he/she lives. There is limited understanding on the types, access and use of community assets valuable for people with disabilities, and the role of contextual factors in Colombia. Our goal with this work was to identify the factors at the levels of the socio-ecological framework, and their interaction, that influence the use of community assets among people with physical disabilities and community stakeholders in Envigado, Colombia. Using participatory mapping, a community based participatory approach, we carried out an assessment of community assets identified by people with disabilities and rehabilitation professionals. In-depth interviews (n = 32) informed the design of two participatory mapping activities, one among people with disabilities (n = 5) and a second with rehabilitation professionals (n = 4). Results were presented in a community forum to receive feedback on the findings. Main findings indicate a chain of contextual factors that limit access and use of assets stemming from the personal (e.g. financial resources, inaccessible housing), interpersonal level (e.g. lack of a personal assistance or aid), and community levels (e.g. lack of accessible public transportation and inaccessible buildings). In most cases these barriers are heightened by system level barriers (e.g. lack of effective enforcement of the legal framework). Identifying these contextual factors, and their interactions, calls for stronger enforcement of the existing legal framework through articulated work between different stakeholders, so that people with disabilities can enjoy community assets.
Self-Reported Adult Attachment and Observed Parenting Behavior of New Mothers and Fathers

This study examined associations between parents’ self-reported adult attachment and observed parenting behavior using a dyadic and family systemic approach. 182 primiparous expectant couples (182 ...
Long‐term trends in fruit production in a tropical forest at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda

Fruit production in tropical forests varies considerably in space and time, with important implications for frugivorous consumers. Characterizing temporal variation in forest productivity is thus critical for understanding adaptations of tropical forest frugivores, yet long-term phenology data from the tropics, in particular from African forests, are still scarce. Similarly, as the abiotic factors driving phenology in the tropics are predicted to change with a warming climate, studies documenting the relationship between climatic variables and fruit production are increasingly important. Here we present data from 19 years of monitoring the phenology of 20 tree species at Ngogo in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Our aims were to characterize short- and long-term trends in productivity and to understand the abiotic factors driving temporal variability in fruit production. Short-term (month-to-month) variability in fruiting was relatively low at Ngogo, and overall fruit production increased significantly through the first half of the study. Among the abiotic variables we expected to influence phenology patterns (including rainfall, solar irradiance, and average temperature), only average temperature was a significant predictor of monthly fruit production. We discuss these findings as they relate to the resource base of the frugivorous vertebrate community inhabiting Ngogo.
Rationality and Alienation: Themes from Gandhi

This chapter begins with four broad claims from Gandhi’s moral and political outlook and proceeds to integrate them in an argument that (1) diagnoses the failure of the political Enlightenment to make its own ideals of liberty and equality compatible and then (2) looks to the conceptual resources of more traditional and religious outlooks of both the West and the East for a reconfiguration of our political ideals. In this reconfiguration, the ideal of an ‘unalienated life’ is seen as the most fundamental political ideal and liberty and equality are brought in no longer as central but as merely necessary conditions for this more basic and more human ideal in a way that removes the tension between liberty and equality.
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) Test-retest Reliability in Children.

Objective Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are short-latency muscle potentials measured from the neck (cervical VEMP; cVEMP) or under the eyes (ocular VEMP; oVEMP), which provide information regarding function of the saccule and utricle, respectively. VEMPs are reliable when performed in adults; however, reliability of VEMPs in children is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine the test-retest reliability of c- and oVEMP testing in normal control children. Study design Prospective. Setting Hospital. Patients Ten adults, 14 adolescent children and 13 young children with normal hearing. Interventions c- and oVEMP testing were completed across two test sessions in response to air-conduction 500 Hz tone-burst and impulse hammer stimuli. Additionally, oVEMP was completed using eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Main outcome measures Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the reliability of c- and oVEMP outcomes. Results When using air-conduction stimuli, c- and oVEMP amplitudes are reliable across test sessions in normal control children and adults. With impulse hammer stimuli, cVEMP amplitudes showed high reliability; however, oVEMP amplitudes showed low reliability in both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Comparison between eyes-open and eyes-closed oVEMP conditions revealed shorter latencies and higher peak-to-peak amplitudes in the eyes-open condition. Conclusions In this small cohort of normal control children, cVEMPs are reliable using air-conduction and impulse hammer stimuli and oVEMPs are reliable using air-conduction stimuli in the eyes-open condition. oVEMP in eyes-closed conditions were less reliable compared with eyes-open conditions and resulted in a large number of absent responses.
Vacuum Ultraviolet-Enhanced OxidationA Routeto the Atomic Layer Etching of Palladium Metal

Low-temperature, plasma-free atomic layer etching (ALE) of Pd0 is explored. A vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light source (115 < λ < 400 nm) is used in conjunction with a controlled O2 gas exposure to pr...
Does Nonsurgical Periodontal Treatment Improve Systemic Health

Clinicians frequently stress the importance of maintaining good oral health for multiple reasons, including its link to systemic health. Because periodontal treatment reduces inflammation in oral tissues, some hypothesize it may positively affect systemic outcomes by reducing inflammation in the body. A significant number of systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs) have evaluated the effect of periodontal treatment on systemic outcomes. However, inconsistent findings and questionable methodological rigor make drawing conclusions difficult. We conducted a systematic review of reviews that studied the effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on systemic disease outcomes. We report on outcomes evaluated, categorizing them as biomarkers, and surrogate or clinical endpoints. In addition, we used A MeaSurement Tool to Access systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) to evaluate the methodological quality of the reviews. Of the 52 studies included in our review, 21 focused on diabetes, 15 on adverse birth outcomes, 8 on cardiovascular disease, 3 each on obesity and rheumatoid arthritis, and 2 on chronic kidney disease. Across all studies, surrogate endpoints predominated as outcomes, followed by biomarkers and, rarely, actual disease endpoints. Ninety-two percent of studies had "low" or "critically low" AMSTAR 2 confidence ratings. Criteria not met most frequently included advance registration of the protocol, justification for excluding individual studies, risk of bias from individual studies being included in the review, and appropriateness of meta-analytical methods. There is a dearth of robust evidence on whether nonsurgical periodontal treatment improves systemic disease outcomes. Future reviews should adhere more closely to methodological guidelines for conducting and reporting SRs/MAs than has been the case to date. Beyond improved reviews, additional rigorous research on whether periodontal treatment affects systemic health is needed. We highlight the potential of large-scale databases containing matched medical and dental record data to inform and complement future clinical research studying the effect of periodontal treatment on systemic outcomes.