cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A combined theoretical and experimental study of the polymer inter-chain structure in poly(phenylene vinylene) derivatives

The structures and photophysical properties of single molecule MEH-PPV (2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene) and CN-PPV (2,5,2' ,5'-tetrahexyloxy-7,8'-dicyano-p-phenylenevinylene) nanoparticles are investigated using electronic structure theory and high resolution fluorescence experiments. It is shown that electron withdrawing substituents, such as CN, on the vinyl group of the PPV polymer backbone cause substantial change in the π electronic structure which subsequently decreases the inter-chain distance. Not only does CN-PPV have a smaller inter-chain separation compared to MEH-PPV, but also an increased binding energy and more efficient charge transport (carrier mobility) due to larger electronic coupling (charge transfer integrals). These changes help explain the enhanced luminescence quantum yield, photo-stability, and lifetime for CN-PPV versus MEH-PPV observed in experimental high resolution fluorescence imaging of individual single molecule nanoparticles.
Congestion derivatives for a traffic bottleneck

Historically, congestion pricing is considered to be an efficient mechanism used to decrease total social cost by charging users' true costs including congestion externalities. Congestion pricing under uncertainty has been relatively little studied. In this paper, we review the literature on deterministic congestion pricing and introduce possible sources of uncertainty for a simple bottleneck. We show that, when prices involve exogenous uncertainty that is independent of the central authority and of individual drivers, total social cost may be expressed in closed form as a function of departure time and uncertainty. We also show that there is a class of financial derivatives based on congestion that have the potential to reduce total social cost. In particular, such derivatives are shown to have the potential to alter drivers' departure behavior and reduce drivers' risks of high variance in trip costs, including congestion tolls. Finally, numerical formulations and examples are given to justify the robustness of our results with respect to more general congestion uncertainty.
In Vitro Amyloid Fibril Formation by Synthetic Peptides Corresponding to the Amino Terminus of apoSAA Isoforms from Amyloid-Susceptible and Amyloid-Resistant Mice

Specific proteins of the apolipoprotein serum amyloid (apoSAA) family that are synthesized in large quantities during the acute, early phase of inflammation can serve as the proteinaceous precursors for amyloid fibrils. To model fibrillogenesis in such inflammatory diseases, we have used electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction to examine the structures formed by synthetic peptides corresponding in sequence to the 11 amino-terminal amino acids of murine apoSAA1, apoSAAcej, and apoSAA2 and to the 15 amino-terminal amino acids of apoSAA2. This region is reported to be the major fibrillogenic determinant of apoSAA isoforms. Both in 1 mM Tris buffer and in 35% acetonitrile, 0.1% trifluoracetic acid (ACN/TFA), all of the peptides formed macromolecular assemblies consisting of twisted, D40- to 60-A-thick ribbons, which varied in width from around 40‐70 A (for 11-mer apoSAA2 in Tris) up to 900 A (for the other peptides). X-ray diffraction patterns recorded from lyophilized peptides, vaporhydrated samples, and solubilized/dried samples showed hydrogen bonding and intersheet reflections typical of a b-pleated sheet conformation. The coherent lengths measured from the breadths of the X-ray reflections indicated that with hydration the growth of the assemblies in the intersheet stacking direction was comparable to that in the hydrogenbonding direction, and analysis of oriented samples showed that the b-strands were oriented perpendicular to both the long axis and the face of the assemblies. These X-ray results are consistent with the ribbon- or plate-like morphology of the individual aggregates and emphasize the polymorphic nature of amyloidogenic peptides. Our findings demonstrate that X-ray diffraction measurements on vaporhydrated or solubilized/dried versus lyophilized, amyloidogenic peptides are a good indicator of their fibrillogenic potential. For example, from the highest to the lowest potential, the peptides examined here were ranked as: Ab1-28 G Ab1-40 G apoSAA1 E apoSAAcej G apoSAA2 G Ab17-42. Experiments in which the three different 11-mer apoSAA isoforms were solubilized in ACN/TFA and then combined as binary mixtures showed that the ribbon morphology was not affected but that the extent of hydrogen bonding in the assemblies was substantially reduced. Our observations on the in vitro assembly of apoSAA analogs emphasize that amyloid fibril formation and morphology depend on primary sequence, length of polypeptide chain, the presence of additional fibrillogenic polypeptides, and solvent conditions. r 1998 Academic Press
Dopants in Vapor‐Phase Synthesis of Titania Powders

Gas-phase synthesis of titania by TiCl4 oxidation in the presence of dopants (SiCl4, POCl3, and BCl3) was investigated in an aerosol reactor as a function of temperature (1300–1700 K) and dopant concentration (0–25 mol% of TiCl4). The addition of dopants, most notably silicon and phosphorus, drastically altered the morphology of titania particles from polyhedral to spheroidal, increased the extent of aggregation, increased the specific surface area, reduced the primary particle size, and decreased the rutile content. The observed morphology/crystallinity changes were explained in terms of ionic radii and valence of the dopant element.
The Road Less (Sustainably) Traveled: A Case Study of Academic Travel at Franklin University Switzerland

Educational travel programs (e.g. study abroad) have long been an integral part of the higher education curriculum. As interest in internationalization and the development of students into global citizens has grown in recent years, so has the popularity of education travel. However, institutions of higher education often find themselves at odds between the desire to internationalize campuses and curricula and the growing movement to make them more sustainable. This paper provides a case study of the practices at one institution where educational travel is an integral and required part of the curriculum, known as Academic Travel. First, it briefly reviews some of the current thinking about educational travel and sustainable development. It then examines the experiences of several professors who integrate themes of sustainability into the curriculum and design of their Academic Travel programs.
Robust, Secure, and Cost-Effective Design for Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) can potentially benefit a wide array of applications and areas. Here, the authors look at some of the challenges surrounding CPS, and consider a feasible solution for creating a robust, secure, and cost-effective architecture.
Emerging Models of Collaboration in Political Science: Changes, Benefits, and Challenges

In increasing numbers, political scientists are engaging in collaborative research. It is useful to consider the advantages of such efforts and to suggest strategies for finding optimal collaborators. In addition, there are issues and challenges that arise in the face of increased collaboration, particularly interdisciplinary collaboration across the life and social sciences. Inevitably, as the discipline has moved from a dominant solo-author model to a wider array of authorship possibilities, whether those teams encompass two-person partnerships, large research teams, or something in between, new administrative and cultural questions have already begun to surface as the discipline works to assimilate these changes. Consonant with previous efforts by the American Political Science Association (Biggs 2008; Chandra et al. 2006), we seek here to continue a broader disciplinary conversation surrounding the opportunities and challenges posed by more diverse patterns of teamwork. In so doing, we hope to help continue to encourage transparent, predictable, and openly collaborative intellectual partnerships wherein individuals receive the institutional credit and merit they deserve.
Colonoscopic versus nasogastric fecal transplantation for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection: a review and pooled analysis.

Background Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been demonstrated to be highly effective for the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). However, the best route of administration has not been established. We present a pooled analysis of the reported cases of CDI treated with FMT via colonoscopy or nasogastric tube (NGT) to evaluate treatment efficacy.
Effects of Dielectric and Steam Heating Treatments on the Storage Stability of Pecan Kernels

Pecan kernels, exposed to dielectric heating treatments for 1, 2, and 2.5 min at 43 MHz, and kernels from in-shell pecans subjected to atmospheric steam for 4 min were evaluated over 16 wk of accelerated storage for flavor quality, formation of hydroperoxides, and moisture equilibrium. All heat treatments were effective in stabilizing flavor quality during storage. Initial peroxide values were greater for higher intensity heat treatments; however, at the end of storage values for these treatments were lower. Moisture equilibrium of the kernels was affected by high heat treatments, which exhibited an initial drying effect and retardation of equilibration during storage. Lipoxygenase was identified in extracts from pecan kernels; however, substances extracted during isolation of the enzyme interfered with reliable replication of results and prevented quantitative analyses in relation to inactivation by heat treatment.
Generalized Finite-Volume Theory for Elastic Stress Analysis in Solid Mechanics—Part I: Framework

A generalized finite-volume theory is proposed for two-dimensional elasticity problems on rectangular domains. The generalization is based on a higher-order displacement field representation within individual subvolumes of a discretized analysis domain, in contrast with the second-order expansion employed in our standard theory. The higher-order displacement field is expressed in terms of elasticity-based surface-averaged kinematic variables, which are subsequently related to corresponding static variables through a local stiffness matrix derived in closed form. The novel manner of defining the surface-averaged kinematic and static variables is a key feature of the generalized finite-volume theory, which provides opportunities for further exploration. Satisfaction of subvolume equilibrium equations in an integral sense, a defining feature of finite-volume theories, provides the required additional equations for the local stiffness matrix construction. The theory is constructed in a manner which enables systematic specialization through reductions to lower-order versions. Part I presents the theoretical framework. Comparison of predictions by the generalized theory with its predecessor, analytical and finite-element results in Part Il illustrates substantial improvement in the satisfaction of interfacial continuity conditions at adjacent subvolume faces, producing smoother stress distributions and good interfacial conformability.
Effect of Litholytic Bile Acids on Cholesterol Absorption in Gallstone Patients

We measured intestinal absorption of cholesterol by a plasma isotope ratio method and determined biliary bile acid and lipid composition of fasting gallbladder bile in 5 gallstone patients before therapy and during two randomized treatment periods with chenodeoxycholic or ursodeoxycholic acid (13 mg/kg . day), During chenodeoxycholic acid ingestion, biliary bile acids were composed predominantly (84%) of conjugates of chenodeoxycholic acid, During ursodeoxycholic acid administration, conjugates of ursodeoxycholic acid constituted half the bile acid pool (49%). Fasting gallbladder bile was supersaturated in cholesterol before treatment, but became unsaturated during administration of both chenodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acids, In spite of these marked changes in biliary bile acid and lipid composition, cholesterol absorption was not significantly different before (45.4 ± 4.3%. mean ± SEM) or after chenodeoxycholic (42.7 ± 5,1%) or ursodeoxycholic (46.8 ± 3.7%) acid ingestion. We conclude that chenodeoxycholic and ursodeoxycholie acids unsaturate bile in cholesterol and dissolve gallstones by a mechanism other than the suppression of intestinal absorption of cholesterol.
Concept-based component libraries and optimizing compilers

This paper discusses concept lattices and some of their applications in component library development and compiler optimizations. Ongoing work on concept-based user-extensible simplification (type-based optimizer generators) and library transformations is first reviewed, then a new application--categorization of algorithms via precise descriptions of their performance characteristics--is outlined, with Standard Template Library and Boost Graph Library algorithm concept lattices as example.
Internalized Stigma Within Sexual and Gender Minorities: Change Strategies and Clinical Implications

Internalized stigma (including internalized homophobia/ heterosexism and internalized transphobia/genderism) negatively affects lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals' mental health and well-being. Early writings framed internalized stigma as a reaction provoked by a susceptibility to external stigma that should be addressed within the person. However, recent writers have drawn sustained connections between internalized stigma and heterosexist and transphobic sociopolitical atmospheres. Research on the experience of internalized stigma and its negative outcomes are reviewed and evidence-based therapeutic guidelines applicable across various theoretical orientations are presented for counselors working with sexual and gender minority clients.
Understanding State Government Budget Problems: Insights from the Midwest Region

The authors analyze the budget problems of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. They say states can avoid dramatic revenue fluctuations if they devise budgets that are balanced over the business cycle rather than just one year. States should begin now to distinguish between long-term and transitory revenues, to make and frequently revise long-term budgetary projections, and to establish standards for a rainy day fund sufficient to weather an economic downturn, the authors suggest.
Endokrine Funktionen von Niere (Renin, renaler erythropoetischer Faktor, Erythropoetin) und Epiphyse

Die seit langem bekannten Organe mit endokriner Funktion sind Hypophyse, Thyreoidea, Parathyreoidea, Pankreas, Nebennierenrinde, Nebennierenmark und Gonaden. Dazu kommen cellulare Strukturen mit endokrinen Leistungen: (1) Zellen im Hypothalamus (Bildung von Liberinen und Statinen, bzw. Releasing- und Inhibiting-Hormonen, Kap. 14), (2) Zellen des Magen-Darm-Traktes (Bildung von Gewebehormonen, Kap. 26), (3) Thymus (Bildung von Hormonen fur Lymphocyten-Differenzierung, Kap. 27), (4) Niere (Produktion von 2 Hormonen) und (5) Epiphyse (wahrscheinlich ebenfalls Trager einer endokrinen Funktion).
Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematode Strains Against Popillia Japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Larvae

Control of Japanese beetle ( Popillia Japonica Newman) larvae by Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora Poinar (HP88 strain and a New Jersey strain, NJ-2) and Steinemema glaseri Steiner (NC strain and a New Jersey strain, NJ-43) showed that all strains reduced larval populations to a level comparable with that achieved by use of bendiocarb. Nematode strains and species did not differ significantly in mean level of population reductions ( H. bacteriophora HP88 and NJ-2, 51.0 and 71.6%; S. glaseri NC and NJ-43, 50.4 and 70.1%, respectively). However, variation in the level of population reduction provided by NJ-43 was less than that by the NC strain. After a 3-wk test period, nematode persistence and downward migration in the field did not differ among species and strains. In a laboratory bioassay, New Jersey strains provided higher levels of larval mortality compared with strains cultured in the laboratory for at least a decade. A new method used to count viable bacteria retained by individual infective juveniles showed that NJ-43 not only retained more bacteria than the NC strain (19.5 ± 0.2 compared with 4.9 ± 0.06 bacteria per infective juvenile) but also that the proportion of nematodes retaining bacteria was higher (77% compared with 55%). Bacterial retention by infective juveniles did not differ significantly between H. bacteriophora strains.
Laboratory Investigation of Schell’s Theorem

This work explores Schell’s Theorem and its potential for removing effects of partial coherence from the optical transfer function of aberrated images collected in a laboratory experiment.
Complete genome sequence analysis of A H1N1 influenza strains(2009) in Fuzhou

Objective:Influenza type A H1N1 virus was isolated from the confirmed cases with influenza in Fuzhou and its whole-genome sequencing and genetic characteristics were analyzed.Methods:A/Fuzhou/721/2009(H1N1) were isolated and identified by MDCK cell culture and Real-time RT-PCR.Then complete genome sequence of the strains were determined,and analyzed using phylogenetic tree.Results:Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that each of the 8 genes of virus strain was highly homologous with current new H1N1 virus originated in the influenza pandemic in 2009,with homology above 99% Compared to reference virus A/California/04/2009,the HA protein of the isolate had four amino acid mutation,and the isolate contained six potential glycosylation sites in HA1.Analysis of amino acid sequences indicated that this virus possessed oseltamivir sensitivity and amantadine resistibility.Conclusion:This virus strain was highly homologous with pandemic strains in 2009.In comparison with the representative strains of classic swine flu,HA antigenic draft were found,but retaining the features of classic swine H1.The detailed research on the virus strains in Fuzhou provided scientific basis for the surveillance of pathogen mutation,pathogenicity and epidemic rule.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE

The three unavoidable problems of the nuclear fission fuel cycle are: the possible release of radioactivity into the environment; the diversion of nuclear fuels for weapons purposes and the resulting proliferation of nuclear arms by national or sub-national groups; and the changes in society required by efforts to deal with the first two. Each of these problems is already with us, but they would each be significantly increased by decisions permitting the commercial use of plutonium and breeder reactors. This paper discusses these issues.
The growing American Indian population 1960-1990: beyond demography.

Since 1960, the Native American population has exhibited explosive growth, increasing from 552,000 to 1,959,000, or 255 percent. The average annual growth rate of 4.3 percent, extending over a 30-year period, is demographically impossible without immigration – in fact, of the 1.4 million growth only 762,000 comes from natural increase, whereas 645,000 comes from non-demographic factors. This paper expands on previous work to illustrate with demographic techniques how such extraordinary growth was achieved through changing patterns of racial self-identification on the part of people with only partial or distant American Indian ancestry, coupled with relatively high fertility and improving mortality. It also provides some basic demographic background on the size, growth, and geographic structure of the American Indian population, while exploring both demographic and geographic underpinnings of the changing population. Data on race from the 1970, 1980, and 1990 Censuses are based on self-identification. A person choosing the American Indian racial response does not have to provide any substantiation or documentation. While this method aids overall census taking by permitting respondents to fill out their own census forms, self-identification adds a temporal component to the data because responses elicited from the same individual (or group of individuals) may change over time in reaction to social, political, or economic conditions or variations in question wording. New identities may emerge or old ones may disappear. This effect has had a noteworthy impact on data for American Indians. Analysts and other data users must be aware of underlying response patterns to interpret changes correctly.
Spectral Theory of PDE for Mathematical Finance

This lecture notes summarizes standard machinery of spectral theory of PDE which is important for several applications in Mathematical Finance.
Learning to Account for Good Abandonment in Search Success Metrics

Abandonment in web search has been widely used as a proxy to measure user satisfaction. Initially it was considered a signal of dissatisfaction, however with search engines moving towards providing answer-like results, a new category of abandonment was introduced and referred to as Good Abandonment. Predicting good abandonment is a hard problem and it was the subject of several previous studies. All those studies have focused, though, on predicting good abandonment in offline settings using manually labeled data. Thus, it remained a challenge how to have an online metric that accounts for good abandonment. In this work we describe how a search success metric can be augmented to account for good abandonment sessions using a machine learned metric that depends on user's viewport information. We use real user traffic from millions of users to evaluate the proposed metric in an A/B experiment. We show that taking good abandonment into consideration has a significant effect on the overall performance of the online metric.
Robust PD control of unmanned land vehicles

For the velocity-following problem of an unmanned land vehicle, the classical PD control law is shown to be robust with respect to highly nonlinear dynamics by properly choosing the control gains. The tracking error system is shown to be uniformly and ultimately bounded. The choices for the gains depend only on the bound of the nonlinear dynamics. Even though the coefficients of the polynomial bounding function are unknown, the robustness PD law can be guaranteed by simply increasing the gains that satisfy certain inequalities. Experiment results are presented to validate the conclusions. >
Predator–prey interactions influenced by a dynamic river plume

Marine predator–prey interactions are often influenced by oceanographic processes that aggregate prey. We examined density distributions of seabirds and prey fish associated with the Columbia River...
Physiology of Stem Cells

Stem cells are rare cells that have the ability to choose between self-renewal and differentiation. They can be found in an organism during development, starting with the pluripotent zygote, and continue to be present in organisms throughout their lifespans. In tissues with high turnover like blood, stem cells are continuously needed to produce new cells. In view of their proliferative potential stem cell regulation has to be extensive and complex. Much of it occurs in specialized sites known as stem cell niches. In addition to the stem cells that are present in the body, it is now possible to transform cells without stem cell potential into pluripotent stem cells using gene transfer. Stem cells have enormous clinical potential due to their diverse functional capabilities. Currently, the field of hematopoiesis has been the most successful in harnessing stem cell potential, and hematopoietic stem cells have become part of routine clinical care. Applications to other organ systems, including heart, are under active investigation and are the subjects of ongoing clinical trials.
Abstract 415: Metabolic And Cardiovascular Effects Of Cilia Ablation From The Leptin Receptor-containing Neurons

Genetic defects that cause ciliary dysfunction are associated with obesity and cardiovascular diseases in humans and animal models suggesting that functional cilia are important for metabolism and cardiovascular regulation. Cilia are membrane-bound, microtubular projections present on the surface of virtually all cell types including the neurons that control metabolic and cardiovascular functions such as those expressing the leptin receptor (LepRb). To examine the importance of cilia expressed in these neurons, we tested the effect of ablating cilia. For this, we generated mice lacking a key component of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery, IFT88 protein, required for cilia formation, in the LepRb-containing neurons. Breeding ift88flox mice with LepRbCre mice created mice deficient in ift88 gene only in the LepRb positive neurons as indicated by the pattern of tdTomato reporter expression. Importantly, ift88flox/LepRbCre mice displayed an obesity phenotype as indicated by the increased (P<0.05) body weight (41±2 vs. 37±1. g in controls) and fat mass measured by MRI (11±2 vs. 5±1 g in controls) in 25 weeks old mice. We found that the obesity phenotype in ift88flox/LepRbCre mice is not due to an increase in food intake (3.03±0.25 vs. 2.96±0.29 g in controls). In contrast, energy expenditure was reduced in the ift88flox/LepRbCre mice as indicated by the decreased (P<0.05) O2 consumption (1.71±0.1 vs. 2.01±0.08 mL/100g/min in controls) and heat production (5.07±0.4 vs. 5.98±0.27 kcal/kg/h in controls). Moreover, radiotelemetry measurement of core body temperature showed that ift88flox/LepRbCre mice had lower 24 h body temperature (36.7±0.2vs.37.2±0.2 oC in controls). These results indicate that low metabolic rate accounts for the development of obesity in ift88flox/LepRbCre mice. Next, we assessed the hemodynamic consequence of ablating the ift88 gene in LepRb positive neurons. However, mean arterial pressure and heart rate were not significantly different in the ift88flox/LepRbCre mice (106±7 mmHg and 635±17 bpm, respectively) compared to controls (110±4 mmHg and 679±15 bmp). These findings demonstrate that deletion of cilia in LepRb expressing neurons alter energy homeostasis, but not cardiovascular regulation.
Shp1 function in myeloid cells

The motheaten mouse was first described in 1975 as a model of systemic inflammation and autoimmunity, as a result of immune system dysregulation. The phenotype was later ascribed to mutations in the cytoplasmic tyrosine phosphatase Shp1. This phosphatase is expressed widely throughout the hematopoietic system and has been shown to impact a multitude of cell signaling pathways. The determination of which cell types contribute to the different aspects of the phenotype caused by global Shp1 loss or mutation and which pathways within these cell types are regulated by Shp1 is important to further our understanding of immune system regulation. In this review, we focus on the role of Shp1 in myeloid cells and how its dysregulation affects immune function, which can impact human disease.
Nonresonant and Local Field Effects in Peptidic Nanostructures Bearing Oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) Units

Peptide nanostructures with built-in electronic functions offer a new platform for biomaterial science. In this report, we interrogate the influences of the immediate peptide environment around oligo(p-phenylenevinylene) (OPV3) electronic units embedded within one-dimensional peptide nanostructures on the resulting photophysics as assessed by UV–vis, photoluminescence (PL), and circular dichroism spectroscopies. To do so, we studied peptide-core-peptide molecules where the core was either OPV3 or an aliphatic n-decyl chain. Coassemblies of these molecules wherein the π-core was diluted as a minority component within a majority aliphatic matrix allowed for the variation of interchromophore exciton coupling commonly found in homoassemblies of peptide-OPV3-peptide monomers. Upon coassembly of the peptides, a hydrophilic tripeptide sequence (Asp-Asp-Asp-, DDD-) promoted the dilution/isolation of the peptide-π-peptide molecules in the majority peptide-decyl-peptide matrix whereas a hydrophobic tripeptide seque...
Conformal Radiation Therapy for Pediatric CNS Tumors

3D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) are both commonly utilized for pediatric brain tumors. 3DCRT has been available for a longer period. There is protracted follow-up on patients treated with 3DCRT. IMRT is a newer technology that developed in parallel with advances in other radiation delivery such as image guidance. Similar tumor coverage can be either 3DCRT or IMRT. They differ in the ability to achieve conformity around irregularly volumes. IMRT can achieve highly conformal plans although intense modulation can impact dose homogeneity. VMAT is a form of IMRT rotational. The addition of static or rotational beams can expose nontarget tissue to lose dose radiation. The balance of tumor coverage and dose homogeneity against the impact of collateral radiation to nontarget tissues impacting neurocognitive functioning for cranial radiation or anticipated renal and cardiopulmonary function in craniospinal radiation is the main factor in deciding what the optimal photon radiation treatment is for pediatric CNS tumors.
Retreat availability and social influences on retreat sharing in group-living huntsman spiders, Delena lapidicola and Delena cancerides (Araneae: Sparassidae)

Abstract Retreat selection is critical for animals that spend much of their diel cycle in retreats. At issue is how retreat availability and social dynamics interact to influence whether retreats are defended from or shared with conspecifics. The prolonged subsocial huntsman spider, Delena lapidicola (Hirst 1991, Sparassidae), lives in family groups under rock retreats which are relatively abundant on granite headlands in Western Australia. Their more social congener, D. cancerides (Walckenaer, 1837), lives in rare retreats under the bark of trees in southern Australia. We tested retreat sharing patterns with kin and non-kin in D. lapidicola, and of unrelated adult female D. cancerides using laboratory assays. For each trial, two spiders were introduced 12-hr apart in a large arena with two retreats and given 24-hr to share a retreat or occupy their own retreat. Aggression and mortality were recorded. In this study, 42% of D. lapidicola shared retreats regardless of kinship, age, sex, mass or natal colony...
Research on hospitality and tourism education: Now and future

Abstract The education-related topics that have been favored by hospitality and tourism scholars in recent years are presented in this opinion paper. We categorized them into six groups: leadership and human capital development, teaching methods with the emphasis on active and experiential learning, online education, diversity education, internationalization, and industry experience. In addition, we shared our thoughts on additional research topics, reflecting the emerging trends in the hospitality and tourism industry as well as hospitality and tourism academia. Specifically, those thoughts include the development of undergraduate students' cultural competency, issues on hospitality and tourism PhD programs, full-fledged online curricula, and relationships with alumni and advisory board. It is our hope that this article provides some insights regarding the current status of hospitality and tourism education, and stirs up interest in education-related research within hospitality and tourism.
Cooperativity of short-time dynamics revisited

Abstract Using molecular dynamics simulations we examine the system size dependence of the fast dynamics in two model glass forming liquids, one of them a Lennard-Jones mixture for which cooperative fast relaxation has been reported. We find no indication of a temperature-dependent dynamic length scale characterizing these fast dynamics; the size effects in the short time range are temperature independent and the consequence of cutting off of long wavelength acoustic modes. In a molecular liquid exhibiting a clear Johari-Goldstein (JG) relaxation, significant size effects are again present both for the vibrational motion and long-time α relaxation (only the latter having a significant temperature dependence), but absent for the JG relaxation.
Obstacles for school garden program success: Expert consensus to inform policy and practice

ABSTRACTPerceptions of the potential of school gardens are changing given the pressing need to increase food security, environmental protection, livelihood security, and nutrition. Although school ...
Models of epigenetic age capture patterns of DNA methylation in glioma associated with molecular subtype, survival, and recurrence.

Background Models of epigenetic aging (epigenetic clocks) have been implicated as potentially useful markers for cancer risk and prognosis. Using 2 previously published methods for modeling epigenetic age, Horvath's clock and epiTOC, we investigated epigenetic aging patterns related to World Health Organization grade and molecular subtype as well as associations of epigenetic aging with glioma survival and recurrence. Methods Epigenetic ages were calculated using Horvath's clock and epiTOC on 516 lower-grade glioma and 141 glioblastoma cases along with 136 nontumor (normal) brain samples. Associations of tumor epigenetic age with patient chronological age at diagnosis were assessed with correlation and linear regression, and associations were validated in an independent cohort of 203 gliomas. Contribution of epigenetic age to survival prediction was assessed using Cox proportional hazards modeling. Sixty-three samples from 18 patients with primary-recurrent glioma pairs were also analyzed and epigenetic age difference and rate of epigenetic aging of primary-recurrent tumors were correlated to time to recurrence. Results Epigenetic ages of gliomas were near-universally accelerated using both Horvath's clock and epiTOC compared with normal tissue. The 2 independent models of epigenetic aging were highly associated with each other and exhibited distinct aging patterns reflective of molecular subtype. EpiTOC was found to be a significant independent predictor of survival. Epigenetic aging of gliomas between primary and recurrent tumors was found to be highly variable and not significantly associated with time to recurrence. Conclusions We demonstrate that epigenetic aging reflects coherent modifications of the epigenome and can potentially provide additional prognostic power for gliomas.
Redox flow batteries with serpentine flow fields: Distributions of electrolyte flow reactant penetration into the porous carbon electrodes and effects on performance

Abstract Redox flow batteries with flow field designs have been demonstrated to boost their capacities to deliver high current density and power density in medium and large-scale energy storage applications. Nevertheless, the fundamental mechanisms involved with improved current density in flow batteries with serpentine flow field designs have been not fully understood. Here we report a three-dimensional model of a serpentine flow field over a porous carbon electrode to examine the distributions of pressure driven electrolyte flow penetrations into the porous carbon electrodes. We also estimate the maximum current densities associated with stoichiometric availability of electrolyte reactant flow penetrations through the porous carbon electrodes. The results predict reasonably well observed experimental data without using any adjustable parameters. This fundamental work on electrolyte flow distributions of limiting reactant availability will contribute to a better understanding of limits on electrochemical performance in flow batteries with serpentine flow field designs and should be helpful to optimizing flow batteries.
Protocols for Placental Histology

Chapter Summary Gestational mortality may arise from defects in the embryo, the placenta, or both the embryo and placenta. Therefore, evaluations of embryolethality must include a thorough placental examination. Successful histopathological analysis of the placenta depends on appropriate histological processing. In general, mouse placenta may be prepared effectively either in situ or ex vivo by immersion in an aldehyde-based fixative followed by routine dehydration, paraffin embedding, and sectioning to produce hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue slices. If desired, a more complete picture of placental structure and function may be gained by employing special tissue processing procedures (e.g., perfusion fixation or cryomicrotomy of frozen sections) as well as other stains or molecular pathology procedures on serial sections to evaluate the site-specific distribution of various cellular constituents.
Volcanic-Sedimentary Ores

Many ore deposits associated with vocanic rocks show sedimentary features, and research on modern examples reveals that formation of the ore is partly contemporaneous with deposition of the enclosing sediment. Thus, these ores are partly syngenetic, but would not be classed as sedimentary by most geologists. Such deposits easily warrant a separate book; in this chapter I will restrict the discussion mostly to the sedimentary portions of the deposits and how they compare with purely sedimentary accumulations. For a long review, one with much attention to Precambrian examples, which are neglected here, see Franklin and others (1981). Two other good summaries, which provide more information on the high-temperature part of these systems, are Klau and Large (1980) and Finlow-Bates (1980).
Elevated Nuclease Activity Correlates With Clinical Spectrum Of Plasma Cell Dyscrasias

Over the last decade, there has been increasing interest in mechanisms that underlie genomic instability which is implicated in tumor progression, development of drug resistance and possibly even oncogenesis. We have observed that dysregulated homologous recombination (HR) is an important contributor to genomic instability. In this study, we aim to broaden our understanding of HR by exploring alternate pathways that may affect genomic instability such as nuclease activity. Methods We have developed an assay to measure total cellular nuclease activity and compare activity levels across a spectrum of plasma cell dyscrasias. Total nuclease activity in cell lines and patient samples was assessed using a novel plasmid degradation assay. Briefly, multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and primary MM patient cells were lysed at equal cell concentration. The lysates were mixed with plasmid DNA in triplicate/quadruplicate and incubated at 37°C for fixed time points ranging from 0 to 30 minutes. Following forced cessation of enzymatic activity, samples were fractionated on agarose gel and resultant image analyzed for band intensity by Kodak 1D Image analysis software. The ratio of degraded plasmid over time was analyzed via nonlinear regression to calculate a half-life and k-constant. Results Non-linear regression analysis of data derived from assays involving 6 MM cell lines (RPMI, OPM1, H292, U266, INA6 & MM1S) with three pellets each of equal size taken from non-confluent cell culture with > 85% viability showed statistically significant reproducibility of best fit curve with an average R-squared of 0.93. Similar regression analysis could not be performed on data derived from normal PBMC pellets because they showed minimal degradation with linear regression slope of (-0.62). Lastly, non-linear regression analysis on 22 patient samples with a plasma cell dyscrasia diagnosis, revealed a broader range of activity by half-life. Further differentiation of plasma cell dyscrasia patients into 2 groups revealed a significantly higher half-life in MGUS & smouldering (9499.8 minutes) versus newly diagnosed and refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma patients (9.4,19.3 minutes respectively). Conclusions In conclusion, we show that nuclease activity, implicated in elevated recombination and genomic instability, can be measured in a statistically reproducible fashion by our in vitro assay and may be used to differentiate plasma cell dyscrasias across a clinical spectrum. Further analysis of nuclease activity in clinically annotated samples for correlation with clinical features, genomic data and survival outcomes is ongoing. Disclosures: Anderson: celgene: Consultancy; onyx: Consultancy; gilead: Consultancy; sanofi aventis: Consultancy; oncopep: Equity Ownership; acetylon: Equity Ownership.
What can Campuses Learn From Community Sexual Assault Response Teams? Literature Review of Teams’ Purpose, Activities, Membership, and Challenges:

Sexual assault is a public health issue, with college-age students reporting high levels of victimization. Following an increase in national attention and federal initiatives, college and universities' sexual assault response efforts are being examined. The practice of community sexual assault response teams (SARTs) may provide campuses with a model strategy to coordinate campus and community service delivery and planning, still underdeveloped or missing at many institutions. This literature review summarizes in side-by-side fashion the most current empirical literature about community SARTs and campus team approaches (CTAs) in four domains: (1) defined purpose, (2) activities to achieve purpose, (3) membership, and (4) challenges to functioning. Two searches were conducted. The community SART inclusion criteria were (a) an empirical study focusing on community SARTs as the level of analysis, (b) located in the United States, (c) published between 2010 and 2017, and (d) written in English. The inclusion criteria for the CTA were (a) an empirical study on CTAs to sexual assault and/or intimate partner violence as the level of analysis and (b) written in English. Eight articles met the criteria for community SARTs, and six articles met the criteria for CTAs. Differences between community SARTs and CTAs included community SARTs shared and more discretely defined purpose and subsequent activities. Further directions offered for the conceptual and practical development of a CTA to address sexual assault include the need for clearer definition of a team's purpose leading to response-focused coordination of activities.
Evolution of Spreading Processes on Complex Networks

Most existing works on spreading processes assume that the propagating object, i.e., a virus or a piece of information, is transferred across the nodes without going through any modification [1]–[9]. However, in real-life spreading processes, pathogens often evolve in response to changing environments and medical interventions [10], [11], and information is often modified by individuals before being forwarded. In this paper [12], we investigate the evolution of spreading processes with the aim of i) revealing the role of evolution on the threshold, probability, and final size of epidemics; and ii) understanding the interplay between the structural properties of the network and the evolution process.
Age-specific risk of substance use disorders associated with controlled medication use and misuse subtypes in the United States.

Abstract Objective To examine the age-specific risk of past-year substance use disorders (SUDs) associated with use and misuse of prescription opioids, stimulants, sedatives and tranquilizers. Methods The authors analyzed nationally representative data from 114,043 U.S. individuals aged 12 and older in the 2015–2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. For each controlled medication class, logistic regression was used to model any past-year SUD as a function of use pattern: no use or misuse, use without misuse, prescription drug misuse (PDM). Among individuals reporting PDM, logistic regression was used to model any past-year SUD as a function of PDM subtype (misuse of someone else's medication only, misuse of one's own medication only, and misuse of one's own and someone else's medication). Analyses were stratified by age group. Results Controlled medication use was associated with higher odds of any past-year SUD compared to no use in many age groups and medication classes. Compared to non-use, PDM was associated with higher odds of any past-year SUD across virtually all age groups and medication classes. Compared to misuse of one's own medication only, misuse of both someone else's and one's own medication was associated with higher odds of any past-year SUD for many age groups and medication classes among individuals reporting PDM. Conclusions Clinicians should screen all controlled medication users for PDM and SUDs. Age-specific screening may be required due to heterogeneity in the prevalence and risks of use and misuse of different medications. Determination of PDM subtype can guide interventions to prevent SUDs.
Using Eye Movement Data Visualization to Enhance Training of Air Traffic Controllers: A Dynamic Network Approach

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forecasted substantial increase in the US air traffic volume creating a high demand in Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCSs). Training times and passing rates for ATCSs might be improved if expert ATCSs’ eye movement (EM) characteristics can be utilized to support effective training. However, effective EM visualization is difficult for a dynamic task (e.g. aircraft conflict detection and mitigation) that includes interrogating multi-element targets that are dynamically moving, appearing, disappearing, and overlapping within a display. To address the issues, a dynamic network-based approach is introduced that integrates adapted visualizations (i.e. time-frame networks and normalized dot/bar plots) with measures used in network science (i.e. indegree, closeness, and betweenness) to provide in-depth EM analysis. The proposed approach was applied in an aircraft conflict task using a high-fidelity simulator; employing the use of veteran ATCSs and pseudo pilots. Results show that, ATCSs’ visual attention to multi-element dynamic targets can be effectively interpreted and supported through multiple evidences obtained from the various visualization and associated measures. In addition, we discovered that fewer eye fixation numbers or shorter eye fixation durations on a target may not necessarily indicate the target is less important when analyzing the flow of visual attention within a network. The results show promise in cohesively analyzing and visualizing various eye movement characteristics to better support training.
Fentanyl shock: The changing geography of overdose in the United States.

Abstract Background Rapid increases in drug overdose deaths in the United States since 2014 have been highly regionally stratified, with the largest increases occurring in the eastern and northeastern states. By contrast, many western states saw overdose deaths plateau. This paper shows how the differential influx of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues in the drug supply has reshaped the geography and demography of the overdose crisis in the United States. Methods Using all state lab drug seizures obtained by Freedom of Information Act request, I analyze the regionally distinctive presence of fentanyl in the US drug supply with descriptive plots and statistical models. Main analyses explore state-year overdose trends using two-way fixed effects ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and two-stage least squares regression (2SLS) instrumenting for fentanyl exposure with state-longitude times a linear trend. Results First, fentanyl exposure is highly correlated with geography and only weakly explained by overdose rates prior to 2014. States in the east (higher degrees longitude) are much more heavily affected. Second, fentanyl exposure exhibits a statistically significant and important effect on overdose mortality, with model-predicted deaths broadly consistent with official death statistics. Third, fentanyl exposure explains most of the variation in increased overdose mortality between 2011 and 2017. Consequently, the epicenter of the overdose crisis shifted towards the eastern United States over these years. Conclusion These findings shed light on the “third-wave” of the overdose epidemic, characterized by rapid and geographically disparate changes in drug supply that heighten the risk of overdose. Above all, they underscore the urgency of adopting evidence-based policies to combat addiction in light of the rapidly changing drug environment.